FOREWORD

Within a small area in the West Country may be found the principal places mentioned in the written chronicles of King Arthur—places with strange long histories and of natural charm. In these pages an impressionist view is given of the region once called Cameliard and Lyonnesse. We have ventured into by-ways seldom entered, and we trust to have gathered a few details which may not be wholly without interest in their place. Facts are meagre about King Arthur, and romance has so overlaid reality that his realm seems now to be veritably a part of fairy-land. In this respect the journey is profitless, save that, by taking Malory as a guide, we are led to a few delightful and half-forgotten localities out of the ordinary route, from which romance has not been wholly dislodged and where tradition survives and is strong.


CONTENTS

CHAP.PAGE
I.[OF THE KING AND HIS CHRONICLERS]1
II.[OF LYONNESSE AND CAMELIARD]32
III.[OF ARTHUR THE KING AND MERLIN THE ENCHANTER]61
IV.[OF TINTAGEL]86
V.[OF CAERLEON-UPON-USK]113
VI.[OF THE ROUND TABLE AND KING ARTHUR’S BATTLES]130
VII.[OF CAMELOT AND ALMESBURY]159
VIII.[OF ST. KNIGHTON’S KIEVE AND THE HOLY GRAIL]183
IX.[OF CAMELFORD AND THE LAST BATTLE]194
X.[OF GLASTONBURY AND THE PASSING OF ARTHUR]216

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Facing page
[King Arthur’s Castle and Execution Rock, Tintagel]Frontispiece
[The Rocky Valley, Tintagel]40
[Merlin’s Cave, Tintagel]70
[King Arthur’s Castle, Tintagel]96
[The Elephant Rock, Bossiney Cove]102
[Barras Head, Tintagel]110
[The Rocky Valley, Tintagel]150
[St. Knighton’s Kieve, Tintagel]184
[St. Knighton’s Glen]192
[Mouth of Rocky Valley and Long Island, Tintagel]202
[St. Michael’s Tower, Glastonbury]218
[The Olde Pilgrim’s Inn, Glastonbury]222
[St. Joseph’s Chapel, Glastonbury Abbey]224
[Wells Cathedral]236
[The Abbey Barn, Glastonbury]248
[Ruins of St. Joseph’s Chapel, Glastonbury]254