/J

rrlin

Ot|

ihc (Barlu Itstflrg wf iing g^rtltitr.

VOL. II.
 :

HERTFORD
Printed by Stkphen Ai'stin and Sons.
 :

Mprliii
01

win (garig gi^targ o| ^iing glrthur:

A PROSE ROMANCE
(about 1450-1460 a.d.).

EDITED FROM THE XTN^QFE MS. ly TBCE UlflVEBSITY LIBRAET, CAMBRIDGE,

BY
HEXRY B. WHEATLEY, F.S.A.

With ax INTRODUCTION co.vtaixixg

OUTLINES OF THE HISTORY OF THE LEGEXD

OF MERLIX.
BY
WILLIAM EDWARD MEAD, Ph.D. (Lips.).

ALSO,

ESSAYS ON MERLIN THE ENCHANTER AND MERLIN THE BARD,

by D. W. Nash, F.S.A. and ARTHURIAN LOCALITIES,
;

bv J. S. Sttart Glennie.

VOL. II. ^
^7

LONDON
PUBLISHT FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY,
Br KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER & CO., Ltd.
MDCCCXCIS.
PR
 I.

INTRODUCTION.

Of the great cycles of mediaeval romance none was more

popular throughout Europe than the Arthurian cycle. From
the first introduction of the Arthurian legends into French
literature they caught the popular favour, and stimulated
writers to an unwonted activity for a period embracing a
well-rounded century, beginning toward the middle of the
twelfth century and ending before the close of the thirteenth.^
In the history of the cycle we may distinguish with more
or less accuracy three periods' —a period of preparation, a
period of production, a period of translation and imitation.
To the first period belongs the work of the Welsh bards and
the pseudo-historic Latin chroniclers, Nennius and Geofirey
of Monmouth. To the second period belongs the work of
the French romancers. To the third period belongs the work
of translators and imitators in England and in the north
and south of Europe.
In each of the romances the interest centres in a very
small group of characters ; so that what the story lacks in
breadth it makes up in minuteness of detail. The earlier

forms of the romances contain two figures that stand out

most clearly — Arthur the King and Merlin the Enchanter.
So great an interest attaches to these two names that we learn

^ G. Paris, Mitt. Litt. de la France, ixx. p. 1.

3 We need scarcely remark that these periods overlap one another to some extent.
 :

VI INTRODUCTION. [M.

with some surprise that there is no adequate treatment in

any language of the origin and development of the romances
dealing with Arthur and Merlin. But there are two facts

that have especially hindered the solution of the numerous

problems involved in a history of the Arthurian romances
first, the vagueness and paucity of the earlier sources ; and,
secondly, the wide range of the later materials, which
demand if they are to be satisfactorily treated an extensive
and critical acquaintance with the French and Celtic literatures.
Such an equipment is possessed by scarcely anyone who has
thus far discussed the subject, and is expressly disclaimed
by some of the most eminent investigators of portions of
the Arthurian cycle.
Especial difficulties in the way of a demonstrable conclusion
with regard both to the origin of the legend of Merlin and the
development of the prose romance from earlier sources, meet
the student at the beginning of his investigation and attend
every step of his way. An initial difficulty appears in the
chronology of the possible sources. We do not really know
how much older any of the extant Welsh literature is than
Geoffrey of Monmouth's Hhtoria Regum Britanmae (1135-47),
to say nothing of the ninth-century Nennius.^ As Mr. Nutt
well observes :
" The study of Celtic tradition is only beginning
to be placed upon a firm basis, and the stores of Celtic myth
and legend are only beginning to be thrown open to the non-
Celtic scholar." A little further on he adds that " as a whole
Welsh literature is late, meagre, and has kept little that is

archaic."^ If this be true of Welsh literature as a whole, still

more is it true of the portions available for our purpose. Even

after including all the poems, spurious and genuine alike, that
assume the existence of Myrddin, we have only a few lines

with which to construct a portrait. But when we are

1 But see pp. Ixxxiv-cxii. * Studies on the Legend of the Holy Grail, p. xiii.
 —

§ !•] INTRODUCTION. Til

compelled to reject much of this material as late and un-

trustworthy, we can with difficulty resist the feeling that it

is hardly worth while to thresh the old straw until we have

some new data upon which to base an opinion, or until Celtic
scholars agree somewhat more generally as to the meaning of
the scattered fragments that we do possess.

There is now a very general agreement with regard to the

chronological order and authorship of most of the Latin sources ;

but their origin is still obscure, and the interpretation of them

by no means harmonious.
In the French romances we find more abundant material,
but we are left in almost hopeless confusion as to the exact
order in which the several French versions of the prose
romance were produced. The partial copying of the romance
by those who were at once copyists and authors, and the
retention of allusions to passages of the original romance
passages afterwards dropped from most of the versions — would
be quite enough to throw us off the track. Then, too, romances
that in all probability were written later than the original
prose Merlin are by the aid of interpolated passages made to
seem earlier works than the Merlin. As to the authors of the

Yarieus prose versions of the Merlin, nothing is known and pro-

bably nothing ever will be known. We are obliged, therefore,
to content ourselves with a perhaps where certainty would be
most desirable. If we possessed all the Celtic literature that
ever existed, Welsh poems, Breton lais, all the Latin sources,
and all the French romances in prose and verse, with authentic
dates and the names of the authors, we should still have an
almost interminable task in attempting to follow out the
tangled threads of the romances. But, as already remarked,
these favourable conditions are lacking. The Welsh literature
— the only Celtic source that we can seriously consider — is

scanty and of not too convincing antiquity. The origin of

nil INTRODCCriON. [M-

the Latin sources is doubtful ; and even the Latin sources

at most provide an explanation for only a portion of the
romance. The French versions (with two or three exceptions)
bear no date, and afford scarcely any guide to the chronology.
The manuscripts are numerous and still unclassified as to age

and generic relations. Only two manuscripts of the Merlin^

have been published, unless we include the early printed editions
of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. These old printed
versions, it is needless to say, are exceedingly rare as well
as uncritical, presenting a later, modernized text, and taking
numerous liberties with the earlier versions.
These difficulties might be dwelt upon at greater length, but

enough has been advanced to show the necessity of extreme

caution in our assertions. Nothing final can be established
with regard to the development of the romance until we possess
a critical text, not only of the Merlin, but of all the other prose
romances of the Arthurian cycle with which it is interwoven,
and until a number of special researches have been made
concerning the age of the manuscripts, the extent of the inter-
polated passages, and the meaning of the allusions to other
romances. And even then we may seriously question whether
a thoroughly consistent history of this or of any of the other
romances of the Arthurian cycle can ever be written.
In taking leave of the questions that have occupied me
so long, I regret to be obliged to confess that I have been able
to add so little to what was already known. The account of the
French manuscripts is new, and I trust will prove not altogether
valueless. New also is a considerable part of the history of

the legend in English literature, as well as other portions that

need not be specified. Throughout the whole work I have

* The Huth MS. {Soe. de» Ane. Textes) has been edited by G. Paris and J. Ulrich.

Only pp. 1-107 of the English romance are here represented. Brit. Mus.
MS., Add. 10,292 (cf. pp. cxl, clxvii, ccl), has been printed by H. Oskar Sommer,
but Tvithout any investigation of the questions discussed in the following pages.
i l] INTRODUCTIOlf. IX

tried to be useful rather than original, and to present no theories

unsupported by a large basis of facts. If once we can get a
iirm foundation of fact for the history of the romances, there
will be abundant time for constructing theoretical explanations
of the missing links.

I had originally intended to discuss the dialect and the

grammatical forms of the Merlin, and to point out in detail the
extent to which the structure of the sentences has been modified
by the French original. But the fact that the entire romance
as printed by the Early English Text Society had to be collated

once more with the English manuscript, compelled me to defer

that portion of the work, and to confine my attention almost

wholly to literary questions. After the collations arrived I
found that an adequate treatment of the language of the
romance would unduly delay the publication of the other
portion of the work. I have, therefore, attempted nothing
more than to cite a few of the countless instances where French,
words have been transferred almost without change to the
English translation.

It is perhaps unnecessary to remark that without the aid of the

researches of Francisque Michel, Paulin Paris, Gaston Paris,
H. L. D. Ward, Alfred Nutt, and others, a considerable part of

this outline could not have been written. So much, too, remains
yet to be done in the way of special investigation of the
Arthurian romances, that I can at most regard this account
as a mere passing contribution to the history of the Merlin
legend. If this sketch can in any way serve to incite other

scholars to a more careful study of French romance in its

relations to our older English literature, I shall welcome the

day when my own work is superseded.

It remains for me sincerely to thank those who have in any

way aided in these researches. I owe much to the Director of

the Bibliotheque de Ste. Genevieve, and the keepers of the MSS.

 INTRODUCTION. [§I.

in the Bibliotheque de 1' Arsenal and the Bibliotheque Rationale

in Paris ; to M. Paul Meyer, Director of the Ecole des Ohartes,

who made several suggestions about the French MSS.; to

Mr. H. L. D. Ward, of the Department of MSS. in the British
Museum, who discussed with me the earlier forms of the
legend and read some of the proof ; to my colleague Professor
L. Oscar Kuhns, who read a portion of the proof, and trans-
lated Professor Novati's note on Arthur's fight with the great
cat of Lausanne; to Mr. E. G. B. Phillimore, who read the
proofs of the chapter on the early forms of the legend, and
supplied several valuable notes ; and most of all to Dr. F. J.
Furnivall, who furnished me while in Paris with several much
needed books, and has since attended to numerous details that

could not easily be superintended at a distance of three

thousand miles.
I may add that the proofs of all the extracts from the French
manuscripts have been read in Paris while I have been in
America, so that the accuracy of the specimens is to be credited

to the MS. reader rather than to me.

The greater portion of the present investigation was com-
pleted in 1892, and placed in the hands of the printers.

Numerous delays, which need not be explained here, have

hindered the appearance of the book until now. The supple-
mentary notes on pp. work on
ccl-ccliv take account of later

various matters connected with the Merlin legend. But the

most important part of the following discussion — the account
of the MSS. — is quite independent of any work that has
recently appeared. —W. E. M.
"Wesletan Unitersitt,
MiDDLETOWN, CoXNECTICUT, U.S.A.
July 2, 1897.
 II.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.
1836-38, "Wace. —Le Roman de Brut. Ed. par Le Roux de Lincy.
2 vols. Eouen. The same reprinted, 1838. Paris,
1836-48. Paris, P. — Les Manuscrits fran9ois de Bibliotheque du la
Roi. 7 vols. Paris.
1837. Galfridi de Monumenta Vita Merlini. — Vie de Meriin attribuee
a Geoffi-oy de Monmoutli. Ed. by Francisque !5Iichel and
Thomas Wright. Paris and London.
1838. Abthoue and MESLiy A Metrical Romance. Xow first edited
:

from the Auehinleck MS., by "William B. D. D. Tumbull.

Edinburgh. Printed for the Abbotsford Club. {Cf. 1890.)
1838. Ifennii Historia Britonum ad fidem codicum Manuscriptorum
recensuit Josephus Stevenson. Lond. (Eng. Hist. Soc). Contains
critical Preface, pp. v-xxxii ;
fac-sim iles of four MSS. ; text ; index.
1841. ScHxxz, A. —An essay on the influence of Welsh tradition upon
the literature of Germany, France, and Scandinavia. Translated
from the German of Albert Schulz by W. Rees. Llandovery.
1841. Michel, F. — Le Roman du St. Graal. —Bordeaux. Printed
from B. X. MS. 20,047. The concluding lines (3515-4018)
contain the fragment of Robert de Borron's poem of Merlin.
1842. Gkasse, J. G. Th. —
Die grossen Sagenkreise des Mittelalters
(2 Bd., 3 Abth., 1 Halfte, of Lehrbuch einer allgem. Literar-
geschichte, 1837-59). Leipzig und Dresden.
1842. Sax-Maete (Albert Schulz). —
Die Arthussage und die Marchen
des rothen Buchs von Hergest. Quedlinburg und Leipzig.
[Bibl. d. gesammten deutschen Xationallit., Bd. II. Ablh. II.]
1844. Galfredi Monumetensis Historia Britonum. Ed. by J. A. Giles.
London.
1848. Six Old English Chronicles. Translated by J. A. Giles. Xennius,
Geoffrey of Monmouth, etc. (Bohn's Antiq. Libr.) London.
] 848. Ellis, G. — Specimens of Early English Metrical Romances, etc.
New ed. Revised by J. 0. Halliwell, London (Bohn's Antiq.
Libr.). Contains an Analysis of Arthour and Merlin, etc.
(Orig. ed. 3 vols., London, 1805).
1849. GrEST, Lady Charlotte. —
The Mahinogion, from the Llyfr Coeh
Merged and other ancient Welsh Manuscripts, with an
English Translation and Notes. 3 vols. London.
XII BIBLIOGBAPHT. U ".

1849. STEPHiars, Thos,— The Literature of the Kjmry ; being a

Essay on the History of the Language and Literature
critical
of "Wales. Llandovery.
—
1853. San-Maete (A. Schulz). Die Sagen ron Merlin, etc. Halle.
1854. Saij-Mabte (A. Schulz), —
Gottfried's von Monmouth Historia
Eegura Britanniae, und Brut Tyssylio, altwalsche Chronik in
deutscher tjbersetzung. Halle. San-Marte reprinted Giles's
text {cf. 1844), and added many notes.
1860. YiLLEMAKQTJE, H. de la. —
Les Eomans de la Table Eonde et les
contes des anciens Bretons, 3^me ed., considerablement modifiee.
Paris (1st ed., 1842).
1862. YiLLEMAEQUE, H. de la. —Myrdhinn ou I'Enchanteur Merlin,
son histoire, ses oeuvres, son influence. Paris. [The Bibl.
Nat. in Paris has corrected 1862 to 1861 by using a red stamp.]
1 865-69. Merlin or. The Early History of King Arthur
; a Prose :

Romance (about 1450-1460), edited from the unique MS. in

the University Library, Cambridge, by Henry B. Wheatley.
"With an Introduction [Merlin the JEnchanter and Merlin the
Sard'], by D. "W. Nash, Esq., E.S.A. Part I. London,
1865, E.E.T.S. Part II., 1867. Part III., 1869 (with an
Essay by J. S. Stuart-Glennie, on Arthurian Loealities).
1867. Hales, J. W., and Furnivall, F. J.— Bishop Percy's Folio MS.,
London.
Yol. I.

1868-77. Paris, P. Les Eomans de — la Table Eonde, mis en nouveau

langage, etc. Paris, 5 vols.: I. and II. 1868; III. 1872;
lY. 1875; Y. 1877.
1868. Skeije, W. F. —The Four Ancient Books of Wales, containing
the Cymric poems attributed to the Bards of the Sixth Century.
Edinburgh. 2 vols.
1871. SuKTEEs, S. F. —Merlin and Arthur [an essay printed privately
for the E.E.T.S., Hertford].
1874. Htjcheb, E. — Le Saint-Graal, oule Joseph d'Arimathie, premiere
branche des Eomans de la Table Eonde, etc. 3 vols. Le Mans.
1879. The story of Merlin and Yivien, gathered from the British
and Breton Chronicles and Poems, by E. G. E. (Of this
book I know nothing. The place of publication is not given.)
1883. BoBDERiE, A, de la. —
L'Historia Britonum attribuee a Nennius
et L'Historia Britannica avant Geoffroi de Monmouth, Paris
and London.
1883. BoEDEEiE, A. de la. —L'Historien et le Prophete des Bretons,
Gildas et Merlin. (Containing, inter alia, ' Les Yeritables
§ "•] BIBLIOGRAPHY. XIII

Propheties de Merlin,' a work also printed separately in the

same year, and reviewed by Gaston Paris ia Romania, Vol.
XII.) [Etudes historiques bretonnes. Premiere serie.] Paris.
(Eeprinted, 1884.)
1883. —
Waed, H. L. D. Catalogue of Romances in the Department of
MSS. in the British Museum. Vol. I. London.
1886. Merlin: Roman en prose du xiii^ siecle, pubHe avec la mise
en prose du poeme de Merlin de Robert de Boron d'apres le
manuscrit appartenant a M. Alfred H. Huth, par Gaston Paris
et Jacob TJlrich. 2 vols. Paris. (With Introduction by G. P.)
1888. Dtinlop, J. C. —
History of Prose Piction. Revised by Henry
"Wilson. New ed. London. 2 vols. Original ed. " The :

History of Piction, being a Account of the most

critical

celebrated Prose works of Fiction from the earliest Greek

Romances to the Novels of the present Age." 3 vols. 1814;
2nd ed., London, 3 vols. 1816 3rd ed., London 1845. Trans-
;

lated into German by F. Liebrecht. Berlin, 1851.

1888. Paris, —
G. La Litterature franqaise au moyen-age. Paris.
1888. Paeis, G. — Histoire Litteraire de la France; les versions en
vers et I'origine des Romans de la Table Ronde. Vol. xxx.
pp. 1-270. Paris. •

1888. NuTT, A. — Studies on the Legend of the Holy Grail, with

especial reference to the hypothesis of its Celtic origin. London.
1889-91. SoMMEE, H. 0.— Le Morte Darthur, by Sir Thomas
Malory. Vol. I. Text; Vol. II. Introduction, 1890 ; Vol. III.
Studies on the Sources, 1891. London.
1890. Arthour and Merlin nach der Auchinleck-HS. Nebst zwei
beilagen herausgegeben von Eugen Kolbing. Leipzig. [Alt-
englische Bibliothek. Bd. IV.]
1891. Rhts, J. — Studies in the Arthurian Legend. Oxford, Clar. Press.
This aims merely to indicate some of the more important
list

books to be consulted by students wishing to test the conclusions

reached in this investigation. The attempts to treat in detail the
history of the Merlin legend are few, and, so far as English is con-
cerned, are confined to a few essays and incidental discussions. Nor
can all the books on the subject be used with entire confidence.
Wright and Michel's introduction to the Vita Merlitii contains much
valuable matter, but some of the critical conclusions, notably those
relating to the authorship of the Vita Merlini, are now almost
universally abandoned. A similar criticism applies to much
of San-Marte's work. Celtic scholarship has made great advances
XTV BIBLIOGRAPHY. [§".

since his day, and rendered obsolete much, of the Celtic discussion
in his His Welsh texts are hopelessly corrupt, and the
books.
translations inaccurate. Yillemarque's work is marred by fantastic
speculation, and the endeavour to make facts square with a pre-
conceived theory. His Myrddhin may be safely recommended to
anyone who prefers not to see the facts as they are. Mr. Nash's
essay leaves untouched a large number of important questions,
and settles the rest dogmatically. In the work of M. Paulin Paris
we must recognize what is on the whole the best general account
that we possess. He devoted many years of a long life to the
study of the Arthurian romances and the MSS. in which they are
contained. In treating the Merlin, he could not within his limits
answer all the questions suggested, but he showed in a multitude
of instances in what relation the Merlin stands to the other romances
of the Arthurian cycle, and put all future investigators under lasting
obligations. M. de la Borderie's work shows care and scholarship,
but several Mr. H. L. D.
of his conclusions are not convincing.
"Ward's Catalogue of Romances and cautious. He discusses
is critical

the Merlin legend only incidentally in enumerating the MSS. in the

British Museum, but his remarks on Geoffrey of Monmouth are
perhaps the best that have yet appeared. The introduction to the
—
Huth Merlin by M. Gaston Paris the foremost authority in "France
—
on the Arthurian romances is avowedly a mere sketch, but no
student of the Merlin legends can afford to leave it unread. Kolbing's
introduction to the Arthour and Merlin aims chiefly at showing the
relation of the verse romance to the other Merlin romances. Dr.
Sommer points out in detail the relation of Malory's Morte Darthur to
the prose Merlin. The slight inaccuracies in his account are chiefly due
to insufficient study of the French MSS. of Merlin, and are pardonable
enough in view of the vast field to be covered. Prof. Rhys transfers

to cloud-land and to myth most of the characters of the Arthurian

romances. His Studies are learned and ingenious, if not always con-
vincing, and of great value in throwing light upon the Celtic side of
the Arthurian cycle, but they touch only a few of the questions that
most concern us here.^

1 For additional bibliographical notes on the Arthurian romances, see the list

of works prefixed to G. Paris's Hist. Litt. de la France, vol. sxx. ; the articles on
Celtic Lit. and Romance in the Encyc. Ward's Catal. of Romances,
Brit., 9th ed. ;

vol. i. ; Sommer's Morte Barthur, 2-7; Godeke's Grundriss zur

vol. iii. pp.
Geschichie der deutschen Lichtung, 4 Bde., Dresden, 1859-81 and the works by ;

Dunlop, Grasse, etc.

^ "^] THB STORY OF MERLIN. XV

III.

THE STORY OF MERLIN.

CHAPTER I.

COUNCIL OF DEVILS AIJD BIETH OF MEELIN.^

Aftek our Lord saved the world from hell (1) the fiends in wrath
hold a great council to get back what they have lost (2), and resolve
to cause the birth of a man who shall do their wUl. The fiend who
suggests the plan hastens at once to the evil wife of a rich man with
three daughters and a son (3), kiUs by her advice the cattle and
horses, strangles the son, makes the woman hang herself, and so
causes the rich man to die of grief (4). Of the three daughters, one
is seduced and condemned to be buried alive (5), another becomes a
common woman (7), while the eldest, after resisting various tempta-
tions for two years, is finally deceived one night by the devil in her
sleep (10).

In her distress she goes to her spiritual adviser (10), who at first

gives no great credence to her story (11), but afterwards saves her from
being burned alive (13). The maiden is then shut up in a strong
tower till her child is born (14), whom she calls Merlin (15). The
boy frightens the women by his ugliness, and astonishes them with
his knowledge (16). When the mother with her child is brought to
trial (17), Merlin confounds the judge and delivers his mother (21).
Then, as the story says, they go where they please ; but Merlin and
the hermit Blase discourse together, till finally Merlin asks Blase to
make a book of what shall be told him (22). Blase consents, and
when he is ready, Merlin begins to tell of the love of Jesus Christ, and
of Joseph of Arimathia, and of Pierou, and the end of Joseph and his
companions (23).

^ As the only purpose of this analysis is to aid in foUomng the text, I have

horrowed the headings of the chapters given in the text, and in some cases the
running analysis of the margin. Details that do not aid in the development of the
story have been omitted. The numerals inclosed in parentheses refer to the page.
The variety of forms of the names causes some embarrassment. I am not sure that
all the forms I have adopted are best. Consistency is difficult where the original is

variable.
XVI THE 8T0RT OF MERLIN. U «i-

CHAPTER II.

XiyQ VOEXIGEE AXD HIS lOWEE.

ITerlix furtlier tells Blase of the men who are coming to put him
(Merlin) to death, and says that he will go with them, but when they
have heard him speak they will not want to slay him (23), Kow in
the land of Britain was a Christian king named Constance, who had
three sons, Aloyne, Pendragon, and Uter. At the death of Constance
Moyne becomes king, and Yortiger, a worldly-wise man, is made his
steward (24). Yortiger wins the hearts of the people, and when
Moyne is defeated in battle by the heathen, and afterwards slain by
his angry barons, the steward receives the crown (25). At this
Moyne's two brothers, Pendragon and Uter, are prudently taken to
Gaul. Yortiger hypocritically assumes his own innocence, puts to
death the murderers of Moyne (26), and when warred upon by their
friends gains the victory over them. Then for fear of the sons of

Constance he orders his workmen to build a mighty tower as a refuge

(27). The work is begun, but as soon as the walls are a few fathoms
high they fall in ruins. Yortiger therefore commands his wise men to
tell why the tower does not stand (28). After much delay they agree
to tell Yortiger that the blood of a child, seven years old, born without
a father, must be put in the foundation of the tower. Of twelve
messengers sent out (29), four chance to meet, and while passing
through a field near a town where children are playing, they see
Merlin, who strikes another boy with his staff (30). The child cries
and weeps, and calls Merlin a " misbegotten wretch, and fatherless."
At the questions of the messengers Merlin laughs and says : "I am
he that ye seek, and he that ye be sworn ye should slay, and bring
my blood to King Yortiger." Then the boy takes the messengers to
Blase and corrects the account that they render of their errand (31).
After this Merlin sends Blase to Northumberland, and promises
to visit him there, bringing materials for the Book of the Saint-
Graal (32). MerUn then departs with the messengers. On the way
 i in.] XHB STORY OF MERLIN. XVII

he sees a churl with a pair' of strong shoes and leather to mend them
(33). Merlin laughs, for the fellow will die hefore reaching home.
A little farther on he laughs agaiu at a man weeping over his dead
son, though the child is really the son of the priest (34). On coming
to Yortiger, MerHn tells why the messengers have sought him, and
says that the clerks have not told the truth (36). Then he confronts

the clerks, who are dreading to lose their lives, and explains why the
tower cannot stand (37). Under the tower is a great water, and
tinder the water two dragons, one red and the other white, and ahove
them two great flat stones. The labourers uncover the dragons, who
at once begin to fight (38), and continue till the white dragon burns
np the red. Merlin explains that King Yortiger is the red dragon,
and that his end is nigh (40).

CHAPTER III.

THE DEFEAT OF VOETIGEE BT PEXDEAGOIf AXD mCEE ; THEIE SEAECH

AFTEE MEELTSr ; THE BATTLE OP SAXISBCET AJTD THE DEATH OF
PESDBAGOIT ; AJTD THE FOtTSDATIOS" OF THE EOr:SD TABLE AT
CAEDOELL, HT WALES.

Meaitwhtle Pendragon and Uter are coming in fulfilment of

the prophecy. Merlin slips away to visit Blase (41), while Yortiger

is burnt in his castle by Pendragon (42), who becomes king. "While

besieging Aungier, Pendragon hears of Merlin and sends in search
of him. Merlin, as usual, knows all that is going on, and appears
at first to the messengers as a beggar. They take him for the
Devil, because he knows all their plans (43). A little later Merlin
appears under several disguises to Pendragon himself, and announces
the death of Aungier at the hands of Titer (44). At length he
assumes his real form (45), and shortly after leaves the King in
order to return to Blase (46). Eleven days later Merlin comes
to court in the form of a boy messenger from Titer's mistress (47),

and afterwards appears in his real form. The two brothers ask
Merlin to abide with them, and to assist them at all times (48).
He agrees to help them when they have need, and so takes his
leave (49). Shortly afterwards Merlin tells the King how to take
XVllT THE STORY OF MERLIN. [§ in-

a castle he is besieging, and how to rid his land of the Sarazins (50).

The plan is successful, and the land is freed.

;N"ot withstanding Meriin's services there is a baron at court who

envies him and resolves to prove the falsity of his divinations (51).

The baron feigns illness, disguises himself in three difPerent ways,

and with each disguise asks Merlin what death he is to die. Merlin
replies that he will break his neck, that he will be hanged, and
that he will be drowned (52). The baron calls Merlin a fool, but
the prophecy is fulfilled to the letter. Then Merlin goes to Blase.
But the King and all who hear thereof say there is nowhere so wise

a man as Merlin, and they resolve to write down all that he says.

In this way is begun the Book of the Prophecies of Merlin (53).'

When Merlin returns to court, he advises the King to make a great

feast, and to prepare for the arrival of the Sarazins (54). He does so,

and goes out to meet the enemy at Salisbury (56). All the Sarazins

are killed, but Pendragon falls as Merlin has prophesied. Uter

buries the dead Christians, and is then crowned at Logres (57).
Merlin, who has meanwhile revisited Blase, returns to the King,
constructs a golden dragon as a rallying point in battle, and brings
over from Ireland the great stones of Stonehenge (58). Then
Merlin tells the King the story of the Grail and of the tables of
our Lord and of Joseph of Arimathia, and advises him to construct
at Cardoell in Wales a third table in the name of the Trinity (59).

CHAPTER lY.

THE FEASTS AT CAEDOELL ; TJTER-PENDRAGON^'s LOVE EOR TGEEIfE, AND HIS

WAR WITH HER HITSBAND THE DIJKE OF TENTAGEL.

The King follows the advice of Merlin, who selects fifty knights

to sit at the table, and leaves one place void (60). Then Merlin
departs and goes to Blase (61). Three years pass before he returns
to court; and the rumour spreads that Merlin is dead (62). At
Pentecost great feasts are held at Cardoell. A doubting knight sits

1 This forms the third volume of the folio edition of the Merlin, Paris, 1498.
It has properly nothing to do with the romance, though it may be regarded as a
sort of continuation of the Merlin.
§ "i] THE STORY OF MERLIN. XIX

in the void place and sinks down like lead (63). Then Merlin comes
to court, and advises the King to hold all hi^h feasts at Cardoell,
Among the guests are the Duke of Tintagel and his wife Tgeme (64).
The King is struck with her beauty, and sends jewels to all the
ladies at the feast. At Easter is another feast, and the King repeats
his gifts. "When all the guests have departed, the King's anguish
increases because of his hopeless love for Ygeme. Soon he ordains
another feast (65), and sends by the hand of Bretel a golden cup to
Ygeme (67). The lady reddens with shame, but the Duke, thinking no
evil, orders her to receive it, and she obeys. After the feast the Duke
finds her weeping, and learns of the designs of the King (68). Full
of wrath he summons his men, and leaves the court without ceremony.
The King is angry in his turn, and demands the return of the Duke
(69), who refuses to come. Then the King invades the Duke's
country (70). AYhile the King is carrying on the war, llerlin appears
as an old man (72), then as a blind cripple (73), and finally assumes
his real form (74). Merlin promises to help the King to enjoy
Ygeme on condition that the King will give him anything he may
ask for (75). Then Merlin transforms the King, TJlfin, and himself
into the semblance of the Duke, Jordan, and Bretel (76). They come
to the castle of Tintagel, where the King spends the night with
Ygeme, and in the morning they depart in haste (77). Merlin
demands the child which shall be born of Ygeme, and the King
consents. Then they ride on till they come to a river, where they
wash and resume their own forms. "When the King meets his men
he learns of the death of the Duke, and says he is " right sorry " (78).

CHAPTER y.

MARRIAGE OF THE KLSG WITH YGEEXE ; BIETH OF ABTHIJE AJfD DEATH

OF THE KING.

At a council it is decided that the Eng shall marry Ygeme

(85). Her friends consent with tears of joy ; and the King weds the
lady twenty days after he had lain by her in her chamber (86).
Months pass by, until one night the Eling asks Ygeme who is the father
of the child she is bearing. She tells him that aman had lain with.
XX THE STORY OF MERLIN. [J "I-

her in the semblance of the Dake. The King assures her that he is
the father, and gets her to promise to dispose of the child as he shall
ordain (87). In due time the child is born (90) and delivered to Antor,
a worthy knight whom Merlin designates (91). The child is the
famous Arthur.
For a long time TJter-Pendragon rules the land, till at length he
falls in a **
great sickness of the gout in hands and feet." Then the
Danes rise against him. But by Merlin's advice the King is borne into
the battle in a litter, and wins the victory (94). After this he divides
his treasure, and after long illness dies and is buried with much pomp
(95). As the land is left without heir, the barons and prelates of the
church come together to take counsel who shall be their king.

CHAPTER YI.

AKTHUB MADB KTNO.

In their doubt all turn to Merlin, and ask him to seek out a man that
may govern the realm (96). Says Merlin : "Let us wait till Yule,
and pray to our Lord to send a rightful governor." They agree, and
assemble in the church at Yule (97). After " making meekly their
orisons to our Lord," they come out of the church, and see a great
stone in which is fixed an anvil, and through the anvil a sword (98).

The Archbishop explains that he who draws out the sword shall be
king, and lets all the lords try in their turn for eight days (100).
Last of all the boy Arthur comes to the stone and takes out the sword
as lightly as though nothing had held it (104). The barons are not
quite satisfied, and ask that the sword be left in the stone till Easter.
"Wlien they are all assembled at Easter, they ask for a further delay
till Pentecost (105), and so they wait till the "Whitsuntide (106).
Then on "Whitsun even the Archbishop makes Arthur knight. On the
morrow Arthur is arrayed in the royal vestments, and all go in
procession to the stone, from which the young king draws out the
sword. After he is consecrated and anointed, and the service is

ended, they all look for the stone, but it has vanished. Thus is Arthur
chosen king, and he holds the realm of Logres long in peace (107).
f ni.] XHE STORY OF MEBLIN. XXI

CHAPTER YII.

KEVOLT OF THE BAEONS ; A2fD DEFEAT OF THE SETEIT IHTCS BY ABTHUE.

After the middle of August Artliur holds a great court, to which

come the kings of the neighbouring realms with their knights —King
Loth of Orcanye, and King TJrien of Gorre, a young king much
praised in arms ; King Ventres of Garlot, the husband of one of
Arthur's sisters ; King Carados Brenbras, lord of the land of Strangore
and one of the knights Round Table King Aguysas of Scotland,
of the ;

a fresh young knight ; him King Tdiers with four hundred

and after

knights. Arthur receives them with great honour, and loads them
with rich gifts, but they disdain his presents, and refuse to have him

as their lord (108). Arthur escapes from their hands; and fifteen

days pass without event. Then Merlin enters the town, and is at
once appealed to by the barons. Merlin tells them that the new king
is more highly born than they, and advises them to send for Arthur,

TJlfin, the counsellor of TJter-Pendragon, and Antor, the supposed

father of Arthur (109). The barons consent. When the three arrive,
the Archbishop begins to speak (110), but gives place to Merlin, who
teUs the whole story of the birth of Arthur (111), and of his being
reared by Antor (112). The people are satisfied, but the barons
declare that they will never have a bastard for king, and depart in
great wrath to arm themselves (113). Merlin reasons with them,
but to no purpose. Then he comforts Arthur (114), and advises him
to help King Leodegan, who is at war with King Rion, the king of

the Land of Giants and of the Land of Pastures (115). Arthur shall

marry the daughter of King Leodegan. Before his departure, Arthur

fills the fortresses with men and provisions, and makes ready against
the barons. Merlin constructs a flaming dragon, sets it on a spear,
and gives it to Kay to bear as a standard (116). "When the battle
begins Merlin casts his enchantments, and sets fire to the pavilions of
the enemy. Then Arthur attacks them, and, though set upon by the
seven kings all at once (118), he wins the victory, for neither horse
nor man can endure against Arthur's sword Caliboxime (120).
XXII THE STORY OF MERLIN. L§
"^•

CHAPTER VIII.

THE MISSION OF XTLFIN AND BBETEL TO KING BAN AND KING BOHS.

Aftee Arthur's victory over the seven kings he returns to Cardoell.

Then he provisions his castles, towns, and cities, and afterwards holds
court at Logres, his chief city, 'that is now called London' (120).
After dubbiag three hundred knights he listens to the counsels of
Merlin, who tells of his own wonderful birth and then of Arthur's.
Queen Tgerne, says Merlin, had five daughters by the Duke of

Tintagel, and two more by a previous husband. Of these maidens

King Loth has married one ; King Ventres of Garlot, another ; King
Urien, the third ; Briadas, the fourth — now dead. The fifth is yet at
school (121). King Loth has five sons, the eldest of whom is

Gawein. King Ventres has a son named Galeshyn ; and King

Urien, a son named Ewein the Gaunt.
In Little Britain, continues Merlin, are two kings, who are
brothers —Ban of Benoyk, and Bors of Gannes (122). They are
warred upon by Claudas, an evil king, and ought to be allies of
Arthur. After giving this advice Merlin says he will repair to
forests and wildernesses, but will be at hand in case of need (123).
Arthur therefore sends Tllfin and Bretel to ask King Ban and King
Bors to come to Logres at Hallowmass (124). The messengers find
the two kings in the midst of war with Claudas, but in a great
battle the brothers win the victory. TJlfin and Bretel ride direct
to the castle of Trebes and ask for King Ban, but he is with his
brother at Benoyk (125). As the messengers ride forth they are
set upon by seven knights (126), but Ulfin and Bretel overcome
them, and go their way (127). On their arrival at Benoyk (128),
they announce their message (129) and receive the promise of the
assistance of Ban and Bors (130).

CHAPTER IX.
THE VISIT or KING BAN AND KING BOBS TO AETHUfi ; THE TOURNAMENT
AT LOGRES.

"Whue the messengers are still absent Merlin tells Arthur that
they are returning with the two kings, and advises him to receive
 J ™-] THE STORY OF MERLIN. XXIII

them -witli honour (131). By Arthur's command the city of Logres

is hung -with cloths of silk, and the streets strewed with fine grass.
Incense and myrrh are humed ; and in the windows are many
lights (132). Then the guests enter the minster in solemn pro-
cession, and return to the palace for the hanquet (133). A grand
tournament follows, in which Gifflet the son of Do, Lucas the hutler,
and Kay the steward, perform great deeds (135). When all is over
the conversation turns upon the alliance ; and Merlin tells the two
kings that Arthur ought to be their lord (139).

CHAPTER X.
THE BA.TTLE BETWEEN AETUTE A>T) THE EEBEL KETGS AT BEEDIGA^T.
KnfG Ban and King Bors follow Merlin's advice and do homage
to Arthur (140). Merlin gives them wise counsel, and tells of
Gonnore, daughter of King Leodegan of Carmelide, and of King
Eion who is warring against him, and urges them to spend a year
or two with Leodegan (141). They agree, and hegin to make
great preparations.
Meanwhile, the seven kings who had been defeated at Clarion
prepare to take vengeance on Arthur and his enchanter Merlin.
In great force they advance, accompanied by four other kings and
a duke, and engage in battle with Arthur and his allies in the
forest of Bredigan. Thousands are left dead on the field, but the
rebels are beaten, and forced to flee for their lives (165). Merlin
then departs from Arthur and goes to Blase (166).

CHAPTER XI.
THE DOINGS OF KING AETHTTK APTER THE BATTLE, AND HIS DEPAETITRE
FOE TAMELIDE (cARMELIDE).

After the battle Arthur causes all the plunder to be put together in
a heap, and then the three kings divide it among their followers (167).
On the morrow, after they have feasted, they see a great churl coming
through the meadows by the river with a bow in his hand. The fowls
which he shoots he gives to King Arthur. Xo one knows the churl
but TJlfin and Bretel (169), and they tell the King that it is Merlin.
 [§ra.
XXIV THE STORY OF MERLIN.

Then there is joy in the King's heart, for he is sure that Merlin loves

him (170).

CHAPTER XII.
THE EErTRN OF THE EEBEL KINGS TO THEIE CITIES, AJO) TiUUK
ENCOUNTEK "WITH THE SAXONS.'

"While Arthur and his followers abide at Bredigan in "joy and

solace " till the Lenten season, the rebel kings return full of " sorrow

and heaviness " to their own cities. While on their way they enter

the city of Sorhant, a town of King Urien (171). Here they learn of
the ravages of the Saxons (172). In consternation they hold a council
and agree to help one another. They learn that Arthur and Ban and
Bors have gone to the help of Leodegan, but that the fortresses are
prepared for war (175). "While the kings are making ready, and the
Saxons have already arrived, we may turn for a moment to Galeshyn,

son of King Yentres, and nephew to King Arthur (177). One day
Galeshyn questions his mother about her parents and her brother

Arthur. She tells him the whole story, and then he goes to his

chamber resolved to be one of Arthur's knights, and sends a messenger

to Gawein, asking to meet him at iN'ewerk, the third day after Easter
(178).
The rest of the chapter relates the story of Arthur's amour with his

sister, Loth's wife, the fruit of which is Mordred (180) ; teUs of Gawein
the son of Loth, and how he questions his mother about Arthur and

says that he will be made a knight only by Arthur (181-184); and

gives a further account of the movements of the Saxons.

CHAPTER XIII.

Gawein and his brothers Agravayn, Gaharet, and Gaheries, meet

Galeshyn at Newerk in Brochelonde (189). They engage in repeated
battles with the Saxons, but finally arrive at Logres (201).

1 I shall make no excuse for abridging as much as possible the intolerably prolix

account of the wars with the Saxons. The story is in each case essentially the same.
Each Hug when attacked assembles his men and delivers battle. Hosts are killed,
and there is "battle grete and stout morteU," while Saxons are " slitte to the teth,"
but there is exceedingly little in the long-winded recital that can interest a modem
reader.
i ™-1 THK STORY OF MERLIN. XXV

CHAPTER XIV.
expedition of abthttb, balf, ajfj) bors to aid leodegan at tamelide
(cabmelide).

"When the three kings arrive at Tamelide Leodegan receives them

well, though he does not know who they are (203). He accepts their
proffered aid (204), and prepares his hosts to go out against the invaders
of his land (205). As may be expected, Leodegan and his allies gain the
victory (223). After the battles, the kings divide the spoil (224), and
Leodegan gives a great feast. Gonnore, the daughter of the King,
serves at table and wins the heart of Arthur (227), for of all the ladies
in the Bloy Bretejme she is the wisest and the fairest and the best
beloved except Helayn, the daughter of Pelles, who had the keeping of
the Saint-Graal (229).

CHAPTER XV.
EXPLOITS OF THE EEBEL KINGS AGAINST THE SAXONS.

The Saxons sweep over the country with fire and sword and slay

the inhabitants without pity, but the Britons resist like brave men
and inflict terrible punishment upon the invaders. The battle still

rages as the tale turns to speak of Merlin and Arthur (231-257).

CHAPTER XVI.
merlin's JOITBNET to LOGBES and VISIT TO GAWAIN. ENCOTTNTEB BETWEEN
THE CHILDBEN AND OBIENX.

Great is the joy in the town of Toraise, in Tamelide, where

Arthur is highly honoured by Leodegan and his daughter Gonnore
(257). One day Merlin teUs the three kings that he must return to

Logres, but that he will be with them again before they have another
battle (258). After visiting Blase (259), MerKn takes the form of
an old man (261), and goes to Camelot, where Gawein and his brothers
are awaiting the Saxons. The old man
him a coward for not
calls

going to the help of Seigramore, the nephew of the Emperor of

Constantinople, who has come to take arms of Arthur (263). Gawein
leaps at once to horse and rides forth with four thousand men. "When
XXVI THE STORY OF MERLIN. [§ "^•

they draw near, they find Seigramore and the children giving fierce
battle to the Saxons. The fresh warriors smite the Saxons (264),
and Gawein unhorses Orienx their leader (265). Then they return
•with joy to Camelot (268), but the old man has departed, and they

believe he has been slain (270).

CHAPTEE XVII.
EAVAGES or THE SAXONS IN THE LANDS OF KING CLARION AND DITKE ESCAM.

The Saxons make another descent, but are driven back with great
loss,and Duke Escam sends half of the plunder to King Clarion
(271-277).

CHAPTER XVIII.
adventttees of gawein and his fellows at aeondell in coenwall.

Gawein, with an army of thirty thousand men, sets out for Bredigan
(278). "When he arrives, a churl, who of course is Merlin, gives him
letters purporting to be from the sons of TJrien (279), asking his aid ;

and Gawein at once leads out his men in six divisions (280). Mean-
while Tdiers and the two sons of Urien are routed by the Saxons.
Then Gawein's company arrives, and after repeated fierce combats
drives the Saxons from the field (294). Then comes an old man
on horseback and says, " Gawein, return again and bring with thee
all thy fellows into Arondell, for, lo! here come Saxons in great
number, and we may not endure them " (294). Gawein follows his

advice, and from the city walls looks down upon the Saxons (295).

While Gawein and his followers are feasting that night, a knight in

torn hauberk gallops up to the castle and cries out, " Who is the
squire that dares follow me on an adventure ? " Gawein answers, and
asks which way he will go, but the knight replies vaguely, taunting

him with cowardice.

Gawein says that though he die he will hold him company (297).

With seven thousand men he sallies forth, and rides all day and
night till he meets a squire on horseback with a child in a cradle.
The squire says that he is fleeing with the child of Kiag Loth, and
that the mother is in the hands of the Saxons (298). Gaweiu
§ ni] THE STORY OF MERLIN. XXVU

gallops off, rescues his mother (299) and conducts her to Arondell
and then to Logres (301). Do of Cardoell receives them with great
honour, and tells Gawein that all the warnings hare heen given by
Merlin, the best diviner that ever was or will be, and that Merlin
had assumed the three forms under which Gawein had seen him (302).

CHAPTER XIX.
merlin's meeting with LE0>'CES. his iJ)VE2rrtrEES WITH NTMTANE.
After Gawein has rescued his mother, the knight who brings
him the news, and who is none other than Merlin, goes to Blase (303),

relates all these things, prophesies darkly, and says that God has
given him wit to accomplish the adventures of the Saint-Graal (304).
After this, Merlin departs into the realm of Benoyk, and comes to
Leonces, the Lord of Paeme (305). He warns the King of the coming
war, and advises him to make ready against Claudas and Frolles.
Merlin then leaves Leonces, and goes to see INimiane, a maiden of
great beauty, the daughter of Dionas (307). In the form of a fair

young squire he meets her at a fountain in the forest (308), asks her

who she is, and tells her that for her love he will show her wonderful
things (309). Then he conjures up a company of knights and ladies,

singing and dancing, and a fair orchard wherein is all manner of fruit
and flowers (310). Ximiane asks him to teach her some of his skill,

and promises him her love (311). At this Merlin tells her much,
which she writes upon parchment ; and then he joins the kings at
TameUde (312).

CHAPTER XX.
MEETING OF THE PRINCES AT LEICESTER ; RETTBN OF MERLIN TO THE
COURT OF LEODEGAN ; BETROTHAL OF ARTHUR AND GONNORE ; AND
GREAT BATTLE WITH KING RION AND THE GIANTS.

"When the rebel princes meet at Leicester, they agree to go out

against the Saxons, and choose for their camp the banks of the
Severn (313).
Meanwhile Merlin has returned to Toraise, in Tamelide, and
advises the three kings —Ban, Bors, and Arthur— to go to Leodegan
XXVIII THE STORY OF MERLIN. [^ "i-

and bid him prepare for battle with King Eion (314). They do not
fathom his dark prophecies (315), but they follow his counsel.
Leodegan is greatly troubled at the invasion of his land (318) ; but
Merlin comforts him, and tells him that his guest is King Arthur,
and that the young King desires Gonnore for his queen (319). "With
joy Leodegan leads in his daughter, richly clad, and presents her to
Arthur. After a night of feasting the King arrays his army for the
battle (321). Gonnore herself helps Arthur to put on his armour,
and receives a kiss for her reward (323). Then the host rides forth,
surprises the army of Eion, and so begins the battle (324). Every-
where are fierce single combats, but the result of the battle is doubtful
till Arthur encounters Eion, and fiLnally puts him to flight (342-345).
Then the Christians chase the giants, and so win the victory (357).
With great spoil they return to Toraise, and then, after two days,
Arthur takes leave of Gonnore, and, accompanied by Merlin and twenty
thousand soldiers, passes into Benoyk. Ban sends a message to his
brother King Bors, asking him to come to Bredigan (360).

CHAPTEE XXI.
ADVEUrtmES OF BAN AND GimfEBANS ; BOEs' FIGHT WITH AMAITNT ;

MEETING OF THE CHTLDKEN WITH KING AETHtTE.

King Ban and his brother Guynebans enter the Forest Perilous,

and there see knights and ladies in a meadow closed about with
woods (361). For the love of a maiden Guynebans "makes dances
to enter," and teaches her the secret of his enchantments. When Ban
departs, Guynebans accompanies him, but afterwards returns to his

lady, and abides with her all his life (363).

In obedience to the message of King Ban, King Bors sets out for
Bredigan (364), and on the way engages in battle with King Amaunt,
whom he kills in single combat (368). Accompanied by the knights
of the dead king, he rides on to Bredigan, and there presents them
to Arthur, to whom they do homage (369). After three days they
go into the forest in search of a great treasure of which Merlin has
told them. "Wlien it is found they all set out for Logres. As they
are riding forth, Gawein and his company learn that Arthur and his
J "I-] THE STORY OF MERLIN. XXIX

host are near, and go to meet him. Merlin knows of their coming,
and makes Arthur and the two kings " alight under a fair tree " to

await them (370).

Gawein and his followers kneel hefore King Arthur, who commands
them to rise and promises to knight them. Again they kneel and
thank him (372), while Gawein tells his name, and presents his
companions. Arthur makes Gawein constable of his household (373),

and then all ride forth to Logres. That night the children hold
vigil in the minster, and on the morrow they are dubbed by Arthur
with his good sword Calibourne (374). After the great court which
Arthur holds for three days, Merlin tells the King to make ready his
host to move at midnight against the invaders of Benoyk. Gawein
follows the King's commands, and when he enters again, he learns
all that he has owed to Merlin (376). As the host makes ready the
ships at Dover, Merlin departs for Northumberland, and recounts to
Blase all that has happened (378).

CHAPTER XXII.
BATTLE BEFORE THE CASTLE OF TKEBES.

Ix the month of June Arthur and the two kings take ship and
come to Rochelle. On the morrow at midday, Merlin joins them
(379). Meanwhile the invaders gather about the castle of Trebes
and besiege it on four sides (380). "When Arthur and his host
arrive there is a great battle, Merlin casts his enchantments and
discomfits the enemy with flames of fire in the air, while Kay bears the
dragon which vomits fire. Arthur and the two kings, and Gawein
and the knights of the Round Table perform marvels, and finally
chase the besiegers from the field (411).

CHAPTER XXIII.
THE DEEAM OF THE WIFE OF KING BAX ; THE DEEAM OP JULTUS C^SAE,
EMPEEOE OF EOME.
All the night there is feasting in the castle of Trebes (412).
When the two kings Ban and Bors have gone to rest with their wives.
Queen Helayne, the wife of King Ban, has a wonderful dream, which
XXX THE STORY OF MERLIN. [§ ^^^

she relates to him (413). After the first mass, to which they both
go, King Ban falls asleep and hears a voice speaking to him (415).
He and the Queen fear greatly, but do not at once ask Merlin the
meaning of the dreams. Arthur meanwhile ravages the lands of

Claudas, who afterwards, however, conquers the two kings, but is

finally driven out of the land by Arthur (416). One day Ban asks
Merlin the meaning of the dreams. Merlin explains a part, and
then goes to Nimiane his love (417). Meanwhile Gawein ravages
the lands of Claudas, returns to Benoyk ; and then with Arthur and
the two kings takes ship at Eochelle to return to Carmelide (419).
Merlin leaves them and goes through the forests to E.ome, where
Julius Caesar is Emperor (420). The Emperor has a strange di-eam
which he keeps to himself, but he sits at meat pensive among his
barons. Suddenly Merlin in the form of a great hart dashes into
the palace, and falling on his knees before the Emperor says that
a savage man will explain the dream (423). In a moment he has
vanished. The Emperor in wrath promises his daughter to anyone
who will bring the hart or the savage man. !N^ow, the Emperor has
a steward named Grisandol, who, though a maiden, has come to the

court in the disguise of a squire. To her the hart appears in the

forest, and shortly afterwards the savage man (424). He allows

himself to be taken in his sleep (425) and brought before the Emperor
(427), to whom he explains the dream (430), showing that the vision
means that the Empress has twelve youths disguised as maidens, with
whom she disports at pleasure, and advising the Emperor to marry
Grisandol (433), who is a maiden in disguise. The Emperor follows
the advice of the savage man, who, of course, is Merlin, and lives
happily with his new wife, after burning the old one (437).

CHAPTER XXIV.
BATTLE BETWEEN THE TWELVE KIXGS AS^D THE SAXOIfS BEFOEE THE
CITT OF CLAEEJTCE.

Meelix now goes to Blase and relates all that has happened. By
this time the twelve princes and the duke are assembled to go out
against the Saxons (438). A great battle is fought before the city,
$ I"] THE STORY OF MERLIN. XXXI

but the Saxons are too strong for the Christians, and chase them from
the field (446). Then the Saxons burn and destroy whatever they
find, and so terrify the kings that they dare not venture again to fight
the invaders (447).

CHAPTER XXV.
AEXHTTr's meeting "WITH LEODEGAN ; MARRTAGE OF AETHUR AND
GONNOEE.

AETHxna and his company arrive iu Great Britain (447), and ride to
Carmelide, where Leodegan and Gonnore are awaiting them. The
marriage is arranged to take place at the end of a week (449). Mean-
while the rebel kings learn of the knighting of the sons of Loth,
XJrien, and the others, of the arrival of Loth's wife at Logres, and of
Arthur's victories. Then they are sorry for their rebellion, but King
Loth plots to steal away Arthur's wife, and to put in her place

Gonnore, the step-daughter of Cleodalis,' with whose wife Leodegan

had long lived in adultery (451). Merlin learns of the plot and
prepares to frustrate it (452). When the day of the wedding arrives,
all march in solemn procession to the minster and witness the
ceremony (453). After meat the knights ride forth to a tournament
before the city. None can stand against Gawein, who ceases only

when Merlin tellshim he has done enough (461). When the

tournament is over Arthur creates Gawein a knight of the Eound
Table (462). After the feast that night the conspirators who come
with the false Gonnore, seize Queen Gonnore as she goes out into
the garden (463). But Bretel and Ulfin, who are there by Merlin's
advice, rescue her from their hands (464) and deliver her to Leodegan
(465). Then Arthur goes to his wife, " and there they lead merry
life together as they that well love " (466). On the following day
Leodegan banishes the false Gonnore. Her stepfather Cleodalis
takes her away, and leaves her in an abbey that stands in a wild
place, where she remains till Bertelak finds her (468).

*
Cf. Merlin, chap. xiv. p. 213.
XXXII THE STORY OF MERLIN. [I i"-

CHAPTER XXVI.
BANISHMENT OF BEETELAK ; FIGHT AND BECONCILIATION BETWEEN
AKTHUR AND LOTH; AETHUk's COUET AT LOGEES ; VOWS OF THE
KNIGHTS OF THE E0T7ND TABLE AND THE QUEEn's KNIGHTS ; THE
TOUKNAMENT.

On account of a knight that Bertelak has killed he is banished

(470). He rides forth until he comes to the abbey in which Gonnore
is staying, and there abides a long time, plotting revenge on Leodegan
and Arthur. Eight days after his marriage, Arthur, with his Queen
and five hundred men at arms, sets out for Bredigan, having sent
Gawein to Logres to make ready the city for the court of August
(471). King Loth is lying in wait for Arthur, and attacks him with
seven hundred men (473). There is a fierce fight, but in the midst
of it Gawein comes up with four-score fellows, and Kay bearing the
banner (475). Gawein unhorses his father Loth, makes known who
lie is, and compels Loth to do homage to Arthur (477). So all ride

together to Logres, where Arthur gives rich gifts to his followers

(479).
In the middle of August begins Arthur's court, where all the
knights and ladies appear in their most splendid robes (480). The
knights of theRound Table take a vow to aid any maiden in distress
(481). Then Gawein and his fellows, who pray to be the knights
of the Queen, vow that one of them shall go to the help of any

man or woman who appeals for assistance, and on returning shall

relate whatever adventures may befall him (483). When the vows
are made, the knights prepare for a grand tournament with five
hundred knights on each side (484). As may be expected, they
finish with a quarrel. Gawein lays about him with an apple-tree
club (493), then draws his sword and kiUs more than forty. Fighting
follows, and the tournament comes to an end. Finally, King Arthur
reproves Gawein (500), and brings about a reconciliation. The
knights of the Round Table, kneeling, beg forgiveness of Gawein, and

agree not to tourney again with the Queen's knights (502).

i "!•] THE STORY OF MERLIN. XXXIII

CHAPTER XXYII.
THE MTSSIOIf OF KING LOTH AlfD HIS FOTJH SONS TO MAKE TEITCE "WITH
THE EEBEL KINGS J
BATTLES WITH THE 8AX0K8.

After tlie tournament is a great feast, where King Arthur and

King Ban, and King Bors, and King Loth, sit in state at the high
dais (504). "When the tables are removed the four kings withdraw
to a chamber by themselves. Then Loth begins to speak of the
Saxons, and says that with the help of the other princes, Arthur
could chase the heathen out of the land (505). All agree that Loth
is the best messenger to treat with the rebel kings, and he consents
to go to them with his four sons (506). At midnight they set out,

choosing the unfrequented paths, and so ride for eight days, having a

fight on the way with seven thousand Saxons. They kill a goodly
number of the heathen, and at nightfall arrive at a forester's house,

which is strongly fortified and encircled by deep ditches full of water,

and by great oaks and thick bushes (517). They are most hospitably
received, and pass the evening in talk till bedtime (519).
While they are asleep,we may speak a moment of King Pelles
of Lytenoys (520). This king has a fair son who wishes to be squire
to Gawein at the court of King Arthur. The King consents and sends
forth his son fully armed and accompanied by a single squire (521).

The two meet with the Saxons and defend themselves as best they

can, but they are in great straits, and there we will leave them for
a time (524).
In the morning King Loth and his sons ride forth, and as they pass

by a woodside they see the squire coming down the hiU (528). He
tells them that his lord is in the hands of the Saxons, and begs their
help. They at once attack the Saxons (530) and rescue the King's
son (534) ; but Gaheries and Agravain quarrel, and Gawein has to
interfere (537). Then the company ride on towards Roestok, not
finding shelter tillafter midnight, when they arrive at a hermitage

(539). Suddenly Gawein and the King's son, whose name is Elizer,

hear the cries of a lady in distress. They sally forth and rescue her
and a knight (541). The lady is sister to the lady of Roestok, and
XXXIV THE STORY OF MERLIN. [§ "^•

the knight is her cousin (543). They now join King Loth, and all go
together to the Castle of Roestok, where the lord receives them with joy
(545) and agrees to deliverLoth's message to the King de Cent Chevaliers,
bidding him come in September to Arestuell, in Scotland (546). As
they ride forth in the morning they find Duke Escam beset by ten
thousand Saxons near Cambenyk (547), and at once put themselves at
his service (548), In the great battle which follows the Saxons are
routed (553). Then Duke Escam and his guests ride to Cambenyk
(555). When he learns of Loth's mission to the princes he agrees
to accompany Loth to Arestuell. Loth asks the Duke to send messengers
to the other princes that they also may come to Arestuell (557). Loth
and his company await for several days the other princes at Arestuell

(558). They arrive one after another, and hold a great council.
Gawein asks them to consent to a truce, so as to fight the Saxons
together. The princes turn to Loth and learn with surprise that he
has already done homage to Arthur (559). They, however, agree
finally to the truce, which they say they will keep only till they have
driven out the Saxons. Then they depart, gather their people, and go to

the plain of Salisbury (560).

CHAPTER XXVIII.
ADVEJiTTTrRES OF SEI6EAM0EE, GALASHTN, AND DODINELL ; MEELIn's VISITS
TO BLASE AND TO THE PEINCES ; AETHtm's PEEPAEATIONS FOE THE
WAE.
Aethtje and his knights are glad when they learn the result of
Loth's mission. On the morning of the day after the news comes,
three knights of Arthur's court, Seigramore, Galashyn, and Dodinell,
rise early and go into the forest in search of adventures (561). Three
knights of the Round Table, Agravandain, Mynoras, and Monevall,
disguise themselves and leave the court in the hope of meeting the
first three knights and trying their mettle. When they arrive at
a point where three roads separate, each chooses his way and rides

off alone.

Meanwhile Merlin, who left Arthur in Carmelide,^ goes to Blase

and recounts all that has happened since Arthur's marriage —the
1
Cf. p. 472.
 § ™] THE STORY OF MERLIN. XXXV

story of the false Gonnore, of Gawein's exploits and the sub-

mission of King Loth to Arthur, of the great tournament, and
of the truce to which the princes have agreed at Arestuell
(562). Blase writes all this in his book ; and then Merlin begins
to prophesy darkly (563). After taking leave of Blase he goes
into Little Britain, tells Leonces and Pharien to go with much people
to the plain of Salisbury (564), then visits Ximiane (565) and
various princes whom he bids also go to SaKsbury, and finally

arrives at Logres (566). All are rejoiced to see him, and listen
eagerly to his account of the allies who are gathering at Salisbury,

Then Merlin asks :

" When I came thus suddenly upon you right
now what did ye behold so intently down the meadows ? " Says
the King: "We looked on three knights that we saw enter into
the forest." Merlin replies :
" "Wit it verily, that it be three knights
of the Round Table in great need of succour" (567). At this the

King sends without delay Sir Ewein, Gifflet, and Kay to their
rescue (568). The knights have meanwhile met and fought with one
another (569). Sir Ewein, Gifflet, and Kay arrive just as the knights
are in the thick of the fight, and put an end to it (571). Then
all ride together to court. In the talk which follows. Ban says
that Sir Gawein is the best knight, and all agree that it is true (573).
After meat the Kong sends forth the messengers, summoning his
people to Salisbury (574), and on the morrow the King and his men
ride forth, with Kay bearing the great banner. Spies of the Saxons
watch the host as it assembles at Salisbury, and guard against a
surprise (575).

CHAPTER XXIX.
PART.TAMTarr OF THE PRINCES AT SAXISBUET ; THETE HOMAGE TO ABTHT7E ;

AJO) DEFEAT OF THE 8AX0K8.

"When the princes have all arrived at Salisbury, Merlin tells Arthur
that so many good knights shall not be assembled again till the father
slay the son and the son the father.
After another dark prophecy
which Arthur does not understand Merlin sends the King to the
barons (579). They tell him as he thanks them for their assistance
XXXVI THE STORY OF MERLIN. § !"•]

that they are not his men, but that they are come to defend holy
church. " God requite you," says Arthur, " in whose honour and
reverence ye do it." " Amen," say the lords, " and be it so as
ye will " (580).
"When the twelve princes come to Loth's tent, they hold a stormy
council, and all declare that they will not make peace with Arthur ;

but when the King enters with Ban and Bors and the strange princes,
the twelve do him reverence, for he is a king anointed (581). After
Arthur has addressed them. Loth says that they must follow the
counsel of Merlin, and to this they agree (582). When the assembly
is dismissed Elizer comes to Gawein, and kneeling before him prays
to be made a knight. Gawein grants his request (583), and Arthur
bestows upon him the richest arms in his coffers. On the morrow
Elizer sits at the King's table between Ban and Bors, and in the
jousting which follows wins much praise (584).

Next day the host rides forth from the plain of Salisbury, Merlin
leading the way to the city of Clarence (585). Before the city of
Garlot they meet with the Saxons, defeat them here (597) and at

Clarence, and drive them into the sea (602).

CHAPTER XXX.
DEPARTURE OF BAX AND BOES, AND THEIR VISIT TO AGRAVADAIN.

JoTFtTL over the victory, Arthur and his host with Ban and Bors
and Loth and Gawein return to Camelot (603). Then by Merlin's
advice Ban and Bors, accompanied by the magician, set out for
their own country. As they ride toward the sea, they arrive before
a great castle closed round with seven walls and defended by five
high towers (604). They cross the surrounding marsh by the
causeway, and sound an ivory horn which is hung by a silver chain
to the branch of a pine-tree (605). Three times Ban blows the horn
without result. Again he blows three times. Then in wrath
Agravadain, the lord of the castle, demands what they want and who
they are. On learning that their lord is King Arthur, he makes them
welcome (606). In the castle are three maidens of great beauty, the
§ ni-] THE STORY OF MERLIN. XXXVII

fairest of-whom is the daughter of AgraTadain. Merlin by enchant-

ment causes her and Ban to fall in love (607), and transforms
himself into a young knight, who comes kneeling before King Ban
(608). After supper they go to bed, and by the enchantment of
Merlin, all sleep soundly except Ban and the maiden. Then Merlin
comes and conducts her to Eang Ban (609), with whom she stays
till day dawns. Merlin leads the maiden again to her bed, and
brealis the enchantment (610). All arise, and the two kings prepare
to depart, King Ban taking a tender leave of the maiden, and teUing

her that the son she has conceived will bring her joy and honour
(611). With that they continue their journey till they come to
Benoyk. Then Merlin leaves them and visits Ximiane his love and
Blase his master, to whom he recounts all that has happened (612).

CHAPTER XXXI.
AETHUK'S GEEA.T FEAST AT CAMELOT ; THE BATTLE BEFOEE TORAISE ;

ANT) THE DEFEAT OF KING KIOX.

Aftek the departure of the two kings, Arthur remains at Camelot,

and there gives a magnificent feast (613). On the second day, when
Arthur and Gonnore and the twelve kings with their queens are
seated at the high dais, there enters a blind harper, clad in samite and
girt with a baldric of silk, garnished with gold and precious stones.
On a silver harp, with golden strings, he harps a lay of Britain so
sweetly that Kay, the steward, pauses to Ksten (615).
Suddenly a strange knight enters, and asks Kay which is the King
Arthur. Then he delivers to the King a letter with which he has
been entrusted by Bion (619). Arthur gives it to the Archbishop,
who breaks the ten seals and reads. Rion, the lord of all the west,
announces that he has conquered nine kings, and furred with their
beards a mantle of red samite. Nothing is lacking but the tassels,
and to furnish these Arthur is commanded to send his beard with all

the skin (620). King Arthur is wroth, and dismisses the messenger
with the declaration that King Bion shall never have his beard. The
knight departs ; and then the harper harps merrily, and finally asks

to bear the chief banner in the first battle (621). Arthur refuses
XXXVIII THE STORY OF MERLIN. U I"-

because the minstrel is blind. Ban alone suspects that the harper is

Merlin, and asks the Xing to grant the request. As they talk together,
the harper disappears, but a moment later re-enters the hall in the

form of a little naked child, and again asks the King to deliver to him
the banner (622). Arthur laughs, and consents. The child goes out
of the palace, and reappears in the form of Merlin. Then the
enchanter passes over the sea to Pharien and Leonce, and returning,
visits Urien and Loth, summoning them all to the help of King
Arthur (623). In a few days the two hosts stand facing each other
(624), Merlin bearing the banner that cast out fire and flame (625).
All perform prodigies of valour. Finally, Arthur and E-ion meet in

single combat (628). Arthur cuts off the giant's head (630), and
so wins the victory. King Kion's barons submit to Arthur, and
return with the body of the dead king into their own land. King
Arthur and his host go to Toraise till he is healed of his wounds.
Then they ride to Camelot, where the queens are awaiting them,
and after four days separate, each man going to his own country, and
King Arthur to Logres. Merlin also takes leave of the King, uttering
as he goes a mysterious prophecy (631).

CHAPTER XXXII.
MERLIN'' S INTERPRETATION OF THE DREAM OF FLTTALIS, AND HIS VISIT TO

NIMIANE ; THE KNIGHTING OF THE DWARF ; THE EMBASSY FROM THE

EMPEROR OF ROME ; ARTHUr's FIGHT WITH THE GIANT ; THE BATTLE
WITH THE ROMANS.
Merlin passes with marvellous speed over land and sea, and comes
to Flualis, King of Jerusalem, who has had a wonderful dream (632).
Merlin, as usual, has no difficulty in explaining (633) what has
puzzled all the wise men, and, without taking the King's daughter
as his reward, he goes to Nimiane, who enchants him at her will
(634). Merlin teaches her still more, and then departs and goes to
Arthur at Logres, visiting Blase on the way in order to make his

customary report (635). To this practice of his we owe this veracious

chronicle. While King Arthur is sitting at the high dais in the hall,

there alights from a mule a lovely maiden with an ugly dwarf, whom
 } 1"] THE STOKY OF irERLIN. XXXIX

she helps down from her saddle and brings before the King. "With
a courteous salute she asks him to grant her a request (635). As he
promises, she asks Arthur to knight her companion. Everyon.e laughs

(636), but Arthur keeps his word, attires the dwarf in splendid
armour, and makes him knight (637). As the damsel and the dwarf
leave the palace, Merlin tells the King that the dwarf is a prince, and
it shall soon be known who the maiden is (638).
While they are yet speaking, twelve princes arrive, with a letter
from Luce, the Emperor of Rome (639), summoning Arthur before

him for having withheld the service and tribute which he should pay,
and for having dared to rise against Rome ; threatening him in case

of refusal with the loss of all Britain and the lands that do him
homage, and with imprisonment. There is uproar in the palace when
the letter is read ; and Arthur withdraws with his princes and barons
to prepare a reply (640). In his address Arthur says: "They claim
Britain for theirs, and I claim Rome for mine " (642). His princes
and barons agree that they must declare war upon Rome. Arthur
gives his reply to the twelve messengers, and dismisses them with
rich gifts (643).

"When they have gone. Merlin tells Arthur to gather his people
quickly, and then departs to warn the other princes. They come at

once with thousands of knights (643), take ship and join Ban and Bors
at Gannes (644).
In the night Arthur dreams of a bear and a dragon who fight

together on a mountain, and the dragon slays the bear. Merlin explains
to the King when he awakes that the bear is a giant, whom the King
shall slay. As they begin their march they hear of the giant who has
seized a maiden, and taken her to Mount St. Michel. Arthur at once

bids Kay and Bediver make ready to set out about midnight (645). As
they come to the mountain they see two great fires shining brightly.
On approaching one of the fires, Bediver sees an old woman weeping
beside a tomb (646). To his questions she repHes :"The niece of
Hoell of Nauntes lies in this tomb, a victim to the lust of the giant,
who now defiles me her nurse." As Bediver tells this to Arthur, the
King goes softly against the giant with sword drawn, but the monster
sees him coming, and meets him with a great club (648). They have
 THE STORY OF MERLIN. "i-
XL [§

a stubborn fight, but Arthur finally kills him, and Bediver cuts ofp his

head (649). They then return to the host, Bediver bearing the head
at his saddle. The barons bless themselves when they see the head,

and praise God for the King's victory. After crossing the river Aube
their forces are increased by six thousand knights led by Ban and Bors.
Then the King fortifies a castle to which he may retreat if need be

(650), and sends Gawein, Seigramore, and Ewein with a message to the

Emperor bidding him return home. Gawein delivers it defiantly

(651), and smites off the head of a knight who says, "Britons
can well menace, but at their deeds they are but easy." Then
they leap to horse, striking down who oppose them (652),
all

and finally join a party of six thousand men whom Arthur has
sent to their rescue (653). A battle follows in which the Romans
are routed, and many of them taken prisoners (654). The Emperor
is wroth at his defeat (656), and makes his people leap to horse,
and comes to Logres with all his host. Arthur sends his army to
the valley of Toraise, between Oston and Logres (658). In the
battle which follows the Romans are chased from the field, and
the Emperor Luce is slain. Arthur sends the body to Rome with
the message that this is the tribute which Britain pays and is ready
to pay again if more is required (664). Merlin then tells the King of

a great cat full of the devil, which lives by the Lake of Losane (665).

CHAPTER XXXIII.
AETHTm's FIGHT WITH THE GKEAT CAT ; THE SEABCH FOK MEELIX,
AND HIS I3IPfiIS0XME>"T ; THE TEA>'SF0E3IATI0N OF GAWAEJf ES'TO

A DWAEF, ANT) EETTJILN TO HIS PEOPEE FOEil ;

THE BIETH OP
LANCELOT.

Says Merlin: "It befell four years ago that a fisher came to the
Lake of Losane with his nets, and promised to give our Lord the
first fish he should take. Twice he broke his vow, and the third
time he drew out a little kitten as black as a coal. This he took
home with him to kill the rats and mice, and kept it till it strangled
him and his wife and his children, and after that fled to the mountains

beyond the lake. And now it slays whomsoever it meets" (665).

§ ™] THE STORY OF MERLIN. XLI

Arthur at once makes ready to kill the beast, and rides off with five

companions. They go up the mountain, and the King approaches the

cave where the cat is. Merlin whistles; the cat rushes out and
attacks the King (666). The fight is terrible (667), but the King
gains the victory, and carries off the cat's feet in triumph.
The story now turns to speak of Arthur's knights who are taking
to France the Koman prisoners with whom they are charged. Claudas,
the old enemy of Ban and Bors, attacks the knights as they pass u
castle of his (669), but Leonces and Pharien come to the rescue with
seven hundred knights. The Britons win the day, and conduct
their prisoners to Benoyk as Arthur has commanded (670).
The story returns to the castle of Agravadain where Ban and
Bors and Merlin were so hospitably entertained.^ Fifteen days after
their visit, a rich knight named Leriador comes to the lord of the
castle and asks for his daughter in marriage. She tells her father
that she is too young (671), and finally confesses that she is with
child by King Ban. Returning to the knight, her father asks him
to wait two years, and then he shall have his will. At this the

knight departs in wrath, without replying a word. Shortly after he

returns with eight hundred knights and squires and yeomen, and
lays siege to the castle (672). Agravadain vanquishes one after
another the knights who come to joust with him (673), and finally
Leriador himself, who acknowledges himself conquered and goes
home into his own country again (674). In due time the maiden is

delivered of a son, who afterwards wins great renown (675).

