Complete Works of Sir Thomas Malory

by Thomas Malory

  And in lyke wyse as she saide so they departed, that neyther the kynge nor none of his counceill were ware of their departyng. Also soone as kyng Uther knewe of theire departyng soo sodenly, he was wonderly wrothe; thenne he called to hym his pryvy counceille and told them of the sodeyne departyng of the duke and his wyf. Thenne they avysed the kynge to send for the duke and his wyf by a grete charge:

  ‘And yf he wille not come at your somons, thenne may ye do your best; thenne have ye cause to make myghty werre upon hym.’ Soo that was done, and the messagers hadde their ansuers; and that was thys, shortly, that neyther he nor his wyf wold not come at hym. Thenne was the kyng wonderly wroth; and thenne the kyng sente hym playne word ageyne and badde hym be redy and stuffe hym and garnysshe hym, for within forty dayes he wold fetche hym oute of the byggest castell that he hath.

  Whanne the duke hadde thys warnynge anone he wente and furnysshed and garnysshed two stronge castels of his, of the whiche the one hyght Tyntagil and the other castel hyght Terrabyl. So his wyf, dame Igrayne, he putte in the castell of Tyntagil, and hymself he putte in the castel of Terrabyl, the whiche had many yssues and posternes oute. Thenne in all haste came Uther with a grete hoost and leyd a syege aboute the castel of Terrabil, and ther he pyght many pavelyons. And there was grete warre made on bothe partyes and moche peple slayne.

  Thenne for pure angre and for grete love of fayr Igrayne the kyng Uther felle seke. So came to the kynge Uther syre Ulfius, a noble knyght, and asked the kynge why he was seke.

  ‘I shall telle the,’ said the kynge. ‘I am seke for angre and for love of fayre Igrayne, that I may not be hool.’

  ‘Wel, my lord,’ said syre Ulfius, ‘I shal seke Merlyn and he shalle do yow remedy, that youre herte shal be pleasyd.’

  So Ulfius departed and by adventure he mette Merlyn in a beggars aray, and ther Merlyn asked Ulfius whome he soughte, and he said he had lytyl ado to telle hym.

  ‘Well,’ saide Merlyn, ‘I knowe whome thou sekest, for thou sekest Merlyn; therfore seke no ferther, for I am he. And yf kynge Uther wille wel rewarde me and be sworne unto me to fulfille my desyre, that shall be his honour and profite more than myn, for I shalle cause hym to have alle his desyre.’

  ‘Alle this wyll I undertake,’ said Ulfius, ‘that ther shalle be nothyng resonable but thow shalt have thy desyre.’

  ‘Well,’ said Merlyn, ‘he shall have his entente and desyre, and therfore,’ saide Merlyn, ‘ryde on your wey, for I wille not be long behynde.’

  Thenne Ulfius was glad and rode on more than a paas tyll that he [2] came to kynge Uther Pendragon and told hym he had met with Merlyn.

  ‘Where is he?’ said the kyng.

  ‘Sir,’ said Ulfius, ‘he wille not dwelle long.’

  Therwithal Ulfius was ware where Merlyn stood at the porche of the pavelions dore, and thenne Merlyn was bounde to come to the kynge. Whan kyng Uther sawe hym he said he was welcome.

  ‘Syr,’ said Merlyn, ‘I knowe al your hert every dele. So ye wil be sworn unto me, as ye be a true kynge enoynted, to fulfille my desyre, ye shal have your desyre.’

  Thenne the kyng was sworne upon the four Evangelistes.

  ‘Syre,’ said Merlyn, ‘this is my desyre: the first nyght that ye shal lye by Igrayne ye shal gete a child on her; and whan that is borne, that it shall be delyverd to me for to nourisshe thereas I wille have it, for it shal be your worship and the childis availle as mykel as the child is worth.’

  ‘I wylle wel,’ said the kynge, ‘as thow wilt have it.’

  ‘Now make you redy,’ said Merlyn. ‘This nyght ye shalle lye with Igrayne in the castel of Tyntigayll. And ye shalle be lyke the duke her husband, Ulfyus shal be lyke syre Brastias, a knyghte of the dukes, and I will be lyke a knyghte that hyghte syr Jordanus, a knyghte of the dukes. But wayte ye make not many questions with her nor her men, but saye ye are diseased, and soo hye yow to bedde and ryse not on the morne tyll I come to yow, for the castel of Tyntygaill is but ten myle hens.’

