The Myth Adventure of King Arthur & the Knockers at Carnglaze
To set the scene … ‘twas a dark & stormy night and the rain came down in torrents…. Camelot was under threat from dark forces led by the dark lady her self ~ Morgana. King Arthur & his men are sure to be out numbered and have called upon an army from Devon to meet them near the Inn across the moor run rather ironically by the Moorish man! Of course in years to come this would become known as The Jamaica Inn!
Anyone who knows Bodmin Moor will know that the fog & mizzle found on the moor is thicker than any pea souper that Londoners could make! King Arthur had been visiting his cousins in Lostwithiel when word of the dark forces imminent arrival was delivered! They had not expected them for several days. They left immediately and rode through the Napa Valley to cross the moor by the side of the Loveny River. Up the windy way they rode with the smizzle making things increasingly difficult ~ like seeing! Loud howling made the horses even more nervous than the smizzle did & a path to the right away from the Loveny River took them to higher ground where King Arthur thought they may be able to see above the smizzle. Alas ‘twas not so and ‘twas at that point that the rain came down in torrents and he turned to his men and at that very second lightening struck the surrounding valley & lit up before Arthur’s very eyes the mouth of a cavern in the side of the hill.
Extraordinarily above the caverns entrance a woodland could be seen, the trees dwarfing Arthur & his men. They tethered their horses and took refuge in the cavern. Once inside torches were lit and they explored the gigantic space before them. They clambered down the slate rock face until they were stood by a small subterranean pool. Arthur sank to his knee & scooped the water into his hand, ‘twas ice cold & so clear & fresh and in the torch light it had looked an amazing bluey green colour. He decided at this point he would bring Merlin here one day! The men had lit a fire by now & tuck was taken from bags as the men settled down to sit out the storm. After a while the men gradually one by one began to doze & Arthur took the first watch.
Alone with his thoughts it ‘twas a few moments before Arthur realised that he could hear a sound….there it was again…. No it couldn’t be….but there it was again …Knock…. knock…. knock…. Knock…
His men slept soundly their snores melding together to become a melodic rhythmic drone and all the while the knocking continued. Arthur took a torch and tried to see into the darker areas beyond the pond and bats flew at him, startled by the light.. they too not wanting to be out on a night such as this. As Arthur had startled the bats so they in turn startled him and he jumped back… at that very moment he saw the strangest little creature he had ever seen for surely it could not be human…. About knee high this bizarre spectacle wore an array of colourful garments topped off with a felt cap adorned with a rather spectacular feather seemingly attached with an amethyst the size of an egg and below the hat pointy ears and to the centre of his visage a hook nose that almost touched its pointed chin and set behind ~ a grimacing mouth that almost questioned the sanity of it’s owner whose hand held an ornately carved walking stick! And as Arthur looked his eyes agog the little creature raised his stick and hit the ground and there it was.. another knock….and again ….knock….
Arthur pulled himself together, fearing that he had stood with his mouth open for far too long, He addressed his new companion… “Good Night to you sire, I hope we have not intruded upon your home, I apologise if we have but we needed refuge from the storm….” As Arthur spoke the funny thing turned on it’s heel and very slowly began to walk past Arthur towards the pool …..with every pace he thrust his stick to the ground….Knock….Knock…. As he reached the pond he threw a piece of loose slate into the very centre of the pond and ripples shot out and reached the outskirts in seconds. Then the tiny fellow made his first communication to Arthur. He pointed to the darkness beyond the pool and then beckoned Arthur to follow as he sped into the blackness. Arthur quickly followed, kicking one of his sleeping men awake to guard the rest. With a torch in hand Arthur saw the curious creature jump to his right. Arthur darted after him and came to a stand still as before him was not a pool but a lake….underground…here a lake and that too had the amazing bluey green colour and as Arthur looked he realised that it was the very slate itself which gave it this extraordinary hue. Knock…. Knock… the noise brought him from his reverie. Arthur said “Will you not speak to me? My name is Ar…..” The creature then spoke cutting Arthur off ~ “We know who you are King Arthur but I am not sure that you know who we are let alone who I am?” Arthur had been giving this some thought in the recesses of his mind while their strange encounter had evolved. Merlin had spent many evenings rabbiting on about all the mystical creatures that lived in this Celtic Idyll called Kernow…known to the English as Cornwall!
