most easy of access in his dominions, both by sea and by land. And there
were assembled {7b} nine crowned kings, who were his tributaries, and
likewise earls and barons. For they were his invited guests at all the
high festivals, unless they were prevented by any great hindrance. And
when he was at Caerlleon, holding his Court, thirteen churches were set
apart for mass. And thus were they appointed: one church for Arthur, and
his kings, and his guests; and the second for Gwenhwyvar and her ladies;
and the third for the Steward of the Household and the Suitors; and the
fourth for the Franks, and the other officers; and the other nine
churches were for the nine Masters of the Household, and chiefly for
Gwalchmai; for he, from the eminence of his warlike fame, and from the
nobleness of his birth, was the most exalted of the nine. And there was
no other arrangement respecting the churches than that which we have
mentioned above.

Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr was the chief porter; but he did not himself perform
the office, except at one of the three high festivals, for he had seven
men to serve him; and they divided the year amongst them. They were
Grynn, and Pen Pighon, and Llaes Cymyn, and Gogyfwlch, and Gwrdnei with
Cat's eyes, who could see as well by night as by day, and Drem the son of
Dremhitid, and Clust the son of Clustveinyd; and these were Arthur's
guards. And on Whit Tuesday, as the King sat at the banquet, lo! there
entered a tall, fair-headed youth, clad in a coat and a surcoat of
diapred satin, and a golden-hilted sword about his neck, and low shoes of
leather upon his feet. And he came, and stood before Arthur. "Hail to
thee, Lord!" said he. "Heaven prosper thee," he answered, "and be thou
welcome. Dost thou bring any new tidings?" "I do, Lord," he said. "I
know thee not," said Arthur. "It is a marvel to me that thou dost not
know me. I am one of thy foresters, Lord, in the Forest of Dean, and my
name is Madawc, the son of Twrgadarn." "Tell me thine errand," said
Arthur. "I will do so, Lord," said he. "In the Forest I saw a stag, the
like of which beheld I never yet." "What is there about him," asked
Arthur, "that thou never yet didst see his like?" "He is of pure white,
Lord, and he does not herd with any other animal through stateliness and
pride, so royal is his bearing. And I come to seek thy counsel, Lord,
and to know thy will concerning him." "It seems best to me," said
Arthur, "to go and