{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart004.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart004.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart004.htm","text":"CHAPTER V\n \n How Arthur was chosen king, and of wonders and marvels\n of a sword taken out of a stone by the said Arthur.\n \n THEN stood the realm in great jeopardy long while, for every lord\n that was mighty of men made him strong, and many weened to have\n been king. Then Merlin went to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and\n counselled him for to send for all the lords of the realm, and\n all the gentlemen of arms, that they should to London come by\n Christmas, upon pain of cursing; and for this cause, that Jesus,\n that was born on that night, that he would of his great mercy\n show some miracle, as he was come to be king of mankind, for to\n show some miracle who should be rightwise king of this realm. So\n the Archbishop, by the advice of Merlin, sent for all the lords\n and gentlemen of arms that they should come by Christmas even\n unto London. And many of them made them clean of their life,\n that their prayer might be the more acceptable unto God. So in\n the greatest church of London, whether it were Paul's or not the\n French book maketh no mention, all the estates were long or day\n in the church for to pray. And when matins and the first mass\n was done, there was seen in the churchyard, against the high\n altar, a great stone four square, like unto a marble stone; and\n in midst thereof was like an anvil of steel a foot on high, and\n therein stuck a fair sword naked by the point, and letters there\n were written in gold about the sword that said thus:--Whoso\n pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil, is rightwise king\n born of all England. Then the people marvelled, and told it to\n the Archbishop. I command, said the Archbishop, that ye keep you\n within your church and pray unto God still, that no man touch the\n sword till the high mass be all done. So when all masses were\n done all the lords went to behold the stone and the sword. And\n when they saw the scripture some assayed, such as <8>would have\n been king. But none might stir the sword nor move it. He is not\n here, said the Archbishop, that shall achieve the sword, but\n doubt not God will make him known. But this is my counsel, said\n the Archbishop, that we let purvey ten knights, men of good fame,\n and they to keep this sword. So it was ordained, and then there\n was made a cry, that every man should assay that would, for to\n win the sword. And upon New Year's Day the barons let make a\n jousts and a tournament, that all knights that would joust or\n tourney there might play, and all this was ordained for to keep\n the lords together and the commons, for the Archbishop trusted\n that God would make him known that should win the sword.\n \n So upon New Year's Day, when the service was done, the barons\n rode unto the field, some to joust and some to tourney, and so it\n happened that Sir Ector, that had great livelihood about London,\n rode unto the jousts, and with him rode Sir Kay his son, and\n young Arthur that was his nourished brother; and Sir Kay was made\n knight at All Hallowmass afore. So as they rode to the jousts-\n ward, Sir Kay lost his sword, for he had left it at his father's\n lodging, and so he prayed young Arthur for to ride for his sword. \n I will well, said Arthur, and rode fast after the sword, and when\n he came home, the lady and all were out to see the jousting. \n Then was Arthur wroth, and said to himself, I will ride to the\n churchyard, and take the sword with me that sticketh in the\n stone, for my brother Sir Kay shall not be without a sword this\n day. So when he came to the churchyard, Sir Arthur alighted and\n tied his horse to the stile, and so he went to the tent, and\n found no knights there, for they were at the jousting. And so he\n handled the sword by the handles, and lightly and fiercely pulled\n it out of the stone, and took his horse and rode his way until he\n came to his brother Sir Kay, and delivered him the sword. And as\n soon as Sir Kay saw the sword, he wist well it was the sword of\n the stone, and so he rode to his father Sir Ector, and said: Sir,\n lo here is the sword of the stone, wherefore I must be king of\n this land. When Sir Ector beheld the sword, he <9 CH. VI HOW HE\n PULLED OUT THE SWORD>returned again and came to the church, and\n there they alighted all three, and went into the church. And\n anon he made Sir Kay swear upon a book how he came to that sword. \n Sir, said Sir Kay, by my brother Arthur, for he brought it to me. \n How gat ye this sword? said Sir Ector to Arthur. Sir, I will\n tell you. When I came home for my brother's sword, I found\n nobody at home to deliver me his sword; and so I thought my\n brother Sir Kay should not be swordless, and so I came hither\n eagerly and pulled it out of the stone without any pain. Found\n ye any knights about this sword? said Sir Ector. Nay, said\n Arthur. Now, said Sir Ector to Arthur, I understand ye must be\n king of this land. Wherefore I, said Arthur, and for what cause? \n Sir, said Ector, for God will have it so; for there should never\n man have drawn out this sword, but he that shall be rightwise\n king of this land. Now let me see whether ye can put the sword\n there as it was, and pull it out again. That is no mastery, said\n Arthur, and so he put it in the stone; wherewithal Sir Ector\n assayed to pull out the sword and failed.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK I CHAPTER V","type":"page"}