“Are you the King of the Knockers?” Asked Arthur.
“I am impressed and a little flattered sire that you have heard of us, may I introduce myself I am King Calibre the 3rd.” said King Calibre the 3rd
“Is this your home?” Asked Arthur
“ I am not here for small talk. We have travelled to meet you here, we have known for sometime that this night was to pass. The army you are meeting are already in Camelot and in the morrow you will need to make pace & return to attack the evil Morgana’s dark army from the rear. We have always been thought to work with the dark side but I am here to assure you that we may be rather bad tempered and our moral compass may seem a trifle strange to you humans but we loath Morgana and wish to offer you our allegiance. I have a gift for you which will help you now. Do you accept our allegiance?”
Arthur answered King Calibre the 3rd in the affirmative adding a thank you to emphasise his pleasure of this offer. At that moment the King of the Knockers hit his staff on the ground harder than any other time…the sound reverberated around the lake and the circles which had started in the centre of the pool when King Calibre the 3rd had thrown the piece of slate in and then had worked their way outwards …as nature had intended…now seemed to work from the outside towards the centre of the lake. The rings speed was so much slower than the earlier quick display in the pool. Arthur was mesmerised by the effect. As the rings reached the centre something began to rise from the water….a sword rose up…point first….the most beautiful silver sword decorated with Celtic symbols and with a hole in the hilt which was held in the hand of whom? Arthur was agog as the hand threw the sword at Arthur where as if the most natural thing in the world he caught with one hand. It felt cold but not wet and there was something askew with the balance but he couldn’t put his finger on it. As soon as this was done the hand disappeared below the surface of the lake and the ripples vanished as the water returned to it’s tranquil state.
“The sword is not complete here take this.” Said King Calibre the 3rd
At this KC3 took off his hat and ‘twas then that Arthur saw that the stone on his hat was the exact same size & shape as the hole on the hilt of the sword. As Arthur neared King Calibre the 3rd the hilt and hat seemed to magnetise together and all at once felt not just perfect but as if it had been conjured just for him.
“ ’twas the sword that helped us to help the other Fae folk chase out the trolls many centuries ago. My ancestor King Calibre the first threw it in the lake to keep it safe. It will protect you and yours forever. But beware Arthur it must never be used for harm. When this battle is done, when you have won, you must throw it once more into a lake.”
“Thank you King Calibre the 3rd it is good to know you are on our side. In that way you are now part of my court would you join us in Camelot?” Arthur asked.
“Thank you sire but we thrive in the dark although our nature is light. You will not find us again and we would rather you did not speak of this to any but our old friend Merlin. God speed Arthur.” And with that King Calibre the 3rd was gone and as he left Arthur saw several other knockers peel themselves from the walls and dart into the darkness. Arthur had thought King Calibre the 3rd had said “We” on a few occasions. Arthur returned to his men and woke them all. With no allusion or mention of the knocker king or the whole strange affair, only that they must leave with haste and return to Camelot. Arthur & his men rode with all their might back to Camelot and just as he’d said they found that Morgana’s army were trying to advance on the Devonian Army ensconced at Camelot. With Arthur & his men attacking from the rear & with the ex sword of Calibre in his hand they were victorious. Morgana had enchanted her army but the sword destroyed her evil spells. When all was at peace and the feasting & revelry were done Arthur took Merlin to the cavern on the edge of the moor. They drank the water & sat for a while in the tranquillity of the lakeside. Arthur stood up and removed the amethyst from the hilt of his sword and carefully placed it in his bag, then with one fluid movement he threw the sword into the centre of the lake & a hand flew into the air and caught it. That was one of the good things about Merlin he never questioned things like that, he just sat enjoying their visit. As darkness fell they got on their horses and as they left Arthur turned & said “We shall call this place Carnglaze Merlin ~ after all ‘tis a pile of blue rock. Perhaps we could get some workers here, I think I would like a new table, perhaps a round one this time, what do you think?”
