Quest For The Sangreal
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(Conspiracy Nation, 11/20/05)
-- "After that I had accomplished and finished divers histories," wrote
William Caxton in his preface to Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, "as well
of contemplation as of other historical and worldly acts... many noble
and divers gentlemen of this realm of England came and demanded me many
and oft times, wherefore that I have not do made and print the noble
history of the Sangreal..."
"The said noble gentlemen instantly required me to imprint the
history of the said noble king and conqueror King Arthur, and of his
knights, with the history of the Sangreal, and of the death and ending
of the said Arthur."
"To whom I answered," continued Caxton, "that divers men hold
opinion that there was no such Arthur, and that all such books as been
made of him be but feigned and fables..."
"Whereto they answered, and one in special said, that in him
that should say and think that there was never such a king called
Arthur might well be aretted great folly and blindness."
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Are the King Arthur stories literally true? Probably not. But there is something there. Just
as, in the Bible, the stories, notwithstanding fundamentalist
objections, hide some actual events, so in the Arthurian legends something real lies therein.
The story of The Sangreal,
as related by Malory from ancient French texts, goes like this:
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Only one might safely occupy the
Siege Perilous (French, meaning "seat").
...they
came to the Siege Perilous, where they found letters newly written of
gold which said: Four hundred winters and four and fifty accomplished
after the passion of our Lord Jesu Christ ought this siege to be
fulfilled.
So
when they were served, and all sieges fulfilled save only the
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Siege Perilous,
anon there befell a marvellous adventure, that all the doors and
windows of the palace shut by themself. Not for then the hall was not
greatly darked; and therewith they were all abashed both one and other.
In the
meanwhile came in a good old man, and an ancient, clothed all in white,
and there was no knight knew from whence he came. And with him he
brought a young knight, both on foot, in red arms, without sword or
shield, save a scabbard hanging by his side. And these words he said:
Peace be with you, fair lords. Then the old man said unto Arthur: Sir,
I bring here a young knight, the which is of king's lineage, and of the
kindred of Joseph of Aramathie, whereby the marvels of this court, and
of strange realms, shall be fully accomplished.
[Queen
Guinevere saw his visage.] When she beheld him she said: Soothly I dare
well say that Sir Launcelot begat him, for never two men resembled more
in likeness, therefore it nis no marvel though he be of great prowess.
So a lady that stood by the queen said: Madam, for God's sake ought he
of right to be so good a knight? Yea, forsooth, said the queen, for he
is of all parties come of the best knights of the world and of the
highest lineage; for Sir Launcelot is come but of the eighth degree
from our Lord Jesu Christ, and Sir Galahad is of the ninth degree from
our Lord Jesu Christ, therefore I dare say they be the greatest
gentlemen of the world.
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And then
the king and all estates... they heard cracking and crying of thunder,
that them thought the place should all to-drive. In the midst of this
blast entered a sunbeam more clearer by seven times than ever they saw
day... Then there entered into the hall the Holy Grail covered with
white samite, but there was none might see it, nor who bare it... And
when the Holy Grail had been borne through the hall, then the holy
vessel departed suddenly that they wist not where it became.
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Then after the
service was done the king would wit how many had undertaken the quest
of the Holy Grail; and to accompt them he prayed them all. Then found
they by the tale an hundred and fifty, and all were knights of the
Round Table. And then they put on their helms and departed, and
recommended them all wholly to the queen; and there was weeping and
great sorrow.
-------
Conspiracy Nation.
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