The Sword in the Stone

Once, Thomas Malory tells us, there was a sword embedded in a stone, and it was prophesied that whosoever drew it out would be king. Young knight Arthur drew it out for his elder brother Sir Kay to use in a joust. Kay immediately claimed the crown, but his father Sir Ector made him confess who had really taken it.

Sir Ector listened as Arthur described finding the sword and removing it from the stone. When he learnt there had been no witnesses, he made Arthur repeat the feat again and again. He was not satisfied until both he and Kay had tried an failed, and it was clear that Arthur alone was their rightful King.

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British Myths and Legends (19) Sir Thomas Malory (2) Arthurian Legends (3) New Year (3) Extracts from Literature (459)

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