Chapter I: 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

THE LOST LAND OF KING ARTHUR