6

HISTORY OF THE

[EDWARD III.

but enchanting annals of romance. Arthur of Britain, as the great Founder ofBritish Knighthood, was the favourite idol of their imagination; and a belief inhis existence, and in the feats of his Companions, as well as in every traditionwhich tended to the honour of Chivalry, was cherished almost as an act of faithand duty. 5

Of all his contemporaries, perhaps the most distinguished in the pursuitswhich formed the business, rather than the amusement of every man of gentlebirth, was Edward the Third. 6 7 That monarch was then only thirty-five years ofage; and a truce having suspended the war in France, he appears to havedetermined to imitate the example of Arthur, by founding an Association, orBrotherhood, of the most renowned Knights of the age. To carry this designinto effect, in a manner consistent with its importance, and the customs of thetime, he invited the Chivalry of all Countries to assemble at Windsor Castle;and letters were issued on the 1st of January, 1344, stating that for the recreationand pleasure of military men, who delight in the exercise of Arms, the Kingwould hold Tournaments and general Jousts at his Castle of Windsor, onMonday, the 19th of that month; and that for the security of the Knights and

5 The feelings which then prevailed among the Chivalry of England respecting King Arthur arethus accurately described by the biographer of the Black Prince:—“At this period the romances ofArthur and his Knights, and the lays which were sung of great deeds and splendid passages of Arms,formed all the lighter literature of Europe; and, while a few of the sceptics of that day might be boldenough to doubt the authenticity of the British King’s history, and disbelieve the wonderful adven-tures of his Companions, the great bulk of the people looked upon such suspicions as a heresy inChivalry, and believed as firmly in the tales of the Round Table, and the pursuit of the Sangrael, as inthe power of absolution, and the infallibility of the Pope.”—James’ History of Edward the BlackPrince, i. 393, 394. An account of King Arthur will be found in the following among other works;“ Assertio inclytissimi Arturii Regis Britanniae, Joanne Lelando Antiquario autore,” 4to. London, 1544;which was translated by Richard Robinson, with a curious dedication to Arthur Lord Grey of Wilton,Sir Henry Sidney, and Thomas Smythe, Esquire, “ Chief Customer for her Majestie in the port ofLondon; and to the Worshipful Society of Archers, in London, yearly celebrating the renownedmemory of the magnificent Prince Arthur, and his Knightly Order of the Round Table.” 4to. 1582.

6 See the evidence of Sir Bertram Montbouchier, in the Scrope and Grosvenor controversy, p. 169.

7 “ Rex universis et singulis comitibus, baronibus, vicecomitibus, ballivis, ministris, et aliisfidelibus suis tam infra libertates quam extra, ad quos, &c. salutem. Sciatis quod cum ad recreationemet solatium hominum militarium qui in armorum exercitio delectantur, habere disposuerimus hastiludiaet justas generales, apud castrum nostrum de Wyndesore, die Lunae proximo post festum SanctiHilarii proximo futurum; Nos, volentes securitati omnium et singulorum, cujuscumque regionis sivenationis fuerint, illuc ex hfic causfi tunc venire volentium, providere, suscepimus omnes et singulos,tam milites, domicellos, ac scutiferos, cujuscumque regionis vel loci fuerint sic venire volentes,servientes et bona eorum quaecumque, illuc veniendo, ibidem morando, et exinde ad propria redeundo,in salvum et securum conductum nostrum, ac protectionem et defensionem nostras speciales: Et ideovobis mandamus quod omnibus et singulis, sic venientibus, &c. prout in c&teris de conductu literis.