THE NOBLE ORDER OF THE ROUND TABLE
Arthur was indeed king, but enemies long held out against his just
authority. When he went into Wales to be crowned at the city of
Carlion, he let cry a great feast to be holden at Pentecost. Unto this
feast came the six kings of that region with many of their knights, and
Arthur thought it was to do him honour. But when he made joy of their
coming and sent them great presents, the kings would none receive, and
said they had no joy to receive gifts of a beardless boy that was come
of low birth. They sent him word that they were come to give him gifts
with hard swords betwixt the neck and the shoulders, for it was great
shame to all of them to see such a boy have rule of so noble a realm as
this land was.
This answer was told King Arthur, who now betook himself to a strong
tower and five hundred good men with him. Here the six kings laid
siege to him, but he was well victualled; and soon Merlin came and bade
him fear not, but speak boldly to his enemies, "for," said he, "ye
shall overcome them all, whether they will or nill."
So the King armed himself and all his knights and came out to do battle
with his enemies. Then three hundred good men of the best that were
with the kings went straight over unto King Arthur, which comforted him
greatly. So he set upon the hosts of the six kings, and he and his men
did marvellous deeds of arms. Therewith he put them back, and then the
commons of Carlion arose with clubs and staves and slew many of the
enemy, and so they fled away.
Since the enemy were still passing strong, Merlin counselled King
Arthur to send letters well devised beyond the sea to the two brethren,
marvellous good men of their hands, named one King Ban of Benwick and
the other King Bors of Gaul, and to say to them that, if they would
come and help King Arthur in his wars, he in turn would be sworn unto
them to help them in their wars against King Claudas, a mighty man that
strove with them for a castle.
So there were made letters in the pleasantest wise, according to King
Arthur's desire, and Ulfius and Brastias, the messengers, rode forth
well horsed and well armed, and so passed the sea and came to the city
of Benwick. Here they had good cheer as long as they tarried, and
received the answer that King Ban and King Bors would come unto King
Arthur in all the haste they might.
Now those six kings in Wales had by their means gotten unto them five
other kings, and all swore together that for weal or woe they would not
leave each other till they had destroyed Arthur. So their whole host
drew towards Arthur, now strengthened by Ban and Bors with their
followers that had crossed from Gaul to his aid. Then followed a great
battle, and they did on both sides great deeds of arms until at the
last Merlin counselled Arthur to fight no longer, since the eleven
kings had more on hand than they were ware of, and would soon depart
home; for a messenger would come and tell them that lawless people as
well as Saracens, forty thousand in number, had entered their lands and
were burning and slaying without mercy. So the great battle was ended,
and the eleven kings went to their own country.
Now King Arthur, King Ban, and King Bors came with their following into
the country of Cameliard, and there aided King Leodegrance against an
enemy of that land. King Leodegrance thanked them for their goodness,
and made them great cheer ere King Ban and King Bors departed back
towards Benwick.
In Cameliard Arthur had the first sight of Guenever, the King's
daughter, and ever afterwards he loved her. So when peace was once
more in his land, King Arthur asked counsel of Merlin about seeking her
as his wife, for to him she was the most valiant and fairest lady
living or to be found.
"Sir," said Merlin, "as for her beauty, she is one of the fairest
alive, but if ye loved her not so well as ye do, I could choose better
for you. Yet when a man's heart is set, he will be loath to change."
So Merlin was sent forth to King Leodegrance, and he told him of King
Arthur's desire. King Leodegrance was glad that so worthy a king of
prowess and of nobleness would wed his daughter, and promised him as
wedding gift,--not lands, for he had enough and needed none,--but what
would please him much more, the Table Round, which Uther Pendragon had
given to the King of Cameliard,--a table made by Merlin at which an
hundred and fifty knights might be seated.
So Guenever, attended by Merlin and an hundred good knights (all King
Leodegrance could spare, so many had been slain in his wars) with the
Round Table rode with great pomp by water and by land to London. There
King Arthur made great joy of their coming, for he had long loved
Guenever. Also the gift pleased him more than right great riches. And
the marriage and the coronation were ordained with all speed in the
most honourable wise that could be devised.
Merlin was sent to espy out in all the land fifty knights of most
prowess and honour, who should make up the full number for the Round
Table. Only twenty-eight could he find worthy enough, and these Merlin
fetched to Arthur's court. And Merlin made sieges (seats), an hundred
and fifty in all, for the knights, and he placed in every knight's
siege his name in letters of gold.
On that same day King Arthur founded the great order of the Round
Table, the fame of which was to last for all time. An hundred and
twenty-eight were then sworn as Knights of the Table Round, and every
year at the high feast of Pentecost others were to be added as they
showed themselves worthy. Only one siege was long empty, the Siege
Perilous, for no man should sit therein but one, and if any one of
unworthy life were so hardy as to sit therein, he should be destroyed.
With great ceremony each one took the vows of true knighthood, solemnly
promising to do no wicked deed, to be loyal to the King, to give mercy
to those asking it, always to be courteous and helpful to ladies, and
to fight in no wrongful quarrel for wordly gain, upon pain of death or
forfeiture of knighthood and King Arthur's favour. Unto this were all
the knights of the Round Table sworn, both old and young. To dishonour
knighthood was the greatest disgrace; to prove themselves worthy of
knightly honour by strong, brave, courteous, loyal bearing under great
difficulties was the highest end of living.
So King Arthur stablished all his knights, and to them that were not
rich he gave lands; and they rode abroad to right the wrongs of men,
and to give help to the oppressed. With their aid he secured order and
justice throughout his realm, and then the weakest man might do his
work in peace, and prosper.