File:Leaden Cross from King Arthurs Coffin.jpg

English: A depiction of the lead cross "discovered" in 1191 by the monks at Glastonbury at "King Arthur's grave", from the figures decorating the margins of Moll's map of "Somerset Shire" (Somerset), the sixth in his Set of Fifty New and Correct Maps of England and Wales...

Moll's caption is "A Leaden Cross found 6 foot under Ground and ten foot above King Arthurs Coffin at Glassenbury." The inscription reads in Medieval Latin HIC IACET SEPVLTVS IHCLITVS REX ARTVRIVS IN IHSVLA AVALOHIA or HIC IACET SEPULTUS INCLITUS REX ARTURIUS IN INSULA AVALONIA, "Here Lies the Tomb of the Famed King Arthur on the Island Avalonia". Written in letters of the 10th century that combine U and V as well as N and H. The most hospitable interpretation has been that the grave marker was redone in new lead during an improvement of the church grounds in the 900s. More often, the cross is considered to have been an inept self-serving forgery by the monks of the 12th century who simply did not know any form of letters older than those of the 9th century. Cf. 23619: King Arthur's Tomb and Shrine, Glastonbury, at the SW Heritage Trust.

Notes: London: Sold by H. Moll over-against Devereux-Court in the Strand; Tho. Bowles, Print and Map-Seller near the Chapter-House in St. Paul's Church-Yard, and J. Bowles Print and Map-Seller over-against Stocks-Market. 1724.