La Chanson du Beau Danseur IV (487)

The arms of Sir Benesek

Wherein he doth be large in feast of lief, and thereafter carpeth with haut princes.

Recovered from his sore brunt did Sir Benesek seek to London town with Sir Gorvannon and Sir Evan, where all sought done for Winter fest, for the haut court 'twas in Sarum that year, with King Uther and all gentle barons present, and 'twould be much time for honour and stuffing. There did all the knights assay to buy such as they might, excepting Sir Gorvannon, who was in bale bezants. Sir Evan bought his dones, and Sir Benesek did purchase a beauteous peregrine for his wife, and a goshawk male for his friend Sir Gorvannon, in full largeness, as well as other gifts, of which note to come.

Such acts accomplished did the knights repair with succeed for Salisbury, and there did they do worship to the Earl and their king, and make merry disport with the rude knights of Silchester, who had come also with their liege Duke Ulfius, to make worship and carp. To his vassals did Sir Benesek gift much finery of harness and arrayment, while to his liege lord and lady did he gift a passing fine gauntlet for the hawk, of leather well beseen and fur well purfiled, with jewels too; while Sir Evan gave a scabbard most finely craft. Earl Roderick was full pleased with such done, and there was goodly weal.

The lord of Salisbury was himself large, as were Duke Ulfius to his liege with a tapestry well industried, and Prince Madoc who paraded thusly the great gree of his campaigns with the Saxons. Yet it was the king himself, Uther, who most befittingly gave great meed to his loyal subjects, with bags of silver for all gentle knights, and twice that for Sir Benesek and Sir Dalan, who had won fair renown. Still the greatest done had yet to pass, for thereupon did that haut warlock Merlin come unto the feast and all was still at his presence.
"I bid thee welcome to these halls, Merlin," said the king, "For thou art always welcome in my court."

After giving worship to Uther, did Merlin carp stiffly to king and all: "Gold and silver, arrayment from far distant launds, these doth surely be gifts worthy of a king. Yet thou, Uther, deservest more, for surely no one in the world hath sat as highly as thee, not even the emperors of Rome. Yet even thou lackest one thing... Such a great man deserveth naught but the best, and he who would bring peace to the whole of our great land deserveth all that would help him to obtain it. And so I, thy humble servant, am pleased to offer thee, from these weak hands, this..."

And thereupon was there much ado, for did Merlin parade forth that terrible and trenchant glaive doned from the fey lake and its maid, a gree whichtofore the knights of Salisbury had so wightly forbade!

"Behold Excalibur, Sword of Victory!" spake Merlin, as Uther hent it so, and all were awonder afore king, his warlock and his glaive alike.

*****

In great joy of their marriage, and the issuance therefrom of two sons rude and fair, did Sir Benesek and his maid set to hold a well stuffed feast after the haut court, to which fully ten dozen knights and lords, and ten dozen ladies and maidens more, were made invite. 'Twas a Festival of Lovers indeed, held upon the Feast of St Valentine at Figheldean manor, and all were well bedecked and beseen, arrayed with the heart, knot and manche of lief. Knight and lady sat each aside, and did stuff themselves with the eggs of geese, pheasant, quail and sparrow. In his largeness did Sir Benesek also stuff the villeins of Figheldean and Alton in his fields, to common weal.

Glorious indeed were the guests to feast: Earl Roderick and the Lady Ellen of Salisbury; Sir Brastias of haut court, and other knights and ladies of Logres therebesides; Lord Sextus of Silchester, son of Duke Ulfius; such knights of Silchester as were companions of Sir Dalan ap Gout, as Sir Gywn ap Llewedd, Sir Gilbert le Ginge, Sir Ydris and Sir Cecil; those wightly companions of Sir Benesek himself, cleanest-mighted Sir Gorvannon, that actual knight Sir Evan, and Sir Pedivere, much-recovered; hale Sir Ambig, fellow Banneret of the Banner, and hearty Sir Elad of Vagon; the vassals of the lord and host, Sir Arranz de Milston, Sir Elowen d'Alton, Sir Jago d'Haxton and Sir Perran of Fittleton Manor; his household knights as guards of honour, Sir Marrek and Sir Denzil; and many fair maids besides, of such passing tatch as the Lady Azenor de la Manchenoire, the Lady Ysbail du Nord, the Lady Oriana of Laverstock, the Lady Indeg thrice-widowed and the Ladies Elaine and Gwiona of Salisbury, and the Lady Colwen of Silchester way.

