The book of Merlin; The book of Sir Balin, from Malory's King Arthur, with Caxton's preface

Front matter

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■ 5 ttersifte Cfitratae Series

MALORY& KING ARTHUR

Contents

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Introductory Sketch . iii

Caxton's Preface xviii

Book I The Book Of Merlin

I. It befell in the days of Uther Pendragon, when he was King of England, and so reigned, that there was a mighty duke in Cornwall, that held war against him long time, and the duke was called the Duke of Tintagil. And so, by means, King Uther sent for this duke, charging him to bring his wife with him, for she was called a fair lady, and a passing wise, and her name was called Igraine.

So when the duke and his wife were come to the king, by the means of great lords they were accorded both. The king liked and loved this lady well, and he made them great cheer out of measure. Then, for that Uther loved her, Igraine spake to the duke, her husband, and said, "Husband, I counsel you that we depart from hence suddenly, that we may ride all night unto our own castle." And in like wise as she said, so they departed, that neither the king, nor none of his council, were ware of their departing.

As soon as King Uther knew of their departing so suddenly, he was wonderly wroth. Then he called to him his privy council, and told them of the sudden departing of the duke and his wife. Then they advised the king to send for the duke and his wife by a great charge, "And, if he will not come at your summons, then may ye do your best ; then have ye cause to make mighty war upon him." So that was done, and the messengers had their answers, and that was this, shortly, "That neither he nor his wife would not come at him." Then was the king wonderly wroth. And then the king sent him plain word again, and bade him be ready, and stuff him and garnish him, "for within forty days he would fetch him out of the biggest castle that he hath." When the duke had this warning, anon he went and furnished and garnished two strong castles of his, of the which the one hight Tintagil, and the other castle hight Terabil. So his wife, dame Igraine, he put in the castle of Tintagil, and he put himself in the castle of Terabil, the which had many issues and posterns out. Then in all haste came Uther, with a great host, and laid a siege about the castle of Terabil, and there he pitched many pavilions. And there was great war made on both parties, and much people slain.

Then for pure anger and for great love of fair Igraine, King Uther fell sick. So came to King Uther Sir Ulfius, a noble knight, and asked the king, why he was sick. "I shall tell thee," said the king; "I am sick for anger and for love of fair Igraine, that I may not be whole." "Well, my lord," said Sir Ulfius, "I shall seek Merlin, and he shall do you remedy, that your heart shall be pleased." So Ulfius departed, and by adventure he met Merlin in a beggar's array; and there Merlin asked Ulfius whom he sought. And he said he had little ado to tell him. "Well," said Merlin, "I know whom thou seekest, for thou seekest Merlin; therefore seek no further, for I am he. And if King Uther will well reward me, and be sworn unto me to fulfil my desire, that shall be his honour and profit more than mine, for I shall cause him to have all his desire." "All this will I undertake," said Ulfius, "that there shall be nothing reasonable, but thou shalt have thy desire." "Well," said Merlin, "he shall have his intent and desire; and, therefore," said Merlin, "ride on your way, for I will not be long behind."

II. Then Ulfius was glad, and rode on more than a pace till that he came to King Uther Pendragon, and told him he had met with Merlin. "Where is he?" said the king. "Sir," said Ulfius, "he will not dwell long." Therewithal Ulfius was ware where Merlin stood at the porch of the pavilion's door; and then Merlin was bound to come to the king. When King Uther saw him, he said that he was welcome. "Sir," said Merlin, "I know all your heart, every deal; so you will be sworn to me, as you be a true king anointed, to fulfil my desire, you shall have your desire." Then the king was sworn upon the four Evangelists. " Sir," said Merlin, "this is my desire; by Igraine you shall have a child, and when it is born that it shall be delivered to me for to nourish there, as I will have it; for it shall be your worship, and the child's avail as mickle as the child is worth." "I will well," said the king, "as thou wilt have it."

