Bercilak

by Brian Edward Rise

The lord of the castle wherein Gawain stays before his encounter with the Green Knight in the 14th-century poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Bercilak and Gawain agree to an exchange of winnings, and for three days Bercilak goes out hunting while his wife tries to seduce Gawain. Upon his return, Bercilak gives Gawain the game he has killed, and the latter gives him the kisses he has received from the woman, withholding only a green sash she gave him to protect him from harm.

Gawain leaves to a complete a beheading contest with the Green Knight, who is then revealed to be Bercilak, magically altered by Morgan le Fay in order to test his court.

In the ballad King Arthur and King Cornwall, Bercilak, under the name Bredbeddle, appears as one of Arthur's greatest champions.

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