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LA LEYENDA ARTRICAPRIMEROS TESTIMONIOS
Sidonio Apolinar, carta a Riothamus (ca. 472)
SidoniusRiothamosuosalutem.
1. Servaturnostri consuetudo sermonis:namquemiscemus cum salutatione querimoniam,non
omninohuic rei studentes,ut stilusnoster sitofficiosus in titulis,asper inpaginis, sedquodea
sempereveniunt,dequibuslocimeiautordinishominemconstatinconciliari,siloquatur,peccare,
sitaceat.sedetipsisarcinamvestripudorisinspicimus,cuiushaecsemperverecundiafuit,utpro
culpiserubesceretisalienis.
2. gerulus epistularum humilis obscurus despicabilisque etiam usque ad damnum innocentis
ignaviaemancipia sua Britannis clam sollicitantibus abducta deplorat. incertummihi est an sit
certacausatio;
sed
si
inter
coram
positos
aequanimiter
obiecta
discingitis,
arbitror
hunc
laboriosum posse probare quod obicit, si tamen inter argutos armatos tumultuosos, virtute
numero contubernio contumaces, poterit ex aequo et bono solus inermis, abiectus rusticus,
peregrinuspauperaudiri.vale.
[1] IWILLwriteoncemore inmyusualstrain,minglingcomplimentwithgrievance.
Not that I at all desire to follow up the firstwords of greetingwith disagreeable
subjects,butthingsseemtobealwayshappeningwhichamanofmyorderandinmy
positioncanneithermentionwithoutunpleasantness,norpassoverwithoutneglect
ofduty.YetIdomybesttoremembertheburdensomeanddelicatesenseofhonour
whichmakes
you
so
ready
to
blush
for
others'
faults.
[2]
The
bearer
of
this
is
an
obscureandhumbleperson,soharmless,insignificant,andhelplessthatheseemsto
invitehisowndiscomfiture;hisgrievanceisthattheBretonsaresecretlyenticinghis
slavesaway.Whetherhis indictment isatrueone, Icannotsay;but ifyoucanonly
confrontthepartiesanddecidethematteronitsmerits,Ithinktheunfortunateman
maybeabletomakegoodhischarge,ifindeedastrangerfromthecountryunarmed,
abjectandimpecunioustoboot,haseverachanceofafairorkindlyhearingagainst
adversarieswithalltheadvantageshe lacks,arms,astuteness,turbulences,andthe
aggressivespiritofmenbackedbynumerousfriends.Farewell.
EpistolasIII,9.
Gildas,De excidio Britanniae (ca. 540)
Chapter23
Thenallthecouncillors,togetherwiththatproudtyrantGurthrigern[Vortigern],theBritishking,
weresoblinded,that,asaprotectiontotheircountry,theysealeditsdoombyinvitinginamong
them(likewolvesintothesheepfold),thefierceandimpiousSaxons,aracehatefulbothtoGod
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andmen, to repel the invasionsof thenorthernnations.Nothingwaseversopernicious toour
country,nothingwaseversounlucky.Whatpalpabledarknessmusthaveenvelopedtheirminds
darknessdesperateandcruel!Thoseverypeoplewhom,whenabsent, theydreadedmore than
death itself,were invited to reside, as onemay say, under the selfsame roof. Foolish are the
princes,as it issaid,ofThafneos,givingcounseltounwisePharaoh.Amultitudeofwhelpscame
forthfrom
the
lair
of
this
barbaric
lioness,
in
three
cyuls,
as
they
call
them,
that
is,
in
three
ships
of
war,with their sailswaftedby thewindandwithomensandprophecies favourable, for itwas
foretoldbyacertainsoothsayeramongthem,thattheyshouldoccupythecountrytowhichthey
weresailingthreehundredyears,andhalfofthattime,ahundredandfiftyyears,shouldplunder
anddespoilthesame.Theyfirst landedontheeasternsideoftheisland,bytheinvitationofthe
unluckyking,and there fixed their sharp talons,apparently to fight in favourof the island,but
alas!moretrulyagainstit.Theirmotherland,findingherfirstbroodthussuccessful,sendsfortha
largercompanyofherwolfishoffspring,whichsailingover,jointhemselvestotheirbastardborn
comrades.From that time thegermof iniquityand the rootofcontentionplanted theirpoison
amongstus,aswedeserved,andshotforth into leavesandbranches.Thebarbariansbeingthus
introducedas
soldiers
into
the
island,
to
encounter,
as
they
falsely
said,
any
dangers
in
defence
of
their hospitable entertainers, obtain an allowance of provisions, which, for some time being
plentifullybestowed,stoppedtheirdoggishmouths.Yettheycomplainthattheirmonthlysupplies
are not furnished in sufficient abundance, and they industriously aggravate each occasion of
quarrel,sayingthatunlessmore liberality isshownthem,theywillbreakthetreatyandplunder
thewholeisland.Inashorttime,theyfollowuptheirthreatswithdeeds.