Meanwhile the direful dream which Merlin has expounded to

Flualis^ goes into effect. The King is terrified, renounces his paganism,
and turns Christian, with his family (675). His four daughters marry
four princes, and are blessed with fifty-four children, some of whom,
become knights of Arthur (676).
The story now returns to Arthur, who has Romans and
routed the
killed the great cat. After eight days of delay by the River Aube
the King return with his army to Benoyk, and sends Gawein to
destroy the castle of the March. This done, Gawein returns to

*
Cf. chap. XXX.
* Chapter xxxii.
XLII THE STORY OF MERLIN. [§ "^•

Benoyk (677). King Arthur then receives a message that Leodegan

is dead, and on the morrow takes leave of Ban and Bors, never to
see them again. On coming to Logres he comforts Queen Gonnore,
and abides there long time with his knights and with Merlin (678).
One day Merlin takes leave of the King and the Queen, sore weeping
that he shall never see them again, and goes to Blase, to whom
he recounts all that has happened. Of the dwarf that Arthur has
kuighted. Merlin says that he is a great gentleman and no dwarf by
nature. After eight days MerUn takes leave of Blase and says :

" This is the last time that I shall speak with you, for from hence-
forth I shall sojourn with my love, and never shall I have power to
leave her, neither to come nor to go " (679).
Then he goes to Nimiane his love in the forest of Broceliande, and
teaches her all his craft (680). She makes an enchantment of nine

circles repeated nine times while Merlin is sleeping in her lap. And
it seenis to Merlin that he is in a strong fortress from which he can
never coine out. But Mmiane goes and comes as she likes, and has
Merlin ever with her (681). After Merlin has been gone seven weeks,
Arthur sends Gawein in search of him. The knight sets out with
thirty others in a company. At a cross beside a forest they divide into

three parties, and continue the search (682). Meanwhile the maiden
and her dwarf, whom Arthur has dubbed, come to a forest. This they

pass through, and, as they emerge, the damsel sees a knight coming
armed upon a steed. The knight claims her for his love, but the dwarf
defends her, unhorses the knight (683), and makes him promise to go
to Arthur and recount his defeat (684).
And now the tale turns to Seigramoe rand his nine knights who are

searching for Merlin, but without success (687); then to Ewein and
his knights, who also vainly seek Merlin (688) but meet the maiden
and go to the assistance of the dwarf, who has overcome four knights
and sent them to Arthur; last of all the story speaks of Gawein,
who has separated from his knights and is continuing the search
alone (689). As he is riding silently along, he meets a damsel
splendidly mounted, and passes her without a salute. She stops her
palfrey and tells him that he is a vile knight so to pass her without
uttering a word. He begs her forgiveness, but she tells him to
{ I"] THE STORY OF MERLIX. XLIIl

remember another time to salute a lady or a damsel. For his punish-

ment he shall be like the first man he meets (690). A little later,

Gawein meets the damsel and the dwarf, and salutes her courteously.

After going a short distance the dwarf changes to his original form,
and becomes a young knight of great beauty, while Gawein becomes
a dwarf (691). In this guise, however, he continues the quest for
Merlin, going all through the realm of Logres and at length to Little
Britain. As he is riding through the forest at Broceliande, he hears
Merlin speaking, but cannot see him (692). MerKn says that he
can never come forth from the place where he is, but that she who
has enchanted him can come and go as she likes (693). Merlin
comforts Gawein by telling him that he shall soon regain his form,
and so he departs glad and sorrowful. As he rides on his way he
agaia meets the damsel whom he had passed without saluting (694).
She pretends to be struggling with two knights and cries to Gawein
for help. He smites the knights (695) till the damsel cries,

" Enough, Sir Gawein, do no more." Then on his promise never

to fail to salute a lady she restores him to his original form. He

kneels and says that he is her knight for evermore. After taking
leave of her he rides to Cardoell, arriving at the time appointed, on
the same day as Ewein and Seigramore. Then he tells all his

adventures and the fate of Merlin (697).

"Whilst they are rejoicing over Gawein, the damsel enters leading
the knight who was a dwarf. She presents him to King Arthur, who
makes him a companion of the Bround Table. Then the story says no
more of Arthur and his company, and turns to Ban and Bors. After
Arthur takes leave of the two brothers they dwell with joy in Benoyk.
To Ban is born a son who is sumamed Lancelot, and to Bors a son
named Lyonel, and another called Bohort. All three win great renown
by their prowess (698). After the birth of Bohort, Bors falls sick at

Gannes, deprived of the help of Ban, who is kept at home by his

enemies and finally conquered by the Romans, till he has only the
Castle of Trebes left, and this he loses afterwards by the falsity of his

seneschal whom he brought up from childhood (699).

XLIV VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. [§
^'^^

rv.

VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND.

The prose romance of Merlin, as we have it in our fifteenth-
century English version, is a translation of a French prose
romance which had assumed substantially its final shape early in
the thirteenth century. The prose romance is but one of a
variety of forms in which much of the material of the romance
has been preserved. An enumeration of these forms will show
to what extent this branch of the Arthurian legend entered into
the literature of the Middle Ages and of later times. The
arrangement according to language is not the best in all respects,

for it groups together pieces produced under widely different

conditions, but the practical convenience is considerable. In this
account it will be desirable to give a list not only of the pieces

that acquaint us with the history of Merlin, but also of such

pieces as the prophecies and other works attributed to him. We
can thus get at the outset a general view of the wide range of
the legend, though we must reserve a number of questions
relating to the Celtic, Latin, French, and English forms for

more extended discussion in later sections. In such a sketch

as this, exhaustive treatment is not attempted.

A.— Celtic.
1. —A few Welsh poems purporting to belong to the sixth
century contain an obscure account of a bard of the name of
Myrddin. This name is the exact phonetic equivalent of the
Merlin of the romances. Upon the direct development of the
romance these poems, as we shall see, had no influence ; but
possibly some traits of character in the Merlin of the romances
 —

§
IV] VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. XLV

are due to legends relating to Myrddin. The Breton ballads

relating to Marzin have a very doubtful claim to antiquity.
Some critics do not hesitate to pronounce them modern forgeries.^
2. —
Of Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regtim Britannice
there exist Welsh translations, once supposed to be originals.
3. —
The Irish translation of Nennius' Historia Britonum,
though made in the eleventh century, was entirely without
influence on the development of the legend.

B. —Latin.
The Latin forms are for our purpose more important than
the Celtic, even though the legend is essentially Celtic in many
of its elements.
1. —Nennius, Historia Britonum (ninth century).
2. —Geoffrey of Monmouth, Historia Begum Britannice

(1135-1147). This repeats with considerable additions the story

told by Nennius, and adds a large number of prophecies.
3. Gesta Begum Britannice.^ This anonymous chronicle,' in
more than 4500 Latin hexameters, follows closely Geoffrey of

Monmouth's Historia, and only now and then reveals any

individuality. The portion devoted to Merlin is included in
verses 2052-3005.
4. — Vita Merlini (about 1148),* usually attributed to Geoffrey
of Monmouth.
5. Prophecy of Merlin Silvester (in ten lines), known as the
Prophecy of the Eagle to Edward the Confessor. This and
other * short prophecies attributed to Merlin Silvester, as well
as the prophecy of Merlin Ambrose (Book YII. of Geoffrey's
Historia), were often copied separately, and are preserved in
1
Cf. i. 86.
2 Cf. "Ward, Catal. of Romances, i. pp. 274-277 ; Kolbing, Altenglische Bibl.
iv. p. cvii. This poem was published by Francisque Michel, Cambridge, 1862.
' It is hardly necessary to cite the various Latin chronicles in prose, as they are
discussed later.
*
Cf "Ward, Catal. of Ronmnces, i. pp. 278-288.
5
Cf. ibid. i. pp. 320-324.
 ^

XLVI VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. U i^'

numerous manuscripts.^ (Ward, Catal. of Romances, i. pp.

292-338.)
6. — Prophecy about Scotland, in thirty leonines.^ (Ward,
Catal. of Romances, i. p. 299.)
7. — San-Marte (Sagen von Merlin, pp. 265-267) printed a
Latin prophecy in sixty lines of halting dactylic hexameters
(published also by Muratorius, Rerum Italicarum Scriptores,
t. pp. 1177-1178) attributed to Merlin, and belonging to
viii.

the time of the Emperor Frederick II. This was one of a

number of political prophecies directed against the Popes.
8. — San-Marte also printed* twelve four-line stanzas of a
Latin imitation of a Welsh war song, based largely on Geoffrey's
Misforia.
9. — A Latin version of the larger prose romance of Merlin
was printed ^ in Venice in 1554.
10. — Besides the pieces above mentioned, the following are
attributed by Bale and somewhat later by Fabricius to Merlin
Ambrose^ : 1. Super arce Vortigerni ; 2. Epitaphium sexti Regis ;
3. Contra Vortigerni Magos ; 4. Super qicodam Cometa.
As for the Latin commentary on the prophecies of Merlin
The Prophecies possess interest for our immediate purpose only in so
^ far as they
show how powerfully the name of Merlin continued to influence the writers of
successive generations, but I cannot discuss the questions which these singular
productions suggest. In the works on Merlin by Francisque Michel and Villemarque
will be found enough to satisfy a reasonable curiosity in the matter. The Prophecies
are referred to with more or less respect by a score of chroniclers, among whom we
meet such names as Giraldus Cambrensis, Orderic Vital, Matthew Paris, Roger of
Hoveden, "William of Newburgh, Froissart, John Fordun, and others. The French
Propheties de Merlin are said to have been translated from the Latin. Cf. Ward,
Catal. of Romances, i. pp. 371-373 P. Paris, Les Romans de la Table Rotide, i. p. 68.
;

* Printed in the Polls ed. of Pierre de Langtoft's Chronicle, ii. pp. 450, 451. The
MS. of the prophecy belongs to the 13th or the 14th century...
•*
For a further account of the influence of Merlin in Italy see "Ward, Catal. oj
Romances, i. p. 372, where additional bibliographical references are given.

* Sagen von Merlin, pp. 207-209.

* Geoffrey's Latin Prophecies were first printed in Paris in 1508, and reprinted
in 1517.
® Cf. F. Michel, Vita Merlini, p. Iv. Michel also calls attention
; to a fragment
of four lines preserved by John Price in Hist. Brit. Defensio, p. 121.
§ l^] VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. XLVII

by Alanus de Insulis/ and other Latin illustrative writings,

they lie outside of our limits.

C—French.
1, — The first appearance in French literature of the Merlin
legend is in translations of Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historiar
Of these the earliest version was that of Geoffrey Gaimar, which
has entirely disappeared. Most popular was the version by
Wace, whose Brut appeared in 1155. Several other versions,
some of which are preserved in fragmentary form, attest the

popularity of the lively Historia of Geoffrey of Monmouth.

The so-called Milnchener Brut is an anonymous fragment of
which only the beginning is preserved.^ Another anonymous
version is the Chanson de Brut, preserved in a thirteenth-century
manuscript. This is in five fragments, and is "written as a
chanson de geste, in monorhymed tirades of alexandrines.
There are 3360 lines remaining."* In a fourteenth-century
manuscript is a poem of 258 lines translated from Geoffrey. It
begins with the story of Vortiger, and breaks off at the point
where Merlin is preparing to explain the meaning of the fight
of the dragons.^ Still another version is found in the first part
of the Anglo-French Chronicle of Pierre de Langtoft, which,
however, had little or no influence on the development of the
legend. Pierre slightly condenses Geoffrey's Historia and adds
some minor particulars.^
PaoPHETiA anglicana, sive vaticinia et praedicationes Merlini Ambrosii, ex
1

incubo (ut hominum fama est) ante annos 1200 circiter in Anglia nati, a
Galfredo Monumetensi latine conversa, una cum vii. libris explanationum in eandem
prophetiam Alani de Insulis. Francofurti-ad-Moenum, 1603. Small 8vo.
^ To avoid repetition I reserve further discussion for a later section.
3 Edited by C. Hoffmann and K. YollmoUer, Halle, 1877. Still another frag-
mentary version in rhyming octosyllabic verse exists in the form of tirades with
assonances. Cf. Kreyssig, Gesch. derfranz. Lit. L 155.
* Ward, Catal. of Momances, i. 272.

* Ibid. i. 384. See also Villemarque, Myrdhinn, pp. 422-431 ; Kolbing, Alt-
engliache Bibl. iv. pp. cvui., cix.
6 Langtoft lived during the reign of Edward I., and probably died in the reign of
Edward II. Of. T. Wright's ed. of L.'s Chronicle (Eolls Series), vol. i. p. xii.
Lond. 1866.
XLVIII VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. [§
^'^•

2. — Robert de Borron's poem of Merlin belongs to tbe end of

the twelfth century. Of this has been preserved only a frag-
ment of 504 lines. The Merlin was intended as a continuation
of the poem of Joseph d^ Arimathie.

3. —At the end of the twelfth or the beginning of the

thirteenth century, Robert de Borron's poem of Merlin was
reduced to prose. This is the first branch of the romance of
Merlin, and is the source of chapters i.-vi. in the English
version.

4. — Several thirteenth and fourteenth century continuations

of the short prose Merlin exist, but they have never been fully
described.^ Paulin Paris called the ordinary continuation the
Book of Arthur.
5. —Propheties de Merlin.^ Translated from the Latin by
" Mestre Richart d'Yrlande," at the command of the Emperor
Frederick II. " These prophecies are quite unconnected with

those in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Hidoria ; and such as are

not purely romantic relate more to the affairs of Italy and
of the Holy Land than to those of France or Germany, and
^
hardly at all to those of England."

6. — We have in a manuscript of the thirteenth or fourteenth

century an Anglo-French " prophecy of Merlin about the six
kings that are to follow King John, who are here called the
Lamb of Winchester, the Dragon of Mercy, the Goat of
Carnarvon, the Boar of Windsor, the Ass with Leaden Feet,
and the Accursed Mole."*
7. — In 1455 Geoffrey of Monmouth's Sistoria was translated
into French prose by Jehan Wauquelin of Mons.^

1 These versions I have discussed in treating of the manuscripts.

"^
In Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 25,434 end of thirteenth centiiry.
; Imperfect at
beginning and end.
^ "Ward, Catal. of Romances, i. 371-373.
« Ibid. i. 299.
* Ibid. i. 251-253.
 —

§ ^^-1 VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. XLIX

8. — The first printed edition of the large prose Merlin

appeared in 1498, and was followed by numerous others. ^

1 I give the editions in the order of their appearance :

1498. The Romance and the Prophecies, printed for Anthoine Yerart, Paris,
The copy in the Bibliotheque Xationale is a small folio in black letter, containing
three volumes bound in one, the two containing the Eomance, and the third the
first

Prophecies. These last are,Ward remarks, printed " in a strange state

however, as
of disorder." This is the rarest and choicest of the printed editions, and it has on
the title-page a large illustration of the General Eesurrection, and at irregular
intervals woodcuts of a battle (seventeen times repeated), and of Christ asleep in the
ship (on last page). The colophon at the end of vol. iii. gives the date: " Cy
finissent les prophecies Merlin nouuellement imprime a paris Ian mil. iiii. cccc. iiii. xx.
pour Anthoine Verart demourant devat nostre Dame De Paris a lymage saint
xviii.

Jehan leuangeliste/ ou au palays au premier pillier deuant la chappelle ou lenchate la

messe de messeigneurs de parlement." The same publisher brought out another
edition the same year. The forms of the letters prove that the second edition was
reprinted from the type used in the first edition, but reset.

1505 (2nd September). The Romance and the Prophecies were printed for
Michel le Noir at Paris, in three small quarto volumes, black letter.
1507. The same publisher brought out the same work in two quarto volumes,
black letter.»
1526 (June). The Prophecies were printed at Paris for Philippe le Xoir in a
small quarto of two columns, black letter.
1526. In this same year the Romance and the Prophecies appeared in three
octavo volumes, black letter.
A quarto edition in black letter of the Prophecies, without date, but assigned
to the year 1526, was printed at Rouen for Jehan Mace of Rouen, Michel Angier
of and Richard Mace of Rouen.
Caen, Brunet mentions a quarto edition in
black letter of the second volume of Merlin by the same publishers, who doubtless
also printed the first volume, and assigns the two to Another quarto edition
1526.
in black letter, also without date, appeared in three volumes, Xouuellement '
'

imprimes a Paris, pour le veufe feu Jehan Trepperel et Jehan Jeannot."

1528 (24th December). The Romance and the Prophecies were again printed for
Philippe le Xoir in three small quartos, black letter, two columns.''
1535. Another edition of Merlin was printed by Jehan Mace from a fifteenth-
century manuscript. This was the last of the old editions.
1797. In this year appeared in Paris, in three volumes, 1 6mo. Le Soman de Merlin ,

I'enehanteur, remis eti bon fran<;ais, et dans un nuilleur ordre, par S. Boulard.
Villemarque gave a short analysis of the romance in his Myrdhinn ou V enchanteur
Merlin,'^ and Paulin Paris a much longer and better one in the second volume of the
Botnans de la Table Ronde.^

Sommer {Morte Barthur, iii. 7, note) remarks that an edition appeared at Paris
»

in 1510(?) and another at Rouen in 1520 (r). As his dates are conjectural, I do not
know whether he has in mind the editions I have cited under the year 1526.
t"
But cf. F. Michel, Vita Merlini, p. Ixviii., and Brunet, Manuel du Libraire,
art. Merlin.
<=
Printed in Paris in 1861, and dated ahead so as to appear new in 1862.
d Paris, 1868.
 :

VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. [§ tv.

Allusions to Merlin are not infrequent in French litera-

ture.^ Thus Chrestien de Troj'es in the Roman d'Erec et

Enide ^ has
" En mi la cort sor .i. tapit
Ot .XXX. muis d'esterlins blans,
Car lors avoient a eel tens
Correu des le tens Merlin
Par toute Bretaigne esterlin."

Merlin is also mentioned in Gautier's continuation of Chrestien's

Conte du Graal,^ as well as in the prose Qiieste du Saint-Graal.
Guillaurae le Clerc, a thirteenth - century trouvere, in Li
Romam d£s Ave?) tares Fergus refers to
" Xoquestan
*
TJ Merlin's sejouma maint an."

In Claris et Laris Merlin is mentioned by name (1. 22,931),

and elsewhere referred to as he, " Qui tout set, tout fet, et tout

cit " ; and he is called the " sages Mellins " in the Roman de

VEscoufleJ' Merlin's exploit of bringing over the great stones

to Salisbury Plain is touched upon in the Roman du Hen. The
author of the Conte du Perroquet makes some use of the story
of Merlin and alludes to the Prophecies, though he makes but
slight reference to other Arthurian literature.^ The enchanter
plays a large part in Les grandes et inestimahles Cronicques du

Strangely enough there does not exist a single modern edition of this famous work.
The first part, which extends to the coronation of Arthur, is included in the edition

of the Huth MS. published (1886) for the Societe des Anciens Textes Fran^ais but ;

the manuscript is first part contains only about one-seventh of the

a poor one, and the
entire romance. A proposal to print in facsimile a l-tth century vellum MS. (Brit.

Mus. Add. 10,292) Merlin was made by Dr. H. Oskar Sommer in

of the ordinary

the Academy (1891), and in vol. iii. of his Stitdies on the Sources of Malory's Morte
JDarthur (London, 1891), but nothing has appeared as yet.
1 For several of these allusions I am indebted to Michel's Vita Merlini, pp.
Ixxiui.-lxxxv.
2 B. N. MS. fr. 7498*, last leaf but one, col. 2, last verse.

3
Cf. Nutt's Studies, p. 18, p. 43.
* B. X. MS. fr. 7595, fol. 4426, col. 1.

*
Cf. G. Paris, Hist. Lift, de la France, xxx. p. 132 ; F. Michel, Vita Merl.,

p. Ixxxv.
« Eist. Lift. xxx. p. 104.
? I^] VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. LI

grant et enorme geant Gargantua (1532), in which both Merlin

and Arthur are introduced, but no longer in a serious mood.
The spirit of burlesque which gives such a flavour to Don
Quixote had long before begun to find ridiculous the old
romances with their interminable wonders.^
Since the close of the mediaeval period Merlin has suffered
neglect in France. Except for Jacques Vergier's (1657-1720)
versified tale VAnneau de Merlin and Edgar Quinet's
of ^

strange prose poem of Merlin V Enchanteur ^ (1860), there is

little or nothing in modern French literature to remind us of
the place that the great enchanter held in the literature and
the thought of the Middle Ages. The group of Merlin legends
recently put together by Meras is a mere collection of exercises
*
for teaching boys French syntax !

L.— Provencal.
From allusions to Merlin in the Cobra juglar of Giraud de
Cabrareira, as well as in the Giiordo of Bertrand de Paris de
Roerge, Francisque Michel inferred the existence of the romance
of Merlin in Provencal.^ This opinion was justified by the
publication in 1883 of the fragments of a Proven9al translation
of the romance of Merlin.^ But, as Chabaneau remarks (p. 4) :

"Allusions to Merlin are very rare in Proven9al poetry.

'
Cf. e.g. Chaucer's Rime of Sire Thopas.
^ See his poems, Paris, 1750, 2 toIs., 12mo.
3 Paris, 1860, 2 vols., 8vo.
* Meriin TEnchanteur, Legende. Exerciees sur la Syntaxe pratique de la Langue
fran(jaise par B. Meras. New York and Boston, 1888, 94 pp., 12mo,
Cf. Vita Merlini, Introd. pp. Ixix.-lxxi.
*

Fraginents di'une traduction provetiqale du roman de Merlin, publies par Camilla

^

Chabaneau, Paris, 1883. 8vo. Piece. The MS. was found in the archives of the
Commune of Epine— a "double parchment detached toward the end of the
leaf of
handsome thirteenth-century MS., which contained
sixteenth century or later from a
a translation of the French romance of Merlin." F. 1 contains the amour of Uter
with Ygerne, from near the beginning of the incident to the point where Uter pre-
pares to besiege the Duke of Tintagel ; f. 2 tells the story from the death of Uter
to the episode of the sword enclosed in the anvO. Cf. Chabaneau, pp. 3, 4. The
fragments differ slightly from the version of B. N., MS. fr. 747.
LIT VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. [§ ^^*

Birch-Hirschfeld {Ueber die den provenzalischen Troubadours

bekannten epischen Stoffe, p. 65) can find but three. I do not
remember to have seen others."

E. — Italian.
The earliest Italian translation of the French romance of
Merlin is the Historia di Merlino, made in 1379, and printed in
a folio edition at Venice in 1480.^ The Life and Prophecies
were printed in a quarto volume at Florence in 1495. Two other
quarto editions appeared at Venice, one in 1507 and the other
in 1529 ; and two octavo editions, one in 1539 and one in
1554.2 The popularity of Merlin is further shown by allusions
in Dante's Divina Commedia, in Ariosto's Orlando Furioso (c. 3
and c. 26),'' in Bojardo's Orlando Innamorato (1. 3), and in the
works of writers of lesser fame.

F. — Spanish.
The romance of Merlin was early translated into Spanish,
and printed at Burgos in 1498, under the title : El baladro
del sabio Merlin cb sus pro/ecias. Only the first nineteen
chapters, which tell the story up to the coronation of Arthur,
have the same subject-matter as the Merlin of Robert de Borron.
After that point this version agrees in many particulars with
the continuation found in the Huth MS.,^ but afibrds among
other rarities a translation of at least a part of the lost
Conte du brait. In 1500 appeared a folio edition of Merlin y
demanda del Santo Grial, printed at Seville. Merlin's celebrity
in the Iberian peninsula is attested by allusions scattered

1 Eeprinted at Bologna, 1884, Svo. Cf. criticism by Kblbing, Altengli$che

Bibliotkek, iv. p. cxi. Cf. also, ibid. p. cxxix.
2
Cf. Michel, Vita Merlini, Introd. p. Ixviii. ; Bnmet, Manuel du Zibraire, art.
3ferlin.
3 In the third canto of 0. F. the poet tells of the grotto that Badaraante visits,

where Merlin is buried, and where he predicts to his visitor the coming glories of
the house of Este.
* Published by G. Paris and J. XJlrich for the Soc. des. Anc. Ttxtes Frayigais.
See Introd. pp. Ixxii.-xci.
 —

§
rv^] VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. LIU

through the older Spanish literature, some of which are found

in the Ektoria de la Reyna Sebilla,^ in Don Quixote, and the
famous romance of Don Belianus.
G. Portngtiese.
The Portuguese Merlin contains, according to M. Gaston
Paris, " the third part of the compilation of which the
^
Huth MS. has preserved to us the first two,"

H. —Netherland.
In the year 1261, the poet Jacob van Maerlant translated
the Graal and the prose Jlerlin under the title : Hidorie van
den Grale and Merlijns Boeck {circa 10,400 U.). He added
among other things a trial of Satan. His work was continued
by Lodewijc van Velthem (1326) in his Boec van Conine Artiir,
which is a close translation of thei/tve du roiArtiis (25,800 11.).^
I. —German.
Some of the romances of the Round Table, as, for instance,
the Holy Grail, found an early welcome in Germany, but it
was not till 1478 that Ulrich Fiirterer, a poet of the court of

Albrecht lY., duke of Bavaria, wrote a long verse romance " on

the knights of the Round Table and the Holy Grail, in which
he recounted also the history of Merlin." ^ Nothing else worthy
of mention^ appeared till 1804, when Friedrich von Schlegel
translated from an early edition (1528) a considerable part of the
French prose romance. Scarcely anything is omitted up to the
point (p. 256) where Arthur goes to the assistance of Leodegan.

' Michel notes an allusion in this romance to an adrenture of Merlin not found in
the French prose Merlin. Vita Merl., Introd. pp. Ixisviii.-xc.
* Eomania, ivi. p. 585.
' Paul, Giundriss d. germ. Fhilologie, B. II. pp. 458, 459. Cf. also Germania,
xix. p. 300 : Kolbing, AUenglisehe Bibl. iv. p. cxi., p. cixviii. The work
of the
two poets has been published by J. van Moten under the title : Jacob van Maeilant'n
Merlijn, Leiden, 1880-1882.
* Michel, Vita Merl., Introd. p. Ixxii. For the poem itself see AUdeutiche
Gediehte, ii. p. 263 ; Ber Thettre Moerlin (F. F. Hofstater).
* The play entitled Die Gehurt des Merlin is a translation of "William Eowley's Birth
of Merlin, London, 1662, 4to. See Xachtrage to Shak$peares Werken, Bd. 1. 1840, 8to.
 —

LIV VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. [§ ^^

After this point Schlegel devotes his few remaining pages

(which are very small) to the most important incidents in
Merlin's later career, his relations with Nynianne (sic), and
his tragic end. In 1829 Uhland wrote his short ballad of
Merlin der Wilde} Three years later Karl Immermann attempted
to unite in his drama of Merlin : a Mijth^ the leading motives
of the Faust legend with those of the Holy Grail, but he failed
to awaken popular interest in the great enchanter. This piece
closes the Merlin literature in German.^
J. — Icelandic.
1. Merlinus-S2)d : or the prophecy of Merlin. This is " an
early versified paraphrase [in two parts, of 290 and 459 verses
respectively] of Geoffrey of Monmouth's well-known prophecy,
the text of which is freely treated and amplified by one who
knew some, at least, of the old Heroic Lays." ^ The author
was a monk, Gunnlaug Leifsson.

2. —
The Breta-Sogur is a translation of Geoffrey's Historia
condensed and altered.^

K.—English.
I will here outline the history of the legend from its first

introduction into English down to the present. The relations

of the prose romance to the French original will best be treated

in another section ; but I shall here venture a somewhat more

extended discussion of the English forms of the legend than
T have given to those of the other literatures.
1. —The earliest mention of Merlin in an English book is

in Lajamon's Brut^ (11. 12,884-19,961), written about the

1
Cf. Holland, Ueber Uhland' s Ballade " Merlin der Wilde:' Stuttgart, 1876.
2 Diisseldorf, 1832, 8vo.
3 Yet the appearance in Vienna (about 1888) of a new opera on Merlin by Karl

Goldmark shows that the legend has not lost its vigour. Cf. The Optra Glass.
* Yigfusson and Powell, Corpus Poeticum Boreale, ii. pp. 372-379.

5
Cf. "Ward, Ca<a/. o/iZowawcfs.i. pp. 304-305; "K:6\hm^, AUeiiglische Bibliotheky
iv. p. cviii.
6 Ed. by Sir F. Madden. London, 1847. 3 vols. 8vo.
§ ^-1 VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. LV

year 1205. The Brut is in large measure a translation of

Wace's Roman de Brut ; but although Lajamon expanded his
work to more than double the size of the original, he added
scarcely anything ^ to the story of Merlin.

2. —Robert of Gloucester's Chronicle appeared at the end

of the thirteenth century, about a century after Lajamon's
Brut, but Robert's book, in so far as it touches the history
of Merlin (11. 2271-3480), is a translation of Geoffrey of
Monmouth's Historia."^

3. —Robert of Brunne's Chronicle (1338) follows Wace in

the legendary portion * of the story ; but Robert's variations
from his French original are trifling.

4. —The chronicles above mentioned are dull enough, and can

lay but slight claim to be called literature. The earliest really

literary use of Merlin in English is in the long verse romance

entitled Arthour and Merlin, which was translated from a
French original as early as the first quarter of the fourteenth
century, and possibly even earlier.* This is among the most
important of the romances of Merlin, as well for its intrinsic

merit as for its Judged

relations to the great prose romance.

by a reasonably severe standard, many passages are tiresome

enough. The author is still too dependent upon his source ;

' C/.^^ovreyeTjl^oVaxxi^, Altenglisehe Bihl. iv. p. cxii, note. In I. 23,845 is an

allusion to Merlin not found in Wace. The passage from 1. 23,305 to I. 23,354
occupies in Wace only six lines.
-
Cf. K. Brossmann, TJeber die Quellen der me. Chronik des Bobert von Gloucester,
Breslau, 1887 ; Kolbing, Altenglische Bibliothek, iv. p. cviii. The Chronicle was
edited for the Rolls Series by W. A. Wright, London, 1887, 2 vols., 8vo.
3 11. 6989-9768 relate to Merlin. The portion of the Chronicle based on Wace
was edited by Dr. F. J. Furnivall, for the Rolls Series,
Bobert of under the title,

Brunne's Stori/ of England, Lond., 1887, 2 vols., 8vo. Cf. A. W. Zatsche, Ueber
den ersten Theil der Bearbeitung des Boman de Brut des Wace durch Bobert Maunyng
of Brunne, Reudnitz -Leipzig, 1887.
* Cf. Kolbing, Altenglische Bibliothek, iv, p. be. The author is not certainlv
known ; but Kolbing thinks him identical with the author of Eyng Alisaunder and
Bichard Goer de Lion (p. Ix. sqq.), though he is not quite certain about the second
piece (p. ciii.).
 —

LVI VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. [§

^'^•

but in more than one feature the Arthour and Merlin marks a
distinct advance over the narrative literature that preceded it.

The poem is about as long as the first nine books of Paradise

Lost, but is nevertheless a fragment, which breaks off after the

victory gained by Leodegan, Cleodalis, Arthur, Ban, and Bohort,

over King Rion and the giants.^ The last lines are :

" pai maden gret blis and fest,

And after jeden hem to rest." ^

The story so closely resembles the prose romance that Ellis's

analysis of the poem might almost be taken for an analysis of
the prose romance. There are, however, striking differences,
some of which I will note. The poem begins by telling of

Constans and Vortigern,^ and the tower which the latter con-
structed.* The poem describes in 628 lines what is related in
the prose romance in about six pages. The story of the rich
man's daughter who is deceived by the devil ^ is brought in
later (I. 799 sqq.). In dramatic effect poem is in this
the
instance much inferior to the prose romance. As some of the
minor we note
differences, that in the poem ^ Merlin is five years
old when brought before Vortigern in our romance, seven ;

years old. In the poem the boy Merlin, while being conducted
to the king, laughs^ three times, apparently without cause.

1 As printed for the Abbotsford Club in 1838 from the Auchinleck MS. in the
Advocates' Library in Edinburgh, the poem consists of 9772 lines in short rhyming
couplets. Of this poem Ellis gives a long analysis (pp. 77-142, Bohn's ed., of
Specimens of Early English Metrical Romances). He follows the Lincoln's Inn MS.
No. 150. The poem has been re-edited by Kolbing in vol. iv. of the Altenglische
Bibliothek, Leipzig, 1890. Kolbing's edition contains 9938 lines, and differs in
the numbering of the lines from the earlier edition. My references are to Kolbing's
edition. Kolbing discusses in detail (pp. cvii.-cl.) the relations of the poem to the
English prose version and others. Most of my comparison was made before Kolbing's
edition appeared.
- The poem parallels more or less exactly the prose romance as far as p. 358, 1. 28.
This would indicate a possible loss of eight or nine thousand lines.
' The poem calls him Fortiger.
* The poem thus begins with what is related in Chapter II. of the prose romance,
p. 23.
•'*
The devils' council begins at 1. 640. « 11. 1375-1381. "^
1. 1342.
 ;

§
"^^-^
VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. LVII

The occasion of the third outburst is, however, that the king's
chamberlain is a woman in the disguise of a man, with whom
the queen has fallen in love.^ In the prose version Merlin laughs
but twice. According to the poem,^ the Magi when brought
before the king and confronted by Merlin plead that they have
been deceived by the signs in the sky. Merlin says that
his father the devil had evidently planned thus to destroy his
son. Of this turn of the incident the prose romance (p. 39)
knows nothing. Among the important omissions of the poem
is that of the bringing over of the great stones from Ireland,^
as well as all account of Merlin's visits to Nimiane.^ The Holy
Grail is scarcely referred to, though not altogether forgotten.*^
Among the additions to the poem we should not overlook
the charming verses on the seasons, and the pretty little by-play
between Arthur and his young bride as he goes forth to battle :

pat ich day paramour,

Guenore armed king Arthour
At ich armour, J»e gest eeit ]iisse,

Arthour ]>e maiden gan kisse.

Merlin bad Arthour, jie kyng,

j'enche on J'at ich kisseing.
When he com in to bataile ;

"Jis," he seyd, "Merlin, saunfaile." "—11. 8677-8684.

*
Cf. the story of Grisandol in the prose romance, pp. 422-437.
2 1.1573 sqq.
3 Cf. U. 2150-2180.
* She is named once (1. 4446) along with Morgein, who
" Woned wij» outen Niniame,
Jat wi]) hir queint gin
Bigiled ])e gode clerk Merlin."

"With this compare the prose version p. 185.

*
Cf. 11. 8902-8918.
® Cf. prose version, p. 323, where Merlin laughs because they have not kissed
each other. Then Arthur takes the maiden in his arms and kisses her sweetly, as
he should.
 ^^•
LVIII VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. [?

What has been adduced is sufficient to prove either that the

English prose romance is based upon an original differing

considerably from the original of the verse romance, or that the
English translator of the prose romance purposely varied and
expanded his original. The English prose romance is, however,
elsewhere shown to be an almost slavish translation of the
French prose version. There is enough general agreement to

show that the basis of the poem and of the prose romance is in

essential features the same, and enough difference to prove that

the two versions cannot be based on exactly the same original.

I imagine the poem to be based upon one of the numerous
French prose continuations of the original prose romance of
Merlin. The author refers to his source as the " boke," and '

once to the Brout^ which must be the Brut, but of course only
a small portion of this poem can be referred to Wace, It is

barely possible that the original was in French verse, but of

this I feel by no means certain.^

1 1. 2581 ; 1. 4434; 1. 4719 ; 1. 578.5, etc.

2 line 2730.
' The essential likeness of the two English versions, along with striking differences,
appears plainly in a comparison of the list of knights :
—

The Poem, 11. 3067 -3106. The Prose Merlin, p. 108.

Number of Number of

1.

2.
Lot .

Nanters of Garlot
knights.
500
700
1.

2.
Loth .....
Vrien of ... Gone
knights.
500
400
3. Vrien of Gorre . , 25,000 3. Ventres of Garlot . . 700
4.

5.

6.
Carodas of Strangore
Tder .

Angvisant .
.

30x20 = 600
600

600
4.

5.

6.
Aguysas
Ydiers
....
Carodas Brenbras of Strangore

....
600
500
400

In the first great tournament the best knights, according to the poem (11. 3591-
3601), are: Lucan the boteler, Kay, Grimfles, Maruc, Gumas, Placides, Driens,
Holias, Graciens, Marlians, Flaundrius, Sir Meliard, Drukius, Breoberuis. The prose
version (p. 135) mentions the following: Gifflet, Lucas the hotelier, Marke de la
roche, Guynas le Bleys, Drias de la foreste sauge, Belyas, Blyos de la casse, Madyens
le crespes, Flaundryns le blanke, Grassien, Placidas le gays.
 — ;

§ i"^] VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. LIX

5. —A later version of a portion of this romance is contained

in four manuscripts, which differ considerably.^ The romance
begins with the story of King Constance and " Fortager,"
tells of the birth of Merlin and his wonderful deeds till the
death and burial of Titer Pendragon. According to Ward :
^

The rebel kiugs who fight against Arthur, with the number of the accompanying
knights, are :

Poem, II. 3725-3773. Pkose, pp. 145-146.

Number of Number of
knights. knights.
1. Clarion of Nor];-Hu»eberland 7000 1. Duke Escam of Cambenyk 5000
2. Brangores of Strangore . 5000 2. Tramelmens of North "Wales 6000
3. Cradelman of NorJ'-Wales 6000 3. Clarion . . , . 3000
4. King of the Hundred Knights 4000 4. King with the hundred knights 3000
5. Lot of Leonis and Dorkaine 7000 5. Loth of Orcanye and Leonoys 7000
6. Carodas of the Round Table 7000 6. Carados of Strangore . 7000
7.

8.

9.
Nanters of Garlot
Vrien
Yder
....
....
. . 6000
6000
5000
7.

8.

9.
Ventres of Garlot
Vrien of Gorre
Ydiers of Cornewaile
.

.
.

.
7000
7000
6000
10. AngvisauMt of Scotland . 6000 10
11. Sestas, Erlof Canbernic . 6000 11

Still more remarkable is the agreement in the lists of the princes and knights who
came to the help of Leodegan. Poem, 11. 5410-5498: 1. Ban; 2. Bohort;
3. Arthour; 4. Antour; 5. Vlfin ; 6. Bretel ; 7. Kay; 8. Lucan ))e boteler
9. Grifles; 10. Marec ; 12. Brians of ]>e Forest sauage ; 13. Bellas J?e lord of
Maiden castel ; 14. Flauwdrin; 15. Lamuas; 16. Amores fe broun ; 17. Ancales,
18. Bliobel; 19. Bleoberiis ; 20. Canode ; 21. Aladanc pe crispe ; 22. Islacides;
23. Lampades ; 24. lerias ; 25. Cristofer of ]'e roche nor); ; 26. Aigilin ; 27. Calo-
greuawd ; 28. Angusale; 29. Agrauel ; 30. Cleades j^e fondling; 31. Gimires of
Lambale ; 32. Kehedin 33. Merangis; 34. Goruain; 35. Craddoc
; ; 36. Claries ;

37. Blehartis; 38. Amandanorgulous; 39. Osoman; 40. Galescounde; 41. Bleherris;
42. Merlin; 43. Leodegan. Cf. the list in the prose romance, p. 212.
^ The MSS. are: — » Lincoln's Inn Library,
150, containing 1980 lines. MS.
*>Bishop Percy's Folio MS., Brit. Mus. Add. 27879, containing nine parts and 2378
lines. « Brit. Mus. Harl. MS. No. 6223, containing 62 lines. ^ Oxford, Douce

MS. No. 236, containing 1278 lines. Kolbing remarks {Altengl. Bibl. iv. p. ivii.)
that Douce MS., No. 124, is a very careless copy of the version of the Auchinleck
MS. Kolbing prints L and D with the variants of P and H {Altengl. Bibl. iv.

275-370). P is printed in Bishop Percy's Folio Manuscript, edited by Hales and

Furnivall, Lond. 1867, vol. i. pp. 422-496. For the relation of the later version
to the other versions see Kolbing, iv. pp. cliii.-clxxii. Hales and Furnivall, i.
;

pp. 419-421. Other details are given by Kolbing, iv. pp. xvii.-iviii. ; Ward, Catal.
of Romances, i. 385, 386 and in Arthour and Merlin (edited by Turnbull for the
;

Abbotsford Club, Edin, 1838), pp. x.-xiii.

* Catal. of Romances, i. 386.
 — ; ;

LX VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. [§ ^^•

" The events relating to Merlin are fuller than those given by
GeoflFrey of Monmouth and Wace, and they agree with those
given by Robert de Borron, in the prose romance of Merlin.
The present version is probably translated from a French
poem."
It is hardly necessary to remark that the birth of Merlin
with which Robert de Borron's romance begins, is in this verse

romance brought in after a long account of " Fortager " and

the sons of Constance, and that minor differences are numerous.
6. — From the middle of the fourteenth century Merlin seems
to hafe been in favour in England. Laurence Minot (1352)
begins one of his political songs entitled,
" How Edward at Hogges vnto land wan,
And rade thurgh France or euer he blan."

with the words

" Men may rede in Romance right

Of a grete clerk J^at Merlin hight

Ful many hokes er of him wreten,
Als yiY clerkes wele may witten
And jit in many prme nokes
May men find of Merlin bokes. •

Merlin said )7us with his mowth,

Out of J^e north into l^e sowth
Suld cu»» a bare oner J^e se,

pat suld mak many man to fle," etc.

A few years later (1355-1362) Thomas Grey in his old

French Sealachronica mentions Thomas of Erceldoune, and
ranks him along with William Banastre and Merlyne.^ In
Sir Oawayne and the Green Knight (about 1360) there is a mere
allusion to Merlin (1. 2448).

1 The various points of contact of the legend and the prophecies of Merlin with

Thomas of Erceldoune, are pointed out by Alois Brandl in vol. ii. of the Sammlung
engl. Denkmdkr in kritischen Ausgaben, Berlin, 1880, 8vo. For example. Merlin's
love for Nimiane is paralleled by Thomas's love for a nymph.
 : — — —

§ i'^']
VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. LXI

In the famous Process of the Sevyn Sages the eleventh tale

bears the title Heroicdes and Merlin} Then in the metrical
romance of Sir Gowghter ^ we read near the beginning

" Sum tyme the fende hadde postee

For to dele with ladies free
In liknesse of here fere,

So that he bigat Merlyng and mo,

And wrought ladies so mikel wo,

That ferly it is to here."—11. 7-10.

A little farther on are these very singular lines

"pi's chyld we't^in hur was no nodwr,
But eyvon Jfarlyon halfe brodwr,^
For won fynd gatte horn bothe."—11. 97-99.

On this romance A. Brandl remarks

" Gegeniiber der franzosischen Quelle, deren Kern durch
einen reich verzweigten Stammbaum auf das indische Mar-
chenbuch Sendabad zuriickgeht, hat der englische Bearbeiter
manches vereinfacht und seinen Landsleuten naher gebracht,
namentlich aber den Zauberer Vergil in den nationalen
Merlin verwandelt," *
Towards the end of the fourteenth century (1387) the Latin
Polychronicon of Ranulf Higden, written early in the reign of
Edward III., was translated into English by John of Trevisa.
The Polychronicon^ as its name implies, is a compilation bringing

1-
See the second M.E. version, ed. T. Wright, Lond., 1845, 1. 2323. Of. Kolbing,
^Itenglische Bibl. iv. p. civ.
* It would be interesting to compare the legend of Merlin with that of Robert the
Devil. Of. K. Breul's Sir Gowther, Oppeln, 1886, which contains an investigation
of the legend of Robert the Devil.
3 Brit. Mus. MS. Eeg. 17, B. xliii, f. 118, reads:
*
' The was non)
childe with-yn) hire other,
But Marlynges half brother
On) fende gat hem bothe."

Paul's Grundriss der germ. Fhilologie, ii. 635.

 —

T.XII VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. U i"^-

together in mediaeval fashion a vast amount of historical

material, but it contains nothing new about Merlin.^

7. —No important literary use was made of Merlin during
the remainder of the fourteenth and till about the middle of
the fifteenth century, when some unknown scholar translated
(c. 1450—1460) the great prose romance of Merlin from the
French prose redaction of Robert de Borron's poem and the
ordinary continuation known as the Book of Arthur. This is

the romance which is the central point of our investigation.

8. — About the same
time (1450?) Henry Lonelich, skinner,
made rhyming version of the French prose Merlin from a
a
manuscript closely allied to that from which the prose version
is translated. The metrical romance contains, according to

Kolbing,^ about 28,000 lines, and forms a part of MS. 80

of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. The beginning is at

f. 88b, col. 1, and is as follows :

*']S'ow gyneth the Devel to wraththew him sore,

As Aftir scholen je herkene & here wel More,

whawne that Oure Lord to telle wente
and took Owt Adam with good Entente
and Also Eve and Ek Othere Mo,
]>at -with him he likede for to ban tho.

and whanne ]?e develis behelden this,

Moche drede and Merveille they hadden, I- wis.

So as Aftyrward longe beffelle,

to-gederis they Conseilled, the develis, ful snelle

and token hem to-Gederis In parlement,
the Maister DeveKs be On Assent,
and seiden :
" what Master Man Is he, this,
that doth vs here Al this distres ?

1 The doggrel rhyming Latin verses, which carefully distinguish Merlin Ambrose
from Merlin Silvester, are based on Giraldus Cambrensis.
- Altengliscke Bibliothek, iv. p. xix. Kolbing prints (pp. 373-478) the first 1638
lines, vyhich parallel the prose Merlin pp. 1-23, and gives in his introduction a
minute account of the poem. -
§ 1^] VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. LXIII

we Mown not Ajens him Maken defens,

whanne he is Owht In Owre presens
and bynemeth vs that we scholde haue,
and for hym non thing mowew we kepew save."

I have examined the first 6200 lines of the poem,^ and find

a remarkably close general agreement between it and the prose

romance. All the incidents are the same, and the dijQference in
details is very slight. This agreement suggests three questions :

First, is Lonelich's Merlin a mere versification of the English

prose version? or, secondly, is the prose version based on

Lonelich's romance ? or, thirdly, are both versions based on
exactly the same French original ?
"We have first to note that the verse romance is considerably
more prolix ^ than the prose ; but the prolixity is largely due
to unskilful padding of the verse. Of course, we do not
expect exact verbal agreement between a verse and a prose
romance, even though translated from the same French original,
and we cannot draw satisfactory conclusions from minor varia-
tions in phrases, or even from the omission of sentences. The
exigencies of metre lead a halting versifier into many strange
paths. But if the two translators had been really one, or if one
had borrowed from the other, or if the French manuscript had
been the same in both cases, we should have considerable verbal
agreement in phrases and sentences, as well as in numerals and
proper names.
A considerable number of passages show almost exact verbal
agreement, but this seems to be due to the similarity of the
source rather than to actual borrowing by one English version
from the other, for the diction as a whole is so distinct in the

1 These were furnished me by Dr. Fumivall in a M S. copy. This copy ends at

1. 43 off. 111.
2 By a rough calculation I estimate the first 6200 lines to contain not far from
43,000 words : the prose yersion does not much exceed 35,000 words.
 1 —

LXIV VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. [§

!"'•

na
^ rill

5 ci

P4 CO P4
p cS a.
^
13
's
a"
>
s 00

a -rs

5 a
o
•73
a
a
IS
CO
a>
^
OS ^ CU
a i, o
2 ^o &( s
00
CO
o
Ph §
m ^ s
^ p.
»
^

o OS (D
1— a
3_ 7
05
^ «..;
ja ^
o ciT
OS
-i-i
05 o *"•
.0
CO «»-; • *s
"^
• M (.^ f-H OS p
03
O
^^ ^ 54-1
.
p <»

00 J3 a QJ
00 ,^ r< 00
:5 CO CO a S 5 -^ ^
p O OS o
P e^ B, '^ . b* « 5^
•rs
•^3 >M
> fe 'i^ fe
^ ^
r^T" 2 ^ •" .T rjT"

pi
tS ?; . . — p '5) =^ T^
t=^
C^
•^

»
S

a « ;^ :::' ^ .?, •- § ^ •- :- ^^ ::::' :- :i^

K li '? ^ :5' "S -^ S :S ? *?! M «
 ( ^ 1

§ IV.] VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. LXV

'r^ a

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.FH w .'"

^ ^ 'B
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^-^

O o
ttj
<0
a (M
TS g m
•o
O ^i^ 00 3 ft
d •^ •i—s
oo
a f3
O
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.

PU
^—'
(S CO
ft
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>C
.

m is
'Ti —
^^
OQ (-^
OS 'o ft 03 ^ •—
-2 -s a r^ O CO 'il

1—
S3 E-i *^ ^ •'—a 00 '"» K.
> § S 2 S -f -S
^ ^
,2 -2, a a
OD .2 is '°° ,2 « 3
*r' 1^ 'm OD n
M oSi-^'««C/oPft:Scr'
<*H ID

C3 ,i4
Pq
13
CO
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-^
da 2
ni fcC ho
a
2 s
s ,£3
i3
50
a
<1
<I>
-a TS >^(^""2-eo"^S ft^2 ^
1 g ^ f^ c3 .n ciH f^ aj jH M te
fe

>> CO
g o
^S
t4H '"'

=*-'
'i
ft ^-^

< O 3>

ra
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t3
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03
T3
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j|o^ 'Pa^^ft^ft^^fi^^* -g^

^P- 2^°ftp2ft-2-ofc.-'n :2Sh

_rco «a3 __ — k? -^
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£-t ^ "5 >< ««
LXVI VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. [§ ^^^

two versions that this in itself is a strong argument against

a common authorship.

English Peose. Lonelich.

' That shaH I teUe the,' quod " '
That schal I the teUe,' quod
merlii]) " (p. 32). Merlyne" (f. 97b).
" He ycleped hym maister, for that "and Maister he clepid him for
he was maister to his moder " For Maister to his
this manere,

(p. 33). Modir he was Every where "

(f. 97h).
"togodlcomaundeyow" (p. 33). "I comande jow toGod" (f. 975).
" and axed a-nooD) how they hadde "And Axede of hem how they
spedde " (p. 35). haddew sped " (f. 98*).
"And, sir, the peple that were "Sire, this peple Clepede this
ther-at cleped this vesseii that vessel
thei haddeu) in so grete grace, The Sank Hyal ojier ellys Seint
the Graal " (p. 59). Graal " (f. 105).

The agreement in the numerals is very close, but there are

some trifling variations which indicate that the two translators
based their work upon slightly difierent manuscripts. I give
a list of some of the numerals, and add for comparison the same
as found in the Huth Merlin. In contrast with the French, the
two English versions show striking agreement. See Table I. p. 54.

More striking difierences are found in the names ; and these

seem unmistakably to indicate that the two versions are inde-
pendent, and based upon slightly different French manuscripts.
I pass over most of the differences in spelling ; for while the

forms in the two versions follow pretty regularly unlike types,

there are too many variations in the English prose text itself
to make an argument satisfactory that is based on mere
orthography.

Ebtglish Peose. Lonelich.

Loth (p. 23). Omitted (f. 95).

Constance (p. 24). Costantyn (f. 95).
 — — —

^ ^^o various forms of the merlin legend. lxvii

English Pbose. Lonelich.

The three sons of Constance are : The three sons of Costantyn are :

(I) Moyne, (2) Pendragon, (3) (1) Costantyn, (2) Awrely Am-
Yter (p. 24). bros or Pendragon, (3) Vter
Cf. 95).
Vortiger (p. 24), et passim. Fortager (f. 95), et passim.
Gawle (p. 25). Vales (f. 955).
Benoyc, that now is cleped Bourges Boorges (f. 95i).
(p. 25).
Constance (p. 41). Constantyn (f. 1005).
Aungys (p. 50). Hangwis (f. 103).
Ventres (p. 179). iN^ewtris (f. 135).
Gawein „ Gawenet ,,

Gaheret ,, Garrers ,,

Gaheries ,, Gtiheryes ,,

Cardoell in Walys (p. 180). Kerdyf In Wales (f. 135).

More important still are such differences as appear in the

following passages :

(1) At 1. 49 of Lonelich's version we read : "And hem also

anoynteth with oynement." The English prose has no
reference to ointment.

(2) At 1. 241, 1. 256, and 1. 1064 of the poem we read that

the erring maiden was to be stoned. The prose version (p. 5,

p. 16) knows nothing of the stoning.

(3) In the poem (11. 1286-1292), the judge says
" ^if thou konne proven that thou seist pleyn,
Thy modyr from brenneng schalt thou save,
And al thyn owne axeng thou schalt have ;

But, natheles, and it be, as thou dost telle,

Thanne schal I don bre«ne bothe ful snelle,
Bothe myn owne modyr and ek thyn,
And brynge» hem bothe to a schort fyn."
The prose version (p. 18, 11. 24-27) has
" Tho gan the luge to be right wrath, and seyd :
*
Yef thow canste
do so, then haste reserwed thy moder fro brennynge ; but wyt thow
well, yef thow canste not pre we this vpon hir, I shaH brenne
bothe the and thy moder to-gedere.' "
 — — —

LXVIII VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. U ^'^^

(4) In Lonelich's version (11. 1465-1467) we read

" For sweche spirites as they be
Ben icleped Equibedes, I telle the,
And from the eyr into the erthe they gon."

The Huth Merlin (i. p. 28) has—

" Je sui fieus d'un anemi qui engingna ma mere. Et saces que
ceste maniere d'anemis ont a non Ekupedes, et repairent en I'air."

Yet in the English prose Merlin (p. 20) the proper name is

omitted
" I am the sone of the enmy that begiled my moder with engyn,
and their repair is in the air."

(5) Lonelich writes (11. 1667-1676)—

" and hos that wil knowew In Certaygne
what kynges that werew In grete Bretaygne

Sethen that Cristendom thedyr was Browht,

They scholen. hem fynde hos so that it sowht,
In the Story of Brwttes book ;

there schole/^ je it fynde and je welen look,

which that Martyn de Bewre traunslated here
From latyn Into Eomauwce In his Manere.
but leve we now of Brwtes book,
and after this storye now lete vs look.

In Bretaygne somtyme A kyng there was

That Costantyn was clepid, In that plas."

The English prose (pp. 23, 24) has

"And he that wiH knowe the lyf of kynges whiche were in the
grete Bretayne be-fore that cristendom) come, be-holde the story of
Bretons. That is a boke that maister Martyn) traunslated oute of
latyn), but heire rested this matere. And turneth to the story of
Loth, a crysten kynge in Bretayne, whos name was Constance."

This passage is exceedingly important in that Lonelich's

version mentions Martyn de Bewre.^ This translator is

1 B. N, MSS. fr. 105 9123 " Martins de bieure." The others, in so far as they
;

nameilfa)-<iw«atall,are: B.N. MS.fr. 749,"martinsderoescestre"; Bib. del' Arsenal,

MS. 3482, " martins derocestre"; B.N. MS. fr. 344," Maistre martins de rouain."
§ ^^-l VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. LXIX

mentioned in but two of the French MSS., and these two,

while representing very closely the version followed by the
translator of the English prose, are not in every detail
coincident with it.

The differences between the English prose version and the

metrical version by Lonelich compel us to answer in the
negative the three questions with which we started, and admit
no other conclusion than that the two translators worked
independently upon different French manuscripts having
almost, but not perfectly, identical readings.^
9. — Of all the older Arthurian literature none exceeds in
interest to the English reader the Morte Darthur of Sir
Thomas Malory (1469). This was first printed by Caxton
in 1485, and speedily became one of the most popular books
in England. When we compare the Romance of Merlin with
the Morte Darthur, we find that for a little distance the two
stories run in almost parallel channels, though there is less

agreement than one might expect, and this, though scattered

throughout the Merlin, is confined almost wholly to the first

five books of the Morte Darthur? The points of contact may

be briefly pointed out in detail. The story opens in the Morte
Darthur with the amour of Uter Pendragon and Igrayne.
In nine pages and a half jMalory arrives at Arthur's coronation

and the feast which he held at Pentecost.^ Many of the

^ Kolbing's view [AUengliiche Bibl. It. p. clxxxix.) is slightly different. He

concludes that LoneUch's poem and the English prose version, " von einander, ganz
unabhangig, auf denselben prosa-auflosung von Robert de Boron's epos,
frz. text, die

als quelle zuriickgehen." Kolbing would perhaps hardly care to have the words
" Robert de Boron's epos " understood to mean that Robert's poem is the source of
the romance after the coronation of Arthur.
There are twenty-one books in all. My references are to H. Oskar Sommer's
"^

edition,Lond. 1889, Vol. I. Text. For a minute account of the relations of the
Morte Darthur to the Merlin see Sommer's third volume, Studies on the Sources,
pp. 14-58.
* In the Merlin was held after the middle of August.
(p. 108) the feast Cf.
Morte Darthur, L pp. 35-44.
 :

LXX VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. [§ ^^•

incidents are substantially the same as in the Merlin, but much

abridged. Merlin's origin is passed over without remark, and
he is introduced in the first chapter as a personage well known
" Wei my lord faid Syre Vlfius/ I fliall feke Merlyn/ and he
fhalle do yow remedy that youre herte fhalbe pleafyd." Up
to the end of B. I. chap. xvi. there is considerable general
agreement in the incidents of the two versions, though the
Jlorte Dat'thur gives a very brief account of what is told in the
Merlin with many words and manifold variations. Chapter
xvii. has some incidents found in the Merlin, but much altered.
From this point up to chap, xxvii. is only here and there
an incident that reminds one of the Merlin. In chap, xxvii.

(p. 74) is the message of King Ryons, who sends for Arthur's
beard. In Merlin this occurs not far from the end (p. 619)
of the story. The war with the Romans as related by Malory
in the fifth book of the Morte Darthur agrees only in confused
outlines with the version in Merlin. According to Malory
the war occurs after Merlin is enclosed in the rock. In our
version Merlin is at Arthur's side assisting him with wise
counsels. In the Morte Darthur, in the same chapter and on
the same page (B. IV. ch. i. p. 119) in which the tragic
end of Merlin is described,^ Lancelot is spoken of as a child
at the court of King Ban his father. But at the beginning
of the war with the Romans the child has become a famous
knight, and plays a part like that of Gawain in the Merlin.^

In the prose Merlin, however, Lancelot is not yet born.* In

the fight with the giant on Mount St. Michel, Malory (B. V.
ch. V.) adds the picturesque detail that there " were thre fayr

1 The accouat ia the Merlin (p. 681) differs coasiderably from that in the Morte
Darthur.
-A?, Sommer points out in the Academy of Jan. 4, 1890, Malory does not follow
the ordinary Merlin in his account of the war with the Eonians, but rather the same
source as La Morte Art/iure, edited by Brock for the E.E. Text Soc.
3 P. 698. Cf. Morte Darthur, B. II. ch. xix. p. 99 ; B. IV. ch. i. p. 119, 1. 19 ;

B. lY. ch. xix. p. 143, 1. 26.

§ 1^1 VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. LXXI

damoysels tornynge thre broclies whereon were broclied twelue

yonge children late borne like yonge byrdes." Of this our

version knows nothing. In minor details and in phraseology

the two versions differ continually, even when the agreement
is closest, and after a certain point the two narratives are
entirely different. The Morte Darthur hurries at once to the
later career of Arthur and his knights. The Merlin relates
with endless detail the incidents of Arthur's early life, and
introduces us to a large number of the characters who figure
in the Morte Darthur. This masterpiece of poetic prose, which
Sir "Walter Scott pronounced the best romance in our language,
far exceeds in literary merit the confused and prolix Merlin ;

but this, as affording in effect an introduction to the Morte

Darthur, must always retain a real interest. Even considered
by itself, the Merlin has in more than one passage a nameless
charm and beauty in comparison with which the Morte Darthur
is distinctly inferior, though the heights occasionally reached
in the Merlin make us see only more plainly the barren wastes
through which much of the narrative creeps.
10. — In addition to the long prose and verse romances we
have a considerable number of prophecies attributed to Merlin
in English verse of the fifteenth century. One of these con-
tains 278 lines, and is a translation from French prose of
Merlin's Prophecy of the Six Kings that are to follow King John.^
Another prophecy ^ of three hundred lines i-elates to the year
"m.cccc.l. and moo." Three Scottish prophecies in allitera-

tive verse, attributed to Merlin, are found "in a collection of

prophecies partly composed, partly adapted from earlier com-
positions, at various periods between 1513 (the date of Flodden
Field) and 1550, together with some later additions." ^ Some

^ "Ward, Catal. of Romances, i. p. 309.

« Ibid. i. p. 325.
3 Ibid. i. pp. 334-336.
 ;

LXXII VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. U ^^^

of the prophecies in the collection are assigned to Thomas of

Erceldoune ^ and others.
11. —At the end of Caxton's Chronicle is a little poem on
Merlin printed by Wynkyn de Worde in 1498, of which I cite
the more interesting portions. This poem is a translation of
a Latin poem in Higden's Polychronicon.

At Neuyn in Northwales
A lytell ylonde there is

That is called Bardysay.

Menkes dweUe there alway,

Men lyue so long in that hurst
That the oldest deyeth fyrst.

Men say that Merlyn there huryed is,^

That hyght also Syluestris

There were Merlyns tweyne,

And prophecyed beyne,
One hyte Ambrose and Merlyn
And was ygoten by gobelyn
In Demecia at Carmerthyn,
Ynder kyng Vortygeryn
He tolde his prophecye
Euen in Snowdonye
Atte heede of the water of Coneway
In the syde of mount Eryry,
Dynas Embreys in Walsshe
Ambrose hylle in Englysshe.
Xyng Vortygere sate on
The watersyde and was full of wone,
Then Ambrose Merlyn prophecyed
Tofore hym ryght tho.

' On the relation between Merlin's prophecies and those of Thomas of Erceldoune
see J. A. H. Murray's ed. of Thomas of Erceldoune for the E.E. Text Soc. 1875 ;

Ward's remarks pp. 328-338

in the Catal. of Romances, i.Brandl in Zupitza'8 ;

Sanimlung engl. Benhmdler in kritischen Ausgaben, ii. pp. 12-41.

- According to another tradition Merlin is buried at Drununelzier in Scotland.
See J. S. Stuart Glennie's Arthurian Localities, p. Ixxii. .
 ;

^ ^^l VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. LXXIII

"WTiat wytte wolde wene

That a fende mygbt get a childe ?

Some men wolde mene

That he may no such werke welde.
That fende that goth a nyght
Wymmen full ofte to gyle,

Incubus is named by ryght

And gyleth men other whyle,
Succubus is that wyght.
Grod graunt vs noa such vyle.
"Who that Cometh in hyr gyle
Wonder happe shall he smyle,
"With wonder dede
Bothe men and wymen sede,

Fendes woll kepe,

"With craft and brynge an hepe ;

So fendes wylde
May make wymmen here childe.
Yet neuer in mynde
"Was childe of fendes kynde,
For withouten eye
Ther myght no suche childe deye,
Clergie maketh mynde,
Deth sleeth no fendes kynde ;

But deth slewe Merlyn,

Merlyn was ergo no goblyn.

12. —la the sixteenth century interest in Merlin is evidenced

by the publication in 1510 by Wynkyn de Worde of A Lytel
Tretys of the Byrth and Prophecyes of Merlin. The celebrated
printer issued another edition in 1529, and John Hawkyns a
third in 1533.
13. —The numerous chronicles written in the sixteenth
century detail with more or less fulness the exploits of the
enchanter, but they tell nothing new. "We find, however,
in the sixteenth-century literature, in so far as it turned for
 — ;

LXXIV VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. [§ ^^^

inspiration to the romances or to the legendary history of

Britain, that Merlin was one of the convenient "properties"
of the poets.^ We meet him in Warner's Albion's England
(1586), which is full of early British legends. In a splendid
passage of the Faery Queene ^
^ Spenser tells of the wall of brass
with which Merlin began to surround the city of Caermarthen
just before he was lured to his grave in the rock by the
wiles of the fair temptress.
14. — In 1603 appeared for the first time in print ^ some
old alliterative Scottish prophecies attributed to Merlin, along
with prophecies by Thomas the Rhymer and others. In these
prophecies we read (i. 11. 114-120)
" When the Cragges of Tarbat is tumbled in the sey,

At the next sommer after sorrow for euer :

Beides bookes haue I seene, and Banisters also,

Meruelous Merling and all accordes in one :

Meruelous Merling is wasted away,

With a wicked woman, woe might shee be
Eor shee hath closed him in a Craige on Cornwel cost."

1 In Robert Chester's Zow'* Martyr (Loni 1601 reprinted by the Rev. A. B.;

Grosart for the New Shakspere Soc. Lend. 1878), the " true legend of famous King
Arthur " is introduced. Merlin naturally appears, hut he is made responsible for
nothing except the birth of Arthur.
* B. III. canto 3, stanza 6 sqq. The argument of the third canto is :

" Merlin bewrays to Britomart

The state of ArthegaU,
And shows the famous progeny
Which from them springen shall."
Other references to Merlin occur, F, Q. I. canto 9, st. 4, 5, where Merlin is
represented as visiting " Old Timon" who had taken Arthur at his birth to bring up.
Other references occur B, II. c. 8, st. 20 ; B. III. c. 2, st. 18, 21.
2
Cf. Giraldus Cambrensis, Itin. Cambr. i. 6; Holinshed's Chron. i, 129;
Camden's Brit. p. 734.
* This collection has been several times reprinted, 1615, 1680, 1833. The last

edition bears the title

— " Collection of Ancient Scottish Prophecies, in alliterative
verse, reprinted from Waldegrave's edition, m dc.iii. Edinburgh; printed by
Ballantyne and Co., m.dccc.xxxiii. 4to." Sir "Walter Scott made considerable use
of these prophecies. Cf. also sectiou 10, ante, and "Ward, Catal. of Romances, i. pp.
334-336.
 ^ —— — ;

J ^^-1 VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. LXXV

A little later (11. 170-172) we find—

" As Bertlingtones bookes, and Banister us telles,

Marling and many more, that with maruels melles,

And also Thomas Eymour in his tales telles."

In the second of these prophecies (11. 63-65) we read

" Oft this booke haue I seene, and better thereafter,
Of Meruelous MerHng, but it is wasted away,
"With a wicked woman, woe might it be."

In 1612, Michael Drayton brought out the first eighteen

books of his Polyolhion —a poetical description of England
and related the various legends connected with the places
described. Thus he sings of " Stonenge," of the wall of brass
that the magician would fain have built about Caermartheu,
of his imprisonment in a cavern, and of the spirits that " a
fearful horrid din still in the earth do keep."^
In Song the Fifth (vol. ii. pp. 757, 758), he tells of Merlin's
birth, but speaks sceptically of the incubuses.^ In Song the
Tenth (vol. iii. pp. 842, 843) he devotes twenty-four lines to
Merlin and his prophecies.^
Ben Jonson, though he had scornfully referred in The New
Inn (act i. sc. 1) to the Arthurian stories, raises Merlin from
his tomb, and lets him take part in the Speeches at Prince
Henry's Barriers

' Song the Fourth, vol. ii p. 735, Lend. 1753. This is a passage of twenty
lines.
* Selden gives in a learned note (p. 763) the grounds of objection to their exist-
ence. We may remark that Selden (vol. ii. p. 746) foUows Giraldus Cambrensis in
distinguishing Merlin Ambrose from Merlin Silvester.
3 to the Header, May 9, 1612, he says
In Drayton's Remarks "In all, I believe :

him most, which, from affection and hate (causes of corruption), might best
freest
know, and hath with most likely assertion delivered his report. Yet so, that, to
explain the author, carrying himself in this part an historical, as in the other a
chorographical Poet. I inferr oft, out of the British story, what I importune you
not to credit. Of that kind are those prophecies out of Merlin sometimes interwoven
I discharge myself; nor impute you to me any serious respect of them." Works,
ii. p. 649.
* Works, pp. 577-580, Dyce's ed. The Old Dramatists.
LXXVI VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. [§ ^^•

All througli the seventeenth century Merlin enjoyed a certain

popularity, which showed itself in a variety of ways. In 1641
appeared in London his Life, written by Thomas Heywood, the
most prolific dramatist of the time, under the following title :

" The Life of Merlin, sirnamed Amhrosius, his Prophisies and Pre-
dictions interpreted ; and their Truth made good by our English
^
Annals."
.Twenty-one years later William Rowley wrote a tragi-
comedy The Birth of Merlin ; or. The Child hath found
entitled

his Father,^ in the composition of which the publishers declared

that Shakspere had assisted ; but of this there is no proof.^
It is well known that Dryden, as well as Milton, intended to
write an Arthurian epic, but never carried out the plan. Yet
Dryden went so far as to write a dramatic opera* entitled
King Arthur, or The British Worthy, in which Merlin figures
as one of the characters. The author drew freely on his

invention, and reproduced very little of the Arthur or Merlin

of the romances. As Sir Walter Scott well observes :
" He
[Arthur] is not in this drama the formidable possessor of
Excalibur, and the superior of the chivalry of the Round
Table ; nor is Merlin the fiend-born necromancer of whom
antiquity related and believed so many wonders. They are
the prince and magician of a beautiful fairy tale, the story

of which, abstracted from the poetry, might have been

written by Madame D'Aunois." ^

The epic was reserved for Sir Richard Blackmore, who

Eeprinted, Caermarthen, 1812.

1 8vo. London, 1813.
London, 1662. 4to. Reprinted in The Doubtful Plmjs, Tauchnitz, Leipzig,
2

1869. The second half of the title of Rowley's play has sometimes as a variant,
The Child has lost his Father.
^ "Ward, Eng. Dram. Lit. i. pp. 468, 469, gives an analysis of the play, and
rejects Shakspere's participation; cf. also, Halliwell-Phillipps' Outlines of the Life
ofShak., p. 193.
* Acted and published in 1691.

* Dryden's Works, Scott's ed. viii. p. 110 ; cf. also Ward, Eng. Dram. Lit.
ii. p. 523.
^ i^] VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. LXXVII

touched the last refinement of dulness in his Prince Arthur,

published in ten books in 1695. Merlin figures scarcely at all

in the poem (B. vii. p. 202 sqq.), and then in a character

absurdly out of keeping with The worthy
all traditions.

doctor depicts a British sorcerer who had been driven out of

the British State and had sided with the Saxons. The magician
essayed to help the Saxon Octa, but suddenly,

"A "Warmth Divine his Spirits did invade,

And once a Sorcerer a Prophet made.

The Heav'nly Fury Merlin did constrain
To Bless, whom he to Curse design'd in vain." — p. 205.

Twice he thus plays the part of Balaam, then flees before j

the angry Octa (p. 207), and is seen no more. JT^

In 1736 appeared two attempts to dramatize a portion of the

story of Merlin. The first was a mere alteration by Gifiard ^

of Dryden's King Arthur, and bore the title Merlin or the

British Inchanter, and King Arthur the British Worthy ; A
Dramatic Opera. The second piece is a versified drama pre-
served in a fragment without a title-page (pp. 33-40) and
entitled Tlie Royal Chace, or Merlin's Hermitage and Cave} In
the same group of revivals of Merlin, is to be counted the
pantomime opera, Merlin in Love, which the poet and dramatist
Aaron Hill (1685-1749-50) ventured to write.^ This pro-
duction, of very slender merit, practically closes the list of the
older literary works in which Merlin figures. Yet one might

1 Of GiflFard we know little. "William Gushing remarks [Amnyras, p. 423,

Cambridge, U.S.A., 1890) that he was "an actor, and long the manager of the
old theatre in Goodman's Fields under his management Mr. Garrick made his first
;

appearance in London." Here the piece was first acted and it was published in ;

8vo.. London, 1736.

- The copy I refer to is in the British Museum. The date and place of publica-
tion are to some extent conjectural, but it is reasonably certain that the play appeared
in London in 1736.
2 See vol. i. of his Dramatic Works. London, 2 vols., Svo.
 — ^ —

LXXVm VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. U ^^

probably glean from the poets and prose-writers a considerable

number of allusions not here noted.
Besides these serious attempts to make literary use of the
great enchanter, there appeared in the course of the seven-
teenth and eighteenth centuries a considerable number of
general prophecies and almanac predictions which were fathered
upon the national prophet. Merlin's name had long ceased to
be a name to conjure with, but nothing was more natural than
to take advantage of his celebrity in order to help the sale of
catchpenny pamphlets of a prophetical character. A good type
of the prophet of that day was William Lilly (1602-1682), the
most celebrated of the English astrologers of the seventeenth
century.^ He won notoriety at the time of the Puritan uprising
against Charles I., and under the name of Merlinus Anglicus
published among many other predictions England's Propheticall
Merline foretelling to all nations of Europe.
Lilly's prophecies were forerunners of a long series of pre-

dictions, the titles of which I will enumerate without discussion.