Now the Duke of Tintagil espied how the king rode from the siege of Terabil; and, therefore, that night he issued out of the castle at a postern for to have distressed the king's host; and so through his own issue the duke himself was slain, or ever the king was at the castle of Tintagil. So after the death of the duke, King Uther carrie unto Igraine more than three hours after his death. Then all the barons, by one assent, prayed the king of accord between the lady Igraine and him. The king gave them leave, for fain would he have been accorded with her. So the kins: put all his trust in Ulfius to entreat between them ; so by the entreaty, at the last, the king and she met together. "Now will we do well,' 1 said Ulfius; "our king is a lusty knight, and wifeless, and my lady Igraine is a passing fair lady; it were great joy unto us all, and it might please the king to make her his queen." Unto that they were all well agreed, and moved it to the king. And anon, like a lusty knight, he assented thereto with good will; and so, in all haste, they were married in a morning with great mirth and joy. And King Lot of Lothian and of Orkney then wedded Margawse, that was Gawaine's mother; and King Nentres, of the land of Garlot, wedded Elaine. All this was done at the request of King Uther. And the third sister, Morgan le Fa} 7 , was put to school in a nunnery ; and there she learned so much, that she was a great clerk of necromancy; and, after, she was wedded to King Uriens, of the land of Gore, that was Sir Ewaine le Blanchemaine's father. III. Then Queen Igraine drew daily nearer the time when the child Arthur should be born. So soon came Merlin unto the king, and said, "Sir, you must purvey you for the nourishing of your child." "As thou wilt," said the king, "be it." "Well," said Merlin, "I know a lord of yours, in this land, that is a passing true man and faithful, and he shall have the nourishing of your child, and his name is Sir Ector, and he is a lord of fair livelihood in many parts in England and Wales. And this lord, Sir Ector, let him be sent for, for to come and speak with you, and desire him yourself, as he loveth you, that he will put his own child to nourishing to another woman, and that his wife nourish yours. And when the child is born, let it be delivered unto me, at yonder privy postern, unchristened." So like as Merlin [had] devised, it was done. And when Sir Ector was come, he made affiance to the king for to nourish the child, like as the king desired ; and there the king granted Sir Ector great rewards. Then when the child was born, the king commanded two knights and two ladies to take the child, bound in a cloth of gold, "And that ye deliver him to what poor man ye meet at the postern gate of the castle." So the child was delivered unto Merlin, and so he bare it forth unto Sir Ector, and made an holy man to christen him, and named him Arthur; and so Sir Ector's wife nourished him.

[IV.] Then within two years King Uther fell sick of a great malady ; and in the meanwhile his enemies usurped upon him, and did a great battle upon his men, and slew many of his people. "Sir," said Merlin, "ye may not lie so as ye do, for ye must to the field, though ye ride on an horse-litter; for ye shall never have the better of your enemies but if your person be there, and then shall ye have the victory." So it was done as Merlin had devised, and they carried the king forth in an horse-litter, with a great host, towards his enemies. And at Saint Albans there met with the king a great host of the North ; and that day Sir Ulfius and Sir Brastias did great deeds of arms, and King Uther' s men overcame the northern battle, and slew many people, and put the remnant to flight. And then the king returned to London, and made great joy of his victory.

And then he fell passing sore sick, so that three days and three nights he was speechless ; wherefore all the barons made great sorrow, and asked Merlin what counsel were best. "There is not none other remedy,"

said Merlin, "but God will have his will; but look ye all barons be before King Uther to-inorn, and God and I shall make him to speak." So on the morn all the barons, with Merlin, came tofore the king; then Merlin said aloud unto King Uther, " Sir, shall your son Arthur be king after your days of this realm, with all the appurtenance?" Then Uther Pen dragon turned him and said, in hearing of them all, "I give him God's blessing and mine, and bid him pray for my soul, and righteously and worshipfully that he claim the crown upon forfeiture of my blessing." And therewith he yielded up the ghost. And then was he interred as belonged unto a king: wherefore the queen, fair Igraine, made great sorrow, and all the barons. [V.] Then stood the realm in great jeopardy long while, for every lord that was mighty of men made him strong, and many weened to have been king. Then Merlin went to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and counselled him for to send for all the lords of the realm, and all the gentlemen of arms, that they should to London come by Christmas, upon pain of cursing; and for this cause, that Jesus, that was born on that night, that He would of His great mercy show some miracle as He was come to be king of mankind, for to show some miracle who should be rightwise king of this realm. So the archbishop, by the advice of Merlin, sent for all the lords and gentlemen of arms, that they should come by Christmas Even unto London, and many of them made them clean of their life, that their prayer might be the more acceptable unto God. So in the greatest church of London (whether it were Paul's or not the French book maketh no mention), all the estates were, long ere day, in the church for to pray.