Chapter24
For the fireof vengeance,justly kindledby former crimes, spread from sea to sea, fedby the
hands
of
our
foes
in
the
east,
and
did
not
cease,
until,
destroying
the
neighbouring
towns
and
lands,itreachedtheothersideoftheisland,anddippeditsredandsavagetongueinthewestern
ocean.Intheseassaults,therefore,notunlikethatoftheAssyrianuponJudea,wasfulfilledinour
case what the prophet describes in words of lamentation: They have burned with fire the
sanctuary; they have polluted on earth the tabernacle of thy name. And again, O God, the
gentileshavecome intothine inheritance;thyholytemplehavetheydefiled,&c.Sothatallthe
columns were levelledwith the ground by the frequent strokes of the batteringram, all the
husbandmenrouted,togetherwiththeirbishops,priests,andpeople,whilsttheswordgleamed,
and the flames crackledaround themonevery side.Lamentable tobehold, in themidstof the
streets lay the tops of lofty towers, tumbled to the ground, stones of highwalls, holy altars,
fragments
of
human
bodies,
covered
with
livid
clots
of
coagulated
blood,
looking
as
if
they
had
beensqueezedtogether inapress;andwithnochanceofbeingburied,save intheruinsofthe
houses,or in theraveningbelliesofwildbeastsandbirds;withreverencebe itspoken for their
blessed souls, if, indeed, thereweremany foundwhowere carried,at that time, into thehigh
heavenby theholyangels.Soentirelyhad thevintage,once so fine,degeneratedandbecome
bitter,that,inthewordsoftheprophet,therewashardlyagrapeorearofcorntobeseenwhere
thehusbandmanhadturnedhisback.
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Chapter25
Some, therefore, of themiserable remnant, being taken in themountains,weremurdered in
greatnumbers;others,constrainedbyfamine,cameandyieldedthemselvestobeslavesforever
to their foes, running the riskofbeing instantly slain,which trulywas the greatest favour that
couldbe
offered
them:
some
others
passed
beyond
the
seas
with
loud
lamentations
instead
of
the
voiceofexhortation.Thouhastgivenusassheeptobeslaughtered,andamongtheGentileshast
thou dispersed us. Others, committing the safeguard of their lives, which were in continual
jeopardy,tothemountains,precipices,thicklywoodedforests,andtotherocksoftheseas(albeit
with trembling hearts), remained still in their country. But in themeanwhile, an opportunity
happening,whenthesemostcruelrobberswerereturnedhome,thepoorremnantsofournation
(towhom flocked fromdiversplaces roundaboutourmiserable countrymenas fastasbees to
theirhives, for fearofanensuing storm),being strengthenedbyGod,callinguponhimwithall
theirhearts,as thepoet says, With theirunnumbered vows theyburdenheaven, that they
mightnotbebroughttoutterdestruction,tookarmsundertheconductofAmbrosiusAurelianus,
amodest
man,
who
of
all
the
Roman
nation
was
then
alone
in
the
confusion
of
this
troubled
periodbychance leftalive.Hisparents,who for theirmeritwereadornedwith thepurple,had
been slain in these same broils, and now his progeny in these our days, although shamefully
degeneratedfromtheworthinessoftheirancestors,provoketobattletheircruelconquerors,and
bythegoodnessofourLordobtainthevictory.
