CORNWALL idea that they are actually looking at the castle in which King Arthur was born and held court. But the site has a bolder claim than the ruins. This headland, once insular, would most un- doubtedly have been occupied and fortified in early times — we could believe that even if tradition said nothing. Every other Arthurian locality has been keenly debated and disputed ; no serious objection has ever been raised against Tintagel. The only tangible evidence we possess is Welsh. There are Welsh triads and fragments of bardic song that date possibly from the time of Arthur, certainly from the time when the Welsh and Cornish were one people ; these invariably speak of Arthur as belonging to Cornwall. The tale as usually told has been raised to a high position in modern literature by Tennyson. Tintagel, Dundagil, or Dundiogl — the Donecheniv of Domesday — was a stronghold belonging to Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall, at a time when Uther was Pendragon or Head-King of Britain. Uther fell in love with Igerne, the wife of Gorlois ; and her husband thought it wise to withdraw with her to his Cornish home. He placed Igerne in Tintagel, and himself defended Damelioc. Uther, pursuing, killed Gorlois, and gained admission to Igerne ; the result was Arthur. Legend chose to say that Arthur was washeci by a great wave to the feet of Merlin. That Arthur married Guinevere (the name Jennifer is still common in Cornwall) ; that he fbught many battles against the Saxons, 238
