The chapter begins with the realm of England in great peril after the death of Uther Pendragon.  Merlin goes to the Archbishop of Canterbury to discuss the jeopardy of the realm.  He councils the Archbishop to send for all the lords of the realm and gentlemen of arms to come to London by Christmas; he hoped that on that day Jesus would perform a miracle giving them a new king.  The Archbishop agreed, and sends the arrangement throughout the realm.

When the lords and gentlemen arrive at the greatest church in London for mass, they discover a sword sticking out of a stone in the churchyard where engraved was this message: “Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil, is rightwise king born of all England.”  The Lords and gentlemen went to the Archbishop to tell him the good news, but he decreed “I command that ye keep you within your church and pray unto God still, that no man touch the sword till the high mass be all done.”  After all the masses were done, all the lords and gentlemen went out to the churchyard where they admired the stone.  The Archbishop decreed that ten knights of fame should compete for the sword on New Years day, for it was that day the Archbishop believed God would make known the new king.

Upon New Years day the tournament began with jousting and tourneys.  Among the competitors were Sir Ector and his son Sir Kay whom had been knighted at All Hallowmass, accompanied by young Arthur.  On their way to the joust, Sir Kay realized he had lost his sword and sent Arthur to retrieve a new one from their home in London.  When Arthur arrived at the house he realized that everyone in the family was at the joust.  Arthur said unto himself “I will ride to the churchyard, and take the sword with me that sticketh in the stone, for my brother Sir Kay shall not be without a sword this day.”  When he arrived at the churchyard, he went to the tent to find that no knights were there.  He went to the sword in the stone and lightly pulled it out of the stone!  Arthur brought it to his brother Sir Kay - who immediately recognized the sword.  Together, Arthur and Kay rode to their father Sir Ector and Kay said “Sir, lo here is the sword of the stone, wherefore I must be king of this land.”  Sir Ector took the sword back to the church where he made Sir Kay swear upon the Holy Book how he came to the sword.  It was then that Sir Kay admitted that it was Arthur who brought him the sword.  Sir Ector went on to question Arthur who said, “Sir, I will tell you. When I came home for my brother’s sword, I found nobody at home to deliver me his sword; and so I thought my brother Sir Kay should not be sword less, and so I hurried to the stone in the churchyard and pulled this sword out of the stone without any pain.” Sir Ector then exclaimed that Arthur was king of the land.  He tells Arthur to put the sword back into the stone so he, Sir Ector can try.  He tried with all his might, but failed to do what Arthur had done with ease.

Written by Brent Miller Class of 09’