Chapter26
Afterthis,sometimesourcountrymen,sometimestheenemy,wonthefield,totheendthatour
Lordmight in this landtryafterhisaccustomedmannerthesehis Israelites,whether they loved
himornot,untiltheyearofthesiegeofMountBadon[Note:GilestranslatesBadonicimontisas
ofBath
hill],
when
took
place
also
the
last
almost,
though
not
the
least
slaughter
of
our
cruel
foes,whichwas(asIamsure)fortyfouryearsandonemonthafterthelandingoftheSaxons,and
alsothetimeofmyownnativity.Andyetneithertothisdayarethecitiesofourcountryinhabited
asbefore,butbeing forsakenandoverthrown,still liedesolate;our foreignwarshavingceased,
butourciviltroublesstillremaining.Foraswelltheremembranceofsuchaterribledesolationof
the island,asalsooftheunexpectedrecoveryofthesame,remained inthemindsofthosewho
were eyewitnesses of the wonderful events of both, and in regard thereof, kings, public
magistrates,andprivatepersons,withpriestsandclergymen,didallandeveryoneofthem live
orderlyaccordingtotheirseveralvocations.Butwhenthesehaddepartedoutofthisworld,anda
newracesucceeded,whowereignorantofthistroublesometime,andhadonlyexperienceofthe
presentprosperity,all the lawsof truthandjusticewere so shakenand subverted, thatnot so
muchasavestigeorremembranceofthesevirtuesremainedamongtheabovenamedordersof
men,exceptamongaveryfewwho,comparedwiththegreatmultitudewhichweredailyrushing
headlongdowntohell,areaccountedsosmallanumber,thatourreverendmother,thechurch,
scarcelybeholdsthem,heronlytruechildren,reposinginherbosom;whoseworthylives,beinga
patterntoallmen,andbelovedofGod,inasmuchasbytheirholyprayers,asbycertainpillarsand
mostprofitablesupporters,ourinfirmityissustainedup,thatitmaynotutterlybebrokendown,I
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would have no one suppose I intended to reprove, if forced by the increasing multitude of
offences, Ihave freely,aye,withanguish,not somuchdeclaredasbewailed thewickednessof
thosewho are become servants, not only to their bellies, but also to the devil rather than to
Christ,whoisourblessedGod,worldwithoutend.
Jordanes,De origine actibusque Getarum (469)
[234]Despusde llevara caboestashazaasyde instaurar lapazenestos territorios,muri
Teodoredoeneldcimoterceraodesureinado.
[235]SuhermanoEuricofueobjetodegravessospechasporsuapresuradodeseodesucederlo.Y
mientras estos yotros sucesos tenan lugar entre los visigodos, el emperadorValentiniano fue
asesinadoatraicinporMximo,yesteMximoocupeltronocomounusurpador.Cuandose
enterdeestoGiserico,reydelosvndalos,marchconunaflotadesdefricahasta Italia,entr
enRoma
yla
asol.
Mximo,
por
su
parte,
fue
asesinado
en
su
huida
por
un
soldado
romano
llamadoUrso.[236].Despusdeeste,porordendeMarciano,elemperadordeOriente,recibiel
encargodegobernarel ImperiodeOccidenteMayoriano,perono reinmucho tiempo,porque
cuandodirigasuejrcitocontra losalanosquedevastaban lasGaliasmurienTortona,juntoal
roque se conoce comoHira. Severo ocup su lugar ymuri enRoma en el tercer aode su
reinado. Viendo esto, el emperador Len, que haba sucedido en el Imperio de Oriente a
Marciano,escogiasupatricioAntemioylonombremperadordeRoma.Tanprontocomolleg
aRomaenvicontra losalanosa suyernoRicimero,unhombredestacadoyprobablementeel
nicoporentoncesenItaliacapazdedirigirunejrcito.stevenci inmediatamentea lasturbas
delosalanosyasureyBeorgoyadesdeelprimercombateyconsiguianiquilarlostotalmente.
[237].Aspues,elreyvisigodoEurico,viendoque losemperadoresromanossesucedanunosa
otros con tanta rapidez, intent someter las Galias a su propio dominio. Cuando se puso al
corrientedeelloelemperadorAntemio,pidiayudaa losbretones,cuyoreyRitimoacudia la
ciudaddeBourgescondocemilhombresyallfueacogidodespusdedesembarcardesusnavos
salidosdelOcano.[238].ElreyvisigodoEuricoacudiasuencuentroalacabezadeunnumeroso
ejrcitoy,despusdecombatirdurantebastantetiempocontraelreybretnRiotimo,hizoquese
retiraraantesdeque los romanospudieran reunirse con l. ste,despusdeperderuna gran
partedesuejrcito,huyconlosquepudoalvecinoterritoriodelosburgundios,queestabanala
saznfederadosconlosromanos.Porsuparte,elreyvisigodoEuricoocuplaciudaddeArverna
cuandoel
emperador
Antemio
ya
haba
fallecido,
despus
de
haber
asolado
la
Romania
con
una
guerra civil contra su yernoRicimero ydedejarel tronoaOlimbrio,almoriramanosdeeste
mismoyerno.
Jordanes,Origenygestadelosgodos,Ed.ytrad.deJosMa.SnchezMartn,Madrid,Ctedra,2001(LetrasUniversales)
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Elegyof Geraint, poema en gals antiguo (ca. 480)BeforeGeraint,theenemysscourge,Isawwhitehorses,tensed,red,
Afterthe
war
cry,
bitter
the
grave.
