s were very important members of Arthur's
court. First of these came the Archbishop of Canterbury, who
held the highest place in the king's regard. It was his duty to
conduct the church services for Arthur and his followers, and to
christen, marry, and bury the people of Camelot. Next, Sir Ulfius
as chamberlain superintended the care of the king's rooms. Sir
Brastias, who was warden, superintended the servants. Sir Kay,
who was steward, had charge of all the food and the kitchen. Sir
Hector, as treasurer, took care of the king's gold and rendered
the accounts. Sir Geraint managed all the tournaments and outdoor
sports of the knights and squires. There were other officers to
help these, and all did their work faithfully and lovingly.

The knights whom Arthur chose to be members of his Round Table
were mostly selected from these officers. As members of this
order there were one hundred and fifty of the knights who had
shown themselves especially brave in battle and who were devoted
followers of the king. Next to being king, the greatest honor
which could fall to a warrior was to be made a member of the
Round Table, for all who belonged to the order were dedicated to
the service of God and mankind. There is no glory greater than
such a dedication.

In his great hall Arthur had placed a huge table, made round in
shape so that there should be neither head nor foot, a higher
place nor a lower place. Arthur wished all who sat there to be
equals. These chosen knights were to give him council in times of
peace and of war.

It was a solemn hour when the knights took their places. The
Archbishop of Canterbury blessed them and their seats. Then each
one came to Arthur, who stood at the top of the Assembly Hall,
and did him homage. Next they took their vows. They promised to
be brave and good, never false, or mean, or cruel. If anyone with
whom they fought begged for mercy, they would show him mercy. And
they vowed never to fight for a wrong cause or for money. Each
year at the feast of the Pentecost they were to repeat these
vows.

Other members of Arthur's Court were old, brave knights who could
no longer fight, but who liked to be near the king and his
warriors, and gave the wisdom of age and experience to his
councils; young, ambitious, and promising knights who had had but
little real experience in battle; and faithful squires who had
had no real experience at all. Boys from six to fourteen years
were pages. There were