The Sword AND the Stone, Part One

I changed my mind. I don’t want to talk about the guise or geas, yet. I misspelled it last week. Sorry about that.

I want to talk about what made Arthur right wise born king of all England. T.H. White penned it beautifully in his masterful story, "The Once and Future King."

“Whoso Pulleth Out the Sword of the Stone and Anvil, is Rightwise King Born of All England."

Now we are getting into the stuff of pure legend. The sword in the stone is not mentioned by Geoffrey of Monmouth and it certainly is not in the contemporary records of Gildas or Nennius. The legend appears much later. But what is this sword and what is this stone? Is it pure legend or is there some basis in fact.

Ever heard of the Blarney Stone?

Blarney Stone
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Blarney Stone (Irish: Cloch na Blarnan) is a block of bluestone built into the battlements of Blarney Castle, Blarney about 5 miles (8 km) from Cork, Ireland. According to legend, kissing the stone endows the kisser with the gift of gab (great eloquence or skill at flattery). The stone was set into a tower of the castle in 1446. The castle is a popular tourist site in Ireland, attracting visitors from all over the world to kiss the Stone and tour the castle and its gardens.


Origins The stone is said to have been presented to Cormac McCarthy by Robert the Bruce in 1314 in recognition of his support in the Battle of Bannockburn; popular legend holds that this was a piece of the Stone of Scone. This stone was then installed at McCarthy's castle of Blarney. When the castle was rebuilt in 1446, Dermot McCarthy had the stone preserved in the new castle. Although colourful, this folk legend cannot be true as the stone was removed from Scotland 18 years before Bannockburn.

And this takes us to the Stone of Scone.

Stone of Scone
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Stone of Scone (pronounced /ˈskuːn/), also commonly known as the Stone of Destiny or the Coronation Stone is an oblong block of red sandstone, used for centuries in the coronation of the monarchs of Scotland, the monarchs of England, and, more recently, British monarchs. Historically, the artifact was kept at the now-ruined Scone Abbey in Scone, near Perth, Scotland. Other names by which it has sometimes been known include Jacob's Pillow Stone and the Tanist Stone, and in Scottish Gaelic, clach-na-cinneamhain, clach Sgàin, and Lia(th) Fàil[1]. Its size is about 26 inches (660 mm) by 16.75 inches (425 mm) by 10.5 inches (270 mm) in size and weighs approximately 336 pounds (152 kg). The top bears chisel-marks. At each end of the stone is an iron ring, apparently intended to make transport easier

What? It’s sometimes known as Jacob’s Pillow Stone? Yes. Remember in the book of Genesis? Jacob had to leave home so his brother Esau wouldn’t harm or kill him since he got the birthright blessing. On his way to relatives in Haran, he lay down to sleep, using a stone for a pillow, and had the dream of the ladder to heaven with Angels ascending and descending. Upon awakening, Jacob set the stone upright and poured oil on it to sanctify it. Ever after, the stone was known as a seer, or revelation stone. And tradition somehow gets it to Ireland and Scotland. Hmmm, these Israelites seem to get around!

Now, do I believe either of these stones could be Jacob’s stone? No, I don’t. I don’t think Jacob slept on a stone that big. I think it would be more the size of a rolled pillow on which to rest his head. Be that as it may, the Stone of Scone has been around since 600 A.D. when, after the downfall and scattering of the Bretons, a minor tribal chief in Scotland suddenly produces this stone, claims that because he has it and it is sacred, that HE is right wise king of Scotland. When the English defeated the Scottish some centuries later, to demoralize them, the Stone was removed from Scotland and taken to Westminster Abbey and stuffed under the throne there. Upon this throne all English and British monarchs have been crowned ever since. The Stone of Scone was returned to Edinburgh some years ago as a good faith gesture to the Scottish, but must be sent back to Westminster Abbey when a new king or queen is crowned.

So, there’s the stone – the first part of this stuff of legend. And whosoever has it can be crowned king!

Next, what about that sword?

I will be in Hawaii next week, so please be patient. You’ll get to learn my speculative thoughts about that sword in a couple of weeks. I think it’s exciting.