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<h2> BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE </h2>
<p>THE Morte D'Arthur was finished, as the epilogue tells us, in the ninth
year of Edward IV., i.e. between March 4, 1469 and the same date in 1470.
It is thus, fitly enough, the last important English book written before
the introduction of printing into this country, and since no manuscript of
it has come down to us it is also the first English classic for our
knowledge of which we are entirely dependent on a printed text. Caxton's
story of how the book was brought to him and he was induced to print it
may be read farther on in his own preface. From this we learn also that he
was not only the printer of the book, but to some extent its editor also,
dividing Malory's work into twenty-one books, splitting up the books into
chapters, by no means skilfully, and supplying the "Rubrish" or
chapter-headings. It may be added that Caxton's preface contains,
moreover, a brief criticism which, on the points on which it touches, is
still the soundest and most sympathetic that has been written.</p>
<p>Caxton finished his edition the last day of July 1485, some fifteen or
sixteen years after Malory wrote his epilogue. It is clear that the author
was then dead, or the printer would not have acted as a clumsy editor to
the book, and recent discoveries (if bibliography may, for the moment,
enlarge its bounds to mention such matters) have revealed with tolerable
certainty when Malory died and who he was. In letters to The Athenaeum in
July 1896 Mr. T. Williams pointed out that the name of a Sir Thomas
Malorie occurred among those of a number of other Lancastrians excluded
from a general pardon granted by Edward IV. in 1468, and that a William
Mallerye was mentioned in the same year as taking part in a Lancastrian
rising. In September 1897, again, in another letter to the same paper, Mr.
A. T. Martin reported the finding of the will of a Thomas Malory of
Papworth, a hundred partly in Cambridgeshire, partly in Hunts. This will
was made on September 16, 1469, and as it was proved the 27th of the next
month the testator must have been in immediate expectation of death. It
contains the most careful provision for the education and starting in life
of a family of three daughters and seven sons, of whom the youngest seems
to have been still an infant. We cannot say with certainty that this
Thomas Malory, whose last thoughts were so busy for his children, was our
author, or that the Lancastrian knight discovered by Mr. Williams was
identical with either or both, but such evidence as the Morte D'Arthur
offers favours such a belief. There is not only the epilogue with its
petition, "pray for me while I am alive that God send me good deliverance
and when I am dead pray you all for my soul," but this very request is
foreshadowed at the end of chap. 37 of Book ix. in the touching passage,
surely inspired by personal experience, as to the sickness "that is the
greatest pain a prisoner may have"; and the reflections on English
fickleness in the first chapter of Book xxi., though the Wars of the Roses
might have inspired them in any one, come most naturally from an author
who was a Lancastrian knight.</p>
<p>If the Morte D'Arthur was really written in prison and by a prisoner
distressed by ill-health as well as by lack of liberty, surely no task was
ever better devised to while away weary hours. Leaving abundant scope for
originality in selection, modification, and arrangement, as a compilation
and translation it had in it that mechanical element which adds the touch
of restfulness to literary work. No original, it is said, has yet been
found for Book vii., and it is possible that none will ever be forthcoming
for chap. 20 of Book xviii., which describes the arrival of the body of
the Fair Maiden of Astolat at Arthur's court, or vii for chap. 25 of the
same book, with its discourse on true love; but the great bulk of the work
has been traced chapter by chapter to the "Merlin" of Robert de Borron and
his successors (Bks. i.-iv.), the English metrical romance La Morte Arthur
of the Thornton manuscript (Bk. v.), the French romances of Tristan (Bks.