It will be noted toward the close of the list that the prophetic
character is well-nigh lost :

1 .
— A Prophesie Merlin] concerning Hull Yorkshire,
[of in 1 642. 4to.
2. —The Lord Merlin's Prophecy concerning the King
^ of Scots ;

foretelling the strange and wonderfull Things that shall befall

him in England. As also The time and manner of a dismal and

fatall Battel. Lond., Aug. 22, 1651. 4to.

3. — Merlin Reriy'd, or an old Prophecy found in a Manuscript in

Pontefi-act Castle in Yorkshire. (In verse.) Lond. 1681.
Another ed. 1682. Pol.

^ For example, Pope has four allusions to Merlin :

—
" Did ever Proteus, Merlin, any witch." Sat. III. 152.
—
" Extols old Bards, or Merlin's Prophecy." Sat. Y 132.
" "When Merlin's Cave is half unfurnish'd yet." Sat. V. 355.—
" Lord, how we strut thro' Merlin's Cave, to see." Sat. VI. 139.—
2 His Introduction to Astrology even appeared in a new edition Lond. 1832, 8vo.
:

3 This was an old prophecy presented to Queen Elizabeth in 1582.

 :

§ ^^l VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. LXXIX

4. —The mystery of Ambros Merlins, Standard-bearer, "Wolf, and

last Boar of Cornwall, vrith sundry other misterious prophecys
unfolded in the following treatise on the significa-
tion of that prodigious comet seen anno
1680, with the blazing star, 1682 Written by a
lover of bis countrys peace. Lond. (1683), fol.

5. — Catastrophe Mundi; or Merlin reviv'd, in a Discourse of

Prophecies and Predictions, and tbeir remarkable accomplish-
ment ; with Mr. Lilly's Hieroglyphics exactly cut. By a
Learned Pers[on]. Lond. 1683, 12mo.
6. —Merlin reviv'd, in a Discourse of Prophecies and Predictions,
and their Remarkable accomplishment, with Mr. Lilly's Hiero-

glyphics; also a collection of all the Ancient Prophecies,

touching the Grand Eevolution like to happen in these Latter
Ages. Lond. 1683, 12mo.
7. —Merlini Anglici Ephemeris ; or, Astrological Judgments for the
Year 1685 London, Printed by J. Macock for the

Company of Stationers, 1685, 8vo.

8. — In the year 1709 Swift threw out "A Famous Prediction of
Merlin, the British Wizard. Written above a thousand years
ago, and relating to the year 1709. With explanatory notes
by T. Philomath." With regard to this prophecy Swift
observes, after a passing jibe at the almanac-maker, Partridge

"I found it in an old edition of Merlin's prophecies, imprinted

at London by Johan Haukyns, in the year 1530, p. 39. I set
it down word for word in the old orthography, and shall take
^
leave to subjoin a few explanatory notes."

9. — Merlinus liberatus. An Almanack for the Year of our blessed

Saviour's Incarnation 1723 by John Partridge.^
London, Printed by J. Roberts for the Company of Stationers,
12mo.
10. —Merlinus liberatus London : Printed by R. Reily,
for the Company of Stationers, 1753 : 1761. 12mo.

> Swift's Works, vol. viii. pp. 480-484, Scott's ed.

'^
This is the Partridge just referred to, who was the laughing-stock of the
wits associated with Swift. Cf. Scott's Frose Worku, vol. y. p. 199.
LXXX VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. [§ ^^^

11. — Merlin's Life and Prophecies His predictions relating

to the late contest about . Eichmond Park. With some other
. .

events relating thereto, not yet come to pass, etc. London,

1755, 8vo.
12. — A Prophecy of 111. [" A political satire."] London, 1762, 8vo.
13. —A prophecy of Merlin. An poem concerning the wonder-
heroic
ful success of a project, now on foot, to make the River from
the Severn to Strond navigable. Translated from the original
Latin, annexed with notes explanatory. London, 1776, 4to.
14. — Merlinus Liberatus. An Almanack. By John Partridge [pseud.],
London, 1819-1864, 16mo.
15. —The Philosophical Merlin : being the translation of a valuable
manuscript, formerly in the possession of !N"apoleon Buonaparte
enabling the reader to cast the Nativity of himself
.... without the aid of Tables or Calculations.
Part I. [The second part never appeared.] London, 1822, 8vo.
16. — Urania; or the Astrologer's Chronicle and Mystical Magazine.
Edited by Merlinus Anglicus, jun. [E.. C. Smith.] London,
1825.1

In the miscellaneous pamphlets just cited the fame of the

great prophet had sunk to its nadir ; but with the rise of

Romanticism Merlin again found a place of honour. Early in

the present century Sir Walter Scott introduced him as a
leading character into one of the most graceful of his romantic
poems, The Bridal of Trier main (1813).
The great enchanter Merlin had long been resting in his grave

1 In addition to these pamphlets, all of which bear a more or less prophetic

stamp, there are several other fugitive productions, which I cannot describe more
precisely, but which may be classed with the English Ephemerides. Such are :

Merliti's Almanack and Prognostications, Merlin's Prognostications, The Mad-

merry Merlin, The Royal Merlin, etc.
Even in our own day Merlin's name has not infrequently served as a
pseudonym.* Under this name Alfred Tennyson contributed two poems to the
Examiner (Lond. 1852) with the titles: The Third of February, 1852, anA Hands
All Round. Of less note are Merlin = Milner Merlin the Second= David Henry.
;

Merlin was the pseudonym of Dr. Alex. Wilder, from 1864 to 1870 the New York
correspondent of the Boston Daily Advertiser.
* Cf. Cushing's Initials and Pseudonyms, Art. Merlin,
 — ;

§ ''^ ]
VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. LXXXI

in the rock, when Gyneth, the fair daughter of Gwendolen and

Arthur, was offered in marriage to the knight who should prove
himself bravest in the tournament. From all sides the knights

of the Round Table gathered for the contest. As the combat

thickened, the proud maiden saw without pity one knight fall

after another, t^ill at length young Yanoc, of the race of Merlin,

died at her very feet. Then suddenly arose out of the earth,

in the midst of the lists, the form of Merlin, who with stern

gesture pronounced sentence upon her

" Thou shalt bear thy penance lone

In the valley of Saint John,

And this weird shall overtake thee

Sleep, until a knight shall wake thee,

For feats of arms as far renown'd

As warrior of the Table Eound."
— Canto II. Stanza xxvi.

For five hundred years the maiden slept her enchanted sleep
within a mighty castle, till at length she was awakened by
the Baron of Triermain, Sir Roland de Yaux, who braved the
dangers of the Hall of Fear, and defied the snares

"Spread by Pleasure, "Wealth, and Pride."

— Canto III. Stanza xxxvi.
•

"When he entered the magic bower where the maiden slept

in her ivory chair, she awoke suddenly from her slumber,
while the magic halls melted away amid the flash of lightning
and the roll of thunder. But safe in the arms of the bold
knight lay the princess, and with him she went to be his bride.
The two leading motives of the piece — the summoning of

an enchanter, and the magic sleep of a princess who is to be

awakened by a brave knight are familiar and threadbare—
enough ; but Scott, while missing some of the naive simplicity
of the verse romance of the Middle Ages, has invested the
LXXXII VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. [§ ^v-

narrative with a grace and beauty not often found in his

models.^
Yery different from Scott's somewliat conventional enchanter
is the Merlin of Tennyson's tale of Vivien (1859), in which the
poet tells how Merlin was beguiled by the wily temptress who
had vainly endeavoured to seduce " the blameless king." The
story is too familiar to need recalling ; but we may note that in
this poem Tennyson differs widely from the sources that he
usually follows so closely. Nowhere in the old romances does
the character of Vivien appear in such a malignant light.
In the prose romance of Merlin (p. 681) she desired to have
him ever with her, and for this she wrought upon him the
enchantment that he had himself taught her ; and while it

seemed to him that he was in the fairest and strongest tower

in the world there were few hours of the day or of the night
when she was not with him. But though the maiden went in
and out when she would, Merlin never came forth from the
fortress in which he was imprisoned.
According to Malory's Morte Darthur (B. lY. ch. 1),
Nyneue, the lady of the lake, imprisoned Merlin in a rock
wrought by enchantment. He had been tempting her to
give him her love, but " she was euer passynge wery of hym,
and fayne wold haue ben delyuerd of hym."

1 Scott alludes to Merlin and the Lady of the Lake in Kenilworth, chap, xxx.,

and makes use of Merlin in his ballad on Thomas the Rhymer, Part III.
The novelist Thomas Love Peacock introduces Myrrddin Gwyllt {sic the name:

should, of course, be Myrddin "Wyllt, or Merlin the Wild) into his romance of The
Misfortunes of E/phin {1829). Merlin here takes part in a song-contest with the
other Welsh bards, and sings the Avallenau or Song of the Apple-trees. (Reprinted,
Load. 1891.)
In a ballad of unknown age, a " Fragment of Child Rowland and Bard Ellen,"
the eldest brother of the lost maid Ellen goes to the Warluck Merlyn (Myrddin
Wyldt, sic) and asks his advice. Merlin gives the desired instructions. Child Rowland
proceeds to the Castle of Elfland, rescues his sister from the king, and brings back
her and the two brothers in search of whom she had gone. The portion of the
ballad relating to Merlin is lost, but has been supplied from an oral narration.
Cf. E)ig. and Scottish Ballads, ed. by F. J. Child, i. 416-423. Boston, 1857.
 IV.]
§ VARIOUS FORMS OF THE MERLIN LEGEND. LXXXIII

Tennyson has borrowed little more than the hint of his leading
motives. Yet this poem, steeped as it is in the personality
of the poet, gives us a picture of the last days of Merlin
which, in its depth and colour, may be sought elsewhere in
vain. The mysterious charm of the old Celtic legend has
here lost none of its glamour; and while the venomous
insinuations of the wily harlot well-nigh destroy the beauty
of some passages, yet the strange spell that one feels in
The Lady of Shalott and The Passing of Arthur, recurs now
and again in this legend of the enchanted sleep of Merlin.
Merlin has inspired nothing of recent years to compare
with Vivien, but the enchanter figures once more in Tennyson's
Merlin and the Gleam (1889) and in a poem by Robert Buchanan
— Merlin and the White Death}
We are perhaps hardly bound to notice the appearance of
Merlin in Mark Twain's burlesque romance, A Yankee at the
Court of King Arthur, though it is to be feared that the
irreverent mind of this unheroic century will find as much
entertainment in the farcical burlesque as in the serious
romance of six centuries asro.

V.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE EARLY FORMS OF
THE LEGEND.
"We have traced in outline the Merlin legend in the various
forms which it has assumed in the literature of Europe. We
must now go back a little, and endeavour to follow in some
detail the development of the legend from the earlier forms.

But before we can study the legend itself we are compelled

to consider briefly the genuineness and authenticity of the
literary documents in which it is contained. For the sake
1 In Once a Week, 10 : 251.
LXXXIV THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE [§ V.

of convenience we will glance first at the Latin sources, and

then pass to the "Welsh literature. The first name to consider

is Nennius.
It is not easy to overestimate the importance for the
history of the Arthurian romances, and especially for the
history of Merlin, of this obscure little chronicle. One can
find in the extant Celtic literature little or nothing that
throws li^ht on the sources of the romantic Merlin legend.
But in this short recital we have in embryo ^ one of the
most characteristic and interesting portions of the legend
afterwards developed in the French romance. It is in fact,
as de la Borderie remarks, " the first and the most ancient
collection of the popular legends of Britain, which later gave
birth to the romances of Brut, of Merlin, of Arthur — in a
word, the immense cycle of the chivalric epics of the Round
Table." ^ We may then agree with Milton that Nennius is

" a very trivial author," without losing sight of the immense

importance of the Historia Britonum in the development of
the legendary history of Britain. It will therefore be worth
our while to pause for a moment and review the varying
opinions that have been advanced with regard to the author-
ship and the age of the book.
As to the authorship, we need scarcely remark that Nennius
is a mere name used, as de la Borderie suggests, to cover our
iornorance of the real author. For a time Gildas was credited
with the book, but this hypothesis is now universally abandoned.

Among other conjectures we may note that Paulin Paris ^ sup-

posed the Historia Britonum to be the work of an Armorican
which was brought into England early in the twelfth century.
But critics are now generally agreed that this little chronicle

^ Cf.de la Borderie, L'Hist. Brit, attribuee a Nennius,'^. 69. **Ici [cap. 40]
commence le recit d'une merveilleuse aventure, germe de tout ce qu'on a ecrit plus
tard sur le fameux Merlin et ses fameuses propheties."
2 L'Hist. Brit. etc. p. 83. ^ Les Romans de la Table Ronde, I. p. 36.
 " —

J '»•]
EARLY FORMS OF THE LEGEND. LXXXV

is " essentially an insular creation." ^ Mr. Skene supposes

that the Sistoria was " originally written in British in Cumbria
or y Gogkd[d^ (the North), and was afterwards translated into
Latin." ^ It is of course made up of several parts of varying
age. If we exclude the interpolations we have, according to
de la Borderie,^ the original core of the work, which may be
analyzed as follows :

1. Descriptio Britanniae.
2. Origo Britonum Scotorumque.
3. Britannia sub Romanis.
4. Historia Guortigerni.
5. Arthuri gesta.
For our immediate purpose we are concerned chiefly with

the " Historia Guortigerni."

The age of the Chronicle has given rise to a great variety of
opinions. In the preface to his text of Nennius, Mr. J.
Stevenson (Eng. Hist. Soc. 1838) remarks (p. v.) :
" "We may

despair of being able to decide, with any degree of accuracy,

either as to the age, the historical value, or the authorship of
this composition." In Skene's opinion " The text of the
Historia Britonum was first put together ... as early as

the seventh century."^ His opinion is followed in Glennie's

Essay on Arthurian Localities ^ (pp. xxxvii. and cvii.). Nash,
* De la Borderie, VMist. Brit, attribuee a Nennius, p. vii. "We ought not, how-
ever, entirely to overlook "Wright's remark (0« the
of Geoff, of Monmouth,Lit. Hist,
Lend. 1848, 4to.) that the earlier manuscripts of Nennius appear to have been
written abroad, and in fact never to have been in England, but to have been brought
from France.
2 Cf. Encyc. Brit. 9th ed. 1876, art. Celtic Lit. '' T Gogledd,'" notes M. Phillimore,
" was technically used for all Britondom north of "Wales in the Middle Ages and
before.
' Hist. Brit, attribude a Nennius, p. 27. For a general estimate of the value
of Nennius, see Skene's Celtic Scotland, i. Both Mr. Skene and Dr. Guest
p. 152.
accept the historical authority of Nennius. I much
regret not to have seen Mr.
Phillimore's articles and notes in T Cymtniodor, vols. ix. and xi., on various points
connected with Nennius and Merlin.
* Four Ancient Books of Wales, i. pp. 58-60.
5 Printed for E.E.Text Soc. in Part III. of the Merlin. Lond. 1869.
LXXXVI THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE U '^•

in his introduction to the Romance of Merlin, thinks that

the Historia was "probably written as early as the eighth
century." *
By far the larger proportion of later critics have
fixed upon the ninth century. Schoell, writing in 1851, made
a strong argument ^ in favour of the year 822 a.d. He is

followed by de la Borderie ^ and by Ebert.* The interpolated

Prologue^ of the Historiu (sec. 2) assigns the date of the
compilation to the year 858 a.d., but this is not accepted by
the critics. Gaston Paris criticizes de la Borderie's argument,
and rejects the date 822 for 878.^ In the Ristoire Litteraire de

la France (xxx. p. 4), G. Paris merely remarks that the

Sistoria was composed in the ninth century. Paulin Paris
had already taken the same ground,^ though confessing that
the earliest manuscripts were of the twelfth century. Still

more cautious than these critics are those who merely say that
the pseudo-Xennius was put together between the seventh and
the ninth centuries.® Ten Brink ^ speaks of the age of the

1 Part I. p. ii E.E.Teit Soc. Lond. 1865.

2 C. G. Schoell, De Eeclesiastteae Britonum Scotorumque historiae fontibus, p. 35.
Berlin, 1851.
3 Z'Hist. Brit. etc. Paris, 1883, p. 20.
* Allgem. Gesch. der Litt. des MUtelalters im Abendlande. Leipzig, 1887,
Bd. iii. p. 387. * Cf. De la Borderie, p. 12.
Romania, lii. 368-70. " A primo anno quo Saxones venerunt in Britanniam
*

usque ad annuin quartum Merrini regis supputantur anui cccexxix." Now,

449 + 429=878. "II ecrivait done en 878." M. Paris selects for his purpose
a Marvin who died in 903, and began (perhaps) to reign about 874. His fourth
year would be, then, 878.
' Zes Romans de la Table Ronde, i. 38. * Encyc. Brit.,
art. Romance, xx. 638.
5 Gesch der engl. Lit. i. 169. Mr. PhilUmore, who is recognized
Berlin, 1877.
as the best authority on Xennius, sends me the following note on the date of
Nennius "One of the two oldest MSS. of Nennius (Harl. 3859, now said by Mr.
:

E. M. Thompson to be of the early 12th century), which contains the short Welsh
chronicle and Anglo-Saxon Genealogies (briefly known as the Saxon Genealogies or
Geneahgiae), has annexed to it, in the same or contemporary hands, Welsh annals
and genealogies (only found in this MS.) which must, from the way they end, have
been written between 954 and 988, as I have shewn in Y Cymmrodor, vol. ix., in my
preface to these Annates Cambriae and Old Welsh Genealogies from Harl. MS.
3859." Now this MS. and its three sister MSS (de la Borderie, who adds other
MSS. containing these Genealogiae Regum Saxonwn, is altogether wrong : the MSS.
 § "^O EARLY FORMS OF THE LEGEND. LXXXVII

Historia as highly doubtful, and possibly not much earlier

than Geoffrey of Monmouth, but in this opinion he has little

or no following.
We see, however, that in spite of considerable differences of
opinion, the critics are agreed in placing Nennius earlier than
Geoffrey of Monmouth, and, with few exceptions, in the ninth
century. As already remarked, the question as to the historical
"value of Nennius is for our purpose of no great importance ;

but we must take the Historia JBritonum as the original source

of one of the most characteristic of the legends relating to
Merlin,^ and as the only original we can find for much of
Geoffrey's Historia.
De la Borderie does, indeed, attempt to make out a case for
the so-called Historia Britannica, which he would like to regard
as the intermediate link between Nennius and Geoffrey ; but
he has succeeded in convincing few besides himself. The frag-
ments of this very dubious history date, according to him, from
the year 1019 a.d.^ "Like the Historia Britonum of Nennius,

in question either do not contain them or are not MSS. of Nennius) are very similar,
except for the unique additions to one of them, and must, as can be proved, all go

back immediately to one prototype. This prototype, ergo, must be older than 9r)4.
But this edition of the Saxon Genealogies is necessarily more modern as an edition
(though it may be preserved in other MSS.) than the edition of Nennius without
the said Genealogies, but with other accretions to the original work. Now this
older edition is the one of which MSS. are most numerous. Moreover, the " Sax.-
Gen.^' edition, besides its accretion of the Sax. -Gen., has the orthography of
the Welsh names modernized from But the older edition has
the older edition.
already accretions (the and changes, which mark it off as more
Mirabilia)
modem than the edition of the Vatican MS. (the oldest known), which is
said to be of the tenth century. "We may, therefore, judge how far beyond 954
Nennius can be certainly predicated to be. But take 954 as the earliest possible date
for the composition of Nennius (which it is not, by far), and, as Geoffrey of
Monmouth's Historia was issued 1120-1130, or thereabouts, there is a difference
of 170 or 180 years."
1 I do not, of course, deny that some of the elements of the legend may be older
than Nennius. See the notes on the Sources.
' L' Historia Britannica avant Geoffroi de Monmouth, p. 103. A few pages later
he urges the following reasons " Eutre f Historia Britonum de Nennius et V Historia
:

Begum de Geoffroi, il a necessairement existe une forme intermediaire de la legende

des origines bretonnes. Cette forme constituait un livre appele Historia Britannica,
 —

LXXXVIII THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE [§T.

the Historia Britannica," he remarks, " is the work of the

imagination of the insular and not of the Armorican Britons."^
Now then, argues de la Borderie, "the book of Nennius,
the Historia Britannica, the work of Geoffrey, represent the
three successive stages of the legend in its development from
the British sources. Nennius, or the Historia Britonum, is

the e^^ ; the Historia Britannica is the chicken ; the Historia

Regtim Britanniae is the superb and noisy (bruyant) cock,
who chants his fanfare to the great orchestra." ^ He goes
on to suggest 2 that the Historia Britannica is the identical
book that was brought from Britain by Walter, archdeacon
of Oxford,^ for the use of Geoffrey of Monmouth. Britain,

we are told, means the British (Welsh) portion of the Island

of Great Britain, as opposed to the English portion.
It must be confessed that this is a large theory on a very
narrow basis. We have but four small pages of the Historia
Britannica. One paragraph is given to Arthur : of Merlin, we
find no mention. How so careful a critic as de la Borderie

could have propounded a theory so lacking in proof is not

easy to see. As Gaston Paris points out,^ if this Anglo-
Latin book existed and was known in Armorica, English
historians of that day might fairly be expected to know of

dont 1' existence est constatee et testee en 1019 par le pretre Guillaume, auteur de
la Vie de saint Goueznou. Mais— comme I'oeuvre de Nennius, forme rudimentaire
de la legende, comme de Geoffroi qui en marque repanouissement,
le livre cette —
forme intermediaire appartient exclusivement, par son inspiration et sa redaction aux
—
Bretons de I'ile, et il n'est nullement prouve au contraire que I'exemplaire qu'en —
posseda Gautier d'Oxford sortit de I'Armorique," etc. Ibid. p. 108.
1 Ibid. p. 99. 2 j(,ja. p. 102. 3 ji^id. pp. 102-107.
* " Ce Gautier, sumomme Calenim, est un personnage assez myste'rieux. Henri de
Huntingdon {De Contemptu Mundi, § 4, ed. Arnold, p. 302), I'appeUe ' superlative
rethoricus.' On une continuation de VHist. regum de Gaufrei pendant
lui attribue
quarante ans, qui ne s'est pas retrouvee.II figure en 1129 avec son ami Gaufridim
Artur (ce sumom ne fut done pas donne a Gaufrei pour son Eintoria) dans les
chartes de fondation de I'abbaye d'Oseney pres d'Oxford {v. Dugdale, Monasticon
vi 251)."— G. Paris, Romania, xii. 373. This note is based on one by Sir F. Madden.
See further, "Ward's Catalogue of Romances, i. pp. 218, 219.
* Romania, xii. 371, 372.
$ y.] EARLY FORMS OF THE LEGEND. LXXXIX

its existence. Yet TTilliam of Malmesbury, writing in 1125,

" declared positively that he could find for the ancient history
of the island no other sources than Beda and Gildas : indeed,
except the pseudo-Nennius used by William himself and by
Henry of Huntingdon, no other source was known up to the

appearance of Geofirey's book (1136) ; and when this appeared,

the accounts that it contained of the victories of Arthur in

Gaul were to everybody a revelation, which Henry of Hun-
tingdon and others accepted with as much confidence as
surprise, (but) which "William of Newburgh and others re-
jected with contempt. Furthermore, Geofirey, proud of the-
possession of the Breton book which his friend "Walter had
brought him, declares that the English historians, not
having the documents that he possesses, can say nothing con-
cerning the British kings of which his history alone knows."
"With no great injustice, therefore, M. Paris ends his criticism
by calling the Historia Britannica " ce fantome de ce livre
iraaginaire." "We may, then, pass directly to Geofirey of
Monmouth.
It is quite unnecessary to go into detail in treating of the
life of Geofi'rey of Monmouth.^ For our purpose it is enough
to note that he was an ecclesiastic who became Archdeacon of
Monmouth, that from 1152 to 1154, the year of his death, he
was Bishop of St. Asaph, and that between 1130-1150 he
wrote three works now generally^ accepted as his —the Pro-
phetia Merlini (before 1136),' the Historia Begum Britannice
(about 1136),* and the Vita Merlini (between 1140 and 1150).

* On the whole the best account of him is in Ward's Catalogue of Romances, i.

pp. 203-222.
- But not universally, as we shall see a little later.
' Ward, Catalog^ of Romances, i. 207.
* G. Paris, Eist. Litt. de la France, xxx. pp. 4, 5. Various dates are assigned
for the Hist. Meg. Brit :
—
(1) Low and Pulling's Diet, of Eng. Hist., 1130 a.d.
(2) Ten Brink, Gesch. d^r engl. Lit. i. 168, 1132-1135 a.d.
 —— —

XC THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE [§ ^•

The Proj)hetia was afterwards incorporated with the Historia,

of which it now forms the seventh book.^
The first question naturally arising with regard to each of
these books is : From what materials are they constructed ?
In searching for the sources of Geoffrey's Historia it is hardly
possible to advance far.^ The most obvious source is the
Historia Britonum of Nennius, As for the British book brought
from the Continent by Archdeacon Walter of Oxford, we know
nothing about it, and we gain little by multiplying conjectures

(3) Encye. Brit. xx. p. 643 — "The Eound Table romances had their starting-
point in Geoffrey's Historia, first published in 1138-39, revised and republished
in its present form in 1147."
(4)"Ward, Catal. of Eomances, i. 209— " The first edition of Geoffrey's Historia
was certaialy completed by the end of 1138."
(5) Paulin Paris and Sir F. Madden, 1135-1147 a.d.
(6) Cf. Arnold, Introd. to Henry of Huntingdon's Historia Anghrum (Rolls
Series), pp. xxii., xxui.

^ On the Prophecies, Professor Henry Morley has the following remark, the last
clause of which is a good example of the baseless statements that have found their
way into so many works on
the literature of the period we are treating " After- :
—
wards he made and formed the work into eight books to which he added
alterations, ;

Merlin's Prophecies translated out of Cymric verse into Latin prose." English
Writers, iii. 45.
- " Assurement
il —
a beaucoup, et tree pauvrement, invente; mais il s'est —
appuye, en beaucoup de points, sur des legendes galloises, sur des contes populaires
qu'il a arbitrairement rattaches a des noms de rois (Lear, Bladud, etc.)."— G. Paris,
Romania, xii. 372.
Compare with the above note the following :
—
" That Geoffrey drew his materials from British sources, and did not coin any
of them, seems to us the legitimate conclusion to be dra^wn from a careful study of
the whole subject. His book is, however, a compilation and not a translation,
at all events no book now exists which can be regarded as his original, while all
the Bruts or chronicles are posterior to Geoffrey's book and based upon it." Eneyc.
Brit. 9th ed., art. Celtic Lit.
On the specific question of the origin of Geoffrey's Merlin, A. Brandl remarks :

" Ahnlich bunt mag Geoffrey die Figur des Merlin, des Propheten beim letzten
Brittenkonig Tortigem, zusammengestellt haben, mit Elementen aus der Legende
von St. Germanus, aus druidischer Mystik, aus Daniel und den XV. Signa ante
judiciu7n, nach deren Art Merlin schliessUch den Weltuntergang weissagt." Paul's —
Grundriss der germ. Philologi^, ii. 621.
For further details, see the discussion of the question whether we have to deal
with one Merlin or two, and the discussion of the sources of Robert de Borron's
Merlin.
 — —

f ^-l EARLY FORMS OF THE LEGEND. XCI

with regard to it. Paulin Paris ^ supposed that the Latin

chronicle of Nennius was the original text or a translation of
the famous British book. Of course this is not impossible, but
hardly probable.^
Gaston Paris finds the origin of Geojffrey's Hktoria in the

1 Romans de la Table Ronde, i. 38. Geoffrey, remarks M. Paris, merely expanded

I^ennius, writing a line for a word, and a paragraph for a sentence, and pieced out
the whole with the help of his Latin reading, Vergil, Ovid, etc.
Those who are interested in the question may follow it up in "Ward's Catalogue of
'

Rfimanees, i. p. 214 sqq., where the views of P. Paris are controverted, and the
whole
matter discussed at length. Mr. Ward thinks that a Breton book may have existed
:

But there are really some grounds for supposing that Walter left behind
'
'

him a book, resembling Geoffrey's Eistoria, yet distinct from it, though there is
nothing to prove whether it was his own composition or the book which he brought
from abroad." p. 214. —
" The Breton book, then, we hold, was not a mere copy of Nennius. At the same
time it is evident that whoever drew up the scheme of the present Eistoria had the
work of Nennius before him, and made arbitrary changes in certain facts derived
from it."—p. 217.
Mr. Ward remarks further on the origin of Geoffrey's Eistoria «'But the Arthur :

legend had travelled south, and had been immensely developed, before the days of
Geoffrey. At all events, it was not he who invented the fiction, that Arthur was
born and mortally wounded in Cornwall. The monks of Laon,» who visited
Cornwall in 1113, were shown rocks called Arthur's Chair and Arthur's Furnace,
and were told that this was his native land, secundum fabulas Britanorum regis
'

Arturi and at Bodmin they narrowly escaped bloodshed when they refused to
'
;

believe that Arthur was still alive. (See Hermannus, De miraculis S. Maria:
Laudunensis, book ii. 15, 16, republished by Migne, Fatrologia, tom. 156, col. 983.)
These monks also inform us that similar Arthurian fables were rife in Brittany.
Finally, considering that Geoffrey's Arthur is a grandson of an Armorican prince,
and that his Armorican cousin Hoel is his brother in arms both at home and
in Gaul and considering that Cadwalader finds a last hope for his degenerate
;

Bretons in the princes of Armorica one can hardly doubt Geoffrey's deriving much
;

of the latter part of his Eistoria from Breton sources. Whether he followed (or, as
he terms it, translated) any regular book, or whether he collected materials and
arranged them himself, can never be completely decided." Ibid. i. 217, 218.
Mr. Ward's opinion may be compared with that of M. Gaston Paris :— " Je suis
an contraire tout a fait de I'avis deM.de la Borderie sur la seconde question qu'il
de la provenance galloise et non bretonne, des fables de Gaufrei. Celui-ci
traite, celle

pretend k trois reprises avoir trouve I'histoire des rois bretons dans un livre ecrit
Britannico seryione, que lui avait fait connaitre son ami Gautier, archidiacre
d' Oxford. II ment certainement, car on a prouve qu'il reproduisait textueUement
des

phrases latines d'ecrivains anterieurs, et que par consequent U ne traduisait pas du

Gallois. II se contredit d'ailleurs: il pretend a unendroit (xii. 20) qu'il a simplement

a On the visit of the monks of Laon, compare Zimmer, Zeits.fiirfrans. u. Lit, xiii. p. 106.
 —

^•
XCII THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE [§

Historia Britomim of Nennlus taken as a groundwork, and

supplemented by the tales told him by his friend Walter of
Oxford, and by his own recollections of Welsh legends, Gaston
Paris even admits the existence of a British book, for " the
forms of many of the proper names of the Historia Regum are
often more archaic than those of Nennius";^ but M. Paris is
careful to remark that Geoffrey did not translate from the
Welsh.
traduit le livre gallois {in latinum sermonem transferre curavi), et a un autre (xi. 1) il

dit qu'il ecrit tant d'apres ce livre que d'apres les recits de Gautier {ut Gaufridus in
Britannico prefato sermone invenit et a Gualtero Oxinefordensi audivit). La verite est
a mon sens, dans cette derniere phrase. C'est avec I'Historia Britonum d'une part
et les recits de son ami Gautier, ainsi que ses propres souvenirs de contes gallois
d'autre part que Gaufrei a compose son roman. Quant au fameux livre gallois, il a
existe : les formes de beaucoup de noms propres de l^ Historia regum, formes souvent
plus arcbaiques que celles de Nennius . . . . et que Gaufrei n'a pu inventer, mon-
trent qu'il a eu sous les yeux des documents fort anciens ; en quoi ils consistaient, et
s'ils contenaient autre chose que des listes de noms propres, c'est ce qu'il faudrait
etudier de pres. Mais pourquoi, en parlant de ce livre, Gaufrei dit-U que Gautier le

lui a *
apporte de Bretagne ' {ex Britannia advexit) ? On a compris jusqu'a present
que Britannia designait ici la Petite- Bretagne." G. Paris follows de la Borderie in
thinking Great Britain to be meant, and indeed the whole of it, and not "Wales, as
de la Borderie supposed. He continues :
— " L'explication du probleme est, a mon

sens, bien plus simple. Toute la difficulte repose sur ce point : puisque Gaufrei etait en
Grande-Bretagne, comment pouvait-on lui apporter un livre de Grande-Bretagne ?

Mais y a petition de principe. Eien ne nous prouve que Gaufrei fut en Grande-
il

Bretagne quand il ecrivait son livre, et il y a meme des vraisemblances pour qu'il
flit en Normandie. Si Gaufrei etait en Normandie, on comprend tres bien qu'il pre-

tende que le livre gallois qu'il dit traduire lui a ete apporte de Grande-Bretagne par
Gautier d' Oxford, et ainsi disparait toute difficulte sur ce passage. Un mot encore
sur les sources de Gaufrei. probablement trouve dans quelque cloitre
II avait tres
de Normandie un exemplaire de V Historia Britonum, et, croyant cet ouvrage in-
connu en Angleterre, il s'etait mis a I'exploiter, en s'aidant de divers auteurs latins,
pour en tirer sa grandiose mystification. II re9ut sans doute, pendant qu'il y tra-
vaillait, la visite de son ami Gautier d' Oxford, qui lui apporta quelque document
gallois, et tout deux arrangerent en commun 1' imposture qui devait avoir tant de
succes : il fut convenu que Gautier aurait apporte a Gaufrei une histoire complete
des rois bretons, qui contenait toutes les belles choses que celui-ci allait apprendre au
monde. a vu que Gaufrei n'avait meme pas su soutenir ce mensonge sans se
On
contredire. Tout ce qui, dans son livre, n'est pas tire de VHistoriOi^ Britonum (ou
d'autres ouvrages latins) repose, sauf ce qui pouvait se trouver dans le document en
question, sur I'invention ou sur les contes populaires gallois, recueillis par Gautier et
par lui. C'est a la critique a s'efforcer de discerner ce qui doit etre attribu6 a I'une
ou a I'autre de ces provenances," Romania, xii. 372-375.
1 Romania, xii. 372, 373.
 — — —

$ ^-1 EARLY FORMS OF THE LEGEND. XCIH

From all this discussion may be inferred, as in the case of

Nennius, the need of extreme caution in the construction of a
theory designed to explain all the facts. Nothing really con-

vincing is to be deduced from the evidence. Some of the

theories advanced are not impossible ; and with this comfort

we must be as content as we can.

As for the Vita Merlini, it also has been the subject of much
discussion.^ Mr. "Ward {Catalogue of Romances, i. 278-288)
gives an excellent account of the arguments in favour of its
genuineness, which is not now seriously questioned by most
scholars.^

^ For some of the contributors

instance, in the Encyclopaedia Brilanniea (9th ed.)
afiSrm, while others denv, its on Romance we read
genuineness. In the article
concerning Geoffrey of Monmouth " His poem on the Life and Frophecies of
:

Merlin was a separate work, published in 1136-1137, and again in 1149 " while ;

in the article on Geoffrey of Monmouth we read :

" Internal eridence is fatal to
the claims of the second," i.e. the Vita Merlini.
Henry Morley {Hufflish Writers, iii. p. 44) says: "There has also been im-
properly ascribed to him [Geoff, of ifon.] a life of Merlin, in Latin hexameters."
Compare with these authorities the opinion of Gaston Paris :

" Gaufrei, quelques annees apres V Uistoria, composa un autre ouvrage, la

Vita Merlini, poeme assez elegamment ecrit, oii des traditions historiques bretonnes
se melent a des contes Tenus d' orient on courant dans les ecoles, et qui n'a pas ete
sans influence sur quelques romans francjais posterieurs."— Za Litt. Fran^aise au
moyen A.ge, p. 90.
Also *' Gatifrei composa en heiametres latins
: sa Tita Merlini, dans laqnelle il
mela des notions de geographic et d'histoire naturelle, empmntees am ecrivains
classiques, a des contes populaires bretons dont la plupart se retrouvent ailleurs, et a
quelques nouTelles predictions." Hist. Litt. de la France, ixx. p. 5.
Paulin Paris had already advanced about the same opinion {Romans, i. 77) in
opposition to the views of Thomas ^Vright and Francisque Michel. He says :

"11 faut absolument en conclure que le poeme a ete compose avant les romans,
c'est a dire de 1140 a 1150. Ainsi tout se reunit pour conserver a Geoffrey de
Monmouth I'honneur d'avoir ecrit vers le milieu du douzieme siecle, le poeme
I>e Vila Merlini apres VHistoria Britonum que semble continuer le poeme pour
ce qui touche a Merlin, et avant le roman fran9ais de Merlin, qui devait faire
un poeme d' assez nombreui emprunts."
* The earliest printed edition appeared in 1833 for the Roxburgbe Club, under

the editorship of William Henry Black. This edition was fortunately limited to
forty-two copies for it was as bad as bad could be. The second, and in fact the
;

only edition based upon the manuscripts,* is that of Wright and Michel, since

» G. Paris, Eist. Litt. de la France, xxx. p. 5, says there is but one MS. ; but
ef. Ward's Cat. of Romances.
 '^•
XCIT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE [§

For convenience we may defer all further account of the

Vita Merlin i and the other Latin sources till we have examined
the extant Celtic literature that tells us of Myrddin the Bard.
Here, too, we find it necessary in the first place to determine
the genuineness of the "Welsh poems that touch upon Myrddin.
We cannot here attempt an exhaustive discussion, but we may
trace in a few words the varying attitude of critical opinion
toward the few poems that concern the question before us, and
set in order the results of the investigations which none but
advanced Celtic specialists are competent to make. The data
are so meagre that we may perhaps never hope to get more
than a probable solution of the difficulties starting up at every
turn. There is here a tempting field for an ingenious con-
structive critic, for in this matter one can conjecture much and
prove little.

One caution, however, we should observe from the outset.

We must not forget that it is one thing to find in Welsh poems
of doubtful age a meagre account of a bard named Mj^rddin,
and in a modern Breton ballad or two the figure of Myrddin^ the
Bard and Myrddin the Enchanter, and quite another thing to
show that these throw any real light on the legend as we find
it in the French prose romance of Merlin. If we accept the
genuineness of the poems ascribed to Mj^rddin or which make
mention of him, —and there no great harmis doing
really in

so, —we have advanced scarcely a step in tracing out the source
of the legend as found in Nennius, in Geofirey of Monmouth's
Historia, or in any of the translations or imitations of Geoffrey's
Historia. As the investigation proceeds, we shall hardly be

San-Marte did no more than to reprint the text and annotate it. Our edition of
the Vita Merlini really dates, therefore, from 1837, when it appeared under the
title: " Galfridi de Monumeta .... Vita Merlini. Vie de Merlin attribuee a
Geoffroy de Monmouth . . . Thomas Wright. Parisiis,
par Francisque Michel et
Silvestre,London, W. Pickering, 1837." This edition has become rare.
San-Marte follows Michel and "Wright in rejecting Geoffrey of Monmouth as the
author, and thinks the poem to have been written soon after 1216. JJie Sagen von

Merlin, p. 271. 'Or Marzin.

 § ^0 EARLY FORMS OF THE LEGEND. XCV

able to escape the conclusion that — whether or not we accept

Geoffrey's story of the Breton book — he based his work upon
materials almost, if not quite, independent of any preserved to
us in "Welsh literature. This Welsh literature is of great
interest in that it shows us how the legendary history might
have arisen, but it affords a very slender basis for a working
theory as to the origin of the French romance.
In studying the Celtic literature we shall find it to be no
small gain in clearness to put aside at the outset all that is

conceded to have nothing to do with either Myrddin or Merlin.

The Celtic literature is preserved in three great groups — the
Gaelic, the Breton or Armorican, and the Welsh.
I. The first of these groups, the Gaelic, has nothing original
relating to Myrddin or Merlin, and it became possessed of
the legend of Merlin only through translation. The only piece
relating to Merlin of which we have any knowledge in Irish
literature is the eleventh-century version of Nennius ; while
not till many generations later was the verse romance of
Artkour and Merlin translated into Irish prose. ^ The fact that so
scanty use was made of the legend, even in its borrowed form,
is a sufficient proof that the historical bard and the legendary
prophet were strangers to the great body^ of old Irish literature.
II. It would hardly be necessary to consider the extant
Armorican literature at all, were it not that Tillemarque, in a
series of studies ^ in Celtic literature, made great capital out of

Marzin ballads that he pretended to have found in Brittany.

^ Cf. F. Michel, Vita Merlini, p. luxii.

* How great this body of Irish literature is may be seen from the estimate of a
learned German, who has calculated that to publish all the Irish literature, inclusive
of MSS. from the eleventh to the sixteenth century, would require about a thousand
volumes, 8vo. Cf. Jubaiuville, La Litt. Celtique, i. 43.
Th. Hersart de la Villemarque, Contes Fopulairea des anciem Bretons. 2 vols.
'

Paris, 1842 Barzaz-Breiz, Chants Fopulaires de la Bretagne .... avec une traduc-
;

tion frangaise. 2 vols. Paris, 1846 ; Poemes des Bardes Bretons du 6« Steele.
Paris, 1850 les Romans de
; la Table Ronde. 1 vol. Paris, 1860, 3rd ed. ; Myrdhinn
ou V Encha»teur Merlin, son histoire, ses oeuvres, son injluence. Paris, 1862 (actually
printed, 1861).
 —

XCVI THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE [§ ^•

Modern criticism rejects the ballads relating to Marzin the

Bard ^ and Marzin the Enchanter, and pronounces them " im-
positions, of which," as Mr. Phillimore assures me, "no original
or basis has been found in the country." The authenticity of
the Barzaz-Breiz, as a whole, has been the subject of consider-
able discussion, but the question does not belong here.^ We
are chiefly concerned to know that the literature of Brittany
is scarcely older than the fifteenth century,^ and that it main-
tained its precarious existence only by borrowing from the
Latin and the French.* TVe cannot deny the possible existence
of Armorican literary documents more ancient than any now
extant, but we are quite in the dark as to what they may have
contained concerning Merlin. Even though we were to grant
that the ballads on Marzin, instead of being modern forgeries,
are based on genuine Breton traditions, we should find them
of little service for our purpose. Considered as contributions to
folklore they would then possess a certain degree of interest,
but the assistance they would render in determining out of what
materials our romance was formed would be exceedingly slight.-^

1 Villemarque asserted the forged poem on Marzin the Bard to he earlier than
the age of chivalry, and to belong to a time between the sixth and the tenth century.
San-Marte, on the other hand, was inclined to refer it to the fourteenth century
{Sa^en von Merlin, p. 230), and to regard it, along with the short poem on Marzin
the Enchanter, as an interesting proof that Merlin was known in a twofold character
among a people who, like the insular Britons, regarded Merlin as one of their own
countrymen.
Anyone interested in this question may study it
2 in the following discussions:
(I) Le Men, Atheneeum, April 11, 1868, p. 527. (2) D'Arbois de Jubainville,
£ibl. de V hole des Charles, 3« ser. t. iii. p. 265-281 ; t. v. p. 621 ... . (3) Idem.
Mev. Archeol. t. xx. (4) Idem. Rev. Critique, 16 Fevr. and 23 Nov. 1867, 3 Oct.
1868. (5) Liebrecht, Gott. Gelehrte Anzeigen, 7 April, 1869. (6) Jubainville,
Encore un mot sur le Barzaz-Breiz, Paris, 1873. (7) Rev. Celtique, t. ii. (8) Sayce,
Science of Language, ii. p. 86.
3 "W. D. "Whitney, in Language and the Study of Lang. p. 218, says that one or
two brief works go back to the fourteenth century, or even farther.
* Jubainville, La Litt. Celtique, vol. i. Introduction, p. 42.
"We are dealing primarily with origins, but we may note that Merlin figures in a
5

Breton drama entitled Buhez Santez JS'onn, or Life of Samte Nonne and of her son
St. Levy (F. Michel, Vita Mertim, p. Ixxxiii.), and that very recently Louise d'Isole
 ;

§ v] EARLY FORMS OF THE LEGEND. XCVII

III. In the face of these facts we must therefore confine our

attention to the remaining branch of Celtic literature — the
Cymric or "Welsh. This, however, affords us much less light

than might be desired. The most detailed accounts of Merlin

Ambrosius^ that we find in Welsh literature are contained in

the so-called. Bruts,^ but these need detain us only a moment

for we need no longer refute Villemarqu^'s opinion^ that the

has brought ont a poem entitled Merlin, poeme breton, 2« ed. revue et corrigee, avec
une preface de Louis Frechette, Paris, 1877, 12mo. The JSuhez Santez Nonn has been
recently edited with a translation in the Revue Celtique.
^ Or Myrddin Emrys. In referring to Welsh literature I shall usually adopt this
spelling. On name Mr. E. G. B. Phillimore sends me the following
the form of the
note :
— " The only possible variant
in modern Welsh is Myrddin Emrais. Ambrosius
makes both Emrys and Emrais in Welsh in Middle and Old Welsh these would
:

be written with an i or y, or even an e for the y,

and a regular ei with a possible
variant e modern ai of course, some people archaic purists wfio despise
for the ; —
—
the modem ai would spell Emreis now. As to Myrddin, it is the only form
in current Welsh. Bd in modern Welsh is equal to the th in the, that, this,
etc. In Old and Middle Welsh they had practically no character for it the ;

barred d (p, ^ or the like) occurring, but being very rare. In the sixteenth and
seventeenth centuries both the 'S and the dh were used, but finally disused for the dd.
For the y of Myrddin, e, i, or y would be used in Old and Middle Welsh. The
sound is that of French mute e in the oldest Welsh would probably be written o,
:

but Mordin does not occur. It was often written j from the sixteenth to the eighteenth
century by certain scholars and writers. Myrdin is simply the Middle Welsh
orthography. Marzin is Yillemarque's deliberate Bretonization of the word. They
have not the sound of d in Breton, except, I believe, in one or two sub-dialects :

z takes the place in usual Breton of both sounds, th in the, and th in thing. The
barred '5 of Professor Rhys' Hibbert Lectures is meant to guide people who are
puzzled by the barbarous Welsh dd. Nor have they in Breton the " obscure " sound
of Welsh J ; so Villemarque altered it into a, their nearest sound. Skene's Welsh
orthography is not consistent. He uses modern, Middle, and Old Welsh forms
promiscuously and indiscriminately."
2 Mr. Phillimore notes that Brut is derived, not from an originally Welsh
'
'

word, but from the word Brutus through Norman- French or English. It was
used to mean a chronicle in these languages, and derived from Brutus, as in Wace's
Brut. meant a chronicle beginning with Brutus or the like. The
Originally it

history of the transference of the word to Welsh is all that is obscure. In Ehys
and Evans' Bruls from the Red Book of Hergest (Oxford, 1890), this question is
gone into in a note in the preface. The word Brut for a chronicle occurs in Welsh
before it does in EngHsh MSS., but that proves nothing."
' Romans de la Table Ronde,
p. 25; V
Enchanteur Merlin, note, p. 99. San-
Marte, however, held the same opinion. Die Sagen von Merlin, p. 16 and strangely ;

enough, de la Borderie {Hist. Brit, attribuee a Neimius, p. 35) refers to " le Brut
er Brenined (x* siecle) et son amplificateur latin, Geoffroi de Monmouth (xii^ siecle)."
 — —

XCVIII THE DEVTELOPMENT OF THE [§ ^•

Brut y Brenhinoedd (or the Brut Tysilio) was the British original
of Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia. This, like the other
Bruts, is later ^ than Geoffrey of Monmouth, and obviously
based upon his work.^
The Welsh Triads make mention of Myrddin, but they are
of no great importance for our purpose. The details are dis-

cussed in the footnote.^

Mr. Phillimore remarks that " er Brenined is a gross blunder for y Brenhinoedd —
the usual plural of Brenin *a king' — though Brenhinedd also occurs in Middle
Welsh ; y means the ; er does not exist."
1 P. Paris, RotKans de la Table Bonde, i. 38 ; G. Paris, Jtomania,^. 373 ; Encyc.
Brit. 9th ed., art. Celtic Lit.
2 De la Borderie, Les Veritables Proph. de Merlin, p. 75, p. 124.
3 On the Triads Mr. Phillimore sends me the following note :

"The Triads simply consist of parts or characters taken from early (pre-serenth
century) Cymric, and rarely Cornish, history and legend grouped by threes according to
some salient characteristic, e.g. '
The three liberal kings were so and so,' etc. ;
'
The
three felon axe-blows were so and so,' etc." " There are several collections of the
Triads, the two MSS. of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries (call
oldest existing in
these two a and b),and others (with a few new ones not found in a and b) in MSS.
of the fifteenth century. All or most of these collections were pieced together by
Kobert Vaughan, of Hengwrt, the great Welsh collector of MSS., who died about
1667. He used some versions of the fifteenth century, which have never been
published, and one at least which I cannot trace. Let us call this mosaic {c). 'Now,
sometime tvhen it cannot exactly be said, but between 1600 and 1800 some one —
got hold of a great many — not all— of the old versions of the Triads,and also of a
later (probably fifteenth -century) compilation called the '
Triads of the Twenty-four
Knights,' and served them up with much additional detail and verbiage, and
occasionally with important .new matter, mostly not found elsewhere. This version,
the fullest of all, was first printed in the Myvyrian Archaiology, vol. 2, and no
MS. of it older than the eighteenth century is known to exist, though I do not
believe that it was then concocted. Call this {d). Xow {d) is often known, most
misleadingly, as ' The Welsh Triads ' or ' The Welsh Historical Triads ' par
excelUnce. I may add that — 1. Robert Vaughan's piecework version {c) ; 2. the
Eed Book and 3. the late or spurious rechauffee version {d),
of Hergest version (i) ;

are printed in this order in the Myvyrian Archaiology, and are thence quoted by
Ehys in his Hibbert Lectures as Versions 1, 2, 3, respectively (J has since been
printed with absolute correctness).
Now, with this light let us come to what Skene says (and de la Borderie
purports to quote or refer to in Les Veritables Propheties de Merlin). In Celtic

Scothnd, vol. I. pp. 23, 24, we read :

'
Among the Welsh documents which are
usually founded upon as affording materials for the early history of the country,
there is one class of documents contained in the Myvyrian Archaiology which cannot
be accepted as genuine. The principal of them are the so-called Historical Triads,
which have been usually quoted as possessing undoubted claims to antiquity under
 :

^
^- 1 EARLY FORMS OF THE LEGEND. XCTX

A word ought to be given to the Mabinogion, though we

really get from them no light on Myrddin. These are a
collection of prose tales, a number of which tell of Arthur and
the knights of his court. Merlin (Myrddin) is not mentioned

the name of ike Welsh Triads .... In a former work [p. 24] the author in
reviewing these documents [the said Triads and others with which we have nothing
to do here, many of which were certainly not concocted in the eighteenth century
as Skene thought] merely said, " It is not unreasonable, therefore, to say that they
must be received with some suspicion, and that very careful discrimination is
required in the use of them." He does not hesitate now to reject them as entirely
spurious.' Skene here appends a footnote (Xo. 15) with the very reservation which
de la Borderie ignores —
See Four Ancient Books of Wales, voL I. pp. 30-32.
'

In rejecting the "Welsh Triads which have been so extensively used, the author
excepts those Triads which are to be found in ancient MSS., such as the Triads of
the Horses in the Black Book of Caermarthen ; those in the Hengwrt MS. 536,
printed in the Four Ancient Books of Wales, voL II. p. 457 ; and those in the
Red Book of Hei^est.'
Skene says also in the work cited, I. p. 172, in a note (No. 11) : 'The author
confines himself as much as possible to Welsh documents before his [Geoflfrey of
Monmouth's] time, and the so-called Historical Triads he rejects as entirely
spurious.' Also at pp. 195, 196 he says (end of p. 195) The Welsh Triads say :
'

that the Picts came from Llyehlyn, which is Scandinavia.' .... (p. 196 end)
'
The Welsh Triads which contain the passage referred to may now be regarded
as spurious.' The passage referred to, with much other ethnological matter, occurs
in {d), but in no other collection of Triads. Skene further says in note 50 on p. 197 :

'
Neither does he refer to the so-called Historic Triads, because he consider^ them
spurious; but among the genuine " Triads of Arthxu: and his Warriors"' [these
are those contained in the Hengwrt MSS. 54 and 536]. '/5. [in the Four Ancient
Books of Wales'] vol. II. p. 457, there is one to this effect :
" Three oppressions
came to this island and did not go out of it " '
(p. S).
What Skene means, and what I mean, bygenuine ' is, that the authors wrote
'

down which they found to hand by spurious,' that the

actual tradition or legend ;
'

authors invented some at least of what they record, out of their own heads. The
genuine Triads do not purport to be written at any particular dat€. The oldest
MSS. are of about 1225 and 1275 for {a), and 1300-1325 for (J), but contain
archaisms and errors of transcription which carry them back each, say, from fifty
to a hundred years in their present form. But how much older some of the Triads
may or may not be no one can say Of course {d) is genuine in so far as it copies
!

the older Triads, which it mostly does. Some of its additions and alterations
are demonstrably spurious, and the rest cannot be relied upon unless and until
corroborated from other sources which have not the same taint."
In the light of Mr. PhilHmore's remarks we note that we have two Triads
relating to Merlin, both from version {d).
The first I quote is No. 125, which " is entirely peculiar to (^." This enumerates :

'
Three principal bards of the Isle of Britain, Myrddin Emrys, Myrddin, son of
'

Morvryn, Taliessin, chief of the bards." Cf. also J. Loth, Les Mabinogion, II.
C THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE t§
'^'

by name, but the combat of the white with the red dragon is

found in the story of Llud and Llevelis, much the same as in

Nennius and Geoffrey of Monmouth. Criticism has not yet

said the last word with regard to the age and authenticity of
these tales.^ But the three romances of Owein and Lunet,
Feredur ab Evrawc, Geraint and Enid, agree in many essentials

with the three French romances of Chrestien de Troyes, —the

Chevalier au Lyon, Perceval le Gallois, Erec et Enid, — all of
which were produced in the last half of the twelfth century.^

Still, according to Loth,^ " the three Mahinogion are no more

p. 268 ; F. Michel, Vita Merlini, p. xvi. ; and The Ancient Laws of Cambria,
translated from the "Welsh by William Probert, 1823, p. 413, Triad 125.
The second " Three complete disappearances from the isle of
{d) (No. 10) tells of :

Prydein .... the second is Emrys Wledig, and of

that of Myrddin, the bard of
his nine Cylveidd, who directed their way by sea toward the House of Glas." Cf.

J. Loth, Les Mahinogion, II. pp. 277, 278. This Triad, as Mr. Phillimore
observes, "takes. and amplifies one subordinate incident from (a), copied thence in
(c), No. 34 ; but everything concerning Merlin is only in {d). Nor does difancoll
mean necessarily '
complete disappearances '
: col is a loss, not a disappearance, and
difancoll {difangoll now) means utter loss,' whether disappearance or destruction.
'

The Isle of Britain was the consecrated term for the undivided Britondom of the
sixth and seventh centuries."
These two Triads just quoted are very Mr. PhUlimore's opinion, late, and, in

worthless. He adds: " The only works which I can find

allusion to Merlin or his
in the genuine Triads are in the Triads of Hengwrt MSS. 54 and 536, Skene's
Four Ancient Books of Wales, ii. 265 —
The third (concealment and disconcealment
'
'^

of the Isle of Britain was) the dragons which Llud, son of Beli, buried (al. concealed)
in Dinas Emreis, in Eryni.' (Eryni roughly answers to Snowdonia.) There is the
same statement in one of the Red-Book Triads but nothing more that I can find." ;

a '
' This is not the best word, but it means the uncovering of what has been
concealed."

1 Mr. Phillimore says of the Mahinogion, that they are conceded to be Celtic,
" excepting the versions of Ywein, Perceval, and Erec, and perhaps the Llud and
Llevelis. The stories and incidents are purely Celtic, though here and there you
will get a lay figure dragged in from France, as you will from Ireland and other
non-Welsh countries. I dare say the manner of telling the Tales may have been
indirectly influenced by the French story-tellers, but that is the utmost. As for

Llud and Llevelis, it occurs intercalated in some of the Welsh translations or

adaptations of Geoffrey of Monmouth, but is a Welsh addition to the Latin of the
original text."
2
Cf. Loth, Zes Mahinogion, i. p. 13 ;
also G. Paris, Hist. Litt. de la France, xxx.
' Les Mahinogion, i. p. 15.
 ^

§
v] EARLY FORMS OF THE LEGEND. CI

translated from Chretien de Troyes than the poems of Chretien

de Troyes are translated or imitated from them. They all

mount to one common source, that is to say, the French

romances written in England and based upon British legends ;

the originals have disappeared, and we have preserved nothing

of them but mutilated imitations. It would perhaps be going
too far to affirm that the three Mahinogion are literally trans-
lated from the French, but it is very evident that they follow
closely a French source. As for the primitive basis of these

tales, it is generally admitted to be of Celtic origin. The Celtic

legends of the country of Wales were early known by the
Normans after the conquests of England."
I have touched upon the Mahinogion, not because the tales
yield us much information with regard to Merlin (Myrddin),
but because they yield so little. It is certainly rather sur-
prising that a long series of Celtic stories, several of which tell

us of Arthur, should make no reference to the great Merlin

(Myrddin), unless, indeed, some one chooses to see in this very
fact a slight confirmation of the historical character of the bard
Myrddin of the sixth century, who had not (as one might
urge) been invested in genuine works of Celtic imagination
with the legendary character that the enchanter Merlin assumes
in the Latin chronicles and the French romances.
There remain to be examined the Welsh poems that contain
allusions to Myrddin. If we accept these poems as genuine

works of the sixth century, we have nothing more than a few

obscure fragments, the full import of which is perhaps even yet
not rightly interpreted.
The publication of Old "Welsh texts is comparatively recent.
It began in 1764, when the Rev. Evan Evans brought out his
Specimens of the Poetry of the Ancient Welsh Bards. Twenty
years later, Edward Jones published his Musical and Poetical

^
Cf. SkcDC, Four Ancient Books of Wales, i. pp. 4-18.
 —

ClI THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE [§ V.

Belies of the Welsh Bards. Following this work appeared in

1792 Dr. Owen Pughe's collection, The Heroic Elegies and other
Pieces of Llyioarch-Hen. The first really important publication
of old Welsh poems was made in the year 1801, when the first
two volumes of the Mijujrian Archaiology (sic) of Wales were
published by Owen Jones, a London Edward Williams
furrier,

(lolo Morganwg) a stone-mason, and William Owen, later known

as William Owen Pughe. A third volume followed in 1807.^
The lively controversy which at once arose over these poems
helped on doubtless by the recollection of the extravagant
claims made for MacPherson's pseudo- Gaelic Ossian — was
for a time brought to an end by the publication in 1803
of Sharon Turner's Vindication of the genuineness of the Ancient
British Poems of Aneiirin, Taliessin, Llyivarch-Hen, and Myrd-
din, though, as Gaston Paris remarks, he really proved nothing.
Since Turner's day critical opinion has vibrated between alter-
nate acceptance and rejection of these poems. Yillemarque,
althouarh a strenuous defender of the Celtic origin of the
Merlin (Myrddin) legend, preferred to regard Brittany as

the orisrinal home of the bard, and did not hesitate to

affirm that none of the poems attributed to Myrddin could

be accepted as genuine.^ In 1849 Thomas Stephens pub-
lished a careful study of these old poems in his Literature of

the Kymry. He, too, refused to accept any of the poems as

genuine products of the sixth century.^ Still more careful and

critical was the investigation of the entire subject of early
Welsh by W. F. Skene in the Four Ancient Books of
literature

Wales (1868). Here appeared all of the texts of the poems in

'
The whole reprinted in one volume, royal 8vo. Denbigh, 1861, and in one
volume, small 4to. Denbigh, 1870.
» " On ne peut pas citer une seule piece, une seule strophe originale de ce barde :

toutes portent des traces nombreuses de remaniements."—

Yillemarque, Poemes des

Bardes Bretons, q. v.
3
Cf. Skene, Four Ancient Books of Wales, i. 12.
 !

§ ^0 EARLY FORMS OF THE LEGEND. CIII

question with a literal translation/ and a series of critical

dissertations on the genuineness of the poems. This was the
first discussion of the matter on the basis of a really critical
text. Mr. Skene's investigations led him to the following
conclusions :
" That the bards to whom these poems are in the

main attributed are recorded as having lived in the sixth

century, is certain. We have it on the authority of the
Genealogia^ attached to Nennius, written in the eighth century.^
That this record of their having lived in that age is true we
have every reason to believe, and we may hold that there were
such bards as Taliessin, Llywarch-Hen, and Myrddin at that
*
early period, who were believed to have written poems."
Mr. Skene is recognized as a foremost authority on this
question, but his views have not won entire acceptance.-^ Yet
even if we accept all the poems as genuine and ancient, and
include the interpolations as well as the evidently spurious
poems rejected by Mr. Skene, we have but a shadowy outline
of the personality of the Bard Myrddin. For the sake of

' By the Rev. D. Silvan Evans and the Rev. Robert Williams ef. i. 7-1". :

* The passage referred to is found in the ordinary editions of Xennius, sec. 62.
•'
At that time Talhaiarn Cataguen was famed for poetry, and Neirin and Taliesin
and Bluchbard and Cian, who is called Guenith Gnant, were all famous at the
same time in British poetry " (Gunn's translation, edited by J. A. Giles) There .

is no mention of Myrddin in Nennius. Mr. Phillimore adds that "Llywarch-Hen

is not mentioned either by the author of the Genealogia.'
'
The old identification of
Llywarch (Old "Welsh Loumarch or Leumarch) with Bluchbard is too insane
et ISeirin is a mistranslation of the "Welsh Aneirin, a in "Welsh meaning and. The
MSS. read Tat Agueti, not Catagtttyi (modem Welsh Tad Aicen, Pater Poeseos).
Guenith Guant, now Gwenith Gwawd. The Genealogia attached to Xennius have
'
'

nothing to do with Xennius. They were merely accidentally tacked on an edition

of Nennius represented by only four very nearly related M SS. They are a distinct
work entirely."
3 On
this date compare onr discussion of Xennius, ante.
Four Ancient Books, i. 184.
*

*
Cf. for example, the article on Celtic Literature in the Eneye. Brit. 9th ed.
1876. G. Paris remarks on these poems —
" Je suis tres porte, pour ma part, a
croire qu'il n'y a rien d'authentiqne du tout, mais on ne pourra le decider que quand
on aura applique a ces productions bizarres 1' instrument de la critique philologique.*'
— Romania, xii. 375.
 —

CIV THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE [J

"'^•

we can perhaps hardly do better than to take up in

clearness
order each of theWelsh poems that in any way refers to
Myrddin. Of these poems eight have been attributed to ^

Myrddin but they are not all accepted as genuine by either

;

Mr. Skene or M. de la Borderie nor do these two eminent ;

critics exacth' agree with each other as to what is genuine

and what is spurious.
These differences of opinion as to just which of these poems
were indubitably composed in the sixth century are not re-

assuring to one who naturally defers to the judgment of

recognized specialists in things Celtic. In such a case a lay-
man can hardly do more than silently to place the conflicting
opinions side by side, and move on. In our examination we
may best begin with the two poems that are least doubtful
The Dialogue hetween Myrddin and Taliessin, and the Avallenau}
I. — The Dialogue between Myrddin and Taliessin adds but
little to our knowledge. Its chief importance for our purpose

is that it helps to establish the existence of a bard bearing

the name Myrddin.^ He is represented as talking with
Taliessin concerning the battle of Arderydd, and expressing
sadness at the slaughter.^

'
Cf. de la Borderie's list in Les Veritables Proph. de Merlin, p. 57 (ed. 1884),
with that given by F. Michel, Vita Merlini, pp. liv., Iv. Also Skene, Four Ancient
Books of Wales, i. p. 222.
2 Skene, Four Ancient Books of Wales, i. pp. 222, 223 de la Borderie, Zes ;

Veritables Froph. de Merlin, p. 116. De la Borderie remarks also, p. 81 " Quoi —

qu'il en soit, dans le Dialogue de Taliesin et de Merlin et dans les Afallenau du
Livre JSoir, nous avons (nous croyons 1' avoir prouve) deux poemes historiques fort
curieux, dont I'authenticite', I'attribution a Merlin, ne sauraient soufirir plus de
diflSculte que celle des poemes attribues jusqu'ici sans contestation serieuse —par
M. Stephens lui-meme— a Lywarch-Hen et a Taliesin."
3
Cf. J. Loth, Les Mabinogion, ii. p. 268, note.
* It -will be instructive to put, side by side, the translation of the Dialogue betu-em
Myrddin and Taliessin, as given by Davies^ and followed by San-Marte,'> and the
translation of the same, as given in Skene's Four Ancient Books of Wales." A few
specimens will suffice.

» Myihol. p. 549. •> Die Sagen von Merlin, pp. 138-140. <^
Vol. i. pp. 368-370.
This tianslation is by Eev. D. Silvan Evans. (See i. 17.)
 — ! — —

« V-] EARLY FORMS OF THE LEGEND. CV

In the sixth stanza Taliessin speaks :

" The host of Maelgwn, it was fortunate that they came

Slaughtering men of battle, penetrating the gory plain,

Even the action of Ardderyd [Arderydd], when there will be

a crisis,

Continually for the hero they will prepare."

In the eleventh stanza Myrddin says :

" Seven-score generous ones have gone to the shades ;

In the wood of Celyddon they came to their end.

Since I, Myrd[d]in, am next after TaKessin,
Let my prediction become common."

The Avallenau, observes Mr. Skene, contains passages

II.

(already pointed out by Stephens), " which could not have

Daties. Skexe.
Mt/rddin. Myrddin.
1. — How great my sorrow ! How woful How sad with me, how sad I

has been the treatment of Kedwy and Have Cedwyv and Cad van perished ?
the boat ! Unanimous was the assault, Glaringandtumultuouswasthe slaughter;
with gleaming swords. From the Perforated was the shield from TrjTvniyd
piercing conflict, one shield escaped. [Tryfrwydd].*
Alas, how deplorable

Taliessin. Taliessin.

II. —It was Maelgwn, whom I saw, with It was Maelgwn that I saw combating.
piercing weapones (sic) before the His household before the tumult of the
master of the fair herd. His master host is not silent.

will not be silent.

Myrddin. Myrddin.
III. — Before the two personages they Before two men in Xevtur will they land.
land in the celestial circle — before the Before Errith and Gurrith on a pale
passing form, and the fixed form over white horse.
the pale white boundary. The grey The slender bay they will imdoubtedly
stones they actually remove. Soon is bear away.
Elgan and his retinue discovered — for Soon will his retinue be seen with Elgan.
his slaughter, alas ! how great the Alas ! for his death a great journey they
vengeance that ensued ! came.

» " This is the Trifruit of Nennius."- E. G. P.

CVI THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE [§ V.

been written prior to the time of Henry II. " but these ;

passages seem to be " interpolations in an older poem." ^ At

best we learn from this poem very little about the personality
of the bard,2 though more than from any other of the Welsh
poems.^
In addition to these two poems there are a few others
of more doubtful age and authenticity, which mention
Myrddin and ascribe to him various qualities.

III. — The Porchellanau or Hoianau —one of the poems of

1 Four Anc. Books, ii.

pp. 316, 317. Cf. de la Borderie, Les Verit. Proph. de
Merlin, pp. 62. Skene's test of the Avallenau contains 86 lines; San-Marte's, Die
Sagen von Merlin, pp. 62-78, has 185 lines.
2 To avoid repetition I mil cite nothing at this point from this poem, as 1 have
reserved it for comparison with the Vita Merlini.
* M. de la Borderie {Les Veritahles Proph. de Merlin, p. 72) gives the following
account of the Avallenau :
—
" Le barde nous apprend qu'il a ete riche, honore par le
roi Gwend[d]oleu, guerrier vaillant dans la foret de Kelyddon et portant le collier d'or
a la bataille d'Arderyd[d] connu les enivrements de 1' amour et s'est, avec une
;
qu'il a
jeune fille, promene autour de la tige du pommier tant ce'lebre dans ses vers, c'est-a-
dire a la cour du roi, pere du jeune exile dont il annonce le retablissement (ci-dessus,
St. 4, 5, 7). Puis sont venus les jours mauvais. Gwend[d]oleu, son protecteur, ne
s'est plus trouve en etat de soutenir sa fortune. Merlin a eu le malheur de causer la
mort du tils de Gwendyz, que Ton croit avoir etc sa soeur et la femme de E[h]yd[d]erch.
De la le disgrace ou il est torabe vis-a-vis de E[h]yd[d]erch, de ses serviteurs et de
Gwendyz ; disgrace qui I'afflige profondement. Ces chagrins et ces malheurs ont
fiui par lui deranger I'esprit. II a erre — ou bien il a cru errer— longtemps et
peniblement, parmi les tenebres et en corapagnie des spectres, dans la foret de
Kelyddon. Aussi appelle-t-il maintenant la mort, esperant ainsi entrer dans le
cortege splendide du roi des rois (st. 4, 5, 6, 7). II semble toutefois reprendre
raison, vie et espoir, en songeant au triomphe prochain du jeune prince en qui, nous
le repetons il y a tout lieu de voir le fils ou I'heritierde Gwend[d]oleu. Tin point a
noter Merlin ne parle point de sa vieillesse.
: Or, quand ils atteignaient cet age, les

—
bardes bretons du VI« siecle par exemple Lywarch-Hen ne cessaient de le dire et de —
geindre sur leurs cheveux blancs, quelquefois en tres beaux vers, mais sans jamais
craindre de se repeter.
Done [!] Merlin n'etaitpas vieux quand il faisait sa piece des Pommier s [Avalle-
nau] plusieurs annees apres la bataile d'Arderyd[d]."

The argument that Myrddin could not have been old because he does not talk
some other bard is certainly a surprising one.
precisely like "We have at most but
a few lines with which to construct the entire portrait of Myrddin and from the ;

purely negative considerations presented by M. de la Borderie we are not warranted

in drawing so important an inference.
 — — —— ;

V-] EAKLY FORMS OF THE LEGEND.

§ CVII

the Black Book of Caermarthen — is rejected by Mr. Stephens

and Mr. Skene as being spurious and late. Like the Avallenau,
it contains passages not earlier than the time of Henry 11.,^

and really contains nothing to warrant it in being placed

earlier than Geoffrey of Monmouth. De la Borderie, however,
regards it as containing a few fragments of Merlin's (Myrddin's)
work imbedded in a mass of interpolations.-
Myrddin is not mentioned by name in the form, but there
is a prediction that,

"All the Cymry will be under the same warlike leader

His name is Llywelyn, of the line

Of Gwynedd, one who will overcome." Stanza I.

And the speaker says of himself :

'
' Little does R[h]ydderch Hael know to-night at his feast

What sleeplessness last night I bore ;

The snow was up to my knees owing to the wariness of the chief,

Icicles hung to my hair sad is my fate " Stanza X.
: !

*'
Thin is my covering, for me there is no repose,
Since the battle of Ardderyd [Arderydd] it will not concern me,
Though the sky were to fall, and sea to overflow." Stanza xxv.^

lY. Dialogue between Myrddin and his sister Gwenddydd^

(the Cyvoesi).

1 Four Ancient Books of Wales, ii. 316. Mr. Skene also remarks, i. 209, that the
poem "must have been composed either in whole or in part in the reign of
Henry II."
* Les Verit. Proph. de Merlin, p. 100, p. 116. A little earlier he remarks, p. 95 :

" Force nous est done d'admettre I'existence d'un poeme primitif des Boianau, ceuvre
de Merlin, envahi aux xi^ et xii'^ siecles par des interpolations successives qiu, s'etendant
de proche en proche d'une strophe a I'autre, ont fini par devorer et detruire la piece
entiere."
For the entire poem see Four Anc. Books, i. 482.
3

The English translator spells the name of the bard Myrdin. De la Borderie
*

spells the name of the sister Gwendyz —

Les Veiit. Proph. de Merlin, p. 57. Mr.
Phillimore remarks that the name should have been Bretonized Gwenzyz.
 — — ;

CVIIl THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE t§

'^•

If we could accept this dialogue as genuine,^ we should get

considerable information from it with regard to Myrddin, but
in all probability it is a late piece of work, and consequently
of little value for our purpose. Some of the passages are
instructive, in that they show how little we learn from these
Welsh poems even when they are most specific ^

Mykddin II. Since the action of Ardderyd [Arderydd] and Erydon,

Gwend[djydd, and all that will happen to me,
Dull of understanding, to what place of festivity
shall I go ?