  Soo this was done as they devysed. But the duke of Tyntigail aspyed hou the kyng rode fro the syege of Tarabil. And therfor that nyghte he yssued oute of the castel at a posterne for to have distressid the kynges hooste, and so thorowe his owne yssue the duke hymself was slayne or ever the kynge cam at the castel of Tyntigail. So after the deth of the duke kyng Uther lay with Igrayne, more than thre houres after his deth, and begat on her that nyght Arthur; and or day cam, Merlyn cam to the kyng and bad hym make hym redy, and so he kist the lady Igrayne and departed in all hast. But whan the lady herd telle of the duke her husband, and by all record he was dede or ever kynge Uther came to her, thenne she merveilled who that myghte be that laye with her in lykenes of her lord. So she mourned pryvely and held hir pees.

  Thenne alle the barons by one assent prayd the kynge of accord betwixe the lady Igrayne and hym. The kynge gaf hem leve, for fayne wold he have ben accorded with her; soo the kyng put alle the trust in Ulfyus to entrete bitwene them. So by the entreté at the last the kyng and she met togyder.

  ‘Now wille we doo wel,’ said Ulfyus; ‘our kyng is a lusty knyghte and wyveles, and my lady Igrayne is a passynge fair lady; it were grete joye unto us all and hit myghte please the kynge to make her his quene.’

  Unto that they all well accordyd and meved it to the kynge. And anone lyke a lusty knyghte he assentid therto with good wille, and so in alle haste they were maryed in a mornynge with grete myrthe and joye.

  And kynge Lott of Lowthean and of Orkenay thenne wedded Margawse that was Gaweyns moder, and kynge Nentres of the land of Garlot wedded Elayne: al this was done at the request of kynge Uther. And the thyrd syster, Morgan le Fey, was put to scole in a nonnery, and ther she lerned so moche that she was a grete clerke of nygromancye. And after she was wedded to kynge Uryens of the lond of Gore that was syre Ewayns le Blaunche Maynys fader.

  Thenne quene Igrayne waxid dayly gretter and gretter. So it befel [3] after within half a yere, as kyng Uther lay by his quene, he asked hir by the feith she ought to hym whos was the child within her body. Thenne was she sore abasshed to yeve ansuer.

  ‘Desmaye you not,’ said the kyng, ‘but telle me the trouthe, and I shall love you the better, by the feythe of my body!’

  ‘Syre,’ saide she, ‘I shalle telle you the trouthe. The same nyghte that my lord was dede, the houre of his deth as his knyghtes record, ther came into my castel of Tyntigaill a man lyke my lord in speche and in countenaunce, and two knyghtes with hym in lykenes of his two knyghtes Barcias and Jordans, and soo I went unto bed with hym as I ought to do with my lord; and the same nyght, as I shal ansuer unto God, this child was begoten upon me.’

  ‘That is trouthe,’ saide the kynge, ‘as ye say, for it was I myself that cam in the lykenesse. And therfor desmay you not, for I am fader to the child,’ and ther he told her alle the cause how it was by Merlyns counceil. Thenne the quene made grete joye whan she knewe who was the fader of her child.

  Sone come Merlyn unto the kyng and said, ‘Syr, ye must purvey yow for the nourisshyng of your child.’

  ‘As thou wolt,’ said the kyng, ‘be it.’

  ‘Wel,’ said Merlyn, ‘I knowe a lord of yours in this land that is a passyng true man and a feithful, and he shal have the nourysshyng of your child; and his name is sir Ector, and he is a lord of fair lyvelode in many partyes in Englond and Walys. And this lord, sir Ector, lete hym be sent for for to come and speke with you, and desyre hym yourself as he loveth you that he will put his owne child to nourisshynge to another woman and that his wyf nourisshe yours. And whan the child is borne lete it be delyverd to me at yonder pryvy posterne, uncrystned.’

  So like as Merlyn devysed it was done. And whan syre Ector was come he made fyaunce to the kyng for to nourisshe the child lyke as the kynge desyred, and there the kyng graunted syr Ector grete rewardys. Thenne when the lady was delyverd the kynge commaunded two knyghtes and two ladyes to take the child bound in a cloth of gold, ‘and that ye delyver hym to what poure man ye mete at the posterne yate of the castel.�
�� So the child was delyverd unto Merlyn, and so he bare it forth unto syre Ector and made an holy man to crysten hym and named hym Arthur. And so sir Ectors wyf nourysshed hym with her owne pappe.

  Thenne within two yeres kyng Uther felle seke of a grete maladye. And in the meanewhyle hys enemyes usurpped upon hym and dyd a grete bataylle upon his men and slewe many of his peple.

  ‘Sir,’ said Merlyn, ye may not lye so as ye doo, for ye must to the feld, though ye ryde on an hors-lyttar. For ye shall never have the better of your enemyes but yf your persone be there, and thenne shall ye have the vyctory.’

