e Romans near by saw that their
ruler was dead, they gave a great cry of grief and rushed upon
Arthur, but his good knights protected him.

At last, seeing themselves conquered, the Romans surrendered.
Arthur found among his prisoners three senators, and among the
dead, sixty senators, the sixteen kings, and the emperor.

He was sorrowful, for he knew that they were great men. So he had
them embalmed and laid in chests of lead. Around each chest flags
were wound, and the shields of the dead warriors placed on top.
Then he said to the three surviving senators:

"Take these noble dead bodies back to Rome. When the Romans see
them they will never again dare ask tax or tribute of me. I will
not go to Rome and take the city from you, but if ever you send
to me for gold, I shall invade your land and never rest till all
Italy is mine."

The senators bowed their heads. Then they laid the body of the
emperor on a car, all alone, with the gold eagle above him. They
laid the bodies of the kings and the senators two by two on
chariots, and so went slowly towards Rome. And never again did
the kings of Britain have to pay a tax to the Romans.

[Illustration: The Holy Grail]

[Illustration] THE KNIGHT WITH the BADLY MADE COAT

One day when Arthur and his knights were in the hall of the Round
Table, a young man entered. He was so large that his shoulders
were as wide as the doorway, and he could hardly squeeze through.
The knights looked at him in amazement, for he was almost a
giant.

When he came closer to them, they saw that he had on a coat which
was far too large for him. It hung in wrinkles and folds all over
his back, and the sleeves were so long that he had to turn them
up almost to the elbow. The coat was of rich material, gold
cloth, but it was old and blood-stained.

The young man strode up to the king and said:

"My lord, my name is Brune. I can tell you no more than that. I
beg you to make me a knight."

At this Sir Kay laughed and said:

"He must be called The Knight with the Badly Made Coat."

"Call me what you will," said the young man. "Yes, I take that
name, for I will not tell my real one."

Then Arthur spoke to him gently:

"Young man, you ask a great thing. All those in my Court who are
made knights must serve for a long time as squires. If they prove
themselves loyal and brave, I make them knights. But I must
always know whence they come, and who their fathers are."

"My lord," said