And Utherpendragon replied: ‘Merlin, ask him to pray to Jesus Christ for my sake.’
Then Merlin said: ‘Sirs, you heard the king’s words. But he will never speak again.’
And so it was that the king died that night, and his death was marked with great honour.
But Utherpendragon left the land without an heir, and the next day the barons assembled to declare a new king, but could not reach agreement. ‘Sirs,’ said Merlin, ‘if you’ll trust in me, I’ll give you good advice. You know the feast of Christ’s birth is near; pray to Him that, as surely as He was born of the Virgin Mary, He may give you a sign to let the people know who He would choose to be king. I promise you that if you do this Our Lord will send you a true sign.’
‘No man alive who trusts in God,’ the barons replied, ‘would disagree.’
So they all accepted Merlin’s advice. And he took his leave of Ulfin, who asked him to return at Christmas to see if what he had said was true; but Merlin answered: ‘I won’t be back until after the choosing.’
And with that he returned to Blaise, leaving the others pledged to gather at Logres at Christmas to see Christ’s choosing of the new king: so it was agreed. They waited for Christmas to come.
Meanwhile Entor had raised the child, nursed with no milk but his wife’s, until he was a fine and handsome youth; and Entor did not know which he loved the more, his own son or the king’s. Indeed, he had never called him anything but his son, which the child had no doubt he was. It so happened that at the feast of All Saints before that Christmas Entor had made his own son a knight, and at Christmas he came to Logres along with all the other knights.
On Christmas Eve all the clergy of the kingdom assembled with all the barons of any worth, having arranged matters exactly as Merlin commanded. And when they were all gathered they prepared themselves for prayer, and implored Our Lord to send them a man fit to uphold Christianity. So they held the first mass; and when it was done, some departed but others stayed in the minster; then one of the wisest men of the land stood up and spoke to the people before the next mass was sung, saying: ‘My lords and ladies, pray to Our Lord to send you a king and leader to uphold Holy Church and to guard and save the people. We cannot agree upon the choice of a man – we’re not wise enough – so now we pray to Our Lord to send us a sign by which we might know him today.’
The archbishop sang mass as far as the gospel; and then, just as they had made the offering, and day began to break, a great square block of stone and an anvil appeared, and in the anvil was fixed a sword. Those who beheld this wonder ran to the church to tell the people; and the archbishop came out bearing holy water and precious relics, and he went and saw the stone and sprinkled it with holy water. Then he noticed what was written on the sword: that whoever could draw the sword from the stone would be king by the choice of Jesus Christ. When the archbishop had read these words he announced them to the people; and they set a guard upon the stone and returned to the church singing ‘Te Deum Laudamus.’
Then the worthy man who had spoken earlier said: ‘My lords, God has answered our prayers with a miracle! Now I beg you, let no-one contradict the choice.’
The highest men in the land all declared that they would pull the sword out by force; but the archbishop spoke, saying: ‘My lords, you’re not as wise as I would wish! I assure you that in this matter wealth and nobility are worthless unless combined with the power of God. My faith in Him is such that I believe that, if the right man has not yet been born, the sword will not be drawn until he comes to draw it.’
The worthy men agreed and said he was right and they would abide by his wishes. The archbishop rejoiced to hear this, and said: ‘My lords, I want a hundred of the worthiest men here to try and draw the sword.’
They did so; but for all their efforts, none could draw it. Then he commanded everyone present to try his hand, which they did; but they could not draw it. And when they had all made their attempts they returned to their lodgings to eat, and after eating they went into the fields to hold a tournament. After jousting a while they exchanged shields with their squires and began again, and the combat grew into a great mêlée, and the people of the town came running, fully armed. At the feast of All Saints Entor had made his elder son – whose name was Kay – a knight, and Kay sent his brother Arthur to their lodging to fetch his sword. But when Arthur came there he could not get it, for the chamber where it lay had been locked. But on his way back he passed the church, and took the sword that was fixed in the stone, slipped it under his coat and returned to his brother. And his brother said: ‘Where’s my sword?’