viii.-x.) and of Launcelot (Bks. vi., xi.-xix.), and lastly to the English
prose Morte Arthur of Harley MS. 2252 (Bks. xviii., xx., xxi.). As to
Malory's choice of his authorities critics have not failed to point out
that now and again he gives a worse version where a better has come down
to us, and if he had been able to order a complete set of Arthurian
manuscripts from his bookseller, no doubt he would have done even better
than he did! But of the skill, approaching to original genius, with which
he used the books from which he worked there is little dispute.</p>
<p>Malory died leaving his work obviously unrevised, and in this condition it
was brought to Caxton, who prepared it for the press with his usual
enthusiasm in the cause of good literature, and also, it must be added,
with his usual carelessness. New chapters are sometimes made to begin in
the middle of a sentence, and in addition to simple misprints there are
numerous passages in which it is impossible to believe that we have the
text as Malory intended it to stand. After Caxton's edition Malory's
manuscript must have disappeared, and subsequent editions are
differentiated only by the degree of closeness with which they follow the
first. Editions appeared printed by Wynkyn de Worde in 1498 and 1529, by
William Copland in 1559, by Thomas East about 1585, and by Thomas Stansby
in 1634, each printer apparently taking the text of his immediate
predecessor and reproducing it with modifications. Stansby's edition
served for reprints in 1816 and 1856 (the latter edited by Thomas Wright);
but in 1817 an edition supervised by Robert Southey went back to Caxton's
text, though to a copy (only two are extant, and only one perfect!) in
which eleven leaves were supplied from Wynkyn de Worde's reprint. In 1868
Sir Edward Strachey produced for the present publishers a reprint of
Southey's text in modern spelling, with the substitution of current words
for those now obsolete, and the softening of a handful of passages likely,
he thought, to prevent the book being placed in the hands of boys. In 1889
a boon was conferred on scholars by the publication of Dr. H. Oskar
Sommer's page-for-page reprint of Caxton's text, with an elaborate
discussion of Malory's sources. Dr. Sommer's edition was used by Sir E.
Strachey to revise his Globe text, and in 1897 Mr. Israel Gollancz
produced for the "Temple Classics" a very pretty edition in which Sir
Edward Strachey's principles of modernisation in spelling and punctuation
were adopted, but with the restoration of obsolete words and omitted
phrases. As to the present edition, Sir Edward Strachey altered with so
sparing a hand that on many pages differences between his version and that
here printed will be looked for in vain; but the most anxious care has
been taken to produce a text modernised as to its spelling, but in other
respects in accurate accordance with Caxton's text, as represented by Dr
Sommer's reprint. Obvious misprints have been silently corrected, but in a
few cases notes show where emendations have been introduced from Wynkyn de
Worde—not that Wynkyn had any more right to emend Caxton than we,
but because even a printer's conjecture gains a little sanctity after four
centuries. The restoration of obsolete words has necessitated a much
fuller glossary, and the index of names has therefore been separated from
it and enlarged. In its present form the index is the work of Mr. Henry
Littlehales.</p>
<p>A. W. POLLARD.<br/></p>
<p><br/></p>
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<p><SPAN name="link2H_PREF" id="link2H_PREF"></SPAN></p>
<h2> PREFACE OF WILLIAM CAXTON </h2>
<p>AFTER that I had accomplished and finished divers histories, as well of
contemplation as of other historial and worldly acts of great conquerors
and princes, and also certain books of ensamples and doctrine, many noble
and divers gentlemen of this realm of England came and demanded me many
and oft times, wherefore that I have not do made and imprint the noble
history of the Saint Greal, and of the most renowned Christian king, first
and chief of the three best Christian, and worthy, King Arthur, which
ought most to be remembered among us Englishmen to-fore all other
Christian kings; for it is notoyrly known through the universal world,
that there be nine worthy and the best that ever were, that is to wit,
three Paynims, three Jews, and three Christian men. As for the Paynims,
they were to-fore the Incarnation of Christ, which were named, the first
Hector of Troy, of whom the history is comen both in ballad and in prose,
the second Alexander the Great, and the third Julius Caesar, Emperor of
Rome, of whom the histories be well known and had. And as for the three
Jews, which also were to-fore the incarnation of our Lord, of whom the
first was duke Joshua which brought the children of Israel into the land
of behest, the second David king of Jerusalem, and the third Judas
Machabeus, of these three the Bible rehearseth all their noble histories
and acts. And since the said Incarnation have been three noble Christian
men, stalled and admitted through the universal world into the number of
the nine best and worthy. Of whom was first the noble Arthur, whose noble
acts I purpose to write in this present book here following. The second
was Charlemain, or Charles the Great, of whom the history is had in many
places, both in French and in English. And the third and last was Godfrey
of Boloine, of whose acts and life I made a book unto the excellent prince
and king of noble memory, King Edward the Fourth.</p>
<p>The said noble gentlemen instantly required me to imprint the history of
the said noble king and conqueror King Arthur, and of his knights, with
the history of the Saint Greal, and of the death and ending of the said
Arthur; affirming that I ought rather to imprint his acts and noble feats,
than of Godfrey of Boloine, or any of the other eight, considering that he
was a man born within this realm, and king and emperor of the same: and
that there be in French divers and many noble volumes of his acts, and
also of his knights. To whom I answered that divers men hold opinion that
there was no such Arthur, and that all such books as been made of him be
feigned and fables, because that some chronicles make of him no mention,
nor remember him nothing, nor of his knights. Whereto they answered, and
one in special said, that in him that should say or think that there was
never such a king called Arthur might well be aretted great folly and
blindness. For he said that there were many evidences of the contrary.
