and, calling an assembly of the clergy and people, established peace and the just administration of the laws in that kingdom.  Then he bestowed Normandy upon Bedver, his butler, and the province of Andegavia upon Kay, his steward, [Footnote:  This name, in the French romances, is spelled Queux, which means head cook.  This would seem to imply that it was a title, and not a name; yet the personage who bore it is never mentioned by any other.  He is the chief, if not the only, comic character among the heroes of Arthur’s court.  He is the Seneschal or Steward, his duties also embracing those of chief of the cooks.  In the romances, his general character is a compound of valor and buffoonery, always ready to fight, and generally getting the worst of the battle.  He is also sarcastic and abusive in his remarks, by which he often gets into trouble.  Yet Arthur seems to have an attachment to him, and often takes his advice, which is generally wrong.] and several other provinces upon his great men that attended him.  And, having settled the peace of the cities and countries, he returned back in the beginning of spring to Britain.

Upon the approach of the feast of Pentecost, Arthur, the better to demonstrate his joy after such triumphant successes, and for the more solemn observation of that festival, and reconciling the minds of the princes that were now subject to him, resolved during that season to hold a magnificent court, to place the crown upon his head, and to invite all the kings and dukes under his subjection to the solemnity.  And he pitched upon Caerleon, the City of Legions, as the proper place for his purpose.  For, besides its great wealth above the other cities, its situation upon the river Usk, near the Severn sea, was most pleasant and fit for so great a solemnity.  For on one side it was washed by that noble river, so that the kings and princes from the countries beyond the seas might have the convenience of sailing up to it.  On the other side the beauty of the meadows and groves, and magnificence of the royal palaces, with lofty gilded roofs that adorned it, made it even rival the grandeur of Rome.  It was also famous for two churches, whereof one was adorned with a choir of virgins, who devoted themselves wholly to the service of God, and the other maintained a convent of priests.  Besides, there was a college of two hundred philosophers, who, being learned in astronomy and the other arts, were diligent in observing the courses of the stars, and gave Arthur true predictions of the events that would happen.  In this place, therefore, which afforded such delights, were preparations made for the ensuing festival.

[Footnote:  Several cities are allotted to King Arthur by the romance-writers.  The principal are Caerleon, Camelot, and Carlisle.

Caerleon derives its name from its having been the station of one of the legions, during the dominion of the Romans.  It is called by Latin writers Urbs Legionum, the City of Legions.  The former word being rendered into Welsh by Caer, meaning city, and the latter contracted into lleon.  The river Usk retains its name in modern geography, and there is a town or city of Caerleon upon it, though the city of Cardiff is thought to be the scene of Arthur’s court.  Chester also bears in Welsh the name of Caerleon; for Chester, derived from castra, Latin for camp, is the designation of military headquarters.