BeforeGeraint,theunflinchingfoe,Isawhorsesjadedandgoryfrombattle,Afterthewarcry,agreatdrivingforce
BeforeGeraint,theenemyoftyranny,Isawhorseswhitewithfoam,Afterthewarcry,aterribletorrent.
InLlongborthIsawtherageofslaughter,
Andbiers
beyond
all
number,
AndredstainedmenfromtheassaultofGeraint.
InLlongborth,Isawtheclashofswords,Meninterror,bloodyheads,BeforeGerainttheGreat,hisfathersson.
InLlongborthIsawspurs,Andmenwhodidnotflinchfromthedreadofthespears,Whodranktheirwinefromthebrightglass.
InLlongborthIsawtheweapons,
Ofmen,
and
blood
fast
dropping,
Afterthewarcry,afearfulreturn.
InLlongborthIsawArthurs EnLlongborthvialosheroesdeArturoHeroeswhocutwithsteel. Quienescortanconacero.TheEmperor,rulerofourlabour. ElEmperador,gobernadordenuestro
trabajo.
InLlongborthGeraintwasslain,AbravemanfromtheregionofDyvnaint,Andbeforetheywereoverpowered,theycommittedslaughter.
UnderthethighofGeraintswiftchargers,Longtheirlegs,wheattheirfodder,Ruddyones,swoopinglikespottedeagles.
UnderthethighofGeraintswiftchargers,Longtheirlegs,grainwasgiventhem,Ruddyones,swoopinglikeblackeagles.
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UnderthethighofGeraintswiftchargers,Longtheirlegs,restlessovertheirgrain,Ruddyones,swoopinglikeredeagles.
UnderthethighofGeraintswiftchargers,Long
their
legs,
grain
scattering,
Ruddyones,swoopinglikewhiteeagles.
UnderthethighofGeraintswiftchargers,Longtheirlegs,withthepaceofthestag,Withanoselikethatoftheconsumingfireonawildmountain.
UnderthethighofGeraintswiftchargers,Longtheirlegs,satiatedwithgrain,Greyones,withtheirmanestippedwithsilver.
Underthe
thigh
of
Geraint
swift
chargers,
Longtheirlegs,welldeservingofgrain,Ruddyones,swoopinglikegreyeagles.
UnderthethighofGeraintswiftchargers,Longtheirlegs,havingcornforfood,Ruddyones,swoopinglikebrowneagies.
WhenGeraintwasborn,Heavensgatestoodopen;Christgrantedallourprayer;Lovelytobehold,thegloryofBritain(Prydain).
Y Gododdin, poema en gals antiguo (s. VII)
Atacalmandodetrescientosdelosmejores,
matporelcentroyporlosflancos
excelsoalfrentedelamsnoblehueste,
regalcaballosdelamanadaenelinvierno.
Alimentacuervosnegrosenlarampadeunfuerte
peronoeraArturo.
Entrelospoderososenlabatalla,
enel
primer
rango,
Gwawrddur
era
un
paladn
(estr.
98).
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Histo
[Hech
ia Brittonu
os de Artur
, atribuid
o]
a Nenius ca. 830)
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[Hech
56.EnHengis
losreyperoLapricuartabatalla
Celido
Virgenmatan
Lano
sdeArturo]aquel tiempt,Octha,suesdelpas.Yleraeljefederabatallayquinta,jufuejuntoal.Laoctavasobre sus
zaentreelloenabatalla
o, lossajoneijo, cruzd
enaqueltieetodaslasouvolugarenntoa otro rroquesellaenCastelloombros y lporlavirtudue libradae
ssehacanesdeelNortmpoArturoleraciones.ladesembooque se llamaBassas.Luinnionen ls paganos fdeNuestronCaerlion.
oderososedeBritaniauchabacont
aduradelromaDouglassptimaen
aqueArturoueron puestSeorJesucriadcimaen
multitudyhastaelreinraellosjunto
quesellamy est en laelbosqued llev la imaos en fugastoyladeS la riberad
crecanenBodeKent,yalosreyes
aGlein.Lasereginde LiCaledonia,gendeSantaaquel da yntaMaraVil roque lla
ritania.Muedelsurgierelosbreton
gunda,tercennuis. La sestoes,CatCMarasiemhubo una grgen,sumadmanTribuit.
Pgina|
rtoones,
ra,xtaoitreanre.La
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undcimafueenelmontequellamanAgned.LaduodcimabatallatuvolugarenelMonteBadon
yenella cayeronenun solodanovecientos sesentahombres,deun soloataquedeArturo;y
nadielosvencisinolmismoyentodaslasguerrassalivencedor...