GwENDDTDD III. I will address my twin-brother ^

Myrd[d]in, a wise man and a diviner.

M. XII. As Gwenddoleu was slain in the bloodshed of

Ardderyd [Arderydd],
And I wonder why I should be perceived.
G. XIII. Thy head is of the colour of winter hoar
God has relieved thy necessities.

' Mr. Skene, Four Anc. Books, i. pp. 234-241, rejects it as spurious, and adds:
"The form of the prophecy in the Hoianau is obviously the same as that in the
third part of the Cyvoesi, which I consider to have been produced in South "Wales
in the twelfth century." And de la Borderie in turn observes " A nos yeux, si :

I'on excepte les quinze dernieres stances (117-131), dont nous parlerons plus loin,
les Kyvo'isi estune insipide rapsodie chronologique fabriquee au xii^ ou au xiii«
siecle les yeux Nennius, Geoffroi de Monmouth,
par un barde pedant, qui avait sous
Caradoc de Lancarvan." Les Ve'ril. Proph. de Merlin, pp. 83, 84.
* For the entire poem see Four Anc. Books, i. 462 sqq. The Eoman numerals
in the passages I quote refer to the stanzas.
^ On this passage the Rev. T. Price [Literary Remains, i. 143, quoted in Four
Arte. Books, ii. 424) has an important remark: "It is worthy of note that
Gwenddydd in this dialogue addresses Myrddin by the appellation of Llallogan, twin-
..."
brother Now this will explain a passage in the Life of St. Kentigern, in
which it is said that there was Hael a certain idiot named
at the court of li[h]ydderch
Laloicen who uttered predictions. " In curia ejus quidam homo fatuus vocabulo
Laloicen " and in the Scotichronicon it is stated that this Laloicen was Myrddin
;

Wyllt. By connecting these several particulars, we find an air of truth cast over the
history of this bard, as regards the principal incidents of his life, and there can be no
reason to doubt that some of the poetry attributed to him was actually his composition."
Mr. "Ward also touches upon the same matter in discussing Cott. MS. Titus A.
lii. " The prose narrative (at f 74) of the meeting of Merlin and St. Kentigern
.

(or St. Mungo, the patron saint of Glasgow) may perhaps belong to the imperfect
 ' —

i v.] EARLY FORMS OF THE LEGEND. CIX

M. nv. Heaven has brought a heavy affliction

On me, and I am ill at last.

G. xvn. Since thou art a companion and canon

Of Cullaith

M. Si. Since my reason is gone with the ghosts of the

mountain,
And I myself am pensive.

G. XXIV. Since Gwenddoleu was slain in the bloodshed of

Ardderyd [Arderydd], thou art fiUed with dismay.

G. T.TTT , Myrd[d]in fair, of fame-conferring song.

life of St. Kentigem which follows it (f. 765). This narrative has been abridged
by Walter Bower (or Bowmaker), last abbot of Inchcolm (d. 14i9), and inserted in

his enlarged edition of the Scotichronicon of John Fordun, lib. iii. cap. xxxi. (see

Royal 13, and Walter Goodall's edition, of 1759, vol. i. p. 135). But
E. x. f. 58,
Bower has omitted the pith of the story. Merlin does not receive the sacrament on
the first day of meeting but one day he comes to the " Mellodonor " (or Molen-
;

dinar) brook, near Glasgow, demanding the sacrament, and saying that his death is
at hand. He is asked three times how he will die, and each time gives a different
answer. Still, St. Kentigem is at last persuaded to administer the sacrament to
him. has happened, once upon a time, that he was caught and bound by the
Now it

petty king ("regulus") Meldredus; that he laughed at seeing the king take an
apple-leaf out of his wife's hair that he was promised freedom if he would state
;

the cause of his laughter, and that he then told of the queen's adultery in the
orchard. The queen, in revenge, ordered some shepherds to keep a look-out for him.
They him coming away from St. Kentigem, and pursue him with sticks and
see
stones. falls dying over a bank of the Tweed near Drumelzier, and is impaled
He
on a salmon-stake in the water. Thus he dies by the three deaths that he has
prophesied. The laugh at seeing the apple -leaf and the prophecy of the three
different deaths are stories introduced rate the poem but in the poem it is not his ;

own death that Merlin prophesies."

The prose " Eo qnidem in tempore quo beatus kentegemus heremi
narrative begins :

deserta frequentare solebat. contigit diequadam iUo in solitudinis arbusto solicite

orante. vt quidam demens nudus et hirsutus et ab omni bono destitutus. quasi
quidam toruum furiale transitum faceret secus eum qui lailoken vocabatur. quem
quidam dicunt fuisse Merlpnm." f. 74. It ends «'Porro opidum istud distat a :

Ciuitate Glascu quasi xxx** miliaribus. la cuius campo laUoken tumulatus quiescit.
Sude perfossus. lapidem perpessus. et vndam ?
'

Merlinos triplicem fertur inisse necem." f. 75b.

— Catalogue of Romances, i. p. 291.

The Acta Sanctorum for January tells us with regard to St. Kentigem :
" De
eius aetata id solum possumus statuere, vixisse seciilo a Cristi nativitate sexto, circiter

annum 560, nam tum S. Columba floruit, quem illius fuisse aequalem constat."
vol. i. p. 815.
 — ; ; —

ex THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE [§

"*'•

G. cxii. My twin-brotlier, since thou hast answered me,

Myrd[d]in, son of Morvryn the skilful,

Sad is the tale thou hast uttered.

M. cxxii. The Creator has caused one heavy affliction :

Dead is Morgeneu, dead is Mordav,

Dead is Morien : I wish to die.
G. cxxiii. My only brother, chide me not
Since the battle of Ardderyd [Arderydd] I am ill.

V. — Yscolan^ is the shortest of the eight poems sometimes

attributed to Myrddin, and is rejected as spurious both by
Mr. Skene and M. de la Borderie, though the latter believes

it to be a poem of the seventh century. But whatever its

age it tells us nothing at all about Myrddin.

VI. Prediction of Myrddin in his tonih}

This is unquestionably as late as the end of the thirteenth
century, and cannot be by Myrddin. In any case nothing
important is to be learned from a poem which tells us merely
" I have quaffed wine from a bright glass with the lords of

fierce war
My name is Myrd[d]in, son of Morvryn."

There remain a few fragments which call for a word of

comment. In the Booh of Taliessin {Four Anc. Books, i. 436)
we find by an unknown writer a single allusion^ to Myrddin
in the poem entitled The Omen of Prydein the Great,
" Myrd[d]in fortells these will meet, in. Aber Peryddon, the
stewards of the kings," 11. 17, 18.

The poem on the Birch-trees contains nothing at all on

Myrddin. It neither mentions his name nor alludes to him
in any way. Skene regards it as " one of the spurious

1 De Zes Veritables Froph. de Merlin, p. 100. p. 108. For the

la Borderie,
translation see Four Anc. Books, i. p. 518. Cf. also, ii. pp. 318, 319, note.
2 Called in the Four Anc. Books, i. 478, A
Fugitive Poem of Myrd[d]in in his Grave.
Cf. ii. p. 17 ; de la Borderie, Les Verit. Froph. de Mcrl. p. 116.
^
Cf. J , Loth, Zes Mabinogion, ii. p. 268.
§ ^l EARLY FORMS OF THE LEGEND. CXI

poems attributed to Myrddin which were composed in the

twelfth century.^ Last of all we have the poem called by

de la Borderie Lea Fouissetnents, which, besides being late,

adds nothing to our knowledge of Myrddin.

"We have now examined all of the extant "Welsh literature
that gives any hint as to the personality of Myrddin. We
have found the record scanty at the best, and of not too
convincing authenticity. Important is the fact that the
supernatural element is not introduced, though it may be
implied in the gift of prophecy. "We here see Myrddin
merely as a who laments in moving words
warrior-bard,
the death of his friends in battle. Our next step will take
us to the Latin Vita Merlini, which we must compare with
the "Welsh poems. We shall discover a few points of likeness,
but we must guard against overestimating the correspondences.
Where the resemblance is not purely accidental there is scarcely
enousrh to argue actual borrowingr.
In the Vita Merlini^ we find in the main a conception
of Merlin very difierent from that in Geoffrey's Historia.
This difference appears clearly in an analysis of the poem. If

' Four Anc. Books, ii. p. 334. Translation, i. p. 481. Cf. de la Borderie's
remarks on this and other poems of its class in Les Verit. Proph. de Merlin, p. 109.
^ Ward {Catal.
of Romances, i, p. 286) gives a very good summary of the contents,
but he does not bringout the fact that themad bard identifies himself (11. 681-683) with
the prophet who explained to Yortigem the combat of the two dragons. " The main
poem begins after the battle of Ardderyd [ Arderydd] which seems to have
action of this ;

been fought in a.d. 573, between the great chief of the Pagans iu Scotland, Gwend-
dolen,» on one side, and Maelgwn Gwynedd, E[h]ydderch Hael. and Aedan son of
Gafran, on the other. Gwenddolen* was killed E[h]ydderch established himself as
;

King and recalled St. Kentigern from Wales to become Bishop of

of Strathclyde,
Glasgow and Aedan was inaugurated King of Dalriada (Argyle and the Isles) by
;

St. Columba. The battlefield was near two small hUls, still called the Knows of
Arthuret, on the western bank of the Esk, about nine miles north of CarU-sle."
Cf. The Four Ancient Books of Wales, by "W. F. Skene. Edinburgh, 1868.
Vol. i. pp. 65-67. " Merlin is here described as a King of the South Welsh.
Guennolous, King of Scotland, is defeated by Peredurus, the leader of the North
Welsh, in conjunction with Merlin and Eodar, King of the Cambrians. Merlin,
though his side wins the day, goes mad at the sight of the slaughter, and flies into
the woods. He is enticed home by his wife Guendoloena, and by his sister Ganieda,
a [Guenddoleu.]
 —

CXII THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE [^ '^^

we take the facts in the life of Merlin in the order in which

they are presented in the Vita Merlini we find that he was

1. A king and prophet. 1. 21.

2. That he
" Demetarumque superbis,
lura dabat populis, ducibusque futura canebat." 11. 21, 22.

3. That in a strife between several princes,

" Yenerat ad bellum Merlinus cum Pereduro. 11. 31, 32.
E,ex quoque Cumbrorum Rodarchus." '

4. That at the sight of the slaughter,

" Hoc viso, MerKae, doles, tristesque per agruen. 1. 38.
Commisces planctus, tali quoque voce remugis."
Merlin breaks out into lamentation.

who is married to Rodarcus. Several wild incidents follow, but finally Ganieda
builds a great house in the woods for Merlin. Telgesinus (Taliessin) visits him and ;

they discourse together of the wonders of nature, and recall the day when they con-
veyed King Arthur in a boat steered by Barinthus (or Barrindeus, abbot of Druim-
cuiUin, and a friend of St. Brandan's) to ' Insula Pomorum ' (Avalon), where the
king's wounds were tended by Morgain and her sisters."
The Caledonian Forest, to which Merlin fled, is thus described by J. Rhys [Celtic
Britain, p. 225) : "The Caledonian Forest is found to have been located by Ptolemy
where there is every reason to suppose it really was, namely, covering a tract where
we are told that a thick wood and hazel must once have stretched from the
of birch
west of the district of Menteith, in the neighbourhood of Loch Lomond, across the
country to Dunkeld. It is this vast forest that probably formed, in part at least,
the boundary between the Caledonians and the Verturiones or the Brythons of
Fortrenn."
Skene [Four Anc. Books of Wales, i. 54) remarks: "The seventh battle [of
Arthur] was in sHva Caledonis, id est, Cat Coit Celidon
'
that is, the battle was so
' —
called, for Cat means a battle, and Coed Celyddon the Wood of Celyddon. This is
the Nemus Caledonis that Merlin is said, in the Latin Vita Merlini, to have fled to
after the battle of Ardderyth, and where, according to the tradition reported by
Fordun (B. iii. ch. xxvi.), he met Kentigern, and afterwards was slain by the shepherds
of Meldredus, a regulus of the country on the banks of the Tweed, prope oppidum '

Dunmeller.' Local tradition places the scene of it in Tweeddale, where, in the

parish of Drumelzier, anciently Dunmeller, in which the name of Meldredus is
preserved, is shewn the grave of Merlin. The upper part of the valley of the Tweed
was once a great forest, of which the forests of Selkirk and Ettrick formed a part,
and seems to have been known by the name of the Coed Celi/ddon.^'
See also Skene's Celtic Scotland, i. p. 86.

' V. R. Cambrorum.
 ; ; .

v.]
i EARLY FORMS OF THE LEGEND. CXIII

5. That Peredur and his companions vainly endeavour to

quiet Merlin :

" Solatur Peredurus eum, proceresque ducesque. 1. 68.

Nee vult solari nee verba preeantia ferre."

6. That after three days of weeping and fasting Merlin

flees to the forests, and becomes a wild man of the
woods, forgetful of himself and of his friends :

" lam tribus emensis defleverat ille diebus. 1. 70.

Respueratque cibos ; tantus dolor usserat ilium :

Inde novas furias, eum tot tantisque querelis

A era complesset, eepit, furtimque recidit

Et fugit ad silvas, nee vult fugiendo videri,
Ingrediturque nemus, gaudetque latere sub ornis;
Miraturque feras paseentes gramina saltus.

Nune has insequitur, nunc cursu praeterit illas.

Utitur herbarum radicibus ; utitur herbis ;

TJtitur arboreo fructo, morisque rubeti.

Pit Silvester homo, quasi silvis editus esset. 1. 80.
Inde per aestatem totam ; nullique repertus,
Oblitusque sui, cognatorumque suorum,
Delituit, silvis obductus more ferino.

At cum venit [h]yems herbasque tulisset et omnes

Arboreos fructus, nee quo frueretur haberet
Diffudit tales miseranda voce querelas."

7. That his complaints are heard by a passer-by who comes

from the court of Rodarchus :

" Ecee viatori venit obvius alter ab aula. 1. 121

Rodarchi regis Cumbrorum, qui Ganiedam
Duxerat uxorem, formosa coniuge felix.

Merlini soror ista fuit, easumque dolebat

Fratris, et ad silvas et ad arva remota clientes
Miserat, ut fratrem revocarent."

One said he had seen Merlin

"Inter dumosos saltus nemoris Calidonis."
 ; :

V.
CXIV THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE [§

8. That Merlin is persuaded to return to his wife and sister :

" Et veniunt pariter laetantes regis in urbem. 1. 214.

Ergo fratre suo gaudet regina recepto,

Proque sui reditu fit coniunx laeta mariti."

9. But that he shortly goes mad again :

" At postquam tantas hominuni IMerlinus adesse. 1. 221.

Inspexit turmas, nee eas perferre valeret

Cepit enim furias, iterumque furore repletus
Ad nemus ii'e cupit, furtimque recedere quaerit."

10. That after a time he flees again to the woods

" Et petiit silvas nullo prohibente cupitas." 1. 385.

Some time later he is again brought to Court.

11. That one day he utters various prophecies, and adds :

" Haec Yortigemo ceeini prolixus olim. 1. 681.

Exponendo duum sibi mistica bella draconum
In ripa stagni quando consedimus hausti."

12. That he then asks his sister to send for Telgesinus to

come to him ; and the two wise men discourse a

long time together on problems of nature :

" Quid ventus nimbusve foret," etc. 1. 734.

At 1. 982, Merlin begins with the betrayal of Constans, and

recounts the history of Titer and Ambrosius, Yortimer and
Arthur, and the treason of Modred. The story of Ygerne is

passed over in silence. This resume of the Historia extends

to 1. 1135.
In what follows (11. 1136-1529) we are told of the dis-

covery of a spring, by the drinking of the water of which

Merlin's reason was restored. Then follows a considerable
discourse with Telegesinus, and some prophecies.
The origin of a considerable part of the Vita Merlini is not
very difl&cult to trace. As Gaston Paris remarks :
" The author
mingles notices of geography and natural history borrowed
from classical writers with popular British tales, the greater
 — —

v.]
§ EARLY FORMS OF THE LEGE>D. CXV

portion of whicli are found elsewhere." ^ Exactly how much

of the material is Celtic is uncertain. There is a certain vague
correspondence between parts of the Vita and parts of the Aval-
lenau and the (spurious) Hoianau. Merlin has long conversa-
tions in the Vita with Telgesinus ; and Myrddin engages in
conversation with Taliessin in a short Welsh dialogue, probably
ancient. These correspondences may not be accidental, but
they are not so definite as to argue actual borrowing, to say
nothing of actual translation.^ Of course, Geoffrey uses names
that appear in Welsh literature, as for instance, in the following

passage ; but these had doubtless become common literary

property in his day :

1. 26. " Dux Yenedotorum Peredurus bella gerabat

Contra Guennoloum Scotiae qui regna regebat."

Peredur is referred to in one of the Gododin Poems of

* Eist. Liu. de la France, ixx. p. 5.

2 San-Marte (A. Schulz) very well points oat the general relations in which the
Vita Merlini stands to "Welsh literature, but he pushes his conclusions farther than
most careful critics can follow him. He remarks: " Als eine hesondere Eigenthiim-
lichkeit. zumal in dieser Zeit, wo schon die franzosische Romanpoesie sich Merlins
bemachtigt hatte, deren Kenntniss auch unserm Dichter nicht abgeht, ist jedoch
hervorzuheben, dass er [der Autor] wesentlich der walschen Tradition von Merlin
Caledonius anschliesst, und eine Kenntniss der walschen Literatur verrath, welche
man und englisch-normannischen Dichtem sehr selten findet.
bei den franzosischen
Er hat indess den Stoff und die Tradition nach seiner
zieralich frei behandelt,
Bequemlichkeit gestaltet. Merlin ist hier Prophet, aber auch zugleich Konig der
nordlichen Britten. Sein Gegner ist nicht, wie bei den Barden des dreizehnten
Jahrhunderts, der gegen ihn aufgehetzte Rhydderch (Rodarchus, dux Cumbrorum)
der vielmehr als Bundesgenosse auftritt, sondem Guennolous, Konig von Schottland,
der indess in der wahren wie fabelhaften Geschichte dieses Reiches vergebens
gesucht wird. Der Verlust dreier BriJder in der Schottenschlacht treibt ihn zum
Wahnsinn und wilden Leben im kaledonischen Walde. Ganieda, nicht Gwenddydd,
heisst seine Schwester, und Guendoloena seine Gattin, und der mythische Gwen-
doU au der Barden ist verschwunden, wie auch den mitauftauchenden Taliesin nicht
jener neodruidische Mysticismus desselben, sondem die Glorie klassischer "Wissen-
schaft umschwebt, deren Quellen nachzuweisen, fast iiberall uns gegliickt ist." Die
Sagen von Mei-lin, p. 272.
 ; — ;

CXVI THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE [^

"^•

Aneurin ^ (stanza 31), as "Peredur with steel arms," and lie

appears also in the Mahinogion as the hero of one of the tales.

It would be very difficult to prove that Geoffrey made ex-
tended use of any Welsh literature now extant. The following
passages from the Hoianau, the Avallenan, and the Vita contain
all the parallels I have been able to discover.

The Hoianau. Vita Meelini.

Stanza IX. Deficiunt nunc poma michi, nunc
To us there will be years and cetera quaeque.
long days, Stat sine f ronde nemus, sine fructu
And iniquitous rulers, and the plector utroque,
blasting of fruit. Cum neque fronde tegi valeo, neque
fructibus uti. — 11. 95-97.
Stanza XXIY.
The dales are my barn, my corn
is not plenteous
My summer collection affords me
no relief.

Stanza II.
Till Cynan^ comes to it, to see its Donee als Armorico veniet temone
distress, Conanus
Her habitations will never be EtCadwalladrusCambrorumdum'
restored. venerandus. — 11. 967, 968.

^ Skene, Four Anc. Books of Wales, i. p. 386.

2 Referring to the prophecy found in the Avallcnau and the Hoianmi of the
coming of Cadwaladyr and Cynan, Skene remarks [Four Anc. B<ioks, i. p. 241) :

'
' In the later form of the prophecy Cynan and Cadwaladyr come from Armorica.
Thus, in the Vita Merlini Geoffrey says :

The Britons their noble kingdom

Shall for a long time lose through weakness.
Until from Armorica Conan shall come in his car,
And Cadwaladyr, the honoured leader of the Cymry.

And the prophecy can only have assumed this shape after the fictitious narrative
of Cadwaladyr taking refuge in Armorica was substituted for his death in the
pestilence,and the scene of his return is placed in South "Wales, whence this form of
prophecy emerged." Mr. Phillimore suggests that Cadwaladyr is preferably
Cadwaladr.
2 For dux.
 — — ; —

$ ^l early forms of the legend. cxvii

The Avallenau. ^
Vita Meeijni.
I.

Sweet apple-tree of delightful Tres quater et iuges septenae

branches, poma ferentes
Budding luxuriantly, and shoot- Hie steterant mali ; nunc non
ing forth renowned scions. stant.- — 11. 90, 91.

I will predict before the owner of Machreu,

That in the valley of Machawy ^ on Wednesday there will be
blood,
Joy to Lloegyr of the blood-red blades.
Hear, little pig ! there will come on Thursday
Joy to the Cymry of mighty battles,

In their defence of Cymminawd, with their incessant sword-

thrusts.

On the Saxons there will be a slaughter with ashen spears,

And their heads will be used as balls to play with.

I prophesy truth without disguise,
The elevation of a child in a secluded part of the South.

II.

Sweet apple-tree, a green tree of luxurious growth,

How large are its branches, and beautiful its form !

And I wiU predict a battle that will make me shriek

At Pengwern, in the sovereign feast, mead is appropriate.

III.

Sweet apple-tree, and yellow tree,

Grow at Tal Ardd, without a garden surrounding it

' Black Book of Caennarthen, xviL Skene, Four Ancient Books of Wales,
i. pp. 370-373.
- San-Marte, in commenting on
1. 90 of the Vita Merli»i, remarks: "Tres
quattr. Die Zahl stimmt zwar nicht mit Avallenau i. doch ist die Beziehung daraut'
;

klar, und die Kenntniss jenes Gedichts beim Autor sicher vorauszusetzen." Die
Sagen von Merlin, p. 316. Doubtless most readers would like to feel as sure as
San-Marte.
Mr. Phillimore states: " The vale of the Machawy (now spelt Bachowey ') is
•'
'

in S. Radnorshire. A great battle was fought there near Pain's Castle, toward
the end of the twelfth century, and three thousand men were killed. See Giraldus
Cambrensis' works for this slaughter."
 : ; ; ;

CXVIII THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE [§ ^•

And I will predict a battle in Prydyn,

In defence of their frontier against the men of Dublin ;

Seven ships will come over the wide lake,

And seven hundred over the sea to conquer.

Of those that come, none will go to Cennyn,

Except seven half-empty ones, according to the prediction.

IV.

Sweet apple-tree that luxuriantly grows !

Food I used to take at its base to please a fair maid,

When, with my shield on my shoulder, and my sword on my

thigh,
I slept all alone in the wood of Celyddon.

Hear, little pig ; now apply thyself to reason,

And listen to birds whose notes are pleasant :

Sovereigns across the sea will come on Monday ;

Blessed will the Cymiy be, from that design.

Sweet apple-tree that grows in the glade !

Their vehemence will conceal it from the lords of Il[h]ydderch

Trodden it is around its base, and men are about it.

Terrible to them were heroic forms

Gwenddyd[d] loves me not, greets me not

I am hated by the firmest minister of E.[h]ydderch
I have ruined his son and his daughter.
Death takes all away, why does he not visit me ?

For after Gwenddoleu no princes honour me ;

I am not soothed with diversion, I am not visited by the fair ;

Yet in the battle of Ardderyd [Arderydd] golden was my

torques.

Though I am now despised by her who is of the colour of

swans.
VI.

Sweet apple-tree of delicate bloom,

That grows in concealment in the woods !

 ; ;

§
'^•1
EARLY FORMS OF THE LEGEND. CXIX

At break of day the tale was told me,

That the firmest minister is offended at my creed,

Twice, thrice, four times, in one day.

Jesus ! would that my end had come
Before the death of the son of Gwend[d]ydd happen on my hand I

VII.

Sweet apple-tree, which grows by the river side !

"With respect to it, the keeper will not thrive on its splendid
fruit.

"While my reason was not aberrant, I used to be around its

stem
"With a fair sportive maid, a paragon of slender form.

The AvALLEifAt;. Yita Meeleni.

Ten years and forty, as the toy of Et fugit ad silvas, nee vult
lawless ones, fugiendo videri,
Have I been wandering in gloom Ingrediturque nemus, gaudetque
and among sprites. latere sub omis
After wealth in abundance and Miraturque feras pascentes gra-
entertaining minstrels mina saltus.

I have been (here so long that) it Nunc has insequitur, nunc cursu
is useless for gloom and sprites praeterit illas.
to lead me astray. Utitur herbarum radicibus ; utitur
herbis
Utitur arboreo fructu, morisque
rubeti.
Fit Silvester homo, quasi silvis
editus esset,
Inde per aestatem totam ; nulli-
que repertus,
Oblitusque sui, cognatorumque
suorum,
DeHtuit, silvis obductus more
ferino.—11. 74-83.
 ; !
; ! —

cxx THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE [§T.

I will not sleep, but tremble on account of my leader,

My lord Gwenddoleu, and those who are natives of my country.

After suffering disease and longing grief about the "words* of
Celyddon,
May I become a blessed servant of the Sovereign of splendid

retinues

VIII.

Sweet apple-tree of delicate blossoms, which grows in the

soil amid the trees

The Sibyl foretells a tale that will come to pass

A golden rod of great value, will, for bravery,

Be given to glorious chiefs before the dragons ;

The diffuser of grace will vanquish the profane man ;

Before the child, bold as the sun in his courses,

Saxons shall be eradicated, and bards shall flourish.

IX.

The Avallexatt. YiTA Meelixi.

Sweet apple-tree, and a tree of

crimson hue,
Which grow in concealment in the
wood of Celyddon
Though sought for their fruit, it
will be in vain.
Until Cadwaladyr comes from the Donee ab Armorico veniet temone
conference of Cadvaon, Conanus ^
To the Eagle of Tywi and Teiwi Et Cadwalladrus Cambrorum dum'
rivers venerandus.—11. 967, 968.
And until fierce anguish comes
from Aranwynion,
And the wild and long-haired
ones are made tame.

> But the original has eoed keliton.

*
Cf. " Cadwalladrus vocahit Conanum, et Albaniam in societatem accipiet."
— Geoff, of Monmouth, Prophecy of Merlin, 1. 92.
^ For dux.
 ! ; ;: ; :

^ v.] EARLY FORMS OF THE LEGEND. CXXI

The Avallexat. X YiTA Merltxi.

Sweet apple-tree, and a tree of " Xon," Meriinus ait, " non sic

crimson hue, gens ilia recedet,

"Which grow in concealment in Ut semel in nostris ungues in-

the wood of Celyddon ;

fixerit ortis

Though sought for their fruit, it Eegnum namque prius populosque

will be in vain, iugabit et urbes,
Until CadwaladjT comes from the Yiribus atque suis multis domina-
conference ofEhyd Rheon, bitur annis.
And Cynan meet him advances
to Tres tamen ex nostris magna vir-
upon the Saxons tute resistent,
The Cymry will be victorious, Et multos periment, et eos in fine
glorious will be their leader. domabunt
All shall have their rights, and Sed non perficient,^ quia sic sen-
the Brython will rejoice, tentia summi
Sounding the horns of gladness, ludicis existit, Britones ut nobile
and chanting the song of peace regnum
and happiness Temporibus multis amittant de-
bilitate.

Donee ab Armorico veniet temone

Conanus,^
EtCadwalladrusCambrorum dum'
venerandus
Qui pariter Scotos, Cumbros, et
Cornubienses,
Armoricosque viros sociabunt foe-
dere firmo
Amissumque suis reddent diadema
colonis,
Hostibus expulsis, renovato tem-
pore Bruti,
Tractabuntque suas sacratis legi-
bus urbes.
Incipient reges iterum superare
remotos,
Et sua regna sibi certamine sub-
dere forti." *— 11. 958-975.

' T.E. proficient. ' Y.R. Conais. ^ For dux. * Cf. San-Marte, Die
Arlusiage, p. 92.
CXXII EARLY FORMS OF THE LEGEND. § TI.]

"Witli very trifling exceptions this is the entire extent of

Geofirey's indebtedness in the Vita to such of the Welsh

literature as has come down to us. At best it would be
difficult to prove from the correspondences between, these

"Welsh poems and the Vita that Geofirey had ever seen
them.^ Surely we may admit that some of the Welsh poems
refer to the battle of Arderydd, and that the Vita Merlini
does the same, without being compelled to assume that the
Vita is based upon them. From a variety of considerations
we may conclude that a considerable part of the Vita is in
the last analysis Celtic, but further than this we can hardly
go. The Welsh poems that we have may be mere fragmentary
representatives of a large body of Welsh literature now irre-
trievably lost, but perhaps still in existence in the time of

Geoffrey. It is possible, if not certain, that Geoffrey had access

to a considerable mass of floating unwritten tradition based, it

may be, in part on old poems that have long since perished.
Probably none of these poems were directly employed in the
composition of the Vita Merlini ; but a set of parallel traditions,

based in part on the same events referred to in the Welsh

poems, may have formed the groundwork of those portions
of the Latin poem which tell of Merlin's madness and of his

discourse with Taliessin.

TI.

THE TRAIs^SITION TO FRENCH LITERATURE.

Having now taken a general survey of the Latin and Celtic
sources that are extant, and that can therefore be directly
examined, we are prepared to see how the legend passed into
the literature of France, and thence into the other Literatures

of Western Europe. But before entering upon this question

'
Cf. on this matter P. Paris, Romans de la Table £onde, i. p. 45.
 —

§
Ti.] THE TRANSITION TO FRENCH LITERATURE. CXXIII

we ought to glance at what M. Gaston Paris calls the matiere

de Bretagne.^
. Unfortunately we cannot trace the growth of
the legend in Armorica. The Breton literature, considerable

of which doubtless existed at an early period, has not been

preserved except in the form of early French ^ and Icelandic
translations, and none of these relate in any way to Merlin.
The existence of a large body of unwritten tradition, which
kept a precarious existence on the lips of Jongleurs and
harpers,^ is not open to question. But to what extent the
popular imagination modified the original material can, in the
absence of literary documents, be only a field for conjecture.

But while we are unable to trace directly the Armorican

literature in its various forms, we have from a variety of sources
evidence of the existence of Breton lais, in which perhaps
thegerm of many of the later French romances is to be sought.
Without question there existed both in greater and lesser
Britain before Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote his Historia, and
perhaps before Nennius composed his little chronicle, a con-

siderable body of songs embodying popular legends.* Some

of these recitals undoubtedly found their way into Geofi'rey's
Uistoria. It is probable, too, that the publication of his book
and of the numerous translations brought to light a great
number of songs or lais, as well as prose legends which had
been known only in obscure corners or had at most been sung
and related by wandering harpers in passing from castle to

Hist. LUt. de la France, xxx. p. 14.

^ By Bretagne he means Great Britain :

cf. Romania, xii. p. 373 and p, 82, ante.

;

^ Such, for example, as the Lais of Marie de France.

* The existence of British harpers is attested by a number of the classical writers,

as, for example, Athengeus, Caesar, Strabo, Lucan, Ausonius, Fortunatus, etc., who
thus show that the wandering gleemen of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries were
not a new creation. Cf. P. Paris, Romans de la Table Ronde, i. p. 7.
* " Rien ne saurait scientifiquement nous empecher de croire a I'anteriorite des

chants bretons sur la chronique de Xennius, chants dont un certain nombre sont si
profondement celiique." Les lipopees frangaises, L. Gautier. Quoted by Hucher,
Saint-Graal, i. 2. Cf. also P. Paris, Romans de la Table Ronde, i. p. 47.
 ^ '

CXXIV THE TRANSITIOX TO FRENCH LITERATURE. [§ ^^

castle. As soon as the Ektoria crystallized some of this

material into literary form, the example once set was followed
by a great variety of versifiers and prose-writers, whose activity
extended through several generations. A part, at least, of
these songs may have related to Arthur and the Round Table
as well as to his Court, and they would nat&rally penetrate into
the courtly circles which alone could substantially reward the
singer. The stories embodied in these songs must have passed
from lip to lip in the form of prose tales, and, once introduced
into the quick-witted French and Norman society, the progress

of assimilation must have been rapid.

^ The details of the process are unknown, and have naturally led to conflicting
views. M. Gaston Paris expresses himself as follows: — "En effet, en dehors du
monde des clercs, dans lequel Gaufrei de Monmouth avait introduit, en I'arrangeant
a sa mode la legende arthurienne. elle avait penetre, sous des formes variees et par
des canaux divers, dans la soeiete chevaleresque. Des devant la conquete de
I'Angleterre par les Xormands, les musiciens gallois avaient, semble-t-il, franchi les
limites de leur patrie pour venir executer chez les Anglo-Saxons eux-memes ces
*lais' qui depuis eurent un si grand charme pour le public francjais. C'est ainsi
du moins qu'on pent expliquer que Marie de France designe le sujet de deux de ses
lais a la fois par un mot breton et un mot anglais {bisclavtet, garwall ; laustic,
nihtegah), celui d'un autre seulement par un mot anglais (gotelef), et que le breuvage
amoureux qui causa la passion de Tristan et d'Iseut porte, dans le poeme de Beroul,
le nom anglais de loveudris (les traits particuliers que le pretre anglais Layamon, dans
sa traduction du Brut de Wace, ajoute a la legende d'Arthur s'expliquent peut-etre
autrement). Mais ce fut surtout chez les nouveaux maitres d'Angleterre que les
chanteurs et musiciens bretons trouverent un accueil empresse ; ils ne tarderent
meme pas a passer la mer, et de nombreux temoignages, qui ne depassent guere la fin

du xii<^ siecle, nous montrent a cette epoque executant avec grand succes leurs lais
les

dans toutes les grandes ou petites cours de la France du Nord. Ces lais bretons '

etaient des morceaux de musique accompagnes de paroles; la musique, la 'note,'

comme on disait, y jouait le role principal ; toutefois les paroles avaient leur
importance, et les auditeurs qui ne comprenaient pas le breton eprouverent natur-
ellement le besoin de savoir ce qu'elles voulaient dire. EUes se referaient toujours,
mais peut-etre sans la raconter precisement, a quelque histoire d' amour et generale-

ment de malheur. On mit ces histoires en vers fran^ais, et nous avons ainsi conserve
une assez riche collection de lais bretons, que n'ont plus rien de musical, et qui sont
tons composes en vers de huit syllabes rimant deux par deux. Un seul est en vers de
six syllabes Mais la plupart des lais sont reellement fondes sur des contes
celtiques. D'ordinaire, les aventures qu'ils racontent ne resolvent aucune determi-
nation de temps ou de lieu Les lais ne furent pas les seul vehicules par
lesquels les fictions celtiques penetrerent en masse au xii^ siecle, dans la soeiete pnlie
d'Angleterre et de France, et y susciterent une poesie nouvelle. Deja les vers de
 —

§ "^i] THE TRANSITION TO FRENCH LITERATURE. CXXV

The oft-quoted passage from the Chanson des Saisnes shows

'

Wace cites plus haut nous ont montre a I'oeuvre les conteurs et les * fableuxs
brodant a qui mieux sur le fond des aventures de la Table ronde." Sist. Litt. de la
France, xxx. pp. 7-9.
The case against the theory proposed by M. Gaston Paris is stated* " by Prof.
Foerster in the introduction to his recently published edition of Chretien's Erec, and
at greater length by Prof. Zimmer.'' Without going into details, let it suffice to
say, that,on the negative side, the latter challenges the production of any evidence
to show, that "Welsh bards or minstrels used to sing to the Saxons in England
before the Xorman Conquest, or even after that event to either Normans or Saxons
at a time early enough for the purpose of M. Paris' argument. He contends
that the term '
lais bretons ' and '
la matiere de Bretagne ' had nothing to do
with Wales, but everything with the Bretons and Brittany. Then as to the

lays and the romances, and the suggestion that the latter are derived from the
former, he denies it, partly because neither he nor Foerster knows of any
lays which can be said to have been originally Arthurian partly also and ;
—
this brings us to the positive side of Zimmer's contention— because he is con-
vinced that the romances were based on stories in prose rather than in verse.
He even goes so far as to call attention to what he considers an ancient and far-
reaching distinction between Celts and Teutons, namely, that while the Teutonic
way of dealing with the heroic was to express it in the form of an epic poem, the
Celtic ideal was that of an epic story in prose. To suit the Norman the Celtic
originals had not only to be translated into his language, but also transformed into
the epic form of his predilection. The versification was his own business, or that of
his French neighbours but the translation was quite a different matter, belonging to
;

an antecedent stage, and this is believed by Zimmer to have been gradually done, in
the first instance, by the Bretons of the eastern portion of Brittany when they gave
up their own Brythonic speech to adopt Norman French in its stead, and when their
nobles became dependent on Normandy.
Accordingly Dr. Zimmer lays great emphasis on the difference between the Arthur
of the romances, whom he tries to trace to Breton sources, and the Welsh Arthur
whom Nennius, for instance, mentions hunting the Forcus Troit. This, however,
does not go quite far enough, as the role he assigns to the Normanized Bretons of east
Brittany does not exclude the Welsh from playing a similar role with regard to the
Normans later, namely, after the advent of the latter into Wales witness the case :

of the Welshman Bledri. The twofold Brythonic origin of the romances makes
itself perceptible in a way which the readers of these chapters may have already

noticed, especially in the matter of proper names. Lookel at from our point of
view, the latter divide themselves into two groups: — 1. Well-known names like

Gauvain and Modred, the forms of which do not admit of being explained as the
result of misreading or miscopying of Welsh originals they may be the French :

—
forms which the Nonnanizing Bretons gave them without the direct intervention of
scribes or literary men of any kind — when they adopted French as their language.

» I borrow for convenience the summary of the argument from the Studies in the

Arthurian Legend (pp. 374-376) by Prof. Rhys.

b In Gott. getehrte Anzeigen for 1890,
pp. 488-528, pp. 785-832 and Zeitschrift ;

fiir franzosiache Sprache und Litteratur, lii. pp. 231-256.

 — ;

CXXVI THE TRANSITION TO FRENCH LITERATURE. [5 ^^

what a hold this material had already got upon the writers
of romance :

" Ne sont que troi materes a nul home entendant

De France, de Bretagne, et de Eome la grant

Et de ces troi materes ni a niil semblant

*
Li conte de Bretagne sont et vain et plaisant."

At the outset this material, in the opinion of Gaston Paris,

came from England, and thence was carried into France, either
directly by the British singers and story-tellers, or by means
of Anglo-Norman story-tellers or already put ; into verse in
the lays and the Anglo-K^orman poems." ^ But the part
played by Armorican Britain must not be overlooked. A more
or less lively intercourse was kept up between Arraorica^
and Great Britain, and it is quite probable that the Arthurian
and Merlin legends were almost as well known in Armorica as

2. Names like Gonemans, Bron, and Palomydes, together with place-names like
Aroie, which readily admit of being explained from "Welsh originals : these mostly
belong to the romances more or less closely connected with the story of the Holy
Grail, which itself we have endeavoured to trace to "Welsh sources. This opens up
a new and difficult question, which may be confidently left to future research."
•
For the sake of comparison I add the following passage from Kreyssig's Gesch. cUr
franz. Zii. i. pp. 78, 79 — "Einen ganz andem Character als die chansons de geste
:

tragen die nunmehr zu betrachtenden romans. In ihnen haben wir das Eesultat der
Beiiihrung der franzosischen Normannen und der englischen Kelten zu sehen von ;

diesen haben sie die Yorliebe fiir das Wunderbare, Ubersinnliche, Geheimnisvolle,
Mystische, den Glauben an Riesen, Zwerge, Feen, Zauberer, Drachen von jenen ;

den chevaleresken Zug, die keine Gefahr scheuende Tapferkeit, die Betonung des
Motivs der Liebe, der in den Heldengedichten nur sparlich Ilaum gelassen ist. In
ihnen ist der ritterliche Geist zur vollsten Entwickelung gelangt, und es ist wohl
angezeigt sein "Wesen in kurzen Ziigen darzustellen, da die Kenntniss desselben
zum "\''erstandniss der sein Geprage tragenden Litteraturproducte unumganglich
notwendig ist."
^
Cf. P. Paris, Romans de la Table Sonde, i. p. 17.
^ G. Paris, Hist. Litt. de la France, xxx. p. 14.
" Une autre source de transmission des legendes bretonnes a ete la Bretagne
^

armoricaine. Sans parler de la communaut^ d'origine et des incessantes relations des

emigres bretons avee I'ile mere, notamment avec la Cornouaille anglaise, il y avait
eu une nouveUe emigration de Bretons armoricains en Angleterre au commencement
du dixieme siecle, emigration considerable, mais, qui, pour beaucoup des emigrants,
ne fut pas definitive." — J. Loth, Les Mabinogion, i. p. 16.
 —

§ VI.] THE TRANSITION TO FRENCH LITERATURE. CXXVII

in the heart of "Wales itself. At any rate, it is hardly open to

question that these British chants and tales are older ^ than any
of the French romances in prose or verse ^ ; and we may suppose
that, while the French romances were growing up on all sides,

these British tales were diffused in France and England "under

the double form of the lai and the story," from the " first

half of the twelfth century till toward the middle of the

^
thirteenth."
"Wace recognized the existence of this material in speaking
of the Round Table, which Geoffrey of Monmouth had not
mentioned, and significantly adds that of this the Britons tell

many a fable. He had doubtless an independent acquaintance

with Breton legends ; for he mentions in the Roman de Rou
the wonderful fountain of Broceliande, and says that he has
visited the spot without discovering any marvels.
"We may, then, grant at once that Geoffrey of Monmouth was
not the originator of the material of the French romances,^ but
we may suppose that his work gave the necessary impetus for
the literary development of the legends he had told. His
popularity is evidenced by several translations ^ of his Historia
into French verse. The first by Geoffrey Gaimar (1145) has
disappeared without leaving an enduring trace. But in 1155,
about a decade after Geoffrey of Monmouth had given the final

touches to his Hidoria, Wace ^ translated the whole into

' Cf. P. Paris, Romans de la Table Sonde, i. p. 21.

* On the general subject of the Breton lais see Hist. Litt. de la France, xviii.
p. 773; xix. p. 712; xix. p. 791; xxiii. p. 61; xxiii. p. 76; xxiii. p. 114;
xxviii. p. 375 xxviii. p. 385
; xxix. p. 498 xxx. pp. 7-12
; Romania, vii. p. 1
; ; :

Romania, viii. p. 29. Strengleikar (Icelandic version), pp. 57, 67, 82.
* Hist. Litt. de la France, xxx. p. 12.
* Cf. G. Paris, Hist. Litt. de la France, xxx.
* Cf. the list in the enumeration of the French forms of the legend, p. 37, ante.
* The peculiar difficulty attending this whole investigation is well illustrated by
such a series of misstatements as found in a single sentence from the Encyc. Brit.
is

(ix* ed.), art. Geoffrey of Monmouth " Geoffrey's Historia was the basis of a host
:

of other works. It was abridged by Alfred of Beverley (1150), and translated into
CXXVIII THE TRANSITION TO FRENCH LITERATURE. U ^^^

octosyllabic rhyming verse, and opened to tliose writers wlio

had but a slender acquaintance with Latin an orderly grouping

of materials that were capable of indefinite expansion.
In so far as Merlin is concerned, "W"ace is little more than a
translator of Geoffrey. The diffuseness of the translator in his
versified descriptions of feasts and battles entitles him to no
great credit for inventiveness ; and his only real addition ^ is

his account of the establishment of the Round Table.^ This,

however, belongs more to the history of Arthur than to that of
Merlin.
"Wace's Roman de Brut was put into French prose shortly
after its appearance,^ and then recopied, imitated, and translated
so frequently that the versions in English as well as in French
have not yet been properly edited. Up to the last quarter of

the twelfth century no French writer seems to have ventured

to make independent use of the materials for romance that lay
scattered in such profusion. But after Wace's Brut had made
this material familiar to French writers the period of produc-

tion began. Our limits make it impossible for us to do more

than to follow closely the origin of the prose romance of Merlin.
For the purposes of our examination we may note that the
prose Merlin divides itself into two very unequal parts. The
first part comprises about one-seventh of the whole, and
represents what was in all probability the original romance of
Merlin.'^ The second part deals more particularly with King

Anglo-Xorman verse by Geoffrey Gaimar (1154), and then by "Wace (1180), whose
•work, Li Romans de Brut, contained a good deal of nevr matter." The few facts
that we have of the life of "Wace are found for the most part in the autobiographic
hints that he gives in the Roman de Rou, 11. 5315-5329; 10440-10453; 16526-
16537.

•
Cf. Ten Brink, Gesch. dtr engl. Lit. i. p. 177. Ward, Catal. of Romances, i. p. 261.
2 L. 9998. The account of Merlin is practically closed at 1. 9022, where Merlin,
"Ofin, and the King resume their real persons after the visit to Tgerne. "Wace's
account of Merlin begins about I. 7490, where Yortigem's tower is mentioned.
' Villemarque, Les Romans de la Table Ronde, p. 5.
* This matter is fully treated in the discussion of the MSS.
 ;

i
VI.]
THE TRANSITION TO FRENCH LITERATURE. CXXIX

Arthur. The first part ends with the coronation of Arthur.

This event the romancers took as a point of departure for a
number of versions widely differing in character. Our English
translation is based on the continuation most in vogue. For
convenience, therefore, we may first deal with the original
romance, and then make a more detailed survey of the con-
tinuations. We can then best treat the question of the author-
ship of the latter portion of the romance.
The original French romance of Merlin was in verse, and was
probably written as early as the last decade of the twelfth
century, if not earlier. The Merlin, as already noted, was in-

tended to serve as a connecting link ^ between two other poeras,

Joseph (V Arimathie and Perceval. Of these poems we have the
first entire ^ ; of the second, we have a fragment of 504 lines

of the third,^ we have nothing in verse, but we possess a

fourteenth-century prose version much altered, in a unique
manuscript of the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris.^ The
poem of Merlin was early reduced to prose,^ and then furnished
the incidents of the short romance of Merlin. M. Gaston Paris,®

following Birch-Hirschfeld, thinks that the prose Perceval

published by Hucher "
is based upon a poem by Robert de
Borron. The conclusion is reasonably certain, though we know
nothing of the prose- writer.
The few known facts of Robert's life have been brought

1 G. Paris, Merlin, Introd. p. ix.

2 LI. 1-3514.
' Nutt, Holy GraQ, chap, ii., gives a summary of all three, but the summary
of the Merlin on p. 64 d is not taken from the poem (which in the estant fragment
does not contain all the matter summarized), but from the prose romance,
* No. 4166, Xouv. acq. fr.
5 Cf. P. Paris, Ramans de la Table Sonde, i. p. 355. The MS. of the poem of
the Joseph and the Merlin is unique (Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 20,047), and small enough
to be carried in the pocket. The only published edition is that of F. Michel,
Bordeaux, 1841.
* Merlin, Introd. i. p. ix.
' Le Saint-Graal, i. pp. 415-505.
 —

CXXX THE TRANSITION TO FRENCH LITERATURE. [§ "Al-

together in an attempted chronological sequence ;

^ but of his
personal histor}^, the date of his birth, the circumstances in
which he wrote, his relations to the other writers of his time,

the extent of his education, and the opportunities he had for

becoming acquainted with the legends which he reproduced in
verse — of all this we can say very little that is certain.^ He
mentions in his poem (11. 3488-3494)

" Mon seigneur Gautier in pels,

Qui de Mont Belyal estoit,"

and tells us that from Gautier he had learned the story of the
Graal. The meaning of these lines has been variously inter-
preted ; but the most probable explanation is that which takes
the words en pels and estoit to refer to the decease of Gautier
(Walter) in 1212. This was thirteen years after he had left

France for Italy and the Holy Land, where he had been made
Constable of Jerusalem. Robert de Borron had been in Walter's
service sometime between 1170 (?) and 1190, and perhaps
during the entire period. In these years ^ he wrote the first

draft of his poem ; and the second draft, in all probability,

after Walter's death in 1212. This second draft is the one

that we possess.

Now follows an obscure period in which the exact sequence

of events cannot be traced. But in any case, though we

1
Cf. P. Paris, S&mans de la Table Ronde G. Paris, Merlin, i. Introd.
; Huclier, ;

Le Saint- Graal, i. Introd. Nutt, Studies on the Legend of the Holy Grail, Index ii.
;

Mr. Xutt gives, on the whole, the most coherent account.

2 Cf. Romania, x. p. 601. His name is variously written {cf. Nutt's Studies,
p. 6): " Messires Roberz de Beron
" [Joseph d^ Aritnathie, I. 3461); " Meistres
Robers dist de Bouron " (1. 3155). The prose romance writes " Roberz de Borron,"
" de Boron," etc. M. Gaston Paris writes " Robert de Boron."
3 Xutt, Studies, pp. 6, 7. Ten Brink, Gesch. der engl. Lit. i. p. 215, supposes
Robert to have written in the sixties of the twelfth century. As a curiosity of

literary history, we may note that San-Marte regarded Robert de Borron as a

thirteenth-century adapter of earlier prose versions of the Saint- Graal. Cf. Nutt,
Studies, p. 99.
§
^i] THE TRANSITION TO FRENCH LITERATURE. CXXXI

cannot fix the precise year in which each production took shape,
we may believe that in the course of two generations or less

after Robert de Borron began to write, the most important of

the prose romances were, if not already written, at least in
their main outlines, already conceived.^ None of these romances
can be said to have been finished at any particular time ; for

in most cases each new copyist felt at liberty to substitute some-

thing of his own for whatever was not exactly to his liking.

As already remarked, the prose romance of Merlin is a more

or less faithful reproduction of the poem of Robert de Borron.
As a specimen, I have placed the beginning and the end of the
Merlin fragment side by side with the French prose and the
English prose.

1
Cf. Nutt, Studies, p. 6.
CXXXII THE TRANSITION TO FRENCH LITERATURE. [§ ^'i-

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CXXXIV THE TRANSITION TO FRENCH LITERATURE. [§ ^^•

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CXXX^VT THE FRENCH MANUSCRIPTS U '^^^

A comparison of the three parallel texts shows how closely

and yet with what considerable variations the prose adapter has
handled his original. It is, however, by no means certain that we
have the earliest French prose version of the poem, and we can
therefore make allowances for a second paraphrase based, it

may be, upon the first one. As for the English version, it is

based upon a French text difiering slightly from those texts

that Lave come down to us.

VII.

THE FRENCH MANUSCRIPTS OF THE PROSE

MERLIN.
In the following list I have arranged in chronological order
all of the manuscripts of the French prose Merlin ^ that are
mentioned in the numerous catalogues I have consulted. After
grouping the manuscripts according to age, I have endeavoured
to point out in detail some of the relations existing among the
more important ones. The generic grouping is always a perilous
task ; and I shall not insist too strongly upon the family
resemblances that I find. I need hardly add that I make no
pretence to an absolutely exact chronological arrangement,
though in the main it will be found, I think, that the older

manuscript has the earlier place. Until we have established

such a chronology, and know how many hands retouched the
original work, we can, of course, scarcely hope to understand

precisely the relations of one version to another. We should,

however, not forget that a late manuscript may represent a ver}'

^ One might be led to think from Dr. Sommer's remarks on p. 7 of his Studies on
the Sources of Malory's Morte d' Arthur that we have but three or four MSS. of the
Merlin ordinaire.I hardly understand what he means (p. 14) where he speaks of
"all 5ISS. and editions presenting the same version." He cites for the Merlin
only the Huth MS., Brit. Mus. Add. 10,292, and Harl. 6340, though he had already
mentioned MS. 747 of the Bibl. Xat. (p. 7).
§ "^"-l OF THE PROSE MERLIN. CXXXVII

early copy now lost, and thus give a more primitive version
(though in modernized phraseology) than a manuscript actually
older. The original version seems to have been lost/ and it can
be tentatively reconstructed only by laborious critical com-
parison. There now exist the following French manuscripts of
the prose Romance of Merlin. Some of these represent only the

first part (ch. i.-vi.), some only the second part (ch. vii.-xxxiii.),

and some are mere fragments.^

1.* Paris, Bib. J^at. MS. fr. 337, Anc. No. 6958, xiii. cent. Incom-
plate at the beginning and the end. Contains only the Book of
Arthur, and after f. 115, col. 1, 1. 28, presents a unique version,
differing entirely from all the other texts.'
2* Paris, Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 747, Anc. No. 7170, xiii. cent. Contains
prose romance of Joseph, or the Saint-Graal, and the Merlin,
complete.*
3. Paris, Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 748, Anc. No. 7170, Fonds de Cange,
No. 4, middle of xiii. cent. Contains Roman de Josephe on du
Saint-Graal,^ and the first pfui; of the Romance of Merlin. In-
complete at the end. Parallels the English version with some
variations up to the words, " On witson even be comen coun-
[seile of all the barons]," p. 106, 1. 31. For our purpose this

1 There is a bare possibility that B.N. MS. fr. 337 may be the original versioa of
the Book of Arthur, but this is not at all certain.
The * indicates that the manuscript is more fully discussed further on.
"^

3 Cf. G. Paris, Introd. to Merlin, i. p. xxiv. note. An edition of this MS. is to

be published by the Societe des Anciens Textes. This version is interesting, too, in
that it mentions " maistre Gautiers mape" (f. 152, col. 2), and tells us that he had
translated the book from Latin into French at the request of King Henry, who
richly rewarded him. Credat Judaeus !

* "La le^on est bonne et des plus completes." —P. Paris, Zes MSS. Fran<;.
vii. p. 1. "Le plus ancien et le meilleur, si nous ne nous trompons, de ceux qui
nous out conserve ce texte." — G. Paris, Introd. to Merlin, p. viii. G. P. here refers
specifically to the Merlin based on Eobert de Borron's poem.
» P. Paris, MSS. Franq. vi. p. 2, observes that this is a " Volume fortprecieux en
ce qu'il contient le meme recit en prose que M. Francisque Michel a public en vers
d'apres le Manuscrit de Saint-Germain, Xo. 1987. Le texte en prose parait unique
comme le texte en vers. Le roman de Merlin commence au f. 18 r. II differe peu
des le9ons ordinaires, et n'est continue que jusqu'au couronnement d'Artus."
CXXXVIII THE FRENCH MANUSCRIPTS U '*'"•

manuscript is of no especial importance, as it belongs to the

group of manuscripts which differ so widely (f. 28b, col. 2) from

the English version at one point (p. 23).

4. Paris, Bib. de I'Arsenal, MS. fr. 2996, Anc. No. 225 B.F., xiii.

cent. Contains Ze Petit Saint- Graal ou Josephe d'Arimathie and

the first branch of Merlin. Very badly defaced at the end. Last
page almost illegible. The legible portion parallels the English

version up to p. 105. This manuscript presents the ordinary

readings of the MSS., and varies (f. 255-f. 26, col. 1), as do so

many of the other MSS., from the English version at p. 23.

It may be classed with Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 748 (No. 3 of our list).^

5. Paris, Bib. de I'Arsenal, MS. fr. 2997, Anc. No. 229 B.F., xiii.

cent. Contains the first branch of the Romance of Merlin, followed

by the Petit Saint- Graal. ^ This manuscript calls for no special
remark. Some pages are hardly legible, but the readings in
general are not peculiar. The French parallels the English up
to the end of Chapter vi. p. 107, but like Bib. Nat. MS. 748 it

differs (f. 8) from the English version at p. 23 (c/. No. 3 of our

list). At the end of the Saint- Graal Merlin is called Mellin.
&.^ Paris, Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 344, Anc. No. 6965, middle of xiii. cent.*

Contains Saint- Graal, Merlin, Lancelot, La Quete du Saint- Graal.^

As far as f. 182, col. 2, 1. 36, the French parallels the English

version (p. 521, 1. 31); then rapidly condenses the remainder

of the story, and ends with f. 184, col. 1, 1. 26. The first

column on the page is filled up with a miniature, and two lines of

the Lancelot. The second column begins with a miniature and

the two opening lines, which are repeated from the first column.
7. Paris, Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 2455, xiii. cent. Contains Saint-Graal
{ii. 1-338) and a very short fragment of the beginning of the
prose Merlin, nine long lines and four and a half short ones.
8.* Paris, Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 770, Anc. No. 7185,»»- Fonds de Cange,
No. 6, middle of xiii. century. Contains Saint-Graal, Merlin

1 For a further description see Cat. des MSS. (Bibl. de I'Arsenal) iii. p. 186.
2 Ibid. iii. p. 186.
3
Cf. Hucher, Le Saint-Graal, i. p. 23.
* Cf. P. Paris, MSS. Frang. ii. p. 365.
§ "^'"l OF THE PROSE MERLIN. CXXXIX

complete, Chronique de la Cmquete de Jerusalem par Saladin}

This version closely resembles that of Bib. ISoX. MS. fr. 95
(Xo. 9 of this list), but may perhaps be older.
9.* Paris, Bib. Xat. MS. fr. 95, Anc. jN'o. 6769, xiii. cent. Contains
Saint-Graal, Merlin complete, Roman des Sept Sages, Legende

de la Penite?ice d'Adam.^
10.* Paris, Bib. Kat. MS. fr. 24,394, ^'otre Dame, liso. 206,» xiii. cent.

Contains Sahit-Graal and Merlin complete.

11.* Paris, Bib. Xat. MS. fr. 110, Anc. Xo. 6782.* End of xiii. cent.*

Contains Saint- Graal, Merliti complete, Lancelot.

12.* Paris, Bib. Xat. MS. fr. 749, Anc. Xo. 7171, Fontainableau Xo.
733, etc. End of xiii. cent. Contains Soman de Josephe ou du
Saint- Graal, Merlin complete. Paulin Paris remarks* that this
text is good, and contains several episodes of the Merlin not found
in all the old manuscripts. The last nine laisses of the Merlin,

are lost.
13. Paris, Bib. Xat. MS. fr. 423, Anc. Xo 7024, Anc. Bib. Mazarin
Xo. 116, Morceau Xo. 14. End of xiii. cent. Paulin Paris calls

this a "curious abridgement of the romances of the Saint- Graal

and of Merlin. The last leaves are wanting." ' There is no
formal division between the Petit Saint- Graal and the Merlin,
except that a new paragraph is begun. The French parallels the

English up to the middle of p. 23, but at this point differs by

giving the version which says that " when the two books are put
together they will be .«'. hel liure^
14.* Paris, Bib. Xat. MS. fr. 19,162, S.G. fr. 1245, xiii.-xiv. cent.
Contains Saint- Graal and Merlin complete.
15. London, Huth MS. * End of xiii. or beginning of xiv. cent.

Contains the prose Joseph d'Arimathie, the prose Merlin

1
Cf. P. Paris, MSS. Front, vii. 130, 131.
2 Ibid. i. 120.
' Mentioned by P. Paris, Romans rfe la Table Sonde, ii. 352.
* Described by P. Paris, 3[SS. Franf. i. 145.
5 Cf. Hucher, Ze Saint-Graal, i. 23.
* MSS. Frang. vi. 3.
' Ibid. iv. 65-67.
8 Fully described by G. Paris, Introd. to Merlin, i. pp. L-yiii.
CXL THE FRENCH MANUSCRIPTS [§ ^"•

(Eng. chap, i.-vi.), and a unique continuation of the Merlm.

This version agrees less closely with the English version th^n
several of the other French texts do.

16.* Paris, Bih. INat. Nouv. acq. fr. 4166. Written 1301 a.d.

Contains Joseph d' Arimathie, the first branch of Merlin (Eng.

chap, i.-vi.), and a unique continuation of the Merlin, known as

the prose Perceval, which has been published by Hucher.^

17. Rennes, Bib. publique, MS. 147.- Copy begun 1302-1303 a.d.

18.* Paris, Bib. jS'at. MS. fr. 105, Anc. No. 6777. End of xiii. or

beginning of xiv, cent.^ Contains Joseph d' Arimathie and Merlin

complete.
19.* Paris, Bib. mt. MS. fr. 9123, suppl. fr. 11. xiv. cent. Con-
tains Joseph d' Arimathie and Merlin. This manuscript, though
later and somewhat better preserved, is almost exactly like MS.
fr. 105 in its readings. The two MSS. agree in having rubrics

as headings for the chapters, a feature not found in many of the

MSS. of Merlin. These two MSS. seem on the whole to repre-
sent more nearly than any of the others the French original of
the English romances. The details of the proof will be found in
the subsequent discussion.
20.* London, Brit. Mus. MS. Add. 10,292. Early xiv. cent. Con-
tains Saint- Graal, Merlin,^ complete. MS. may be classed
This
with Bib. Xat. MS. fr. 24,394, Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 96, and Bib.
Nat. MS. fr. 19,162.* Of course this general agreement does not
preclude minor differences due to the caprice or negligence of the
copyist.

21.* Paris, Bib. de I'Arsenal, No. 3482, B.F. 235, xiv. cent. Con-
tains Merlin (both branches), Lancelot, la Queste du Saint- Graal,

la Mort du Hoi Artus. Several leaves are missing: the whole

1 Le Saint-Graal, i. pp. 415-505.

* F. Michel, Vita Merlini, p. Ixxi., gives the number as 148. See also Description,
Notices et Extraits des MSS. de la Bihl. de Rennes par Domenique MaUlet, Rennes,
1837, 8vo.,pp. 133, 134. This MS. and the late Brussels MS. are the only ones
that I have not examined.
s
P. Paris, MSS. Frang. i. 140, 141 ; Hucher, Saint-Graal, i. 21.
* Described in "Ward's Cat. of MSS. L 343. Cf. Sommer's note, Morte Darthur,
iu. 7.
* Nos. 10, 14, 24, of this list.
i "^" ] OF THE PROSE MERLIN. CXLI

of cahiers xv, and xvi. ; in cahier viii. two leaves ; in ix. two
. leaves; in xii. one leaf; in xviii. one leaf; in xx. one leaf; in
xxii. two leaves ; in xxiii. one leaf ; in xxv, two leaves.^

22. Paris, Bib. ISTat. Cote dons, IS'o. 1638. Don de M. Piot.^ xiv.

cent. Fragment of the romance of Merlin in eight leaves,

numbered 25-32. The French represents accurately the English
version from Eng. p. 59, 1. 22, to p. 81, 1. 28. "With one exception
the paragraphs begin at the same point in the French and the
English, and in that case there is a variation of but a single line.
23.* Paris, Bib. iN'at. MS. fr. 98, Anc. l^o. 6772. xiv. cent. Con-
tains Saint- Graal, Merlin, complete, Lancelot}
24.* Paris, Bib. Xat. MS. fr. 96, Anc. ISo. 6770. End of xiv. cent.

Contains Saitit- Graal, Merlin, complete, first part of Lancelot.

Agrees closely with Bib. IS'at. MS. fr. 24,394 (l^o. 10 of this
list), but the language has been modernized in the copying.*
25.* Paris, Bib. Nat, MS. fr. 117-120, Anc. No. 6788-6791. End
of xiv. cent.* Contains Saint- Graal, Merlin, Lancelot. The
Merlin is found in No. 117, and is very complete.
26. Brussels, Bib. Eoyale MS. fr. 9246, 1480 a.d. Contains Joseph
(TArimathie and La Vie de Merlin.^
27. Paris, Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 113, Anc. No. 6784. End of xv. cent.

Contains Saint- Graal ; the first branch of Merliti, representing

the first six chapters of the English version ; Lancelot. The

French text is abridged, modernized, and otherwise altered.^
28. London, Brit. Mus. Harl. 6340, xv. cent, paper MS. Contains
Merlin, complete. The version is considerably modernized, and
according to Ward * is written at greater detail than the text of
the printed edition (2 vols. Paris, 1498), but containing the

1 Cf. Cat. des MSS. Bib. de P Arsenal, iii. pp. 382, 383.
* Cf. Romania, 1878, vii. p. 157.
3 Cf. P. Paris, MSS. Fran(. i. p. 129.
* Ibid., i, p. 125, p. 127.
* Hucher, Ze Saint-Graal, i. 23, assigns this MS. to the xiv. or xv. century.
Cf. P. Paris, MSS. Frang. i. 154-156.
* This MS. I have notseen but as it was transcribed twenty or thirty years
;

after our translation was made, I imagine that my loss is not great.
'
Cf P. Paris, MSS. Frang. i. lo2-15i.
* Cat. of Momances, i. 344.
 '

"^"•
CXLIT THE FRENCH MANUSCRIPTS [§

same adventures, only with two additional chapters, viz. that of

the dwarf knight and that of the birth of Lancelot.^ Besides

being too late to have been used as the basis of our translation,
this manuscript is a copy of a version which omits numerous
passages contained in the English translation as well as in several
of the French MS. Such omissions may be verified by comparing
' E. p. 176 with Fr. f. 83, col. 1 ; E. p. 179 with f. 83 J, col. 1 ;

E. p. 187, 1. 8-1. 18 with f. Sob, col. 2 ; E. p. 189 with f. 86, col.

1, etc. The test passage, f. 213, col. 2 and f. 22, col. 1, differs

from the English, expanded version and in

p. 23, in giving the

omitting to mention " Maister Martins." ^

29. Paris, Bib. ]!^at. MS. fr. 332, Anc. No. 6954. Beginning of xvi.
cent. Contains Merlin, complete. The language is modernized
so as to represent the speech of the xv. century. ^ Besides being
too late for our purpose, the minor variations from the English
version exclude this version from being regarded as the original.
It differs fi'om the English in giving the expanded version for
Eng. p. 23, and in making no mention of " Maister Martins."
Other differences may be found by comparing E. p. 485 with
f. 223, col. 2 ; E. pp. 576-578 with f. 2613 -f. 262, etc.

The Merlin a composite Romance.

At this point, before venturing on a further classification, we

can most conveniently consider the facts which indicate that the
Romance of Merlin as we have it is a composite of several
romances.
1 On this Sommer {Morte Barthur, vol. iii. p. 7) remarks " The fact is that
both texts [Harl. and Add. 10,292] are exactly alike, representing only different
stages of the French language both, therefore, contain more than the printed
;

[French] Merlin."
2 ThisMS. may be compared with Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 24,394.
3
Cf. P. Paris, MSS. Frang. ii. 340. To the MSS. noticed above I may add
three MSS. mentioned in the Homania for 1873, vol. ii. pp. 51, 53, 55 as existing
in the Este collection (in Italy) of the fifteenth century.
(1) "6(20). Libro uno in francexe, chiamado Merlino, — in carta membrana,
coverto de chore roso."
(2)
" 43 Libro uno chiamado Merlino — in membrana, coverto de chore roso — in
francexe."
(3) " Liber Merlini —in membranis.
 —

§ ^"O OF THE PROSE MERLIN. CXLIII

In the year 1868, about a third of a century after the

publication of his work on the Arthurian romances, Paulin
first

Paris expressed the opinion ^ that the romance of Merlin was

made up of at least two principal parts by different writers, the
first part ^ extending to the coronation of Arthur ; the second,
comprising the remainder of the romance. At first sight the
division appears somewhat arbitrary, but closer study makes it

extremely probable.^ At any rate, the scepticism with which

I was disposed at the outset to regard the theory has almost
entirely vanished. As the details of his argument are but little

known to English readers, I will venture to reproduce concisely

what is to be urged in favour of his view. Paulin Paris presented
his arguments in several different forms at different times, but

they may be reduced to the following :

1. —At the close of the original romance of Merlin * we are

told that Arthur after his coronation held the land and the
kingdom for a long time in peace. But in the romance as we
have it the rebellion against Arthur follows immediately after.
It is hardly probable that a writer would so contradict himself
in the course of a few lines.

2. — At the end of the poem of Joseph d'Artmathie Robert

de Borron had promised to take up the adventures of Alain le

Gros when he had read the large book of the Graal where they
are related. Now, in one of the manuscripts of Merlin,^ after
telling of the coronation of Arthur, the author says he is going
to tell of Alain, and when done with him to return to Arthur.
This promise is not kept in any version which has come down
to us ; and these closing lines are omitted in all the other

1 In Les Romans de la Table Sonde, i. p. 356 sq. ; ii. pp. 101-103, etc.
^ Chapters i.-vi. of the English version.
3 Cf. also Kolbing, Alteuglische Bibl. iv. p. cxxviii.
* P. 107 of the English translation.
s
Bib. Nat. MS. fr. No. 747, f. 102, back. The other MSS. containing both
branches of the romance make no formal break at this point, though in most cases
they begin a new paragraph.
 —

CXLIV THE FRENCH MANUSCRIPTS U "^"•

manuscripts. They are evidently the prose equivalents of the

concluding verses of the poem of Merlin. All the versions pass
at once to the rebellion of the barons who disdained the young
king.
From these and other data Paulin Paris concludes : 1. That
Robert de Borron had nothing to do with the Book of the
Saint- Graal, written at the very same time when he composed
Joseph d' Arimatkie ; 2. that after becoming acquainted with
the Graal he intended to continue the history of Alain le Gros,
ifnot of Bron and Petrus 3. that the writers who came after ;

Robert de Borron, finding the story of Alain fully told in the

Graal, set aside Robert's poetic version (assuming that it

really existed) and substituted for it the history of Arthur,^

which they harmonized as well as they could with the Merlin.

M. Paris finds additional confirmation for his theory in the

numerous contradictions between the first portion of the

romance and the second :

1. —In the original romance the Duke of TintageP left

several daughters, the eldest of whom married Loth, Eng of

Orkanie, while another daughter, the illegitimate Morgain, was

put to school. In the continuation we find that Ygerne had
been twice married before espousing Uter-Pendragon. Of this

double marriage were born five daughters : the Queen of

Orcanie, wife of Loth ; the Queen of Garlot, wife of Nautre

(Ventres) ^ ; the Queen of "Wales (Gorre), wife of TIrien ; the
Queen of Scotland, widow of Briadan, and mother of King
Aguisel (Aguysas) ; finally, the wise Morgain, surnamed le fee.

2. —In the short romance of Robert de Borron, MerKn had

made a golden dragon as a standard just after the battle of

^ Paulin Paris uniformly refers to the Zivre ffArtus, or shortly, the Artui.
2 Strangely enough -sre find in the second part (Eng. p. 177) the name of
'
*
' Duke Hoel of Tintagel ' given as the husband of Ygerne. This is not found in
the first part. Geoffrey of Monmouth has, of course, Gorlois.
' I need not remark that the forms of the names are so various in the MSS. that

no two writers on the Arthurian romances are quite agreed as to which forms to adopt.
 —

i "'•] OF THE PROSE MERLIN. CXLV

Salisbury, won by the brothers Pendragon and Titer. In the

continuation Merlin makes the dragon for Arthur (Eng. p.
115) instead of for his father. This argument is, however,
not very convincing, as there is no reason why Merlin may
not have made two dragons as well as one.
3. —According to Robert de Borron, Kay was made steward
or seneschal at the time when Arthur took the sword out of
the stone (Eng. p. 101). In the continuation, observes Paulin
Paris, it is at the moment of attacking the six rebel kings that
Arthur confides to Kay, his foster-brother, the office of seneschal
(Eng. p. 116).
I must confess that as the two passages appear in the English
I can see no real contradiction at this point. The English
reads as follows :

" And be counseile of the archebisshop and certain) of the barouns,

Kay was made stiwarde," p. 104.
" Than) toke the kynge the dragon) and yaf it to Kay, his stiwarde,
in soche forwarde that he be chef banerer of the reams of logres eu*r
while his lif doth dure," p. 116.

4. —Paulin Paris instances ^ also the confusion introduced by

the Round Table of Leodegan, and observes that the con-
tinuator of Robert de Borron's narrative was content to follow
the ancient lays without regard to the contradictions.
"We may then, argues Paulin Paris, regard it as well estab-
lished we have in the large romance of J/t^r/m at least two
2 that
romances. The first ends at the coronation of Arthur, and
represents the original poem of Robert de Borron a poem —
written to link the poem of Joseph cV Arimathie with the (lost)
poem of Perceval. To this original romance were added several
continuations, one of which became more popular than the others,

1 Hotnans de la Table Ronde,

pp. 126, 127.
ii.

* For a continuation of these arguments,

see the remarks hy Graston Paris in the
Introduction to the Merlin published for the Soe. des Anc. Textes, 1886.
 —

"^"•
CXLVI THE FRENCH MANUSCRIPTS [^

and furnished the text for the early printed editions. In the
following pages I will sketch briefly these different versions.
It is not impossible that other continuations of the romance
existed that have not been preserved. Those that we have are
found in the following manuscripts :

1. Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 337 (list No. 1).

2. Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 344 (list No. 6).

3. Bib. Nat. Nouv. acq. fr. 4166 (list No. 16).

4. Hutb MS., London (list No. 15).
5. Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 98 (list No. 23).

The continuation known as the vulgate, or the Merlin ordi-

naire, appears in a considerable number of manuscripts which

exhibit only minor variations. The reason for treating any of
these versions separately is one of convenience only.

1. Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 337.

On this manuscript Paulin Paris remarks that it is the one

which before all by those who would

others should be consulted
well understand the history of the Enchanter Merlin.^ The
volume has lost the original beginning and the end, and begins,
" with the court that King Arthur holds immediately after his
coronation," and " ends with the combat of Gawein with Oriol,
king of the Saxons." For a considerable distance this version

runs parallel with the ordinary version, and in many cases

agrees almost word for word with it. But this text (MS. 337),
after describing the amour of Guyomar with Morgain le fee,
breaks off abruptly (f. 115, col. 1, 1. 28), and returns to speak
of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. The
ordinary French text ^ (represented by the English version p.
509) introduces at this point King Loth and his sons as starting

^ MSS. Franq. ii. p. 343. He gives a short analysis of the special features of this
version in Romans de la Table Ronde, ii. p. 393 sqq.
2
Cf. Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 747, f. 186, col. 1.
 ^ "^"l OF THE PROSE MERLIX. CXLVII

out on their mission to the feudatory princes. The entire

remainder of the narrative in MS. 337 and in the vulgate is

essentially different, though here and there is a passage which

points to a common source. In the unique portion (of MS.
337) which follows the point of divergence, the wars with the
Saxons, and the personal adventures of Seigramor, of Yvain, of
King Arthur, and especially of Gawein, are dwelt upon at great
length, and with an infinity of detail. There are, however, four
hundred pages (pp. 108-508) of the English version that
contain essentially the same narrative as appears in the first

115 leaves of this manuscript. It is true that the minor varia-

tioDS are such as to preclude the possibility of this version
having been actually used by the English translator ; for there
are numberless differences in forms of names, in numerals, in
omitted sentences, and added phrases.^ Yet multitudes of
passages are almost literally coincident, and show clearly that all
the versions, in so far as they agree at all, were copied with
mere individual variations from one original. This manuscript
is one of the very earliest of those that have been preserved to
us, though it may in turn have been based upon a version still

earlier.

If now we take up the later unique portion of the romance,

and add it to the portion which agrees with the vulgate, we
have a romance far exceeding in length any of the existing
versions.^ "We cannot go into the details of this unique French
version, but must be content to note a few of the more

^
Cf. for instance, the list of knights, f . 29, col. 2, with that of the English rersion,
p. 212 ; the description of Gonnore, f. 33J, with that on p. 227 of the English
version; f. with English, p. 485.
107i, col. 1, These are hy no means the most
divergent of the passages that might he cited.
"^
In the entire MS. are 294 leaves or 588 pages (14^^ x lOfin.) of two columns
each, which would be equal to about 1030 pages of our English translation. If we
were to add the first branch of the Merlin, we should have, say, 1130 pages, and
still have an unfinished romance The unique portion is equal in amount to about
!

625 pages of the English translation : that is, it lacks only about 75 pages of bein"
as long as the entire English version.
cxLViii THE FRENCH MANUSCRIPTS [§ un-

remarkable passages. In reading the ordinary Merlin and the

Book of Arthur, the attentive reader remarks several passages
in which the writer promises to explain something more fully
later in the narrative. For instance, after describing the
amour of Guyomar with Morgain le fee, the writer adds
(p. 509) — " But after it knewe the quene Gonnore, as ye shull
here tell." In the ordinary version there is no further reference
to the matter. But in MS. 337, f. 187, col. 2, the narrator
returns to the adventure as he had promised (f. 1146, col. 2)
and describes the visit of Merlin to Morgain le fee after her
disappearance from the court, and how he comforts her.
tells

Now, on p. 508 of the English translation, we read of Morgain

le fee that " she was a noble clergesse, and of Astronomye
cowde she I-nough, for Merlin hadde hir taught; and after

he lerned hir I-nough, as ye shull heren afterward." But we

do not " heren afterward," except in the unique French version
of MS. 337, in which we find that he teaches her many things,
and she in turn almost makes the enchanter prefer her to

Nimiane his love.

On p. 527 of the English translation (that is, in the portion

not represented in this unique French version) we read of the

reproof that king Loth gives Agravain for his impure thinking,

and then we find a passing reference to an unpleasant accident

which befell the young man, " as the booke shall yow devyse
here-after." In all the subsequent story, however, we discover
no further reference to the matter ; while MS. 337, f. 255,
col. 1, gives the story in full, though with some variation. For
instance, in the English version (p. 527) we read " that he
langwissid longe a-boue the erthe for the vilonye that he dide
to a mayden, that rode with hir frende, with whom he faught
till that he hadde hym discounfited and maymed of oon of his

amies." The French has (f. 255) " il li trenchast la teste."

The inference from these facts is obvious : Whoever under-
 —

$
"^" ] OF THE PROSE MERLIX. CXLIX

took to write the later portion of the romance of Merlin worked

over an older version, and was too careless to notice the incon-
sistencies and contradictions of one part of his narrative with
another. This older version may have been that of MS. 337,^

from which the later writer borrowed now and then a hint.
Paulin Paris sees in this special version evidence that it was
composed earlier than the Lancelot} This suggestion, however,
raises a question that may safely be left till we have the
promised edition of MS. 337.
To determine exactly the influence that this special version
had upon the composition of the last third of the Book of Arthur,
is not easy without a printed text. But, as already noted, the

* Romans de la Table Sonde, ii. p. 397.

^ Compare the remarks Gaston Paris (Introd. to Merlin, p. xxiv.) on the
of
priority of the Lancelot over the £ook of Arthur. I cannot discuss the question,
but I shall be surprised if critical comparison of the texts when they are published
will altogether justify G. Paris. I note merely a few of the passages in the Merlin
and the Lancelot where the two romances refer to the same incidents :

1. —The birth of Merlin is recounted in the Lancelot, part i., chapter ri. :
" Coe
merlin fut egedre du dyable. St coe il fut amoureux de la dame du lac" (ed. of
1488), but with difference enough, as P. Paris remarks,* to show that the Merlin
and the Lancelot are not by the same author.
2. —
The death of Lancelot is referred to in an interpolated passage** of the
Merlin (p. 147).
3. —
The trouble that Guyomar caused the realm of Logres, " as the tale shaH
reherse here-after," is referred to in the Merlin (pp. 316, 317).
4. — The marvels that Guynebans performs for a maiden {Merlin, p. 361 sqq.)
are paralleled in the Lancelot.'^
5. — The origin of Morgain's hate for the queen {Merlin, pp. 508, 509) explained is
in the Lancelot.^
6. — The adventure of Agravain and cure {Merlin, 527) are touched upon in
his p.
the Lancelot.^
7. — The adventure of Ban at the castle of Agravadain {Merlin, ch. xxx) is

paralleled in the Lancelot J

8. — The loss of the castle of Trebes {Merlin, p. 699) is described at the beginning
of the Lancelot.
An incident not found in the Merlin is referred to in the Lancelot. Reference
is there made to the Perron Merlin, " where Merlin had killed the two enchanters."
Ibid. iii. 287.

» Cf. B. N. MS. 24,394, f. 149*, col. 2. »>

Romans, iii. 23. <=
Ibid. y. 311.
<» Ibid. iv. 292, 293. ' Ibid. iii. 326-332; iv. 47 {cf. B. N. MS. 337, f. 255).
f Ibid. V. 309, 324-325.
 CL THE FRENCH MANUSCRIPTS U '^"•

later writer seems to have taken a hint here and there. For
instance, a sort of variant of the adventure of king Ban at the
castle of the Lord of the Marsh (Eng. chap, xxx.) is found at
f. 1845, with the difference that in this French version the
niece plays the leading part instead of the daughter, and that
the setting of the two incidents is not the same. To inquire
particularly into the motives for the rejection of so much of this
old version would lead us too far. If the reason lay in the
salacious quality of many of the incidents, one might ask why
the adventure of Guyomar and Morgain le fee should have been
retained, especially as it is apropos of nothing, and occurs at the
very point where the ordinary version begins to differ from this

one. But taken as a whole the ordinary version is not so highly

seasoned with realistic love adventures as the version it replaced,
which is an almost continuous catalogue of lechery. A more
plausible explanation, perhaps, is that after the old version had
been written, the Lancelot appeared and some writer conceived
the plan of recasting the Merlin as an introduction to the
Lancelot. There are some difficulties in this view, but
M. Gaston Paris regards it as probable. ^ Whatever our view
of the relative age of the two versions, the one which the
sense of the Middle Ages fixed upon as preferable seems, in

spite of incoherency and needless details, to possess more con-

nection and to move forward more definitely toward the end
than this crude and formless congeries of adventures.

2. Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 344.

The only peculiarity worthy of special attention in this

manuscript is that after f. 182, col. 2, 1. 36, the story is suddenly

compressed into a few pages, so that the end is reached on

1 This may be true of that part of the Merlin between pp. 509 and 699
Tvell but ;

as for the partbetween pp. 107 and 509 there may be more doubt. The interpolations
are numerous, and they need critical handling with the help of a critical text before
the question can be settled.
 —

§ VII.] OF THE PROSE MERLIN. CLI

f. 184, col. 1.^ This fact would of itself be sufficient to exclude

this manuscript from being regarded as tbe possible original of
the English translation, even though we took no account of

minor diflferences. Yet these smaller differences are consider-

able, in spite of frequent verbal agreement. For instance, the

important passage f. Sob, col 2. ; Eng. p. 23, is much longer

in the French than in the English ; nor is this contraction due
to the English translator, for we find the same in MS. 105.
Exceedingly interesting is it, however, to find mentioned at this
point "maistre Martins," whose name does not appear in most
of the texts, though it is found in the English translation :

"^^ ki voudroit nomeir les rois qtii deuant i furent et lor uie uol-

droit cir, si gardaist en lestoire de bretaigne que len apelle brutus, ke

maistre martins de rouain retrait de latin en romans."

In the English version (p. 23) the reader is referred to a book

on the history of the Britons that " maister martyn) traunslated
out of latyn)." As most of the manuscripts omit this name, its

1 The corresponding portion in the English version extends from p. 521, 1. 31, to
p. 699. Comparing the two versions, we find the parallel almost complete as far as
f. 182, col. 2, 1. 36 Eng. p. 521, 1. 31, when Elizer, son of King Pelles, sets out
;

accompanied by a squire. But in place of the long series of adventures related in our
version we have a short account of his proceeding directly to Carlion, where Arthur
and his Queen, King Ban, and King Bohors receive him with honour, and tell him of
the embassy of Loth and his sons to the princes. "While they are talking, the news
comes to Ban and Bohors that King Claudas is ravaging their country. They at once
take their departure, and without stopping go to their own country {" et san vont
droit au lor terres," f. 182b, col. 1). All this is, of course, a wide variation from
the English version. Then the story turns again to King Loth and his four sons.
The King gets Minoras the forester to send messengers to the princes, and then goes
his way, meets the princes and secures their promise of help. After this he returns
to Arthur at Camelot, where Elizer is knighted. The princes come to help Arthur
against the Saxons, and succeed in defeating them before the City of Clarence, after
which they kneel before Arthur and ask pardon for their rebellion. He forgives
them, and they become his men. Here the tale ends, f. 184, col. 1.
This short version I incline to regard as a condensation rather than an earlier and
less diffuse narrative, though I find it not easy to see why some incidents should be

passed over while others are retained. A possible reason for the abridgment is that
the copyist wished to save parchment for the Lancelot and the Quite du Saint-
Graal which follow.
 CLII THE FRENCH MANUSCRIPTS U '^"•

presence here would seem to indicate that this manuscript stands

in somewhat closer relations than do the other manuscripts to
the family of manuscripts on which our English translation is

based. The long passage with regard to the Saiut-Graal in

this manuscript may have been condensed into a form like that
from which the English passage was translated, or possibly the
shorter version may be the original ; but this seems hardly
probable, as the longer version is found in Bib. Nat. MS. fr.

747, which is perhaps the oldest text of the first portion of the
romance.^
As in the case of so many other manuscripts, the verbal
differences alone are sufficient to comj)el the rejection of this
version as the actual working original of the English trans-
lation. For instance, in the list of knights (E. p. 212 ; French,
f. 122, cols. 1 and 2) we have such differences as :
*'
And the
forthe was Antor " —" et li quars ector ces alvouez " ;
" the ix*

was Gifflet" — "li.ix. li fiz do de carduel." Conclusive also

is the variation in the French passage quoted in the English
version (p. 485) and what we find here (f. 175, col. 1, 1. 6).

" ^^ li heraut comansent a crier, et cil crioz darmes per-mi ces rans.
* or i paurait qui bien Ion ferait. or iert veus qui bien Ion ferait.'
"

3. Bib. Nat. Nouv. acq. fr. 4166.

This unique manuscript is of peculiar interest, as it supplies

a missing link in the history of the French Arthurian romances.

It contains the prose romance of Joseph of Arimathea, the
romance of Merlin up to the coronation of Arthur, and the
romance of Perceval,- which exists only in this prose version.

Gaston Paris regards these three romances as prose versions

of the three poems of Robert de Borron.^ This conclusion is

reasonably certain as regards the first two, and not improbable

^ Cf. G. Paris, Introd. to Merlin, p. viii.

2
Cf. Eomania, viii. p. 478.
2 Introd. to Merlin, i. p. ix.
§ ^i ] OF THE PROSE MERLIN. CLIII

as regards the last, but perhaps we have not sufficient evidence

for a final judgment. The Merlin does not differ widely from
the ordinary texts, though the verbal differences are often
considerable. The manuscript is beautifully executed, but it

would have excited comparatively little attention, were it not

for the unique Perceval, which adds one more continuation
to the Merlin}
2
4. Ruth MS., London.
This manuscript, like the one just noticed, contains a unique
continuation of the original romance of Merlin. The point of
divergence is the coronation of Arthur. In the opinion of
Gaston Paris this version, " like the ordinary continuation
of the Merlin," was made " for the purpose of connecting the
Merlin of Robert de Borron with the Lancelot and other com-
positions,"' The principal interest that it possesses for us is
that it contains the original of a portion of Malory's Morte
Darthur}
5. Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 98.

This, perhaps, hardly deserves to rank as a special version.

The entire manuscript contains the Saint-Graal, Merlin, Lancelot,
and along with the Merlin the so-called Prophecies, singularly
dovetailed into the ordinary text of the long romance.
Variations from the EngKsh version are scattered throughout
the text. On f. 138J, col. 2, the longer version,-^ with no
mention of " maister Martyn," is given instead of that found
in the English text, p. 23. The list of knights (f. 173, col. 2,

and f , 1736) agrees more closely with the list in the translation

^ The Perceval has heen published by Hucher in Le Saint-Chraal, i. pp. 415-505 ;

see an analysis in Xutt's Studies on the Legend of the Holy Grail, pp. 28-32.
^ Edited by G. Paris and Jacob TJlrich for the Soc. des. Ane. Teztes, two vols. 8to. ,

Paris, 1886.
2 Introd. p. xxvii. Many further details of interest are found pp. xxiii.-L.
* See Sommer's ed. Studies on the Sources, vol. iii. ; London, 1891. Introd.
p. 7 sqq.
* Essentially the same as in Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 95.
 "^"•
CLIV THE FRENCH MANUSCRIPTS [§

on p. 212, than do the lists in many of the other manuscripts.

Still, we have such variations as :

" Le ix^ le fil le Due de
Carduelz, marech de la roche " (f. 173, col. 2), and " the ix^

was Giiflet " (Eng. p. 212), etc. The French passage quoted
on p. 485 of the English translation differs considerably from
the same passage in this manuscript, f. 2226, col. 1, 1. 19, which
reads :
" Et li herralz co?j?mencerent a crieir permi ces reus, or
Y paira qui bien fera et honour auoir voulra," though of course
the difference is almost wholly verbal. Even less difference
appears between the French quoted on p. 563 of the English
translation and the version of this manuscript (f. 239, col. 1).

In the list of knights (f. 2416), MS. 98 presents essentially

the same version as the English text (p. 576 sqq.). In Bib.
Nat. MS. fr. 95, however, a much more contracted version is

found (f. 313). Many other passages agree almost word for
word,^ so that were it not for the violent interjection of the
Prophecies towards the end this manuscript would agree about
as closely with our English version as do most of the other
manuscripts. The union of the Trophecies with the text of the
romance is not very skilfully made. The Prop)hecies are merely
cut into fragments and pieced in as follows : —The first passage
begins on f. 250, col. 1, 1. 19, and extends to f. 258, col. 1, 1. 27.
Then the Merlin begins again, and continues to f. 276, col. 1,

1. 14. The Prophecies then recommence, and extend to the

end of the romance, f. 2876. The next leaf begins with the
Lancelot.
Some changes in the Merlin were necessarily made, in order
to accommodate the Prophecies. "We find in this version no
account of the enchanted tower in which Merlin is confined
by his love (Eng. p. 681), nor of Arthur's charge to Gawain

Cf. f. 2635, col. 2, with Eng. p. 639, which tells of the twelve princes sent by
1

theEmperor Luce to Arthur. At the end of the paragraph the English is a little
more concise than the French. Cf. also the account of Merlin as harper, Eng. p. 615,
withf. 2585, col. 1.
 "

f
VII.] OF THE PROSE MERLIN. CLV

to go in search of Merlin (Eng. pp. 680-682). This French

version, however, tells us of the dwarf who was dubbed a
knight (Eng. p. 682), and conducts him to the court of King
Arthur. Then follows :
" Mais atant se tait or li conte deulx

a parler, et retorne a parleir dez propheciees de merlins

(f. 276, Of Merlin we hear no more, except as he
col. 1).

answers the questions of Antoine. The adapter does not allow

Merlin to enter upon his enchanted sleep, for the obvious reason

that he is needed for the Prophecies.^

Having thus examined and dismissed the versions that

evidently could not have served as the actual working originals

of the English translation, we have yet to consider the manu-
scripts which substantially represent the English translation.

To enter into a minute comparison of the variations in the

different French manuscripts would swell our pages to in-

ordinate proportions, and would be of little real gain to the

reader.^ Until several of the more important manuscripts

have been properly collated and printed, any comparison dealing
largely with details will be more confusing than helpful. I
shall attempt, therefore, in the following pages merely to trace
in a rough sketch the chief lines of divergence, and tentatively
to group the different versions. By a series of approximations

The strange French romance known as the Fropheties de Merlin might, as

'

Gaston Paris remarks (Introd. to Merlin, p. xiv. note), he regarded as another

continuation of the original romance of Merlin. In these Prophecies there is far
more said than done and the burden of the talk falls upon MerKn and Bishop
;

Antoine. I have not taken especial account of the Prophecies, but they exist in a
considerable numberof MSS. and in printed editions of the fifteenth and sixteenth
centuries. It maybe worth while to note that MS. 5229 (old 2fo. 236) (xiv.-xv.
cent.) in the Bibl. de 1' Arsenal, catalogued as Mistoire de Merlin, is nothing but the
Prophecies.
2 As one minor difference, I note that, except in a few MSS., the paragraphs do not
begin at the same points. Sommer's remark to the contrary{MorU Darthur, iii.
p. 7) was based upon study of a small proportion of the MSS.
 —

"^•
CLVI THE FRENCH MANUSCKIPTS [§

we may finally select the version whicli on the whole is most

closely represented by the English text, but we must not
expect to find complete agreement.
It will add to clearness if we set aside at the outset as many
of the remaining manuscripts as are plainly to be excluded.
We thus dismiss as mere fragments — Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 2455
(list No. 7) ; Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 423 (list No. 13) ; Bib. Nat.
Cote dons, No. 1638 (list No. 22). We may also reject the

manuscripts that contain nothing more of the romance than

the paraphrase in prose of Robert de Borron's poem of Merlin.

There can be no doubt that the translator used one of the

complete versions of what we may call the vulgate Merlin;
for the English version bears no marks of having been pieced

together with the short Merlin of one manuscript and the Book
of Arthur from another manuscript, but presents in the main
a closely literal translation of one of the French versions.

Furthermore, each of the manuscripts containing the first

branch only of Merlin (pp. 1-107) differs too widely in several

essentials to allow us to accept it as the actual basis of the

English translation. The manuscripts which we exclude are

the following :

Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 748 (list Xo. 3) ; Bib. de I'Arsn. MS. fr. 2996
(list N'o. 4) ; Bib de I'Arsn. MS. fr. 2997 (list Xo. 5) ; Bib. Nat. Nouv.
acq. fr. 4166 (list No. 16) ; Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 113 (Hst No. 27).

After these deductions there still remains a considerable

number of manuscripts which call for more extended discussion.
In many particulars they all agree most surprisingly with
the English version. From all of them may be selected long
passages which are almost literally reproduced in the English
translation. On the other hand, certain other critical passages
differ widely from the English text ; and these I have taken as
points of departure in my tentative classification.
 — —

^ "^"O OF THE PROSE MERLIN. CLVII

If we were fortunate enough to have but a single authentic

version of the French romance, the task of determining what is

due to the translator and what to the original would be suffi-

ciently simple. Since, however, the Merlin was one of the most
popular romances of the Middle Ages, it has been preserved
in so great a number of manuscripts that we are embarrassed
by our riches.
Our plan involves taking up the manuscripts in something
like chronological order and classifying theni. Some repeti-
tion is inevitable, but I will avoid it to some extent by cross-
references.

1. Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 747 (list No. 2).

The verbal differences between this version and the English

translation are enough of themselves to compel us to reject
it from the list of possible originals. More important than
mere verbal disagreement are some of the differences which
I now proceed The French and the English run
to note.
closely parallel, with here and there a verbal difference, as

far as Eng. p. 23. Then follows in the French (f. 82, col. 2,
1. 29) a passage of twenty-two lines not represented at all

in the translation. This evident interpolation is not found

in all the manuscripts (cf. MS. 105), and is introduced in
order to justify the attempted fusion of the two romances of
the Saint- Graal and the Merlin. At the end of the Saint-
Graal (f. 77, col. 2, 1. 15) we find the words

'*
Et retorne a une autre estoire de merlin, qwe il conuient Biouier a
fine force auec lestoire del sai?jt branche en est et li
gr«al porce qiie

apartient. Et comewce mesires roberz de borron cele branche en tel

nianiere. Ml't fu iriez li annemis (\iian\. nostra sire ot este en enfer."

In the interpolated passage (f. 82, col, 2, 1. 41) the same

matter is again referred to

" Et qwant li dui liure seront assamble sen i aura .i, biau, et li dui
 '^"•
CLVITI THE FRENCH MANUSCRIPTS [^

seront une meisme chose, fors tant que ie ne puis pas dire ne retraire

ne droiz nest les priuees paroles de ioseph et de ihu crist, Einsi dist
mes sires roberz de borron qui cest conte retrait," etc.

In this passage, furthermore, no mention is made of the

mysterious " maister Martyn " of our English version. He
is mentioned in but few French MSS. ; and one of the few
(B. N. MS. fr. 105) stands in other particulars in closer
relations with our English version than do any of the other
French texts.

On f. 846 begins an interpolation of ninety-two lines

relating to the Saint-Graal, a passage which differs considerably

from our English version (pp. 32, 33).
The most interesting feature of this manuscript is, that it
sharply marks off the Romance of Merlin (Eng. pp. 1-107)
from the Book of Arthur which follows. On f. 102, at the
end of the Merlin, is the passage in which Robert de Borron
formally terminates the Romance of Merlin. There are nine
lines and a half on f. 1026 ; the remainder of the page is

blank. ^ The Book of Arthur begins at the top of f. 103.

I shall content myself with the mention of a few other
differences between this version and the English translation.
The list of knights (fr. f. 125, col. 2 ; Eng. p. 212) differs so
widely in the two versions that to exhibit all the variations
I should have to copy the whole. For instance, the French
has —" li neuiemes li filz do de carduel " ; the English, " the ix®
was Gifflet " ;
" li onzieraes gurnay li bloiz," which hardly
represents the English, "the xj. drias de la forrest sauage."

1 Paulin Paris makes much of this formal mark of division, as being designed to
indicate the limits of the original Romance of Merlin. He is probably justified in his
inference, but there is a bare possibility that this blank is due to the practice common
in the Middle Ages of dividing the work of transcription among several copyists.
Another blank of a column and a half (f. 188 J) occurs without any break whatever in
the story. Most of the MSS. take no more account of this transition to the Book of
Arthur than to begin a new paragraph. In one or two cases even this slight
break is omitted.
§ "^"O OF THE PROSE MERLIN. CLIX

In the list of kings and princes (Eng. pp. 643, 644) the French
(f. 215, col. 1) differs considerably in the numerals, and

altogether omits Ydier and Aguysans.

It would be easy to furnish additional proofs that this
manuscript did not serve as the basis of our translation. Yet
in several points it is moreharmony with the English
in
version than, for example, B. N. MS. fr. 24,394, which omits
passages found in the English (pp. 146, 147, 187, 188, etc.),

and also in MSS. 747, 105, etc.

2. Bih. Nat. MS. fr. 770 (list No. 8).

This manuscript shows a large number of striking re-

semblances to B. N. MS. fr. 95, but still has a considerable
individuality. MS. 770 cannot be the original of our trans-
lation,but it is interesting in that it mentions " maistre
martins " (f. 1276, col. 1, 1. 12)—

'*
Mais qM«nt il morront parler il naront talent de moi ocirre. et le
men irai auec aus, et tu ten iras es parties ou cil so»t qwe ont le saint
vaissel, et tons iors mais sera volentiers tes liures ois, et qui vaurra
sauoir la uie des rois qui en la grant bretaigne furent ains que la
crestientez i venist, si regart en lestoire des bretons. cest en vn liure
(]ue maistre martins de beures tranlata de latiw en romans. Mais ata??t

se taist ore li contes de ceste cose et retorne a lestoire. Or dit li

contes quU ot vn roi en bretaigne qui eut a now coustans."

As in MS. 95, the list of knights shows remarkable agree-

ment with the English (p. 212), but there are some differences.
For instance, in the English the twenty-second knight is
" Placidas ly gays," in the French, " lerohas " (f. 1746, cols. 2

and 3) ; but the English has also " the xxiiij lerohas lenches,"
the French, " lerohas de lanches."
The two French passages quoted in the English translation
exhibit verbal differences, not due to the English transcriber.
 —

CLX THE FRENCH MANUSCRIPTS U "^"•

For the first passage (Eng. 485) we have (f.'2496, col. 3, 1. 35)—
" et li hiraut comencent a crier or i parra qui bien le fera or ert
veu." Compare also Eng. p. 563, with the French (f. 271,

col. 2, 1. 9)—
'' M il les fist si fu teus li contes chou est li commencemens des
auentures dou pais. Tpar quoi li mervilleus lyons fu aterre et que

fils de Eoi et de Roine destruira et connenTa, quil soit li mieudres

chevaliers qui lors sera el monde."

A conclusive proof that this version did not serve as the

basis of our translation is, that MS. 770, like MS. 95, gives the

contracted version of the list of the princes (f. 274, col. 2,

Eng. p. 576 sqq.), a list which is expanded in MS. 98 and

several other MSS. in the same way as in the English version.

3. Mb. Nat. MS. fr. 95 (list No. 9).

This is, perhaps, the most gorgeous of all the manuscripts

of Merlin, and from the beauty of the miniatures and the
illuminated letters seems to belong to the latter part of the
thirteenth century, if not to the early part of the fourteenth.
In many passages it stands as close to the English version as
any of the manuscripts, but it contains additions and omissions
enough to compel us to reject it. For instance, it does not
mention "maistre Martins," and presents the following
passage ^ as the equivalent for the English version (p. 23) :

"Et quant tu aueras ta paine achieuee et tu seras tax come dois

estre en la compaingnie del saint graal. lors sera tes liures aioins au
liure ioseph. si sera la cose bien esprouuee de ma paine et de la

toie si en aura diex merchi se lui meisme plaist. et cil qui loront

1 This passage may be compared with the one at the end of the Saint-Graal
(f. 113J, col. 1)
— " Chi se taist ore li contes de toutes les lingnies qui de celidoine
issirent et retorne a une estoire de Merlin, qui conuient a fine force aioster a lestoire

del saint graal, por ce que la tranche i est et li apartiens. et comence mesires
Eobiers en tel maniere come uous pores oir sil est qui le uous die."
?
^^i] OF THE PROSE MERLIN. CLXI

proierowt nostre signer por nos. et quant li doi liure seront ensamble
si i aura .i. biau liure. Et li doi seront une meisme cose, fors tant

que ne puis pas dire ne retraire les priuees paroles de ih'u c'st et de
ioseph." (f. 123, col. 2.)

On the other hand, the list of the forty-three knights

(f. 192a) shows in the forms of the names and in the order
a striking agreement with the English (p. 212). Even the
variants are remarkable for the particulars in which they agree.
The English has, for example, " The xxix. Agresianx, the
nevew of the wise lady of the foreste with-oute returne." The
French omits the name, and reads, " Li uintenoefismes fu li
fieus a la sage dame de la forest sans retour." As the thirty-
second knight the English has " kehedin
de belly " the ;

French, " Kehedins li biaus." Most of the other variations in

the two lists are mere diflferences of spelling.

"Without burdening our pages with minor differences, such,

for example, as Eng. 563 and Fr. f. 309^, col. 1, we find
convincing proof that neither this manuscript nor exact copies
of it could have been used by the English translator, when we
compare the list of the princes who come to Salisbury Plain

(Eng. pp. 576-578) with the list in the French (f. 313 a and h).

The two versions agree almost word for word, except that the

English adds a line or two of description to each knight.

These additions amount to about nineteen lines to the page
(p.
576i-p. 577|), and are found in MS. 98, f. 2416, in MS.
105, and others. The evident explanation is, that MS. 95
represents a group of thirteenth-century MSS. afterwards ex-
panded by a copyist who was also an author.

4. Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 24,394 (list No. 10).

This manuscript is remarkable for striking points of agree-

ment with the English version, and for equally striking
omissions. I have space for but a small portion of the variants.
 —

CLXII THE FRENCH MANUSCRIPTS [§ ^11-

I give them in the order of their occurrence English, p. 15, :

—
"x. monthes " French, f. 112, " ix.
;
mois." Eng. p. 15, " xij.

monthes"; Fr. f. 112, " xviij. mois." Eng. p. 61, " thre
yere"; Fr. f. 129, col. 2, "plus de ij. ans." Considerable
other verbal differences occur between Eng. pp. 60, 61 and Fr.
f. 128^>-f. 129. This MS. agrees essentially with MS. 95 in
presenting the longer version (f. 1145-f. 115) in place of the
one found in the English translation, p. 23. In giving the
list of kings who came to Arthur's court the English (p. 108)
mentions six, the French but five ^ (f. 141&, col. 1).
The French version (f. 149b, col. 2) omits a passage extending
in the English version from "Now, seith the boke" (p. 146,
1. 27) to "Now, seith the boke" (p. 147, 1. 30). Two other
omitted passages are Eng. p. 187, 11. 8-18 (cf. Fr. f. 157b,
col. 1); Eng. p. 188, 11. 5-11 {cf. Fr. f. 157b, col. 2).

Characteristic variations and omissions appear in the following

passages :

Eng. pp. 176, 177. Fe. f. 1553, col. 1.

" And so com) the renouw in to " Si reuint li renews en lost si

the hoste that thei) durste not ride q^lil nosere«t mie cele part cheual-
that way withoute grete foyson) of cher sans mout grant fuison de
peple. And so on) that part the gent.
kynge Tdiers kepte hem so streyte
that theD myght haue no socoure
of no vitaile.
" ThetotherCitee that thei) yede " Lautre cite quil ewuoierewt
to was cleped Wydesans,
stuffe gamir si ot a non huidesant. A
and thedir yede the kynge Ventres cele ala li rois nantres de garlot
of Garlot and ledde with hym si en amena auoec lui ,^ homes
knyghtes that were lefte of the de eels qui furent remes ew la
hoste." bataiUe."

I
All six are named in MS. 747, f. Ill, col. 1 ; f. 119i, cols. 1 and 2 ; in MS.
105, etc.
 — — —

§ Til.] OF THE PROSE MERLIN. CLXIII

A little lower down the page we find

ExVG. p. 177. Fe. f. 1553, col. 1.

" and the wif of kynge Ventres " et la feme al roi nantre fu [f.

was suster to kynge Arthur on) his 155 J, 2] seror le roi artu de
col.

moder side, Tgerne, that was wif par sa mere jgeme, q?<» auoit este
to Vterpendragou), and wif also fille al due hoel de tintaioel. Si
to Hoel, Duke of TintageH, that ot a no?? blaisine et de li ot li rois

be-gat hasyne, the wif of kynge nantres sonfil, q!«'puis fu co;«pai«s

Ventres; and upon) this hasyne he- de la table roonde, et fu nomes par
gate he his sone, that was so gode son droit now galescin."
a knyght and hardy, as ye shaH
here her-after, and how he was
oon) of the C.C.I, knyghtes of the
rounde table, and oon) of the moste
preysed, and his right name was
Galashyn)."

E>-G. p. 179. Fk. f. 156, col. 1.

" kynge loot wente to the Citee " li rois loth sen ala a une chite
of Gale with ^^ knyghtes." .m.
comhaisais."

In the list of knights (Eng. p. 212, Fr. f. 1635, cols. 1 and 2)

we find
ENGLISH. FfiEirCH.

No. 2. " Boors de Gannes." "Bohors ses fr«res."

No. 9. "Gifflet." " gyrfle le fil do de cardoel."
No. 18. "hlioheris." "bliobleris de gannes."
1X0,21. "Aladan) thecrespes." "meleadant."
No. 29. " Agresianx, the nevew " Agreucil, le fil a lasage dame,"
of the wise lady," etc. etc.

The English p. 519 has an unusual reading

Fb. f. 239, col. 2.

" and therfore now telle hym **

Or li dites qutl mi i trouera
that he shall fynde me ther on le ior de la nostre dame en sep-
seinte Berthelmewes day." tembre."
 —

CLXIV THE FRENCH MANUSCRIPTS [§ ^"•

On p. 525 the English agrees with the French

English. Fk. f. 241, col. 1.

"the kynge Looth of Orcanye ''que li rois loth dorcanie li

sendith hym to wite that he mande si conime uos aues oi qMil

sholde be with hym at Arestuell soit eneowtre lui a arestuel era es-
in Scotlonde on oure lady day in coche le ior de la nos^re dame en
Septewibre." septembre."

"Wide variations may be pointed out in abundance, as well

as almost literal agreement. In the list of princes who come
to Salisbury (Eng. pp. 576-578), this Fr. version (f. 254/>,

col. 1 to f. 255, col. 1) supplies all the omissions of MS. 95.

The slight variations in the Roman numerals were probably
due to haste in copying. Interesting, too, it is to find such
agreement as in the following passage, for some of the
manuscripts that on the whole agree much more closely with

the English version omit the descriptive word hreton.

ExG. p. 615. Ffi. f. 265, col. 2.

"and he harped a lay of Ere- " et il hff/'poit.i. lai breton tant

teigne ful swetely that wonder doucement q^^e ce estoit melodie
^
was to here." a escouter."

The unexpected agreement with the English version of such

a manuscript as B. N. 24,394, makes difficult a thoroughly
satisfactory grouping of the difierent versions. A long process
of collation must precede any such classification.

5. Bih. Nat. MS. fr. 110 (list No. 11).

This version agrees with the English translation in several

particulars, more closely than does MS. 24,394 ; but it makes
no mention of " maistre Martins," and has the passage (f. 50,
col. 3) omitted from the English, p. 23. The lists of knights

^ MS. 117, f. 1415, col. 1, gives the same version as this French text; while
Arsn. MS. fr. 3482, B. N. MS. fr. 105, etc., omit the word breton.
 —

'^"•]
^ OF THE PROSE MERLIN. CI.XV

(Eno;. p, 212 ; Fr. f. 82, cols. 1 and 2) agree in the main, though
the French has some words of description not reproduced in the
translation. Other lists— e.g., Eng. pp. 576-578, Fr. f. 1426-
f. 143 ; Eng. pp. 593, 594, Fr. f. 145J Eng. p. 616, Fr. f. 149, ;

col. 3 — show very close agreement. The two passages quoted

from the French (Eng. p. 485, Fr. f. 1266, col. 1 ; Eng. p. 563,
Fr. f. 1406, col. 1) agree, except for a letter or two, with MS.
24,394, f. 230, col. 1; f. 251, col. 2, 1. 15.

6. Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 749 (Hst No. 12).

At the beginning of the Merlin we find above a row of five

miniatures the rubric :

" Chi co[ra]ence lestoire de merlin
que raesire robers de borron translata." This manuscript
mentions (f. 132, col. 2) " mesire martins de roescestre," who
appears in the English version (p. 23) as "maister Martyn."
Kowhere else, except in Arsn. MS. 3482, is he called Martin of
Rochester,^ though a certain Martin is mentioned in a few other
manuscripts.^ This passage gives the long version, a part of
which does not appear in the English (f. 132, col. 2)

" et qxiani li doi liure seront ensamble. si aura .i. bel liure et li dui
seront una meisme chose fors tant qtie ie ne puis pas dire ne drois nest
les priuees paroles de ih'u crist et de ioseph nest eel tans nauoit encore
gaires rois crestiens en engleterre. Xe de ceuls qui i auoient este ne
me tient a retraire fors tant come a cest conte monte et qui valroit ' oir
center les rois qui deuant furent, et lor vie volroit oir si qui fist et

regardast* en lestoire de bretaigne que on apelle brutus qwc mesire

martins de roescestre trtrnslata de latin en romans ou il le troua si le

porroies* sauoir vraiement."

1 Paulin Paris remarks {Romans, ii.

p. 36) " I know no other mention of this
:

Martin of Rochester, rival of Pierre de Langtofte and of oxir Wace."

2
Cf. p. Ixviii.
3 Touroit : P. Paris. * regarde : P. P. ^ porra : P. P.
 — — —

CLXVI THE FRENCH MANUSCRIPTS C^ ^n-

Other minor variations forbid us to suppose that the English

translator used this version, or a copy of it, though the resem-
blances are at times surprisingly close. In the list of knights
(Eng. p. 212 ; Fr. f. 195, col. 1) the names are meant to be alike,
except that in the English we have "the xlj. bleoris the sone
of kynge Boors," and in the French, "li xli.isme fu banins li

filleus au roi bohort de gausnes."

In the passages quoted from the French, the first (Eng. p.
485) differs in but one essential word lien for checun —
Fe. f. 275, col. 2, 1. 32. *'
et hiraut comencent a crier |
chi est li
"
honors darmes or i parra qui hien. le fera |

The second passage (Eng. p. 563) shows more variation

Fe. f. 300, col. 2, 1. 22. —" et il les fist si fu i teusli contes. ce sont

iclii les auewtures dou pais qui par le meruilleus lion fu a terie, et qui
fu fieus de roi et de roine destruira et co?me«ra quil soit castes et li

niieudres chr's qw* soit aillors el monde."

In the list of princes (Eng. pp. 576-578), the French (f. 305)
gives the expanded version, in the main the same as in the Eng-
lish version,though with some variations in the numerals and
the descriptive details. For example, Eng. p. 576, *' kynge
Belynans of south wales " ; Fr. (col. 2), " rois belinans de nor-

gales." I could multiply examples, but those already given

must suffice. In classing this version we must place it with the
small group of manuscripts that most closely represent the
English, though the coincidence is not so great as in MS. 105.
Perhaps it stands in closest relation to Arsn. MS. fr. 3482. The
manuscript breaks off at f. 3306 with the words translated in
the English by "and whan the [kynge saugh this]," p. 667,

L27.
§ "^n.] OF THE PROSE MERLIN. CLXVII

7. Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 19,162 (list No. 14).

This manuscript may be classed witli MS. 24,394. For Eng.

p. 23 this MS. (f. Ib2by gives the ordinary version, differing

from the English, with no mention of "maistre Martins." The

list of kings (f. 187, col. 1) is the same as in MS. 24,394 (cf.

Eng. p. 108). The equivalent of line fifth on p. 143 of the

English is omitted from MS. 19,162, f. 197, col. 2. The passage
corresponding to Eng. p. 145, 1. 15 to Eng. p. 150, 1. 29 is lost

from the French manuscript between f. 197 and f. 198, so tbat we

cannot tell whether the passage on pp. 146, 147 is omitted as in
MS. 24,394. But this version, like MS. 24,394, omits a line
corresponding to a line in the Eng. p. 176, as well as the words
"of Gale" (Eng. p. 179). So, too, the passages, Eng. p. 187,
11. 8-18, Fr. f. 208, col. 1 ; Eng. p. 188, 11. 5-11, Fr. f. 208,
col. 2. In the list of knights (Eng. p. 212, Fr. f. 216, col. 2)
the version is MS. 24,394. On f. 3136, col. 1,
essentially that of
the usual version " de la nos^re dame septembre " appears in
place of ** Berthelmewes day" of the Eng. p. 519. For the
Eng. pp. 576-578 this manuscript gives the usual expanded
version.

8. Brit Mus. MS. Add. 10,292 2 (list No. 20).

This version may be classed with MS. 24,394, as is evident

from the regular variations that appear in the two versions.

English. Frexch.

p. 15, " X. monthes." f. 79, col. 1. "ix. mois."

" xij. monthes." ''
:xviij. mois."

' Most of the leaves are not numbered.

- This is the MS. selected by Sommer for his edition of the romance of Merlin.
 —

"^•
CLXYIII THE FRENCH MANUSCRIPTS [§

For Eng. pp. 22, 23 the French, f. SOb, col. 3 to f. 81, col. 1,

gives the ordinary expanded version, with no mention of

" niaistre Martins."

The list of kings, with the number of attendant knights (Eng.

p. 108), agrees exactly, except that the French, f. lOlb, col. 1,

omits the name of Ydiers. On f. 108, col. 2, the French has

nothing corresponding to about a page of the English (pp. 146,
147). On f. 113, col. 1, the French omits a line and a half
found in the English, p. 176 (bottom), as well as in MS. 105. On
f. 113, col. 2, the French version of Eng. p. 177 is confused, and
not so exact as MS. 105. On f. llib, col. 2, the French omits
the passage found in the Eng. p. 187, 11. 8-18. From f. 1145,
col. 2 is omitted the equivalent of Eng. p. 188, 11. 5-11. The
list of knights,^ f. 120, cols. 1 and 2, agrees closely with the
English, p. 212, but with such variations as— No. 9, "GifSet"
in the English for " Giffles le fil do de carduel " No. 29, " the ;

nevew" for "le fil." The passage quoted from MS. 10,292 on
pp. 700, 701 of the 3Ierlin of the E.E.T.S., agrees almost word
for word with B. N. MSS. fr. 96 and 24,394.

9. Bib. Nat. MS. f. 96 (list No. 24).

This manuscript closely agrees at most points with B. N. MS.

24,394. I give below a few of the data which compel us to
reject this version as the original of our translation

English. Fkench.

p. 15. "x. monthes." f. 63, col. 2. " ix. mois."

" xii. monthes." " xviii. mois."
p. 61. "thre yere." f. 74, col. 1. "plus de .ii. ans."

^ For the entire list see Malory's Morte Barthur

Sommer), vol. iii. pp. 55, (ed.

56, Studies on the Sources. Sommer from the Auchinlech

prints also the lists
MS. of the English verse Merlin, from Harl. MS. 6310, and from the English
prose version.
 —

§
'^"•] OF THE PROSE MERLIN. CLXIX

For the English of p. 23 the French (£. 6bb, col. 1) gives

the ordinary expanded version, with no mention of " maistre
Martins." On f. 82, col. 2, Ydiers is omitted from the list of
kings (Eng. p. 108). The French also omits (f. 87^», col. 2) the
passage corresponding to Eng. p. 146, 1. 27 to p. 147, 1. 30.
From f. 1556, col. 1, the French omits a line corresponding to
the English, p. 176 (bottom). At this point MS. 96 and MS.
24,394 agree word for word. The English, p. 177, differs
widely from the French, f. 91b, col. 1 {cf. MS. 24,394). From
f. 91 J, col. 2, the same omission occurs as in MS. 24,394 (cf.

Eng. p. 179). The list of knights, f. 96b, is essentially that of

MS. 24,394, and agrees closely with the English, p. 212. Wide
diflFerences between the English, pp. 438, 439, and the French,
f. 134, are found in the numerals, a few of which I select

English. Feench.
"xij. kynges." x.
•'
xij. princes." "x. roys et d'ua due."
"xij. kynges." x.

Numerous points of difference might be noted, but we need

not multiply words. There can be no doubt that this MS. pre-
sents essentially the same version as Brit. Mus. MS. Add. 10,292
and B. N. MS. 24,394. On comparing MS. 96, f. 116b, col. 2, 1. 8,

to f. 177, col. 1, with MS. 10,292, f. 216, col. 3, I found the two
agreeing almost word for word, except that MS. 96 has later
forms for almost all the words.

10. Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 117 (list No. 25).

This cannot be taken as the exact original of the English

version, though many passages agree almost word for word.
For the English of p. 23, MS. 117, f. bob, col. 1, gives the
CLXX THE FRENCH MANUSCKIPTS [§
"^"•

ordinary expanded version, and does not refer to " maistre

Martins." In the list of kings (Eng. p. 108 ; Fr. f. 73, col. 1)
the French mentions " Constant qui estoi[t] roi descosse," while
the English has "Aguysas." The French omits "Ydiers."
The list of knights (Eng. p. 212 ; Fr. f. 86b, col. 2) differs very
widely. The amour of Guyomar and Morgain (Eng. p. 508)
is much abridged in this MS. (f. 126b, col. 2). The bits
of French on p. 485 and p. 563 of the English version agree
closely with the corresponding passages in this MS. (f. 1236,
col. 2 ; f. 134, col. 2). This MS. has the expanded version
(f. 136, col. 2 to 136b, col. 1) of the list of princes (Eng.

pp. 576-578), and, except in a few of the numerals and other

minor details, agrees closely at this point with the English.
On 620 of the English we have " Whan the archebisshop
p. :

hadde redde this letter " while the French has " Quant larch-
; :

evesque de brise ot les lettres leues " (f. 142, col. 2). ^ The name
again occurs in the French a little later (f. 145, col. 2 : cf. Eng.
p. 640). Our English version does not once mention the arch-
bishop by name, though his name appears in many of the
French MSS. as well as in Geoffrey of Monmouth. On the other
hand, MS. 117 omits much; for example, nearly the whole of
the equivalent of Eng. p. 616 (Fr. f. 141, col. 2), including all

of the list given in the English and found even in MS. 24,394.

11. Arsenal MS. No. 3482 (list 21).

In spite of the very defective state of this manuscript, it has

for us more value than some of those better preserved. It is not

the exact original of our translation, but it agrees so closely in

a great number of passages that I have merely collated with
other manuscripts the transcripts I had made from this version

^ So, too, in MS. 24,394, f. 266*, col. 2.

 — ;;

§
"^" ] OF THE PROSE MERLIN. CT.XXI

before examining B. N. MS. 105. Tn a number of passages,

however, I must confess that this version is widely at variance
with the English. The test passage of the English, p. 23, ap-
pears in this MS. (p. 14, col. 3) in part in the usual expanded
form, but with the addition of the rare version found in the
English translation, suggesting that anyone who is interested
in the history of the Britons may study it

" en lystoire de bretaigne que len appele bretus, que mesires martins
de rocestre translata de latin en francois, ou la trouua si la porrez
sauoir uraiement. En eel temps en i auoit .i. qui estoit constaws
apeles," etc.

The numerals afford a peculiarly delicate test of agreement

for the Roman notation used in the manuscripts is far more
liable to errors of transcription than the Arabic. The variations
in the numerals of this MS. and of the English translation are
great enough, but not so striking as in some other MSS. For
instance (Fr. p. 62, col. 3), the names of the six kings who came
to Arthur's court after his coronation are here given as in the
English (p. ] number of knights accompanying
08), with the exact
each king. Even Ydiers is mentioned, though omitted from
many of the MSS. I have prepared long lists of the numerals
in the French and the English, but omit them for lack of
space.^ In many cases the difference is quite as striking as the
agreement, though this manuscript shows less variation than
most of the others.
When we turn to the passages that are found in the English,
although omitted from several of the French MSS., we learn to

* Differences in the numerals maj- be found by comparing Eng. p. 15, Fr. p. 9

Eng. p. 61, *' thre yere," with Fr. p. 41, col. 1, " plw* de .ii. ans "
Eng. p. l-j.5,
;

Fr. p. 81, col. 2 ; Eng. p. 146, Fr. pp. 81, 82; Eng. p. 184, "xiiij. dayes," with
Fr. p. 101, col. 1, " entre ce et qui/isaine " ; Eng. p. 187, Fr. p. 102 Eng. p. 188,;

Fr. p. 103 ; Eng. p. 576, Fr. p. 271 ; Eng. p. 643, Fr. p. 306, etc.
CLXXII THE FRENCH MANUSCRIPTS [§ '^W-

appreciate more highly the agreement that we here find. Of

the following passages all are omitted from MS. 24,394, MS. 98,

etc., yet are found both in the English and in MS. 3482.

English. Fbexch.

p. 146, 1. 27 to p. 147, 1. 30. p. 82, cols. 2 and 3 to p. 83, col. 1,

11. 1-5.
p. 176, last line. p. 97, col. 1.
p. 179, "to the Citee of Gale p. 98, col. 2, "a la cite de gales
with ^ knyghtes." a tout j" coTwbataus." The
words " de gales " are fre-
quently omitted from the
MSS.
p. 187, 11. 8-18. p. 102, cols. 2 and 3.

p. 188, U. 5-11. p. 103, col. 1.

On the other hand, the English account (pp. 252-257) of

King Clarion of Northumberland, and his battles with the
Saxons, is more extended than the account in the French
(p. 135). The name of the "arceuesques del brice" is here
given (Fr. p. 295, col. 2 ; Fr. p. 304, col. 3) as in MS. 117, etc.,

though omitted from the English (p. 620, p. 640). A remark-

able reading occurs on p. 243, col. 2, " et ie uous di certainement
que il mi trouuerra le ior de la ssimt bertelemi." The English
reads (p. 519), "and therfore now telle hym that he shall

fynde me ther on seinte Berthelmewes day." The mention

of St. Bartholomew's Day is rare, most of the manuscripts
preferring the reading, " our lady day in September."
Enough evidence has been adduced to show that while this
version can hardly be taken as the exact original of the English
translation, the similarity is very great. I will add at this
point a few passages, which are, however, no more remarkable
for their agreement than hundreds of others to be found in this
manuscript.
§ VII.] or THE PROSE MERLIN. CLXXlll

(a) Fk. p. 112, col. 2. ExG. p. 206, 11. 16-19.

" car il porte el somet ^ dune " for he bar a dragon) tbat was

lance .i. dragon petit, ne guieres not riglit grete, and the taile "was
grant, qui auoit la queue longue a fadome and an half of lengthe
de toise et demie et toute tortice ;
tortue ; and he hadde a wide throte
et auoit la gueule baee * si grant that the tounge semed braulinge
quil uous fust auis que la langue euer, and it semed sparkles of fier

qui dedens estoit se branlast ^

that sprongen) vp in-to the heire
tousiours, et li sailloient estan- out of his throte."
celes et brandows de feu parmi*
la gueule en lair."

(5) Fk. p. 114, col. 3. ExG. p. 210, 11. 8-10.

" et li dragons que il portoit "and the dragon) that Merlin bar
rendoit parmi la gueule si grant caste oute gret flames of fiere, that
brandon de feu quil sourmontoit it sparkled yp in) the ayre, that
amont en lair, que cil qui estoient thei ypon) the walles of the town)
sus les mwrs de la cite enueoient saugh the clernesse of the light
la clarte de demie Hue loing et de half a myle longe."
plus."

(c) Fe. p. 199, col. 1. Eng. p. 384, 11. 29-33.

" Ilec peust len ueoir maint riche " Ther myght oon haue seyn
garnement et maiwte enseigne dor many a riche garnement and many
et de soie qui au uent uenteloit,' a fressh baner of riche colour wave
et li airs estoit dous et soues, et li in the wynde, and the seson was
pais biaus et delitables, car moult myri and softe, and the centre
i auoit fores et praeries ou cil feire and delitable, ffor many feire
oiseillon" cbantoient par mains' medowes and forestes ther weren,
langages," ^ etc. in whiche these briddes singen
with lusty notes and cler," etc.

Xote. —I have collated the two passages (a) and {b) with B. X. MS. fr. 105.
Some slight variations of the first passage are found. The second reappears almost
literally, (c) Cf. B. N. MS. fr. 105, f. 2516, col. 3.

(a) f. 191i, col. 3. {b) f. 193, col. 2,

1 '
' Quar . . . portoit ou sommet de " et li dragons que il portoit rendoit
la. parmi la gueule si grant brandon de feu
* basse bee . . . estoit ains q«e la qui seurmontoit amont en lair, que cil

langue. qui estoient sus les murs de la cite en

* se branlast touz. veoient la clarte de demie lieue loing et
* parmi la gueule en haut en lair." de plus."

' venteloient. ^ oiselet. ' maint. ^ langaies.

 U vn.
CLXXIV THE FRENCH MANUSCRIPTS

{d) Fe. p. 287, col. 3. EjfG. p. 604, 11. 26 to p. 605, 1. 8.

"Ne el chastel nauoit que une "In to this castell was but oon
seule entree, et estoit si estroite entree, and that was so streite
que dui cheualier a cheual ni that two horse myght not ther-on
alassewt mie li uns en coste lautre mete, oon beside a-nother and ;

se aenuis non. Par desus eel a-bove this marasse was a cbauchie
mares ^ auoit une chauciee de leus fro place to place of the breede of
en leus ainsint coOTme del lone a spere lengthe, made of chalke
dune lance de pierre et de sablon and sande stronge and thikke and
faite. et de chaus et ert espesse et wele made, and this cauchie was
bien faite remanans des fautes
li of lengthe a stones caste, and the
estoit de fust et de plawches, pour remenaunt was made of plankes
ce que se besoins uenist au cbaslel and of tymbir, so that noon ne
que len ostast les planches si que mcs myght passe ouer yef the plankes
ne peust outre passer, et au chief hadde be take a-wey and at the ende ;

deca^ la chauciee auoit une eue of the cauchie was a grete water,
courant auques rade. mais ele ne but ther-to com no shippes but it ;

portoit pas nauie. Deuant le pie was right feire and plesaunt, and
de cele chauciee auoit .i. piw .i. good fisshinge ; be-fore the foot of
petit ensus de leue dedews .i. this cauchie was a pyne tre a litill

praelet qui tenoit bien lespasse fro the water in a medowe of the
dun quartier de terre ou de plus. space of an acre [p. 605] londe or
ou lerbe estoit haute et bele. et li more, where-ynne the grasse was
pins estoit [p. 288] biaus et grans feireand high, and the pyne tre
et si bien ramus que il peust bien was rightfeire and full of bowes,

auoir en lombre de lui .c. cheua- so that oon branche passed not
gentement duis et
liers et estoit si a-nother of height, and vpon a
si iointemeut que lune branche ne braunche of this pyne was hanged
passoit lautre de hautesce. A une by a cheyne of siluer, an home of
branche de eel pin qui tant estoit yvorie as white as snowe, ffor that
biaus et gens comme li contes le thei sholde it sowne that com for
deuise pendoit .i. cors diuuire to be herberowed in the castell or

bende dor a une chaenne dargent, elles who that passed forth, by that
que cil sonnoient qui el chastel wolde aske lustinge. Of these
uoloient herbegier ou qui tres- two thinges served the home that
passoient par illec pour demander ther was hanged."
iouste. A ces .ii. choses seruoit
le cor."

1 chastel ! (B. N. MS. fr. 105, f. 318J, col. 1).

* de la.
 ;

§ VII.] OF THE PROSE MERLIN. CLXXV

(e) Fe. p. 293, col. 3 ; p. 294,

col. 1. Eng. p. 614, 1. 35 ; p. 615, 1. 24.

" Tandis com il ' estoient en tel "And were in this ioye,
as thei
feste et en tel deduit^ et en tel and in and kay the
this feste,
ioie si comma keus aportoit le stiward that brought the firste
premier mes deua/jt le roi artus mese be-fore the [p. 615] kynge,
et deuant la ro [p. 294] guenieure ther com in the fairest forme of
antra leens la plus bele forma man that euer had da thei seyn
domme qui onques mais fust^ ueue be-fore, and he was clothed in
en nule terre de crestiens* en une samyte, and girta with a bawdrika
cote de sarnit uermeille ceins dun of silke harnysshed with golde
bandra de soia a membres dor a and preciouse stones, that all the
pierres precieuses qui getoient si paleys flamed of the light, and
grant clarte ' qua toMS li palles the heir of his hede was yalowe
*
en flamboia.^ et ' ot uns cheueus and crispa with a crowne of golde
sores une corone dor en son chief ther-on as ha hadde ben a kynge,
comma rois et ot ^ une harpe a son and his hosen of fin scarlet, and
col qui toute estoit dargent et les his shone of white cordewan or-
cordes dor. et il estoit si biaus de fraied, and bokelad with fin golde ;

cors et da uis et de membres que and hadde an harpe abowte his

onques nule si bele riens ne fu nekke of siluer richely wrought,
ueue. mais itant li empira son and the stringes were of fin golde
uis ^^ que il ne ueoit goute. non wire, and the harpe was sette
pourquant les iax auoit biaus et with preciouse stones and the ;

clers en la teste, et auoit a sa man that it bar was so feire of

ceinture Ioie .i. petit " chienet a body and of visage that neuer hadde
une chaenna dargent qui li estoit thei sein noon so feire a creature
atachie a .i. coler de soie a but this a-paired mocha his bewte
membres dor et le mena cil chiens and his visage for that he was
droitement deuant le roy artus et blinde, and yet were the iyen in
il harpoit "^ .i. lay ^^
si doucement his head feire and clier; and ha
que ce estoit droite melodie a hadde a litill cheyne of siluer
escout^r et el rafret" de son lay tacched to his arme, and to that
saluoit le roi artus et sa co??jpaignie. cheyne a litill spayne was bounde
si lesgarda li rois artus et la roine as white as snowa, and a litill
guenieure et tuit et toutes a coler a-bouta his nekka of silke
merueilles. keus li seneschaus
et harneysed with golde; and this
qui la premier mes aportoit spaynell ledda hym strieght be-
sentarda grant piece dasseoir le fore the kynge Arthur, and he
deuant le roy tant estoit ententis harped a lay of Ureteigne full
CLXXVI THE FRENCH MANUSCRIPTS [§
'''"•

a celui regarder. si se test atant li swetely that wonder was to here,

contes ici endroit a parler deuls et and the refraite of hislaye salewed
retorne au roy rion des illes," the kynge Arthur, and the Quene
Gonnore, and alle the other after ;

and kay the stiward that brought

the first cours taried a-while in
the settinge down to be-holde the
harper ententifly. But now we
inoste cesse of hem a-while, and
speke of the kynge Rion."

I add a collation of the more important variations of

B. N. MS. fr. 98, f. 2586, col. 1 (A) ; and B. N. MS. fr. 105,
f. 3216, col. 2 (B)—

^ comme ilz (A) ;

^ desduit einsi comme keux li seneschault (A) ;

et en tel bandoun (B) ;

^ fuit (A) (B) ;
* cristiens empiire (A) ;

* et si grant enenlumina (B)

resplendissement ' oil
(B) ;
^ et ;

iouencel (A) * ung crespe cheueux (A) ^ si auoit pendue ^^ et sa

;
; ;

byaulte (A) " petit {omitted, B)

;
^^
et puez prist a harper (A) " .i. ; ;

lai breton tant doucement que ce estoit melodie a escouter (B. N.

MS. fr. 24,394, f. 265, col. 2) ;

** et en la fin de son refrain (A).

12. BiL Nat. MS. fr. 105 (list No, 18).

This manuscript is, for our purpose, more important than any
of the others, for it presents the version most nearly resembling
the version of the English text. Au almost literal copy of this
version is found in Bib. Nat. MS. fr. 9123 (list No. 19). The
two manuscripts agree in having rubrics as headings for the
chapters, a feature not found in many of the MSS. of Merlin,
and, indeed, lacking in the English MS. of Merlin. The
passages taken especially as test passages, where the English
contains a considerable amount of matter lacking in a number
of the French texts, are all found in MS. 9123, as well as in
MS. 105. I give a few references. MS. 9123 has the contracted
 '*"•]
§ OF THE PROSE MERLIX. CLXXVII

version for Eng. p. 23, and mentions as the author of the

history of the Britons a certain **
The
Martins de Bieure."
essential identity with the English version may be seen by
comparing Eng. pp. 146, 147 with Fr. f. 143 ; Eng. p. 176,
Fr.f. 152, col. 3 Eng. p. 177, Fr. f. 152, col. 3
; ; Eng. p. 179,
Fr. f. 153, col. 1 ; Eng. p. 187, 11. 8-18, Fr. f. 155 ; Eng. p.
188, 11. 5-11, Fr. f. 1556, col. 2 ; Eng. p. 212, Fr. f. 162 J, col. 3
to f. 163, col. 1. Same version as in MS. 105 : Eng. p. 229,
Fr. f. 167^ col. 3 to f. 168, col. 1 ; Eng. p. 485, Fr. f. 24:4b,

col. 1 ; Eng. p. 509, Fr. f. 2516, col. 2 ; Eng. p. 563, Fr. f. 266,
col. 3 ; Eng. p. 576, Fr. f. 2696 to f. 270 ; Eng. p. 616, Fr. f.

280, col. 2. The closing pages, except for a letter here and
there, are exactly as in MS. 105.
We turn now to MS. 105. This manuscript betrays innu-
merable evidences of haste in copying,^ but in its main features
it approaches most nearly to the original from which the
English translation was made.
The English translation of the test passage (pp. 22, 23) is
based on a version slightly differing from this one, but the
agreement is more striking than appears in any of the other
French versions.

Fr. f. 133 J, col. 1. ExG. p. 22, 1. 35.

"Blaises quist ce que mestier "Blase sought aH that hym

11 fu, at quant il ot tout quis et mystered to write with, and whei])
assa?«ble si li commenca a conter he was aH redy, Merlyn) be-gan) to
les amours de ihesu crist et de teUe the lovynge of Ihesn [p. 23]
Joseph darimachie, si co;«me eles Criste and of losep Abarainathie,
auoient este et de pierre et de like as thei haddea) ben) of

1 is the omission of the substantive verb and of descriptive

Especially noticeable
words. Compare, for instance, Eng. p. 508 ""Whan Guyomar entred in to the :

chambre ther as -was Morgain the ffee, he hit salued full swetly" Fr. f. 2893, ;

col. 2: "Quant guyomar entra en la chambre ou morgain si li salua moult

doucement."
CLXXVIII THE FRENCH MANUSCRIPTS [§ ^"^

pol, et des autres compaignons si Elayn) and of Pieron), and of

comme il sestoient departi, et le othir felowes like as they weren)
fenissement de Joseph et de tous departed, and the fynyshment of
les autres. puis li eonta comment loseph and of alle other. And after
dyables apres toutes ces choses he tolde hym that -svhan) alle thise
furent auenues prirent cowseil de thynges were don), ho-w the deu-
ce quil auoient perdu les pouoir elles toke theire counseile of that
quil souloient auoir sus les ho/wmes they hadde loste their power that
et sus les femmes, et coument li they were wonte to haue over
prophete leur auoie«t mal fait, et man and woman), and how the
comment il prirent conseil que il p/'ophetes hadden) hyndred here
feroient Tn homme qui auroit leur purpos, and how they were acorded
sens et leur memoire dengignier to purchase a man, that sholde
les gens, et tu as oi par ma haue their witte and mynde to
mere,, et par autrui la paine que disceyve the peple. And thou '

ily mirent a moi faire. mais par hast herde be my moder, and also
leur folie moult il perdu. be other, the trauayle that they
hadden) to begete me but through;

theire foly, they alle loste their

trauayle.'

CHAPTEE n.

" Ensi deuisa merlins ceste " Thus devised Merlyn this
oeuure, et la fist fere a blaise. boke, and made Blase to write
Et comment sen esmerueilla it, which hadde ther-of so grete

blaises de ce que merlins li merveile that he wolde not telle

disoit, et toutes uoies ses paroles it to no persone, and alwey hym

bownes il entendi moult uolewtiers. thought that his tales weren

Et endentres quil [f. 13Sb, col. 2] gode, and therfore he herkened
tendoient a ceste chose fere hem gladly. In the menetyme
uint merlins a blaise si li dist, that they entended a-boute this
II te conuient a soufPrir de mater, come Merlyn to Blase, and
ceste chose et ie la soufifrerai seyde :
*
Thow moste haue grete
encore grigneur. blaises demanda trrtueyle a-boute the makynge,
comment ? Merlins li dit. ie serai and so shall I haue moche more.'
enuoiez querre deuers Occident, And Blase axed, '
How ? ' Merlyn)
et cil qui me uenront querre seyde :
'
I shall be sente after to
arowt enconuent a leur seigneur seche oute of the weste, and they
que il locirront. Mais quant il that shuH come to seche me haue
morront parler il narowt talent grannted their lorde that they
 "

§ "f"] OF THE FROSE MERLIN. CLXXIX

MS. 105, f. 1335, col. 2.

" de moi occirre et ie men irai shuH me sle, but -whan) thei come
auec eulz et tu ten iras es parties and here me speke tbey sbull
ou cil sont qui ont le saint uessel. haue no wiH me to sle. And
et touz iours mais sera volen- I shall go witfi hem and thow ;

tiers tes liures oiz. et qui uoudra shalt go in to that partyes,

sauoir la vie des roys qui en la where they be that haue the
grant bretaigne furent ains q?<« la holy vesseU. And euer here-
crestientez venist si regarde en after shaH thy boke gladly be
lystoire des roys bretows. cest herde, and he that vnR knowe
uns que martins de bieure
liures the lyf of kynges whiche were in
tranlata de latin en roumans. Mais the grete Bretayne be-fore that
ore se taist li contes de ceste chose cristendom) come, be-holde the
"
et retorne a la uraie hystoire story of Bretons. That is a boke
that maister Martyn) trflunslated
cute of latyn), but heire rested
this matere. And turnetfi to the
storye of Loth, a crysten) kynge
in Bretayne [p. 24] whos name
was Constance. This Constance
regned a grete tyme, and hadde
thre sones, the first hight Moyne,

and the tother Pendragon), and the

thirde Yter.'

There are, of course, variations. If we compare Eng. pp.

32, 33 with the French f. 137, col. 3 to 1376, col. 2, we find
that the manuscript has an interpolation of 92 lines relating to
the Saint-Graal, not exactly reproduced in the English. On
the other hand, the omissions of MS. 21,394, and others, are

here supplied. Compare, e.g., Eng. pp. 146, 147 with f. 1736,
col. 2 to f. 174, col. 2 1 ; Eng. p. 176, Fr. f. 1826, cola. 2 and 3 ;

Eng. p. 177, Fr. f. 1826, col. 2. The passage relating to the

1 This passage (Eng. pp. 146, 147), remarks Sommer {Le Morte Darthur,
Tol. iii. found in the French originals. His mistake was due to
p. 44, note), is not
his examining an insufficient number of MSS.,for, as I have already shown, it is
found in several.
 — "

CLXXX THE FRENCH MANUSCRIPTS [§ ""I-

son of king Ventres is here given exactly, though strangely

mixed in some of the versions. Eng. p. 179 reads :

" That than) the kynge loot wente to the Citee of Gale with ^|]

knyghtes and fightynge men) " ;

Fr. f. 1836, col. 1 :

"que li roys loth sen ala a la cyte de gales a tout ^ combatans."

Many MSS. omit the words " de gales." Eng. p. 187, 11. 8-18
is found in Fr. f. 186, and Eng. p. 188, 11. 5-11, in Fr. f. 18f^,

col. 3.

The passage Eng. p. 229, 1. 13 sqq., differs somewhat from

the French f. 199, col. 3, which here is closely like MS. 21,394.
But MS. 105 has the words omitted from many versions

"la plus sage dame de la bloie bretaigne,"

and thus parallels the English :

" the wisest lady of aHe the bloy breteyne."

A slight difference appears also on comparing Eng. p. 509

with Fr. f. 2896, col. 3. The two French passages quoted in tlie

English text have not the precise form that they bear in MS.
105. Compare the version Eng. p. 485 with Fr, f. 282, col. 2 :

" ^^ li heraut comencierent a crier, ici est loneur des armes. or i

para qui bien le fera "

;

Eng. p. 563 with Fr. f. 306, col. 1 :

" Cest yci li commencemens des auentures du pays par quoi li

merueilleus lyons fu aterre, et que fils de roy et de royne destruira et

couuendra que il soit chastes et li mieudres cheualiers qui lore sera el
monde."

This version mentions the " archeuesq?/es del brice " (f. 3236,
col. 2), while the English has merely " the archebisshop
(p. 620, p. 640, etc.).
 —

5 "^"l OF THE PROSE MERLIN. CLXXXI

In a manuscript so carelessly copied we must not look for

exact agreement with the English version ; but for that very
reason we must attach considerable importance to the agree-
ment we do find. Nearly all the manuscripts are at variance
with the English p. 15. Here the numerals are the same :

English. Feench:.

p. 15. "x. monthes." f. 130b, col. 3. " x. mois."

"ij. yere." "xij. mois."
"xij. monthes." "ij. ans."

The names and the numerals, Eng. p. 108, exactly agree with
those in the French, though at this point most MSS. vary widely
in the numerals, and omit the name of Ydiers. Less exact
agreement appears Eng. pp. 145, 146 Fr. ; f, 173, col. 2 to f. 173^,
col. 1. In the list of knights, Eng. p. 212; Fr. f. 1936,
col. 3 to f. 194, col. 1, there are such differences as

English. Fkexch.
No. 4, Alitor. Artus qui le nourri.
No. 9, Gifflet. 11 filz au due de cardueil.

No. 1 9, Canide. Canot de lisse.

No, 30, Chahs. Dyales lorfenin.

Other lists showing considerable variation appear, Eno-.

pp. 576-578, Fr. f. 3096, col. 2 ; Eng. p. 616, Fr. f. 322. Th^e
latter is a characteristic specimen. I omit all but the most
essential details.

English. Eeench.
Palerens xv. fariens dirlande xv.
Tasurs xij. sapharins xij.
Brinans xiiij. ramedons xiij.
Argans xj. arganz xiij.
Taurus xj*. thaurus xj.
Kahadins x. kaamin x.

After this comparison we need scarcely devote more space

to illustrative passages. There is, on the whole, none of
CLXXXll THE FRENCH MANUSCRIPTS Uxn.

the manuscripts of Merlin showing more general agreement

with the English version than does MS. 105. Yet the verbal
differences are so great as to compel us to reject even this
version from being regarded as the one actually followed by
the English translator. Nevertheless, very large portions of
this missing French version were literally transcribed by the
writer of MS. 105, as may be seen by a glance at passages
where the English translator copied the French words without
translating them at all.

English. FRENCH, MS. 105.

p. 2, 1. 14, and when we hadde f. 126 J, col. 2, omitted. (InHuth

assaied hym. Merlin, p. 2, " et quant nous
I'eusmes essaiie.")
p. 3, 1. 19, This riche man) had f. 127, col. 1, Cil riches boms
grete plente of bestes and of auoit moult grant plente de
other richesse. bestes et dautres richeces.

p. 4, 1. 5, and seide a worde of f. 127, col. 2, et dist vne fole

grete ire. parole que sa grant ire li fist

dire,

p. 7, 1. 21, Ye shall abandon) yow f. 128, col. 2, Yous uous haban-

to alle men), donnerez aus howmes.

p. 8, 1. 32, fuH humble to god. f. 128b, col. 1-col. 2, moult hiimi-

lians enuers dieu.

p. 10, 1. 26, confessed and repen- f. 129, col. 2, confes et repentanz.

tant.

p. 27, 1. 33, be force of clergie. f. 1355, col. 1, par force de clergie.

p. 34, 1. 7, grete doel. f. 138, col. 2, grant duel.

p. 40, 1. 1, Thus delyuered Mer- f. 140, col. 3, Einsi se deliura

lyn) the Clerkes. merlins des clers.

p. 40, 1. 3, the significaunce of f. 140, col. 3, la senefiance des

the two dragouns. .ij. dragons,

p. 59, 1. 29, thus be these two f. I48i, col. 2, aiwsi sont ces .ij.

tables convenable. tables conuenables.

p. 147, Merlin) maunded that f. 1495, col. 2, si comraanda M.

ali the hameise and armoure que tos li hamois fust trousses
sholde be trussed in males. en males.
 —

§ "VII.] OF THE PROSE MERLIN. CLXXXIII

Of like sort are many of the instances of tautology in the

English text, though in some instances the fault appears to

belong to the translator :

English. Feench.

