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ineffectual., that the Mahometans (for whofe Defini-tion it was defign’d) heard only the Report of it.

GAP. III.

f X. TTAVING particulariz’d the Religious Orders,I fhall proceed to thofe accounted abfolutelyMilitary. Among them,

i. Knights of the Round Table may, for Antiquity tchallenge the firft Place.

The Founder was Arthur King of Britain, frown’d inthe Year of our Lord 51 6, at the Age of 15 Years ; ofwhole incredible Courage and Gallantry, tho’ fomehave ftretch’d too far, yet William of Malmshury is.ofOpinion, he was worthy to have been celebrated bytrue and faithful Hiftorians, and not falfe and fpuriousTales. He it was that long prop’d up his decliningCountry, and infpir’d Martial Courage into his Sub-jects, the Saxons, in twelve pitch’d Battles having over-come, and conquer’d divers Countries. He liv’d info great Repute and Renown, that worthy Knightscame from all Parts to his Court, as a Seminary of Mi-litary Dilcipline, to demonftrate their Valour in pointof Arms. This gave him Occafion to feleCt out ofthefe, and his own Subjects, fome fay Twenty Fourof the moll Valiant, which he united in a Fellowship ;and to avoid all Controverfy upon Precedency, caus’d 3Round Table to be made, whence the Order had itsAppellation. He admitted not only Britains, but Stran-gers ; and their Qualifications were to be Perfons ofNobility, Dignity, and renown’d for Vertue and Va-lour. The Place where they were inftituted was Wind-for ; and thofe others of Note, where he and hisKnights affembled, were at Caerleon in Monmouthjhire,Winchejler, and Camelot in Com’’ Semerfet ; and their time;of convening was Whitfunt’de. In Winchefier Caftle wasa large Round Table, call’d (and affirm’d to be) King

Arthur's}