[ProdigiosdeBretaa]73.
Hay
otro
prodigio
en
la
regin
que
se
llama
Buelt.
Hay
all
un
montn
de
piedras
yencima
del
cmuloestcolocadaunapiedra,con lahuelladeunperroenella.Cuando fuecazadoeljabal
Troint,Cabal,queeraperrodelguerreroArturo, imprimisuhuellaen lapiedra.Arturo reuni
despusunmontndepiedrasbajoaquellaenlaqueestabalahuelladesuperro.SellamaCarn
Cabal.Llegangentesytransportanlapiedraensusmanosporespaciodeundayunanocheyal
dasiguienteselaencuentraotravezsobresumontn.
Annales Cambriae (ca. 970)
LXXIIAnnus.BellumBadonis,inquoArthurportavitcrucemDomininostriJesuChristitribusdiebus
ettribusnoctibusinhumerossuosetBritonesvictoresfuerunt.
Ao72 [516D.C.]BatalladeBadon,en laqueArthur llev lacruzdenuestroSeor
Jesucristodurantetresdasytresnochessobresushombrosylosbretonesresultaron
vencedores.
XCIIIAnnus.GueithCamlann, inquaArthuretMedrautcorruere;etmortalitas inBrittaniaet in
Hiberniafuit.
Ao93 [537D.C.]BatalladeCamlann,en laqueArthuryMedrautcayeron,yhubo
unamortandadenBritaniayenHibernia
Leyenda de San Goeznovius (ca. 1019)
Inthecourseoftime,theusurpingkingVortigern,tobuttressthedefenceofthekingdomofGreat
Britainwhichheunrighteouslyheld,summonedwarlikemenfromthe landofSaxonyandmade
themhisallies inthekingdom.Sincetheywerepagansandofdevilishcharacter, lustingbytheir
naturetoshedhumanblood,theydrewmanyevilsupontheBritons.
PresentlytheirpridewascheckedforawhilethroughthegreatArthur,kingoftheBritons.They
werelargelyclearedfromtheislandandreducedtosubjection.ButwhenthissameArthur,after
manyvictorieswhichhewongloriouslyinBritainandinGaul,wassummonedatlastfromhuman
activity, the way was open for the Saxons to go again into the islane, and there was great
oppression of the Britons, destruction of churches and persecution of saints. This persecution
wentonthroughthetimesofmanykings,SaxonsandBritonsstrivingbackandforth...
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In thoGsope
Britain
Crni
[421]
Cated
sedays,mal,leftthegre(Brittany).
ca del Mon
atusestS.G[421]fuerte
ral de Md
Arquivolta
yholymenaterBritain
t-Saint-Mic
ildas.Hisdieacimiento
ycorts.ena, Italia
delaPortade
gave themshichisnow
Thistranslati
hel (ca. 10
busfuitArtue San Gilda
ca. 1105)
laPescheria,
lvesup totheSaxons
onappearsinLo
6)
rexBritanns. En aquell
uronortede
artyrdom;omeland,a
GeoffreyAshendon,Anchor
rumfortis,es das vivi
lacatedralde
thers, in codsailedacr
,TheLandscaPressDouble
tfacetus.Artus, rey
SanGiminian
formity tosstotheles
eofKingArtay,1985,p.1
e los britan
o,EmiliaRom
Pgina|
heser
ur,03.
os,
na
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Catedral de Otr nto, ca. 11 3-1166
Mosaicodelpiso,catedraldeOtr
nto,surdeIt
Pgina|
lia
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Giraldus Cambrensis (ca. 1193)
DelLiberdePrincipisinstructione, ca.1193ThememoryofArthur,thatmostrenownedKingoftheBritons,willendureforever. Inhisown
day
he
was
a
munificent
patron
of
the
famous
Abbey
at
Glastonbury,
giving
many
donations
to
the
monksandalwayssupportingthemstrongly,andhe ishighlypraisedintheirrecords.Morethan
anyotherplaceofworship inhiskingdomhe loved theChurchof theBlessedMary,Motherof
God,inGlastonbury,andhefostereditsinterestswithmuchgreaterlovingcarethanthatofanyof
theothers.Whenhewentouttofight,hehadafulllengthportraitoftheBlessedVirginpainted
on the front of his shield, so that in the heat of battle he could always gaze upon Her; and
whenever hewas about tomake contactwith the enemy hewould kiss Her feetwith great
devoutness.