First ye may see his sepulchre in the monastery of Glastonbury. And also
in Policronicon, in the fifth book the sixth chapter, and in the seventh
book the twenty-third chapter, where his body was buried, and after found,
and translated into the said monastery. Ye shall see also in the history
of Bochas, in his book De Casu Principum, part of his noble acts, and also
of his fall. Also Galfridus in his British book recounteth his life: and
in divers places of England many remembrances be yet of him, and shall
remain perpetually, and also of his knights. First in the abbey of
Westminster, at St. Edward's shrine, remaineth the print of his seal in
red wax closed in beryl, in which is written, Patricius Arthurus
Britannie, Gallie, Germanie, Dacie, Imperator. Item in the castle of Dover
ye may see Gawaine's skull, and Cradok's mantle: at Winchester the Round
Table: in other places Launcelot's sword and many other things. Then all
these things considered, there can no man reasonably gainsay but there was
a king of this land named Arthur. For in all places, Christian and
heathen, he is reputed and taken for one of the nine worthy, and the first
of the three Christian men. And also, he is more spoken of beyond the sea,
more books made of his noble acts, than there be in England, as well in
Dutch, Italian, Spanish, and Greekish, as in French. And yet of record
remain in witness of him in Wales, in the town of Camelot, the great
stones and the marvellous works of iron lying under the ground, and royal
vaults, which divers now living have seen. Wherefore it is a marvel why he
is no more renowned in his own country, save only it accordeth to the Word
of God, which saith that no man is accepted for a prophet in his own
country.</p>
<p>Then all these things aforesaid alleged, I could not well deny but that
there was such a noble king named Arthur, and reputed one of the nine
worthy, and first and chief of the Christian men. And many noble volumes
be made of him and of his noble knights in French, which I have seen and
read beyond the sea, which be not had in our maternal tongue. But in Welsh
be many and also in French, and some in English but nowhere nigh all.
Wherefore, such as have late been drawn out briefly into English I have
after the simple conning that God hath sent to me, under the favour and
correction of all noble lords and gentlemen, enprised to imprint a book of
the noble histories of the said King Arthur, and of certain of his
knights, after a copy unto me delivered, which copy Sir Thomas Malorye did
take out of certain books of French, and reduced it into English. And I,
according to my copy, have done set it in imprint, to the intent that
noble men may see and learn the noble acts of chivalry, the gentle and
virtuous deeds that some knights used in those days, by which they came to
honour, and how they that were vicious were punished and oft put to shame
and rebuke; humbly beseeching all noble lords and ladies, with all other
estates of what estate or degree they been of, that shall see and read in
this said book and work, that they take the good and honest acts in their
remembrance, and to follow the same. Wherein they shall find many joyous
and pleasant histories, and noble and renowned acts of humanity,
gentleness, and chivalry. For herein may be seen noble chivalry, courtesy,
humanity, friendliness, hardiness, love, friendship, cowardice, murder,
hate, virtue, and sin. Do after the good and leave the evil, and it shall
bring you to good fame and renown. And for to pass the time this book
shall be pleasant to read in, but for to give faith and belief that all is
true that is contained herein, ye be at your liberty: but all is written
for our doctrine, and for to beware that we fall not to vice nor sin, but
to exercise and follow virtue, by which we may come and attain to good
fame and renown in this life, and after this short and transitory life to
come unto everlasting bliss in heaven; the which He grant us that reigneth
in heaven, the blessed Trinity. Amen.</p>
<p>Then to proceed forth in this said book, which I direct unto all noble
princes, lords and ladies, gentlemen or gentlewomen, that desire to read
or hear read of the noble and joyous history of the great conqueror and
excellent king, King Arthur, sometime king of this noble realm, then
called Britain; I, William Caxton, simple person, present this book
following, which I have enprised to imprint: and treateth of the noble
acts, feats of arms of chivalry, prowess, hardiness, humanity, love,
courtesy, and very gentleness, with many wonderful histories and
adventures. And for to understand briefly the content of this volume, I
have divided it into XXI Books, and every book chaptered, as hereafter
shall by God's grace follow. The First Book shall treat how Uther
Pendragon gat the noble conqueror King Arthur, and containeth xxviii
chapters. The Second Book treateth of Balin the noble knight, and
containeth xix chapters. The Third Book treateth of the marriage of King
Arthur to Queen Guenever, with other matters, and containeth xv chapters.
