Chapter ARTHUR to Arvida of A by Brewer's Readers Handbook

ARTHUR to Arvida

ARTHUR (King), parentag e of. His father was Uther the pendragon, and his mother Ygernê, widow of Gorloïs duke of Cornwall. Ygernê had been a widow only three hours, knew not that the duke was dead (pt. i. 2), and her marriage with the pendragon was was not consummated till thirteen days afterwards. When the boy was born Merlin took him, and he was brought up as the foster-son of sir Ector (Tennyson says “sir Anton”), till Merlin thought proper to announce him as the lawful successor of Uther, and had him crowned. Uther lived two years after his marriage with Ygernê.—Sir T. Malory: History of Prince Arthur, i. 2, 6 (1470).

Wherefore Merlin took the child
And gave him to sir Anton, an old knight
And ancient friend of Uther; and his wife
Nursed the young prince, and reared him with her own.
   —Tennyson: Coming of Arthur.

Coming of Arthur. Leodogran, king of Cameliard, appealed to Arthur to assist him in clearing his kingdom of robbers and wild beasts. This being done, Arthur sent three of his knights to Leodogran, to beg the hand of his daughter Guenever in marriage. To this Leodogran, after some little hesitation, agreed, and sir Lancelot was sent to escort the lady to Arthur’s court.

Arthur not dead. According to tradition Arthur is not dead, but rests in Glastonbury, “till he shall come again, full twice as fair, to rule over his people.” (See Barbarossa.)

According to tradition, Arthur never died, but was converted into a raven by enchantment, and will, in the fulness of time, appear again in his original shape, to recover his throne and sceptre. For this reason there is never a raven killed in England.—Cervantes: Don Quixote, I. ii. 5 (1605)

Arthur’s Twelve Battles (or victories over the Saxons). 1. The battle of the river Glem (i.e. the glen of Northumberland). 2 to 5. The four battles of the Duglas (which falls into the estuary of the Ribble). 6. The battle of Bássa, said to be Bashall Brook, which joins the Ribble near Clithere. 7. The battle of Celidon, said to be Tweeddale. 8. The battle of Castle Gwenion (i.e. Caer Wen, in Wedale, Stow). 9. The battle of Caerleon, i.e. Carlisle; which Tennyson makes to be Caerleon-upon-Usk. 10. The battle of Trath Treroit, in Anglesey, some say the Solway Frith. 11. The battle of Agned Cathregonion (i.e. Edinburgh). 12. The battle of Badon Hill (i.e. the Hill of Bath, now Bannerdown).

Then bravely chanted they
The several twelve pitched fields he [Arthur] with the Saxons fought.
   —Drayton: Polyolbion, iv. (1612).

Arthur, one of the Nine Worthies. Three were Gentiles: Hector, Alexander, and Julius Cæsar; three were Jews: Joshua, David, and Judas Maccabæus; three were Christians: Arthur, Charlemagne, and Godfrey of Bouillon.

Arthur’s Body found. In 1189 the body of king Arthur was found in Glastonbury Abbey, 16 feet under the surface. It was found under a stone, bearing the inscription, Hic jacit sepultus inclitus rex Arthurus in Insula Avallonia. The body had crumbled into dust, but a lock of golden-red hair was found, supposed to be that of his wife.—Sharon Turner: History of the Anglo-Saxons, p. 107.

Arthur’s Butler, sir Lucas or Lucan, son of duke Corneus; but sir Griflet, son of Cardol, assisted sir Key and sir Lucas “in the rule of the service.”—History of Prince Arthur, i. 8 (1470).

Arthur’s Dagger, Carnwenhan.

Arthur’s Dog, Caval.

Arthur’s Drinking-Horn. No one who was unchaste or unfaithful could drink from this horn. Lai du Corn and Morte d’Arthur. (See Chastity.)

Arthur’s Foster-Father and Mother, sir Ector and his lady. Their son, sir Key (his foster-brother), was his seneschal or steward.—Sir T. Malory: History of Prince Arthur, i. 3, 8 (1470).