The Death of King Arthur Read online

  ‘An unhappy custom,’ Balin replied.

  ‘It is only one knight.’

  ‘If I must joust, then I will,’ he said, ‘even though I have travelled many miles. My horse is weary, but my heart is still fresh.’

  ‘Sir,’ one knight said to him, ‘your shield is not good. I will lend you a bigger and better one, if you wish.’

  So Balin exchanged his shield for another, and rode out for battle. Before he could prepare himself a lady appeared and advanced towards him. ‘Oh, Balin!’ she cried. ‘What have you done? By your shield you would have been known. It would have protected you from any peril.’

  ‘I am sorry,’ he said, ‘that I ever came into this country. But I cannot turn back. That would bring shame upon me. I will face my fate, come what may. Life or death will be mine at the end of this day.’

  He blessed himself, and rode forward. He saw before him, riding out of the castle, a knight dressed in red; the warrior’s horse was harnessed in the same colour. He did not know that it was his own brother, Balan, who was preparing to charge him. Balan did not recognize the shield of Balin, borrowed for the occasion, and so the two brothers fought one another unawares. They clashed spears and shields so sharply that both men fell to the earth. Balan was the first to rise to his feet, and went after Balin with his drawn sword; Balin parried the thrust with his shield, and rose up for battle. They fought long and bitterly, until the ground was covered in their blood. Both of them by now were badly wounded and close to death. Balan, the younger brother, now withdrew himself a little and lay upon the earth.

  ‘What knight are you?’ Balin called to him. ‘I have never known any other man to match me as you have.’

  ‘I am Balan. I am brother to the mighty knight Balin.’

  ‘Oh God!’ Balin cried out. ‘Why have I lived to see this day?’ He fell backward in a faint. Balan crawled over to him and took off his helmet. But Balin’s face was so bloody and disfigured that he could not make out his features. But then Balin recovered from his faint, and cried out, ‘Oh, Balan, my brother! You have killed me, and I have killed you. All the wide world shall speak of us both!’

  ‘I did not know you, brother,’ Balan replied. ‘You were carrying the wrong shield, so I mistook you for another knight.’

  ‘Someone in this castle was plotting against us. I was given this shield. I wish I could destroy this place, and put down its evil customs.’

  ‘When I rode to this castle,’ his brother told him, ‘I was forced to confront a knight dressed in red. After I had defeated him I was doomed to remain here to challenge all newcomers. It would have happened to you.’

  The mistress of the castle then came out to them, and heard them moaning in their grief. ‘We came out of the same womb,’ Balan said to her. ‘We spring from the same mother’s belly. So bury us together here, where we fought in battle.’ Graciously she granted them their wish. She sent for a priest who anointed them and read the last rites to them.

  ‘When we are buried in the same tomb,’ Balin said, ‘make mention of the fact that we were two brothers who fought and slew one another by sorrowful mischance. No worthy knight or good man will see this sepulchre without praying for our souls.’ Then Balin died, and his brother breathed his last at midnight. The lady set up the tomb, and recorded there the fact that Balan had been killed by his brother. But she did not know the name of Balin.

  Then Merlin came to this tomb, and inscribed his own message in letters of gold: HERE LIES BALIN THE SAVAGE. HE WAS KNOWN AS THE KNIGHT WITH TWO SWORDS. IT WAS HE WHO DELIVERED THE DOLOROUS STROKE. Merlin also made a bed out of magical wood, so that any man who lay in it would go out of his wits. Only Lancelot, in later years, was able to break the spell.

  By his sorcery Merlin also buried the tip of the sword in a stone of marble that, in years to come, would float down the river to the city of Camelot that is in English called Winchester. Here it would come under the gaze of the high prince, Galahad. This story is to be told in the Book of the Holy Grail, the holiest book in the world.

  Arthur and Guinevere

  In these first far-off days of Arthur’s reign, the king relied very much on Merlin’s counsel. So there came a time when he came to him and spoke thus: ‘My barons will let me have no rest, Merlin, until I take a wife. But I will not choose a lady without your wisdom and advice.’