A story made up for you with love, laughter & lollipops by Pip xxx
20/10/2011
Anyone who knows Bodmin Moor will know that the fog & mizzle found on the moor is thicker than any pea souper that Londoners could make! King Arthur had been visiting his cousins in Lostwithiel when word of the dark forces imminent arrival was delivered! They had not expected them for several days. They left immediately and rode through the Napa Valley to cross the moor by the side of the Loveny River. Up the windy way they rode with the smizzle making things increasingly difficult ~ like seeing! Loud howling made the horses even more nervous than the smizzle did & a path to the right away from the Loveny River took them to higher ground where King Arthur thought they may be able to see above the smizzle. Alas ‘twas not so and ‘twas at that point that the rain came down in torrents and he turned to his men and at that very second lightening struck the surrounding valley & lit up before Arthur’s very eyes the mouth of a cavern in the side of the hill.
Extraordinarily above the caverns entrance a woodland could be seen, the trees dwarfing Arthur & his men. They tethered their horses and took refuge in the cavern. Once inside torches were lit and they explored the gigantic space before them. They clambered down the slate rock face until they were stood by a small subterranean pool. Arthur sank to his knee & scooped the water into his hand, ‘twas ice cold & so clear & fresh and in the torch light it had looked an amazing bluey green colour. He decided at this point he would bring Merlin here one day! The men had lit a fire by now & tuck was taken from bags as the men settled down to sit out the storm. After a while the men gradually one by one began to doze & Arthur took the first watch.
Alone with his thoughts it ‘twas a few moments before Arthur realised that he could hear a sound….there it was again…. No it couldn’t be….but there it was again …Knock…. knock…. knock…. Knock…
His men slept soundly their snores melding together to become a melodic rhythmic drone and all the while the knocking continued. Arthur took a torch and tried to see into the darker areas beyond the pond and bats flew at him, startled by the light.. they too not wanting to be out on a night such as this. As Arthur had startled the bats so they in turn startled him and he jumped back… at that very moment he saw the strangest little creature he had ever seen for surely it could not be human…. About knee high this bizarre spectacle wore an array of colourful garments topped off with a felt cap adorned with a rather spectacular feather seemingly attached with an amethyst the size of an egg and below the hat pointy ears and to the centre of his visage a hook nose that almost touched its pointed chin and set behind ~ a grimacing mouth that almost questioned the sanity of it’s owner whose hand held an ornately carved walking stick! And as Arthur looked his eyes agog the little creature raised his stick and hit the ground and there it was.. another knock….and again ….knock….
Arthur pulled himself together, fearing that he had stood with his mouth open for far too long, He addressed his new companion… “Good Night to you sire, I hope we have not intruded upon your home, I apologise if we have but we needed refuge from the storm….” As Arthur spoke the funny thing turned on it’s heel and very slowly began to walk past Arthur towards the pool …..with every pace he thrust his stick to the ground….Knock….Knock…. As he reached the pond he threw a piece of loose slate into the very centre of the pond and ripples shot out and reached the outskirts in seconds. Then the tiny fellow made his first communication to Arthur. He pointed to the darkness beyond the pool and then beckoned Arthur to follow as he sped into the blackness. Arthur quickly followed, kicking one of his sleeping men awake to guard the rest. With a torch in hand Arthur saw the curious creature jump to his right. Arthur darted after him and came to a stand still as before him was not a pool but a lake….underground…here a lake and that too had the amazing bluey green colour and as Arthur looked he realised that it was the very slate itself which gave it this extraordinary hue. Knock…. Knock… the noise brought him from his reverie. Arthur said “Will you not speak to me? My name is Ar…..” The creature then spoke cutting Arthur off ~ “We know who you are King Arthur but I am not sure that you know who we are let alone who I am?” Arthur had been giving this some thought in the recesses of his mind while their strange encounter had evolved. Merlin had spent many evenings rabbiting on about all the mystical creatures that lived in this Celtic Idyll called Kernow…known to the English as Cornwall!
“Are you the King of the Knockers?” Asked Arthur.
“I am impressed and a little flattered sire that you have heard of us, may I introduce myself I am King Calibre the 3rd.” said King Calibre the 3rd
“Is this your home?” Asked Arthur
“ I am not here for small talk. We have travelled to meet you here, we have known for sometime that this night was to pass. The army you are meeting are already in Camelot and in the morrow you will need to make pace & return to attack the evil Morgana’s dark army from the rear. We have always been thought to work with the dark side but I am here to assure you that we may be rather bad tempered and our moral compass may seem a trifle strange to you humans but we loath Morgana and wish to offer you our allegiance. I have a gift for you which will help you now. Do you accept our allegiance?”
Arthur answered King Calibre the 3rd in the affirmative adding a thank you to emphasise his pleasure of this offer. At that moment the King of the Knockers hit his staff on the ground harder than any other time…the sound reverberated around the lake and the circles which had started in the centre of the pool when King Calibre the 3rd had thrown the piece of slate in and then had worked their way outwards …as nature had intended…now seemed to work from the outside towards the centre of the lake. The rings speed was so much slower than the earlier quick display in the pool. Arthur was mesmerised by the effect. As the rings reached the centre something began to rise from the water….a sword rose up…point first….the most beautiful silver sword decorated with Celtic symbols and with a hole in the hilt which was held in the hand of whom? Arthur was agog as the hand threw the sword at Arthur where as if the most natural thing in the world he caught with one hand. It felt cold but not wet and there was something askew with the balance but he couldn’t put his finger on it. As soon as this was done the hand disappeared below the surface of the lake and the ripples vanished as the water returned to it’s tranquil state.
“The sword is not complete here take this.” Said King Calibre the 3rd
At this KC3 took off his hat and ‘twas then that Arthur saw that the stone on his hat was the exact same size & shape as the hole on the hilt of the sword. As Arthur neared King Calibre the 3rd the hilt and hat seemed to magnetise together and all at once felt not just perfect but as if it had been conjured just for him.
“ ’twas the sword that helped us to help the other Fae folk chase out the trolls many centuries ago. My ancestor King Calibre the first threw it in the lake to keep it safe. It will protect you and yours forever. But beware Arthur it must never be used for harm. When this battle is done, when you have won, you must throw it once more into a lake.”
“Thank you King Calibre the 3rd it is good to know you are on our side. In that way you are now part of my court would you join us in Camelot?” Arthur asked.
“Thank you sire but we thrive in the dark although our nature is light. You will not find us again and we would rather you did not speak of this to any but our old friend Merlin. God speed Arthur.” And with that King Calibre the 3rd was gone and as he left Arthur saw several other knockers peel themselves from the walls and dart into the darkness. Arthur had thought King Calibre the 3rd had said “We” on a few occasions. Arthur returned to his men and woke them all. With no allusion or mention of the knocker king or the whole strange affair, only that they must leave with haste and return to Camelot. Arthur & his men rode with all their might back to Camelot and just as he’d said they found that Morgana’s army were trying to advance on the Devonian Army ensconced at Camelot. With Arthur & his men attacking from the rear & with the ex sword of Calibre in his hand they were victorious. Morgana had enchanted her army but the sword destroyed her evil spells. When all was at peace and the feasting & revelry were done Arthur took Merlin to the cavern on the edge of the moor. They drank the water & sat for a while in the tranquillity of the lakeside. Arthur stood up and removed the amethyst from the hilt of his sword and carefully placed it in his bag, then with one fluid movement he threw the sword into the centre of the lake & a hand flew into the air and caught it. That was one of the good things about Merlin he never questioned things like that, he just sat enjoying their visit. As darkness fell they got on their horses and as they left Arthur turned & said “We shall call this place Carnglaze Merlin ~ after all ‘tis a pile of blue rock. Perhaps we could get some workers here, I think I would like a new table, perhaps a round one this time, what do you think?”
A story made up for you with love, laughter & lollipops by Pip xxx
20/10/2011
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The Knockers ~ from mysterious Britain website ~link at the bottom!