And when matins and the first mass was done, there was seen in the churchyard, against the high altar, a great stone, four-square, like unto a marble stone, and in [the] midst thereof was like an anvil of steel, a foot on high, and therein stuck a fair sword, naked by the point, and letters there were written in gold about the sword that said thus, " Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil is rightwise king born of all England." Then the people marvelled and told it to the archbishop. "I command," said the archbishop, "that ye keep you within your church, and pray unto God still that no man touch the sword till the high mass be all done." So when all masses were done, all the lords went to behold the stone and the sword. And when they saw the scripture, some assayed, such as would have been king ; but none might stir the sword, nor move it. "He is not here," said the archbishop, "that shall achieve the sword, but doubt not God will make him known. But this is my counsel," said the archbishop, "that we let purvey ten knights, men of good fame, and they to keep this sword." So it was ordained, and then there was made a cry, that every man should assay that would for to win the sword.

And, upon New Year's Day, the barons let make a joust and a tournament, that all knights that would joust or tourney there might play; and all this was ordained for to keep the lords together, and the commons, for the archbishop trusted that God would make him known that should win the sword. So, upon New Year's Day, when the service was done, the barons rode unto the field, some to joust, and some to tourney. And so it happed that Sir Ector, that had great livelihood about London, rode unto the jousts, and with him rode Sir Kaye, his son, and young Arthur, that was his nourished brother; and Sir Kaye was made knight at Allhallowmas afore. So as they rode towards the jousts, Sir Kaye [had] lost his sword, for he had left it at his father's lodging, and so he prayed young Arthur to ride for his sword. "I will well," said Arthur, and rode fast after the sword. And when he came home, the lady and all were out to see the jousting. Then was Arthur wroth, and said to himself, "I will ride to the churchyard and take the sword with me that sticketh in the stone, for my brother, Sir Kaye, shall not be without a sword this day." And so, when he came to the churchyard, Sir Arthur alighted, and tied his horse to the stile, and so he went to the tent, and found no knights there, for they were at the jousting. And so he handled the sword by the handles, and lightly and fiercely pulled it out of the stone, and took his horse, and rode his way until he came to his brother, Sir Kaye, and delivered him the sword.

And, as soon as Sir Kaye saw the sword, he wist well that it was the sword of the stone; and so he rode to his father, Sir Ector, and said, " Sir, lo ! here is the sword of the stone; wherefore I must be king of this land." When Sir Ector beheld the sword, he returned again, and came to the church, and there they alighted all three, and went into the church, and anon he made Sir Kaye swear upon a book how he came to that sword. "Sir," said Sir Kaye, "by my brother, Arthur, for he brought it to me." "How got you this sword?" said Sir Ector to Arthur. "Sir, I will tell you. When I came home for my brother's sword, I found nobody at home to deliver me his sword, and so I thought my brother, Sir Kaye, should not be swordless, and so I came hither eagerly, and pulled it out of the stone without any pain." "Found ye any knights about this sword?" said Sir Ector. "Nay," said Arthur. "Now," said Sir Ector to Arthur, "I understand that you must be king of this land." "Wherefore I?" said Arthur, "and for what cause? " "Sir," said Ector, "for God will have it so, for there should never man have drawn out this sword,, but he that shall be right wise king of this land. Now let me see whether ye can put the sword there as it was, and pull it out again." "That is no mastery," said Arthur; and so he put it in the stone. Wherewithal Sir Ector assayed to pull out the sword, and failed.

VI. " Now assay," said Sir Ector unto Sir Kaye. And anon he pulled at the sword with all his might, but it would not be. "Now shall ye assay," said Sir Ector to Arthur. "I will well," said Arthur, and pulled it out easily. And therewithal Sir Ector kneeled down to the earth, and Sir Kaye. "Alas! " said Arthur, "mine own dear father and brother, why kneel you to me?" "Nay, nay, my lord Arthur, it is not so. I was never your father, nor of your blood, but I wot well that you are of an higher blood than I weened you were." And then Sir Ector told him all how he was betaken him for to nourish him, and by whose commandment, and by Merlin's deliverance. Then Arthur made great dole when he understood that Sir Ector was not his father. "Sir," said Ector unto Arthur, " will you be my good and gracious lord when you are king?" "Else were I to blame," said Arthur, "for you are the man in the world that I am most beholding to, and my good lady and mother, your wife, that, as well as her own, hath fostered me and kept; and, if ever it be God's will that I be king, as ye say, ye shall desire of me what I may do, and I shall not fail you. God forbid I should fail you! " "Sir," said Sir Ector, "I will ask no more of you, but that you will make my son, your foster brother, Sir Kaye, seneschal of all your lands." "That shall be done," said Arthur, "and more, by the faith of my body, — that never man shall have that office but he, while he and I live." Therewithal they went unto the archbishop, and told him how the sword was achieved, and by whom. And, on Twelfth Day, all the barons came thither and to assay to take the sword who that would assay. But there afore them all there might none take it out but Arthur, wherefore there were many great lords wroth, and said, "It was great shame unto them all and the realm, to be overgoverned with a boy of no high blood born." And so they fell out at that time, that it was put off till Candlemas, and then all the barons should meet there again. But alway the ten knights were ordained to watch the sword day and night; and so they set a pavilion over the stone and the sword, and five always watched.

