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The Twenty-Four Knights of
Arthur's Court
Twenty-four ordained Knights were in Arthur’s Court dwelling continuously,
and each one of them had an innate peculiarity of achievement beyond other
people.
Three Golden-Tongued Knights were in Arthur’s Court:
Gwalchmai son of Llew son of Cynfarch, and Drudwas son of
Tryffin, and Eliwlod
son of Madog son of Uthur: and there was neither king nor lord to whom those
came who did not listen to them; and whatever quest they sought, they wished for
and obtained it, either willingly or unwillingly. Three Virgin Knights were in Arthur’s Court:
Bwrt son of Bwrt King of Gascony, and Peredur son of Earl Efrog, and Galath son
of Lanslod Lak. Wherever those came, where there might be giant or witch or
fiendish being—such could not withstand one of those Three Virgin Knights.
Three Knights of Battle were in Arthur’s Court:
Cadwr Earl of Cornwall, and Lanslod Lak, and Ywain son of Urien
Rheged. The
peculiarities of those were that they did not flee for fear of spear or sword or
arrow; and Arthur was never shamed in battle on the day that he saw their faces
in the field. And therefore they were called Knights of Battle.
Three Enchanter Knights were in Arthur’s Court:
Menw son of Teirgwaedd, and Trystan son of
Tallwch, and Eiddilig the Dwarf;
since they changed themselves into the form they wished when they were
hard-pressed, and therefore no one could overcome them.
Three Royal Knights were in Arthur’s Court:
Nasiens son of the King of Denmark, and Medrod son of Llew son of Cynfarch, and
Howel son of Emyr Llydaw. The peculiarities of those were that there was neither
king nor emperor of the world who could refuse them, on account of their beauty
and wisdom in peace; while in war no warrior or champion could withstand them,
despite the excellence of his arms. And therefore they were called Royal
Knights.
Three Just Knights were in Arthur’s Court:
Blaes son of the Earl of Llychlyn, and Cadog son of Gwynlliw the Bearded,
and Pedrog Splintered-Spear, son of Clement Prince of Cornwall. The
peculiarities of those were that whoever might do wrong to the weak, they
contended against him who did him wrong in the cause of justice; and whoever
might do wrong they slew, however strong he might be. For those three had
dedicated themselves to preserve justice by every Law: Blaes by earthly Law, Cadog by the Law of the Church, and
Pedrog by the Law
of arms. And those were called Just Knights.
Three Offensive Knights were in Arthur’s Court:
Morfran son of Tegid, and Sanddef Angel-Face, and Glewlwyd Mighty-Grasp. The
peculiarities of those were that it was ~repugnant to anyone to refuse them
anything: Sanddef because of his beauty, Morfran because of his ugliness, and
Glewlwyd because of his size and his strength and his ferocity. And therefore
they were called Offensive Knights.
Three Counsellor Knights were in Arthur’s Court:
Cynon son of Clydno Eiddyn, and Aron son of Cynfarch, and Llywarch the Old son
of Elidir Lydanwyn. And those three were Counsellors to Arthur: whatever
hardship came upon him, they counselled him, so that nobody could overcome him.
And thus Arthur triumphed over everyone, and in every seat, and over every nation
in the world; through the strength the powerful spirit and the faith and hope
that were in his heart towards those men, and through the sacred weapons that God
had given him: Rhongomiant his spear, Caledfwlch a sword, and Carnwennan his
dagger.
n.b. no Cei or Bedwyr !
the 13 Treasures of
Britain
- 1. White-Hilt, the Sword of Rhydderch
Hael (Dyrnwyn): "if a
well-born man drew it himself, it burst into flame from its hilt to
its tip. And everyone who used to ask for it would receive; but
because of this peculiarity everyone used to reject it. And
therefore he was called Rhydderch the Generous."
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- 2. The Hamper of Gwyddno
Garanhir : food for one man would
be put in it, and when it was opened, food for a hundred men would
be found in it.
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- 3. The Horn of Brân Galed from the North : whatever drink might be wished for was found in it.
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- 4. The Chariot of Morgan
Mwynfawr: if a man went in it, he
might wish to be wherever he would, and he would be there quickly.
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- 5. The Halter of Clydno
Eiddyn , which was fixed to a
staple at the foot of his bed: whatever horse he might wish for, he
would find in the halter.
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- 6. The Knife of Llawfrodedd
Farchog , which would serve
for twenty-four men to eat at table.
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- 7. The Cauldron of Dyrnwch the Giant :
if meat for a coward were put in it to boil, it would never boil;
but if meat for a brave man were put in it, it would boil quickly
(and thus the brave could be distinguished from the cowardly).
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- 8. The Whetstone of Tudwal
Tudglyd : if a brave man
sharpened his sword on the whetstone, then the sword would certainly
kill any man from whom it drew blood. If a cowardly man used the
whetstone, though, his sword would refuse to draw blood at all.
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- 9. The Coat of Padarn
Beisrudd : if a well-born man put
it on, it would be the right size for him; if a churl, it would not
go upon him.
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- 10-11. The Crock and the Dish of Rhygenydd the Cleric : whatever food might be wished for
in them, it would be found.
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- 12. The Chessboard of Gwenddoleu
ap Ceidio : if the
pieces were set, they would play by themselves. The board was of
gold, and the men of silver.
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- 13 The Mantle of Arthur
in Cornwall : whoever was under it
could not be seen, and he could see everyone.
- 14/15. Later lists also include two additional treasures, the
Mantle of Tegau Eurfon and Eluned's
Stone and Ring. Where these appear, one of the other treasures is
dropped and the Crock and the Dish of Rhygenydd the Cleric are
counted as one item. The new items come from literary, rather than
traditional material;
the Mantle comes from a version of the Caradoc
story, while Eluned's stone and ring come from the prose tale Owain,
or the Lady of the Fountain.
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