In our own lifetime Arthurs body was discovered at Glastonbury, although the legends had
alwaysencouragedustobelievethattherewassomethingotherworldlyabouthisending,thathe
had resisteddeathandhadbeen spiritedaway to some fardistant spot.Thebodywashidden
deepintheearthinahollowedoutoakboleandbetweentwostonepyramidswhichhadbeenset
uplongagointhechurchyardthere.Theycarrieditintothechurchwitheverymarkofhonourand
buried itdecently there inamarble tomb. Ithadbeenprovidedwithmostunusual indications
whichwere, indeed, little shortofmiraculous, forbeneath it,andnoton top,aswouldbe the
customnowadays,therewasastoneslab,witha leadencrossattachedto itsunderside. Ihave
seen this crossmyselfand Ihave traced the letteringwhichwas cut into iton the side turned
towardsthestone,insteadofbeingontheoutersideandimmediatelyvisible.
Theinscriptionreadasfollows:
HEREINTHEISLEOFAVALONLIES
BURIEDTHERENOWNEDKING
ARTHUR,WITHGUINEVERE,HIS
SECONDWIFE
Therearemanyremarkabledeductionstobemadefromthisdiscovery.Arthurobviouslyhadtwo
wives,andthesecondonewasburiedwithhim.Herboneswerefoundwiththoseofherhusband,
buttheywereseparatefromhis.Twothirdsofthecoffin,theparttowardsthetopend,heldthe
husbands bones, and the other section, at his feet, contained those of his wife. A tress of
womans
hair,
blond,
and
still
fresh
and
bright
in
colour,
was
found
in
the
coffin.
One
of
the
monks
snatcheditupanditimmediatelydisintegratedintodust.
TherehadbeensomeindicationsintheAbbeyrecordsthatthebodywouldbediscoveredonthis
spot,andanothercluewasprovidedbyletteringcarvedonthepyramids,butthishadbeenalmost
completely erased by the passage of the years. The holymonks and other religious had seen
visionsandrevelations.However, itwasHenry II,KingofEngland,whohadtoldthemonksthat,
according to a story which he had heard from some old British soothsayer, they would find
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Arthursbodyburiedatleastsixteenfeetintheground,notinastonecoffinbutinahollowedout
oakbole. Ithadbeen sunk asdeep as that, and carefully concealed, so that it couldneverbe
discoveredbytheSaxons,whomArthurhadattackedrelentlesslyas longashe livedandwhom,
indeed,hehadalmostwipedout,butwhooccupiedtheisland[ofBritain]afterhisdeath.
Thatwas
why
the
inscription,
which
was
eventually
to
reveal
the
truth,
had
been
cut
into
the
insideof thecrossand turned inwards towards the stone.Formanya longyear this inscription
wastokeepthesecretofwhatthecoffincontained,buteventually,whentimeandcircumstance
werebothopportunetheletteringrevealedwhatithadsolongconcealed.
What isnowknownasGlastonburyused, inancient times, tohecalled the IsleofAvalon. It is
virtually an island, for it is completely surrounded bymarshlands. InWelsh it is called Ynys
Avallon,whichmeanstheIslandofApplesandthisfruitusedtogrowthere ingreatabundance.
After theBattleofCamlann,anoblewomancalledMorgan,whowas the rulerandpatronessof
thesepartsaswellasbeingaclosebloodrelationofKingArthur,carriedhimofftotheisland,now
knownasGlastonbury,sothathiswoundscouldbecaredfor.Yearsagothedistricthadalsobeen
calledYnysGutrininWelsh,thatistheIslandofGlass,andfromthesewordstheinvadingSaxons
latercoinedtheplacename Glastingebury.Theword glass intheir languagemeans vitrum in
Latin,andburymeanscastrumorcivitas.
YoumustknowthatthebonesofArthursbodywhichwerediscoveredthereweresobigthat,in
them,thepoetswordsseemtobefulfilled:
Allmenwillexclaimatthesizeofthebones
theyveexhumed(Virgil,Georgics,I.497)
TheAbbotshowedmeoneoftheshinbones.Heheldituprightonthegroundagainstthefootof
thetallestmanhecouldfind,anditnowstretchedagoodthreeinchesabovethemansknee.The
skullwas so large and capacious that it seemed a veritable prodigy of nature, for the space
between theeyebrowsand theeyesocketswasasbroadas thepalmofamanshand.Tenor
morewoundscouldclearlybeseen,buttheyhadallmendedexceptone.Thiswaslargerthanthe
othersandithadmadeanimmensegash.ApparentlyitwasthiswoundwhichhadcausedArthurs
death.
