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CHAPTER
V How
Arthur was chosen king, and of wonders and marvels of a sword taken out of a
stone by the said Arthur. 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 <8>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. 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 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 <9
CH. VI HOW HE PULLED OUT THE
SWORD> 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. |
CHAPTER
VI How
King Arthur pulled out the sword divers times. 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 <10> 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. 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 <11 CH. VII HOW KING ARTHUR WAS CROWNED> 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. CHAPTER
VII How
King Arthur was crowned, and how he made officers. AND
at the feast of Pentecost all manner of men assayed to pull at the sword that
would assay; but none might prevail but Arthur, and pulled it out afore all
the lords and commons that were there, wherefore all the commons cried at
once, We will have Arthur unto our king, we will put him no more in delay,
for we all see that it is God's will that he shall be our king, and who that
holdeth against it, we will slay him. And therewithal they kneeled at once,
both rich and poor, and cried Arthur mercy because
they had delayed him so long, and Arthur forgave them, and took the sword
between both his hands, and offered it upon the altar where the Archbishop
was, and so was he made knight of the best man that was there. And so anon was the coronation made. And there was he sworn unto his lords and
the commons for to be a true king, to stand with true justice from thenceforth
the days of this life. Also then he
made all lords that held of the crown to come in, and to do service as they
ought to do. And many complaints were
made unto Sir Arthur of great wrongs that were done since the death of King
Uther, of many lands that were bereaved lords, knights, ladies, and
gentlemen. Wherefore King Arthur made
the lands to be given again unto them that owned them. When this was done,
that the king had established all the countries about London, then he let
make Sir Kay seneschal of England; and Sir Baudwin of Britain was made
constable; and Sir Ulfius was made chamberlain; and Sir Brastias was made
warden to wait upon the north from Trent forwards, for it was that time the
most party <12>the king's enemies.
But within few years after Arthur won all the north, Scotland, and all
that were under their obeissance.
Also Wales, a part of it, held against Arthur, but he overcame them
all, as he did the remnant, through the noble prowess of himself and his
knights of the Round Table. |
Questions: