Apologia Pro Caius: Kay's ways within the Arthurian Canon Kai (Cei or Cai). Gaius. Keu. Kay. The name has undergone a transformation as much as the character. Kay's long history in Arthurian legend dates back almost to her origins. The earliest evidence of Kai comes from tales told by bards in Wales about Arthur and his men, and as other authors at different times picked up the Arthurian legend, Kai slowly transformed into the Kay that most know now. This article will look at Kay as he appeared in some of the early Welsh histories, Geoffrey of Monmouth, Chrétien de Troyes, Sir Thomas Malory, T. H. White and John Steinbeck, from medieval to modern. It will follow him in his evolution, from hero to coward. Early Welsh Literature: Kai in a World of Heroes Like Homer's heroes, in early Welsh stories Arthur and his band of followers are men of action. The stories survive in manuscripts written during a period from the 13th to the 16th century. However they are almost certainly much older. Evidence suggests that some of these have reached approximately their current f...