DelSpeculumEcclesiae,ca.1216In our own lifetime,when Henry IIwas reigning in England, strenuous effortsweremade in
GlastonburyAbbey
to
locate
what
must
have
once
been
the
splendid
tomb
of
Arthur.
It
was
the
King himself who put them on to this, and Abbot Henry, who was later elected Bishop of
Worcester,gavethemeveryencouragement.
With immense difficulty,Arthursbodywas eventuallydug up in the churchyard dedicatedby
SaintDunstan. It laybetween two tallpyramidswith inscriptionson them,whichpyramidshad
beenerectedmanyyearsbefore inmemoryofArthur.Thebodywasreducedtodust,but itwas
liftedup into the freshair from thedepthsof thegraveand carriedwith thebones toamore
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seemlyplaceofburial. In the same grave therewas founda tressofwomanshair,blondand
lovelyto lookat,plaitedandcoiledwithconsummateskill,andbelonging,nodoubt,toArthurs
wife,whowasburiedtherewithherhusband.
Themomentthat[hesaw],this lockofhair, [oneofthemonks],whowasstandingthere inthe
crowd,jumped
down
into
the
deep
grave
in
an
attempt
to
snatch
hold
of
it
before
any
of
the
others. Itwasapretty shameless thing todoand it showed little reverence for thedead.This
monk,then,ofwhomIhavetoldyou,asilly,rashandimpudentfellow,whohadcometogawpat
whatwasgoingon,droppeddown into thehole,whichwasasortofsymboloftheAbyss from
whichnoneofuscanescape.Hewasdeterminedtoseizeholdofthistressofwomanshairbefore
anyoneelse coulddo soand to touch itwithhishand.Thiswasa fair indicationofhiswanton
thoughts, for femalehair isa snare for the feebleminded,although thosewithany strengthof
purposecanresistit.
Hairisconsideredtobeimperishable,inthatithasnofleshycontentandnohumidityofitsown,
butasheheld it inhishandafterpicking itupandstoodgazingat it in rapture, it immediately
disintegrated into fine powder. All those who were watching were astounded by what had
happened.Bysomesortofmiracle,nottosay...,itjustdisappeared,as ifsuddenlychangedback
intoatoms,foritcouldneverhavebeenuncoiledandexaminedclosely...thisshowedthatitwas
evenmoreperishablethanmostthings,provingthatallphysicalbeautyisatransitorythingforus
to stare atwith our vacant eyes or to grope for in our lustfulmoments, empty and availing
nothing.As thephilosopher says: Physicalbeauty is shortlived, itdisappears so soon it fades
morequicklythantheflowersinspringtime.
ManytalesaretoldandmanylegendshavebeeninventedaboutKingArthurandhismysterious
ending. In their stupidity theBritishpeoplemaintain thathe is stillalive.Now that the truth is
known,Ihave
taken
the
trouble
to
add
afew
more
details
in
this
present
chapter.
The
fairy
tales
havebeensnuffedout,andthe trueand indubitable factsaremadeknown,so thatwhat really
happened must be made crystal clear to all and separated from the myths which have
accumulatedonthesubject.
After theBattleofCamlann...killedhisuncle...Arthur: thesequelwas that thebodyofArthur,
whohadbeenmortallywounded,wascarriedoffbyacertainnoblematron,calledMorgan,who
was his cousin, to the Isle of Avalon, which is now known as Glastonbury. UnderMorgans
supervisionthecorpsewasburiedinthechurchyardthere.Asaresult,thecredulousBritonsand
theirbards invented the legend thata fantastic sorceress calledMorganhad removedArthurs
bodyto
the
Isle
of
Avalon,
so
that
she
might
cure
his
wounds
there.
According
to
them,
once
he
has recovered from hiswounds this strong and allpowerful Kingwill return to rule over the
Britonsinthenormalway.Theresultofallthisisthattheyreallyexpecthimtocomeback,justas
theJews,ledastraybyevengreaterstupidity,misfortuneandmisplacedfaith,reallyexpecttheir
Messiahtoreturn.
It isworthnoting... justas, indeed... placedbyall,as... arecalled islandsandareknowntobe
situated in saltwater, that is to say in the sea. It is calledAvalon,either from theWelshword
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aval,whichmeansapple,becauseappletreesandapplesarevery common there,or from the
nameofacertainVallowhousedtoruleoverthearealongago.Inremotetimes,theplaceused
tobe called YnysGutrin in theWelsh language, that is the IslandofGlass,nodoubt from the
glassy colour of the riverwhich flows round it in themarshland. As a result, the Saxonswho
occupied thearea lateron called it Glastonia in their language, for in SaxonorEnglish glass
correspondsto
the
Latin
word
vitrum.
