Sir Thomas Malory's Morte Darthur. Sir Thomas Malory

for mercy. Soon after, on a Saturday, all the senators that were alive, along with the most cunning cardinals who dwelt at court, sought out King Arthur and asked him for peace. They besought him, as sovereign, as ruler under God, to allow them six weeks time in order to assemble in the city of Sion, which is called Rome, and there they would crown him with chrismed hands, offering him the emperor’s scepter.

      “I assent,” said the king, “to do as you have suggested, and at Christmas I will come to be crowned. I will hereafter reign, and keep my Round Table, ruling over the rents of Rome as I like. Then, as I have been advised, I will travel over the salt sea with good men at arms to avenge the death of Him who died on the cross for us.” When the senators had this reply, they returned to Rome to prepare for his coronation. At the day assigned, as the books tell me, he was crowned emperor by the Pope’s own hands, and given the royal realms of the world to rule forever.

      They sojourned there that season for some time, bringing all the lands from Rome to France under their rule and giving lands and rents to knights who were deserving. No one complained of his portion, rich or poor.

      Then Arthur commanded Sir Lancelot and Sir Bors to take control of their fathers’ lands, which Kings Ban and Bors had ruled over, and their fathers before. “See that you take control of all your broad lands, and let your liegemen know you as their kind lords; never let your sovereignty be lessened with your subjects, nor your power or the rule of your lands. Also the property of the mighty King Claudas I give to you to divide between the two of you in maintaining of your kindred who are noble knights, and so that you and they may return to the Round Table.” Sir Lancelot and Sir Bors de Ganis thanked the king with fair words, saying that their hearts and service would always be his.