‘I couldn’t get it,’ he replied, ‘but I’ve brought you another.’
‘Where from?’
‘From the stone outside the church.’
And Kay took it, slipped it under his coat, and went to show his father. And his father said: ‘Where did you get this?’
‘From the stone outside the church,’ said Kay.
And Entor said: ‘Don’t lie to me; I’ll know if you are, and I’ll never love you more.’
Then Kay said: ‘Arthur gave it to me when I sent him for my sword. I don’t know where he got it.’
When Entor heard this, he said to him: ‘Give it to me, dear son, for you have no right to it.’
Then he called to Arthur, and said: ‘Dear son, take this sword back where you found it.’
And Arthur took it and fixed it back in the stone. And Entor said to Kay: ‘Go now, and draw it if you can.’
And he went, but he could not draw it. And Entor said to Arthur: ‘What good will it do me, if I make you king?’
And Arthur answered: ‘Such as befits my father.’
Then Entor said: ‘I am not your father; I have only fostered you.’
When Arthur heard this, he wept. And Entor said to him that if he became king he should make Kay his seneschal; and that Kay should not lose that office no matter what wrong he might do.
‘If he’s ever wicked or foolish you must bear with him, for whatever faults he may have came to him only from the woman who nursed him – and it was on your account that his nature was changed.’
Arthur granted this request, making an oath upon holy relics. Then Entor came to the archbishop and said: ‘Sir, here is a son of mine who is not yet a knight, but he has asked me to let him try to draw the sword.’
Then the archbishop and the barons went to the stone, and when they were all assembled Entor said: ‘Arthur, give the sword to the archbishop.’
And Arthur took it and drew it from the stone and gave it to the archbishop. When the archbishop received it he took Arthur in his arms and sang out loud: ‘Te Deum Laudamus’; and they carried Arthur into the church. But the barons who had seen this were deeply vexed, and said that no common boy was going to be their lord; and the archbishop said: ‘My dear sirs, Our Lord knows each man’s true nature better than you!’
But though Entor and his kin and many others sided with Arthur, the common people and the barons of the land were against him. Then the archbishop boldly declared: ‘My lords, even if the whole world opposed this choice and Our Lord alone was for it, it would still stand. And I’ll show you the sign that God has sent to prove it. Go, Arthur, dear brother, and put the sword back where you found it.’
And in view of them all Arthur carried it back and replaced it in the stone. When he had done so the archbishop said: ‘No finer way of choosing was ever seen! Go, my lord barons, wealthy men, and try: see if you can draw the sword.’
But they could not. Then the archbishop said: ‘He is a fool indeed who challenges the will of Jesus Christ.’
‘That’s not our intention,’ they replied, ‘but we can’t accept a common boy as our lord. We pray you, leave the sword in the stone till Candlemas.’
The archbishop granted their request, and the sword remained in the stone. At Candlemas all the people assembled, and everyone who wished to try his hand did so. Then the archbishop came to Arthur and said: ‘Go, my dear son
Arthur, and fetch me the sword.’
And Arthur went up and brought it to him. When the people saw this they began to weep. Then the archbishop said: ‘Sirs, is there anyone here who would challenge this choice?’
And the rich men said: ‘We beg you to leave it till Easter. If no-one arrives who can draw the sword, we’ll give obedience to this boy as you command. If you wish it to be otherwise, we’ll do our best to agree.’
‘If I wait until Easter,’ said the archbishop, ‘will you accept him as your lord?’
‘Yes,’ they answered; and the archbishop said to Arthur: ‘Dear brother, put the sword back, for the honour God has promised you will not be denied.’
So Arthur went forward and put the sword back in the stone, where it stayed fixed as fast as ever. Then the archbishop, who had taken the child under his wing, said: ‘Know, Arthur, that you will be king in all certainty. Now turn your thoughts to being a worthy man, and be determined from this time forward to be a good king.’
‘Sir,’ replied Arthur, ‘I’ll do as you advise.’
