Arthur Is Made King of Britain

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The Birth of King Arthur

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Merlin gave Arthur to Sir Hector's wife, who brought up the fair-haired boy--all in ignorance of his royal birth.

The kingdom was now a mere shadow of its former prowess, and Merlin knew it was time to bring Arthur to court and present him as king. So one Christmas morn he called all the lords of Britain to the greatest cathedral in London, and prayed that there might be some miracle, or that the Lord would, in some way, show who was to be their king.

After the first mass was sung, the people saw a great stone lying against the altar; in the midst of the stone was an anvil, in which stood a sword; around this appeared in letters of gold:

“Whoso pulleth out this sword is rightwise King of Britain."

Then all the nobles tried to pull out the sword, but no one could move it a hair's breadth. The archbishop said: "My lords, it seems that the prince destined to rule over Britain is not here.

We must appoint some other day for the pulling out of this sword."

So the knights and the lords of the realm made a tournament which should be held on the first day of the new year.

In the crowd that came riding to the tournament were Sir Hector and his son, Sir Kay; by their side merrily rode the young Arthur, for this was to be his first joust.

Sir Kay left his sword at one of the neighboring castles, and he asked Arthur to go and fetch it. So Arthur hastened back for Sir Kay's weapon. To his surprise and perplexity, no one was left at home, for all had gone on to the joust. Resolved that Sir Kay should have a sword, he remembered seeing one in the churchyard near by; and, ignorant of the legend, he went to the stone and pulled out the sword.

Arthur brought this to Sir Kay, who looked at it in amazement, and cried:

"Boy, how came you by this sword?" Then Arthur told Sir Kay that there was no one at the castle where he had left the sword, so he rode to the churchyard and pulled this from its anvil.

Thinking of the good fortune which awaited the owner of this magic weapon, Sir Kay joyfully ran to his father, saying:

"Behold this! lo, this is the sword of the stone, whereby I am destined to be king over the Britains."

As soon as Sir Hector saw the sword, he stopped suddenly and exclaimed: "How came you by that sword?"

"My brother Arthur brought it to me," replied Sir Kay.

"And how came you by it?" he asked of Arthur.

Arthur again told his adventure. Even this did not satisfy Sir Hector, who asked Arthur to go back to the stone and put the sword in the anvil as he found it, then pull it out before his eyes.

So they rode to the churchyard, and Arthur did as Sir Hector had requested. Sir Kay eagerly stepped up and grasped the sword, and pulled and pulled again, but the sword moved not a hair's breadth.

This was very disappointing to the ambitious Sir Kay, and he felt almost angry at his foster-brother.

Then Sir Hector pulled the sword with all his might, but there it stood, firm in the rock.

“Now you shall assay," said Sir Hector. And Arthur took the sword by the hilt and lightly pulled it out of the anvil.

"Ah!" cried Sir Hector, "you are to be King of Britain!" and he fell on his knees before Arthur, begging him to be a gracious master.

"Wherefore am I king?" asked the astonished boy. "There was no mastery in drawing that sword. See," and he thrust the sword in its former place easily pulled it out, "it came out lightly, and your words are full of mystery. My noble sir, it distresses me to see you thus kneeling, I beg you to arise.”

Then Sir Hector took Arthur in his arms told him all: of his noble birth, of the old man brought him to them for protection and care, of the miracle of the sword, and how he was now destined to be their king.

“Now," he added, "I ask nothing except you make my son, Sir Kay, steward of your castle.”

“My noble sir, there is nothing I would no for you, and that most gladly.'

Then they rode to the archbishop's and told how Arthur had drawn this sword from the stone but he was loth to give the crown of Britain a lad like Arthur: the lords and the nobles straightway vowed they would not be ruled by a boy.

They sent ten armed men to watch the s night and day, then set apart Candlemas as a fitting time to meet there and decide so important question. At Candlemas all the lords of the realm came and tried to pull out the marvelous sword; it stood firm it its place, and no one could draw it save Arthur.

Even this did not satisfy their lordly doubts, and they appointed Christmas-day as a better time to meet again. At Christmas-time all these noble lords came to the churchyard, but the result was the same as before. No one but Arthur could move the sword.

Baffled, but by no means convinced of their own unworthiness, they chose Easter-time, hoping the result would be more favorable.

Again they met, and again these lords were doomed to disappointment, for no one except the boy Arthur could draw the sword.

By this time they were very much vexed and alarmed; but they would try once more, and that time should be at the Feast of Pentecost. Then the rich and the poor, the barons and their slaves, each and all tried to win the much-coveted crown of Britain.

No one could draw the sword. Arthur's turn came, and he stepped to the stone, grasped the hilt and waved the sword above his head, and all the vast assembly knelt before him begging to be forgiven. They called him their king, and promised to be brave, loyal, and faithful subjects.

Once again all the lords and ladies were assembled together: this time to crown Arthur their king. Their petty jealousies were soon forgotten, and if there were any in that vast company who felt bitter towards Arthur, they thought it best not to show it, but smiled and tried to look merry, for they had never seen so grand a coronation.

First came the archbishops of Leogria in their sacred robes, holding aloft the crucifix, and softly chanting; behind them came Arthur, supported on either side by two archbishops who represented the four subject realms; each of these archbishops bore golden swords: then came many bands playing martial music, and a long procession of the lords and barons of Britain, all making demonstrations of much joy.

The king was conducted to the cathedral, where he was solemnly crowned by the archbishop. When the ceremony was over, the women went to the Temple of the Virgin, to celebrate apart their festival, for they still observed the ancient custom of the Trojans.

As soon as the banquet was served, the lords and ladies went to the field, where they were entertained by all kinds of sport; some jousted, some lifted heavy stones, some shot with their bows and arrows, while the knights fought. a mock battle on horseback, encouraged to do gallant deeds by the bright glances of the ladies who were watching from the walls.

Thus three days were spent, and on the fourth King Arthur knighted many youths, and gave such honors to his lords as they had won, then rode to his castle at Camelot.