The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights | Page 8

of Canterbury, and advised him to require all
the earls and barons of the realm and all knights and gentlemen-at-arms to come to him at
London, before Christmas, under pain of cursing, that they might learn the will of Heaven
who should be king. This, therefore, the archbishop did, and upon Christmas Eve were

met together in London all the greatest princes, lords, and barons; and long before day
they prayed in St. Paul's Church, and the archbishop besought Heaven for a sign who
should be lawful king of all the realm.
And as they prayed, there was seen in the churchyard, set straight before the doorways of
the church, a huge square stone having a naked sword stuck in the midst of it. And on the
sword was written in letters of gold, "Whoso pulleth out the sword from this stone is born
the rightful King of Britain."
At this all the people wondered greatly; and, when Mass was over, the nobles, knights,
and princes ran out eagerly from the church to see the stone and sword; and a law was
forthwith made that whoso should pull out the sword should be acknowledged
straightway King of Britain.
Then many knights and barons pulled at the sword with all their might, and some of them
tried many times, but none could stir or move it.
When all had tried in vain, the archbishop declared the man whom Heaven had chosen
was not yet there. "But God," said he, "will doubtless make him known ere many days."
So ten knights were chosen, being men of high renown, to watch and keep the sword; and
there was proclamation made through all the land that whosoever would, had leave and
liberty to try and pull it from the stone. But though great multitudes of people came, both
gentle and simple, for many days, no man could ever move the sword a hair's breadth
from its place.
Now, at the New Year's Eve a great tournament was to be held in London, which the
archbishop had devised to keep together lords and commons, lest they should grow
estranged in the troublous and unsettled times. To the which tournament there came, with
many other knights, Sir Ector, Arthur's foster-father, who had great possessions near to
London; and with him came his son, Sir Key, but recently made knight, to take his part in
the jousting, and young Arthur also to witness all the sports and fighting.
But as they rode towards the jousts, Sir Key found suddenly he had no sword, for he had
left it at his father's house; and turning to young Arthur, he prayed him to ride back and
fetch it for him. "I will with a good will," said Arthur; and rode fast back after the sword.
But when he came to the house he found it locked and empty, for all were gone forth to
see the tournament. Whereat, being angry and impatient, he said within himself, "I will
ride to the churchyard and take with me the sword that sticketh in the stone, for my
brother shall not go without a sword this day."
So he rode and came to the churchyard, and alighting from his horse he tied him to the
gate, and went to the pavilion, which was pitched near the stone, wherein abode the ten
knights who watched and kept it; but he found no knights there, for all were gone to see
the jousting.
Then he took the sword by its handle, and lightly and fiercely he pulled it out of the stone,

and took his horse and rode until he came to Sir Key and delivered him the sword. But as
soon as Sir Key saw it he knew well it was the sword of the stone, and, riding swiftly to
his father, he cried out, "Lo! here, sir, is the sword of the stone, wherefore it is I who
must be king of all this land."
When Sir Ector saw the sword, he turned back straight with Arthur and Sir Key and came
to the churchyard, and there alighting, they went all three into the church, and Sir Key
was sworn to tell truly how he came by the sword. Then he confessed it was his brother
Arthur who had brought it to him.
Whereat Sir Ector, turning to young Arthur, asked him--"How gottest thou the sword?"
"Sir," said he, "I will tell you. When I went home to fetch my brother's sword, I found
nobody to deliver it to me, for all were abroad to the jousts. Yet was I loath to leave my
brother swordless, and, bethinking me of this one, I came hither eagerly to fetch it for
him, and pulled it out of the stone without any pain."
Then said Sir