James Burke TV - The Sopranos TV - Robert Bartlett TV - Thomas Malory - Cretien de Troyes - Mystery Files TV - First Knight 1995 - The History of Mr Polly By H G Wells 1949 - Mark Twain - Monty Python and the Holy Grail 1974 - Mark Twain - Adolf Hitler - Geoffrey Chaucer - Thomas Asbridge - Ivanhoe 1982 - The Crusaders TV - Peter & Dan Snow
Meet the Knights of Malta and their new home the island of Malta. By 1565 these guys have made so much trouble for the Turks, they decide enough is enough and send in a humungous military force to wipe them out. And fail. James Burke, Connections s3e4: An Invisible Object, BBC 1997
Where is my knight in white satin armour? The Sopranos s2e12: The Knight in White Satin Armor starring James Gandolfini & Lorriane Bracco & Edie Falco & Michael Imperioli & Dominic Chianese & Steven van Zandt & Tony Sirico & Robert Iler et al, Tony’s mistress, HBO 2000
The central duty of the knight was to go to war ... War was ennobling. Dr Robert Bartlett, Inside the Medieval Mind IV: Power, BBC 2008
And never since was there seen a more doleful battle in all Christian land. For there was but rushing and riding, foyning and striking and many a grim word was there spoken of either to other, and many a deadly stroke. And thus they fought all the long day and never stinted till the noble knights were laid to the cold earth, and ever they fought still till it was near night, and by then there were a hundred thousand lay dead upon the earth. Thomas Malory, Le Morte D’Arthur
Me repenteth, said Merlin; because of the death of that lady thou shalt strike a stroke most dolorous that ever man struck, except the stroke of our Lord, for thou shalt hurt the truest knight and the man of most worship that now liveth, and through that stroke three kingdoms shall be in great poverty, misery and wretchedness twelve years, and the knight shall not be whole of that wound for many years. ibid.
The knight was lost in thought, a man with no strength of defence against the love which torments him. His thoughts of love were so deep he almost forgot who he was. Cretien de Troyes, The Knight of the Cart
Lancelot had his every wish. Her love play seemed so gentle. Both her kisses and caresses. But I shall let it remain a secret for ever: the most delightful and choicest pleasure is that which is hinted but never told. ibid.
Arthur, legendary King of the Britons: from his castle at Camelot Arthur and his knights in shining armour become the ultimate symbol of chivalry and honour, bringing enlightenment to the dark ages. Archaeologists and historians now believe his myth holds clues to Arthur’s true identity. Mystery Files: King Arthur, National Geographic 2010
In Malory’s books Arthur is the embodiment of a virtuous hero. He strives to create a peaceful land from his civilised court at Camelot. And he surrounds himself with chivalrous knights of the round table. ibid.
Arthur is betrayed. Lancelot has an affair with his unfaithful Queen Gwinevere. Disloyalty all the more devastating because of their perceived purity. His utopian dream shattered. ibid.
Knights! The gift of freedom is yours by right. But the home we seek resides not in some distant land. It’s in us! And in our actions on this day! If this be our destiny, then so be it. But let history remember that as free men, we chose to make it so. First Knight 1995 starring Richard Gere & Julia Ormond & Sean Connery & Ben Cross & John Gielgud & Liam Cunningham & Christopher Villiers & Valentine Pelka & Colin McCormack et al, director Jerry Zucker
You make me feel like one of those old knights. The History of Mr Polly by H G Wells 1949 starring John Mills & Betty Ann Davies & Megs Jenkins & Finlay Currie & Gladys Henson & Diana Churchill & Shelagh Fraser & Edward Chapman & Dandy Nichols & Sally Ann Howers & Juliet Mills et al, director Anthony Pelissier, him to her on garden wall
And so I am become a knight of the Kingdom of Dreams and Shadows. Mark Twain
We have ridden the length and breadth of the land in search of knights who will join me in my court at Camelot. Monty Python and the Holy Grail 1974 starring Graham Chapman & John Cleese & Eric Idle & Terry Gilliam & Terry Jones & Michael Palin & Neil Innes & Carol Cleveland & Connie Boothe & John Young et al, directors Gilliam & Jones, opening scene Arthur
None shall pass. Then you shall die. I move for no man. [loses arm] Tis but a scratch. No it isn’t. I’ve had worse. Come on, you pansy. [loses other arm] Come on then. Have at you. Oh had enough eh. Yes I have. It’s just a flesh wound. Chicken! Chicken! [loses leg] Right I’ll do you for that! Come here. I’m invincible! The black knight always triumphs! Have at you! Come on then. [loses other leg] All right, we’ll call it a draw. Oh oh I see. Running away eh. You yellow bastards, come back here and take what’s coming to you. I’ll bite your legs off. ibid. Black Knight
Knights of Camelot: [singing] We’re knights of the Round Table; we dance whene’er we're able.
