his noble acts, and also of his fall.
Also Galfridus in his British book recounteth his life: and in divers
places of England many remembrances be yet of him, and shall remain
perpetually, and also of his knights. First in the abbey of Westminster,
at St. Edward's shrine, remaineth the print of his seal in red wax
closed in beryl, in which is written, Patricius Arthurus Britannie,
Gallie, Germanie, Dacie, Imperator. Item in the castle of Dover ye may
see Gawaine's skull, and Cradok's mantle: at Winchester the Round Table:
in other places Launcelot's sword and many other things. Then all these
things considered, there can no man reasonably gainsay but there was
a king of this land named Arthur. For in all places, Christian and
heathen, he is reputed and taken for one of the nine worthy, and the
first of the three Christian men. And also, he is more spoken of beyond
the sea, more books made of his noble acts, than there be in England, as
well in Dutch, Italian, Spanish, and Greekish, as in French. And yet of
record remain in witness of him in Wales, in the town of Camelot, the
great stones and the marvellous works of iron lying under the ground,
and royal vaults, which divers now living have seen. Wherefore it is
a marvel why he is no more renowned in his own country, save only it
accordeth to the Word of God, which saith that no man is accepted for a
prophet in his own country.

Then all these things aforesaid alleged, I could not well deny but that
there was such a noble king named Arthur, and reputed one of the nine
worthy, and first and chief of the Christian men. And many noble volumes
be made of him and of his noble knights in French, which I have seen
and read beyond the sea, which be not had in our maternal tongue. But in
Welsh be many and also in French, and some in English but nowhere nigh
all. Wherefore, such as have late been drawn out briefly into English
I have after the simple conning that God hath sent to me, under the
favour and correction of all noble lords and gentlemen, enprised to
imprint a book of the noble histories of the said King Arthur, and of
certain of his knights, after a copy unto me delivered, which copy Sir
Thomas Malorye did take out of certain books of French, and reduced it
into English. And I, according to my copy, have done set it in imprint,
to the intent that noble men may see and learn the noble acts of
chivalry, the gentle and virtuous deeds that some knights used in those
days,