THE LOST LAND OF KING ARTHUR [Illustration: _Photo: R. Webber, Boscastle_] KING ARTHUR’S CASTLE AND EXECUTION ROCK, TINTAGEL [_Frontispiece_] THE LOST LAND OF KING ARTHUR BY J. CUMING WALTERS “On the one hand we have the man Arthur, ... on the other is a greater Arthur, a more colossal figure, of which we have, so to speak, but a torso, rescued from the wreck of the Celtic Pantheon.”--PROFESSOR RHYS. “There is truth enough to make him famous besides that which is fabulous.”--BACON. _WITH SIXTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS_ LONDON CHAPMAN AND HALL, LTD. 1909 RICHARD CLAY & SONS, LIMITED, BREAD STREET HILL, E.C., AND BUNGAY, SUFFOLK 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