  Merlin’s warning

  ‘They are right, sire,’ he replied, ‘to press you so. A king should always have a consort. Is there anyone you love more than another?’

  ‘There is indeed. Guinevere is the daughter of King Lodegreaunce, the lord of the land of Camelerd. She is the fairest and most fearless woman I have ever met in my life.’

  ‘I grant you that she is the loveliest. But if you waited a little, I could find you another lady of beauty and of wisdom. But once a man’s heart is set, there he will abide.’

  ‘True in my case.’

  Then Merlin warned Arthur that Guinevere in time would cause him great anguish – that Sir Lancelot would fall in love with her and that she would return his love. All this turned out as he predicted. Then he told the king certain secret matters concerning the Holy Grail, about which the old books are silent.

  The magician then travelled to the court of King Lodegreaunce, and informed him of Arthur’s proposal of marriage. ‘That is the best news I have ever heard,’ Lodegreaunce told him. ‘I cannot think of a better husband for her. I would give all my lands as a dowry, but I know that he has territory enough. I will send him a gift that will please him even more. I will dispatch to him the Round Table that his father, Uther Pendragon, granted to me. It can seat one hundred and fifty good knights. I have one hundred of my own, but the other fifty have been killed during the course of my reign.’

  So King Lodegreaunce, with his daughter and one hundred knights, made their way to the court of Arthur at Winchester. When they arrived at the city, they were royally greeted. Arthur was filled with joy at their coming. ‘This is the fairest lady in the land,’ he said, ‘and most worthy to be my wife. And this Round Table pleases me more than gold and riches. The knights that sit here will surpass all others in the world. It will be the source and spring of great adventures. I am sure of it.’

  A feast was then prepared and, on the next day, Arthur and Guinevere were married with great solemnity in the abbey church of the city. They were taken in chairs of state along the nave of the great church to the sound of sacring bells ringing all around them; a cross of gold, six feet in height, was carried before them, and at the end of the ceremony they kissed it five times in token of the five wounds of Christ.

  The doom of Merlin

  It so happened that Merlin also fell madly in love with a young woman, once a companion of the Lady of the Lake; her name was Nineve. He would never let her rest, but followed her everywhere; she flattered him, and pretended to welcome his favours, until she had learned all she needed from him. Still he was besotted by her, and could not be brought from her side.

  Merlin also told Arthur many secrets. He said that he himself would not live for much longer, and that he would be buried alive in the earth. He informed the king of many ills that would beset him, too, and warned him to keep safe his sword and scabbard. ‘Yet this also is true,’ he told him. ‘Your sword and scabbard will be stolen from you by a woman whom you trust most in the world. She wishes to take Excalibur from you. Then you will miss me, sir. Then you would rather have my wisdom than all of your wealth.’

  ‘To be buried alive is a terrible thing,’ the king replied. ‘But if you see your fate so clearly, why can you not avert it by the force of your magic?’

  ‘It cannot be. This is my destiny. But I do not know the day when it will come.’

  At this time Nineve left the court and Merlin rode beside her. Wherever she went, he was with her. He tried to seduce her with the wiles of his sorcery, but he did not succeed. Then she made him swear an oath that he would not try to take her by force of enchantment or any spell.
Together they went overseas to the court of King Ban in the region of Benwick, in the land of France, where Merlin spoke with the wife of the king. Her name was Elaine. There also he saw young Lancelot. When Elaine told Merlin that her lands were being ravaged by King Claudas of the Desert, he pointed to the boy. ‘Be comforted, madam,’ he said, ‘within twenty years this child will pursue your cause against Claudas. He will overcome that wicked king. All Christendom will marvel at his bravery. The boy will be the foremost warrior in the world. His baptismal name was Galahad. But you have since confirmed him as Lancelot.’

  ‘That is correct. His name was indeed once Galahad. How did you know that?’ The magician smiled, and said nothing. ‘Ah, Merlin, can it be true that I will live to see my son a man of prowess?’

  ‘Yes, madam, you will see it. The name of Lancelot will ring around the world. And you will live for many years.’