From
what
Ihave
said,
you
can
see
why
it
was
called
first
the IsleofAvalonand then Glastonia. It isalsoclearhow this fantastic sorceresscame tobe
adoptedbythestorytellers.
ItisworthyofnotethattheAbbotcalled... alsofromthelettersinscribedonit,althoughtheyhad
beenalmostobliteratedlongagobythepassingoftheyears,andhehadtheaforesaidKingHenry
toprovidethemainevidence.
The King had told theAbbot on a number of occasions that hehad learnt from the historical
accountsoftheBritonsandfromtheirbardsthatArthurhadbeenburiedinthechurchyardthere
between twopyramidswhichhadbeenerected subsequently,verydeep in theground for fear
lesttheSaxons,whohadstriventooccupythewholeislandafterhisdeath,mightravagethedead
body intheirevil lust forvengeance.Arthurhadattacked themonagreatnumberofoccasions
andhadexpelled them fromthe IslandofBritain,buthisdastardlynephewMordredhadcalled
thembackagaintofightagainsthim.Toavoidsuchafrightfulcontingency,toa largestoneslab,
found inthetombbythosewhoweredigging itup,somesevenfeet... a leadencrosshadbeen
fixed,notontopofthestone,butunderneathit,bearingthisinscription:
HEREINTHEISLEOFAVALONLIES
BURIEDTHERENOWNEDKING
ARTHUR,WITHGUINEVERE,
HISSECOND
WIFE
They prised this cross away from the stone, and Abbot Henry, aboutwhom I have told you,
showed ittome.Iexamined itcloselyandIreadthe inscription.Thecrosshadbeenattachedto
theundersideofthestoneand,tomake iteven lesseasyto find,thesurfacewiththe lettering
hadbeenturnedtowardsthestone.Onecanonlywonderatthe industryandtheextraordinary
prudenceofthemenofthatperiod,whoweredeterminedtoprotectatallcostsandforalltime
thebodyofthisgreatman,their leaderandtherulerofthisarea,fromthepossibilityofsudden
desecration.Atthesametimetheyensuredthatatsomemomentinthefuture,whenthetroubles
wereover,theevidenceoftheletteringcutintothecrossmightbediscoveredasanindicationof
whatthey
had
done.
... ithad indicated,soArthursbodywasdiscovered,not inastonesarcophagus,carvedoutof
rockorofParianmarble,aswouldhavebeenseemlyforsofamousaKing,butinwood,inanoak
bolehollowedoutforthispurposeandburieddeep intheearth,sixteenfeetormoredown,for
the burialof so great a Prince, hurried, no doubt, rather thanperformedwith due pomp and
ceremony,asthisperiodofpressingdisturbancemadeonlytoonecessary.
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Whenthebodywasdiscoveredfromthe indicationsprovidedbyKingHenry,theAbbotwhom I
havenamedhada splendidmarble tombbuilt for it,aswasonlyproper, for sodistinguisheda
rulerofthearea,who,moreover,hadshownmorefavourtothischurchthantoanyother inhis
kingdom,andhadendowed itwithwideandextensive lands.BythejudgementofGod,which is
alwaysjustandwhich inthiscasewascertainlynotunjustified,whorewardsallgooddeedsnot
onlyin
Heaven
above
but
on
this
earth
and
in
our
terrestrial
Iife
church...
others
of
his
kingdom...
thegenuine[remains]andthebodyofArthurtobeburiedinaseemlyfashion...andgloriously...
andinhumed.
TranslationofGeraldofWalesbyLewisThorpe
Ralph de Coggeshall, Chronicon Anglicanum (ca. 1220)
1191:ThisyearwerefoundatGlastonburythebonesofthemostrenownedArthur,formerlyKing
ofBritain,buriedinaveryancientcoffin,aboutwhichtwoancientpyramidshadbeenbuilt:onthe
sidesof thesewas in inscription, illegibleonaccountof the rudenessof thescriptand itsworn
condition.The
bones
were
discovered
as
follows:
as
they
were
digging
up
this
ground
to
bury
a
monkwho had urgently desired in his lifetime to be interred there, they discovered a certain
coffin,onwhichaleadencrosshadbeenplaced,bearingtheinscription,
HereliesthefamousKingArturius,buriedin
theIsleofAvalon.
Forthisplace,whichissurroundedbymarshes,wasformerlycalledtheIsleofAvalon,thatis,the
isleofapples.