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Wales men; Cador, king of Cornwall, also the archbishops of the three
metropolitan sees, London, York, and Dubricius of the City of Legions.
This prelate, who was primate of Britain, and legate-of the apostolical
see, was so eminent for his piety that he could cure any sick person by
his prayers. There came also the consuls of the principal cities, viz.
Morvid, consul of Gloucester; Mauron, of Worcester; Anaraut, of
Salisbury; Arthgal, of Cargueit or Warguit; Jugein, of Legecester,
Cursalen, of Kaicester; Kinmare, duke of Dorobernia, Galluc, of
Salisbury; Urgennius, of Bath; Jonathal, of Dorchester; Boso, of Ridoc,
that is, Oxford. Besides the consuls, came the following worthies of no
less dignity: Danaut, Map papo; Cheneus, Map coil; Peredur, Mab eridur;
Guiful, Map Nogoit; Regin, Map claut; Eddelein, Map cledauc; Kincar,
Mab bagan; Kimmare; Gorboroniam, Map goit; Clofaut, Rupmaneton;
Kimbelim, Map trunat; Cathleus, Map catel; Kinlich, Map neton; and
many others too tedious to enumerate. From the adjacent islands came
Guillamurius, king of Ireland; Malvasius, king of Iceland; Doldavius, king
of Gothland; Gunfasius, king of the Orkneys; Lot, king of Norway;
Aschillius, king of the Dacians. From the parts beyond the seas, came
Holdin king of Ruteni; Leodegarius, consul of Bolonia; Bedver, the
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butler, duke of Normandy; Borellus, of Cenomania; Caius, the sewer,
duke of Andegavia; Guitard, of Pictavia; also the twelve peers of Gaul,
whom Guerinus Carnotensis brought along with him: Hoel, duke of the
Armorican Britons, and his nobility, who came with such a train of
mules, horses, and rich furniture, as it is difficult to describe. Besides
these, there remained no prince of any consideration on this side of
Spain, who came not upon this invitation. And no wonder, when
Arthurs munificence, which was celebrated over the whole world, made
him beloved by all people.
Chapter 13. A description of the royal pomp at the coronation of Arthur.
When all were assembled together in the city, upon the day of the
solemnity, the archbishops were conducted to the palace, in order to
place the crown upon the kings head. Therefore Dubricius, inasmuch as
the court was kept in his diocese, made himself ready to celebrate the
office, and undertook the ordering of whatever related to it. As soon as
the king was invested with his royal habiliments, he was conducted in
great pomp to the metropolitan church, supported on each side by two
archbishops, and having four kings, viz. of Albania, Cornwall, Demetia,
and Venedotia, whose right it was, bearing four golden swords before
him. He was also attended with a concert of all sorts of music, which
made most excellent harmony. On another part was the queen, dressed
out in her richest ornaments, conducted by the archbishops and bishops
to the Temple of Virgins; the four queens also of the kings last
mentioned, bearing before her four white doves according to ancient
custom; and after her there followed a retinue of women, making all
imaginable demonstrations of joy. When the whole procession was
ended, so transporting was the harmony of the musical instruments and
voices, whereof there was a vast variety in both churches, that the
knights who attended were in doubt which to prefer, and therefore
crowded from the one to the other by turns, and were far from being
tired with the solemnity, though the whole day had been spent in it. At
last, when divine service was over at both churches, the king and queen
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put off their crowns, and putting on their lighter ornaments, went to the
banquet; he to one palace with the men, and she to another with the
women. For the Britons still observed the ancient custom of Troy, by
which the men and women used to celebrate their festivals apart. When
they had all taken their seats according to precedence, Caius the sewer,
in rich robes of ermine, with a thousand young noblemen, all in like
manner clothed with ermine, served up the dishes. From another part,
Bedver the butler was followed with the same number of attendants, in
various habits, who waited with all kinds of cups and drinking vessels.
In the queens palace were innumerable waiters, dressed with variety of
ornaments, all performing their respective offices; which if I should
describe particularly, I should draw out the history to a tedious length.
For at that time Britain had arrived at such a pitch of grandeur, that in
abundance of riches, luxury of ornaments, and politeness of inhabitants,
it far surpassed all other kingdoms. The knights in it that were famous
for feats of chivalry, wore their clothes and arms all of the same colour
and fashion: and the women also no less celebrated for their wit, wore
all the same kind of apparel; and esteemed none worthy of their love,
but such as had given a proof of their valour in three several battles.
Thus was the valour of the men an encouragement for the womens
chastity, and the love of the women a spur to the soldiers bravery.
Chapter 14. After a variety of sports at the coronation,
Arthur amply rewards his servants.
As soon as the banquets were over, they went into the fields without
the city, to divert themselves with various sports. The military men
composed a kind of diversion in imitation of a fight on horseback; and
the ladies, placed on the top of the walls as spectators, in a sportive
manner darted their amorous glances at the courtiers, the more to
encourage them. Others spent the remainder of the day in other
diversions, such as shooting with bows and arrows, tossing the pike,
casting of heavy stones and rocks, playing at dice and the like, and all
these inoffensively and without quarrelling. Whoever gained the victory
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in any of these sports, was rewarded with a rich prize by Arthur. In this
manner were the first three days spent; and on the fourth, all who, upon
account of their titles, bore any kind of office at this solemnity, were
called together to receive honours and preferments in reward of their
services, and to fill up the vacancies in the governments of cities and
castles, archbishoprics, bishoprics, abbeys, and other posts of honour.
Chapter 15. A letter from Lucius Tiberius, general of the Romans,
to Arthur being read, they consult about an answer to it.
But St. Dubricius, from a pious desire of leading a hermits life, made
a voluntary resignation of his archiepiscopal dignity; and in his room was
consecrated David, the kings uncle, whose life was a perfect example of
that goodness which by his doctrine he taught. In place of St. Samson,
archbishop of Dole, was appointed, with the consent of Hoel, king of the
Armorican Britons, Chelianus, [Kilian] a priest of Llandaff, a person
highly recommended for his good life and character. The bishopric of
Silchester was conferred upon Mauganius, that of Winchester upon
Diwanius, and that of Alclud upon Eledanius. While he was disposing of
these preferments upon them, it happened that twelve men of an
advanced age, and venerable aspect, and bearing olive branches in their
right hands, for a token that they were come upon an embassy, appeared
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