Stories For Sleep: The Sword In The Stone

Hello friend,

This is a guided meditation and reading to help you drift off to sleep.

Before we begin,

Take a moment to settle comfortably in your bed in whatever position feels right for you.

The day is over,

It's time to rest.

Close your eyes and take three deep breaths.

Breathing in.

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Breathing out.

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Breathing in.

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Breathing in.

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Breathing out.

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One last time.

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Breathing in.

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And a big breath out.

Before we begin the reading,

Bring your attention to your head as it lies gently on your pillow.

Feel the muscles in your face relax as you leave the day behind you.

Notice your eyes,

They're closed and they're at peace.

Notice how the back of your head presses against the pillow as it becomes heavy with sleep.

Scan down your neck and feel your shoulders as they relax as they too become heavy with sleep.

Scan down your right arm and feel it slowly relaxing.

Scan down your left arm,

It too becomes heavy.

Now move down the front of your body and feel your chest relax and your stomach.

Moving down the back of your body,

Notice how the top of your back relaxes,

The middle of your back relaxes and then the lower part of your back.

Your attention moves all the way down your right leg.

The muscles here relax.

Your attention then moves all the way down your left leg and those muscles too relax.

Both feet are heavy and quiet.

Your whole body is heavy and relaxed.

You are at ease and at rest and you are ready to sleep.

We continue tonight with the Mort d'Arthur of Sir Thomas Mallory,

Dating to the latter part of the 15th century.

A son has been born to King Uther and the Lady Igraine.

Merlin has named him Arthur and he has placed him in the keeping of a good man called Sir Hector.

But two years later King Uther falls ill and dies.

Igraine is devastated by grief and the entire kingdom is in mourning.

Then as we read,

Stood the realm in great jeopardy for a long while.

For every lord that was mighty of men made him strong and many went to have been king.

Then Merlin went to the Archbishop of Canterbury and counseled him for to send for all the lords of the realm and all the gentlemen of arms that they should to London come by Christmas upon pain of cursing and for this cause that Jesu that was born on that night that he would of his great mercy show some miracle as he was come to be king of mankind for to show some miracle who should be rightwise king of this realm.

So the Archbishop by the advice of Merlin sent for all the lords and gentlemen of arms that they should come by Christmas even unto London and many of them claimed their life that their prayer might be the more acceptable unto God.

So in the greatest Church of London whether it were Paul's or not the French book maketh no mention all the estates were long or day in the church for to pray and when matins and to the first mass was done there was seen in the churchyard against the high altar a great stone four square like unto a marble stone and in the midst thereof was like an anvil of steel a foot high and therein stuck a fair sword naked by the point and letters there were written in gold about the sword that said and thus who so pulleth out this sword of this stone an anvil is rightwise King born of all England.

Then the people marveled and told it to the Archbishop I command said the Archbishop that you keep you within your church and pray unto God still that no man touch the sword till the high mass be all done.

So when all masses were done all the Lords went to behold the sword and the stone and when they saw the scripture psalm said such as would have been King but none might steer the sword nor move it.

He is not here said the Archbishop the shall achieve the sword but doubt not God will make him known but this is my counsel said the Archbishop that we let pervade ten nights men of good fame and they to keep this sword.

So it was ordained and then there was made a cry that every man should have say that would for to win the sword and upon New Year's Day the barons let make a joust and a tournament that all knights that were joust or tourney there might play and all this was ordained for to keep the Lords together and the Commons for the Archbishop trusted that God would make him known that should win the sword.

So upon New Year's Day when the service was done the barons rode unto the field some to joust and some to tourney and so it happened that Sir Hector had great livelihood around London rode unto the joust and with him rode Sir Kay his son and young Arthur there was his nourished brother and Sir Kay was made knight at all Hallowmas afore.

So as they rode to the joust Sir Kay had lost his sword for he had left it at his father's lodging and so he prayed young Arthur for to ride for his sword.

I will well said Arthur and rode fast after the sword and when he came home the lady and all were out to see the jousting then was Arthur wroth and said to himself I will ride to the churchyard and take the sword with me that sticketh in the stone for my brother Sir Kay shall not be without a sword this day.

So when he came to the churchyard Sir Arthur alight and tied his horse to the stile and so he went to the tent and found no knights there for they were at the jousting and so he handled the sword by the handles and lightly and fiercely pulled it out of the stone and took his horse and rode his way until he came to his brother Sir Kay and delivered him the sword and as soon as Sir Kay saw the sword he wished well it was the sword of the stone and so he rode to his father Sir Ector and said sire lo here is the sword of the stone wherefore I must be king of this land.

When Sir Ector beheld the sword he returned again and came to the church and there they alight all three and went into the church and in on he made Sir Kay to swear upon a book how he came to that sword.