Now, the morn before the fest had Sir Benesek held a hunt in the confines of Figheldean Forest, for a wolf pack had been sighted over winter past, and all assayed to find its feute and secure its rasure. 'Twas Sir Gwyn ap Llewedd that was the greatest in spear and seat, and to whom Sir Benesek bestowed the done of a golden ring, as the most passing gentle knight of the fest. Likewise, therefore, on that eve of merryment did the lord and lady put prize to the lady most passing fair in heart and like, and bid knights do worship in those that would take her name.

In the end it was the Lady Colwen of Silchester and the Lady Gwiona of Salisbury that were most gently extolled for their fairness, by the knights Sir Gilbert and Sir Gorvannon respectively, and the lord and lady host were most noyous at having to choose between such clean maids. Yet it was to Lady Gwiona that the gree was given, and she was crowned queen of the Feast with a circlet of silver, to haut joy.

[Knights were encouraged to make skill rolls in an attempt to extol the virtues of certain ladies. Sir Benesek was in the end faced with the choice between Lady Colwen (wooed by the Silchester knight Sir Gilbert) and Lady Gwiona (sought by his friend Sir Gorvannon, with whom he had been trying to set her up). Sir Gilbert made the better attempt, and Sir Benesek attempted to be Just and reward such, setting aside his natural inclination towards Sir Gorvannon, but fumbled...]

Such was the mood for love that great worship was done unto ladies by galliard knights, and many followed in goodly spirit Sir Benesek and Lady Adwen, who as hosts danced passing well in lief and weal before their guests to great delight. No fewer than four couples were betrothed that St Valentine's eve, and such ado as was caused by raundom and meddle was for while forgotten. Thusly was Sir Gorvannon matched with the Lady Gwiona, Queen of the Feast; Sir Dalan ap Gout of the Banner matched with the Lady Indeg; Sir Breunis of Berwick-St James matched with the Lady Elaine; and Sir Evan of Woodford matched with the Lady Oriana of Laverstock, all unto great weal.

[A general +5 bonus was given to all skills, traits and passions pertaining to matters of love or lust at the feast.]

*****

Now, it came to be that many lords and knights were summoned unto the king that Spring, for there was much ado for the realm without and within. Some sought gainly for the shores of Gallia to the east, wherein a great and raundomous raid was to doned to the Saxon hosts, while others still, including the Earl Roderick, were betaken of Uther for a great embassy to the northern barons, who had proven bale vassals with little regard to their king's appurtenance.

Thusly did Sir Benesek accompany his lord and king northwards, busking for the launds of Lindsey. Sir Gorvannon and Sir Evan had passed east for the raids, so the well-faired banneret rode alongside three Silchester knights: Sir Gilbert le Ginge of Broughton-in-Silchester, Sir Ydris of good renown, and Sir Cecil of gentle parage. 'Twas Sir Gilbert that had sought the hand of the Lady Colwen at the Festival of Lovers, but he had been meddled in such by the person of Lord Sextus of Silchester, son of Duke Ulfius, whom some hight Prince. Sir Gilbert was a passing vengeful knight, and in no little wood at such an unhappy state.

Upon the embassy reaching Lindsey was there much ado, for of the duke there was no sign but his steward, who wite his lord's passage not, and verily King Uther did to upbraid him so, for what hospitality was this of his lord? There was much heat at such as came to pass, that the king commanded the brachets be loosed in hunt and chase, for goodly disport, or such heat turned to random. There was good hunting in the forests of Lindsey, and Sir Benesek, Sir Gilbert, Sir Ydris and Sir Cecil rode wightly in train, accompanied by Sir Ydris' gentle brachets, alaunts both, rude and gainly. Sir Gilbert was the better tatched hunter, armed with a wightly giserne, and 'twas he that did to seek the feute, while his fellows did to sue.

There so doing did the knights come upon Lord Sextus at traverse, whom Sir Gilbert had always done to kept in awaiting. That very moment was there great ado, for a flight of birds avoided that Silchester prince sadly, and Sir Gilbert and Sir Cecil, most gently knights, did stay and assay to aid that lord unhorsed, while Sir Benesek and Sir Ydris rode onwards to sue the feute. Later did Sir Gilbert rejoin his companions, but of Sir Cecil or Lord Sextus there was no awaiting, or those loyal brachets of Sir Ydris also, and with the feute cold did all to repair to bed and stuffing.