We do routines and chorus scenes with footwork impec-cable;
We dine well here in Camelot; we eat ham and jam and Spam a lot.
We’re knights of the Round Table; our shows are for-mi-dable.
But many times we’re given rhymes that are quite un-sing-able.
We’re opera mad in Camelot; we sing from the diaphragm a lot.
In war we’re tough and able, quite in-de-fa-ti-gable.
Between our quests we sequin vests and impersonate Clark Gable
It’s a busy life in Camelot [solo]. ibid.
Minstrel: [singing] Bravely bold Sir Robin rode forth from Camelot. He was not afraid to die, oh brave Sir Robin. He was not at all afraid to be killed in nasty ways, brave, brave, brave, brave Sir Robin. He was not in the least bit scared to be mashed into a pulp, or to have his eyes gouged out, and his elbows broken. To have his kneecaps split, and his body burned away, and his limbs all hacked and mangled, brave Sir Robin. His head smashed in and heart cut out, and his liver removed, and his bowels unplugged, and his nostrils raped and his bottom burned off and his penis ... ibid.
Knight of Ni: We are now no longer the knights who say Ni. That same. We are the keepers of the sacred words ... We want a shrubbery. ibid.
We are now the knights who say ekki-ekki-ekki-ekki-ptang-zoom- boing-znourrwringmm. ibid.
Minstrel: [singing] Brave Sir Robin ran away...
Sir Robin: No!
Minstrel: [singing] bravely ran away away...
Sir Robin: I didn’t!
Minstrel: [singing] When danger reared its ugly head, he bravely turned his tail and fled.
Sir Robin: I never did!
Minstrel: [singing] Yes, brave Sir Robin turned about, and valiantly, he chickened out.
Sir Robin: Oh, you liars! ibid.
And so I am become a knight of the kingdom of dreams and shadows. Mark Twain
I have no use for knights; I need revolutionaries. Adolf Hitler
He was a verray, parfit gentil knyght. Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales
Look harder at the heart of Britain's parliamentary democracy and you come upon a forgotten hero of our history: this is William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke ... who saved this nation from French conquest and preserved the English royal line. Dr Thomas Asbridge, The Greatest Knight: William the Marshal, BBC 2014
An extraordinary period of conquest and expansion. ibid.
William Marshal would come to define chivalry. ibid.
This was the world of the poet, the troubadour ... and Eleanor placed William at the heart of her Camelot. ibid.
Richard the Lionheart v William Marshal & Henry II. ibid.
Richard the Lionheart died fighting in France in 1199. ibid.
John was forced to agree to a series of concessions: Magna Carta. ibid.
England 1194: You’re about to see a story about bold knights and beautiful maidens. A story of love, and hatred, and prejudice. Ivanhoe 1982 starring James Mason & Anthony Andrews & Sam Neill & Michael Hordern & Olivia Hussey &, opening commentary
Prince John! ibid. chant and toast at table
The devil is unchained. Take heed. He’s escaped from France. He’s back in England. ibid. John