Arthur’s Twelve Battles (or victories over the Saxons).  I. 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 Bassa, said to be Bashall Brook, which joins the Ribble near Clithero. 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.  M. Drayton, Polyolbion, iv. (1612).

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

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).

N.B.—­Tennyson makes sir Anton the foster-father of Arthur.

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 Sisters [half-sisters], Morgause or Margawse (wife of king Lot); Elain (wife of king Nentres of Carlot); and Morgan le Fay, the “great clark of Nigromancy,” who wedded king Vrience, of the land of Core, father of Ewayns le Blanchemayne.  Only the last had the same mother (Ygraine or Ygerne) as the king.—­Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur, i. 2.

Arthur’s Sons—­Urien, Llew, and Arawn.  Borre was his son by Lyonors, daughter of the earl Sanam.—­History of Prince Arthur, i. 15.  Mordred was his son by Elain, wife of king Nentres of Carlot.  In some of the romances collated by sir T. Malory he is called the son of Morgause and Arthur; Morgause being called the wife of king Lot, and sister of Arthur.  This incest is said to have been the cause of Mordred’s hatred of Arthur.—­Pt. i. 17, 36, etc.

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

Arthur’s Shield, Pridwin.  Geoffrey calls it Priwen, and says it was adorned with the picture of the Virgin Mary.—­British History, ix. 4 (1142).

Arthur’s Spear, Rone.  Geoffrey calls it Ron.  It was made of ebony.—­British History, ix. 4 (1142).