‘You won’t regret it!’ said the archbishop. ‘Now you must assign people to be your chief officers, and appoint your seneschal and chamberlains.’
‘Sir,’ said Arthur, ‘summon my father Entor.’
And at Arthur’s request Kay was appointed seneschal.
So matters stayed until Easter, when all the barons assembled at Logres. And when they were all gathered on the eve of Easter, the archbishop called them all into his palace to discuss the situation, and said to them: ‘My lords, receive this child as your king.’
But the rich men replied: ‘Sir, we don’t mean to dispute the choice of Jesus Christ, but we’re dismayed by the idea of a common boy as our lord.’
And thereupon the archbishop said: ‘Sirs, you’re not good Christians if you challenge the will of Our Lord!’
‘That’s not our wish,’ they replied, ‘but allow us some concession! Whatever test this child may have passed, we know next to nothing about him! We beg you, before this child is anointed king, let’s find out what sort of man he means to be; for though we know little yet, when we see the way he acts there are some of us who’ll be able to read his mind!’
‘Would you like, then,’ said the archbishop, ‘to postpone his choosing and anointing till Pentecost?’
‘We would indeed, sir,’ they replied, ‘in case he proves to be unfit to be our king.’
So it was left till the next day, when Arthur was led before the stone. And he drew forth the sword as he had done before; and they took him and raised him on high and accepted him as their lord. Then they asked him to put the sword back and speak with them. He replied that he would do so gladly, saying: ‘Sirs, I’ll do whatever you request.’
Then the barons said to him: ‘Sir, it’s clear that Our Lord would have you be our king, and since that is His wish it is our wish also. So we accept you as our lord and will hold our fiefs as your vassals. But we pray you as our lord to delay your anointing till Pentecost – without being any the less lord of us or the kingdom. Please give us your answer now, without debate.’
And Arthur replied: ‘Sirs, what you say about accepting your homage and granting you your fiefs as my vassals, that I cannot and should not do until my kingship is clear. And when you say I should be lord of the kingdom, that cannot be until I am anointed and crowned and receive the true office of kingship. But I’ll willingly grant the delay you request before my coronation. I need the blessing of both God and you.’
After hearing the child’s words the barons said: ‘If this child lives he’ll be a wise man indeed; he has answered admirably. Sir,’ they said, ‘it would be good if you were crowned at Pentecost.’
And Arthur said he would gladly agree if that was their advice. So the day was postponed till Pentecost, and in the meantime they all obeyed Arthur as the archbishop commanded. And they had great riches and their finest jewels brought to him, and all the things a man might covet, to see if his heart might be open to greed. He asked his friends what each thing was worth, and did with it accordingly; for when he had received all these treasures he distributed them, so the book says. To good knights he gave fine horses and other wealth; to happy lovers he gave money and gold and silver; and to wise and worthy men he gave handsome gifts and the benefit of his company. He asked their retainers what it was they liked best, and gave them gifts accordingly. So he distributed all the wealth he was given: they could find no greed in him at all. Then they waited until Pentecost, when all the barons assembled at Logres and all who wished to do so tried to draw the sword. The archbishop had prepared the crown and the sacraments on the eve of Pentecost; and before vespers on the Saturday evening, by the common advice and consent of almost all the barons, the archbishop made Arthur a knight.
That night he kept vigil in the cathedral until day broke next morning, when all the barons assembled there, and the archbishop addressed them, saying: ‘Behold, sirs, a man whom Our Lord has chosen for us; you have all known of the choosing since Christmas; and all who have wished to try their hand at the sword have done so. If any man opposes the choice, let him speak.’
But the barons said: ‘We all agree, and wish before God that he be anointed king.’
‘And does he bear any of you ill-will for having opposed his consecration?’
At that, Arthur wept with pity and knelt before them and declared at the top of his voice: ‘I pardon you all most sincerely, and I pray the Lord who has bestowed this sacred office upon me to pardon you all likewise.’