So at Candlemas many more great lords came thither for to have won the sword, but there might none prevail; and right as Arthur did at Christmas he did at Candlemas, and pulled out the sword easily, whereof the barons were sore aggrieved, and put it off in delay till the high feast of Easter; and, as Arthur sped afore, so did he at Easter. Yet there were some of the great lords had indignation that Arthur should be king, and put it off in a delay till the feast of Pentecost. Then the Archbishop of Canterbury, by Merlin's providence, let purvey then of the best knights that they might get, and such knights as Uther Pendragon loved best, and most trusted in his days; and such knights were put about Arthur, as Sir Baudewin of Britain, Sir Kaye, Sir Ulfius, [and] Sir Brastias. All these, with many others, were always about Arthur, day and night, till the feast of Pentecost.

VII. And, at the feast of Pentecost, all manner of men assayed for to pull at the sword that would assay; but none might prevail but Arthur, and pulled it out afore all the lords and commons that were there ; wherefore all the commons cried at once, "We will have Arthur unto our king. We will put him no more in delay, for we all see that it is God's will that he shall be our king, and who that holdeth against it we will slay him." And therewithal they kneeled [down all] at once, both rich and poor, and cried Arthur mercy because they had delayed him so long. And Arthur forgave them, and took the sword between both his hands, and offered it upon the altar, where the archbishop was, and so was he made knight of the best man that was there. And so anon was the coronation made, and there was he sworn unto his lords and the commons for to be a true king, to stand with true justice from thenceforth the days of this life; also then he made all the lords that held of the crown to come in and to do him service as they ought to do. And many complaints were made unto Sir Arthur, of great wrongs that were done since the death of King Uther, of many lands that were bereaved [of] lords, knights, ladies, and gentlemen; wherefore King Arthur made the lands for to be given again to them that owned them.

When this was done that the king had stablished all the countries about London, then he let make Sir

Kaye seneschal of England, and Sir Baudewin of Britain was made constable, and Sir Ulfius was made chamberlain, and Sir Brastias was made warden to wait upon the North from Trent forwards, for it was that time the most part the King's enemies. But within few years after, Arthur won all the North, Scotland, and all that were under their obeisance. Also Wales, a part of it, held against Arthur, but he overcame them all, as he did the remnant, through the noble prowess of himself and his knights of the Round Table.

VIII. Then the king removed into Wales, and let cry a great feast, that it should be holden at Pentecost after the incoronation of him at the city of Carlion. Unto the feast came King Lot of Lothian and of Orkney, with five hundred knights with him. Also there came to the feast King Uriens of Gore, with four hundred knights with him. Also there came to that feast King Nentres of Garlot, with seven hundred knights with him. Also there came to the feast the King of Scotland, with six hundred knights with him, and he was but a young man. Also there came to the feast a king, that was called the King with the Hundred Knights, but he and his men were passing well beseen at all points. Also there came the King of Carados with five hundred knights. And King Arthur was glad of their coming, for he weened that all the kings and knights had come for great love, and to have done him worship at his feast, wherefore the king made great joy, and sent the kings and knights great presents. But the kings would none receive, but rebuked the messengers shamefully, and said they had no joy to receive no gifts of a beardless boy that was come of low blood, and sent him word that they would none of his gifts, but that they were come to give hi in gifts with hard swords betwixt the neck and the shoulders, and therefore they came thither. So they told to the messengers plainly, for it was great shame to all them to see such a boy to have a rule of so noble a realm as this land was. With this answer the messengers departed, and told to King Arthur this answer. Wherefore, by the advice of his barons, he took him to a strong tower, with five hundred good men with him, and all the kings aforesaid in a manner laid a siege tofore him, but King Arthur was well victualled.