,
5, 1. 1, FvH wrothe and angry f. 127, col. 1, Moult fu li anne-
was the DeueH. mis iries.

,
5, 1. 28, And so he taught and f. 127^, col. 2, Moult les aprist
enformed hem here creaunce bien li preudons et enseigna se
and feith. eles le uousissent croire.
,
7, 1.fuH hevy and pensif,
33, f. 128, col. 3, Molt fu irie et
makynge grete doeH and sorow. moult fist grant duel,
8, 1. 19, kepe the fro fallynge f. 1286, col. 1, tu te gardes de
in to grete ire or wrath. cheoir en grant ire.
22, 1. 8, lest thow me disceyve f. 133, col. 3, que tu ne me
and be-gyle. puisses engignier ne deceuoir.
,
615, 1. 29, triste and sorowfull. Omitted from MS. 105, f. 322,
col. 1. (MS. 24,394, f. 265,
col. 2, 1. 30, reads, " tristes
et dolans.")

p. 627, 1. 9, the grete mortalite f. 3255, col. 2, la grant mortalite

and slaughter, et la grant occision.
p. 632, 1. 36, I haue yow hider f. 327, col. 3, omitted.
somowned and assembled,
p. 643, 1. 2, the king hem yaf f. 330, col. 2, si leur donna li roys
riche yeftes and presents*, de moult riches do«3.
p. 643, 1. 32, Whan the kynge f. 330 J, col. 1, Et quant li roys
this vndirstode he was gladde lentendi si en ot molt gr«nt ioie.

and ioyfull.

p. 656, 1. 32, with grete force and f. 334J, col. 3, a force et a

vigour, vigour.
p. 674, 1. 35, and he a-bode gladde f. 341, col. 1, et'il demoura en son
and myrye. chastel liez et ioians.
p. 680, 1. 4, and he hir taught f. 3425, col. 2, et il li endist et
and lerned so moche. enseigna.
p. 682, 1. 35, Whan kynge Arthur f. 3435, col. 1, a cele heure que
hadde a-dubbed the duerf by li roys artus ot adoube le uain
the preier and request of the cheualier par la proiere a la
damesell, and she had hym damoisele, quele len mena ainsi
 —

CLXXXIV FRENCH MANUSCRIPTS OF PROSE MERLIN. U ^W-

[p. 683],ledde as ye haue herde eomme vous auez oi moult liee

gladde and ioyfull .... et moult ioianz

[thei] entred in to a feire launde [il] entrerewt en vne lande qui

that was grete and large. moult estoit longue et large.

The net result of the entire investigation of the manuscripts

is negative. In other words, we have proved that the English

version is not translated word for word from any of the extant
French versions, though most of them tolerably represent the
story as a whole, and many of them agree almost literally in

a largenumber of passages with the English version. Two of

the MSS. (MS. 105 and MS. 9123) agree on the whole more
closely with the English than do any of the others, and these
two doubtless belong to the family of MSS. of which one
was used by the translator of our version. I must confess,

then, that I have not found the exact original, but I am

firmly convinced that the English version is a slavish

translation of a fourteenth-century^ manuscript, now lost, and

that a careful collation of all the extant MSS. might enable
us to find a French equivalent for almost every word of the
translation,^

1 M. Paul Meyer, Director of the Ecole des Chartes, to wliom I submitted the

French passages quoted in the English version, pp. 485, 563, assui'ed me that
the forms were those of the fourteenth century.
- As for the version of the printed editions, it need not detain us long.* The
earliest edition did not appear till 1498, more than a half-century after our trans-
lation was made, and so, of course, can be of importance only in so far as the version
of the printed text may represent an older manuscript original. At the beginning
of my search for the version used by the English translator I compared paragraph by
paragraph the English text and the French edition of 1498, and found a general
agreement in the incidents, but very considerable verbal differences, and at times
important omissions. I cannot take room for examples, but refer the reader to

Fr. vol. i. f. 130, Eng. p. 212 ; f. 1, Eng. p. 379

Fr. vol. ii. Fr. vol. ii. f. 58, ;

Eng. p. 484. Near the end of the romance, Fr. f. 172, col. 2, a sharp divergence
from the English version begins, and continues to the close (f 17 2b) of the romance.
*>
.

a
Cf. the remarks of P. Paris on the general value of the printed editions.
MSS. Franqois, i. pp. 126, 127. Cf. Ward, Caial. of Romancea, vol. i. p. 343.
*>
 i ^T"] TWO MERLINS OR ONE. CLXXXT

YIII.

TWO MERLIXS OR OXE?

After this long examination of the romance, we may now
consider a question that naturally suggests itself: Have we
to do with two Merlins or one ? This question is of no great
importance in itself, but it has held too large a place in the
literary history of the legend to be dismissed with a word.
The answer to this question involves a comparison of all the
data. For the sake of clearness, therefore, it will be well, even
at the expense of some repetition, to bring together whatever
can be urged with regard to the separate existence of Merlinus
Ambrosius and Merlinus Caledonius (Myrddin).
Of Merlin Ambrosixis the so-called sixth-century "Welsh
^

poems know nothing. In them there is no hint of the

existence of the wonder-working Merlin of the romances. The
Triads, as we have seen (pp. xcix.-c.), mention Myrddin Erarys
(Merlin Ambrosius), Myrddin, son of Morvryn, and Taliessin.
as the three principal bards of Britain, and tell of the disap-
pearance of Mj'rddin, the Bard of Emrys Wledig, and his nine

bardic companions. But the importance of this material in the

Triads is hardly greater than must be attached to what we find
in Giraldus Cambrensis, and other writers of the twelfth
century.
The introduction of Merlin Ambrosius into Welsh literature

(as distinguished from oral tradition) seems to be due to the

Welsh translation of Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Begum

Britanniae, though of course the legend may have existed as

^ On Merlin Ambrosius, Rliys {Studies in the Arthttrian Legend, p. 162) remarks:

'
But under the name Ambrosius or Emrys were confounded the historical A urelius
'

Ambrosius and the mythic Merlin Ambrosius, in whom we appear to have the
Celtic Zeus in one of his many forms."
CLXXXVl TWO MERLINS OR ONE. [§ Till.

a floating popular tradition for centuries earlier. The Irish

translation of Nennius belongs to the eleventh century ; but the
legend of Merlin, as well as the history of Arthur, was an
exotic which did not thrive on Irish soil. For our earliest

knowledge of the exploits of Merlin Ambrose we are, therefore,

limited to two sources —Nennius and Geoffrey of Monmouth.

All that Nennius has to teU is contained in cap. xl., xli., xlii.,

xlviii., and Ixvi. of his Historia Britonnm. He does not even

give us the name of Merlin ; for the boy who is born without
a father, and who explains to the king why his castle walls
do not stand, replies, on being asked his name, "I am called

Ambrose," ^ the British for which is Embries, that is, the

leader.^ The addition of the name Merlinus is due to Geoffrey

of Monmouth, writing at least three centuries later than

Nennius. Geoffrey treated the legend in two different form's,
the first in the Historia Regum Britanniae (1135-1147), and
the second in the Vita Merlini. In the Sistoria the entire
account of the boy Ambrose, as given by Nennius, is transferred
to Geoffrey's pages, but with some changes from the text of
Nennius that we possess. These changes are due in part, it

may be, to the manuscript version which Geoffrey used; but

more probably to his own invention.^

1 Xennius, cap. 42 :
" '
Ambrosius vocor ' (id est, Embries Guletic ipse videbatur).
Et rex dixit :
'
De qua progenia es ? ' '
Unus est pater meus de consulibus Eomanicae
gentis.' " (San-Marte's text.)
* It is important to note that not only does Nennius fail to name Merlin, but, as
is remarked elsewhere (p. ciii.), the author of the Genealogies tacked on to the work
of Nennius does not even include Myrddin among the bards of Britain: (cap. 62)
" Tunc Talhaern Cataguen (Tat Anguen) [Aguen] in poemate claruit, et Neirin
et Bluchbard (Bluchbar) et Cian, qui vocatur Guenith Guant simul uno
tempore in poemate Britannico claruerunt." Cf. San-Marte, Die Sagen von
Merlin, p. 8.
* As already remarked, the name Merlin is not found in any of the Celtic manu-
scripts, but the Welsh name Myrddin is the exact phonetic equivalent of the Latin
form. G. Paris, in his criticism of de la Borderie's Les Veritables Fropheties de
Merlin, makes the following comments [Romania, xii. p. 376) :
— " Pourquoi
appelle-t-il le barde-prophete du vi* siecle Merlin ? Ce nom est de I'invention de
Gautrei de Monmouth, qui sans doubte a recule devant le Merdinus qu'il aurait

i
§ ^"i] TWO MERLINS OR ONE. CLXXXVII

The chief additions by Geoffrey^ are the following: —

1. Nennius (cap. xl.) tells us that the king and his wise men,
in seeking a place for a tower, came to a province called
Guenet,^ and, after examining the mountains of Heremus,^
selected the summit of one of them as the site. — Geoffrey says
merely that after going about the country they finally came to

Mount Erir, and there began to build.

2. Nennius (cap. xli.) relates that the messengers who went

out in search of the boy born without a father came to the
field of Aelecti,^ in the district of Glevesing, where they found
some boys playing ball. Two of them began to quarrel, and one
called the other a boy without a father. When the messengers
inquired whether the child had ever had a father, the mother
denied all knowledge of the manner of his conception, and
assured them that the boy had no mortal father.^ At this the

boy was taken away to King Yortigern.

Geoffrey ^ tells us that the messengers found some young men
playing before the gate of a city afterwards called Kaermerdin.
As they played, two of the young men, whose names were
Merlin and Dabutius, began to quarrel, when Dabutius
reproached Merlin — " As for you, nobody knows what you are,

for you never had a father." Then the messengers looked closely
at Merlin, and asked the bystanders who the boy was. They
obtenu en latinisant le nom gallois, mais qui trouvait assurement dans la tradition
une forme avec d, puisqu'il pretend que Caermerdin (Carmarthen, ancien Maridunum)
doit son nom a Merlin." The name is variously written. Yillemarque, in his
Myrdhiun, ou V Enchanteur Merlin, p. 3, gives a partial list of the different forms :

(1) Ancient British, Marthin (2) Modern "Welsh, Myrdhin

; (3) Armorican, ;

Marzin (4) Scotch, Meller, Melziar

; (5) French, Merlin.
;
To these we may
add Myrdin, Myrddin, Myrddhin, Merdhin ap Morvryn, Martinus, Merhmis
:

Ambrosius, Merlin Wyllt, Merlinus Caledonius, Mtrlinus Sylvestris, and Merlinus

Avilonius (so named from the Avallenau). Cf. Nicolson, Eng. Mist. Library,
pp. 31, 32. For the "Welsh form, see p. xcvii., note 1, ante.
1 The passages in Geoffrey's Historia that parallel the account by Nennius are :

B. vi. 17, 18, 19 B. vii. 3, up to the point where the prophecy begins.
;

^ Guined, Guoinet, Guenez. ^ Heremi, Heriri, Eryri. * Elleti, Electi, Gleti.

* Strangely enough, in the very next chapter (xlii.) the boy tells the king, " My
father was a Roman consul." * Mist. vi. 17.
 — ;

CLXXXVIII TWO MERLINS OR ONE. U ^"1*

replied that his father was unknown, but his mother was
daughter to the king of Dimetia, and now a nun in St. Peter's
church in that city. The messengers thereupon went to the
governor of the city, and ordered him to send Merlin and his
mother to King Yortigern. On being questioned by the king,
the mother replied that the boy's father was a very beautiful
young man, who had the power of talking with her while
remaining himself invisible, and that he had several times lain
with her in the shape of a man, and left her with child. The
king wondered at the recital, and ordered his counsellor,
Maugantius, to tell whether the story was possible. He said
that numerous instances of a like description were known,
and that possibly the boy had been begotten in the same way
for Apuleius, in his book on the Demon of Socrates, had men-
tioned those spirits, half men, half angels, which live between
the earth and the moon, and which we call incubuses. These
had been known to assume human shape and to lie with women.
3. Nennius relates (cap. xlii.) that on the next day after the

boy had appeared before King Yortigern a meeting was held for

the purpose of putting him to death. When the boy asked the
reason of his being brought there, he learned that it was with
the design of sprinkling with his blood the ground on which
the tower was to be built. He then requested that the wise men
by whose advice this was to be done might be brought thither.
TYhen they came, he questioned them as to what was hid under
the ground where the tower was building. On their confession

of ignorance, he foretold successively what was to be found

the pool, the two vases, the folded tent, the two sleeping serpents,
one white and the other red — and explained the meaning of
their combat.
GeoflFrey gives in the main the same account,^ but in his

version the conversation with the king, the questions addressed

1 Sist. vi. 19 : vii. 3.

 J ^" ] TWO MERLINS OR OXE. CLXXXIX

to the wise men, and the combat of the two dragons,

occur on the same day, without the interval that we find in
Xennius. Geoffrey substitutes two hollow stones for the vases
of Xennius, and tells nothing about the folded tent in which the
dragons slept. Geoffrey has the pond drained before the fight
begins, while l^ennius lets the combat commence at once.
From this point the agreement between Nennius and Geoffrey,
in so far as Merlin is concerned, entirely ceases. The short
explanation which Xennius gives of the meaning of the combat
is omitted by Geoffrey, who, on the other hand, fills the greater
part of his seventh book with the famous prophecies of Merlin.
The remainder of Geoffrey's account of Merlin touches upon his
relations with Aurelius Ambrosius and Uter-Pendrajjon — the
two sons of Constantine. After MerKn has assisted IJter-
Pendragon to win Igerna the name of the enchanter vanishes
fi'om Geoffrey's pages, except in two brief references^ to his

prophecies. In spite of these minor differences the accounts

of Nennius and Geoffrey relate to the same personage : the
additions merely show what progress the myth had made in the
course of three centuries. ^ But if, now, we turn to Geoffrey's
Vita Merlini, we meet a difficulty ; for, although we still find
the name Merlin, a small portion only of the account of him as
given in the Historia is reproduced in the Vita, and the leading
topic in the poem is the madness of Merlin the bard. Yet the
identity of the bard with the enchanter is directly asserted in
the poem.^ "With this matter we shall deal presently.
1 Hist. xii. 17, 18.
^ It would be interesting to compare the growth of the Merlin legend with the

growth of other mediaeval legends. The Chanson de Roland in its finished form
belongs to the latter part of the eleventh century, whUe the battle of Eoncesvalles
was fought August 15, 778. The legends attaching to Godfrey of Bouillon were
evolved somewhat more rapidly.
^ IL 681-683. San-Marte remarks {Die Sagen von Merlin, s. 322) that from
about 1. 431 Geoffrey begins to confuse Merlin Ambrosius with Merlin Caledonius.
Geoffrey says (1. 681 iqq.) that Merlin the bard is the same as he who once pro-
phesied before Yortigem ; but he omits all account of the paternity of Merlin as
related in the Historia,
CXC TWO MERLINS OR ONE. [§ ^'"i-

It may be worth our while briefly to review some of the

opinions held on this question. One side contends stoutly for
two Merlins. It is argued that there was an encbanter of the
name of Merlin, who lived, if at all, in the time of Yortigern,
king of Britain, about the end of the fifth century. His history
contains elements more or less mythical. The other personage
was a Welsh bard, named Myrddin, who lived in the sixth
century, and who went mad with grief over his friends killed in
the battle of Arderydd, in the year 573.As already remarked,
Nennius knows only the fatherless boy who calls himself
Ambrosius, or Embries Guletic.^ Geoffrey of Monmouth repeats
the story told by Nennius, adopts the name Ambrosius, and
adds that of Merlinus.^ His other additions in the Historia are
merely supplementary, and in no essential particulars contra-
dictory to the account in Nennius. In the Vita Merlini
Geoffrey calls him Merlin throughout, but he tells us that " rex
erat et vates," and though, as we have seen, he identifies ^ the
Merlin of the Vita with the Merlin of the Hidoria, he surrounds
the bard with a group of persons* unknown in the earlier work.
The Vita can hardly be placed later than 1150; so that the
identification of the bard with the enchanter was made at a very

^ Hist. Brit. cap. xlii.

^ In touching on these names M. Gaston Paris strangely says: " Ce double nom,
Merlinus Ambrosius, ne se presente que dans la Prophetia Merlini de Gaufrei, que
nous prenons ici sur le fait, accolaut son Merlinus a V Awbrosvus [sic] de Nennius ;

dans le corps de son livre (publie apres la Prophetia), il dit simplement Merlinun "
— G. Paris, Eomania, xii. 371, note. Yet Geoffrey has in the Historia, vi. 19
(San-Marte's edition, Saffen von Merlin, pp. 19, 20): "Tunc ait Merlinus,
qui et Ambrosius dicebatur" and four lines below
; :
" Accessit iterum Ambrosius
Merlinus ad magos." In the Prophecy we find (cap. i.) " de Merlino" (cap. ii.) ;

"Merlini"; and (cap. iii.) "Ambrosio Merlino." These are the only cases where
the double name is mentioned.

3 Cf. also George Ellis, Bnff. Hist. Library, Lond. 1786, p. 31 ; F. Michel,
Vita Merlini, pp. xviii., xix. ; San-Marte, Die Artusaage, p. 90,
* Such, for instance, as his sister Ganieda, 11. 122-124 ; Peredur, 1. 31 ;

Rodarchus, 1. 32, etc. Cf. the later discussion in this section.

§
'^"i] TWO MERLINS OR ONE. CXCI

early stage of the literary development of the materials, be they

legendary or historical, or both.
The first attempt^ of which we have any record to make a
formal distinction between Merlin the enchanter and Merlin the
bard is due to Gerald de Barri, better known as Giraldus Cam-
brensis. In his Camhriae Description written near the end of the
twelfth century, we find the following (cap. xvi.) :
" Sicut et oKm,
stante adhuc excidiura, et tarn Saxonum
Britonum regno, gentis
prirao, quam etiam Normannorum post adventum Merlinus
uterque, tarn Caledonius quam Ambrosius fertur vaticinando
declarasse." After comparing the prophecies of Merlin with
those of Scripture, he adds :
" Merlini itaque prophetiara
legimus, sanctitatem eius vel miracula non legimus. Obiiciunt,
e£ quia prophetiae non extra se fiebant, quando prophetabant,
sicut de Merlino Silvestri legitur, quod amens factus prophe-
tabat, et de his similiter quasi arreptitiis, de quibus hie locuti

sumus."
Also, in the 'Itinerarium Camhriae, i, 10, he refers to

Caermardyn :
" Sonat autem Caermardyn, urbs Merlini, eo
quod iuxta Britannicam historiam ibi ex incubo genitus,
inventus fuerat Merlinus." In ii, 6 :
" Ea nocte iacuimus
apud Nevyn videlicet vigilia paschae floridi ; ubi Merlinum
Silvestrem diu quaesitura, desideratumque Archidiaconus Mene-
vensis dicitur invenisse."
Most important of all is the passage in cap. viii. :
" Non procul
ab ortu (fluminis) Conwey in capite mentis Eryri, qui ex hac
parte in Boream extenditur, stat Dinas Emrys, i.e. promon-
torium Ambrosii, ubi Merlinus prophetavit, sedente super ripam
Vortigerno. Erant enim Merlini duo, iste qui et Ambrosius
dictus est, quia binoraius fuerat et sub rege Yortigemo prophe-
tavit, ab incubo genitus, et apud Caermerdhin inventus; unde

^ That is, unless we assume the Triads to be older than we thought them.
* For aU these texts, conveniently brought together, see San-Marte's Sagen von
Merlin Zeugnisse, pp. 37-58.
CXCII TWO MERLINS OR ONE. [§ "^i-

et ab ipso ibidem invento denominata est Caermerdhin, i.e. urbs

Merlini. Alter vero de Albania oriundus, qui et Celidonius
dictus est, a Celidonia silva, in qua prophetavit, et Silvester,

quia cum inter acies bellicas constitutus, monstrum borribile

nimis in aera suseipiendo prospiceret, dementire coepit, et ad

silvam transf ugiendo silvistrem usque ad obitum vitam perduxit.
Hie autem Merlinus tempore Arthuri fuit, et longe plenius et
apertius quam alter propbetasse perbibetur."
^

In another place ^ Giraldus repeated bis distinction between

tbe two Merlins, and remarked that the Caledonian Merlin
was much less known than tbe other, and that it seemed
to him worth while to collect and publish whatever
information he could find about the man :
" Erat itaque
Caledonii Silvestris solum hactenus fama percelebris ; a
Britannicis tamen Bardis, quos poetas vocant, verbo tenus
penes plurimos, scripto vero penes paucissimos vaticiniorum
eiusdem memoria retenta fuerat."
Giraldus has some other references to Merlin, of much less

importance. From Geofirey's Hidona he takes tbe account

of Merlin's transfer of tbe great stones from Ireland to

Stonehenge. He tells also of the wonderful Lech-la var or

talking-stone, with which vulgar tradition had connected
a prophecy of Merlin, but whether of Merlin Ambrosius or
Merlin Caledonius we cannot affirm, for the prophecy is not
given by Geoffrey.
We
must not make too much of negative evidence, but we
note in the work of William of Newburgh (b. 11-35-6?
d. 1200 ? ) an omission that seems a little surprising, if we

^ San-Marte, Die Sag en von Merlin, p. 52.

2 "Noch uni 1180 scheint die walsche Tradition bestimmt den Ambrosius und
Merlin unterschieden zu haben, wie aus dem Itinerarium des Giraldus Camhretisis
hervorgebt, der mit eben so ungeraeiner Begier als Leichtglaubigkeit dergleichen
Volkssagen sammelte, docb aber Gottfrieds Chronik einmal eine fabulosa historia
nennt" {Cambriae Descriptio, cap. vii.). San-Marte, Lie Artuhsage, pp. 91, 92.
 § "'I"] TWO MERLINS OR ONE. CXCIII

assume that two Merlins were well known in his day. William
of Xewburgh criticized very severely Geoffrey's Historia as
being full of falsehoods, and especially blamed the lively

churchman for introducing the prophecies of Merlin,^ who was

fabled to have had a woman for his mother and a demon incubus
for his father. William makes, however, no mention of two
Merlins, and seems to know of Merlin Ambrosius only.
Some of the other data at our disposal are not easy to
interpret. For instance, in two old lives of St. Patrick —one
by Jocelyn, at the end of the twelfth century, and the
other doubtfully attributed to Beda — is an account of a certain
evil-doer, who, by the prayer of St. Patrick, was mysteriously
raised into the air and dashed to the ground a corpse.^ Jocelyn
gives the man the name Melinus, while Beda (?) calls him
"mago quodam nomine Locri." It is, however, by no means
certain that our Merlin is here referred to at all. Mere identity
of name does not necessarily prove identity of personality.
Ralph de Diceto, who died in the year 1210, mentions Merlin
as a bard bom of a demon incubus and a king's daughter, who
was a nun and lived in the city of Caermarthen. This account,
of course, merely follows Geoffrey's Historia.
In the course of the next hundred years no writer seems to
have thought the matter worth mentioning; for not until the
appearance of Eanulf Higden's Polychronicon, in the first half
of the fourteenth century, do we find any further attempt to
distinguish the magician of the time of Vortigern from the

1 "William refers with scorn to the " lying prophecies of a certain Merlin, to
which he (Geoffrey) has himself added considerably." Paulin Paris infers from
"William's attitude that the Merlin legend was not very old at the time when Geoffrey
wrote. Cf. Romans, i. 65-72. Just here we may note Mr. Ward's remark
(^Catal. of Romances, i. 210) on Henry of Huntingdon, that "though he appears to

hare had no great tast€ for marvels, it is certainly odd that he never once mentions
the name of Merlin, as one would have anticipated if Merlin had made any great
figure in the first recension " (of Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia).
*
Cf. San-Marte, Die Sayen von Merlin, pp. 51, 52.
CXCIV TWO MERLINS OR ONE. [§ viri.

bard of the sixth century. The doggrel rhyming Latin verses ^

which Higden wrote on Merlinus Ambrosius and Merlinus

Caledonius reproduce much of the phraseology of Gerald de
Barri, and add really nothing to the solution of the question.^
Merlin is referred to by a number of other writers of the

Middle Ages. Thus, Sigebertus Gemblacensis ^ mentions a

prophecy of Merlin relating to Arthur ; and the monk of
Malmesbury who wrote the life of Edward III. remarks on
the year 1315 that, in consequence of a prophecy of Merlin
predicting the recovery of England by King Arthur, the
Welsh raised frequent revolts. Merlin is in each case referred

to as a well-known name, without any hint of the existence of

a second Merlin.
The fourteenth - century ScoUchronicon of John Fordun
touches* on the Merlin of Geoffrey's Historia as — "quidam
^ " Ad Xevyn in Xorth "Wallia Dinas Emreys ut comperi
Est insula permodica Sonat collis Ambrosii

Quae Bardisia dicitur, Ad ripam quando regulus

A monachis incolitur, Vortiger sedit anxius.
Ubi tarn diu vivitur Est alter de Albania
Quod Senior praemonitur. Merlinus, quae nunc Scotia;
Ibi Merlinus conditur Eepertus est binomius,
Silvestris ut asseritur. Silvestris Calidonius,
Duo fuerunt igitur A silva Calidonia
Merlini ut coniicitur Qua prompsit yaticinia,
L'nus dictus Ambrosius Silvestris dictus ideo,

Ex incubo progenitus Quod, consistens in praelio,

Ad Kaermertbyn Demeciae Monstrum videns in aere
Sub Yortigerni tempore Mente coepit excedere,
Qui sua yaticinia Ad silvam tendens propers
Proflavit in Snaudonia. Arthuri regis tempore
Ad ortum amnis Coneway Propbetavit apertius
Ad clivum mentis Erery, Quam Merlinus Ambrosius."

Cy. furtber, F. Micbel, Vita Merlini, pp. xix., xx. ; and 27ash, in tbe first volume
(pp. xii., xiii.) of the Merlin, E.E.T.S.
^ Higden does indeed tell us that the Caledonian Merlin lost his reason at seeing
a phantom in the but
air instead of at the sight of his friends slaughtered in battle ;

even this account is borrowed from Giraldus Cambrensis, and can at most be nothing
more than a variant of the commonly received version.
^ San-Marte, Die Sagen von Merlin, p. 54. * iii. c. 17.
 § ^"l TWO MERLINS OR ONE. CXCV

ex Cambria, Merlinus nomine, plura quasi prophetice cecinit

ad intelligendum obscura," ^ etc.

With this account we may compare that of Powel,^ who, as

Francisque Michel remarked,^ lived at a time when " the pro-
phecies of the British bard [?] still preserved their authority."
Toward the end of the sixteenth century, Buchanan, in his
Scottish history, compares the Merlin of the time of Yortigem
with Gildas, somewhat to the disadvantage of the former, and
says that Merlin ought rather to be regarded as a great deceiver
and a crafty old fellow than as a prophet. Buchanan, like
several of the other writers we have examined, seems to know
but one Merlin. Yet the distinction made by Giraldus Cam-
brensis is repeated early in the second half of the sixteenth
century in Bale's Illustriuni Maioris Britanniae Scrijjtorum
Catalogus,^ which gives (p. 48) an account of Merlinus
Arabrosius, followed by one of Merlinus Caledonius (p. 59).
The elaborate commentary by Alanus de Insulis {cf. p. xlvii.)

1 Cf. in Heanie's edition of Fordun, pp. 202, 212, 251, 709, 755, 1206, 1208, 1226.
See also Mr. Ward's article on Lailoken in the Momania for 1893, pp. 510, 511
in which he shows hov Fordun's work was interpolated later by Bower, who
finished his re?ision in 1447.
* " Merlinus ipse natus est in Cambria, non ex incubo daeraone (ut inquit Baleus),
sed ex furtiva venere cuiusdam romani consulis cum virgfine vestali in Maridunensi
monalium coenobio, ut in Brevario apud Gildam habetur." He then goes jon to
give an abstract of Geoffrey of Monmouth, and continues " Aliunde ergo per :

impostores asseritur eius conceptio, quam ex communi hominum officio et uso, ut

facile deciperentur creduli. . . . Dicitur etiam quod suis incantationibus Utherum
regem in Gorloidis Cornubiae ducis speciem transformaverit, ut Igemae uxoris
potiretur amplexu et quod ex eo scelerato concubitu Arthurum et Annam o-enuerit •

sed de his prudent€s iudicent. De

Maridivi urbis nomine vide ea quae annotavimus
supra in cap. x. lib. 1. Extant apud Galfridum Hist. Britannicae libro quarto [?]
MerUni vaticinia, obscura quidem ilia et nihil certi continentia, quae vel antequam
eveniant, sperare, Tel cum evenerint promissa, vera audeas affirmare.
Praeterea ita
composita ut eadem ad multa diversarum, rerum eventa sensibus ambio-uis et
sTint

multiplicibus, circumflectere et accommodare quis possit. Et quanquam multi his et

huiusmodi imposturis delusi et decepti perierint tamen hominum credulorum tanta
est insania ut quae non intelligant, quovis sacramento, vere esse contendere non
dubitent nee in manifesto interim deprehensi mendacio se coargui patiantur."
Quoted by F. Michel, Vita Merlini, pp. x.-xiii.
^ Vita Merlini, p. x. * Basiliae, apud lohannem Oporinum (m.d.lix.), fol.
CXCVI TWO MERLINS OR ONE. U "^"i-

on Merlin's prophecies was published in 1603 ; but neither this

work nor Freytag's Programma de Merlino Britannico, printed in
Nauraburg in 1737, brought to light any new material relating
to the question now before us. In 1748 Bishop Tanner gave
a biography of the two Merlins in the Bibliotheca Britannico-
Hibernica ^
(pp. 522-525). Nearly forty years later Bishop
Nicolson published, in his English Historical Library"^

(pp. 31, 32), a careful bibliographical account of authorities on

English history, and, in characteristically vigorous style, proved
to his own satisfaction that all the supposed Merlins were
really but one.^ The rough-and-ready dogmatism of the
Bishop failed to carry conviction to Sir Walter Scott ; for,

in his Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border,'^ he distinguishes Merlin

1 Lond., 1748, fol. ^ Lo^d., 1786, fol.

^ "Amongst these bards is famous Merlyn; whose true

to be reckoned their
name (says Humph. Lhuid) is Merdhyn, so called from Caermarthen \^Mariduno],
where he was born. This was so mighty a Man in his Time that our "Writers have
thought it convenient to split him into three. The first of these (Godfather to the
two following) they call Merlimis Ambrosius or Merdhyn Emrys who liv'd about ;

the Tear 480 and wrote several prophetical Odes, turned into Latin Prose by
Jeffrey of Monmouth. The next is Jferlinus Caledanius, who liv'd a.d. 570,
wrote upon the same Subject with the former, and had the same Translator.
The third is sumaraed Avalonius, who liv'd under King Malgocuniis (they might
as well have made him Secretary to Joseph of Arimathea, says our great
Stillingjleet) and yet my Author* goes gravely on, and affirms that he was an
;

eminent Antiquary, but seems to mix too many Fables with his true story. They
write this last, indeed, Melchinus, Melkinus, and Merwinus, and make him to live
some time before the latter Merlyn. But this is all stuff, and he is manifestly the
same Man or nothing. The most learned of the British Antiquaries agree that
this Myrdhyn ap Morvryn (call'd from the country he lived in Caledonius, and
Sylvestris from his Humour of leading a retired life in the woods) wrote a Poem
called Avallenau, or the Apple-Trees, to his Lord Gwendholen ap Keidio who was ;

slain at the Battle of Arderitk, in the Tear 577- Some Fragments of this Poem
were found at Hengivijrt, in Meirionydshire, by Mr. Lhwyd who long since ;

observed to me that from hence the Poet himself got the surname of Avallonius.
If so, there 's a happy Discovery made of one of the many foolish Impostures of
the old Monks of Glassenbury Who, to secure this famous Prophet to themselves,
:

have made King Arthur^s Tomb and their own Monastery to stand in Insula
Avallonia. Soon after him came Ambrosius ThaUessin, whom Bale and Pits make
to live in the Days of King Arthur, and to record his story."
» J. Pits, p. 97, Hist. Regum Britannorum.

* Edinburgh, 1833, vol. iv. pp. 141, 143.

 ;

5
'^"'•]
TWO MERLINS OR ONE. CXCVIl

the "Wild from Ambrose Merlin, and to the former attributes

the Scottish prophecies.
Sixteen years later, in 1849, Thomas Stephens, in his Litera-
ture of the Kymry (p. 208 s^3'.)> reaffirmed the identity of
Merlin Caledonius with Merlin Ambrosius. His argument, in
brief, is as foUows: — Nennius represents Myrddin Emrys as
a child who appears before King Yortigern, about 480 a.d. On
the other hand, the Myrddin ab Morvryn of the Welsh poems
is an old man who, about 570 a.d., is the brother-in-law of
Khydderch Hael, one of the three victorious princes in the
battle of Arderydd.^ In order to affirm the identity of the two
prophets, we must assume an age of more than ninety years
but this was not exceptional in Wales. Then we have the
striking fact that the two prophets lived in North Wales and
North England — districts not widely separated —and that their
prophecies show considerable similarity. Furthermore, the
bards of the twelfth century and later took the prophecies of
Merlin Ambrosius, as given by Geoffrey of Monmouth, and let

them reappear as prophecies of the Caledonian Merlin, thus

o that the two bards were held to be identical.

showinor This
conclusion was natural enough, for the father of the Caledonian
Merlin was known, while the traditional Myrddin Emrys was
a child without a father, and seemed therefore less real than
the bard whose father was named.
San-Marte seems to adopt the view of Stephens, for he con-
cludes his summar}^ of Stephens' argument in these words :

**
Und so gelangt Stephens zu dem wohlmotivirten Resultat,
dass Merddin Emrys und Merddin ap Morvryn, Wyllt und
Silvester, wie Merlin der Barde, Zauberer, und Prophet nur
verschiedne Namen fiir eine und dieselbe Person seien." ^

A different conclusion was reached by the French critic

Yillemarque. He regarded Merlin Ambrosius as a historical

personage, associated as a bard with King Aurelius Ambrosius.
1 Fought in 573 a.d. ' I)'\e Sagen van Merlin, p. 235.
 :

"^"^•
CXCVllI TWO MERLINS OR ONE. [^

By a singular series of etymological guesses, Yillemarqu^ tried

to establish a connection between the Breton Marzin and the
Latin Marsm, son of Circe. Although he held that Myrddin
the "Welsh bard had really lived, he would not affirm that any

of the poems attributed to him are genuine.

For several years after the appearance of M. de la Yille-

marque's theory the only critic of note who touched on the

Merlin problem was Mr. J). W. Nash.^ His theory rejects

altogether the view of Mr. Stephens and others, who hold that
the "Merddin Emrys of Yortigern and IMerddin the son of
Morvryn must be taken to have been one and the same person,
and that the latter is the one whose character formed the
nucleus from which the other was developed." "Merddin
Emrys " (Merlin Ambrosius) has in Nash's view no claim to

be regarded as a historical character. To use again his words

"We ought, I think, to look upon the figure of the great enchanter
as a pure work of fiction woven in with the historical threads
^
which belong to this epoch of the Saxon wars in Britain."
On the other hand, he adds :
" So far from being of unknown
or mysterious birth, the pedigree of Merddin Caledonius is

as well ascertained as that of any other British celebrity."^

Mr. Skene did not discuss this specific question in the Four
Ancient Books of Wales,^ but he established more firmly than
before the historical character of a Welsh bard bearing the
name of Myrddin.
The conclusion arrived at by Stephens, in his Literature

of the Kymry, that Merlin Ambrosius, Merlyn Sylvester, and

Merlin Caledonius were one and the same person, was adopted
by M. Paulin Paris in his Romans de la Table Ronde (i. p. 80).^
1 His short paper was prefixed to Part I. of the Romance of Merlin (1865), edited
hy Mr. Henry B. Wheatley for the E.E.T.S.
2 3 p. X. * Edinburgh, 1868, 2 vols., 8vo.
pp. viii., ix.
* " Mais (dira-t-on, pour expliquer la difference des legendes) il y eut deux

prophetes du nom de Merlin : I'un fils d'un consul remain, 1' autre fils d'un demon
incube ; le premier ami et conseiller d'Artus, le second, habitant des forets ; celui-ci
 —

^ ^l"l TWO MERLINS OR ONE. CXCIX

His son, M. Gaston Paris, though less pronounced, seems to

hold essentially the same opinion.^
The last critic that I shall cite, Mr. H. L. D. Ward,^
regards the Merlin who was brought before Vortigern as
purely legendary and mythical ; while the Myrddin of the
Welsh poems is historical, and is to be assigned to the latter

part of the sixth century and the beginning of the seventh.

In a paper published in the Romania'^ for 1893, pp. 504-526,
Mr. Ward proves that a wild man of the name of Lailoken,*
who lived in the time of St. Kentigern, is to be identified
with Merlin Silvester, otherwise known as Merlin the Wild
or Merlinus Caledonius. This wild man one day meets
St. Kentigern and begs the good man to listen to him.
Then he goes on to accuse himself of being the cause of
the death of all those who were slain in the battle " inter

surnomme Ambrositis, celui-la Sylvester ou le Sauvage. Ij'Historia Britonum a parle

du premier, et la Vita Merlini du second. Je donnerai bientot I'explicatioii de tous
ces doubles personaages de la tradition bretonne : mais il sera surtout facile de
prouver a ceux qui suivront le progres de la legende de Merlin que I'Ambrosius le
Sylvester et le Caledonius (car les Ecossais ont aussi reclame leur Merlin topique) ne
sont qu'une seiile et meme personne."
^ " M. de la Borderie appelle toujours la Vita Merlini en vers, Vie de Merlin le

Caledonien, et dit qu'elle a ete ecrite '

sur la fin du xii^ siecle ' : mais ce poeme est
Monmouth,
sans aucun doute de Gaufrei de et a ete par consequent ecrit avant 1154.
Quant au surnom de Caledonius (ou plutot Celidonius,ou Silvester) donne a Merlin,
il ne figure pas dans le poeme ; il est de I'invention de Giraud de Barri (Itin.
Kambr., ii. 8), qui, fi'appe de I'anachronisme qu'avait commis Gaufrei, a essaye,='

k la fa9on des gens du raoyen age de tout eoncilier en supposant deux Merlin mais ;

la Vita Merlini dit expressement que son heros etait le meme qui avait jadis parle
a "Wortigern." Romania, xii. 375, 376.
» De meme, pour eoncilier VHistoria Britonum avec Gaufrei, il dit :
" Merlinus
qui et Ambrositis dicttis est, quia binominis fuerat."
- Author of the Catalogue
of Romances in the Department of MSS. in the British
Museum. This opinion I got from Mr. Ward in conversation, April 22, 1890.
3 Mr. "Ward prints in full the Latin texts that contain the account of Lailoken. The
oldest of these. Cotton Titus A. xix., he places in parallel columns beside the later
mutilated version in Bower's Scotichronicon. Of this oldest version Mr. Ward says
that it Avas " written at the request of Bishop Herbert (and therefore before 1164)
by a cleric of St. Kentigern's, who was apparently a foreigner."
* Cf. pp. cviii. -cxxi. above.
CC TWO MERLINS OR ONE. [§
^^•

LIdel et Carwonnok," i.e. the battle of Arderydd (a.d. 573).

A variety of detail establishes the essential identity of
Lailoken \rith the Myrddin of the AvaUenau. Moreover,
a considerable part of the account of Lailoken is very like
what -we find in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Vita Merlini. Now,
as we can hardly assume that the writer of the life of
St. Kentigern invented the story out of nothing, we must
believe that he used earlier material accessible as an oral
tradition or in the form of a written narrative in prose or verse.
The date (1164) of the oldest version of the life of Kentigern
is, however, only about sixteen years later than that assigned
to the Vita Merlini. Evidenth', then, Geoffrey of Monmouth
obtained access in some way to a life of St. Kentigern, with
the accompanying account of Lailoken, and incorporated such
features as served his purpose into his Vita Merlini. The
variations in bis poem from the story as it appears in the
prose versions are what we might expect from a writer of
Geoffrey's lively invention. The style of the earliest prose

version, published by Mr. Ward in his article, suggests a

Celtic origin.^ Hence we may not improbably suppose that
if Geoffrey's source was an oral tradition, lie may have learned
the story from some "Welshman. The fact of chief interest,
the identification of the historic Myrddin with Merlin Am-
brosius, is brought out clearly by Mr. Ward.

" People had certainly begun to identify Lailoken [Myrddin or

Merlin Silvester] with Merlin [Ambrosius] when the narrative in

Titus A. six. was written. It says of him: 'qui Lailoken vocabatur
quern quidam dicunt fuisse Merlinum, qui erat Britonibus quasi pro-
pheta singularis, sed nescitur.' Again, Lailoken utters that prophecy
about a triple death (in this case told of himself), which we regard
as essentially Merlinesque, because we know it well in the French
romance. And lastly, at the end of Part IL, when it has been told
1
Cf. Mr. Ward's note, p. 623.
 § '^"•] TWO MERLINS OR ONE. CCI

how he was buried at Drumelzier in Tweeddale, 'in cuius campo

lailoken tumulatus quiescit,' the following couplet is added :

*
Sude perfossus, lapidem perpessus, et undam,
Merlinus triplicem fertur inisse necem,'
t

In all other respects, Lailoken is very different indeed from the semi-
daemon who attaches himself to the early kings of Britain. Kentigem
describes him as a mere man, subject to cold and hunger, and liable

to death. He is much more a madman than a prophet. He can never

make the same statement twice over. !N'o one pays much heed to his

words until he has died the triple death he had prophesied ; and then
a few of his other strange sayings are recalled to mind." (p. 512.)

The most instructive lesson to be drawn from this long

discussion is the diametrical opposition in opinion of those who
have studied the question most carefully. The materials are, in
my judgment, too scanty to allow us to affirm or to deny abso-
lutely the existence of an earlier as well as a later Merlin. If
the story of the boy without a father be a myth, we may yet
suppose that the myth enclosed some small kernel of truth, even
though we may not hope to discover what the exact truth is. If
we adopt Mr. Skene's opinion, and assign the Chronicle of
Nennius (or portions of it) to the seventh century, or take the

more common view which refers it to the ninth century, we

may well suppose the author to have been conversant with
British traditions relating to the bard Myrddin. If the whole
early account of the Enchanter Merlin be legendary, we
have nothing to prove that the legend ^ existed as a whole
before the birth of the historical Myrddin of the sixth
century. If it be a later growth than the time of the
real we need have no more difficulty with the
Myrddin,
mythical features than we have with the mythical Charlemagne

1 I have elsewhere taken account of the possible oriental element in the account
given by Nennius. See supplementary notes.
ecu TWO MERLINS OR ONE. U """•

of the Chanson de Roland, or the mythical traits added to the

character of Godefroid de Bouillon in the Chanson du Chevalier
au Cygne.
My own belief is, that the only really historical personage is

the "Welsh bard Myrddin, while the Merlin of Geoffrey of

Monmouth's Vita Merlini is, as we have seen, the same personage
with the addition of confusing details borrowed from the life

of Merlin Ambrosius. I also incline to think that Merlin

Ambrosius is for the most part legendary, but that what we
actually know of him can scarcely be more uncertain. As for his
name, Geoffrey borrowed the name Ambrosius from Nennius, and
Merlin (Myrddin) from Welsh tradition. A slight amount of
much larger amount
actual prophetic "Welsh tradition, added to a
of prophecy concocted made up the book of
by Geoffrey himself,
Merlin's prophecies. I hardly think that Geoffrey of Mon-
mouth knew at first-hand the Welsh poems which have come
down to us. If he did, the use he made of them was
exceedingly slight. On the other hand, if we suppose him
to have got his acquaintance with "Welsh legend mainly
through oral tradition, we have little difficulty in accounting
for the genesis of Merlin Ambrosius, and for the confusion of
the two prophets in the Vita Merlini. We may suppose
Geoffrey at first to have known vaguely of a Welsh bard or
prophet, and to have heard the name of Merlin (Myrddin)
connected with the story of a boy without a father. These
slight hints were all that his active mind needed to enable him
to string together the materials which floating tradition and
his own imagination furnished him. Such, at any rate, is the
conclusion gradually forced upon me in the progress of this

investigation, but I should be glad to abandon this theory for

one better grounded.

The question, then, stands very nearly where it did when we
started ; and it need not detain us much longer. We have found
that Geoffrey of Monmouth was the first or among the first to
§ "^i"] TWO MERLINS OR ONE. CCIII

assert the identity of Merlin Ambrosius with Merlin (Myrddin)

the Caledonian, and that Giraldus Cambrensis was the first

to assert explicitly that Merlin Ambrosius was not the same as

Merlin the Caledonian. Since the time of Giraldus we have
discovered no important materials (unknown in his day), while
we have probably much then extant so that, in spite of
lost ;

our more critical methods, we can scarcely do more than to

balance probabilities and to confess our ignorance. As for the
Welsh poems, it appears probable that at least portions may
be referred to the sixth century, and that a Welsh bard of the
name of Myrddin actually existed. In the interval between
the death of Myrddin and the time when the short chronicle of
Nennius was committed to writing a tradition had arisen of a
wonderful diviner. This tradition may have owed something
to floating tales concerning Myrddin, even though his name
may not have been uniformly associated with them all. During
this intermediate stage of development the mythical element
was first introduced, but how long the mythical features had
existed cannot be definitely fixed. Yet we may be well-nigh
certain that the essentially oriental motive in the story cf the
boy whose blood was to be sprinkled on the foundations of
Vortigern's tower did not originate with Nennius. Exactly
what is the origin of all the other features we may hardly
presume to guess, but that some are Celtic seems not unlikely.
Of one thing, however, we may be certain: the Merlin of the
French romances owed nothing directly to the Welsh poems
that have come down to us, though floating Celtic legend,
contributed more than one striking element to the great prose
cycle —notably the story of Nymiane. We must not expect
perfect unity in the conception of the French romancers. In
all probability the romancers had no critical knowledge of the
legend, and would not have cared a straw whether their

accounts of Merlin were confused or not. They contentedly

CCIV NOTES ON THE SOURCES. t? ^•

jumbled together elements which were perfect strangers to one

another before they were violently incorporated into the original

story. Throughout the romances we have no hint that more
than one Merlin was known, so that, whether invention played
a large part or not, we find a multitude of incidents bearing
no analogy whatever known facts of the life of the Bard
to the
Myrddin. If, we assume two Merlins, we must
therefore,
admit that with one of them the French romances have little
or nothing to do if we assume but one Merlin (Myrddin), we
;

must admit that his features have been altered almost beyond
recognition. Confused the portrait of Merlin in the romances
certainly is, in the sense that it groups together elements of
very diverse character ; but the portrait is not unharmonious,
and by the very multiplicity of details it seems far more real to

us than the shadowy figure outlined by the Welsh bards.

IX.

NOTES ON THE SOTJECES.

We are now prepared to look a little farther, and to trace

some of the materials of which the romance is composed.

The ultimate source of many of the incidents is sufficiently

obscure ; but of the romance as a whole we may say that it

is a French superstructure, reared upon a Celtic foundation

according to plans supplied by Geofi'rey of Monmouth, but
greatly modified by Robert de Borron and later romancers.
 f l^] NOTES ON THE SOURCES. CCV

The setting of the story in the French romance is very-

different from that in Geoffrey of Monmouth ; for in

Robert de Borron's tale Merlin is the chief character,
instead of the subordinate figure that we see in Geoffrey's
Hktoria. Hence we find the romancer continually adding
traits and incidents of which there is no hint iu Nennius
or Geoffrey. It is evident, therefore, that we cannot account
for every line and paragraph, but that we must regard
considerable portions as pure invention. The first six chapters
of the French romance contain much material essentially the

same as portions of Geoffrey's Historia. But this matter

Robert probably got at second-hand, for there is no reason
to think that he knew any language but his own. Yet we
may well suppose that Robert was familiar, at least at
second-hand, with floating Celtic tradition, and that he
picked up from the lips of wandering singers and story-
tellers more than one of the details of his romance. Some
legends would unquestionably have come to his ears in that
story-telling age ; but just which of his materials were so
derived is a matter of conjecture. Gaston Paris has argued
strongly against Robert's familiarity with Latin,^ and has urged
that he got the leading features of the legend more or less
directly from Wace^ or other French translators of Geoffrey,
and modified the outline according to his fading recollection of
minor details, piecing out the story with his own inventions.
The following notes on the leading incidents make no pretence
to be exhaustive, and they take little account of minor variations
from Wace and Geoffrey of Monmouth.^

1 Merlin, Introd. pp. i.-xviii.

2 Cf. P. Paris, Romans de la Table Sonde, i. p. 336.
In tracing the sources I have freely availed myself of the investigations of
^

Yillemarque, Paulin Paris, Gaston Paris, Kolbing, fihjs, and others.

ccvi notes on the sources. u ^^•

The Merlin of Robert de Borron.

1. Council of Demons {p. 1).

This -^as probably suggested by tbe Gospel of Nicodemus

(chap, xvii.), which had beea turned into French verse before
Robert de Borron wrote.^

2. Begetting of a Child by the agency of a Demon- (p. 3).

This incident in its simple form is found in Geoffrey

of Monmouth's Historia Reg. Brit. yi. 18 ; Wace, Brut,
11. 7623-7644. The belief in the existence of incubi seems to
have been very general in the Middle Ages. Geoffrey himself
refers to Apuleius, who gives a very singular account of the
Demon of Socrates in the Liber de deo Socratis, but Apuleius
has nothing to say of incubi. St. Augustine, in De Civitate

Dei, XV. 23, mentions incubi under the name dusii or drusii —
" Et quoniam creberrima fama est, multique se expertos, vel ab eis
qui experti essent, de quorum fide dubitandum non est, audisse con-
firmant, Silvanos, et Faunos, quos vulgo incubos vocant, improbos
saepe exstitisse mulieribus, et earum appetisse ac peregisse concubitum ;

fct quosdam daemones, quos Dusios Gralli nuncupant, hauc assidue

immunditiam et tentare et efficere, plures talesque asseverant ut hoc
negare impudentiae videatur non hinc aliquid audeo definire, utrum
:

aliqui spiritus elemento aerio corporati (nam hoc elementum etiam cum
agitatur flabello, sensu corporis tactuque sentitus) possint etiam hanc
pati libidinem, ut quomodo possunt sentientibus feminis misceantur."

1 G. Paris, Merlin, Introd. i. p. xii. Cf. Trois versions rimees de V Evangile de

Nicodeme, Soc. des Anc Textes, 1885. The Latin text has been edited by Tischendorf,
Evangelia Apocrypha, Lipsiae, 1876.
Cf. G. Paris, Merlin, Introd. p. 13
- and Drayton's Polyolbion, "Works, vol. ii.
;

p. 763 (note by Selden) " I shall not believe that other than true bodies on bodies
:

can generate, except by swiftness of motion in conveying of stolen seed some unclean
spirit might arrogate the improper name of generation." Cf. also Alf. Maury, La
Magie et VAstrologie au Moyeti Age, p. 189, where the deuce is discussed. Very
curious information on the entire subject of demons may be found ia Jean Bodin's
Demonamanie, Paris, 1580, and in Joh. Wier's Be Fraestigiis daemonum et iucanta-
tionibus ac venejiciis, Basel, 1563.
§ i^] NOTES ON THE SOURCES. CCVII

When, in the course of the Middle Ages, the belief grew up

that Antichrist ^ was to be born of a devil and a virgin, just
as Christ was born of the Holy Ghost and a virgin, we see

that the essential elements of the story, as we find it in the

romance, were already at hand.^

Burton, in his Anatomy of Melancholy, Part iii. sec. 2, mem. i.

subs. I, gives a considerable discussion of the intercourse of the

Devil with women. For several other references see Dunlop's

Hist, of Fiction (1888), i. p. 146, note; i. p. 156, note; ii.

pp. 461, 462 ; Du Cange, Glosmrium, art. Incubi ; Tylor,

Primitive Culture, i. pp. 189 and 193.
"We may incidentally note that when Merlin reaches the age
of twelve months he is uttering wise sayings. In the romance
of Kyng Ali'saunder (Morley's English Writers, iii. p. 297) we
read of women in the East who bear but one child in their lives.
" This child is able to begin talking to its mother as soon as it

is born."

3. The Punishment of being Buried Alive

(p. 5) is that to which vestal virgins were condemned if

unfaithful to their vows. Cf also Dunlop's Hist, of Fiction

(1888), i. p. 147, note.

4. Sprinkling of Foundation uith Blood {pp. 23-28).

Nennius, Hist. Brit. 40, 42 ; Geoffrey, Hist. Reg. Brit. vi. 17.

Also in Wace and other translators of Geoffrey. For other

references see Dunlop's Hist, of Fiction (1888), i. p. 461.

1 Wulfstan, Homily xvi., De temporibus Antichristi (p. 95), has: " Crist is s5tS

god and s65 mann, and Antecrist biS so^lice deofol and mann." See also Ebert
Allgtm. Gesch. der Lit. des Mittelalters im Abendlande, i. p. 97 iii. p. 480. ;

2 Kolbing [Altenglische Bibl. iv. p. lii.) points out interesting parallels between

the mysterious origin of Meriin and that of Richard in the Romance of Richard Coer
de Leon, 1. 207 sqq. The mother of Richard was, according to the romance, in
league with the Devil, since she could not hear mass; and when compelled to
hear it, slie flew through the roof with her two children.
 —

CCVIII NOTES ON THE SOURCES. [§ ^^^

5. The Hermit Blase {p. 23).

Blase may be a mere invention, but Kolbing calls attention ^

to three passages in La3amon'8 Brut, where a hermit is men-

tioned whom Merlin knows and visits. La3amon translated
(c. 1200) Wace, and made some additions, due in part, it may
be, to oral tradition. Robert de Borron, of course, knew
nothing of La3amon, but the two writers might easily have
stumbled upon the same popular story, preserved as a local
tradition in more detail in one district than in another.^

6. Vortigern and the Sons of Constance [p. 24).

(1) Geoffrey of Monmouth, Hist. vi. 5-9.

(2) Wace, Brut, 11. 6585-6859.

7. Vortigern* s Tower, and the Boy tcithout a Father {pp. 27-31).

(1) Nennius, Hist. 40, 41.

(2) Geoffrey of Monmouth, Hist. vi. 17, 19.

(3) Wace, Brut, 11. 7491-7710.

M. Gaster has shown that there are curious parallels between

the early history of Merlin and several Jewish legends relating
to the building of Solomon's Temple, which are told of
Ashmedai and Ben Sira, and that these legends are at least as

old as the eighth or ninth century.^

1 Altenglische Bibl. iv. p. cxii.

2 Mr. Scott F. Surtees, in a short study on Merlin and Arthur (JE..^.T.?,., 1871),
identifies Blase with Lupus, but his theory is badly reasoned out. He even identifies
Merlin with Germanus xc, ante). We may admit that certain elements
(see also p.

are borrowed from the lives of Lupus and Germanus without assuming identity.
Paulin Paris thinks that Blase was introduced as a sort of excuse for the inventions
of the romancer, and compares the hermit with the false Dares, Callisthenes, Turpin,
etc. Romans de la Table Monde, ii.. 32, 33.
2 Kolbing, Altenglische Bibl. iv. p. cvi. Mr. "Ward, of the British Museum,
in calling my attention in conversation (April 22, 1890) to this same matter,
suggested that the similarity of incident is not due to borrowing, but rather to
the fact that the conception had become common property. As early as 1836,
r. Michel, Vita Merlini (Introd. p. Ixxi.) pointed out the oriental element in this
§ IX.] NOTES ON THE SOURCES. CCIX

8. Merlin's bursts of Laughter on going to Vortigern {pp. 33, 34).

Geoffrey of Monmoutli, Vita Merlini, 11. 490-532.

The setting o£ these two incidents is, of course, very different

in the prose romance and in the Vita Jlerlini. In the poem.
Merlin laughs at a beggar who has a concealed treasure, and at
a young fellow with a pair of new shoes, who will soon be
drowned. The incident of the shoes appears to have been a
widely diffused mediaeval legend ; and there is good ground for
thinking that Robert de Borron did not get it from the Vita
Merlini.
Without insisting on Robert's ignorance of Latin, we may note
that there are in the Vita Merlini two instances of Merlin's
knowledge, which, as G, Paris remarks,^ are not less piquant
than those here given, and which we might, perhaps, expect
Robert to reproduce, but with which he seems not to have been
acquainted. The evidence is, however, negative, and should not
be pressed too far. Gaston Paris refers to the Hebrew legend
of the Talmud, and calls attention to the similarity of the story
related of the demon Ashmedai, who was brought before
Solomon.^
The story of the priest chanting at the head of the funeral
procession, in which was borne a dead child that was really the
priest's own son, is found in a modified form in Straparola's

incident as found in " The History of the Temple of Jerusalem" —

translated from
the Arabic MS. of Imam Jalal-Addin al Siuti, with notes and dissertations, bv the
Rev. James Reynolds, B.A.Lond., 1836, 8to. Here, too, is a parallel to MerUn's
bursts of laughter.
^ Merlin, Introd. i. p. xv.
For a further account of the history of this legend, see M. Gaster's Jewish
2

Sources of and Parallels to the Early English Metrical Legends of King Arthur and
Merlin, Lond., 1887. Gaster also gives {Feuilleton-Zeitung, Xo. 299, Berlin,
March 26, 1890) a Rumanian legend (quoted by Kolbing) of the Archangel Gabriel
and a hermit, in which the same motive recurs. Kolbing points out that the
Italian version of Merlin varies
somewhat the account of the churl and the shoes.
Altenglische Bibl. iv. p. cxi. note.
CCX NOTES ON THE SOURCES. U '^•

Tredeci PiacewU Notte (Venice, 1550). Gaston Paris remarks ^

that the tale probably came to Robert de Borron as one of the

floating oral traditions on the devinailles of Merlin.^

9. The Fight of the Dragons, and the Interpretation (pp. 3S-40).

(1) Nennius, Msf. 42.

(2) Geoffrey of Monmouth, Hist. vii. 3, 4 ; viii. 1.

(3) Wace, Brut, 11. 7711-7776.

"VVace omits the interpretation by Geoffrey of Monmouth,

though he gives the prediction of the death of Vortigern. The
interpretation in the prose romance of Merlin is different from
that in Geoffrey's Historia. For instance, in Geoffrey's account

the red dragon betokens the British nation, while the white
dragon denotes the Saxons. In the romance the red dragon
signifies Vortigern, and the white dragon typifies the two sons
of Constance. As Robert de Borron cannot have got his inter-
pretation from either Geoffrey or Wace, he must have either

invented it or had access to oral or written sources unknown

to us.* '

10. Death of Vortigern {p. 42).

(1) Nennius, Hist. 47, 48.

(2) Geoffrey of Monmouth, Hist. viii. 2.

(3) Wace, Brut, 11. 7777-7848.

The Merlin strangely confuses the original account. According

to Geoffrey of Monmouth, the three sons of Constantine were
Constance, who became a monk, Aurelius, and Uter-Pendragon ;

while in the romance we read (p. 24) of a king Constance who

1 Merlin, Introd. p. xv.

2 We may note that the mother of the judge (p. 20) had got her hoy with a priest.
Cf. p. 34 of the English version.
3 The tale of Lliid and Llevelis in the Mabhwgion (vol. iii.) contains the story of
the two dragons — the white and the red —much the same as in Nennius and Geoffrey
of Monmouth. Cf. p. c, ante.
 IX.] NOTES ON THE SOURCES.
§ CCXI

" hadde thre sones, the first higfit Moyne [that is, a monk],
and the tother Pendragon), and the thirde Vter." ^

11. Merlin's Prophecy of the Threefold Death of a Baron {p. 51).

Vita Merlini, 11. 310-321 ; 11. 391-417.

In the Vita it is a page whose death is prophesied, and it is

the queen who disguises him as a woman. G. Paris suggests ^

that Robert de Borron probably got the story indirectly. The

different setting seems due to Robert's own invention.

12. Merlin brings from Ireland the Stones of Stonehenge {p. 58).

(1) Geoffrey of Monmouth, Hid. viii. 10, 11, 12.

(2) Wace, Brut, 11. 8207-8386.

The circumstances and the purpose are very different in the

romance from what is related in the earlier accounts. In
Geoffrey's Historia the stones are brought over because of their
healing properties while Aurelius is living. In the romance
Uter sets them up on Salisbury Plain as a monument to his
brother Pendragon.^

13. Founding of the Round Table (p. 59).

AYace, Brut, 11. 9994-10,005.

As already remarked, no allusion to the Round Table is made

by Geoffrey, though there is reason to suppose that the legend
is much older than his Historia.* In the references to the Round
Table in the Merlin there is some confusion.^ "Wace tells us
Arthur founded the Round Table ; while the Merlin (p. 60)

1
Cf. G. Paris, Merlin, Introd. p. x.
* Ibid. p. xri. Cf. P. Paris, Eomam de la Table Ronde, ii. p. 56 ; Yillemarque,
Mtjrdhiiin, p. 125.
» Cf. P. Paris, Romans, ii. 58.
* But see P. Paris, Romans de la Table Ronde, ii. pp. 6t, 65.
*
Cf. G. Paris, Merlin, iDtrod. i. p. xvi.
 ;

CCXII NOTES ON THE SOURCES. [$ ^t-

says that it was founded by Titer- Pendragon.^ Merlin tells the

king the story of the table at which Christ had sat, and of the
table which Joseph of Arimathea was commanded to make.
The third was to be established by the king in the name of the
Trinity, and was to have a void place for the knight yet unborn
who should bring to an end the adventures of the Holy Grail.
This is one of the not infrequent points of contact in our
romance of the Grail legends and those of Merlin, though, of
course, originally independent.^

14. Amour of Uter-Pendragon with Ygerne {pp. 63-78).

(1) Geoffrey of Monmouth, Hid. viii. 19, 20.

(2) Wace, Brut,^ 11. 8803-9058.

As we might expect, the variations here introduced by

Robert de Borron are considerable, but we cannot take space

' For additional references on the Round Table see Dunlop's Hist, of Fiction
(1888), i. p. 151, note; ii. p. 456. "It would be interesting to understand the
signification of the term Round Table. On the whole, it is the table, probably, and
not its roundness that is the fact to which to call attention, as it possibly means that
Arthur's court was the first early court where those present sat at a table at all in
Britain. Xo such thing as a common ttible figures at Conchobar's Court or any
other described in the old legends of Ireland, and the same applies, we beUeve, to
those of the old Norsemen. The attribution to Arthur of the first use of a common
table would fit in well with the character of a Culture Hero, which we have ventured
to ascribe to him, and it derives countenance from the pretended history of the
Eound Table ; for the Arthurian legend traces it back to Arthur's father, Uthr
Bendragon, in whom we have, under one of his many names, the king of Hades, the
realm whence all culture was fabled to have been derived. In a wider sense, the
Round Table possibly signified plenty or abundance, and might be compared with the
Table of the Ethiopians, at which Zeus and the other gods of Greek mythology used
to feast from time to time." — J. Rhys, Studies in the Arthurian Legend, pp. 9, 10.
- On the origin of the Holy Grail see Rhys's Stitdies, ch. xiii., also p. 170 sqq. ;

and Xutt's Studies on the Legend of the Holy Grail.

3 G. Paris remarks that Wace omits the name Gorlois, and that Robert de Borron
does the same. Yet Wace at least once mentions Gorlois under the name " Gornois —
un quens Comvalois," 1. 8689 "Li quens de Cornuaille," 1. 8798 "Queli quens
; ;

a de Cornuaille," 1. 8937. Robert of Brunne, translating Wace, does the same :

j7e Erl of Cornewaille was o )>at hyl

'
'

Gorlens he highte, a man of skyl."

11. 9207, 9208.
 J IX-] NOTES ON THE SOURCES. CCXIII

for pointing them out. The ultimate source of this story is

difficult to determine. It has been compared with the story

of David and Uriah, and with the tale of Amphitryon in
Ovid.^ Possibly Geoffrey's biblical or classical reading helped
him to a hint ; but not improbably the underlying idea had
become common property, and need not be referred to any
definite source.

As for the frequent metamorphoses of Merlin throughout

the romance, they are not essentially different from the meta-
morphoses of the old mythologies —Proteus, Yertumnus, etc.

We need not, therefore, take especial account of the passages

where Merlin appears as a blind cripple (p. 73), etc. But
we may note that transformations of all sorts are very common
in Celtic stories.*

15. Uter-Pendragon's^ Battles, and his Death {pp. 92-95).

(1) Geoffrey of Monmouth, Hist. viii. 18, 21-24.

(2) Wace, Brut, 11. 9059-9238.

Of course the details of the battles differ in the romance,

and in Geoffrey and "Wace ; but it is a little remarkable that

Robert tells us that Pendragon (who in the romance takes
the place of the Aurelius Ambrosius of Geoffrey) was killed
in the battle of Salisbury (p. 56), while Geoffrey (viii. 14),
as well as Wace, says that Pendragon was poisoned, and that
Titer afterwards met a similar fate (viii. 24). Our romance
has no account of the poisoning, and agrees with Geoffrey
(viii. 22) and Wace only in making Uter suffer a long illness,

so that he has to be borne in a horse-litter.

We are not obliged to suppose the dragon standard of Uter

1
Cf. P. Paris, Romans d« la Table Sonde, ii. p. 81.
*
Cf. e.g. the Mabinoffioi Manawy.dan, Rhys, Studies, p. 290 ; P. Paris, Romans,
i. 16.
^ For the Celtic Uter-Pendragon see Rhys, Studies, p. 256. Cf. also Nutt,
Studies on the Legend of the Holy Grail, Index I.
CCXIV NOTES ON THE SOURCES. [?xx.

the invention of the romancer. Such a standard was used in

war by the Dacians and by the Roman emperors after Con-
stantine. A dragon was the standard of "Wessex so, too, in ;

the public processions of the Pope, the image of a dragon under

the cross was borne at the end of a lance by Draconarii, a name
also given to the bearers of the dragon banner of the Roman
emperors.^

16. Coronation of Arthur^ (pp. 95-107).

Geoffrey {Hist. ix. 1) and his translator Wace agree in their

account of the boy Arthur. The crown is set upon his head by
the Archbishop Dubricius ^ at the request of the nobles, because

of the increasing numbers of the Saxons. The birth of Arthur

(viii. 20) is no mystery. In the romance, on the other hand,
the barons know nothing of Arthur till he takes the sword out
of the anvil in the presence of the people. This incident of the
sword is referred by G. Paris'* to biblical legends ; and it recurs
in various forms in the literature of the Middle Ages.

'
Cf. Brockhaus, Conversations- Lexicon, Art. Drache ; Dunlop, Rist. of Fiction
(1888), i. p. 126, note; ii. pp. 449-456.
2 For a discussion of "Arthur, historical and mythical," see Ehys, Studies, ch. i.,

especially the summary, p. 47.

3 In the English prose version the name of the archbishop is not given, though in

Arthour and Merlin (ed. Kolbing), 1. 2783, we find "bishop Brice " mentioned, and
I have found the name in several of the French MSS. of the prose Merlin. In
Geoffrey's Historia it appears, viii. 12 ; ix. 1, 4, 12, 13, 15.
* Merlin, Introd. p. xx. Cf. also P. Paris, Romans de la Table Ronde, i. 234.
Essentially the same incident appears in the Quete du Graal, where Lancelot refuses
to make the attempt to draw it out, "persuaded that this honour was reserved for
the most perfect of knights." —P. Paris, Romans, v. p. 330. In Kyng Allsaunder,
1. 2625 s^(?., the prince draws out of the ground a spear. Cf. Kolbing, Altenglische
Bihl. p. Ixi. In the Vblsunga Saga, cap. iii., Sigmund, son of King Volsung, pulls
out of the Branstock the sword at which all others had vainly tugged, and wins it
for himself. This sword was the gift of Odin. For an additional reference see
Dunlop's Hist, of Fiction (1888), i. p. 153, note. For notes on magic swords and
spears see "W. A. Clouston's remarks "On the Magical Elements in Chaucer's
Squire's Tale," Chaucer Soc, pub. 1889, part ii. pp. 372-381.
 —

^ ^-^ NOTES ON THE SOURCES. CCXV

The Book of Arthur.

"We have seen in our examination of the manuscripts that

there are several continuations of the original romance of
Robert de Borron, One of these continuations is the basis
of the second part (pp. 108-699) of our English translation.
It remains to discuss briefly the sources of this continuation

the so-called Book of Arthur} The study of the manuscripts

has thrown light on the way in which the romance was built
up piece by piece, but of the origin of the materials the
manuscripts tell us nothing.
The study of the sources belongs rather to French scholars
than to English ; for the investigation demands a minute
comparison of the other French Arthurian romances yet un-
published. A large number of questions, too, must be relegated
to the Celtic philologist, who must determine the origin of the
various groups of personal and local names. Numerous special
investigations, with the help of critical texts, must precede the
solution of these and other problems. But we must not over-
look the fact that many of the elements of the continuation are
invented, or at least selected from the common stock of material
that lay ready for any romancer who chose to use it, and can be
traced to no definite source. Padding of this sort we may pass
by without extended remark. In our discussion we can perhaps
best take up the chapters in their order, and bestow a few
words on the sources of the leading: incidents. The arreat

extent of the romance forbids us to touch any but the more

important matters, and those only lightly. In many instances
the notes scarcely attempt more than to indicate what the
questions are.

^ The author (or authors) of the Book of Arthur is unknown. Paulin Paris
suggests that he may be the same as the writer of the Sainl-Graal ; but this is

a mere conjecture.
 —

CCXVI KOTES ON THE SOURCES. U ^^-

The short narrative of Robert de Borron had utilized

nearly all that the literature before his time had to tell of
the wonder-working Merlin ; but the story had quickened the
iavention of more than one writer. In the recital of Geoffrey

of Monmouth, Merlin disappears from view after the adventure

of Uter and Ygerne.^ Robert makes Merlin figure also at the

coronation of Arthur.
But after the conception of a diviner and magician was
once given, nothing was easier for the romancers who con-
tinued Robert's work than to introduce Merlin at all suitable

emergencies into the further history of Arthur. This plan

involved piecing together in confusing and almost overwhelming
detail a congeries of legends and recitals which must have been
originally distinct, and in their elements far earlier than the

time when the romance was written. Yet out of the confusion
stands the outline of a few great events. The rough sketch is

furnished by Geoffrey's Historia, but in the hands of the

romancers this is expanded both by free invention and the
insertion of borrowed legends.^ In the continuation we trace
the several narratives running at times side by side, but
separate, and at other times tangled together :

1. The revolt of the seven kings occupies a considerable

portion of the romance (pp. 108-599).
2. The wars with the Saxons, which had already begun in

the time of Uter, are directed against both Arthur and the
kings revolted from him, and ultimately compel the rebels to
make common cause with Arthur.

1 There occTir later two mere references to him—Hist. xii. 17, 18.
* Omissions and changes of all sorts occur. In Geofltrey there is no revolt
(ix. 1)

ao^inst Arthur immediately after his coronation. Hoel Armorica sends help to
of

Arthur against the Saxons (ix. 2). Cheldric is not mentioned in the romance. In
Geofirey (ix. 9) Lot, Urian, and Augusel are brothers. Guanhamara is of Roman
descent, and educated under Duke Cador. Arthur's remote conquests (ix. 10, 11)
are not reproduced in the romance. Arthur's marriage (ix. 9) occurs in Geoffrey
after the defeat of the Saxons, and his coronation after the war with the Romans.
 ;

^ ^0 NOTES ON THE SOURCES. CCXVII

3. The war of King Leodegan with King Rion, and the

marriage of Arthur with Gonnore, are more or less of a break
in the continuity of the narrative ; though, where all is so

loosely put together, one may hesitate to determine what is

principal and what subordinate.

4. The war with the Romans (p. 639 sqq.) is merely supple-
mentary, and not strictly an integral part of the narrative.
5. Along with these larger divisions of the narrative are
legends of Merlin, of Nimiane, of Gawain, and others. A
slight attempt at unity is made by introducing at intervals

the hermit Blase, to whom Merlin relates all that has happened
but this device is crude, and has no advantage further than
that it allows Merlin now and then to recapitulate a portion

of the story.

