Le Morte DArthur, vol 1 | Page 5

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.
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.
Then all these things aforesaid alleged, I could not well deny