The New Student's Reference Work/Excalibur

Excal′ibur, the sword of King Arthur, according to the legends, was given to the king by the Lady of the Lake, to whom it was to be restored at his death. Tennyson weaves a beautiful legend of how Sir Bedivere, being ordered by Arthur to cast the brand into the mere, twice hides the gleaming weapon before the reproaches of the king induce him to obey. A white hand caught the flying sword and drew it beneath the surface of the lake. See The Passing of Arthur.