Chapter YII.

This chapter appears to be for the most part a patchwork

of ^commonplace incidents, though many of the materials are
old. The thought of holding a grand court after Arthur's
coronation is evidently borrowed, with much modification,
from Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia, ix. 12. But Geoffrey
says that Arthur held his court at Pentecost, while the
romance (p. 108) places it after the middle of August. On
the other hand, Robert de Borron ^ agrees with Geoffrey
in making the coronation occur at Pentecost. Of the names
here introduced, three at least are taken from Geoffrey, viz.
Loth, Urien, Aguysas, though with slight changes of form.
Prof. Rhys points out ^ that these and other names here found
are Celtic. Urien is the subject of eight poems in the
Book of Taliessin} Ventres (Nentre of Garlot),* Ydiers

1 Cf. p. 107 oiihe Merlin.

^ Studies in the Arthurian Legend, chap xi., " TJrien'and his Congeners."
» Ibid. p. 259.
* Ibid. p. 323.
CCXVIII NOTES OX THE SOURCES. L§ ^^'

(Edern, son of Nud), Carados, Benbras (Brebras)/ are easily

identified in Celtic legend.
In Geoffrey's account there is no revolt, but the rebellion

is naturally enough suggested by the circumstances of Arthur's

birth as detailed in the Merlin of Eobert de Borron, and could
be easily invented with the attendant features. Apart from
the references to King Leodegan and his war with King
Piion, to both of whom we shall recur later, the remainder of

the chapter is taken up with the commonplace description

of a battle of the Middle Ages. The dragon standard has
already been commented upon.

Chapter YIII.

This chapter is occupied with the mission of Ulfin and

Bretel to Kingr Ban and King: Bors. We have a resume
(p. 121) of a part of Robert de Borron's Merlin, and an
account of the children of Ygerne, different from that given
on p. 86 of the romance.
On turning to Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia, vs.. 2, we
learn that ambassadors are sent into Armorica to get the help
of King Hoel, Arthur's sister's son, against the Saxons ; and
he provides 15,000 men. In the romance, Ulfin and Bretel,
who had already figured in Robert de Borron's Merlin, go to
Armorica (or Little Britain) for the help of King Ban of Benoyk^
and King Bors of Gannes. These are both identified^ by
Prof. Rhys with characters in Celtic literature. "The identity
of Ban or Pan with Uthr Ben or Uthr Pen-dragon is shown
by his name, and the story of his dying immediately after
drinking from a certain well (p. 127). This has its counter-
part in Geoffrey's account (viii. 24) of Uthr Pendragon's

^ Rhys, Studies in the Arthurian Legend, p. 172. *

"^
On Benoyk (Benoic) see ibid. p. 304.
3 Ibid. pp. 161, 162.
 5 ^^l NOTES ON THE SOURCES. CCXIX

death in consequence of his foes having poisoned the well

he was wont to drink from. Thus Bors readily falls into his
place as Ambrosius or Emrjs, brother to Uthr Ben, especially
as the two are described by Geoffrey as exiles in France,
whence they are invited to come over to take possession of
this country against Yortigern and his allies. But under
the name Ambrosius or Emrys were confounded the historical
Aurelius Ambrosius and the mythic Merlin Ambrosius, in
whom we appear to have the Celtic Zeus in one of his many
forms." Bors is " the same person called Bort in the Welsh
Triads, for, besides the similarity of the name, Bors, like
Bort, was one of who found the Holy Grail."
those Ban ^

and Bors are warred upon in their own realm by King Claudas
de la deserte, in whom Paulin Paris ^ thought he could
recognize Clovis, King of the Franks, or Clotaire I., his
successor. "Nam Britanni sub Francorum potestate fuerunt
post obitum regis Chlodowei, et comites non reges appellati
sunt." (Greg. Tur. iv. 3, a.d. 549.)
The other incidents of the chapter relate to the adventures
of Ulfin and Bretel, and are plainly invented.

Chapter IX.

1. Most of this chapter appears to demand no especial

source, as it is largely taken up with the details of Arthur's
first great tournament ; but there seems little reason to doubt
that the original suggestion of this feature came from Geoffrey's
Historia, ix. 13, 14.
2. The interesting detail with regard to Kay that he was
hated because of his surly tongue, and that this was due to
his having been nursed by a woman of lower rank than his

1 Rhys, p. 161. For the part that Ban and Bors play in the legends of the Grail,
see Xutt's Studies on the Legend of the Holy Grail, Index I.
2 Romans de la Table Sonde, ii. 109.
 —

NOTES ON THE SOURCES. [? «•

CCXX

mother (p. 135), is shown by Gaston Paris to point to a

widespread superstition of the Middle Ages.^

3. Towards the end of the chapter, Guynebans, the brother
of Ban and mentioned (pp. 138-140) as a great clerk
Bors, is

whom Merlin teaches many things. "What use the young

fellow makes of his knowledge we shall see later {Merlin,

p. 361). Now in Geo£Frey's Historia, v. 16, a certain Guanius

joins with Melga in slaying Ursula and the eleven thousand
virgins. According to Rhj's,^ " The "Welsh versions usually

have Melwas and Gwynwas : it is the latter name also,

probably, that meets us in Malory's Gwinas, i. 15, and

Gwenbaus, brother to Ban and Bors, i. 11."

At the end of this chapter we have the words (p. 131)

4.
" But now cesseth the tale of hem, and returneth to speke of
kynge Arthur, that is lefte at Logres." This is one of the
very numerous instances in the second branch of the Merlin
of this kind of transition. PauHn Paris finds^ in these laisses

an additional proof of the dual authorship of the romance, for

nothing of the sort appears in the prose redaction of the Joseph
of Arimathea or in the first branch of the Merlin, although so
common in the second branch (pp. 108-699) and in the Saint-

Graal.

Chapter X.

1. The greater portion of the details of the battle of

Bredigan is, of course, pure invention, though the legend

of the battle itself may have some more substantial basis.

This battle parallels the earlier one of Arthur with the rebel
kings.*

1 Merlin, Introd. I. p. xxi.

2 Studies, p. 343, note.
^ Romans de la Table Eonde, ii. 160.
*
Cf. P. Paris, Romans de la Table Ronde, ii. 124.
§ ix] KOTES ON THE SOURCES. CCXXI

2. The entrusting of a ring to Merlin, which he is to

show as a token to Leonces de Paerne (p. 143), is a very-

familiar motive, much older than the romance.

3, Merlin's account of King Rion and of Leodegan and

liis daughter Gonnore (p. 114) is repeated (p. 141) in much
the same terms, with some additional touches. The discussion

of this matter, however, belongs more properly to chap, xiv.,

and later.

Chapter XI.

For the two chief incidents here detailed I can cite no

specific source. The transformations of Merlin may be com-
pared with those recounted by Geofirey of Monmouth. The
poetic glamour in the story of the great churl coming through
the meadows, with his bow and arrows, and his coat and
hood of russet, seems to suggest some other source than
the invention of the French romancer, but I have hit upon
nothing precisely the same. Cf. Malory's Morte Darthur,
book i. chap. xvii.

Chapters XII, XIII.

1. In these chapters we have a prolix account of the

return of the Saxons, and of their ravages in Britain. Much
of the geography is fantastic, and cannot be explained. But
several of the place-names, though strangely disguised,

probably represent actual localities.^

^I cannot take space for details, but refer the reader to Prof. Rhys' s Studies in
the Arthurian Legend, Index. See also J. S. Stuart Glennie's Essay on Arthurian
Localities (E.E.T.S. No. 36), and the index of place-names to Malory's Morte
Barthur (ed. Sommer), vol. li. The conclusion of P. Paris on this matter is as
follows Tout ce qu'on peut done assurer, c'est que la scfeae des recits qui touchent
:
'
'

a la France embrasse la Touraine, I'Anjou, la Poitou, la Marche, la Bretagne, une

partie de I'Auverne, et de la basse Bourgogne" {Romans, ii. 111). Trebes is Treves,
on the borders of Benoyk and Berry. Benoyk is Vannes. " La terra deserte est
le Berry, dont la capitale est Bourges et le roi Claudas" (ii. 110, 111). Cf. also
Dunlop's Sist. of Fiction (1888), i. 198, note.
 CCXXII NOTES ON THE SOUKCES. [§ l^«

2. The account of the begetting of Mordred (pp. 180, 181)

is variously told in the romances,^ and in Geoffrey's Historia,
ix. 9. Geoffrey calls him Arthur's nephew and Lot's son,
and seems to know nothing of Arthur's incest with his sister.
But the basis of the whole story of Mordred is certainly
Celtic, and this ugly feature is doubtless a part of the original
myth.2
3. The account of Gawain's conversation with his mother
(p. 185 sqq.) may be compared with that of Ewein and his
mother (p. 241), the second being evidently a mere variant
of the first. The singular detail with regard to the waxing
and waning of Gawain's strength (p. 182) is touched upon
by Prof. Rhys,^ who finds in it evidence for regarding Gawain
as a solar hero.
4. The enchantress Carnile, who is here mentioned (p. 185)
along with Morgain and Nimiane, is evidently to be referred
to the same mythical sources with them.

Chapter XIV.

1. The entire story of the relations of Arthur with Gonnore

has been greatly embellished by the romancers, with the result
that no two accounts precisely agree. In Geoffrey's Historia
there are but three references to Guanhumara, and of these
the first only (ix. 9) is important for our immediate purpose.
There she is said to have belonged to a noble Roman family,
to have been educated under Duke Cador, and to have excelled
in beauty all other women in the island. Geoffrey's whole

^
Cf. P. Paris, Eomans de la Table Ronde, ii. p. 105 sqq. ; G. Paris, Merlin,
Introd. i. p. xl. sqq.
^ Cf. Ehys, Studies, p. 20 sqq. and the index. Also Dunlop's ITist. of Fiction
(1888), 1. p. 183, note; ii. p. 220, note. On the "black cross" mentioned on
p. 181 of the romance, see P. Paris, Romans, i. 302.
2 Studies in the Arthurian Legend, p. 14. Cf. also Malory's Morte Darthur,
iv. 18 ; vii. 15, 17 ; xviii. 3 ; xx. 21. For Gawain's part in the story of the Grail,
see Nutt's Studies, Index I.
§ IX.] NOTES ON THE SOURCES. CCXXIII

account of Guanhutnara tallies hardly at all with the account

in the Book of Arthur and in the other romances, to say
nothing: of the Celtic sources.^
2. As for Leodegan, I can throw no light on the origin
of the story of his wars with E,ion, Malory touches lightly
upon Leodegan (i. 17, 18 ; iii. 1), but tells us little about the
conflicts with Rion. Still, both Leodegan and Eion play too
large a part in the romances to allow us to count them as mere
fioments of the imagination. With E,ion is connected the old
story of the mantle fringed with beards. The essential outlines

of this incident are found in Geoffrey's Historia, x. 3, where

Arthur, after overcoming the giant of Mt. St. Michel, says
that he had found none so strong since he had killed the giant
Ritho on Mt. Aravius. In our romance (p. 649) we read that
" neuer hadde thei seyn so grete a feende," and on p. 649 we
find no mention of Ritho. Malory also omits the name, and
makes Arthur say :
" This was the fyerst gyaunt that euer

I mette with / saue one in the mount of Arabe / whiche

I ouercarae / but this was gretter and fyerser" {Le Morte
Darthur, v. 5).
Eitho had made furs for himself of the beards of the kings
he had killed, and he offered to give Arthur's beard the most
prominent place. We have in our romance two accounts^ of
this mantle, with characteristic differences, fin the first (p. 115),

we are told that Rion had conquered twenty crowned kings,

and made a mantle of their beards, and that he had sworn
not to cease till he had conquered thirty kings. According
to the second account (pp. 619, 620), he had flayed off the
beards of nine kings, and he now wanted Arthur's beard for

1 For some account of the Celtic sources see Ehys, Studies in the Arthurian
Legend, ch. ii., especially p. 38, and the whole of ch. iii., " Gwenhwyvar and her

Captors."
"^
At the beginning of the French romance Li Chevaliers as deus espees occurs the

incident of the demanding of Arthur's beard by King Eis. Cf. also La^amon
(ed. Madden), iii. p. 398.
CCXXIV NOTES ON THE SOURCES. [$n.

the tassels. In Geoffrey, E,itho is a giant ; and in our romance

Rion is called " kynge of the londe of Geauntes and of the
londe of pastures" (p. 114). Later, he is called king of
Ireland (pp. 175, 208) ; king of Denmark and Ireland
(p. 228); king of "Denmarke and Islonde " (p. 327); king
of the Isles (p. 619) ; and lord of all the west (p. 620).
In the romance of Arthur, as outlined by Dunlop {Hist, of

Fiction, 1888, vol. i. p. 224), we read that Laodogant **

had
been attacked by King Ryon, a man of a disposition so

malevolent that he had formed to himself a project of

possessing a mantle furred with the beards of those kings he
should conquer. He had calculated with the grand-master
of his wardrobe that a full royal cloak would require forty
beards : he had already vanquished five kings, and reckoned on
a sixth beard from the chin of Laodogant. Arthur and his

knights totally deranged this calculation by defeating King

Ryon. Laodogant, in return for the assistance he had received,
offered his daughter, the celebrated Geneura, in marriage to
Arthur. Merlin, however, who does not appear to have been
a flattering courtier, and who does not seem to have attached
to the conservation of Laodogant's beard the importance that

it merited, declared that his master must first deserve the

princess."
San-Marte pointed out a Celtic legend in which King
Rion and his mantle are referred to.^

3. Most of the other incidents of the chapter are evident

inventions or combinations. The details of the battles are

much the same throughout the romance, and call for no

especial attention. The second Gonnore seems to be a mere
variant of the first, and to owe her existence to the ingenuity
of the romancer.^

1 Beitrdge zur bretonischen .... Heldensage, p. 60. For the role of Eion in
the Huth Merlin see G. Paris, Introd. i. p. Ixvi.
*
Gf. also P. Paris, Romans de la Table Monde, ii. 141.
I rs ] .
NOTES OX THE SOURCES. CCXXV

It may, perhaps, be going too far to see in the substitution of

the false Gonnore for the queen a recollection of the legend

of Charlemagne's mother, Berte, whose place was usurped, as
the story goes, by her servant Aliste ; but there is considerable
similarity in the two accounts. {Cf. L. Gautier, Chanson de
Roland, p. 357; Dunlop's Hist, of Fiction, revised edition,
ii. p. 446.)

4. By the reference to the Holy Grail (p. 229) we are taken

into another cycle of legend ; while the introduction of the

nephew of the Emperor of Constantinople (p. 230, cf. p. 186)
is one of several proofs of the influence of oriental material
on our romance.^ This young man figures in many other
Arthurian romances.

Chapter XY.

For this chapter we can scarcely hope to find a definite

source. The actual wars with the Saxons doubtless gave rise
to Celtic traditions which were handed on with endless per-
mutations of essentially the same incidents ; but the general
similarity of the various battles warns us not to look for the
source of more than an occasional name or incident.^

Chapters XYL, XYII , XYIII.

In these chapters we find a host of easily manufactured

incidents, of which I can cite but a few. Seigraraor is again
brought in (p. 259), but no especially striking motive is

introduced. On p. 262 sqq. Merlin appears in the guise of an

old man. This transformation may be compared with that
in Robert de Borron's Merlin (p. 72). On p, 263, the old
man calls Gawain a coward. The same incident in another

* For the Saigremors who appears in Chrestien's Conte du Graal and in other
legends of the Grail, see Xutt's Studies, Index I.

* Cf. the conversation of Ewein with that of Gawain in chap. xii.

 —

^^•
CCXXVI NOTES ON THE SOURCES. [?

form reappears a little later (p. 297). Other parallels suggest

themselves, as, for example, p. 279, where Merlin appears
disguised as a churl, much the same as on p. 167.

Chapter XIX.

1. In this chapter the romancer doubtless makes use of

older materials, considerably modified to suit his needs. The
prophecies (p. 304 sqq.) seem to have been suggested by
the similar prophecies of Geofi'rey's Historia, book vii.

2. The meeting of Merlin and Nimiane is here detailed in

a form that does not recur in the other romances. As is

well known, Malory (iv. 1) identifies the maiden whom Merlin

loved with one of the ladies of the lake. Her name appears
in various forms, easily explicable when one takes account of
the confusion in the MSS. of the letters ii and n and m.
The original Celtic character underwent a variety of trans-
formations at the hands of the romancers, who combined
and differentiated the original legends with little regard for

consistency. We may be somewhat surprised to find Rhys

identifying Nimiane with Morgain le Fee, but of the justice
of this there can be little question.^

As for the wonders^ that Merlin performs before Nimiane,

1 G. Paris, Merlin, Introd. p. Ixv.

Cf. Rbys, Studies in the Arthurian Legend,
pp. 348, compares Nimiane with Ehiannon, wife of PwyH.
284, Cf. also
Nutt's Studies on the Legend of the Holy Grail, p. 232, my discussion of the Vita
Merlini, and Sommer's Morte Barthur, vol. iii. p. 117 sqq. Cf. also Grimm,
Deutsche Mythologie (4th ed.), pp. 342, 533, 685; n. 117, 128; Dunlop's Hist,
of Fiction (1888), i. 186, note.
- " Manni, in his Lst. del Decam. ii. 97, cites an anonymous MS. where it is said

that Boccaccio's story [of a garden produced by enchantment Decam. Giorn. x.]
:

is found in a collection much older than his time, and adds that Giovanni Tritemio
relates how a Jewish physician, in the year 876, caused by enchantment a splendid
garden to appear, with trees and ilowers in full bloom, in mid-winter. A similar
exploit is credited to Albertus Magnus in the thirteenth century. The notion seems
to have been brought to Europe from the East, where stories of saints, dervishes, or
jogis performing such wonders have been common time out of mind." Originals
and Analogues of some of Chaucer'' s Canterbury Tales, part iv. (1886), p. 332, note.
§ i^] NOTES ON THE SOURCES. CCXXVII

they belong to the familiar tricks of the mediaeval * tregetours,'

referred to by Chaucer in the House of Fame, book iii., and

in the Frankeleyns Tale}

Chapter XX.
1. This chapter affords scarcely any really new material;
for the interminable details of the hand-to-hand conflicts are
essentially repetitions, with slight increment, of the details
of the preceding battles.
2. Merlin's prophecies here deserve as little attention as
the prophecies of the preceding chapter. Guyomar is a
disguised form of "Guigemar for Guihomarc[h]us."^ He is

here introduced (p. 316) for the first time, but he reappears
later in the story (p. 507 sqq.).

3. The account of Nascien (pp. 326, 327) borrows hints

from the Grail legend.^
4. Merlin's enchantments are of a piece with those in the
previous battles. The pretty little scene where Gonnore arms
her lover Arthur (pp. 322, 323) is probably the invention of
the romancer ; as is also the scene where King Leodegan falls

on his knee before his steward Cleodalis, and asks pardon

for the wrongs he has committed against him.

Chapter XXI.

1. The chapter opens with the enchantments of Guynebans

(pp. 361-363), which are essentially the same as those of
Merlin^ (p. 309). Here, as elsewhere, the romancer returns
several times upon his tracks.

1
Cf. also "Warton's Hist, of Eng. Poetry, sec. xv.
2 Ehys. Studies, p. 394.
3 Cf. ibid. pp. 320-322 ; Xutt, Studies on the legend of the Holy Grail, Index I.
* Cf. P. Paris, Romans ii. 199. These marvels do not differ
de la Table Sonde,
Tvidelvfrom those which an old man recounts to Lancelot aft€r he has left the
Chateau des Mares and gone to the Foret Perdue {ibid. v. 311).
CCXXVIII NOTES ON THE SOURCES. [§ ^*-

2. A considerable part of the chapter Is devoted to the

invented details of battles; but the finding of the treasure
(p. 370), and the meeting of Arthur with Gawain and the
children (p. 371 sqq.), may go back to a somewhat older
account. Of course, there is nothing especially striking in
any of these incidents ; but Gawain is the theme of such

a multitude of traditions, some of which are certainly Celtic,

that we make no improbable supposition in thinking that

the tradition is in this case older than the romance.

Chapter XXII.

This chapter appears to contain little else than mere

padding. There is the same familiar fighting, there are the

usual enchantments by Merlin, the same fiery dragon (pp. 393,

406), but new motives are conspicuously absent. The intro-
duction of the Romans anticipates the more striking account
in chap, xxxii., which follows with considerable variation

Geofi'rey of Monmouth's story of the battles of Arthur with

the Romans.

Chapter XXIII.

This chapter contains three leading incidents —the dreams

of King Ban and his wife ; Merlin's visit to his love ; and,

lastly, the dream of Julius Caesar, Emperor of Rome, with

the adventures of Grisandol.

1. The motive of the first set of dreams is familiar enough
to warrant us in regarding them as inventions of the redactor.
2. Merlin's visit to his love possesses the mysterious charm

that appears everywhere in Celtic legend ; and I cannot

help believing that this incident is essentially of Celtic origin,

though I can find no earlier version than in the Merlin.

§ 1^ ] NOTES Oy THE SOURCES. CCXXTX

3. The last incident appears to combine a variety of different

elements. In the appearance of Merlin as a savage we have,
perhaps, a lingering tradition originally relating to Myrddin
tlie Bard. In the repeated laughs of Merlin we have re-
produced in varied form motives appearing in chap. ii.

Merlin's laugh when brought before the Emperor of Rome

(p. 432) ^ parallels the third laugh of Merlin in the romance
of Arthour and Merlin ; only there it is Yortigern who takes
the place of the Emperor, and the setting is different. "We
may compare, too, the somewhat similar incident in the Vita
Merlini (U. 253-29-1). Merlin is taken and bound. Suddenly
he laughs as the queen passes through the hall, and the king
picks a leaf out of her hair ; but the bard refuses to tell why
he has laughed unless he is set at liberty. Kodarchus orders
it to be done. Then Merlin explains that the king is more
faithful to the queen than she to him.^

One motive of the incident of the twelve disguised chamber-

lains appears in a modified form in the Roman des Sept Sages,

but the hint was probably borrowed from the Merlin.^

^ It is interesting to find Merlin giving a new account of his birth to the Emperor.

His mother lost her way in the forest of " Brocheland," and a savage man came to
her. She bore a child, who was baptized (p. 428).
*
Cf. Uhland's ballad on Merlin der Wilde, in which a king's daughter is the
guilty one, instead of the queen.
' M. Gaston Paris {Roman Rome, Introd. pp. ixivii., xixviii.)
des Sept Sages de
remarks on this incident — " Quantan denouement de ce long drame a tiroirs, le
traducteur a cm le rendre plus interessant et plus moral en ajoutant a la faute de
I'imperatrice envers son beau-fils un autre crime, son adultere habituel avec un
ribaud habille en femme. Le fonds de cette addition malencontreuse n'est pas
d'ailleurs de son invention il la prise dans le roman de Merlin, en I'adoucissant
:

toutefois un pen car ce n'est pas un seul ribaud que Merlin sait decouvrir parmi les
;

femmes de I'epouse de Jules-Cesar, ce sont les douze chambrieres de I'imperatrice

qui sont des hommes travestis." M. Paris adds in a footnote " Voyez sur ce recit —
et les rapprochements auiquels il prete les articles de MM. Liebrecht et Benfey,
Orient und Occident, t. i. p. 341. etc. Cette histoire a passe, sous forme de
nouvelle, dans le recueil de Xicolas de Troves, le Grand Farangon des nouvelles
nouvelles, oil elle est la cxxiv* du second volume, le seul conserve. Mabille ne la pas
admise dans le choix qu'il a publie dans la Bibliotheque elzevirienne (1869) ; mais
a
 ;

CCXXX NOTES ON THE SOURCES. [§ "•

Chapter XXIV.

All the incidents of this chapter appear to be invented

but the names recur elsewhere than in the Merlin,

Chapter XXY.

The central incident of this chapter is the marriage of

1.

Arthur with Gonnore. There is little to add to what has

been already remarked. The original hint is, of course, taken
from Geoffrey of Monmouth (ix. 9). In Geoffrey's account
Arthur marries Guanhamara after he has subdued the Saxons,
and he is not crowned till after all his conquests that occur
before the war with the Romans.
2. As an instance of the habit of the romancers to make
a motive go as far as possible, we may note that in the
tournament at Toraise, after Arthur's marriage, Gawain lays
about him with a spar of oak, and stops only when Merlin
tells him he has done enough (p. 461). In the tournament
at Logres, Gawain repeats the same performance with an
apple-tree club (p. 493).^

3. The story of the false Gonnore is in its details the

invention of the romancer, but some of the material is

doubtless not due to him. We find that the trouble which

il imprimee dans une premiere publication, parue a Bnixelles et Paris in

I'avait
1862 y porte le n" Ixii. c'est un extrait textual du roman." Of. also P. Paris,
; elle :

Eomans de la Table Sonde, ii. 44 Dunlop's Mist, of Fiction (1888), i. 459-461

; ;

Meyer, Indogermanische Mytheti, i. 153, 154. A. VesseloTsky has attempted to

show that " the Avhole legend of Merlin is based upon the apocryphal history of
Solomon " * and Martolf, but the case cannot be said to be made out, although
there are undoubted parallels at more than one point.

» See Dunlop's Hist, of Fiction (1888), i. p. 457.

1
Cf. P. Paris, Romans, ii. 256. Cf. also the story of Eldol, Geoffrey's Eist. vi. 16,
and Eavelok, 11. 1968, 1969—
" Havelok grop J>e dore-tre,
And [at] a dint he slow hew Jre."
 § ^O NOTES ON THE SOURCES. CCXXXI

the false Gonnore made for the Queen is related in Lancelot,'^

where is recounted the banishment of Gonnore ^ and the storj
of Bertelak. The putting of Britain under an interdict, as
well as the malady of the false Gonnore, is touched upon
(iv. 191). How old the story is, may not be easy to determine,
but it seems to be in its essentials older than the Book of
Arthur.

Chapter XXYI.

In this chapter there appears to be very little but in-

vention. But at the very beginning (pp. 470, 471) is the
banishment of Bertelak, just referred to ; and on p. 484 is

the admirable portrait of Dagenet the Fool (pp. 483, 484),

who seems to be an old type. One may easily suspect that
the romancer was drawing this character from life.

Chapter XXVII.

1. The references at the beginning of this chapter to the

Holy Grail may be left for explanation to those who have
traced the origin of that legend.
2. The leading theme of the chapter is the mission of
King Loth and his four sons to the rebel kings. ^ In Bib.
Nat. MS. fr. 337 the account runs parallel with our version
as far as p. 509, 1. 7. After that point the French version
that is followed by the English translator seems to be almost
entirely independent of the version in MS. 337. We may
suppose that the later redactor drew freely upon his imagina-
tion for details, though he possibly had an older account to

* For convenient reference see tlie Analysis by P. Paris, Romans de la Table Eondey
iv. p. Ql sqq. and pp. 148-175.
2 Ibid. iv. p. 147.
5 "We may note that in our version the message of Loth to King Clarion is

delivered through Mynoras. This feature does not appear in some of the French.
MSS. Cf. P. Paris, Romans, ii. 275.
 —

CCXXXII NOTES OX THE SOURCES. [§

^'^•

guide him in the general course of the story. To follow out

the details is quite beyond my purpose.
3. In the references to Pelles and his son (p. 520 aqq.)

we are again taken into the Grail cycle.^

4. For an account of Morgain the reader is referred to
chap. xix.

Chapters XXYIII, XXIX.

1. These chapters are filled almost entirely with invented

details, playing upon material much older than our romance.
GaTvain — the TValgan of Geoffrey of Monmouth —here assumes
especial prominence, and this he keeps till the close of the
romance.
2. The mysterious rubbish uttered by Merlin to Blase
(p. 563) affords a not too distant parallel to Merlin's pro-
phecies in Geoffrey's Hidoria, book vii. ; while the ideal which
Merlin sets up for the knight who is to achieve a great work
that he be chaste and the best knight in the world — is the
leading motive of the Quest of the Holy Grail.
3. The account of Elizer, son of King Pelles of Lytenoys,
and " nevewe to the kynge pellenor and to the kynge Alain "
(p. 583), takes us again into the Grail cycle.^

Chapter XXX.

The adventure of Ban and Bors at the castle of Agravadain

(again taken up in chap, xxxiii. pp. 671-675), while hardly
fit for a drawing-room story, is certainly related in most
decorous style. The exact source is doubtful, though in the
mediation of Merlin, in the use of enchantment, and in
the innocence of the maiden, there is at least a reminder of

^
Cf. Rhys, Studies in the Arthurian Legend, chap. xii. ; Nutt, Studies on the
Legend of the Holt/ Grail, Index, i. P. Paris, Romans,
; iii. 295, 296.
- On the confusion of the genealogies see P. Paris, Romans, ii. 278.
 "^ ] NOTES ON THE SOURCES. ccxxxin

the amour of Titer with Ygerne. In certain slight particulars

there is a parallel to this incident in the Chevalier au Lyon
of Chrestien de Troyes. Very possibly the incident in the
Book of Arthur is borrowed from the Lancelot, for we read
(p. 610, 1."maiden hadde conceyved a sone, of
24) that the
whom launcelot after hadde grete ioye
and honour for the
bounte and Chiualrie that was in him." TVe may note, too,
that in the Book of Agra vain, towards the end of the Lancelot,
we have a somewhat similar incident, though with widely
different details. Lancelot is overcome by a philtre, and
passes the night with Helene, daughter of King Pelles, sup-
posing her to be the queen Guenever. The old Brisane,
governess of the princess, is the go-between, and the child
afterwards born is Galahad.^

Chapter XXXI.

Nothing in this chapter calls for especial attention, except

the story of King Rion, which has been already discussed

(chap. xiv.). Merlin's various disguises really introduce no
new motive, though the account of Merlin as a harper (p. 615)
is one of the most beautiful bits of description in the entire

romance {cf. p. 294).

Chapter XXXII.

1. On the vision of Flualis, P. Paris remarks ^ that it

contains nothing Welsh or Breton. The " arrangers " found

the story, he thinks, in some special lai, and united it as well

as they could with the main recital. There is no evidence

'
Cf. also Rhys, Studies in the Arthurian Legend, p. 146 Malory, xi. 2 ; and
;

P. Paris, Romans de la Table Eonde, t. 309, 324, 325. Cf. an article on the Scottish
romance of Roswall and Lillian in Engl. Studien, xra. p. 352, where a somewhat
similar story is told as a South Slavonic legend.
» Romans, ii. 329.
 —

CCXXXIV NOTES OX THE SOURCES. [§ ^•

that the story was treated in a lai, though there can be no

question that the vision is not the invention of the romancer.
2. Merlin's visit to Niraiane is another touch of the Celtic
legend, which we find reappearing every now and then
throughout the romance. What Merlin teaches Nimiane may
be compared with what he teaches Morgain le Fee.
3. The interesting story of the maiden and the dwarf is not
improbably older than the time of the composition of the
Booh of Arthur, but I cannot point out the original source.
4. The general course of the war with the Romans is
evidently suggested by Geofi'rey of Monmouth's Hidoria
(ix. 15 to X. 13), though there are differences enough. It is
not certain, however, that the redactor went directly to the
Latin. "Wace's Brut (1. 10,999) adds to Geoffrey's account
the fact that, after the Emperor's letter is read, Arthur
protects the messengers from the rage of the Britons. The
same incident recurs in the English version (p. 640). On
the other hand, the speeches by Hoel and Augusel, though
reproduced by Wace, are here omitted, while Cador's is given.
5. Arthur's dream may be compared with that recounted
by Geoffrey (x. 2).

6. The fight with the Giant of Mount St. Michel is much

the same in Geoffrey (x. 3) and in the romance (pp. 645-649).
Bedver accompanies Arthur in each case. The maiden is

in each version the niece of Hoel. The romancer, then,

borrowed the story more or less directly from Geoffrey, but
Geoffrey is hardly to be regarded as the original inventor.
Paulin Paris suggests^ that the exact designation of the
locality would seem to make credible a Breton origin for
the legend; but that, on the other hand, the outlines of the
story are in some respects similar to those of the legend of
Cacus,^ who was killed by Hercules
1 Romans, ii. 350, 351.
2
Cf. Virgil, Aeneid, Tiii. 194-275 ; Ovid, Fasti, B. i.
§ i^] NOTES ON THE SOURCES. CCXXXV

(1) Cacus and the giant (in Geoffrey) both come from Spain.
(2) The flames that Cacus breathes correspond to the fires
on the mountain.
(3) The bellowing of cattle shows where Cacus is ; the
cries of the nurse discover the giant.

(4) Both live at the top of a mountain.

(5) Both are blinded by a stroke of their enemy.

Not impossibly the somewhat forced resemblances just

noted indicate a closer relationship of the two legends than

appears to me probable. M. Paris also calls attention to

M. Breal's study of the mythological origin of Cacus, and the

possibility that an analogous tradition could have penetrated
into several stories. The Celts, like the Etruscans, could have
their giant, the scourge of the country, from which a hero
would deliver them.^
7. In Geoffrey's Hisioria (x. 11) and in the romance,
Walgan (Gawain) performs prodigies of valour, and at last
kills the Emperor Lucius {Merlin, p. 663). Arthur sends the
Emperor's body to Rome, with the taunt that such was the
tribute that the Britons paid,^

Chapter XXXIII.

This final chapter contains a variety of incidents drawn

from various sources.

1. The first incident is the very singular fight which King

Arthur has with the great cat of the **
Lac de Losane."
Mr. Phillimore has suggested to me a possible Celtic source,
but I must leave the investigation in that field to him and
other Celtic specialists.
Through the courtesy of M. Paul Meyer, Director of the
Ecole des Chartes in Paris, my attention was directed to a

1 Cf. also Ehys, Studies in the Arthurian Legend, p. 340.

* Geoffrey, Miit. x. 13 ; Merlin, p. 664.
 —

CCXXXVI NOTES ON THE SOrRCES. [? ^'^•

short paper on this incident by Prof. F. Novati, of Milan, who

I
very kindly sent me a copy.^ The following is a translation :

" In the Merlin we are told how King Arthur, after having
conquered the Eomans, instead of pushing on as far as Rome
and renewing the glory of Berlinus and Brennus, followed the
counsel of the prophet, and turned his attention towards freeing
Gaul from a monster which spread terror in all the country
about Lake Losanne.^ This monster, this demon, was in fact
nothing more than a simple cat, but the battle which the King
sustained against him turned out to be more difficult and fierce

than the battle with the giant ravisher of the niece of Hoel,
Count of Brittany .3
" The battle of Arthur against the cat is described not only
in the prose Merlin, but also in other texts. Thus, as G. Paris*
has lately shown, it is referred to in a fragment of a German
poem of the twelfth century, evidently drawn from a French
source, which the editor has called Manuel und Amande,^ from
thename of the chief characters. The poet, after eulogizing

warmly and in detail the valour of Arthur, apparently goes

on to narrate his death, and tells us how the occasion of it

had been a monster, which was a fish and at the same time
had the form of a cat.^ I say apparently, because the poem
is quite obscure, and some verses are lacking.
" This same legend of the death of the valiant British sovereign

in consequence of a struggle with a fish-cat (gaito-pesce) is

1 Originally printed in the Proceedings of the Reale Accademia dei Lincei (Estratto
dal vol. iv. 1° sem., serie 4», Eendiconti-Seduta del 20 maggio, 1888).
2 P. Paris, Les Romans de la Table Monde, ii. p. 358 sqq.
3 Ibid. p. 362.
* les ram. en vers de la T. JR., Paris, 1887, pp. 219, 220.
» Osw. Zingerie, Manuel und Arnande, Bruchstiicke exnes Artusromans, in Zeitech.
fiir deutech. Alth., m.f., xiv. p. 304, v. 151 sqq.
* " Daz sie iz fvr war wizzen,
Ein visch wrirde rf gerizzen,
Daz der kunic sere engalt,
Als ein katze gestalt." — v. 155 sqq.
 —

§ 13:.] NOTES ON THE SOURCES. CCXXXVII

mentioned secondly by a Norman poet, who, however, animated

bv strong sympathy for England, is indignant at the story, and
repudiates it as a fable invented by the French to throw ridicule
on the beloved hero of Britain. The verses of Andre de
Coutances have likewise been referred to by Paris, but they
are worthy of being quoted entire

'
II ont dit que riens n'a valu,
Et done a Arflet n'a chalu
Que bote fu par Capalu
Li reis Artu en la palu ;

Et que le chat I'ocist de guerre,

Puis passa outre en Engleterre,
E ne fu pas lenz de conquerre,
Ainz porta corone en la terre,

E fu sire de la contree.
Ou ont itel fable trovee ?
MeuQonge est, Dex le sot, provee
One greignor ne fu eneontree.'^

" Paris seems inclined to believe that Capalu is the name of

the portentous cat. If such be the case, he concludes, we
have here the monster of the same name which appears in
the Bataille Loquifer, and which has precisely the head of a
cat, the feet of a dragon, the body of a horse, and the tail
of a lion.^
" This identification of the cat of Losanne with Capalu, or

Chapalu, which, however, Paris does not insist on strongly,

raises in my opinion dijBficulties which are, or which seem to

me to be, insurmountable. I believe, indeed, that Andre de

Coutances, in the verses which I have quoted, alludes not

1 A. Jubinal, Nouv. See. de Contes, Bits, Fabliaux, etc., t. ii. pp. 2, 3. Le

JRomanz des Franceis is the name of this little poem, composed about the beginning
of the thirteenth century.
* Cf. Eist. Litter, de la Fr. t. xxii. p. 537 Nyrop-Gorra, St. dell' £p. Frane.
;

p. 143.
 —

CCXXXVIII NOTES OX THE SOURCES. U ^^'

to one but to two stories, whicli if they were not invented

by the French, as he seems to believe, were transformed and
altered by them so as to ridicule the inhabitants of England
by abasing Arthur. We have to do, then, with two adventures
of Arthur, entirely independent of each other ; with two battles
undertaken against two different monsters, battles which had,
however, the same disastrous results for the sovereign of
Britain, since in the struggle with Chapalu he was worsted
and was drowned in a marsh, and in that with the cat he
lost his life. And that this is really the state of affairs, will
become evident when we come to verify the difference between
Chapalu and the cat of Losanne.
" If, as Paris saw clearly, the former is to be identified with
the Chapalu of the Bataille Loquifer, it belongs to the category
of fantastic monsters which result from the gathering to-

gether of members taken from various animals — to the family,

that is, at the head of which is the chimaera. But the
Cat of Losanne is something quite different. It is neither
more nor less than a cat, but a cat which has attained
dimensions far beyond those of ordinary cats, and is endowed
with an extraordinary strength and a frightful ferocity. But
how and why ? We find this how and why described in
the most satisfactory manner in a passage of Tristan de
Nanteuil, in which the poet is pleased to explain to his
hearers the superhuman strength which his hero possessed,
and that not less wondrous strength with which the hind
was endowed that had nourished him with her milk

* Nourris furent d'un lait qui fut de tel maistrie,

D'une seraine fut, sy com I'ietoire crie.

. II est de tel vertu et de tel seignorie

Que se beste en a beu elle devient foumye,
Si grande et si poissant, nel tenes [a folye],
Que nul ne dure a lui, tant ait chevallerie.
 ; '

U IX. NOTES ON THE SOURCES. CCXXXIX

Artus le nous aprouve, qui tout ot baronnye,

Car au temps qu'i regna, pour voir le vous affie,

Se combata au chat qu'alecta en sa vie

Du let d'une seraine qui en mer fut pescbie
Mes le cbat devint tel, ne vous mentiray mye,
Que nuls boms ne duroit en la soye partie
Qu'i ne meist affin, a duel et a bacbie.
Artus le conquesta par sa bacbelerie,
Mais ains I'acbeta cber, sy con I'istoire crye.'

" This passage from Tristan de Nanteuil is, then, of great

interest for the solution of our little problem. It enables us,
in fact, to dispel every doubt concerning the nature of the
animal under whose claws perished the most valiant of kings,
if we believe the legend preserved by the author of Manuel
und Amande^ and indignantly repudiated by Andre de
Coutances. The multiform Chapahi of the Bataille Loquifer
has no connection with this monstrous cat, which a fisher-

man has thoughtlessly nourished with the milk of a siren.

In the second place the author of Tristan calls our attention
to the fact that the primitive legend of Arthur and the Cat
is quite diiTerent from that narrated in the Merlin, where
the appearance of the demon cat is a visitation of the wrath
of God, who wishes to punish a fisherman who had failed to

1 P. Meyer, Notice sur roman di Tristan de Nanteuil in Jahrb. fur Rom. und
le

Engl. Liter, ix. p. 11 ; p. 8, where the poet narrates at length how a siren
and cf.

suckled Tristan at sea, who on account of this nourishment became great as un cheval
de Chartage. The idea of making Tristan and the hind drink the milk of the siren
must have been suggested to the author by reading a romance of the Arthurian
cycle, in which it was told that Arthur had come to blows with the cat, but had been
able to conquer him. From this source he must also have drawn what he narrates
of the first bloody deeds perpetrated by the hind on the fisherman who had received
Tristan and on his family. The diabolical cat does the same thing in the Merlin.
(P. Paris, op. cit. p. 360.)
- The ambiguous words of the German poet, who does not know whether the cat
is a true cat or a fish resembling a cat, induce us to believe that in his source the
event was narrated obscurely or too concisely.
 ^ — —

CCXL NOTES ON THE SOURCES. [§ ^^•

fulfil his vow —a sufficiently heavy penalty for a rather light

!
offence
" That a British or French fisherman should find a siren
in his nets will not surprise anyone who remembers how the
classic temptresses of Ulysses had preserved their habit of
alluring seamen, even in the Middle Ages. Gervase of Tilbury
declares that they often appeared in the British Sea.^ But
neither Gervase nor other writers consulted by me say that
the milk of the sirens had such prodigious virtue as is

attributed to them in the story of the cat and of the hind

who nursed Tristan. Perhaps others better versed than I in
Bestiaries will succeed in finding some reference to the subject/*

2. If we pass over the continuation of the stories of

Agravadain and Flualis, we come to the wonderfully poetic

legend of the magic imprisonment of Merlin.^ The ground-

work of this legend is probably Celtic, though we cannot

1 '
' How the idea arose of making Losanne and the Moimtain of the Lake the
hiding-place of the cat,is unknown to me." F. Notati. —
^ Bes Gervas. von Tilbury Otia Imperialia, p. 31.
Cf. F. Liebrecht,
^ For a discussion of Malory's version see Summer's Studies on the Sources of the

Morte Darthur, iii. 127, 128.

As pointed out in the discussion of Malory's Morte Darthur (p. Ixx., ante), the
version there given differs from ours. The heading of book iv. chap. 1 reads
" How merlyn was affotted & dooted ou one of the ladyes of the lake / and how he
was fhytte in a rocke vnder a flone and there deyed capitulo primo." Malory calls
her "Nyneue."
In the romance of Ysaie le Triate the fairies "announced that they frequently
resorted to the bush which confined the magician Merlin, with whom they had
lately enjoyed a full conversation on the merits of different knights, and other
important affairs of chivalry." —
Dunlop, Hist, of Fiction (1888), i. pp. 213, 214.
" We are told in the romance of Lancelot du Lac, that Merlin was confined by
his mistress in the forest of Darnant, '
q\u marchoit a la mer de Cornouailles et a la

mer de Sorelloys.' " Ibid. i. p. 239.

In the Ancient Scottish Prophecies we learn that —
" Meruelous Merling is wasted away
With a wicked woman, woe might shee be ;

For shee hath closed him in a Craige on Cornwel cost."

First printed 1503. Eeprinted for Ballantyne Club, 1833, and by F. Michel,
Vita Merlini (p. 80), 1837.
§ i^l NOTES ON THE SOURCES. CCXLI

point definitely to an actual Celtic source. We find in a late

Triad ^ a story of Merlin entering into the Glass House iu

Bardsey with his nine bards, bearing with them the thirteen
treasures of Britain, and never being heard of afterwards.-
AVe may compare, too, the passages in Plutarch (quoted in
Rh5'3'8 Studies, p. 368) :
" Moreover, there is there [around
Britain], they said, an island in which Chronus is imprisoned
with Briareus, keeping guard over him as he sleeps ; for,

as they put it, sleep is the bond forged for Chronus."

Nimiane's persistent teasing finds its parallel in the story of
Samson and Delilah, but we can easily make too much of such
resemblances.^
3. The remainder of the chapter doubtless rests in part
upon older recitals ; but in its present form the conclusion
is the work of the redactors. As already noted, the con-
clusion of the romance is differently given in Bib. Nat, MS.
fr. 98 (which appends the Prophecies), and in the printed
edition of 1498. The material of the romance was very
flexible in the hands of the remodellers. Yery probably they
would have been more puzzled than we to give an account
of their sources. No doubt the conclusion was modified by
the Lancelot, which is frequently placed in the manuscripts
directly after the Merlin.

^ See p. c, ante.
Rhys, Studies, p. 354.
*

' Brunetto Latino, in his Zi Litres dou Tre'sor (pub. by Chabaille, Paris, 1862),

mentions prophecies of Merlin, and he evidently knew Geoffrey of Monmouth, y^

Aristotle, he says, was betrayed by woman's wiles, like Slerlin. Quoted in
Jahrbucher fur Philologie und Fcudogogik, vol. xcii. pp. 283 and 290.
CCXLII THE LITERACY VALUE OF THE MERLIN. [§ 3-

X.

THE LITERARY VALUE OF THE MERLIN.

We have seen that the English Merlin is nothing but a close
and almost servile translation of the French Merlin ordinaire.

Consequently, the only thing for which the unknown maker

of the English version can be held responsible is the quality
of his translation. The real criticism of the Merlin as a work
of literary art must be directed to the French original.

Our investigation of the manuscripts and of the sources has

shown that the French Merlin is made up of a variety of
originally unrelated parts, of very unequal merit. To estimate
the Merlin accurately, we should, therefore, have to disentangle
out of the congeries of romances the several elements, and look
at them separately. If we deal with the completed romance,
we simply have to consider the work as it left the hands of
the compilers and arrangers. The defects lie on the surface.

The romance is a model of nearly all the faults of construction

so lavishly exhibited in most of the mediaeval prose romances.
According to nineteenth- century notions, the story is intolerably

long and prolix. "We are treated to far too many incidents
of the same sort. We yawn in the midst of the confused
and painfully circumstantial battles, as we learn for the
hundredth time that Arthur, or Gawain, or Loth, slit some
one to the teeth, and are credibly assured that there were
shouts " and stour and ffuH grete crakke, and noyse ther was
of brekynge of speres, and stif strokes of swerdes vpon helmes."
Of course, elements much the same almost necessarily entered
into all descriptions of mediaeval battles, but that is scarcely

an excuse for spreading the account over scores of pages.

In the Merlin as we now have it, perspective and proportion
§ ^l THE LITERARY VALUE OF THE MERLIN. CCXLIII

are entirely disregarded. The story Is not an organic whole,

in which a germinal motive is developed with logical sequence,
and made to control the action of the collective mass : it is

rather a loose and inartistic combination of fragments essen-

tially unrelated. Many of the episodes might be dropped
altogether, without causing the slightest break in the narrative.
Some of these episodes, we must admit, are in themselves
interesting, but they stand in no organic relation to the
romance as a whole. In other words, there is little or no
plot in our sense of that term. The Merlin proper — which
occupies the first seventh of the romance — is, indeed, simple
and reasonably definite in Its aim. The beginning is dramatic
and impressive, and the conclusion has a poetic beauty felt by
every reader. TV"e lose sight of Merlin before the coronation
of Arthur ; but we may suppose — if we assume the prose
Perceval to be based on thework of Bobert de Borron that —
the author imagined he had given sufficient prominence to
Merlin by introducing him again in the Perceval immediately
after the coronation. What Robert had further to tell he
narrated in the modest limits which he assigned to the Perceval,
the original continuation of the versified romance of Merlin.
When, however, the original continuation was discarded by
the later prose romancers, loose rein was given to invention
and unintelligent combination.
The framework borrowed from Geofirey of Monmouth was
itself loose enough to admit of any amount of insertion and

omission. Naturally enough, we are puzzled to decide who is

really the hero of the last six hundred pages. Merlin is plainly
the centre of interest in the first hundred pages ; but after
that point we lose sight of Merlin altogether, except at
comparatively rare Intervals. He is the deus ex machina
who descends to extricate some one whom the romancer would
not willingly let die, but he is by no means the character to
whom our attention Is steadily directed. Our interest is
 —

CCXLIV THE LITERARY VALUE OF THE MERLIN. [§ X*

demanded for Arthur and his friends, for Gawain and his
circle, for King Loth and his sons, and numerous other
characters.
No principle of subordination or of proportion of parts
appears to have guided the romancers. The story runs on
according to its own sweet will, or, rather, according to the

sweet will of the various literary blunderers who put their

hands to the work. As far as we can see, it might run on
for ever by the easy process of multiplying the battles and
borrowing incidents wherever found unclaimed. There are,

of course, passages of rare beauty from the mysterious legend

of Merlin, which in a certain nameless charm are scarcely
surpassed in the whole range of mediaeval romance. But
these are buried under a mass of rubbish as formless and
unattractive as rubbish can well be, even in a mediaeval
romance. We need not, however, imagine that the romancers
were seriously distressed at the thought that their additions
to the story might be incongruous. The artistic sense in
most of the mediaeval story-tellers was sadly awry. They
seem to have regarded it as a literary crime to leave the
most trivial detail to the imagination of the reader. We may
admit freely the beauty of all the passages that anyone wishes
to select, but we shall have to confess that we at last

weary a little of the endless and desultory babbling of a story-

teller, who, to borrow Trollope's phrase, writes because he
has to tell a story rather than because he has a story to tell.

The materials of the Merlin might have been wrought into a

tragedy of wonderful power and beauty ; but the lack of artistic

grouping allows the fragments to sweep along confusedly,

like blocks of drift-ice in a river. All are liioving in one
general direction, but they are not bound together by any
laws of connection.
An almost necessary consequence of this looseness of plot
is the abruptness of transition. The favourite formula is
? ^-I THE LITERARY VALUE OF THE MERLIN. CCXLV

"But now resteth to speke of hem at this time and telleth

of King Arthur," or Gonnore, or Gawain, or anyone else that

the whim of the romancer suggests. Paulin Paris commended

this feature as indicating progress in the art of narration,
but I question whether most readers will share his pleasure.
It follows from what has been urged, that we must lay
aside all hope of discovering in the Merlin any underlying
moral purpose. The story is not made to prove any doctrine
of religion, or morals, or politics. All of the characters are
assumed to be good Catholics, unless they are specifically
mentioned as heathen or Saracens. Their morals are tolerably
decent, according to the standards of the time ; and occasion-
allywe even get an incidental bit of moral suggestion.
But the fact which most strikes a careful reader is, that the
character of Merlin has not altogether improved in the slip-
shod process of development followed in the romance. The
dignity of the boy-prophet, as he summons the trembling
counsellors and expounds easily what had baffled the clerks,

compels a certain sort of admiration. Even when he

participates in the plot which results in the birth of Arthur,

we look upon him as a grave and judicious adviser. But

after the coronation of Arthur, though Merlin still plays the
role of sage and prophet, and figures in more than one scene
full of a strange beauty, we cannot but feel that he is too often

degraded to the level of the mountebank and the juggler.

As we read the romance we cannot but be impressed with the
fact that most of the characters are unskilfully drawn. The
old romancers seem to have been able to imagine but one trait
of character at a time, and they display a signal inability
to follow out a complicated analysis. The natural result is

a remarkable similarity and conventionality in the figures that

crowd the page. Instead of delineating the characters by
a combination of fine touches, the romancers lay on the
colours in broad lines, with little or no attempt at artistic
CCXLVI THE LITERARY VALUE OF THE MERLIN. [§
'^^

discrimination. The characters are not developed as in

Shakspere's plays and in the best modern novels, but are

presented about as complete at the beginning of the romance
as at the end. Some characters almost appear to have been
invented for the express purpose of giving sufficient exercise
in the use of the superlative.
That this method of treatment is painfully superficial and
external, needs no proof ; but it is the method of the
Merlin. It is, indeed, a striking fact that, although the
romance contains much that is mysterious, it contains little

that is really profound. The story is a singular mixture of

the plain and simple and of the dark and mysterious. The
knights and ladies discuss little except love and chivalry and
war, and the passing questions of the day. They seem to have
troubled themselves scarcely at all with such great problems
of life as meet us in the novels of George Eliot, and there is

little reason why they should. Theirs was an age of faith,

and they did not have to grope in darkness and doubt. Their
passions were the simple elementary passions of love, hate,
jealousy. Their virtues were the simple virtues of bravery,
sincerity, courtesy, generosity. "We are almost led to think,

therefore, because we are told so much about these men and

women, and their characters are apparently so transparent, that

we know them ; but we never succeed in lifting the veil that

hides their inner lives. We catch glimpses now and then of

a background of mystery in the strange life of Merlin — most

of all when we see the magic spell stealing upon him as gently

as music breathes across a bank of violets —but even then we

are not allowed to gaze into the depths of the great magician's
heart ; and we close the book with the feeling that between us
and the men and women of the romance is a great gulf fixed,
which we must we can know them as they are.
cross before

"We have sufficiently dealt with the more serious faults in

the Merlin. We may now bestow a word upon the literary
§ ^O THE LITERARY VALUE OF THE MERLIN. CCXLVII

style of the romancers who pieced together the story. Here,

too, their work is faulty enough. They have not yet learned
how to write a neat and well-balanced prose. Their sentences
lack unity ; their pronouns have a bewildering vagueness of
reference ; their paragraphs lack movement and artistic balance.

The connection is of the loosest sort, and is helped out by an

excessive use of the conjunction and. Yet the style at times

has a grace and harmony, as well as an air of distinction,

not unworthy of the aristocratic circle for which the romance

was intended. Even the amorous adventures are related in
a tone of high breeding that relieves the artistic conscience,
if not the moral sense. Some of the descriptions are
charmingly poetic, and are ablaze with light and colour.
There is, indeed, a touch of conventionality in many of the
descriptions of natural scenery, but even here the mediaeval
naivete lends a freshness and beauty that are always engaging.
Vivacity is secured by frequent dialogue. Then, too, the
air of verisimilitude is almost perfect. Detail is heaped
upon detail, until the realistic effect is irresistible. We may
feel that the art is defective, but we must admit that art
itself cannot make the narrative seem more real.
We may find still other excuses for the Merlin. We have
been testing the romance by the literary standards of the
nineteenth century. If, however, we judge it by the literar)'

standards of seven centuries ago, we ought perhaps to soften

our criticism of more than one passage that now seems
insufferably tedious. In those days of few books most readers
were doubtless glad to have the story drawn out as far aa
possible. Even the accounts of the battles, which no one now
reads except the editor, the printer, and the proof-reader, may
have been among the most valued portions of the work. We
may thus develop a spirit of charitable judgment otherwise
quite beyond us. And yet, in our most charitable moments
we may hesitate to believe that the Merlin was accepted as
 :

CCXLVIII THE LITERARY VALUE OF THE MERLIN. [§ ^•

a finished specimen of literary art even in the Middle Ages

an age that possessed the work of Chrestien de Troyes and
Walter Map was not so devoid of literary sense as to be
unaware of the more glaring defects of such a composite
romance as the Merlin.

Considered as a picture of chivalry the Merlin has for us

a permanent value. It gives us more than one vivid glimpse
of the every-day life of the period to which it belongs.
The deeds of Arthur and his knights are transferred to
the time of chivalry, and illuminated with all the light and
colour of that picturesque age. If we count this of small
importance, we can take some satisfaction that in the Merlin
we have a book of the deepest interest to the Europe of six
or seven centuries ago, and that as we read we can imagine
more clearly the ideals of an age profoundly important in the

development of our modern civilization.

As regards the work of the English translator, we have,

perhaps, sufficiently touched upon that in our study of the
manuscripts. Most of his translation is a mechanical jog-
trot that follows every turn of the original. He freely uses
French terms, and transfers French constructions, and even
entire French sentences, to the English page. His sentences
are in the main the sentences of the original, with all their

faults of confusion and overcrowding. Yet the style has

numerous distinct excellences. The diction is often direct
and vigorous, and invariably escapes the turgid inflation so

characteristic of English prose a little more than a century

later. The period to which the translation belongs was
singularly barren in works of creative imagination, and could
not very consistently have made unfavourable reflections upon
the unknown scholar who toiled through the heavy task. His
achievement is hardly worthy to be placed beside the masterpiece
of Malory ; but it has an interest all its own, and it may well be
valued as a not insignificant monument of old English prose.
 ? ^0 CCXLIX

XI.

The English manuscript from which the prose romance is

printed, is described in the " Advertisement " to Part i. of the

Merlin (E.E.T.S.Lond. 1865), A fragment of another version
is contained in a single folio leaf of a fifteenth-century paper
manuscript in the Bodleian Library at Oxford. The passage
corresponds to p. 315, 1. 15 to p. 317, 1. 24. Kolbing gives the
variants, and decides that the Oxford fragment cannot be
a copy of the Cambridge MS.^
I find also in the Catalogue of the Ashmolean MSS.
(802 : 4), Oxford, the following notice of a manuscript of
Merlin contained "In a collection of Apocryphal tracts,

genealogical and heraldic collections, astrological observations,

and miscellaneous ; by Simon Forman, M.D." :
— " The
first 32 chapters of a Romance of the life of Merlin,
beginning thus: 'The Parliament and consultation of the
Devils, and their decree about the begetting of Merlin, about

the year of Christ 445.'" (Fo. 66-82.) The last is thus

entitled :
" Cap. 32. How Merlin told the Hermit who was
his father, and entreated him to write this book of his life

and others of his works that should follow, and how the
Hermit Blase did conjure him by the name of God, being
much afeared of him."^ (Fo. 816.) "Forman designed to
write Cap. 33, but left this copy unfinished, and seven blank
leaves follow." {Catal. p. 443).

^ AUenglische Bihl. iv. p. xii.

^ I have modernized the spelling, as I suspect that I did not Terify my transcript
at the time I made it.
 CCL

ADDITIONAL NOTES.

It may be proper to observe that pages i to cl have been in print since the
summer of 1892. Hence the changes that have been made in those pages are only
such as could be made without too great a disturbance of the text. In the remainder
of the book, notice has been taken of the more important recent literature on the
Merlin legend. This appears chiefly in Section VIII.
I take this opportunity to express my renewed thanks to Mr. H. L. D. "Ward
for his great kindness in going through the proof-sheets and making several
valuable suggestions.

p. XIII. 1893. Zimmer, H. —Nennius Yindicatus, Berlin. A masterly work.

p. XIII. 1893. "Ward, H. L. D.— Lailoken Merlin (or Silvester), Romania,
1893, pp. 504-526.— This article I have been able to use in Section VIII. as it was

passing through the press.

"

p. XIII. 1894. Richter, G.— Beitrage zur Erklaning und Textkritik des

mittelenglischen Prosaromans von Merlin, Erste Halfte. (Diss.) Altenburg, 1894.

Reprinted in Englische Studien, xx. pp. 347-377.— The author attempts a critical
reconstruction of the English text of our romance by the aid of the French version.
The work is so carefully done that one can only regret that it rests for the most part
upon a late print of the French text (1528), rather than upon the MSS,
p. XIII. 1894. —
Sommer, H. 0. Le Roman de Merlin. London. This — edition

of the French Roman de Merlin is a reproduction in ordinary type of the British

Museum MS. Add. 10,292. This book was not accessible to me until after my entire
discussion was in print and the "revise" had been returned to the printers. The
editor describes the MS. fully, gives its history, and prints a table indicating the

relation of the Arthurian MSS. in the British Museum to MSS. Add. 10,292-10,294.
His discussion of the text is very brief, and touches only the salient points connected
with its development. On p. xxvi., note, he calls attention to a MS. of Merlin not
mentioned in Ward's Catalogue of Romances. This is Add. 32,125 in the British
Museum, dating from the beginning of the fourteenth century. It contains the
Saint Graal ("complete save as to one leaf") and the Merlin. Sommer remarks
that this MS. "is as valuable and interesting as No. 747 of the Bibliotheque
Nationale, but the latter is better written."
p. XIII. 1894. Lloyd, J. £.— Myrddin "Wyllt in Bid. of Nat. Biog., vol. xl.

pp. 13, 14.

p. XIII. 1894. —
MaccaUum, M. "W. Tennyson's IdyUs of the Kong and
Arthurian Story from the Sixteenth Century. New York. A popularly-written
book touching on several matters relating to the use of the Merlin legend in
literature.
 ADDITIONAL NOTES. CCLI

p. xin. 1894. Kingsford, C. L. —Merlin Ambrosius or Myrddin Emrys

in Diet, of Hat. Biog., vol. xxxvii. pp. 285-288. This article mentions a long —
life of Merlin in Leland's Commentarii de Scriptoribus, pp. 42-48, and a paper

by M. Darbois de JubainviUe on " Merlin est-il un personnage reel?" in the

Revue des questions historiques, v. 559-568.
p. XIII. 1895. Wechssler, Edward. —
Uber die verschiedenen Redaktionen des
Robert von Borron zugeschriebenen Graal-Lancelot-Cyclus. Halle a S. pp. 64.
— This is an important contribution to the study of the relations of the groups
of romances to one another, but it comes too late for me to make use of it. The
reader should note the favourable review of this paper by Gaston Paris in the
Romania for July, 1895, pp. 472-475.
p. xLv. note 1. For i. 86 read p. xcvi.
p. XLVii. note 3. For Vollmoller read VoUmoUer.
p. Li. Lamartine tells a story in his sketch of Jeanne d'Arc (chapter viii.),

of her being influenced by a prophecy attributed to Merlin, that the kingdom would
be saved by a young, chaste maiden.
p. LI. Paul de Musset, in his life of Alfred de Musset, p. 55, tells us of the
interest Alfred took in the Merlin story.
p. LI. On the Provencal fragments, see also Grober's Grundriss der rom. Phil.,
Bd. ii. Abth. p. 68, which refers to the Revue des I. r., 22, 105-115
2, 237-242. ;

p. Lii. For an excellent discussion of the Conte del Brail, see Wechssler's paper
on the Graal-Lancelot-Cyclus, pp. 37-51.
p. LIU. For the Portuguese Merlin, see Grober's Grundriss der rom. Phil.,
Bd. ii. Abth. 2, pp. 213, 214.
p. Liii. note 5. For to read zu.
p. LIII. The best account of Merlijn is in "W, J. A. Jonckbloet's Geschiedenis
der Nederlandsche Letterkunde, Groningen, 1884, i. pp. 200-229.
p. Liv. In 1892 appeared a novel by Paul Heyse entitled Merlin. The story
is not a reproduction of the old legend, but is essentially a nineteenth-century novel
with here and there a motive, or at least a hint, drawn from the mediaeval romance.
Cf. a paper in The Atlantic Monthly, March, 1893.
Goldmark's opera appeared in 1886.
p. Liv. note 3.
p. Lxvni. As an interesting proof of Merlin's fame as a prophet, we may
1. 9.

note that Defoe, in his account of the great plague in London in 1665, says that
fortune-tellers and prophets greatly flourished at that time, and that they displayed
the head of Merlin as a sign.
p. Lxxiii. 1. 27. The opinion of Merlin held by the antiquary Leland, who
busied himself much with the Arthurian legend, is worth quoting :
—
Sunt ibi tamen,
'
'

si quis penitius inspiciat, talia, qualia magno desidarentur antiquae cognitionis

incomodo, & quae a Gulielmo potius quam
nullum prae se tulerunt
lecta, intellecta,
comodum. Rursus apponam & aliud eiusdem
non modo de honorificu scilicet,
historiae interprete, verii etiam de Arturio ipso testimonium. Liquet a mendacibus
esse conficta, quaecunque de Arturio, & Merlino ad pascendum minus prudentium
curiositatem homo ille scribendo vulgauit. Vt sexcenties obganniat: fuit quidem
Merlinus vir in rerum naturalium cognitione, & praecipue in Mathesi vel ad mira-
culum vsque eruditus quo nomine Principibus eius aetatis raerito gratissimus erat
:

longeq; alius, quam vt se putaret subjiciendum iudicio alicuius cucuUati, & desidis
monachi. Sed Arturiu, &
Merlinum, ilium fortiorem, hunc eruditiorem, quam vt
plebis vel dicacitatem, vel importunitatem curent, omittam. Illud, quod monachus
 —

CCLTT ADDITIONAL NOTES.

monacho etiam mortuo inuidet mihi iniquissimum ridetur." Assertio inelytissimi

Arturij, p. 354. London, 1544.
p. Lxxiv. 1. 6. See an interesting page or two on Caermarthen in Prothero's
Life and Letters of Dean Stanley, ii. pp. 351, 352.
p. Lxxvi. 1. 9. See the remarks on this play by Halliwell-Phillipps in his
Outlines of the Life of Shakespeare, p. 193.
p. Lxx\T[i. Blackmore's King Arthur (1697) is an enlargement, in twelve books,
Uavww^ I of the Frince Arthur.
p. Lxxvin. Bartlett's concordance to Shakespeare notes several references to
Merlin.
In the catalogue of a London bookseller (1894) I note the following title :
*'
Merlinus AngUcus Junior, The English Merlin revived, or his prediction upon
the affaires of the English Commonwealth. 1644. 4to."
MaccaDum, in his Tennyson's Idylls and Arthurian Story, pp. 161-165, calls
attention to Fielding's Tragedy of Tragedies, or the Life and Death of Tom Thumb
the Great (1730), a burlesque piece in which Merlin is introduced here and there.
Among other eighteenth-century references to Merlin may be noted that in
Warton's poem on the Grave of King Arthur (1777).
p. Lxxxiii. Bishop Heber made some use of the Merlin legend in his unfinished
Masque of Guendolen.
"Wordsworth refers briefly to Merlin in one of his sonnets and in his Artegal and
Elidure.
Bulwer introduces Merlin into his heroic poem King Arthur (1849), and remarks
in the preface :
" Merlin .... is here represented less as the wizard of
popular legend, than as the seer gifted with miraculous powers for the service and
ultimate victory of Christianity."
Emerson wrote two short poems entitled Meiiin, but they scarcely do more than
suggest the name of the hero.
Professor John Veitch has made use
of Merlin in his poems entitled, Merlin and
Other Foe)ns, 1889. These I have not seen.
p. Lxxxv. 1. 15. My remarks on Xennius were in print before Zimmer's Nennius
Vindicatus appeared. His book, it is needless to observe, marks a new epoch in the
study of Nennius but for the pm-pose of our general discussion, the main point
;

is the one which I have emphasized —

the priority by a considerable time of the
Hist. Britomim of Nennius over the Hist. Reg. Brit, of Geoffrey of Monmouth.
Zimmer assigns the Historia Britonwn proper to about the close of the eighth
century. See p. 66 seq.
p. LXXXV. 1. 19. Zimmer remarks, p. 282 :
" Die sogenannte eigentliche
Historia Brittonum (7-56) ist als Geschichtsquelle absolut werthlos."

p. Lxxxix. Zimmer's date for Geoffrey's Hist. Beg. Brit, is 1132-1135.

Cf. Nennius Vindicatus, p. 278.
p. xcviii. 1. 8. For the Mabinogion, see Rhys's Studies, chap. i.

p. See F. Lot's Etudes sur la Provenance du Cycle Arthurien in the

cxxv.
Boinania, 1895-96. M. Lot's articles are directed against Zimmer's theory con-
cerning the origin of the Arthurian romances, and conclude as follows :
''
Apres
comme avant les travaux du savant celtiste de Greifswald, il parait evident que
I'influence des Celtes insulaires a ete beaucoup plus considerable, et meme vraimeut
preponderante, dans la transmission des elements du cycle arthurien."
 ; — ;

ADDITIONAL NOTES. CCLIII

on the other hand, Zimmer's article in Zeitschrift fur franz. Sprache und
See,
Lit., xiii.230 seq. (Beitrage zur Namenforschung in den altfranz. Arthurepen)
Piitz in Z.f.f. Spr. u. Lit., xiv. 161 seq. (Zur Gesch. der Entwicklung der Artursage).
p. CLXXXiii. See a paper by Kellner in Englische Studien, rs. 1-24, on
" Abwechselung und Tautologie," in which he discusses this marked feature of
mediaeval prose style.

p. CLxxxvi. note 3. Ehys brings the name Merlin into connection with Mori-
dunum (Caermarthen) . He
remarks that the form Merlin corresponds to the form
Moridunjos, i.e. of moridunum or the sea-fort. Hibbert Led., p. 160.
p. ccvi. 1. 1. A poem of 504 lines (Lambeth MS. 853, about 1430 a.d.) is called
])« Bevelis Parlament, and describes a scene similar to that in our romance, but with
no mention of Merlin.
p. ccTi. 1. 12. Leland, in a paper on Elrttsco-Roman Remains, published in
report of Internat. Folk-Lore Congress for 1891, remarks (p. 192) on the -widespread
recognition of Dusio in Italian country districts.
p. ccvir.
1. 2. Skeat has a good note on Antichrist in Piers Plowman, voL iv.
sec. 1, p. 442 (E.E.T.S.).
p. ccvii. 1. 8. For further references on the intercourse of Devils with women,
see the Life of St. Michael in the Early South Eng. Legendary, p. 306 (E.E.T.S.),
and Vae Morte Arthure, 1. 612 (E.E.T.S.). For incubi, see Giraldus Cambrensis,
Llin. Camb. ch. v. Cockayne, Leechdoms, I. pp. xxxviii.-xli.
; Melnsine (E.E.T.S.), ;

p. 383 Skeat's Chaucer, v. 315.

; For parallels to Merlin's birth, see Nutt'8
Problems of Heroic Legend in report of Internat. Folk-Lore Congress for 1891
(p. 122), and Child's Ballads (large ed.), i. 63, note. Cf. also

" There ys a gyant of gret Renowne,

He dystrowythe bothe sete and towyn)
And all \a\. euyr) he may
And as the boke of Rome dothe teH,
He wase get of the dewell of heH,
As hys moder on slepe lay."
Torrent of Portyngale, 921-926 (E.E.T.S.).

p. ccvii. 1. 12. Parallels to Merlin's precocity are found in the story of Hermes
in the Homeric Hymns, and in Child's Ballads (large ed.), viii. 479, ix. 226.
p. CCVII. 1. 18. I might have pointed out the contradiction in the Merlin, p. 16,
where the boy saves his mother from being burnt. On this punishment. Child
remarks, Ballads (large ed.), iii. 113: "The regular penalty for incontinence
in an unmarried woman, if we are to trust the authority of romances, is burning."
See also vi. 508, where C. gives a variety of references from ballads.
p. ccxiv. On the dragon-banner, see also Zimmer's Nennius Vindicatus, p. 286,
note, where the Roman banner is commented upon, and the significance of pen
dragon explained.
In the Chanson de Roland, 1. 3265, there is a dragon-banner in the army of the
pagans who are arrayed against Charlemagne. In the romance of Octavian, 1. 1695
(South Eng. version), the Saracens have one.
p. ccxxiv. Spenser makes use of the story of the beards, F. Q., Ed. vi. c. 1,
st. 14 seq., and applies it to Crudor.
 —

CCLIV ADDITIONAL NOTES.

In the Norse Saga Di^riks Konungs af Bern, c. 12, Eng Samson orders Elsing,
Jarl of Bern, to send him, among other things, a dog-collar of gold and a leash
, made of his own beard.
p. ccxxvii. The game of chess (referred to on p. 362 of the Merlin) was a common
diversion in the Middle Ages. See Child's Ballads (large ed.), viii. 454.
p. ccxxix. Meyer, in his Indogermanische Mythen, i. 153, 154, urges the
Oriental origin of the Merlin legend, or, at least, after mentioning the pranks of that
lively littledemon Ashmedai, and bringing them into relation to the Gandharve
legends of Indian mythology, he passes to discuss " die aus Indien stammende alt-
franzosische Merlinsage .... in welcher derwilde Mann Merlin, der erst ungebardig
Speiseund Trank umwirft, dann aber nach reichlichem Genuss von Honig, Milch,
Warmbier, und Braten einschlaft, vom Seneschal des Kaisers gebunden nird und
diesem nun die Untreue seiner Frau ofPenbart, etc." Comparison should also be
made with the similar incident in the story of Lailoken, " Part ii. King Meldred :

and Lailoken," published in the Romania for 1893, pp. 522-525.

p. ccxxx. Gawain's exploits with the club may be compared with those of
Gamelyn with the same weapon. Cf. Skeat's Chaucer, iii. 400. See also Scherer's
Geseh, d. deutschen Lit. p. 183.
p. ccxxxT. In Ehys's Preface to Malory's Morte Darthur, pp. xxv., xxviii.,
xxix., I find the following remarks on a savage cat of Celtic tradition :
— " In an
obscure '
poem consisting of a dialogue between Arthur and Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr,'
occurs at the end of the fragment the following passage, in which Kei is represented
as fighting with a great cat :

Worthy Kei went to Mona

To destroy lions.
His shield was small
Against Palug's Cat.
When people shall ask
* Who slew Palug's Cat?'
Nine score ....
Used to fall for her food.
Nine score leaders
Used to ... .