  Merlin and Nineve went on their way soon after, and he showed her many marvels. He taught her how to talk to the animals of the forest, and how to still a tempest. All the while he schemed to take her, by fair means or foul, but she had grown tired of him. She longed to be rid of him. He was the son of the devil, however, and could not be escaped so easily. One day he was showing her a great wonder concealed within a rock, and she persuaded him to work his way beneath it; but he was caught there by a spell he had taught her, in a cavern beneath the rock, and no manner of magic could release him. So she went on her way rejoicing, while Merlin was buried alive.

  Arthur’s battle with the five kings

  Meanwhile King Arthur had moved with his court from Winchester to Carlisle, where came to him unwelcome news. A messenger told him that five kings had invaded his land, and were intent upon burning all the castles and cities they could find. They were the King of Ireland, the King of Denmark, the King of the Vale, the King of Sorleyse and the King of the Island of Longtains.

  ‘Ah,’ Arthur cried out, ‘I have never known one month of repose since I took up the crown. I have lost the key to contentment. I shall not be able to rest until I have met these five kings on the fair field of battle. I cannot allow my subjects to be slaughtered. Come with me who will, and the others abide here.’

  Arthur then wrote to King Pellinor asking him to come to his aid, with as many men as he could muster. He also summoned his lords, and tenants-in-chief, and ordered them to gather their forces for the fight. Then the king came into the chamber of his queen, Guinevere, and gathered her up in his arms. ‘Madam,’ he said, ‘make yourself ready to ride alongside me. I cannot leave you here. I would miss you too much. Besides you will instil bravery in me. I will defend you at all costs.’

  ‘Sir,’ she replied, ‘I am yours to command.’

  So the king and queen, with all the company they could muster, travelled south-east through the moors and the marshes; they eventually couched themselves in a forest beside the River Humber. When news of their arrival reached the five kings they were counselled by one of their kinsmen. ‘You know well enough,’ he said to them, ‘that Arthur’s knights are praised the world over for their might and their valour. So make your way to them as quickly as you can; if you delay, the king will only grow the stronger. Supporters will join him, and his army will gather more force.’

  The five kings considered this advice and, after some argument, accepted it. So with their armies they left North Wales and travelled across the country towards him. They reached Arthur by the onset of night, when the king and his knights were resting in their pavilions. Sir Kay had just told him that it was unwise to sleep unarmed, but Sir Gawain had replied that there was no need. Yet then there came a great cry and calls of ‘Treason!’

  ‘Alas!’ Arthur shouted. ‘We have been caught unawares! To arms! To arms!’

  A wounded knight entered the pavilion and came up to the king. ‘Sire,’ he said, ‘save yourself and the queen. Our army is surrounded, and many of our men have been slain.’

  So Arthur, Guinevere and three knights took horse and rode towards the Humber. The waters were so high and so rough, however, that they hesitated on the shore. ‘It is your choice,’ the king said to his wife. ‘Do you wish to tempt the waves, or stay on this side of the river where the enemy might find you?’

  ‘I would rather drown,’ Guinevere said, ‘than fall into the hands of those men.’

  Even as they stood talking Sir Kay saw the five kings approaching on horseback with spears in their hands. ‘They have come alone,’ he said. ‘Let us ride out and force them to combat.’

  ‘That would be foolish,’ Sir Gawain told him. ‘They are five. We are only four.’

  ‘So? I will take care of two of them myself, leaving only three.’

  He charged forward and caught one of the kings with his spear, killing him instantly. Gawain galloped out and gave the second king such a stroke that he fell dead to the ground. Arthur dispatched a third, and Sir Griflet gave the fourth king a blow that broke his neck. Sir Kay, true to his word, dispatched the fifth king with his sword.

  ‘Well done, Sir Kay,’ Arthur told him. ‘You have kept your promise. You are a man of worship.’

  Then they placed the queen in a barge so that she might cross the river. Before she was borne away from the bank she addressed Sir Kay. ‘If any lady were to reject your love and loyalty,’ she said, ‘she would be greatly to blame. I shall report your noble fame to all whom I meet. You spoke a great word and performed a great deed.’

