ry which he
was destined by his valor and virtue to so richly adorn.

Shortly afterward Arthur was crowned king, with great pomp and ceremony,
before a noble assemblage of the lords and ladies of the realm, taking
solemn oath at the coronation to be true king to lords and commons, and
to deal justice to all while he should live.

Justice, indeed, was greatly and urgently demanded, for many wrongs had
been done since the death of King Uther, and numerous complaints were
laid before the throne. All these evils Arthur redressed, forcing those
who had wrongfully taken the lands of others to return them, and
demanding that all should submit to the laws of the realm. In compliance
with his promise, Sir Kay was made seneschal of England, while other
knights were appointed to the remaining high offices of the realm, and
all the needs of the kingdom duly provided for. Thus the famous reign of
King Arthur auspiciously began, with God's and man's blessing upon its
early days.

CHAPTER II.

ARTHUR'S WARS AND THE MYSTERY OF HIS BIRTH.

After Arthur was crowned king he removed into Wales, where he gave
orders that a great feast should be held on the coming day of Pentecost,
at the city of Carlion. On the day appointed for the feast there
appeared before Carlion the Kings of Lothian and Orkney, Gore, Garloth,
Carados, and Scotland, each with a large following of knights. Their
coming greatly pleased King Arthur, who believed that they desired to do
honor to his reign, and he sent presents of great value to them and to
their knights.

These they disdainfully refused, sending back a hostile challenge by the
messenger, and saying that they had not come to receive gifts from a
beardless boy, of ignoble blood, but to present him gifts with hard
swords between neck and shoulder. It was a shame, they said, to see such
a boy at the head of so noble a realm, and this wrong should be
redressed at their hands.

On receiving this defiant message, Arthur threw himself, with five
hundred good men, into a strong tower near Carlion, for he was ill
prepared for attack. There he was closely besieged by his foes, but the
castle was well victualled, and held out stoutly against its assailants.

During the siege Merlin appeared suddenly among the kings, and told them
privately who Arthur really was, assuring them that he was of nobler
blood than themselves, and was destined long to remain king of England,
and to reduce Scotland, Ireland,