Then they all rose as one and led Arthur to where the royal vestments were kept, and dressed him. When they had done so the archbishop was ready to sing mass; but first he said to Arthur: ‘My lord, go and fetch the sword, the mark of the justice with which you must defend Holy Church and safeguard Christianity in every way and with all your power.’
They went in procession to the stone, and when they came there the archbishop called to Arthur, saying: ‘If you are willing to swear to God and my lady Holy Mary and my lord Saint Peter and all the saints to uphold Holy Church and keep peace and faith on Earth, and to give counsel to all men and women in need, and to guide the wayward and uphold all right with all your power, then go forward now and take the sword with which Our Lord has marked your choosing.’
When Arthur heard this he began to weep with emotion, and many others for him, and said: ‘May Our Lord, as surely as He rules all living things, grant me the strength and power to do as you have said, which is truly my intention.’
Arthur, kneeling, took the sword in both hands and raised it from the anvil as easily as if nothing held it, and carried it back, held high. They led him to the altar, and he laid the sword upon it. And when he had done so they blessed him and anointed him and performed all the rites necessary for the making of a king. And when Arthur had been crowned and mass had been sung, all the barons left the church. But when they looked they saw no sign of the stone, and did not know what had become of it. And so it was that Arthur was the chosen king; and he ruled the land and kingdom of Logres in peace for a long time.
After his coronation and the singing of mass he returned to his palace along with all the barons who had seen him draw the sword from the stone. And once he had been made king Merlin arrived at court, and the barons who knew him were overjoyed to see him; and Merlin spoke to them, saying: ‘Sirs, listen to me now. I want you to know that Arthur, whom you have accepted as your king, is the son of your liege lord Utherpendragon and Queen Igerne. When he was born the king commanded that he be given to me, and as soon as I received him I took him to Entor, for I knew him to be a worthy man, and he willingly became his guardian for I promised him a great reward. And Entor has now seen my promise fulfilled, for Arthur has made his son Kay his seneschal.’
‘I have indeed,’ said Arthur, ‘and he will never be removed from that office as long as I live.’
This news was greeted with jubilation, and all the barons were delighted – notably Gaw
ain, who was the son of Arthur’s sister and King Lot. After this business the king gave orders for the tables to be set up at once, and throughout the hall they all sat down to dine: they were richly served with whatever they asked for. And when the barons had dined the boys and serving-men cleared the tables; and the barons rose, and those who knew Merlin and had served Utherpendragon came to the king and said:
‘Sire, you must treat Merlin with much honour, for he was a great soothsayer to your father and dearly loved by all your family. He foretold Vortigern’s death, and ordered the making of the Round Table. Be sure he is given all respect, for he will answer anything you ask him.’
‘I will do as you say,’ Arthur replied; and he took Merlin and seated him at his side and gave him a most joyful welcome. And Merlin said to him: ‘Sire, I would like to speak to you privately, with the two barons you trust the most.’
‘Merlin,’ the king replied, ‘I’ll do whatever you advise if it’s for the good.’
To which Merlin answered: ‘I will never give you any advice contrary to Our Lord’s will.’
Then the king summoned Kay the seneschal, whom he had long taken to be his brother, and King Lot of Orkney’s son Sir Gawain, who was his nephew. The four of them gathered in private, and Merlin said to them: ‘Arthur, you are king now, thanks be to God. Your father Uther was a most worthy man, and in his time the Round Table was established, which was made to symbolise the table at which Our Lord sat on the Thursday when He said that Judas would betray Him. It was made, too, as a reference to the table of Joseph of Arimathea, which was established for the Grail, when the good were separated from the wicked. I want you to know this, too: there have been two kings of Britain before you who have been king of France and emperor of Rome; and be assured of this: there will be a third king of Britain who’ll be king and emperor likewise, and he will conquer the Romans by force of arms. And I tell you, as one to whom Our Lord gave the power to know the future, that two hundred years before you were born, your fate was fixed and prophesied. But first you must be sufficiently worthy and valiant to enhance the glory of the Round Table. I assure you that you will not be emperor until such time as the Round Table is exalted in the way I shall now say.
Merlin and the Grail Page 17