The Fourth Book, how Merlin was assotted, and of war made to King Arthur,
and containeth xxix chapters. The Fifth Book treateth of the conquest of
Lucius the emperor, and containeth xii chapters. The Sixth Book treateth
of Sir Launcelot and Sir Lionel, and marvellous adventures, and containeth
xviii chapters. The Seventh Book treateth of a noble knight called Sir
Gareth, and named by Sir Kay Beaumains, and containeth xxxvi chapters. The
Eighth Book treateth of the birth of Sir Tristram the noble knight, and of
his acts, and containeth xli chapters. The Ninth Book treateth of a knight
named by Sir Kay Le Cote Male Taille, and also of Sir Tristram, and
containeth xliv chapters. The Tenth Book treateth of Sir Tristram, and
other marvellous adventures, and containeth lxxxviii chapters. The
Eleventh Book treateth of Sir Launcelot and Sir Galahad, and containeth
xiv chapters. The Twelfth Book treateth of Sir Launcelot and his madness,
and containeth xiv chapters. The Thirteenth Book treateth how Galahad came
first to king Arthur's court, and the quest how the Sangreal was begun,
and containeth xx chapters. The Fourteenth Book treateth of the quest of
the Sangreal, and containeth x chapters. The Fifteenth Book treateth of
Sir Launcelot, and containeth vi chapters. The Sixteenth Book treateth of
Sir Bors and Sir Lionel his brother, and containeth xvii chapters. The
Seventeenth Book treateth of the Sangreal, and containeth xxiii chapters.
The Eighteenth Book treateth of Sir Launcelot and the queen, and
containeth xxv chapters. The Nineteenth Book treateth of Queen Guenever
and Launcelot, and containeth xiii chapters. The Twentieth Book treateth
of the piteous death of Arthur, and containeth xxii chapters. The
Twenty-first Book treateth of his last departing, and how Sir Launcelot
came to revenge his death, and containeth xiii chapters. The sum is
twenty-one books, which contain the sum of five hundred and seven
chapters, as more plainly shall follow hereafter.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<hr />
<p><SPAN name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"></SPAN></p>
<h2> BOOK I </h2>
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<h2> CHAPTER I. How Uther Pendragon sent for the duke of Cornwall and Igraine his wife, and of their departing suddenly again. </h2>
<p>IT befell in the days of Uther Pendragon, when he was king of all England,
and so reigned, that there was a mighty duke in Cornwall that held war
against him long time. And the duke was called the Duke of Tintagil. And
so by means King Uther sent for this duke, charging him to bring his wife
with him, for she was called a fair lady, and a passing wise, and her name
was called Igraine.</p>
<p>So when the duke and his wife were come unto the king, by the means of
great lords they were accorded both. The king liked and loved this lady
well, and he made them great cheer out of measure, and desired to have
lain by her. But she was a passing good woman, and would not assent unto
the king. And then she told the duke her husband, and said, I suppose that
we were sent for that I should be dishonoured; wherefore, husband, I
counsel you, that we depart from hence suddenly, that we may ride all
night unto our own castle. And in like wise as she said so they departed,
that neither the king nor none of his council were ware of their
departing. All so soon as King Uther knew of their departing so suddenly,
he was wonderly wroth. Then he called to him his privy council, and told
them of the sudden departing of the duke and his wife.</p>
<p>Then they advised the king to send for the duke and his wife by a great
charge; and if he will not come at your summons, then may ye do your best,
then have ye cause to make mighty war upon him. So that was done, and the
messengers had their answers; and that was this shortly, that neither he
nor his wife would not come at him.</p>
<p>Then was the king wonderly wroth. And then the king sent him plain word
again, and bade him be ready and stuff him and garnish him, for within
forty days he would fetch him out of the biggest castle that he hath.</p>
<p>When the duke had this warning, anon he went and furnished and garnished
two strong castles of his, of the which the one hight Tintagil, and the
other castle hight Terrabil. So his wife Dame Igraine he put in the castle
of Tintagil, and himself he put in the castle of Terrabil, the which had
many issues and posterns out. Then in all haste came Uther with a great
