Kabanata Kabanata 49 · How the Knights of the Round Table were ordained and their

. How the Knights of the Round Table were ordained and their

sieges blessed by the Bishop of Canterbury.

When King Arthur heard of the coming of Guenever and the hundred

knights with the Table Round, then King Arthur made great joy for her

coming, and that rich present, and said openly, This fair lady is

passing welcome unto me, for I have loved her long, and therefore there

is nothing so lief to me. And these knights with the Round Table please

me more than right great riches. And in all haste the king let ordain

for the marriage and the coronation in the most honourable wise that

could be devised. Now, Merlin, said King Arthur, go thou and espy me in

all this land fifty knights which be of most prowess and worship.

Within short time Merlin had found such knights that should fulfil

twenty and eight knights, but no more he could find. Then the Bishop of

Canterbury was fetched, and he blessed the sieges with great royalty

and devotion, and there set the eight and twenty knights in their

sieges. And when this was done Merlin said, Fair sirs, ye must all

arise and come to King Arthur for to do him homage; he will have the

better will to maintain you. And so they arose and did their homage,

and when they were gone Merlin found in every sieges letters of gold

that told the knights’ names that had sitten therein. But two sieges

were void. And so anon came young Gawaine and asked the king a gift.

Ask, said the king, and I shall grant it you. Sir, I ask that ye will

make me knight that same day ye shall wed fair Guenever. I will do it

with a good will, said King Arthur, and do unto you all the worship

that I may, for I must by reason ye are my nephew, my sister’s son.