#Arthurian Literature ~ The Round Table #myths #legends

The Round Table — the most iconic piece of furniture of all time.

Painting where King Arthur presides at the Round Table with all of his Knights ~ Wikipedia

For something so incredibly large, it remains as obstinately difficult to find as Arthur and his knights.

In 1100c. Robert Wace, a Norman Poet, took it upon himself to translate Geoffrey of Monmouth's, History of the Kings of Briton, from Latin to Norman French. But Wace was a poet, and he did not think it disrespectful to fiddle with the original work. He was, after all, improving upon it. He was sure no one would notice if he added a rather large round table to the tale.

Wace presents his Roman de Rou to Henry II ~ Wikipedia.

"...Because of these noble lords about his hall, of whom each knight pained himself to be hardiest champion, and none would count him the least praiseworthy, Arthur made the Round Table, so reputed by the Britons..."

Robert Wace, Roman de Brut, translated by Eugene Mason

Wace had, with his poetic licence, cemented The Round Table into the legend. And from there on in, The Round Table became a prominent addition to the Arthurian romances that were published in the Middle Ages.

By the time Sir Thomas Malory was languishing in jail and composing his great work Le Morte d' Arthur, The Round Table had been so ingrained into the minds of the populous that a story about Arthur would not be the same without The Round Table in it.

The Round Table, like the stories of Arthur, was elaborated, made into something epic in its description. As the numbers of knights were added to the story, the table increased in diameter. And it became a draw for this mythical time — all the knights wanted to join the Fellowship Of The Round Table. It was the ultimate goal for these young, brave men.

Sir Galahad takes the "Siege Perilous ~ WIkipedia 

But for me, this is the most interesting part. The Round Table became so much part of the legend that suddenly we needed to know where it was. Where could it be? Surely somewhere we would find evidence of The Round Table? I mean a table that size isn't going to be languishing in someone's garage is it...?

I am sure you know what I am going to say next... There have been many places that have been associated with The Round Table. By all accounts, it was once seen at Winchester. Indeed, there is a replica still hanging from the wall at Winchesters Great Hall — although this dates back to Tudor times rather than Arthurian times. I hate to say it, but just like with Camelot, you cannot find something that was never there in the first place.

Winchester Round Table ~ Wikipedia.

However, I do wish those who search for the Round Table all the luck in the world, although maybe you want to start with Robert Wace, Roman de Brut…

***

Do you ever wonder what happened after the death of King Arthur?

Then check out The Du Lac Chronicles series...

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#FolkloreThursday ~ The Wizard of Alderley Edge #Arthurian #Britain

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

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Author’s Inspiration ~ Chris Bishop #HistFic #saxons @RedDoorBooks @cbishop_author

Please give a warm welcome to historical fiction author, Chris Bishop. Chris is going to share with us his inspirations behind his fabulous debut novel and coming series…

Blood & Destiny

(The Shadow of the Raven Book #1)

Set in Wessex in 878AD, my novel is focused on a critical turning point in English history as King Alfred, whose army had been virtually annihilated following a surprise attack in Chippenham, strives to restore his kingdom.

It is narrated by Matthew, a novice monk who becomes embroiled in the battle and goes with Alfred to hide with what's left of the Saxon army in the desolate marches at Athelney. Being of noble birth, he is positioned close enough to witness at first hand the key events of this critical time and can relate how Alfred managed to turn utter defeat into a magnificent victory just a few months later.

Although woven around perceived historical events, this is not just about bloody battles and gory hand to hand fighting, it is about triumph over adversity and victory against the odds as deeply religious Saxons fight not just for freedom, their homes and their religion — but for their very existence.

https://theshadowoftheraven.com/

Author’s Inspiration

GHOST WRITER – THE HAND THAT GUIDES THE PEN

Writing without a reader is like talking to yourself.  What you say may make perfect sense but no-one will hear you – or, even if they do, they’ll probably think you’re crazy!!!!

My debut novel – Blood & Destiny –  started out as a short story about a ghost which I intended to submit to a literary competition.  It was not a genre I had ever attempted before but I had a plot in mind which started out with the remains of a young boy being disturbed by archaeologists who were excavating his grave, curious to know why he had been buried in such a remote and lonely place.  That is, in essence, still the basis of the prelude to Blood & Destiny, except that it rapidly became apparent that the ghost of the boy had his own tale to tell.  He seemed to take over the story, pushing me into all sorts of places I had not intended to go and inducing all manner of twists and turns along the way.  The upside of this was that pretty soon the whole story came gushing out like a … well, like all good stories should. 

The strange thing was that when I started to research the facts of the era (Anglo Saxon England), I found that so much of what I had jotted down fitted the perceived historical facts like a glove.  Then, when I eventually gave my ghost a name (actually, I gave him two names but you’ll have to read the book to find out why) he seemed to come to life and I realised that I was no longer writing a short ghost story, I was writing a novel.

When I’d finished it, I sent a draft off to several publishers all of whom were very complimentary but they either rejected it as being ‘not for their market’ or suggested so many revisions that I began to wonder who was actually writing it.  That’s not to say that their suggestions were unwelcome; in fact I took on board quite a few of them but, in the end, I opted to tell my story (or rather Matthew’s story) my way - in the way that it had come to me.

One of the publishers made a very valid point in saying that the voice at the beginning of the story (in the Prelude) seems older than the text suggests.  When I looked at this I realised it was true.  I also realised why – it was because Matthew’s life did not end where my story ended, implying that he yet had even more to tell me. With that in mind I drafted Book Two (The Warrior with the Pierced Heart) and even sketched out an outline for Book Three (The Vengeance of Kings).  There is even a wildly ambitious plan for a Book Four but that won’t be about Matthew, it’ll be about …actually, you’ll have to wait and see what that will be about!

I’d like to think that Matthew’s ‘ghost’ guided my pen throughout the process (or should I say told me which keys to press on my keyboard?).  Certainly it felt that way at times as so much came gushing out – including details I didn’t know I knew but then found to be correct.  So, is it possible that this really is Matthew telling his story through me - and if so, does that mean it could actually be true?

Personally, I think not.  To accept that would be to deny the hours of research, drafting, editing and revision that are all part of writing a novel.  But I think it is just one of those stories that needed to be told to the extent that several reviewers have described it as ‘a damn good tale’.  If so, I regard myself as being very fortunate that it was given to me to tell it.

Links for purchase

Available online and in all good bookstores.

About the author

Chris Bishop was born in London in 1951.  After a successful career as a Chartered Surveyor, he retired to concentrate on writing, combining this with his lifelong interest in history.  Blood and Destiny is his first novel and is part of a series entitled The Shadow of the Raven.

His other interests are travel, windsurfing and fly-fishing.

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