Stories of King Arthur and His Knights | Page 7

I may do, and I shall not fail you."
Therewithal they went unto the Archbishop and told him how the
sword was achieved, and by whom. And all the barons came thither,
that whoever would might assay to take the sword. But there before
them all none might take it out but Arthur. Now many lords became
wroth, and said it was great shame unto them all and to the realm to be
governed by a boy. They contended so at that time that the matter was
put off till Candlemas, when all the barons should meet there again. A
pavilion was set over the stone and the sword, and the ten knights were
ordained to watch there day and night, five being always on guard.
So at Candlemas many more great lords came thither to win the sword,
but none might prevail except Arthur. The barons were sore aggrieved

at this, and again put it off in delay till the high feast of Easter. And as
Arthur sped afore, so did he at Easter; yet there were some of the great
lords that had indignation that Arthur should be their king, and put it
off in a delay till the feast of Pentecost.
At the feast of Pentecost all manner of men assayed to pull at the sword,
yet none might prevail but Arthur; and he 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 as traitor." And they kneeled
down all at once, both rich and poor, and begged mercy of Arthur,
because they had delayed 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 anon was the coronation made, and there Arthur swore unto his
lords and the commons to be a true king, to stand for justice all the days
of his life. Then he made all the lords that were subject to the crown to
come in, and to do service as they ought to do. And many great wrongs
that had been done since the death of King Uther were righted, and to
lords, knights, ladies, and gentlemen were given back the lands of
which they had been unjustly deprived. When the king had thus
established justice in all the countries about London, he made Sir Kay
seneschal of England, and other officers he appointed also that should
aid in keeping back his enemies and holding his realm in peace and
orderliness.
CHAPTER III
HOW ARTHUR GAT HIS SWORD EXCALIBUR
On a day there came into the court of the young King a squire on
horseback, bringing a knight, his master, mortally wounded, and
seeking justice against the murderer. Then came up Griflet, that was but
a squire, a young man of the age of King Arthur, and asked to be given

the order of knighthood, that he might ride out against the knight that
had done the evil deed, who dwelt by a well in the forest.
Arthur was loath to bring this passing brave youth into peril by giving
him so high an adventure; but at the desire of Griflet the King at the
last gave him the order of knighthood, and he rode away till he came to
the fountain.
There he saw the pavilion of the knight, and his horse all saddled and
bridled, and his shield of divers colours, and a great spear hanging on a
tree hard by. Griflet struck the shield with the butt of his spear, so that
it fell clattering down to the ground. With that the knight came out of
the pavilion and said, "Fair knight, why smote ye down my shield?"
"For I will joust with you," said Griflet.
"It is better ye do not," said the knight, "for ye are but a young and
late-made knight, and your might is nothing to mine."
But Griflet would have it so, and the two ran together with such force
that Griflet's spear was all shattered, and horse and rider fell down sore
wounded. When the knight saw the youth lying on the ground, he was
heavy of heart; and he unlaced his helm to give him air, and finally
setting him on his horse, sent him with cheering words back to the
court. Here great dole was made for him because of his wounds, and
Arthur was passing wroth for the hurt of Sir Griflet.
The next morning