King Arthurs Knights | Page 4

king, and none knew who was rightfully heir to the throne.
As the days went by, men gathered in groups in the market-place of
London, whispering the rumours that mysteriously began to fly from
mouth to mouth,--how King Lot of Orkney and Lothian was gathering
his knights and men-at-arms; and King Uriens and Duke Cambenet of
Loidis had got together a great host, although the remnant of the pagans
had fled the country. The faces of the citizens went gloomy as they
thought of the griefs of civil war, of the terrors of the sack of cities, the
ruin of homes, the death of dear ones, and the loss of riches.
Nevertheless, some were already wagering which of the great lords
would conquer the others, and take to himself the crown of Britain and
the title of Pendragon.
As it neared the feast of Christmas, men heard that the Archbishop of
London, who was then chief ruler of the Church, had sent his letters to
each and all the great nobles, bidding them come to a great council to
be holden at the church of St. Paul at Christmas.
When men heard that this was done by the advice of Merlin, faces
lightened and looked more joyful.

'Now shall things go right,' said they, 'for the old, old Merlin hath the
deepest wisdom of all the earth.'
On Christmas Eve the city throbbed with the clank of arms and the
tramp of the great retinues of princes, kings and powerful lords who
had come at the archbishop's summons, and by day and night the
narrow ways were crowded with armed men. Long ere the dawn of
Christmas Day, the lords and the common people betook themselves
along the wide road which led across to the church, which then stood in
a wide space amid fields, and all knelt therein to mass.
While it was yet dark a great strange cry rang out in the churchyard.
Some ran forth, and there by the wall behind the high altar they saw a
vast stone, four-square, that had not been there before, and in the
middle thereof was stuck a great wedge of steel, and sticking therefrom
by the point was a rich sword. On the blade were written words in Latin,
which a clerk read forth, which said, 'Whoso pulleth this sword out of
this stone and wedge of steel is rightwise born King of all Britain.'
The clerk ran into the church and told the archbishop, and men were all
amazed and would have gone instantly to see this marvel, but the
archbishop bade them stay.
'Finish your prayers to God,' he said, 'for no man may touch this strange
thing till high mass be done.'
When mass was finished, all poured forth from the church and thronged
about the stone, and marvelled at the words on the sword. First King
Lot, with a light laugh, took hold of the handle and essayed to pull out
the point of the sword, but he could not, and his face went hot and
angry. Then King Nentres of Garlot took his place with a jest, but
though he heaved at the sword with all his burly strength, till it seemed
like to snap, he could not move it, and so let go at last with an angry
oath. All the others essayed in like manner, but by none was it moved a
jot, and all stood about discomfited, looking with black looks at one
another and the stone.
'He that is rightwise born ruler of Britain is not here,' said the

archbishop at length, 'but doubt not he shall come in God's good time.
Meanwhile, let a tent be raised over the stone, and do ye lords appoint
ten of your number to watch over it, and we will essay the sword again
after New Year's Day.'
So that the kings and lords should be kept together, the archbishop
appointed a great tournament to be held on New Year's Day on the
waste land north of the city, which men now call Smithfield.
Now when the day was come, a certain lord, Sir Ector de Morven, who
had great lands about the isle of Thorney, rode towards the jousts with
his son, Sir Kay, and young Arthur, who was Sir Kay's foster-brother.
When they had got nearly to the place, suddenly Sir Kay bethought him
that he had left his sword at home.
'Do you ride back, young Arthur,' he said, 'and fetch me my sword, for
if I do not have it I may not fight.'
Willingly Arthur turned his horse and rode back swiftly. But when he
had arrived at the house, he found it shut up and none was within, for
all had gone to the jousts. Then was he a little