host, and laid a siege about the castle of Terrabil. And there he pight
many pavilions, and there was great war made on both parties, and much
people slain. Then for pure anger and for great love of fair Igraine the
king Uther fell sick. So came to the king Uther Sir Ulfius, a noble
knight, and asked the king why he was sick. I shall tell thee, said the
king, I am sick for anger and for love of fair Igraine, that I may not be
whole. Well, my lord, said Sir Ulfius, I shall seek Merlin, and he shall
do you remedy, that your heart shall be pleased. So Ulfius departed, and
by adventure he met Merlin in a beggar's array, and there Merlin asked
Ulfius whom he sought. And he said he had little ado to tell him. Well,
said Merlin, I know whom thou seekest, for thou seekest Merlin; therefore
seek no farther, for I am he; and if King Uther will well reward me, and
be sworn unto me to fulfil my desire, that shall be his honour and profit
more than mine; for I shall cause him to have all his desire. All this
will I undertake, said Ulfius, that there shall be nothing reasonable but
thou shalt have thy desire. Well, said Merlin, he shall have his intent
and desire. And therefore, said Merlin, ride on your way, for I will not
be long behind.</p>
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<h2> CHAPTER II. How Uther Pendragon made war on the duke of Cornwall, and how by the mean of Merlin he lay by the duchess and gat Arthur. </h2>
<p>THEN Ulfius was glad, and rode on more than a pace till that he came to
King Uther Pendragon, and told him he had met with Merlin. Where is he?
said the king. Sir, said Ulfius, he will not dwell long. Therewithal
Ulfius was ware where Merlin stood at the porch of the pavilion's door.
And then Merlin was bound to come to the king. When King Uther saw him, he
said he was welcome. Sir, said Merlin, I know all your heart every deal;
so ye will be sworn unto me as ye be a true king anointed, to fulfil my
desire, ye shall have your desire. Then the king was sworn upon the Four
Evangelists. Sir, said Merlin, this is my desire: the first night that ye
shall lie by Igraine ye shall get a child on her, and when that is born,
that it shall be delivered to me for to nourish there as I will have it;
for it shall be your worship, and the child's avail, as mickle as the
child is worth. I will well, said the king, as thou wilt have it. Now make
you ready, said Merlin, this night ye shall lie with Igraine in the castle
of Tintagil; and ye shall be like the duke her husband, Ulfius shall be
like Sir Brastias, a knight of the duke's, and I will be like a knight
that hight Sir Jordanus, a knight of the duke's. But wait ye make not many
questions with her nor her men, but say ye are diseased, and so hie you to
bed, and rise not on the morn till I come to you, for the castle of
Tintagil is but ten miles hence; so this was done as they devised. But the
duke of Tintagil espied how the king rode from the siege of Terrabil, and
therefore that night he issued out of the castle at a postern for to have
distressed the king's host. And so, through his own issue, the duke
himself was slain or ever the king came at the castle of Tintagil.</p>
<p>So after the death of the duke, King Uther lay with Igraine more than
three hours after his death, and begat on her that night Arthur, and on
day came Merlin to the king, and bade him make him ready, and so he kissed
the lady Igraine and departed in all haste. But when the lady heard tell
of the duke her husband, and by all record he was dead or ever King Uther
came to her, then she marvelled who that might be that lay with her in
likeness of her lord; so she mourned privily and held her peace. Then all
the barons by one assent prayed the king of accord betwixt the lady
Igraine and him; the king gave them leave, for fain would he have been
accorded with her. So the king put all the trust in Ulfius to entreat
between them, so by the entreaty at the last the king and she met
together. Now will we do well, said Ulfius, our king is a lusty knight and
wifeless, and my lady Igraine is a passing fair lady; it were great joy
unto us all, an it might please the king to make her his queen. Unto that
they all well accorded and moved it to the king. And anon, like a lusty
knight, he assented thereto with good will, and so in all haste they were
married in a morning with great mirth and joy.</p>
<p>And King Lot of Lothian and of Orkney then wedded Margawse that was
Gawaine's mother, and King Nentres of the land of Garlot wedded Elaine.
