The Twenty-Four Knights of Arthur's Court

Twenty-four ordained Knights were in Arthur’s Court dwelling continuously, and each one of them had an inflate peculiarity of achievement beyond other people.

Three Golden-Tongued Knights were in Arthur’s Court:
Gwalchmai son of Llew son of Cynfarch, and Drudwas son of Tryffin, and Eliwlod son of Madog son of Uthur: and there was neither king nor lord to whom those came who did not listen to them; and whatever quest they sought, they wished for and obtained it, either willingly or unwillingly.

Three Virgin Knights were in Arthur’s Court:
Bwrt son of Bwrt King of Gascony, and Peredur son of Earl Efrog, and Galath son of Lanslod Lak. Wherever those came, where there might be giant or witch or fiendish being—(such) could not withstand one of those Three Virgin Knights.

Three Knights of Battle were in Arthur’s Court:
Cadwr Earl of Cornwall, and Lanslod Lak, and Ywain son of Urien Rheged. The peculiarities of those were that they did not flee for fear of spear or sword or arrow; and Arthur was never shamed in battle on the day that he saw their faces in the field. And therefore they were called Knights of Battle.

Three Enchanter Knights were in Arthur’s Court:
Menw son of Teirgwaedd, and Trystan son of Tallwch, and E(i)ddilig the Dwarf; since they changed themselves into the form they wished when they were hard-pressed, and therefore no one could overcome them.

Three Royal Knights were in Arthur’s Court:
Nasiefn son of the King of Denmark, and Medrod son of Llew son of Cynfarch, and Howel son of Emyr Llydaw. The peculiarities of those were that there was neither king nor emperor of the world who could refuse them, on account of their beauty and wisdom in peace; while in war no warrior or champion could withstand them, despite the excellence of his arms. And therefore they were called Royal Knights.

Three Just Knights were in Arthur’s Court:
Blaes son of the Earl of Llychlyn, and Cadog son of Gwynlliw the Bearded, and Pedrog Splintered-Spear, son of Clement Prince of Cornwall. The peculiarities of those were that whoever might do wrong to the weak, they contended against him who did him wrong in the cause of justice; and whoever might do wrong they slew, however strong he might be. For those three had dedicated themselves to preserve justice by every Law:

Blaes by earthly Law, Cadog by the Law of the Church, and Pedrog by the Law of arms. And those were called Just Knights.

Three Offensive Knights were in Arthur’s Court:
Morfran son of Tegid, and Sanddef Angel-Face, and Glewlwyd Mighty-Grasp. The peculiarities of those were that it was ~repugnant to anyone to refuse them anything: Sanddef because of his beauty, Morfran because of his ugliness, and Glewlwyd because of his size and his strength and his ferocity. And therefore they were called Offensive Knights.

Three Counsellor Knights were in Arthur’s Court:
Cynon son of Clydno Eiddyn, and Aron son of Cynfarch, and Llywarch the Old son of Elidir Lydanwyn. And those three were Counsellors to Arthur: whatever hardship came pon him, they counselled him, so that nobody could overcome him. And thus Arthur triumphed over everyone, and in every eat, and over every nation in the world; through the strength the powerful spirit and the faith and hope that were in his eart towards those men, and through the sacred weapons at God had given him: Rhongomiant his spear, Caledfwlch a sword, and Carnwennan his dagger.

Manuscripts: Ll. 12, 28, 52, 65(1), 100, 135, Pen. 16, fo. 55 (=Simwnt Vychan), Pen.127, 77, 185 (=RV), 216, Hafod 3, 5, 8 (=H), C36