And within fifteen days there came Merlin among them into the city of Carlion. Then all the kings were passing glad of Merlin, and asked him, "For what cause is that boy, Arthur, made your king?" "Sirs," said Merlin, "I shall tell you the cause, for he is King Uther Pendragon's son, born in wedlock of Igraine, the duke's wife of Tintagil." "Then is he no lawful son," they said all. "That is he," said Merlin, "and, who saith nay, he shall be king, and overcome all his enemies; and, ere he die, he shall be long king of all England, and have under his obeisance Wales, Ireland, and Scotland, and more realms than I will now rehearse." Some of the kings had marvel of Merlin's words, and deemed well that it should be as he said; and some of them laughed him to scorn, as King Lot, and more other called him a witch. But then were they accorded with Merlin, that King Arthur should come out and speak with the kings, and to come safe and go safe ; such assurance there was made. So Merlin went unto King Arthur, and told him how he had done, and bade him fear not, but come out boldly and speak with them, and spare them not, but answer them as their king and chieftain, "for ye shall overcome them all, whether they will or will not."

IX. Then King Arthur came out of his tower, and had under his gown a jesseraunt of double mail, and there went with him the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Sir Baudewin of Britain, and Sir Kaye, and Sir Brastias; these were the men of most worship that were with him. And when they were met, there was no meekness, but stout words on both sides. But always King Arthur answered them and said he would make them to bow, and he lived. Wherefore they departed with wrath, and King Arthur bade keep them well, and they bade the king keep him well. So the king returned him to the tower again, and armed him and all his knights. "What will ye do?" said Merlin to the kings : "ye were better for to stint, for ye shall not here prevail, though ye were ten so many." "Be we well advised to be afraid of a dreamreader?" said King Lot.

With that Merlin vanished away, and came to King Arthur, and bade him set on them fiercely; and in the meanwhile there were three hundred good men of the best that were with the kings, that went straight unto King Arthur, and that comforted him greatly. "Sir," said Merlin to Arthur, "fight not with the sword ye had by miracle, till that ye see ye go unto the worse. Then draw it out and do your best." So forthwithal King Arthur set upon them in their lodging, and Sir Baudewin, Sir Kaye, and Sir Brastias slew on the right hand and on the left hand, that it was marvel, and always King Arthur on horseback laid on with a sword, and did marvellous deeds of arms, that many of the kings had great joy of his deeds and hardiness. Then King Lot brake out on the backside, and the King with the Hundred Knights, and King Carados, and set on Arthur fiercely behind him. With that Sir Arthur turned with his knights, and smote behind and before, and ever Sir Arthur was in the foremost press, till his horse was slain underneath him, and therewith King Lot smote down King Arthur. With that his four knights received him, and set him on horseback. Then he drew his sword Excalibur; but it was so bright in his enemy's eyes, that it gave light like thirty torches, and therewith he put them aback, and slew much people. And then the commons of Carlion arose with clubs and staves, and slew many knights; but all the knights held them together with their knights that were left alive, and so fled and departed. And Merlin came unto Arthur, and counselled him to follow them no further.

X. So, after the feast and tourney, King Arthur drew him unto London, and so by the counsel of Merlin the king let call his barons to counsel; for Merlin had told the king that the six knights that made war upon him would in all haste be awroke on him and on his lands. Wherefore the king asked counsel at them all. They could no counsel give, but said, "They were big enough." "Ye say well," said Arthur; "I thank you for your good courage; but will ye all that love me speak with Merlin? Ye know well that he hath done much for me, and he knoweth many things. And when he is afore you, I would that ye prayed him heartily of his best advice." And all the barons said they would pray him and desire him. So Merlin was sent for, and fair desired of all the barons to give them best counsel. "I shall say you," said Merlin; "I warn you all, your enemies are passing strong for you, and they are good men of arms as be alive; and by this time they have gotten to them four kings more, and a mighty duke; and unless that our king have more chivalry with him than he may make within the bounds of his own realm, and he fight with them in battle, he shall be overcome and slain." "What were the best to do in this cause? " said all the barons. "I shall tell you," said Merlin, "mine advice. There are two brethren beyond the sea, and they be kings both, and marvellous good men of their hands. The one hight King Ban of Benwick, and that other hight King Bors of Gaul, that is France, and on these two kings warreth a mighty man of men, the King Claudas, and strive th with them for a castle, and great war is betwixt them. But this Claudas is so mighty of goods, whereof he getteth good knights, that he putteth these two kings [the] most part to the worse. Wherefore this is my counsel, that our king and sovereign lord send unto the kings, Ban and Bors, by two trusty knights with letters well devised, that, and they will come and see King Arthur and his court, and so help him in his wars, that he will be sworn unto them to help them in their wars against King Claudas. Now, what say ye unto this counsel?" said Merlin. "This is well counselled," said the king and all the barons.