All this was done at the request of King Uther. And the third sister
Morgan le Fay was put to school in a nunnery, and there she learned so
much that she was a great clerk of necromancy. And after she was wedded to
King Uriens of the land of Gore, that was Sir Ewain's le Blanchemain's
father.</p>
<p><SPAN name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"></SPAN></p>
<h2> CHAPTER III. Of the birth of King Arthur and of his nurture. </h2>
<p>THEN Queen Igraine waxed daily greater and greater, so it befell after
within half a year, as King Uther lay by his queen, he asked her, by the
faith she owed to him, whose was the body; then she sore abashed to give
answer. Dismay you not, said the king, but tell me the truth, and I shall
love you the better, by the faith of my body. Sir, said she, I shall tell
you the truth. The same night that my lord was dead, the hour of his
death, as his knights record, there came into my castle of Tintagil a man
like my lord in speech and in countenance, and two knights with him in
likeness of his two knights Brastias and Jordanus, and so I went unto bed
with him as I ought to do with my lord, and the same night, as I shall
answer unto God, this child was begotten upon me. That is truth, said the
king, as ye say; for it was I myself that came in the likeness, and
therefore dismay you not, for I am father of the child; and there he told
her all the cause, how it was by Merlin's counsel. Then the queen made
great joy when she knew who was the father of her child.</p>
<p>Soon came Merlin unto the king, and said, Sir, ye must purvey you for the
nourishing of your child. As thou wilt, said the king, be it. Well, said
Merlin, I know a lord of yours in this land, that is a passing true man
and a faithful, and he shall have the nourishing of your child, and his
name is Sir Ector, and he is a lord of fair livelihood in many parts in
England and Wales; and this lord, Sir Ector, let him be sent for, for to
come and speak with you, and desire him yourself, as he loveth you, that
he will put his own child to nourishing to another woman, and that his
wife nourish yours. And when the child is born let it be delivered to me
at yonder privy postern unchristened. So like as Merlin devised it was
done. And when Sir Ector was come he made fiaunce to the king for to
nourish the child like as the king desired; and there the king granted Sir
Ector great rewards. Then when the lady was delivered, the king commanded
two knights and two ladies to take the child, bound in a cloth of gold,
and that ye deliver him to what poor man ye meet at the postern gate of
the castle. So the child was delivered unto Merlin, and so he bare it
forth unto Sir Ector, and made an holy man to christen him, and named him
Arthur; and so Sir Ector's wife nourished him with her own pap.</p>
<p><SPAN name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"></SPAN></p>
<h2> CHAPTER IV. Of the death of King Uther Pendragon. </h2>
<p>THEN within two years King Uther fell sick of a great malady. And in the
meanwhile his enemies usurped upon him, and did a great battle upon his
men, and slew many of his people. Sir, said Merlin, ye may not lie so as
ye do, for ye must to the field though ye ride on an horse-litter: for ye
shall never have the better of your enemies but if your person be there,
and then shall ye have the victory. So it was done as Merlin had devised,
and they carried the king forth in an horse-litter with a great host
towards his enemies. And at St. Albans there met with the king a great
host of the North. And that day Sir Ulfius and Sir Brastias did great
deeds of arms, and King Uther's men overcame the Northern battle and slew
many people, and put the remnant to flight. And then the king returned
unto London, and made great joy of his victory. And then he fell passing
sore sick, so that three days and three nights he was speechless:
wherefore all the barons made great sorrow, and asked Merlin what counsel