Sire said Sir Kay by my brother Arthur for he brought it to me.

How got ye this sword said Sir Ector to Arthur.

Sir I will tell you when I came home for my brother's sword I found nobody at home to deliver me his sword and so I thought my brother Sir Kay should not be swordless and so I came hither eagerly and pulled it out of the stone without any pain.

Found you any knights about this sword said Sir Ector.

Nay said Arthur.

Now said Sir Ector to Arthur I understand ye must be king of this land.

Wherefore I said Arthur and for what cause?

Sire said Ector for God will have it so for there should never man have drawn out of this sword but that he shall be rightwise king of this land.

Now let me see whether you can put the sword there as it was and pull it out again.

That is no mastery said Arthur and so he put it in the stone.

Therewithal Sir Ector assayed to pull out the sword and failed.

Now assay said Sir Ector unto Sir Kay and anon he pulled the sword with all his might but it would not be.

Now shall ye assay said Sir Ector to Arthur.

I will well said Arthur and pulled it out easily.

And therewithal Sir Ector kneeled down to the earth and Sir Kay.

Alas said Arthur mine own dear father and brother why kneel ye to me?

Nay nay my lord Arthur it is not so.

I was never your father nor of your blood but I well you are of a higher blood than I when you were.

And then Sir Ector told him all how he was betaken him for to nourish him and by whose commandment and by Merlin's deliverance.

Then Arthur made great dole when he understood that Sir Ector was not his father.

Sir said Ector unto Arthur will you be my good and gracious lord when you are king?

Else were I to blame said Arthur for you are the man in the world that I am most beholden to and my good lady and mother your wife that as well as her own hath fostered me and kept.

And if ever it be God's will that I shall be king as you say ye shall desire of me that I may do and I shall not fail you.

God forbid I should fail you.

Sir said Sir Ector I will ask no more of you but that you will make my son your foster brother Sir Kay Seneshore of all your lands.

That shall be done said Arthur and more by the faith of my body and never man shall have that office but he will while he and I live.

Therewith all they went unto the archbishop and told him how the sword was achieved and by whom.

And on the twelfth day all the barons came thither and to assay to take the sword who that would assay but there are for him all their might none take it out but Arthur.

Wherefore there were many lords wroth and said it was a great shame unto them all and the realm to be over governed by a boy of no high blood born.

And so they fell out at that time and it was put off till Candlemas and then all the barons should meet there again but always the ten knights were ordained to watch the sword day and night and so they set a pavilion over the sword and the stone and five always watch.

So at Candlemas many more great lords came thither for to have won the sword but there might none prevail.

And right as Arthur did at Christmas he did at Candlemas and pulled out the sword easily easily whereof the barons were sore aggrieved and put it off in delay to the high feast of Easter.

And as Arthur sped afore so did he at Easter yet there were some of the great lords had indignation that Arthur should be king and put it off in a delay to the feast of Pentecost.

Then the Archbishop of Canterbury by Merlin's providence let purvey then of the best knights that they might get and such knights as Uther Pendragon loved best and most trusted in his days.

And such knights were put about Arthur as Sir Baldwin of Britain,

Sir Kay,

Sir Ulphius,

Sir Barthias.

All these with many other were always about Arthur day and night till the feast of Pentecost.

And at the feast of Pentecost all manner of men assayed to pull at the sword that would assay but none might prevail but Arthur and he pulled it out before all the lords and commons that were there.

Wherefore all the commons cried at once we will have Arthur unto our king we will put him no more in delay for we all see that it is God's will that he shall be our king and who that holdest against it we will slay him.

And therewith all they kneeled at once both rich and poor and cried Arthur mercy because they had delayed him so long.

And Arthur forgave him and took the sword between both hands and offered it upon the altar where the archbishop was.

And so was he made knights of the best man that was there.

And so were known to the coronation maid and there was he sworn unto his lords and the commons for to be a true king to stand with true justice from thenceforth the days of his life.

And then he made our lords the held of the crown to come in and do service as they ought to do.

And many complaints were made unto Sir Arthur of great wrongs that were done since the death of King Uther of many lands that were bereaved lords knights ladies and gentlemen.

Wherefore King Arthur made the lands to be given again unto them that autumn.

When this was done and the king had established all the countries about London then he let make Sir Kay Seneschal of England and Sir Baldwin of Britain was made constable.

Was made constable.

And Sir Ulphius was made chamberlain and Sir Brastus was made warden to wait upon the north from Trent forwards for it was that time that most party the king's enemies.

But within few years after Arthur won all the north Scotland and all that were under their obedience and also Wales.

A part of it held against Arthur but he overcame them all as he did the remnant through the noble prowess of himself and his knights of the round table.

Good night and good rest.