urWin

s
and
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rthur was born, his father,

Uther onthe night that Prince A monded two
knights and Pendragon,King of England,com rman
whom they would twO ladles to toke the baby to a poo
was Merlin, a mighty find at thecastlegate.This poor
man
ma:tim!
:
ol h gh they did not know It.
Merlin hod done Uther ogreat service,
on condition that the King should grant him whatever he
wished for.This the King swore a solemn oath to do.
Then Merlin made him promise that when his child was
born, lt should be delivered to Merlin to bring up as he
chose, for this would be to the child's great advantage.
The King had given his word, so he was obliged
to agree.
So the child, wrapped In a cloth of gold, was delivered
unto Merlin.And Merlin carried him to SirEctor,who
named him Arthur, ond cherished him as his own child.
Within two years King Uther fell sick of a great malady.
All the baronswere In sorrow.
Then Uther Pendragon turned and sold in hearing
of them all: "To my son Arthur, I give God'sblessing
and my own. Ibid him pray for my soul, and
righteously and hon- orably claim mycrown."
of And with that, King Uther died.
Arthur was still only a baby, not two years old.
Merlin knew itwould be no use yet to proclaim him king
then. For there were many powerful noblesIn England in
those days. Each one hoping to get the kingdom for
himself, and might not hesitate killing the little Prince.
So there was strife and
nd.