That following morn was there some ado, for none had avised Lord Sextus or Sir Gilbert since the day prior, or Sir Ydris' alaunts, and thusly did the knights assay to seek for their companions. Sir Gilbert could at first could not find his path, but Sir Ydris and Sir Benesek showed great tatch and occasioned upon it anon, and sought for its source. There were they verily astoned at such a raundomous scene as they did find, for Lord Sextus, Sir Gilbert and Sir Ydris' brachets were all alike to-razed unto death, for dole!

More sad indeed was the field of meddle, for in Lord Sextus was Sir Cecil's glaive so noyously foined, as if he had slain such lord in dishonour! A brachet too was at traverse with Sir Cecil, as if he had defended Lord Sextus from his blows, and done that knight's utterance with his own. And thus was Sir Ydris in much dole at his gentle hounds' passing.

"This doth be woe, indeed, Sir knights," lamented Sir Gilbert, "for see ye what Sir Cecil hath done! For that doth be his blade in Lord Sextus, if I am not so very mistaken, and he hath done his utterance most traitorously indeed! Gramercy that Sir Ydris' brachets behaved so gentle as to giveth their lives in right defence."

Sir Benesek was dole at such, indeed, and carped "Alas! Sir Gilbert, perhaps thou art right, for this is a piteous scene indeed. But awaitst thou these sore plaies on Sir Cecil, for such are not the razings of the glaive but the giserne, pardie! Nay, I fear it doth be Saxon shrew that caused such wrack, for whom but they are dressed with such bale weaponry?"

"If there doth be Saxons in these woods," spered Sir Gilbert in reply, "then might not have Sir Cecil been in their league, and led them thus, ere they did do his utterance also so that none might carp?"

"Aye, verily," agreed Sir Benesek, "for such is the meed those shrewd and breme foes giveth over to their friends. But, nay, I shall not hight Sir Cecil such yet."

Upon returning to Lindsey's castle the knights did find said duke at last in attendance upon King Uther, and great stuffing was made in feast. There did Uther command Sir Benesek to tell the tale of how Excalibur was won from the fey lake by Merlin, which that knight did, though he did no great worship to the designs of that haut warlock, and spake gently of Sir Dafydd ap Bryn. Upon seeing that trenchant and terrible glaive did Duke Lindsey make worship at once to his king, his old doubts rasured.

*****

Thereupon did King Uther command a boon of his knights, bidding them seek for Eburacum and the demesnes of Malahaut. This devoir did Sir Gilbert, Sir Ydris and Sir Benesek do, accompanied by that well-faired knights hale grandfather, Sir Carantoc, and Sir Denzil, a bachelor of the banneret's household. Together they yode to Eburacum, but again was the lord voided from his castle, for he sought battle against the Saxons, and few remained.

Thusly did the knights meet venerable Sir Ulfig, who wite the whereabouts of the Centurion King and made affiance to take them hence. Together they sought gainly across Malahaut lands, until they came upon a party of four Saxons, ahorsed all, and no doubts scouts for some greater paynim host. Wightly did the knights assay to overjoust such foes, and after mean meddle was but one left at Sir Benesek's glaive, who did surrender and speak of the place of encampment of the armies.

Sir Benesek and his companions were astonied at such, for it tallied not with Sir Ufig's own carping, and that venerable knight made great protestation of the Saxon's falseness. Yet but for Sir Ulfig did the knights give credence to the paynim's tale, and busked therefrom forthwith. To weal was that Saxon proved right, for thusly did the knights await upon encampments of Malahaut and Saxon both, and assay to give their worship to the Centurion King. Yet that haut prince was a shrewd and orgulous gentleman, and gave but little large or behote unto Uther or he bid them be hence.

Thus endeth the fourth part of the tale of Sir Benesek.

Sir Benesek (Winter Phase 487, aged 26), Glory 3,153
SIZ 14, DEX 13, STR 13, CON 11, APP 16
Mains Skills: Compose 11, Courtesy 10, Dancing 22, Flirting 15, Orate 10; Battle 15, Horsemanship 15, Lance 15, Sword 18.
Famous Traits and Passions: Energetic 16, Valorous 17; Love (Adwen) 16.