  The king and the three knights then rode back to the forest to find the remnants of their army, and they told the survivors that the five kings were dead. ‘So let us rest here till daylight,’ Arthur declared to them. ‘When the enemy learn that their leaders have been killed, there will be sorrow and suffering out of measure.’ And so it was. When they were told of the fate of their kings, the armies were lost in loud lament. Arthur took advantage of their grief, and rode out against them. With a few hundred of his companions he led a charge, slashing on all sides; his forces killed some thirty thousand men, and after the fight not one of the enemy was left alive. Of his own men, two hundred were dead, eight of them being knights of the Round Table. So the king kneeled down upon the field of battle and thanked God for his great victory. On the site of the battle he raised and endowed an abbey in memory of his triumph, and he called it the Abbey of Good Adventure. Yet it was not good for his enemies; they were all heavy of heart. The kings of the North, and of Wales, were mournful that Arthur had grown so great in their midst.

  The king returned to Camelot soon after, and called to him King Pellinor. ‘You have heard,’ he said, ‘that eight of my best knights have been killed. There are empty seats at the Round Table. Whom shall I choose to take their place?’

  ‘Sir, I will give you the best counsel I can. At your court there are old knights and young knights. Choose four of each.’

  ‘Which of the old do you prefer?’

  ‘I would take King Uriens, who has married your sister Morgan le Fay, and then the King of the Lake. Finally I would choose Sir Hervis de Revel, a noble knight, and Sir Galagars.’

  ‘All good men,’ the king replied. ‘And what of the young?’

  ‘The first among them must be Sir Gawain, your nephew, who is as good a knight as any in this kingdom. Then I would select Sir Griflet and Sir Kay as worthy warriors. As for the fourth, you may choose between Sir Bagdemagus and my son, Sir Tor. I cannot speak for my son, of course, except to say that there is no better knight of his age in the land. He has done no wrong, and has deserved much praise.’

  ‘You are telling the truth,’ Arthur replied. ‘I have seen the proof of your son’s prowess. He says little, but he does much. I will take him at this time, and leave Sir Bagdemagus for another occasion.’

  So the knights were all chosen and, after the barons had assented, they were led to their seats at the Round Table with much acclamation. Sir Bagdemagus was angry at having been excluded, with Sir Tor advanced before him. So he left the court with his squire and went in sear
ch of adventure.

  They had been riding all day in a dark wood when they came upon a stone cross in a secluded grove. Sir Bagdemagus and his squire dismounted and kneeled down in prayer. Then the squire noted some words inscribed upon the stone. ‘Do you see these words, sir? They say that Bagdemagus should not return to court until he has seen a wonder.’

  ‘That is the way to win worship,’ Bagdemagus said. ‘I will become worthy of the Round Table.’

  They went on their way, and Bagdemagus found beside a little path a herb so holy that it was a sign or token of the Holy Grail itself. ‘This is the wonder,’ Bagdemagus said. ‘This herb cannot be seen in the ordinary light of day. It is visible only in the light of holiness. No man could find it if he were not blessed.’

  It so happened that on this same journey he came upon the great rock where Merlin had been consigned by Nineve. As soon as he heard the magician wailing and sighing, he dismounted and strode over to the rock. He tried to lift it, but it would have taken the strength of a hundred men to move it one inch. Merlin told him to leave off his labour, since only the lady herself could release him. ‘I am doomed to lie here,’ he said, ‘until she relents.’ So the knight departed and, after many adventures, returned to the court of King Arthur where he was made one of the order of the Round Table.

  The Wickedness of Morgan le Fay

  It happened one day that Arthur, with many of his knights, went hunting in a great forest. The king caught sight of a white hart slipping between the trees and, in the company of King Uriens and Sir Accolon of Gaul, went in pursuit of it. The three of them were well horsed and they rode so hard that they were soon separated from the rest of the hunt; they had not gone ten miles before their horses fell exhausted to the ground. They continued on foot, but the hart still fled before them.