  So it was done as Merlyn had devysed, and they caryed the kynge forth in an hors-lyttar with a grete hooste towarde his enemyes, and at Saynt Albons ther mette with the kynge a grete hoost of the North. And that day syre Ulfyus and sir Bracias dyd grete dedes of armes, and kyng Uthers men overcome the northeryn bataylle and slewe many peple and putt the remenaunt to flight; and thenne the kyng retorned unto London and made grete joye of his vyctory.

  And thenne he fyll passynge sore seke so that thre dayes and thre nyghtes he was specheles; wherfore alle the barons made grete sorow and asked Merlyn what counceill were best.

  ‘There nys none other remedye,’ said Merlyn, ‘but God wil have his wille. But loke ye al barons be bifore kynge Uther to-morne, and God and I shalle make hym to speke.’

  So on the morne alle the barons with Merlyn came tofore the kyng. Thenne Merlyn said aloud unto kyng Uther, ‘Syre, shall your sone Arthur be kyng after your dayes of this realme with all the appertenaunce?’

  Thenne Uther Pendragon torned hym and said in herynge of them alle, ‘I gyve hym Gods blissyng and myne, and byd hym pray for my soule, and righteuously and worshipfully that he clayme the croune upon forfeture of my blessyng,’ and therwith he yelde up the ghost. And thenne was he enterid as longed to a kyng, wherfor the quene, fayre Igrayne, made grete sorowe and alle the barons.

  Thenne stood the reame in grete jeopardy long whyle, for every lord that was myghty of men maade hym stronge, and many wende to have ben kyng. Thenne Merlyn wente to the Archebisshop of Caunterbury and counceilled hym for to sende for all the lordes of the reame and alle the gentilmen of armes that they shold to London come by Cristmas upon payne of cursynge, and for this cause, that Jesu, that was borne on that nyghte, that He wold of His grete mercy shewe some myracle, as He was come to be Kynge of mankynde, for to shewe somme myracle who shold be rightwys kynge of this reame. So the Archebisshop by the advys of Merlyn send for alle the lordes and gentilmen of armes that they shold come by Crystmasse even unto London, and many of hem made hem clene of her lyf, that her prayer myghte be the more acceptable unto God.

  Soo in the grettest chirch of London — whether it were Powlis or not the Frensshe booke maketh no mencyon — alle the estates were longe or day in the chirche for to praye. And whan matyns and the first masse was done there was sene in the chircheyard ayenst the hyhe aulter a grete stone four square, lyke unto a marbel stone; and in myddes therof was lyke an anvylde of stele a foot on hyghe, and theryn stack a fayre swerd naked by the poynt, and letters there were wryten in gold aboute the swerd that saiden thus: ‘WHOSO PULLETH OUTE THIS SWERD OF THIS STONE AND ANVVLD IS RIGHTWYS KYNGE BORNE OF ALL ENGLOND.’ Thenne the peple merveilled and told it to the Archebisshop.

  ‘I commande,’ said thArchebisshop, ‘that ye kepe yow within your chirche and pray unto God still; that no man touche the swerd tyll the hyhe masse be all done.’

  So whan all masses were done all the lordes wente to beholde the stone and the swerd. And whan they sawe the scripture som assayed suche as wold have ben kyng, but none myght stere the swerd nor meve hit.

  ‘He is not here,’ said the Archebisshop, ‘that shall encheve the swerd, but doubte not, God will make hym knowen. But this is my counceill,’ said the Archebisshop, ‘that we lete purvey ten knyghtes, men of good fame, and they to kepe this swerd.’

  So it was ordeyned, and thenne ther was made a crye that every man shold assay that wold for to wynne the swerd. And upon Newe Yeers day the barons lete maake a justes and a tournement, that alle knyghtes that wold juste or tourneye there myght playe. And all this was ordeyned for to kepe the lordes togyders and the comyns, for the Archebisshop trusted that God wold make hym knowe that shold wynne the swerd.

  So upon New Yeres day, whan the servyce was done, the barons rode unto the feld, some to juste and som to torney. And so it happed that syre Ector that had grete lyvelode aboute London rode unto the justes, and with hym rode syr Kaynus, his sone, and yong Arthur that was hys nourisshed broder; and syr Kay was made knyght at Alhalowmas afore. So as they rode to the justes ward sir Kay had lost his suerd, for he had lefte it at his faders lodgyng, and so he prayd yong Arthur for to ryde for his swerd.

  ‘I wyll wel,’ said Arthur, and rode fast after the swerd.

  And whan he cam home the lady and al were out to see the joustyng. Thenne was Arthur wroth and saide to hymself, ‘I will ryde to the chircheyard and take the swerd with me that stycketh in the stone, for my broder sir Kay shal not be without a swerd this day.’ So whan he cam to the chircheyard sir Arthur alight and tayed his hors to the style, and so he wente to the tent and found no knyghtes there, for they were atte justyng. And so he handled the swerd by the handels, and lightly and fiersly pulled it out of the stone, and took his hors and rode his way untyll he came to his broder sir Kay and delyverd hym the swerd.

