In
the time of myths and legends, there is one story that stands head and
shoulders above the rest. That story is about King Arthur and his Knights.
Arthur is renowned for doing many glorious and noble things, but today on
#FolkloreThursday, I want to take a look at one of the most endearing and
long-lasting stories of Arthur.
Now
the story goes, that Arthur did not die, instead he and his Knights are
slumbering, waiting for the time when they would be called to ride again. But
where is this resting place that protects the Knights and the Once and Future
King?
The Wizard of Alderley Edge
There
is a small village in Cheshire, with a population of just over 4,000. Here they
tell a tale of a farmer, a white horse, a Sorcerer and a mysterious cave hidden
in a hill.
The
story goes...
Once
there was a farmer from Mobberley. He was on his way to the market at
Macclesfield, in the hope of selling his white mare. As he made his way around,
what the locals called The Edge, he saw an old man, dressed in flowing grey
garments. The old man approached him and offered him a fair price for the
horse. The farmer refused, he wanted more than this mystery man was offering
him and he thought he would get a better price at the market. The old man
wished him luck and told him that he would wait for his return from the market
and, if he still had the horse, then maybe the farmer would be willing to sell
the animal to him then.
The
horse did not sell and, with grave disappointment, the farmer began to make his
way home. He hoped that the old man would be waiting for him and still willing
to buy the horse at the price he had offered earlier.
Thankfully
the old man was there, and the farmer sold the horse to him, which cheered him
somewhat after his dismal disappointment at the market. The old man did not
have any money on him, but he assured the farmer that his home was not very far
away. The farmer was happy to follow the old man back to his house.
As
they approached an area, near a place that was known locally as Stormy Point,
the old man produced a wand and started to mutter under his breath. The farmer
was understandably alarmed and wished now that he had refused the old mans
offer, but he had come this far, and he needed the money.
The
rocks opened up in front of him. Fearfully he looked inside and saw a pair of
majestic iron gates. The old man had started to chant in the language known
only to those who practised magic. The gates opened. Terrified, the farmer fell
to his knees and begged the old man not to harm him. The sorcerer, which the
old man clearly was, smiled reassuringly and promised that he meant him no harm
and all he wanted to do was pay him for the horse.
Not
knowing what to do for the best — for this sorcerer had great power and he did
not want to offend him — the farmer decided to lead the horse into the cave. Up
ahead of him he saw countless men and white horse, all fast asleep. He watched
with his mouth a gasp as the sorcerer went to an old chest and pulled out a bag
of coins, which he gave to the farmer as payment for the horse.
The
farmer asked fearfully who these people were. The sorcerer told him that this
was a sleeping army who would one day rise again, should England be in peril.
The sorcerer then abruptly told the farmer to leave, which he gratefully did. The
iron gates slammed shut behind the farmer, and when he turned around to look at
the gates one last time, there was nothing to see. The land in front of him
looked as it always had.
Not
daring to linger, the farmer walked swiftly away. When he returned home he told
everybody he knew about the strange encounter and the next day his friends
travelled with him back to the rocks, but they could see no cave, everything
looked as it always did.
 |
| The view from Stormy Point over to the Pennines |
From
the description of the men asleep and the Sorcerer's words, we can assume the
men asleep was none other than Arthur and his knights. Can you guess who the
Sorcerer was?
Alderley
Edge in Cheshire is not the only place where it is said that Arthur and his
Knights are slumbering. Cadbury Hill in Somerset also has a very similar story.
Is
there any truth in this tale?
Who
knows….!
If you fancy joining me in the 6th Century, with the next generation of Knights then why not check out
The Du Lac Chronicles series!
Read for FREE with
We have a similar tale in the north east, only Arthur and his knights sleep under Sewingshields Castle!
ReplyDeleteI shall have to look into Sweingshieds Castle. Thank you! Richmond Castle in York is another site where Arthur and his Knights are said to be sleeping!
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