Now when Merlin carried away Arthur—­for Merlin was the old man who had stood at the postern-gate—­he had known all that would happen, and had taken the child to keep him safe from the fierce barons until he should be of age to rule wisely and well, and perform all the wonders prophesied of him.  He gave the child to the care of the good knight Sir Ector to bring up with his son Kay, but revealed not to him that it was the son of Uther Pendragon that was given into his charge.

At last, when years had passed and Arthur was grown a tall youth well skilled in knightly exercises, Merlin went to the Archbishop of Canterbury and advised him that he should call together at Christmas-time all the chief men of the realm to the great cathedral in London; “For,” said Merlin, “there shall be seen a great marvel by which it shall be made clear to all men who is the lawful King of this land.”  The Archbishop did as Merlin counselled.  Under pain of a fearful curse, he bade barons and knights come to London to keep the feast, and to pray heaven to send peace to the realm.

The people hastened to obey the Archbishop’s commands, and, from all sides, barons and knights came riding in to keep the birth-feast of our Lord.  And when they had prayed, and were coming forth from the cathedral, they saw a strange sight.  There, in the open space before the church, stood, on a great stone, an anvil thrust through with a sword; and on the stone were written these words:  “Whoso can draw forth this sword, is rightful King of Britain born.”

At once there were fierce quarrels, each man clamouring to be the first to try his fortune, none doubting his own success.  Then the Archbishop decreed that each should make the venture in turn, from the greatest baron to the least knight; and each in turn, having put forth his utmost strength, failed to move the sword one inch, and drew back ashamed.  So the Archbishop dismissed the company, and having appointed guards to watch over the stone, sent messengers through all the land to give word of great jousts to be held in London at Easter, when each knight could give proof of his skill and courage, and try whether the adventure of the sword was for him.

Among those who rode to London at Easter was the good Sir Ector, and with him his son, Sir Kay, newly made a knight, and the young Arthur.  When the morning came that the jousts should begin, Sir Kay and Arthur mounted their horses and set out for the lists; but before they reached the field, Kay looked and saw that he had left his sword behind.  Immediately Arthur turned back to fetch it for him, only to find the house fast shut, for all were gone to view the tournament.  Sore vexed was Arthur, fearing lest his brother Kay should lose his chance of gaining glory, till, of a sudden, he bethought him of the sword in the great anvil before the cathedral.  Thither he rode with all speed, and the guards having deserted their post to view the tournament, there was none to forbid him the adventure.  He leaped from his horse, seized the hilt, and instantly drew forth the sword as easily as from a scabbard; then, mounting his horse and thinking no marvel of what he had done, he rode after his brother and handed him the weapon.