were best. There is none other remedy, said Merlin, but God will have his
will. But look ye all barons be before King Uther to-morn, and God and I
shall make him to speak. So on the morn all the barons with Merlin came
to-fore the king; then Merlin said aloud unto King Uther, Sir, shall your
son Arthur be king after your days, of this realm with all the
appurtenance? Then Uther Pendragon turned him, and said in hearing of them
all, I give him God's blessing and mine, and bid him pray for my soul, and
righteously and worshipfully that he claim the crown, upon forfeiture of
my blessing; and therewith he yielded up the ghost, and then was he
interred as longed to a king. Wherefore the queen, fair Igraine, made
great sorrow, and all the barons.</p>
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<h2> CHAPTER V. How Arthur was chosen king, and of wonders and marvels of a sword taken out of a stone by the said Arthur. </h2>
<p>THEN stood the realm in great jeopardy long while, for every lord that was
mighty of men made him strong, and many weened to have been king. Then
Merlin went to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and counselled him for to
send for all the lords of the realm, and all the gentlemen of arms, that
they should to London come by Christmas, upon pain of cursing; and for
this cause, that Jesus, that was born on that night, that he would of his
great mercy show some miracle, as he was come to be king of mankind, for
to show some miracle who should be rightwise king of this realm. So the
Archbishop, by the advice of Merlin, sent for all the lords and gentlemen
of arms that they should come by Christmas even unto London. And many of
them made them clean of their life, that their prayer might be the more
acceptable unto God. So in the greatest church of London, whether it were
Paul's or not the French book maketh no mention, all the estates were long
or day in the church for to pray. And when matins and the first mass was
done, there was seen in the churchyard, against the high altar, a great
stone four square, like unto a marble stone; and in midst thereof was like
an anvil of steel a foot on high, and therein stuck a fair sword naked by
the point, and letters there were written in gold about the sword that
said thus:—Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil, is
rightwise king born of all England. Then the people marvelled, and told it
to the Archbishop. I command, said the Archbishop, that ye keep you within
your church and pray unto God still, that no man touch the sword till the
high mass be all done. So when all masses were done all the lords went to
behold the stone and the sword. And when they saw the scripture some
assayed, such as would have been king. But none might stir the sword nor
move it. He is not here, said the Archbishop, that shall achieve the
sword, but doubt not God will make him known. But this is my counsel, said
the Archbishop, that we let purvey ten knights, men of good fame, and they
to keep this sword. So it was ordained, and then there was made a cry,
that every man should assay that would, for to win the sword. And upon New
Year's Day the barons let make a jousts and a tournament, that all knights
that would joust or tourney there might play, and all this was ordained
for to keep the lords together and the commons, for the Archbishop trusted
that God would make him known that should win the sword.</p>
<p>So upon New Year's Day, when the service was done, the barons rode unto
the field, some to joust and some to tourney, and so it happened that Sir
Ector, that had great livelihood about London, rode unto the jousts, and
with him rode Sir Kay his son, and young Arthur that was his nourished
brother; and Sir Kay was made knight at All Hallowmass afore. So as they
rode to the jousts-ward, Sir Kay lost his sword, for he had left it at his
father's lodging, and so he prayed young Arthur for to ride for his sword.
