ow, and asked Merlin
what counsel were best. There is none other remedy, said Merlin, but God
will have his will. But look ye all barons be before King Uther to-morn,
and God and I shall make him to speak. So on the morn all the barons
with Merlin came to-fore 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 Pendragon 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 longed to a king. Wherefore the
queen, fair Igraine, made great sorrow, and all the barons.

CHAPTER V. How Arthur was chosen king, and of wonders and marvels of a
sword taken out of a stone by the said Arthur.

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 or 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 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 pra