  And as sone as sir Kay saw the swerd he wist wel it was the swerd of the stone, and so he rode to his fader syr Ector and said, ‘Sire, loo here is the swerd of the stone, wherfor I must be kyng of thys land.’

  When syre Ector beheld the swerd he retorned ageyne and cam to the chirche, and there they alighte al thre and wente into the chirche, and anon he made sir Kay to swere upon a book how he came to that swerd.

  ‘Syr,’ said sir Kay, ‘by my broder Arthur, for he brought it to me.”How gate ye this swerd?’ said sir Ector to Arthur.

  ‘Sir, I will telle you. When I cam home for my broders swerd I fond nobody at home to delyver me his swerd, and so I thought my broder syr Kay shold not be swerdles, and so I cam hyder egerly and pulled it out of the stone withoute ony payn.’

  ‘Found ye ony knyghtes about this swerd?’ seid sir Ector.

  ‘Nay,’ said Arthur.

  ‘Now,’ said sir Ector to Arthur, ‘I understande ye must be kynge of this land.’

  ‘Wherfore I?’ sayd Arthur, and for what cause?’

  ‘Sire,’ saide Ector, ‘for God wille have hit soo, for ther shold never man have drawen oute this swerde but he that shal be rightwys kyng of this land. Now lete me see whether ye can putte the swerd theras it was and pulle hit oute ageyne.’

  ‘That is no maystry,’ said Arthur, and soo he put it in the stone. Therwithalle sir Ector assayed to pulle oute the swerd and faylled.

  ‘Now assay’, said syre Ector unto syre Kay. And anon he pulled at the swerd with alle his myghte, but it wold not be. 6

  ‘Now shal ye assay,’ said syre Ector to Arthur.

  ‘I wyll wel,’ said Arthur, and pulled it out easily.

  And therwithalle syre Ector knelyd doune to the erthe and syre Kay.

  ‘Allas!’ said Arthur, ‘myne own dere fader and broder, why knele ye to me?’

  ‘Nay, nay, my lord Arthur, it is not so. I was never your fader nor of your blood, but I wote wel ye are of an hyher blood than I wende ye were,’ and thenne syre Ector told hym all how he was bitaken hym for to nourisshe hym and by whoos commandement, and by Merlyns delyveraunce.

  Thenne Arthur made grete doole whan he understood that syre Ector was not his fader.

  ‘Sir,’ said Ector unto Arthur, ‘woll ye be my good and gracious lord when ye are kyng?’

  ‘Els were I to blame,’ said Arthur, ‘for ye are the man in the world that I am most beholdyng to, and my good lady and moder your wyf that as wel as her owne hath fostred me and kepte. And yf ever hit be Goddes will that I be kynge as ye say, ye shall desyre of me what I may doo and I
shalle not faille yow. God forbede I shold faille yow.’

  ‘Sir,’ said sire Ector, ‘I will aske no more of yow but that ye wille make my sone, your foster-broder syre Kay, senceall of alle your landes.’

  ‘That shalle be done,’ said Arthur, ‘and more, by the feith of my body, that never man shalle have that office but he whyle he and I lyve.’

  Therewithal! they wente unto the Archebisshop and told hym how the swerd was encheved and by whome. And on twelfth day alle the barons cam thyder and to assay to take the swerd who that wold assay, but there afore hem alle ther myghte none take it out but Arthur. Wherfor ther were many lordes wroth and saide it was grete shame unto them all and the reame to be overgovernyd with a boye of no hyghe blood borne. And so they fell oute at that tyme, that it was put of tyll Candelmas, and thenne all the barons shold mete there ageyne, but alwey the ten knyghtes were ordeyned to watche the swerd day and nyght, and so they sette a pavelione over the stone and the swerd, and fyve alwayes watched.

  Soo at Candalmasse many moo grete lordes came thyder for to have wonne the swerde, but there myghte none prevaille. And right as Arthur dyd at Cristmasse he dyd at Candelmasse and pulled oute the swerde easely, wherof the barons were sore agreved and put it of in delay till the hyghe feste of Eester. And as Arthur sped afore so dyd he at Eester. Yet there were some of the grete lordes had indignacion that Arthur shold be kynge, and put it of in a delay tyll the feest of Pentecoste. Thenne the Archebisshop of Caunterbury by Merlyns provydence lete purveye thenne of the best knyghtes that they myghte gete, and suche knyghtes as Uther Pendragon loved best and moost trusted in his dayes. And suche knyghtes were put aboute Arthur as syr Bawdewyn of Bretayn, syre Kaynes, syre Ulfyus, syre Barsias; all these with many other were alweyes about Arthur day and nyghte till the feste of Pentecost.