In many old established mining areas throughout the world, there was a
long tradition of mine spirits, in Cornwall these were known as the
Knockers. They frequented the tin mines that formed much of local
economy in 18th and 19th century Cornwall. Knockers was not the only
name given to mine spirits others being Knackers, Buccas, and Spriggans
to name a few. As well as the mines, the Knockers were thought to haunt
some wells and other natural features, which along with the other names
for them, suggests a wider use of the term to
describe supernatural creatures.
According to descriptions, the Knockers took the form of small
thin-limbed entities with large hooked noses. They inhabited the
deepest darkest parts of the mine, and could sometimes be heard
knocking and working their own lodes in the darkness. No doubt that any
distant creak or rock fall would be amplified in the claustrophobic
darkness of the mines. It is no wonder spirits were thought to inhabit
these dangerous work places, where thoughts of the supernatural could
cause an instant shiver down the spine.
The Knockers generally kept to their own company and were thought to
be benevolent, knocking at the richest of the lodes and showing
themselves only to those that they favoured.
But as with all fairies they needed to be treated with respect,
whistling could offend them, as could intentional spying on their
activity, and making the sign of the cross. To appease them they were
left small offerings of food or tallow, in the more remote parts of the
mines, failure to do this could cause repercussions such as bad luck.
Strange tricks were often played on those who offended them, and a
miner could find himself led to dangerous places in the mine.
There were a few musings as to the origin of the Knockers, some
thought they were the ghosts of Jews who were working the mines in
penance. Another theory suggests they were the spirits of souls who
could not gain access to heaven or hell, this is also used as an
explanation for wider manifestations of fairies. The fact that Knockers
were also thought to haunt other recesses and wells, suggests the name
became mixed in some quarters to describe several types of fairy.
Belief and sightings of Knockers has died with tin mining industry,
although they are still thought to reside in the dark un-worked tunnels
in some quarters, now free from human interaction.
http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/england/cornwall/folklore/the-knockers.html
Other links for more on these wonderful creatures....
http://www.berryman.uk.com/mining.htm
http://www.gandolf.com/cornwall/fairies/KnockersIntro.shtml
In many old established mining areas throughout the world, there was a
long tradition of mine spirits, in Cornwall these were known as the
Knockers. They frequented the tin mines that formed much of local
economy in 18th and 19th century Cornwall. Knockers was not the only
name given to mine spirits others being Knackers, Buccas, and Spriggans
to name a few. As well as the mines, the Knockers were thought to haunt
some wells and other natural features, which along with the other names
for them, suggests a wider use of the term to
describe supernatural creatures.
According to descriptions, the Knockers took the form of small
thin-limbed entities with large hooked noses. They inhabited the
deepest darkest parts of the mine, and could sometimes be heard
knocking and working their own lodes in the darkness. No doubt that any
distant creak or rock fall would be amplified in the claustrophobic
darkness of the mines. It is no wonder spirits were thought to inhabit
these dangerous work places, where thoughts of the supernatural could
cause an instant shiver down the spine.
The Knockers generally kept to their own company and were thought to
be benevolent, knocking at the richest of the lodes and showing
themselves only to those that they favoured.
But as with all fairies they needed to be treated with respect,
whistling could offend them, as could intentional spying on their
activity, and making the sign of the cross. To appease them they were
left small offerings of food or tallow, in the more remote parts of the
mines, failure to do this could cause repercussions such as bad luck.
Strange tricks were often played on those who offended them, and a
miner could find himself led to dangerous places in the mine.
There were a few musings as to the origin of the Knockers, some
thought they were the ghosts of Jews who were working the mines in
penance. Another theory suggests they were the spirits of souls who
could not gain access to heaven or hell, this is also used as an
explanation for wider manifestations of fairies. The fact that Knockers
were also thought to haunt other recesses and wells, suggests the name
became mixed in some quarters to describe several types of fairy.
Belief and sightings of Knockers has died with tin mining industry,
although they are still thought to reside in the dark un-worked tunnels
in some quarters, now free from human interaction.
http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/england/cornwall/folklore/the-knockers.html
Other links for more on these wonderful creatures....
http://www.berryman.uk.com/mining.htm
http://www.gandolf.com/cornwall/fairies/KnockersIntro.shtml