I will well, said Arthur, and rode fast after the sword, and when he came
home, the lady and all were out to see the jousting. Then was Arthur
wroth, and said to himself, I will ride to the churchyard, and take the
sword with me that sticketh in the stone, for my brother Sir Kay shall not
be without a sword this day. So when he came to the churchyard, Sir Arthur
alighted and tied his horse to the stile, and so he went to the tent, and
found no knights there, for they were at the jousting. And so he handled
the sword by the handles, and lightly and fiercely pulled it out of the
stone, and took his horse and rode his way until he came to his brother
Sir Kay, and delivered him the sword. And as soon as Sir Kay saw the
sword, he wist well it was the sword of the stone, and so he rode to his
father Sir Ector, and said: Sir, lo here is the sword of the stone,
wherefore I must be king of this land. When Sir Ector beheld the sword, he
returned again and came to the church, and there they alighted all three,
and went into the church. And anon he made Sir Kay swear upon a book how
he came to that sword. Sir, said Sir Kay, by my brother Arthur, for he
brought it to me. How gat ye this sword? said Sir Ector to Arthur. Sir, I
will tell you. When I came home for my brother's sword, I found nobody at
home to deliver me his sword; and so I thought my brother Sir Kay should
not be swordless, and so I came hither eagerly and pulled it out of the
stone without any pain. Found ye any knights about this sword? said Sir
Ector. Nay, said Arthur. Now, said Sir Ector to Arthur, I understand ye
must be king of this land. Wherefore I, said Arthur, and for what cause?
Sir, said Ector, for God will have it so; for there should never man have
drawn out this sword, but he that shall be rightwise king of this land.
Now let me see whether ye can put the sword there as it was, and pull it
out again. That is no mastery, said Arthur, and so he put it in the stone;
wherewithal Sir Ector assayed to pull out the sword and failed.</p>
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<h2> CHAPTER VI. How King Arthur pulled out the sword divers times. </h2>
<p>Now assay, said Sir Ector unto Sir Kay. And anon he pulled at the sword
with all his might; but it would not be. Now shall ye assay, said Sir
Ector to Arthur. I will well, said Arthur, and pulled it out easily. And
therewithal Sir Ector knelt down to the earth, and Sir Kay. Alas, said
Arthur, my own dear father and brother, why kneel ye to me? Nay, nay, my
lord Arthur, it is not so; I was never your father nor of your blood, but
I wot well ye are of an higher blood than I weened ye were. And then Sir
Ector told him all, how he was betaken him for to nourish him, and by
whose commandment, and by Merlin's deliverance.</p>
<p>Then Arthur made great dole when he understood that Sir Ector was not his
father. Sir, said Ector unto Arthur, will ye be my good and gracious lord
when ye are king? Else were I to blame, said Arthur, for ye are the man in
the world that I am most beholden to, and my good lady and mother your
wife, that as well as her own hath fostered me and kept. And if ever it be
God's will that I be king as ye say, ye shall desire of me what I may do,
and I shall not fail you; God forbid I should fail you Sir, said Sir
Ector, I will ask no more of you, but that ye will make my son, your
foster brother, Sir Kay, seneschal of all your lands. That shall be done,
said Arthur, and more, by the faith of my body, that never man shall have
that office but he, while he and I live Therewithal they went unto the
Archbishop, and told him how the sword was achieved, and by whom; and on
Twelfth-day all the barons came thither, and to assay to take the sword,
who that would assay. But there afore them all, there might none take it
out but Arthur; wherefore there were many lords wroth, and said it was
great shame unto them all and the realm, to be overgoverned with a boy of
no high blood born. And so they fell out at that time that it was put off
till Candlemas and then all the barons should meet there again; but always
the ten knights were ordained to watch the sword day and night, and so
they set a pavilion over the stone and the sword, and five always watched.
So at Candlemas many more great lords came thither for to have won the
sword, but there might none prevail. And right as Arthur did at Christmas,
he did at Candlemas, and pulled out the sword easily, whereof the barons
were sore aggrieved and put it off in delay till the high feast of Easter.
And as Arthur sped before, so did he at Easter; yet there were some of the
great lords had indignation that Arthur should be king, and put it off in
a delay till the feast of Pentecost.</p>
<p>Then the Archbishop of Canterbury by Merlin's providence let purvey then
of the best knights that they might get, and such knights as Uther
Pendragon loved best and most trusted in his days. And such knights were
put about Arthur as Sir Baudwin of Britain, Sir Kay, Sir Ulfius, Sir
Brastias. All these, with many other, were always about Arthur, day and
night, till the feast of Pentecost.</p>
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