The manuscript is imperfect, and ofi" just where one should have heard
it breaks
more about Cath Palug, or Palug's Cat,' a monster, said in the Eed Book Triads to
'

have been reared by the Sons of Palug, in Anglesey."

 ;

CCLV

INDEX TO OUTLINES OF THE HISTORY

OF THE LEGEND OF MERLIN.

Alanus de Insulis, his commentary on Dialogue between Myrddin and his sister
Merlin's prophecies, cxcv, cxcvi. Gwenddydd, cvii-cx.
Albion' s England, Warner's, Ixxiv. Dialogue between Myrddin and Taliessin,
Armorican ballads, xcv, xcvi, cxxiii-cxxvii. civ, cv.
Arthour and Merlin, Iv-lx. Dragon-banner, ccxiii, ccxiv.
Arthur, Coronation of, ccxiv; \}!\QBook of, Dragons, Fight of, ccx.
xlviii, ccxv-ccxvii; fight with the Giant Drayton's Polyolbion, Ixxv.
of Mount St. Michel, ccxxxiv, ccxxxv ;
Dryden's King Arthur, Ixxvi.
fight with the great cat, ccxxxv-
ccxl, ccliv. English forms of Merhn legend, liv-
Arthurian romances. Popularity of, v Ixxxiii.
periods in history of cycle of, v in- ;

adequate accounts of the, vi transition ; Fordun's Seotichronicon, cxciv.

toFrench literature, cxxiv-cxxix. French forms of Merlin legend, xlvii-li.
Avallenau, The, cv, cvi, cxvi-cxxi. French literature, Transition of the Merlin
legends to, cxxii-cxxxvi.
Bale's account of Merlin, cxcv. French MSS. of the prose Merlin, cxxxvi-
Beards, Rion's mantle of, ccxxiii, cxxiv. clxxxiv.
Bibliography, xi-xiv, ccl-ccliv. French romances. Order of production
Birth of Merlin, Rowley's, Ixxvi. of, vii.
Blackmore, Sir Richard, his Prince
Arthur, Ixxvii. Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum.
Blase, ccviii. Britanniae, v, xlv, liv, Ixxxix-xcii,
Blood, Foundation sprinkled with, ccvii. cxxvii, cxxviii, clxxxv-cxc, cxcii, cxciii,
Borron, Robert de, lii, Ix, Ixii, cxxix- cciv-ccxxvi, ccxxviii, ccxxx, ccxxxii,
cxxxv, cciv, ccv, ccviii-ccxii. ccxxxiii his Vita Merlini, xciii,
; cxii-
Breton lais, cxxiii-cxxvii. cxxii, clxxxix, cxc.
Bridal of Triermain, Scott's, Ixxx-lxxxii. German forms of Merlin legend, liii, liv.
Buchanan, Robt. his Merlin and the
, GifTard's Merlin or the British hichanter,
White Death, Ixxxiii. Ixxvii.
Buchanan's account of Merlin, cxcv. Giraldus Cambrensis, cxci, cxcii.

Cat, Arthur's fight with the great, ccxxxv- Heyse's romance oi Merlin, ccli.
ccxl, ccliv. Heywood, Thomas, his Life of Merlin,
Celtic literature. Difficulty attending study Ixxvi.
of, vi, vii. Higden's Polychronicon, Ixi, Ixxii, cxciii,
Celtic versions of Merlin legend, xliv, xlv, cxciv.
xciv-cxxii. Hill, Aaron, his Merlin in Love, Ixxvii.
Child begotten by a demon, ccvi, ccvii. Historia Britannica,
Ixxxvii - Ixxxix,
Chretien de Troyes, c, ci. clxxxvi-clxxxix, ccvii, ccviii, ccx.
Chronology of romances, Uncertainty in Historia Britonum of Nennius, v, xlv,
the, vi, vii. Ixxxiv-lx.xxvii, clxxxvi-clxxxix.
Collation of the English printed Merlin, Historia Kegum Britanniae of Geoffrey
cclvii-cclxvi. of Monmouth, v, xlv, liv, Ixxxi.x-xcii,
cxxvii, cxxviii, clxxxv-cxc, cxcii, cxciii,
Demon begetting a child, ccvi, ccvii, cciv-ccxxvi, ccxxviii, ccx.xx, ccxxxii,
ccliii. ccxxiii.
Demons, Council of, ccvi. Hoianau, The, cvi, cvii, cxvi.
 ;

CCLVI INDEX.

Icelandic forms of Merlin legend, liv. Nennius, his Historia Britonum, v,

Incubi, ccvi, ccvii, ccliii. xlv, Ixxxiv-lxxxvii, clxxxvi - clxxxix,
Italian forms of Merlin legend, lii. ccvii, ccviii, ccx, cclii.
Netherland form of Merlin legend, liii.
Jonson, Ben, his Speeches at Prince Nicolson, Bishop, his account of Merlin,
c.xcvi.
Henry's Barriers, Ixxv.

Peacock's Myrddin Gwyllt, Ixxxii.

King Arthur, Dryden's, Ixxvi.
Polychronicon, Higden's, Ixi, Ixxii.
Polyolbion, Drayton's, Ixxv.
Lailoken, and his relation to M}Tddin, Pope's allusions to Merlin, Ixxviii.
cxcix-cci. Porchellaiiau, The, cvi, cvii.
Latin forms of Merlin legend, xlv, xlvi. Portuguese form of Merlin legend, liii.
Lajamon's BrvJ, liv. Powel's account of Merlin, cxcv.
Leodegan, ccxxiii, ccxxiv. Prediction of Myrddi9i in his Tomb, ex.
Lilly, William, his Merlin prophecies, Prince Arthur, Sir Richard Blackmore's,
Ixxviii. Ixxvii.
Lonelich's Merlin, Ixii-lxix.
Prophecies attributed to Merlin, xlv-xlix,
lii, Ixxi, Ixxii, Ixxiv, Ixxviii-lxxx.
Mabinogion, The, xcviii-ci. Proven9al forms of Merhn legend, h, lii.

Malory's Morte Darthur, Ixix-lxxi.

Manuscripts of the French prose Merlin, Ralph de Diceto, cxciii.
cxxxvi-clxxxiv results of investigation
; Rion and his mantle of beards, ccxxiii,
of,clxxxiv; ofthe English prose A/er//«, ccxxiv.
ccxlix. Robert of Brunne's Chronicle, Iv.
Mark Twain's Yankee at the Court of Robert of Gloucester's Chronicle, Iv.
King Arthur, Ixxxiii. Round Table, ccxi, ccxii.
Merlin, The story of, various xv-xliii ; Rowley, Wm., his Birth of Merlin , Ixxvi.
forms of the legend of (Celtic, Latin,
French, Proven9al, Italian, Spanish, Scotichronicon, Fordun's, cxciv.
Portuguese, Netherland, German, Scott'sBridal of Triermain, Ixxx, Ixxxii.
Icelandic, English), xliv-lxxxiii pro- ;
Sevyn Sages, Process of the, Ixi.
phecies attributed to, xlv-xlix, lii, Sir Gowghter, Ixi.
Ixxi-lxxv, Ixxviii-lxxx Lonelich's poem ; Sources of the romance of Merlin, cciv-
on, Ixii-lxix poem on, in Higden's
;
ccxxxix.
Polychronicon, Ixxii, lxxiii,cxciii, cxciv ;
Spanish forms of Merlin legend, lii, Uii,
Scottish prophecies attributed to, Ixxiv, Spenser's Faery Queene, Ixxiv.
Ixxv seventeenth
; and eighteenth Swift's Prediction of Merlin, Ixxix.
century prophecies attributed to, Ixxviii-
lxxx development
; of the early forms Tennyson's ri'i/zV^, Ixxxii, Ixxxiii; Merlin
of the legend of, Ixxxiii-cxxii Welsh ; and the Gleam, Ixxxiii.
literature relating to, xcvii-cxxii ; two Thomas of Erceldoune, Ix.
Merlins or one, clxxxv-cciv Powel's ; Triads, Welsh, xcviii-c.
account of, cxcv bursts of laughter of,;

on going to Vortigern, ccix, ccx, ccxxix ;

Uter-Pendragon, his amour with Ygerne,
the end of, ccxxxviii-ccxli Leland's ; ccxii-; his death, ccxiii, ccxviii, ccxix.
opinion on, ccli.
Merliti, the romance of. Difficulties in the Vita Merlini of Geoffrey of Monmouth,
investigation of, vi-viii printed editions ;
xlv, xciii, cxi-cxxii, ccix, ccxi.
of, xlix-L original form of, cxxix
; Vivien, Tennyson's, Ixxxii, Ixxxiii.
French MSS. of, cxxxvi-clxxxiv a com- ; Vortigern, ccviii-ccx, ccxxix.
posite of several romances, cxlii-cxlv ;

sources of, cciv-ccxxxix literary value ; Wace's Brut, cxxvii, cxxviii, ccv-ccviii,
of, ccxlii-ccxlviii English MSS. of,
; ccx, ccxiii, ccxiv, ccxxxii.
ccxlix ; collation of the English printed, Warner's Albion s England, Ixxiv.
cclvii-cclxvi Sommer's
edition of the
; Welsh literature. Age of, vi, vii relating ;

French prose, ccl Heyse's, ccli. ; to Merlin, xliv, xlv, xcvii-cxxii, clxxxv.
Merlin Ambrosius, clxxxv-cciv, cc.xix. William of Newburgh, cxcii, cxciii.
Merlinus Caledonius, clxxxv-cciv. Worde, Wynkyn de, Ixxii, Ixxiii.
Minot, Laurence, his political songs, Ix.
Morte Darthur, Malory's, Ixix-lxxi. Yankee at the Court of King Arthur,
Myrddin, xciv, xcv, xcvii-cxxii, clxxxv- Mark Twain's, Ixxxiii.
cciv. Yscolan, ex.
 CCLVII

COLLATIO:?^ OF THE PRINTED MERLIN OF THE

E.E.T.S. WITH THE
MS. IN THE UNIYERSITY
LIBRARY, CAMBRIDGE, BY ALFRED ROGERS.^
age Line For Read Page Line For Bead
3 other other*. 5 20 have haue.
3 plesier plesier*. 5 25 hir hir*.
4 leer feere. 5 25 wise wyse.
4 to-gedir to-gedir«. 5 32 Ijrvinge lyvvnge.
16 othlr othire. 5 35 d'oughter d'oughter*.
17 their [f eire f ] their sem- 6 2 maner maner*.
semblant blauwt [and 6 8 labour labour*.
ignore the 6 22 women wemen.
note]. 6 30 her here.
1 17 greved greued. 6 33 othir other.
2 5 powre powre. 6 33 your* youre.
2 16 suffer suffer*. 6 36 now neu*r.
2 18 power power*. 1 way wey
2 19 be-raffte bereffte. 14 yef yet.
2 21 our power our* power*. 14 hir hir*.
2 22 manor maner*. 17 sayde seyde.
2 27 our our*. 18 your your*.
2 34 ben bene. 27 manere maner*.
3 1 sithe suche. 27 hire hir*.
3 6 have haue 28 hire hir*.
3 7 power power*. 7 footnote is repeated is repeated
3 10 their their*. twice
3 12 enquire engin. 8 1 hir hir*.
3 16 their their*. 8 6 have haue.
3 20 doughters dough teres. 8 13 oon 00.
3 22 hir hir*. 8 24 upon vpon.
3 25 maner maner*. 8 25 which whiche.
3 27 ma/mes man»(es. 8 32 her her*.
3 28 their their*. 9 4 servyse
"
seruyse.
3 29 their their*. 9 7 hir hir*.
4 1 gretter gretter*. 9 24 hir her.
4 1 wrother wrother*. 9 27 clothed clethed.
4 18 desier desier*. 9 30 hir hir*.
4 20 her her*. 10 4 here her*.
4 21 her her*. 10 8 after efter.
4 24 manere maner*. 10 10 maner maner*.
4 31 mans werke man*r werkw 10 15 w[orlde] worlde
5 2 neuer neuer*. 10 28 [haue] haue
5 8 The man That man. 10 33, 34 diffoulde diffouled.
5 10 hir fader hir* fader*. 11 3 [this] this.
5 14 her her*. 11 7 hir hir*.
5 18 their their*. 11 27 Jh*su Ih*su.
5 19 hir hir*. 11 30 slepynge slepyng.

^ Kolbing (AltengUsche Bibl. iv.

pp. xix., xx.) gives a collation of the first
chapter of the Merlin of the E.E.T.S. with the MS. If he had referred to the
edition of 1875 he would have found several of his corrections anticipated. —W.E.M.
CCLVllI COLLA'riON OF THE PRINTED MERLIX.

Page Line For Jtead Page Line For Head

12 15 fiendes, and fiendes axe- 17 17 son sone.
axeden den ['and' 17 20 neuer neuere.
is crossed 17 23 neuer neuere.
out]. 17 31 [arm] pue [and
12 27 neiier neuere. ignore the
12 27 women wemen. footnote].
12 31 confessonr confessoure. 18 3 examyned [ignore the
12 36 neuer neuere. note].
12 36 after after*. 18 18 whom who.
13 3 syker sykere. 18 28 shall shalt.
13 7 feer feer*. 19 10 all alle.
13 8 for for*. 19 15 gMylte gylte.
13 13 0^0 od gode. 19 19 clayned claymed.
13 15 hir hire. 20 17 laves layest
13 16 hir hire. 20 18 Thy[n]ke thywke.
13 17 after after«. 20 24 youre youre.
13 18 her here. 22 15 here here.
13 22 neuer neuere. 23 2 elayn Elayn.
13 23 woman IS'otetheMS. 24 14 lyfte hym lyfte hym in
has wonan. 24 23 s'ocour socoure.
13 26 hir hire. 24 23 returned returned.
13 30 hir hire. 24 29 barons barou)»s.
13 30 wher where 24 29 longer lenger.
13 31 oner hir ouere hire. 25 1 youre youre.
13 31 hir hire. 25 1 words wordes.
13 35 hir hire. 26 18 hym lym.
14 1 goo .
geo. 27 14 straimge strange.
14 5 tour toure. 27 19 tour toure.
14 13 tour toure. 27 20 nianer manere.
14 17 repentaMnce repentawjce. 28 2 stonde^ Do stonde. it is

14 17 modir modire. me do me [and

14 20 ther there. ignore the
14 21 arte art. note].
14 24 repentaimce repentaunce. 28 4 sir sire.

14 24 moder modere. 28 6 labour laboure.

14 25 her here. 28 16 tour toure.
14 28 •were w[e]re. 28 18 labour laboure.
14 30 moder modere. 28 24 anothir anothire.
14 32 feer feere. 28 27 mater matere.
15 3 tour toure. 29 8 tour toure.
15 4 after aftere. 29 22 knew knewe.
15 4 fader fadere. 30 2 to-geder to-gedere.
15 6 moder modere. 31 9 tour toure.
15 7 othir othire. 31 10 hour hour«.
15 10 whan whane. 31 21 manere manere.
15 11 lengar lengare. 31 24 tour toure.
15 17 hir hire. 32 11 disease disese.
15 18 ther there. 32 17 whiche whene.
15 19 her here. 32 19 [s]ef ef
15 20 su£Br suffire. 32 20 the werke thi werke
15 20 ther there. 32 30 Arthur Arthure.
15 25 neuer neuer«. 33 35 thei tho [and
15 27 hir hire. ignore the
15 31 neuer neuere. note].
16 16 oughtnotnot ought not. 34 31 her here.
16 23 Merlin Merlyn. 35 9 sir sire.

17 1 come comera. 36 16 hier hiere.

 '

COLLATION OF THE PRINTED MERLIN. CCLIX

Page Line For Head Page Line For Head

36 17 ther» the ther ther the 61 8 when whan
[and ignore 63 13 had hadde.
the note]. 64 20 theyr theyr*.
36 28 no do ne do. 64 27 resceve receyve
37 7 said seide. 66 21 traytour traytoure.
37 34 vnder vnder*. 66 21 semblaMnce semblauHce.
38 3 Vortiger Vortigere. 67 36 Be-war Bewar*.
38 3 dragons iragowis. 69 30 barons barouws.
38 4 other other*. 70 20 barons barouws.
38 7 other other* 70 21 barons barou«s.
38 9 dragons dragou«s. 72 14 nede mede.
38 16 other other*. 72 26 told tolde.
38 23 demandest demauwdest. 72 31 este efte.
38 31 greter gretere. 73 9 lawghinge lawghynge.
38 35 dragons dragouws. 73 13 kynge Mnge.
39 11 dragons dragouws. 74 5 oo[n] 00
39 36 don dow. 74 21 performe pe[n]forme.
40 3 dragons dragouws. 76 9 your barons yowr barouws
40 4 reade reade. 77 27 couenawnte^ comen««ntis
40 15 their theire. [and ignore
40 32 yeve _ yeue. the note].
40 34 dragons dragou«s. 78 8 barons barou«s.
41 3 their their*. 78 21 seide he seide that he.
41 10 heir heir*. 78 26 barons barou;/s.
42 8 their their*. 78 29 barons barou«8.
42 9 power power*. 79 3 baroiis barouws.
44 18 say sey. 80 2 barons barouws.
45 35 kyuge kynge. 80 20 heyer. eyer[corrccted
46 6 sir sir*. from heyer].
46 34 a-queynted aqueyntid. 80 21 hour hour*.
47 21 her hier. 81 21 barons barouws.
48 24 you yow. 81 34 their their*.
49 19 heir heir*. 81 35 seide seidew.
50 25 their their*. 82 23 barons barouws.
50 34 great grete. 83 8 barons barouws.
60 36 bileve to bile vein [cor- 83 17 come conne.
rected Irora 83 33 barons barou«s.
'
to ']. 84 5 somme somme.
52 28 semblawnt semblauwt. 84 12 barons barouws.
53 8 neke nekke 84 15 barons barou«8.
53 26 other other*. 85 20 baroiis barou«s.
54 35 be-gyHnynge he-gyn«ynge 86 5 o[on]
55 20 theire their*. 86 14 wher-in wher*-in
55 22 theire their*. 87 17 a[nd] a
56 11 felishap feliship. 88 14 knight knyght.
57 13 quynsyime [the MS. has 88 22 be a thynge be thynge.
quynsj-me]. 89 7 mawnes manwes.
58 9 seden seiden.' 90 2 woman weman.
58 14 couenaunt ^
comenaunt 90 footnote The words The words
'
[and ignore ' soones as soone
' as
the note]. are repeatec occur after
58 14 labour labour*. the words
58 15 ben hen. '
sone as.'
59 1 1demonstra«<nce demonstraunce 91 14 mawnes manwes.
59 34 honour honour*. 91 35 barons barouws.
60 3 thinge thynge. 91 30 barons barouns.
61 2 they thei 93 5 oo[n] 00
CCLX COLLATION OF THE PRINTED MERLIN.

Page Line For . Head Page Line For Bead

94 12 tresour tresour«. 137 10 shorte short.
94 15 advise advyse 137 11 woued wued.
94 32 they thei 138 18 sholder sholdere.
94 33 rede yede. 138 11 hotelier bottelere.
95 1 barons barouHS. 138 24 deliuer deliuere.
95 1 heir heire. 138 26 their theire.
95 19 barons barouws. 140 8 archebisshof archebishop.
95 22 barons barou«s. 141 11 their theire.
96 5 gouernoure gouernoure. 141 18 doughter doughtere.
96 15 all alle. 141 19 valour valoure.
98 32 reqire reqwere. 143 6 lenger lengere.
99 16 honour honoure. 143 8 that they that ther.
100 31 their theire. 143 20 o[on] worde worde.
101 2 other othere. 145 32 his hys.
101 10 towne towii. 146 10 their theire.
102 9 engender engenders. 146 17 through thourgh.
102 31 vilenis vileins. 148 12 be- war of bewar of
102 34 performe pe[r]forme. thei the7« of the
104 footnote. Add after the' word '
MS.' [and ignore
'but crossed through.' the note].
106 7 this the. 149 10 I -come I-come«.
106 20 their e theire. 149 31 soper sopere.
107 1 vestementi* vestementz. 151 9 baner banere.
107 13 vestymentis vestymentz 153 19 ther there.
rioall. roiall. 154 16 baner banere.
108 14 honoure honoure. 156 20 cleped the roy cleped toy
108 18 pei-Teiei pwrveied. 158 19 vigerousely vigerously.
108 19 presentts presentz. 160 17 us vs.
109 28 is this that is that. 162 26 kynge kynge.
110 22 tour toure. 165 1 ther was ther nas.
110 26 a-noynted a-noyntid. 167 11 a[nd] a
111 5 engendered engendred. 169 32 times tymes.
111 13 in his kepynge in kepj-nge. 170 27 embraced enbraced.
113 5 their theire. 171 4 heyr heyr«.
113 11 their theire. 174 3 lond londe.
113 18 seriantis seriantz. 174 11 That beste The beste.
113 23 out oute. 174 15 socour socoure.
115 2 ffro fro. 176 35 socour socour^.
116 36 There ther. 177 17 bacheler bachelere.
119 13 astonyd astonyed. 179 12 a[nd] a
119 26 commons eomou«s. 179 21 myster mvstere.
119 31 discounfite[d] discounfited. 179 22 and ther the and the
120 12 Xeuertheless neuertheles. kynge kynge.
120 29 castelles castellis. 179 31 wife wif.
122 3 that thet. 180 4 barou«s barou>(S.
124 2 a[sl as. 180 17 squyer squyere.
124 26 a[t] at. 180 19 covetted coveited.
125 2 both bothe. 181 11 yfe] be y be.
126 30 youre your. 185 8 City Cite.
126 32 imprisonment inprisonment 186 3, 4 Emperour Emperoure.
127 1 vylenis Tvleins. 187 20 the xj tho xj
127 6 Sir Sire. 191 13 Gaharet Gaheret.
134 16 boteler botelere. 193 13 soone as that soone at that.
134 17 encourtir encourtire. 195 14 ther was ther nas.
134 32 stour stoure. 195 31 of Jeshu criste to Ihesu criste
136 17 socour socoure. 196 28 lost loste.
136 23 delyuer delyuere. 197 13 theire theire.
 ' 11

COLLATION OF THE PRINTED MERLIN. CCLXI

Page Line For Read Page Line For Mead

197 16 forayoures forrayoures, 252 21 alle the alle tho.
198 22 asouder asondere. 253 30 rengeaunce vengaunce.
200 29 stour stoure. 254 1 Br[angu]e Bra[ngu]e.
200 30 socoure socoure. 256 19 a[tj a
201 14 powder powdere. 258 12 oo[n] 00.
201 15 a-nother another^. 260 gon to gon into.
201 18 made madew. 260 28 silueir siluir.
202 4 thei hym thei in hym. 260 29 theire theire.
202 20 discounfited discoumfited. 262 19 ansuered ansuerde.
203 19 maner maneri?. 263 note fellowles felowles.
204 12 nothynge nothyng. 264 14 mischief m[i]schief.
204 27 feire and welle feire and wel 269 21 come conne
be. 269 3 repress repreflf.
206 20 com Geauntes com the 270 17 and well and we.
Geauntes. 270 32 that thei were that were
210 30 euer euere. 271 othere othere.
212 8 forest forrest. 271 10 a[nd] a
212 11 blois blios. 272 16 fier fiere.
212 13 leonpadys lampadys. 274 28 there ther.
212 14 Chrtstotet Christoiexe. 276 5 were were/j.
217 17 Chalis Clialis. 278 6 Arundel! Arondell.
212 22 xxxix the xxxix. 282 10 castellEandoll castell of
212 22 xl the xl.
Eandoll.
212 31 troweth trowth. 283 18 hundre hundre.
213 23 had hadde. 284 28 Jeshu Ihe«u.
214 18 fellowes felowes. 287 33 ligrnns li g;ans.
215 34 stour stour?. 288 6 socour socoure.
217 20 this thise. 290 22 socour socoure.
219 12 socour socoure. 291 31 socour socoure.
219 30 marveilouse merveilouse. 292 22 Estranis Estrains.
219 35 douhtere doughter«. 293 2 squyers squyres.
221 22 helpe neuer helpe me 293 26 comynge comyng.
neuer. 294 14 slaughtere slaughter.
221 34 yo!<re your. 295 33 life lif.
2-25 29 hir hire, 296 4 tha[n] tha.
227 6 precious preciouse. 296 20 receyued resceyued.
228 27 leshvL IhesvL. 296 27 snewen suewen.
229 33 an fin. 299 smote i^'bfe. TheMS.
231 13 of the saisnes of saisnes.
has somte.
236 10 Tradilyuant Tradilyuau«t 299 18 hire hire,
236 21 fier fiere. 301 25 swore swor.
239 16 alle all. 301 28 thei dide thei seide.
241 21 Ffeire feire. 303 10 his hys.
242 21 ther voys clier voys. 303 25 mighty myghty.
243 23 a[nd] a 305 25 is the trouthe is'trouthe
243 26 be gode be a gode. 306 5 puyssant puyssaunt
244 14 nexte to the nexte the. 309 31 acerne acerue.
244 22 lette lete. 309 34 briogne brioque.
244 34 lose losse. 310 2 cerne cerue.
245 33 plente pleinte. 310 33 couenaunt comenaunt
246 14 were were [and [and ignore
ignore the the note].
note], 311 11 sechynge sechinoi'e.
248 10 spred sprad. 313 32 Bregnehan Breqnehan
248 12 kyngnenans kj-nquenans. 313 34 their theire.
248 22 gret grete. 314 1 Nimiame Kimiane.
250 17 kynge kyng. 314 2 Briogne Brioque.
 .

CCLXII COLLATION OF THE PRINTED MERLIN.

Page Line Tor Read Page Line For Mead

31.5 4 Antoneyes An tony es. 378 30 her-after here after.
317 12 the fyve tho fyve 381 10 briogne brioque.
317 16 honour honours. 381 17 Briogne brioque.
317 31 soch soche. 381 21 garnyyshed garnysshed.
317 33 shull shall. 381 25 Briogne brioque.
318 2 out me out mo. 381 31 Then Than.
318 19 tentely tentefly. 382 15 shull shaU.
319 20 appareiled apparailed. 382 22 dissevered disseuered.
319 31 co(/rtesie courteise. 382 29 delyver delyuer.
325 3 prowese prowesse. 382 31 vouchesaf« vouehesaf.
325 27 the shafte tho shafte. 382 32 dissevered disseuered.
326 29 wher-of •whers-of. 383 11 dissevered disseuered.
326 30 here-after her#-after. 383 21 have haue.
326 35 nd seide and seide. 383 23 succour SUCCOUTi?.
327 36 the V tho V. 383 29 tecche teche.
328 27 smyte smytew. 383 29 shall shull.
328 36 com come. 384 8 got gost.
331 5 vengeaunce vengaunce. 384 19 stiward« stiward.
332 33 gret grete. 384 19 dissevered disseuered.
334 9 \m\iVL Ihe*u. 384 30 banere baner.
336 6 ne myster no myster. 385 16, 17 embrowded enbrowded.
337 8 other* other. 385 17 dyvers dyuers
339 1 hym-self« hymself. 385 32 dissevered disseuered.
339 26 hounte bountee. 387 24 pLep]le pe[p]le.
340 4 Ylcan I-forged Vlcan?<s 388 4 Seigramor Siegramor.
forged. 390 5 there there.
342 11 Brauremes Biauremes. 390 23 "deed or] deed] or
344 20 the xiij tho xiij 391 7 'and at the [and at the
345 20 despite dispite. last it] laste] it.

346 27 strife strif. 392 4 manere maner.

347 21 skaberke ska[he]rke. 392 20 ffor ffore.
347 26 a-uenture aventure. 393 6 heire heire.
348 35 and a-noon hut a-noon. 393 29 sangh saugh.
349 3 norisshed norisshid. 393 31 upon vpon.
352 20 hem so arayed hem arayed. 394 20 king kinge.
354 4 of the two of two. 396 24 hym hem.
354 7 longere lengere. 397 35 full ffull.
354 31 forfeited forfeted. 398 18 thei thai.
355 34 assailed assailled. 399 22, 23 vnderstode vndirstode.
357 4 let lete. 399 32 him hym.
362 9 couenaunts ^ comenauntes 400 5 a[nd] a
[and ignore 400 7 brioke brioske.
the note]. 400 20 my baners iiij baners.
362 27 Guynebans Gynebans. 401 17 mortall and mortall.
362 34 coniursion coniurison. 402 4 Antonye Antony.
363 6 sones sone. 402 19 dicounfite ^ discounfite
3G6 36 Amawnt Amauwt. theym the theym
367 11 astoyned astonyed. [and ignore
367 17 her-after here- after. the note].
367 32 yef he hadde fyef it hadde. 402 22 were wer.
372 3 somme somwe. 402 31 Antonye Antony.
372 4 defended diffended. 403 14, 15 some-what somwhat.
373 29 segramor segramore. 405 18 valoure valour.
376 5 hem ham. 406 30 dide did.
377 27 enter entere. 408 10 maistres maistries.
377 32 a[nd] a 408 14 sharpe sharp.
378 28 he gan began. 408 21 way wey.
 ..

COLLATION OF THE PRINTED MERLIN. CCLXIII

Page Line For Read Page Line For Read

409 14 maistres mais tries. 455 1 me lif.

413 22 lordships* lordship. 455 18 next nexte.

413 33 upon vpon. 456 8 aUe all.
414 1 lordship/>« lordship. 458 15 how well it how it.

415 17 prayour prayouri;. 459 20 overthrewe Guerthrewe.

416 7 shuU shall. 463 12 wife wif.
416 10 comfort counfort. 463 28 a-perceyued aparceyved.
416 17 shall reste shull reste. 466 10 disceyued disceyved.
416 27 seid seide. 466 19 enderdited enterdited.
417 7 mighty mvghtv. 467 2 for the fro the.
417 12 shaU shull. 467 33 a-baisshed abaissed.
418 30 vilonye rylonye. 468 4 worship/?^ worship.
420 18 Emperour Eeraperour. 468 11 manere manere.
420 28 most moste. 468 25 iourweyes ioM/neyes.
420 29 the dredde she dredde. 469 4 to hande in hande.
421 4 semblaance semblaunce. 470 28 wher-as whereas.
422 3 sholde he do sholde be do. 471 12 necessarie nessessarie.
422 11 come come«. 471 23 hundre hundre.
422 31 gate yate. 472 5 worship/?* worship
423 14 noon sey noon cowde 472 17 Amnistian Annistian.
sey. 473 14 hundre hundre.
424 11 grett grete. 473 17 hundre hundre.
424 13 theire their. 473 32 hundre hundre.
424 29 be-heilde behielde. 475 2 hundre hundre.
426 26 seruise servise. 475 15 hadde had.
428 6 IteUe I well telle. 477 4 caitife caitif.
429 32 Emperour Emperoure. 478 5 come comen.
429 34 come conne. 478 11 shipj:;* ship.
432 6 Emperour Emperoure. 479 15 on in.
433 17 thowe thow. 479 26 and in this and [in] this.
434 31 eny onv. 479 36 recouered recovered.
435 15 seide Emperour seide the 480 3 every euery.
Emperour. 480 23 archebisshop/« ' archebisshop.
435 32 shaU shull. 480 24 wife wif.
435 34 us vs. 482 10 life lif.

438 18 book booke. 482 28 worshippe worship

438 25 nygh< nTgh[t]. 482 30 us vs.
438 27 knygh^ kiygh[t]. 485 6 qm. que.
439 4 brenbas brenbras. 489 22 us vs.
439 32 myght nyght. 491 14 Galiscowde Galascowde.
440 22 hedde heede. 494 11 suerde swerde.
441 4 surprised surprised. 494 27 come com.
441 5 Hardogabrans Hardogra- 495 6 com come.
brans. 496 16 ther ' the ther ther the
442 22 theire theirs. knyghtes knyghtes
442 33 puyssant puyssaant. [and ignore
444 7 and toke and to toke. the note].
444 16 departed departen. 498 20 felowes felewes.
445 31 Scotlond^ Scotlond. 499 23 dyuerse dyuejT-e.*
449 33 wele weU 499 28 send sende.
452 6 shipjoe ship. 500 5 have haue.
452 10 ship/7e ship. 501 18 com come.
452 22 ther thei. 501 33 a[nd] a
452 26 shipp« shipp. 502 21 Ifshu Ihe«u.
453 31 Arche bisshop>?« A rchebisshop 502 25 Bisshoppe Bisshop.
453 35 Archebisshopj^e Archebisshop 502 26 Iwhu Ibe.<u.
453 36 Amnistan Annistan. • Spelt dyuerese is MS.
 .

CCI.XIV COLLATION OF THE PRINTED MERLIN.

Page Line For Read 1

Page Line For Mead
50.•{ 32 that the best that x the best 551 enemyes
14 enmyes.
604 15 col[d]e cole. 555 1 moche moche.
50o 30 performe parforme. 556 1 valoure valour.
505 35 welwellinge welwillinge. 556 20 Northu?nbir- Northumbir-
506 36 done don. londe lond.
607 6 neither neither. 556 32 shall shull.
607 9 sorawe so;)(me. 557 29 sette sente.
507 27 -went wente. 558 14 iocunde iocounde.
608 31 aperceyued aparceyred. 560 6 manere maner.
509 26 Carenges Caranges. 562 5 felowes felowes.
511 13 upon vpon. 564 7 houre hour.
ol2 16 resceve resceyve. 564 27 thera ther.
513 28 sire sire. 565 11 hir hire.
614 3 weepe wepe. 566 24 the the.
515 13 go we gowe. 567 34 kyng kynge.
515 35 the other the tother. 568 18 returne to returne for to.
516 11 kutte the kutte ot the. 568 23 our oure.
516 16 Agrauain Agravain. 569 3 they thought they that
616 18 doun down. thought.
516 29 harme thei harme that 569 17 Segramorc Segramor.
thei. 569 20 sharpe sharp.
517 17 gate yate. 569 26 appareiled apparailed.
518 30 doucrenefar doutrenefar. 570 17 sharpe sharp.
520 1 Aleon Alain. 571 12 bledde bleddew.
521 2 discorde diseoMrde. 572 25 Segramore Segramor.
621 4 hool ho.ill. 573 7 tothere tother.
521 33 Monagins Monaqui«s. 574 9 surprised supprised.
522 24 under vnder. 574 15 own owne.
623 2 a[t] a 575 18, 19 hardogabran hardogobran.
5-'3 21 kute kitte. 575 24 surprised supprised.
524 36 wifi? wif. 578 24 J hem Ihe^SU.
526 30 brothers brother. 578 32 hede [how] hede how.
527 10 worshipptf worship 579 6 worshipjoe worship.
527 34 matter mater. 679 10 many goods many of
528 10 socoure socour. goode.
528 18 asseilled assailled. 580 27 good goode.
528 19 socoure socour. 580 36 oquarell quarell.
529 13 swore swor. 581 10 with these with the these.
532 35 ground grounde. 582 14 surprised supprised.
533 23 stroke yeve stroke cowde 583 9 renomee renome.
yeve. 583 14 destroye distroye.
533 30 handes hondes. 583 24 the yonge this yonge.
534 6 bridell bridill. 584 23 saviours saviour.
635 9 the tweyne tho tweyne. 584 24 honoure honour.
537 7 thou thow. 584 31 Elizer Elyzer.
538 25 wele well. 585 18 alle au:
539 24 nether nother. 586 36 shall shull.
541 17 and he bowed thathebowed. 587 6 batailes bateiles.
541 36 vnderstode vndirstode. 587 31 there ther.
543 32 hede of hede to. 587 32 and thei that thei.
545 8 morowe to morowe till. 588 14 sharpe shai'p.
647 30 seruauntes seruauntis. 589 20 Pignoras Pignores.
648 27 Go we a-geins Go ageins. 591 16 nevewe nevew.
549 26 wh[ieh]e we. 592 4 hardogabrant hardogobrant.
649 27 ouertoke overtoke. 592 20 honoure honour.
549 28 euere euer. 593 33 halfe half.
549 29 houre hour. 594 20 that >rtt.
 COLLATION OF THE PRINTED MERLIN. CCLXV

Page Line For Head Page Line For Head

594 24 through thourgh. 620 3 archebisshopi?e archebisshop.
596 11 wonder worder. 621 17 harpoure harpour.
596 21 dede dide. 621 24 othere other.
597 9 there ther. 621 25 up vp.
597 13 there ther. 622 18 harpoure harpour.
598 27 shall haue shull have. 623 35 here here.
599 18 sharpe sharp. 624 14 othere other.
600 9 stoure stour. 625 4 comynge comyng.
600 23 remounted^ remounted. 625 9 resceyued reseeyved.
600 30 bateile bataile. 626 31 well wele.
601 13 Gosenges Gosengos. 627 9 kyng kynge.
601 34 that herde that hadde 628 6 come com.
herde. 628 11 seith seth.
602 5 wonderful! worderfull. 628 26 which whiche.
6<i2 28 went weiite. 628 33 hondes handes.
603 26 resceyued reseeyved. 629 26 vailante vailaunt.
604 6, 7 departynge departinge. 630 18 godde god.
605 24 noire noir. 630 32 grete gret.
606 5 powere power. 631 last swyfte swifte.
606 33 gates yate«. 632 9 all aUe.
607 3 othere other. 633 7 Ufe lif.
607 4 dide helpe dide hem 633 27 serpent** serpentes.
helpe. 635 20 sharpe sharp.
608 21 of hym on hym. 636 12 leife leif.
608 31 honoure honour. 636 16 spekere speker.
609 23 surprised supprised. 637 13 awmenere awmener.
609 24 acheive acheiue. 638 6 coloure colour.
610 8 surprised supprised. 638 29 knowe knewe.
610 14 semblaunt semblant. 639 17 Archebisshopjoe Archebisshop.
610 15 for ffor. 639 26 formednesse fonnedness.
610 17 manere maner. 639 34 dost doist.
611 18 euer I euer that I. 640 18 archebis8hopj»e archebisshop.
612 last all alle. 640 36 bettere better.
613 21 wife wif. 641 16 Emperoure Emperour.
613 26 honoure honour. 641 17 manere maner.
613 29 honoure honour. 642 16 that he hadde that hadde.
613 35 worshippe worship. 642 27 honoure honour.
613 36 curtesie curteisie. 642 32 Emperoure Emperour.
614 1 life lif. 643 35 iijml iiij""'.
614 6 Stephene Stephene. 645 35 com come.
614 11 iogeloure iogelour. 646 13 brenxynge brennynge.
614 14 Arthure Arthur. 646 19 life lif.
614 16 Arthure Arthur. 646 last svffre suffre.
615 18 streight strieght. 648 3 up vp.
616 13 clamoure clamour. 648 12 tho the.
616 28 joure your. 648 33 atame [?] ataine.
617 5 cam com. 649 10 chyne, than chyne and
617 7 drofe drof. than.
617 21 thus this. 649 21 grete was that grete that.
617 34 swor swer. 649 27 mounteyne mounteyn.
618 1 lettere letter. 650 3 when she whens he.
618 6 houre hour. 650 32 come comew.
618 8 therefore therfore. 651 16 vs raanased manased
vs so
618 27 blussht blusht. 651 24 Emperoure Emperour.
619 7 harpoure harpour. 652 24 and passed that passed.
619 31 honoure honour. 652 28 it werse itthe werse.
619 32 as my as is my. 652 29 swifte swyfte.
CCLXVI COLLATION OF THE PRINTED MERLIN.

Page Line For Mead Page Line For Head

653 8 that than. 671 17 frendes frendes.
653 12 swyfte swifte. 676 11 leshuialem Iheriisalem.
655 18 grete gret. 676 16 renoome renooun.
659 28 honoure honour. 676 26 had hadde.
660 22 powestee powstee. 677 15 un-ethe vn-ethe.
660 25 cristein cristin. 678 7 messagere messager.
660 29 and thei ride and ride. 679 3 time tyme.
662 15 softely softly. 679 12 duerfe duerf.
662 19 powers power. 680 1 disturue disturne.
662 34 thousande thowsande. 681 9 bus«h bush.
663 33 to my of my. 681 14 cerne cerue.
664 5 montaigne mouwtaigne. 681 14 wymple wynple.
664 7 manere maner. 681 16 cerne cerue.
665 6 I telle I wele telle. 685 16 liter* liter.
665 25 there ther. 685 35 youre your.
666 2 undirstode vndirstode. 686 17 other* other.
666 4 vengeaunce vengaunce. 687 27 honour* honour.
666 last in the catte. in cattes. 689 3 seid Ewein seide Sir
667 19 hym hy[m]. Ewein.
668 20 my-self mysUf. 689 17 that >at.
668 23 ye haue [these words 690 7 most moste.
are repeated 691 21 sleeves sieves.
in MS.] 693 28 be by.
669 28 sergeauntes sergauntes. 694 21 be-teche be-teche.
670 3 yet sholde yet thei sholde. 695 12 lordships* lordship.
670 6 sharps sharp. 695 17 socour* socour.
670 last douhter doughter. 696 19 and countirfet thatcountirfet

I
 ;

03

INDEX TO MERLIN.

ABBEY of the Rovall Mynster, 416. 201, 202 ;Arthur is told of his coming,
ABIGANS, king, '159. 230 slays Orienx's nephew, 265 upset
; ;

ACALAS, Acolas, a Saxon, 355, 357. by Orienx, 265 horsed afresh, 265 ; ;

ACES, Aces de Bemonde, Aces of Cam- goes to Camelot, 267 fells Guynebant, ;

percorentin. Aeon, Aeon de Bemonde, 268 ;Merlin calls him coward, 269
284—287, 294, 375, 481. Gawein goes to help Ewein, 280; leads
AD AX, 276. the first ward of the army, 280, 282 ;

ADRAGAIN, Adragain des vaux de charges the Saxons, 283, 284 retreats, ;

gailore, Adragain li bruns, Adragains, 285 ;a reverse, 287 keeps the bridge, ;

Adragayn, Adragayn li bruns, Adra- 282 ;at Arondell, 290 293 prowess, — ;

gayns li bruns, Adragein le noir, Adra- 294 ;a strange quest, 297 301, 314
cuts Taurus in pieces, 299, 300 returns
— ;

geins. See Agravadain. ;

ADRASTUS, king of Greece, 340. to Arondell, 301 at Logres, 301 ;

;

ADRIAN, Adryan, emperor of Constan- makes a vow, 301. 314, 449, 450
tinople, 186, 373, 374. 437, 449; his Arthur is coming, 370 goes to meet ;

daughters, 186 ; son-in-law Brangore, him, 370, 371 salutes Arthur on his
;

186. knees, 371 Gawein tells Arthur they

;

AGLONALL. a knight of Arthur, 480. are come to be knighted, 371, 372 ;

AGRAVADAIN, Agrauadain, Agraua- Arthur promises, 372 presented to ;

dain des vals de gailore, Agravadain Arthur, 372 Arthur makes great joy
;

des vaus de gailore, Agrauadain ly of him, 373 goes to Logres with

;

noire, Ag^ravadayns, Agrauadins, Ag- Arthur, 374 the \'igil in the minster,
;

rauandain, Agragayns, 257, 327, 329, 374 dubbed knight, 374, 449 Arthui
; ;

330. 331. 337. 342. '343. 345. 351. 356. gives him a treasure sword, 374 goes ;

383, 407, 410, 456, 458, 470, 484, 490, with Gawein's host to Dover, 377, 378 ;

496, 561, 562, 566 574,604 609, 6ri, — — has part command, 378 his prowess ;

670, 672 675 — his wife, 607

; his ; at Trebes, 388, 407, 410 falls under ;

daughter, 607, 608, 670, 671, 672, 674, his horse, 396 rescued by Ban and;

675 his daughter's son, see Estor his

; ;
Gawein, 396 horsed again, 396, 397
; ;

brother Belynans, 561 ; his brother at Carmelide, 447, 448 at the marriage ;

Madagot, 345 his nieces, 607, 608

;
;
of Arthur and Gonnore, 453, 454 in ;

his castle, 257, 604, 672, 673 best ; the tournament at Toraise, 459 at ;

knight destramars, 561, cf. 345. Arthur's court Royal at Logres, 481 ;
AGRAVAIN, Agrauuayn the prowde, tournament at Logres, 485 jousts with ;

147 his mother, 86, 372 father, 179,

; ; Pynodas, 485 his deeds, 487, 488,
;

285, 526, 555 second son of Lot, 555

; ; 489 the reconciliation of the Round
;

his aunt Basyne, 373 resolves to join ;

Table and Queen's knights, 500 is to ;

Arthur, 183, 240, 251, 260, 439, 557; go with his father and brethren with a
accompanies Galeshyn, 190, 191 battle ; flag of truce to the princes, 505, 506,
with the Saxons, 193, 194, 230 rescues ; 507 they start at midnight, 509, 510
; ;

Gaheries, 196 upset by a Saxon, 198

; ;
encounter with Saxons, 510, 511, 512 ;

rescued by Gawein, 199 upset by ; can't find Gawein, 513, 514; Gawein
Guynebans, 199 rescued by Galeshyn; comes, 514, 515 butchery of Saxons, ;

and Gaheries, 199 slays the nephew ; 515 ;rescues Gueheret, 516 arrives ;

of Guynebans, 199 sojourns at Logics, ; at a forester's house and lodges there,

47
 ;; ;;;

AGRAVAIN. [ 704 ] ALI PATIN.

517, 518 ; on the journey again, 524, wishes for peace with Arthur,
449, 450 ;

525, 526; his foul-mindedness, 526, a messenger of peace on his

450, 451 ;

527, 528 his foulness duly punished,

; way from Arthur, 546 his joy on ;

527 cured of his sickness by Gawein

; seeing him, 546, 556 a conference ;

and Launcelot du Lak, 527 the rescue ; agreed to, 556 the conference with ;

of Elizer and Lydonus his squire, 528, Lot at Arestuell, 558, 559 a truce, ;

529, 531 taunted about his foulness,

; 560 the assembly of the hosts at
;

and gets angry, 528, 529 quarrels ;

Salisbury, 565, 575, 585 leads the ;

with Gaheries, 529, 530 unhorsed, ; second ward in the battle of Garlot,
531 ; sore bestead, 532 horsed by ;
594 in battle before Clarence, 601
; ;

Gawein, 533 quarrels with Gaheries,

; in the battle between Arthur and Rion's
535, smites him, 536 but is knocked ; hosts, 626 aids Arthur against Luce,
;

down by Gawein for his pains, 536, 643 in the second division, 659.
:

537. 538 a general squabble, 537, 538

; ;
AGUYSAS, Aguysans. of Scotland, 108,
horsed by Elizer, 538 is turned out ;
439' 558 a fresh young knight, 108
; ;

of the company, 538 with them ; goes to Arthur's court at Logres, 108 ;

again at the hermitage, 544 jealous ;

disdains Arthur and his gifts. 108
of Gawein, 544, 545 at Roestok ; threatens Arthur's life, 108 son of ;

castle, 545, 546 battle with Saxons ; Briadas and Ygerne's daughter, 121 ;

before Cambenyk, 547 551 unhorsed,

rescued, 552 slays Dodalus, 552
— ; unhorsed in the battle against Arthur
felled by Lucas,
; at Bredigan, 156 ;

rout of the Saxons, 554 in Cam- ; 158 leads his men to the strait be-
;

benyk, 555 Gaheries chaffs him about

; tween the wood and the river, 160
the maidens again, 555 goes to North ; his host aids Ydiers, 161 leaves Sor- ;

Wales and then to Arestuell, 557, 558 ; hant, 187 at Corengers in Scotland,
;

in the battle of Garlot, 525 vows to ; 236 the Saxons come, 236
; tells his ;

find Merlin, 682. barons to arm, 236 in the forefront ;

AGRESIANX, one of the forty-two of his host, 237 his cousin-german ;

fellows, 212. Gaudius, 237 has great loss, 237 ;

AGUYGNERON, Aguygueron, Aguy- Urien and Baudemagn come to the

neron, seneschal to Clameden, 577, rescue, 238, 239, 242 discomfited, ;

578. 594- 239, 242 leads the tenth ward to

;

AGUYSALE de desirouse, one of the Clarence against the Saisnes, 438, 439;
forty-two fellows, 212. a night attack, 439, 440, 441 dis- ;

AGUYSANS, Aguysant, Aguysanx, the comfited, 444 a fresh onset on the ;

Roy de Cent Chiualiers, 235, 313 with ; Saisnes, 444, 445 his nephew Gaudin, ;

the twelve kings, 152 a sudden attack ;

445 is totally beaten, 446, 447, 449
; ;

by Arthur, 153 unhorses Kay, 156 ; ; goes home, 447, 449 hears Arthur is ;

horses Ventres, 156 attacks Arthur, ; at Logres, 449, 450 wishes for peace ;

157 felled by Arthur, 158 his steward

; ; with Arthur, 450, 451 a conference ;

Margnam unhorsed, 158 goes with his ; with Arthur's envoy, 557, 558, 559;
men to the strait near the river, 160 the host assembles at Salisbury, 565,
Bors comes, 161, 162 succours Cara- ;
575 in battle before Clarence, 601
;

dos, 163 his prowess, 163

; attacks ; aids Arthur against Luce, 644; leads
Ban, 163, 164, who unhorses him, 164 ; the first division against the Romans,
fights on foot, 164; is worsted, 165; 659-
leaves Sorhant, 184 goes to his lady ; AGUYUAS LI BLOIS, 151.
at Malonant, 184 his high position, ; AIGLINS des vaus, Ayglin de vans, one
184, 185 the reason of his name, 185
;
;
of the forty-two fellows, 212, 682.
goes to succour Tradilyuant, 233 his ; ALADAN the crespes, one of the forty-
deeds, 233, 234 the Saxons worsted, ; two fellows. 212.
234, 242 counsels Tradilyuant, 235,
; ALAIN, Alechin, Ales, 286, 294; dubbed
312 rides to Arundell, 236
; goes to ;
knight by Arthur, 375, 449.
Malohaut, 236 his messengers see the; ALAIN, Alein, Aleon. de Lille in Lyte-
princes, 312 at Leicester, 312 counsels
; ; noys king. 173, 229, 520, 583, 539, 577
war at once, 313 his cousin Calchous, ; called Mehaignyes, 229 kin to king ;

173 the expedition to Clarence against

; Pelles, 173, 520, 539, 577 of theforain ;

the Saisnes, 438, 439 leads the first ; londes, 539, 577 uncle to Elizer, 539 ; ;

ward of 7,000 men, 438 a night at- ; kin to king Pellynor, 173, 520, 539,
tack, 439, 440, 441 his courage, 443 ; ; 577-
discomfited by the Saisnes, 444 makes ; ALECHIN, Ales. See Alain.
a fresh night attack, 444, 445 totally ; ALI PATIN, Alipatin, Alipantius, king,
beaten, 446, 449 goes home, 447, 449 ; 349 ; of the londe des pastures, 616,
hears of Arthur's arrival at Logres, 662.
 ;

ALIAUME. [ 70s ] AROANS.

ALIAUME, steward to Ban of Benoyk, "father," 91; makes his son his
152. knight, 97 goes to Logres withwno
;

ALIBOS, a young knight, 442. two sons (? Kay and Arthur), 97 Kay ;

ALIERS, a knight, 441. brings him Calibourne, loi Kay says ;

ALMAYNE, 303, 306, 379, 380, 386, 394, he drew it, loi he tells Kay he lies, ;

398, 402, 411, 419, 421, 450. loi, 102 tells Arthur to replace the
;

ALMAYNE, duke of. See Matan and sword, loi he does so, loi, and Kay
;

Frolle. cannot draw it, loi tells Arthur he ;

ALMAYNES, 402, 408, 438. not his father, 102

is Arthur cries, ;

AMADAS, Amynadus, the rich king of 102 tells Arthur how he got him 10
;

Ostrich, 252 his ; brother Maglaas, nourish, 102 asks Arthur that when;

252 ; king of Danes, 152. king he will make Kay his steward,
AMADAS DE LA CRESPE, knight, 102 Arthur swears to do it, 102 tells
; ;

682. Arthur to draw the sword, 103 he and ;

AMANT, Amaunt, Amaunte, king, 350, his friends side with Arthur against the
351. 358, 359. 364—370, 375. 382, rebel barons, 103 the archbishop in ;

563, 565, 567 ; his son Gosenges, council with him, 104; Kay made
q.v. steward, 102, 104, 109, 136, 405, 453 ;

AMNISTAN, Sir, chaplain to Leodogan, Merlin tells the barons Arthur is not
453. 472. his son, 109 Bretell comes to fetch ;

AMORET LE BRUN, one of the forty- him, 109, no; goes to the barons,
two fellows, 212. no; confirms the story of Arthur's
AMYNADUS. See Amadas. youth, 112; in council, 114; strikes
ANABLE, Auenable, Avenable, Aven- down king Carados in battle, 119;
ables. See Grisandoll. watches the tourney at Logres, 133
ANADONAIN, king, 173. in council, 138 knows Arthur's parent- ;

ANGIER, Angiers, Aunger,

Aungier, age, 139, 178 Merlin leads him to ;

Aungiers, Aungis, Aungys, a Sa.xon, Bredigan, 150; horsed by Kay, 158;

27 ;his daughter, 27, 42, 43, 44, 45, upsets Margnam, 158 horses Bretell, ;

46, 49, 50, 54 his uncle, 152, 243,; 158 fights with Escam, 159 Arthur's
; ;

585 his kin, 172, 248, 600.

; incest, 180 one of Arthur's forty-two
;

ANNLADIUS, the proude, one of the fellows, 212; felled by Sorfarin, 220;
forty-two fellows, 212. unwounded, 224 at Toraise, 224 in ; ;

ANTICOLAS LE ROUS, one of the the fights with Rion, 337 the fight ;

forty-two fellows, 212. with the Saxons, 349 on foot, 352 ; ;

ANTIDOLUS, steward to king Brandon, Arthur sees him thus and gets fierce,
587- 352 Arthur aids him, 353
; tries to ;

ANTONY, Antoneyes, Antonye, Anton- dissuade Bors from fighting Amaunt,

yes, 303, 306, 315, 375, 379, 380, 387, 366 lodged in Trebes castle, 412
; at ;

390, 392, 393, 398, 402, 406, 408, 409, the marriage of Arthur and Gonnore,
411, 416, 419, 449, 450. 5fe Antoynes. 453' 454 '^e tournament, 455.
;

ANTONY and Pounce, 303. See Pounce. ANTORILAS, knight, ally of Claudas,
ANTOR, Arntor, Merlin tells Uter Pen- 394-
dragon he is a good man, 88 his wife ; ANTOYNES, Antony, 130 ; steward of
good and wise, 88 poor, 88 his wife ; ; Benoyk, 146, 163.
in child-bed, 88 goes to Uter Pen- ;
ANTYAUME, 381, 384, 400, 401, 564 ;

dragon, who makes great feast to him, steward of Trebes ; seneschal of

88 swears to keep counsel, 88 Uter
; ;
Benoyk. *

Pendragon asks him to send his son ARADE DE GALOIRE, king, an ally of
Kay (who is six months old, 112) out Rion, 616.
to nurse and adopt Arthur in his place, ARANS, Aroans, Aroant, king, son of
88, 91 hesitates, 88, 89
; he promises, ; Brangue, 291, 292, 293, 295, 296, 329,
89; has great gifts from Uter Pen- 33°-
dragon, 89 tells his wife all, 89 his
; ; ARCHBISHOP? of Toraise, 453, 454,
wife demurs, 89 they find a nurse for ; 620. of Logres, 639, 640.
?
their son Kay, 89 Arthur is brought ; ARESTOBOLUS, knight of the Round
by Merlin, 90, 91, iii asks if he is ; Table, 598.
christened, 91 the messenger says ; ARESTUELL, in Scotlande, 509, 519,
No, 91 christens him Arthur, 91
;
; 525, 546, 548, 556, 557, 558, 562.
puts out his son Kay to nurse, 91, 97, ARGANS, king, an ally of Rion, 616.
102 nourishes Arthur until he is
; ARIDOLUS, knight, 321.
fifteen, 97, 112, 347; he has nourished ARNTOR. See Antor.
him well, 97 always calls Arthur
; AROAISE, a little river, 386.
"son," 97; and Arthur calls him AROANS. See Arans.
 ARONDELL. [ 706 ] ARTHUR.

ARONDELL, Arundell, a castle in the besieged by the barons, 116 they are ;

marsh of Cambenyk, 188, 231, 232, 233, excommunicated, 116.556; their tents
236, 247, 277, 278, 287, 290, 296, 301, fired, 116, 129; puts them to flight,
377- 116; his prowess, 117, 129; Ventres
ARSON, a river in Strangore, 248, 250, of Garlot seeks his life, 117; unhorses
292. him, 117 Lot comes to rescue Ventres,
;

ARSUNE, 306. 117; upsets Lot, 118; melee, 118;

ARTHUR, 32 his death, 147, 401 ; is ; his sword at work, 118; seven kings
begotten of Ygerne by artifice, 77, 177, charge and upset him, 118, 119; re-
320, 341 promised to Merlin, 78,
; is mounts, 119; kills Ydiers' horse, 119,
80, 81 is born, 90
; given to an old ; 120; routs them, 120; goes to Kar-
and rimpled man, 90, in brought to ; lion, 120 to Cardoell, 120
; becomes ;

Antor, 91, 349; christened and named popular, 120 provisions and arms his
;

Arthur, 91, 112; fair and well grown, castles, 120, 231 court at London, ;

94 future foretold, 95 nourished by

; ; 120 dubs knights, 121 takes counsel
; ;

Antor till fifteen, 97 begets a child, ; of Merlin, 121 the story of Merhn's ;

122 miracle of the sword, 98 goes to

; ;
birth told him, 121; and Merlin's history,
fetch Kay's sword, loi cannot find ; 122 ;Merlin tells him of the son he
it, loi sees the miraculous SA'ord and
; (Arthur) begat of Lot's wife at Logres,
draws it, loi, 339, 374; brings it to 122, 179, 180, 295, 393 of Gavvein, ;

Kay, loi Kay boasts that he himself

; who will aid him greatly, 122, 405,
drew it, loi Antor tells him to re- ; 420 of his sister. Ventres' wife, 122
; ;

place it, loi does so, loi ; Kay can- ; of Galeshyn, 122 of Ewein le gaunte, ;

not draw it, loi hears he will be king, ; 122 of Ban of Benoyk, 122
; of Bors ;

102 and that Antor is not his father,

; of Cannes, 122 is told to send for ;

102 and of his sending away, 102

;
;
them, 123 and to go with them to
;

swears to make Kay his steward, 102 ;

Leodogan, 123 swears to keep Merlin's ;

the barons assemble, 103 his sin of ; counsel, 123 sends for Ban and Bors,
;

incest, 180, 316 takes out the sword, ; 124 ;his messengers find Claudas
103 the barons' anger, 103
; people ;
land destroyed, 125 go to Trebes, ;

pleased, 103 replaces the sword, 103,

; 125 they are attacked by Claudas'
;

and all the barons fail to draw it, 103 ;

men, 126; whom they slay, 128; at
called a "garcion," 103; none else Logres, 131 Ban and Bors come,
;

can draw it, 104 draws it again be- ; 132 their grand entry into Logres,
;

fore all the nation, 104; replaces it, 132 ;Merlin's counsel, 131, 132 the ;

104 great parliament at Easter, 105

; ;
revels at Logres, 132 138 presides — ;

archbishop speaks in his favour, 105 ;

at the tourney, 133 his war-cry ;

the barons and people consult, 105, "Clarence!" 136, 287, 294; praises
556 but they defer the consecration,
; Kay, 136 end of the; tourney,
105 gifts brought, 106 they try him,
; ; 137 ;
prize Lucas,
given to Kay,
106, without success, 106 barons ; and Gifilet, with
138 ; conference
assemble at Whitsuntide at Logres, Ban and Bors, 138, 557 Merlin ;

106 no one else can draw the sword,

; relates the messengers' adventures, 138 ;

106 ;his vigil, 106 dubbed knight, ; sends for Merlin, 139 Merlin is proved ;

106 barons sue for pardon, 107 his

; ; by Guynebaude, 139 receives the ;

coronation oath, 107 draws the sword, ; homage of Ban and Bors, 140, 173 ;

107 consecrated and crowned at Kar-

; takes counsel with them, 141 Merlin ;

lion, 107, 320, 399, 556, 581 his ; tells him to marry Gonnore, 141, 177 ;

generosity, 108 his sister, 108 the ; ; to go to Leodogan her father at Car-
barons' disdain, 108, 129 the gifts re- ; melide, 141, 142 to get his army to- ;

fused, 108; his life threatened, 108; gether, 142, 144 prepares his men, ;

his escape, 108 Bretell comes to fetch ; 144 has ten thousand horse, 144 no
; ;

him, no; -gees to the barons, no; infantry, 144 leads his host to Bredi-
;

dreads treason, no; archbishop pleads gan, 144 his precautions, 145
; the ;

for him, no the story of his birth by

; seven kings seek revenge. 145 their ;

Merlin, in, 152; people love him, spies captured, 146 their army is ;

112 barons call him " Bastard," 112

;
;
sixty thousand, 146 is joined by ;

they defy him, 113 arms his men, ; Merlin and his force, 148 the seven ;

113; a council of war, 114; addresses kings have forty thousand (fifty thou-
Merlin, 114; Merlin tells him to help sand, 149) well-horsed men, 148 has ;

Rion, 115 who will give him his

; thirty-five thousand men, 148, 149 ;

daughter, 115; the dragon-banner, advised to be liberal, 150; makes ready

116, 321 puts his men in order,
; for the battle, 151 the leaders of di- ;

116; Kay banner-bearer, 116, 596; vision, 151, 152; joins Ulfyn's division.
 ;;;; ;

ARTHUR. [ 707 ] ARTHUR.

151 [Danish kings assemble and ravage

;
deeds, 230; Arthur's castle of ArondeH,
Cornwall and lay siege to Vandelers, 232 his men help Tradilyvaunt, 233 ;
;

but are driven out by him again, his sister's son Ewein the grete, 238,
152 ;] king Lot's dream, 153 attacks ; 285 of Dodynell the savage, 247
;
of ;

the sentries, 153 throws the enemy ; Kay Destranx, 249 ; Seigramor lands
into confusion, chases the fugi- 153; at Dover, 259, 262, 270 Merlin comes ;

tives, 153 takes them in the rear, 157

; ;
disguised to Camelot, 261 271 re- — ;

upsets Tradilyvaunt, 157; severe battle, pentance of Ydiers, 282 a band of ;

157 is attacked by Aguysans, 158

; young nobles coming to him, 292, 293 ;

issue doubtful, 159, 160 ruse of the ;

Lot's repentance, 295 Logres his ;

enemy, 160, 161 rescues and horses ;

capital, 301, 316 the obstinacy of the ;

Ban, 164, 165 slays a knight, 165 ; barons, 304 the quest of the St. Grail
;

routs the seven kings, 165 chases ; in his time foretold, 304 his cousin ;

them over the bridge, 165 wants to ; Leonces, 307 Merlin comes, 312, 314 ; ;

follow, 165 but Merlin forbids him,

; Merlin's counsel, 314 Merlin tells ;

165 to go back to Logres, 166; divides

; him of his nephews, 314 and of their ;

the spoil, 167 at Bredigan, 167 the ; ;

vow, 314 sorrow for Ban and Bors,
;

"great churl," 167 sees the churl is ; 315 Merlin's dark saying, 315
; is to ;

Merlin, 170 intrigue with Lysanor,

; go to Forest Denoyable and knight
171 their son Hoot, 171
; goes to ;
his nephews with the twelve good
Tarsaide in Tamelide, 171, 202, 240, swords there, 316 Guyomar comes to ;

260, 294, 303, 307 to succour Leo- ; fetch him to Leodogan, 316. 317;
dogan, 175, 202, 203 barons afraid, ; goes, 317 Leodogan wonders who he
;

175; his sister's sorrow for him, 182; can be, 318 Merlin tells Leodogan
;

his fame spreads, 183, 184, 186, 190 that they seek a wife for Arthur, 319 ;

his sister Morgein, 185, 507, 508 Leodogan at once offers Gonnore, 319 ;

worsts the Saxons, 185 ; who have betrothal to Gonnore, 319, 320, 341,
ravaged his lands, 186, 188 ; fame 357 discovers his name and estate to
;

reaches Constantinople, 186 ; his Leodogan, 320 Leodogan's joy, 320 ; ;

nephews Galaishin and Gawein, and Leodogan, Bors, Ban, and the barons
his brethren are coming to aid him, do homage, 320, 341 leads the first ;

191, 192, 197, 240, 251, 260, 285, ward. 321 [the fair adventure of the
;

290 has a band of forty knights to

; rings and Ydiers of Norway, 321 ;]
aid Leodogan, 203, 396, 454 they ; Leodogan's court royal, 322 sits at ;

are all in disguise, 203, 204 Merlin ; the head of the dais, 322 Gonnore ;

bears the great dragon-banner, 206 ;

arms him, 322 Merlin laughs at this, ;

description of it, 206 dashes at the ; 322 ;Merlin says she must make him
Saxons, 206, 207 does marvels with ; a real knight, 322 he asks how, 322 ; .
;

Calibourne, 210, 220; Gonnore wonders she must let him kiss her, 322 kisses ;

who he is, 210 the name of his forty ; her, 323 she gives him a wondrous
;

fellows, 212 [marries Gonnore, 213,

;
helm, 323 sets on Rion's host, 323,
;

451 ] slays Margalyvaunt, 217, 224

; ; 324, 325 Merlin tells him to think of
;

laughs at Merlin, 219; his prowess, Gonnore's kiss and be brave, 325 at- ;

219 Gonnore watches his deeds, 220

; ;
tacks and unhorses Jonap, 325 is un- ;

dashes at Sorfarin, 221 Ban dis- ;

horsed, 325; Nascien,326; [counselled
suades him, 221 Merhn calls him a ; by him, 327 J his prowess. 327 ;

coward, 221 attacks Sorfarin, 221,; follows the dragon-banner, 327, 332,
222 is ;wounded, 222 overthrows ; 334, 335 follows Merlin to rescue
;

Sorfarin, 222 Gonnore watching, 222 ; ;

Nascien and Bors, 331, 332, 333 the ;

slays Malore, 222, 223 slays Ffree- ; marvel of the banner, 332 one against ;

lent, 223 puts the Saxons to flight,

;
four, 332, 334 slits a Sarazin, 333 ; ;

223 Rion prepares revenge, 223

;
;
Saydoynes comes to the rescue, 334,
Leodogan gives him the spoil, 225 ; 335 Merlin says he has forgotten the
;

his largess, 225, 257 Gonnore serves ; kiss, 335 he becomes furious at this,
;

him at the feast, 225, 257 Leodogan ;

335 slays Clarell, 336
;
upsets Rion, ;

thinks he might marry Gonnore, 226 336 giants in revenge bear him down,
;

she brings him wine, 227 he falls in ; 336 Merlin

; comes to the rescue, 336 ;

love with her, 227, 229 she praises ; horsed by Ban, 336 throws down ;

him, 227, 228 Ban asks Leodogan ; Rion's standard, 337 defeat and re- ;

why she is not married, 228 the ; treat of Rion, 337 dashes alone after ;

answer, 228 Merlin smiles at Ban, ; Rion, 338 overtakes him,

; 338 Rion ;

228 Leodogan wonders at the respect

; fourteen feet high, 339; overthrows
they all show Arthur, 229 is told ; Rion, 339 Arthur twenty and Rion
;

by Merlin of Gawein's and Galeshyn s forty - two years old, 339 grips ;
 ; ;;

ARTHUR. [ 708 ] ARTHUR.

Caliboume, which gives out a great Leodogan's tents, 357 collects the ;

Ught, 339, 340 Rion slips and drops ; spoil, 357 distributes it as Merlin
;

his club, 339 Rion draws his sword ; tells him, 357, 358 raises a company ;

Marmadoyse, 340 Arthur covets it, for ; of twenty thousand bachelors, 358, 382;
it flames like his, 340 Rion offers to ; goes with Bors and Leodogan to Tor-
let him go if he will give up his arms, aise, 358, 359, 360 Bors goes to ;

340 ;answers disdainfully, tells Rion Charroye, 358, 359 Leodogan asks ;

to submit, 340 tells Rion he is Arthur, ; him to marry Gonnore, 360 Merlin ;

341 ; hears Rion's name and estate, says they must wait a bit, and tells
341 ; Rion swears not to eat till he has him to meet Bors at Bredigan, 360 ;

killed him, 341 tells him it will be a ; leaves Leodogan, 360; Gonnore says
long fast, 341 gives Rion a great ;
"be quick back," and he says he wishes
wound, 341, 342; Rion rushes at him he was back already, 360 at Bredigan, ;

madly, 342 hits him a great stroke,

; 363 Ban comes, and tells him of
;

but can't " attain " him, 342 Nascien, ; Guyneban's magic, 363 hears of the ;

Adragains, and Hervy come, 342 Rion ; fair lady, and says he would marry her
flies, 342 chases him, 342
; six kings ; but for Merlin, 363 waits at Bredigan ;

attack Arthur, and Rion escapes, 342, for Bors, 363, 364, 365 Amaunt re- ;

343 king Kehenyns attacks him, 343

; ; fuses allegiance, 365 Bors fights and ;

maims him, 343 the other five attack

him, 343; slits Ffernicans and fells
; slays him, 365 370 Amaunt's men
split, some go away, others come with
— ;

Heroas, 343 the rest fly, 343 chases ; ; Bors to do homage, 368, 369 praises ;

them, 345 comes to Ban and Bors,

; Bors, 370 digs for the treasure Merlin
;

345 [slays a nephew of Madagot, 345

; ;
told of, 370 carries it to Logres, 370
; ;

Madagot in revenge captures Galeshyn, finds twelve good swords in the Forest
345 Galeshyn rescued by Gawein,
; Denoyable, 370 his nephews hear he ;

345 ;J three of Rion's kin slain, 346; is coming, and come out to meet him,
Rion in a rage comes to Arthur, 346 ; 370; waits for them, 370; Gawein is
his shield slit by Rion, 346 smites ; their spokesman, and says Arthur's
Rion on the arm, 346 Rion's sword ; renown has made them come to be
sticks fast in the shield, 346 throws ; knighted by him, 371, 372 commends ;

down the shield, 346 Rion seizes him ; Gawein, and promises to knight them
by the shoulders, 346 throws down ; all, and to make them lords in his
Calibourne lest Rion should get it, court, 372 ; asks their names, 372,
346 and holds on to his horse's neck,
;
373 ['•^- Gawein, Agravain, Gaheret,
346 Ban comes and Rion lets go, 346,
; and Gaheryes, sons of king Lot Ga- ;

347 Ban wounds Rion, 346

; Rion ; laishin, son of Ventres the two Eweins, ;

flies, vowing fi;ture vengeance, 346, sons of Urien Dodynell the sauage, the;

347, 450 unwounded, 347 tells Ban

; ; son(?sons)of Belinans; Alain and Aeon,
he has won a jewel, 347 shows him ; nephews of king (? Brangore) of Stran-
Marmadoyse, 347 is proud of it, 347, ; gore Kay Destranx and Kehedin
;
;

648, 351, 352; his fellows follow the Ewein white hand Ewein Esclins ;
;

Saxons, goes to Toraise, 349

348 ; Ewein Cyvell ; Ewein de lyonell ;

some of his knights lose him, 349 ;

Seigramor] puts his arms round
;

goes to Danablaise, 351, 450; finds Gawein's neck and kisses him, 373 ;

Guyomar, Ydiers, and Synados fighting makes great joy of Seigramor, 373
with Saxons, 351 dashes at the Saxons, ; makes Gawein constable of his house-
352 does well with Marmadoyse, 352
; ;
hold, 373, 374 Gawein thanks him, ;

is pleased with the sword, 352, 353 ; 374 all go to Logres, 374 his sister,
; ;

the knights say he will be a noble Lot's wife, comes to meet him, 374 ;

knight when old enough, 351 meets ; and Morgne le fee, 374 goes to the ;

some of his knights fighting Saxons, palace, 374 his welcome, 374 the
; ;

352 finds Antor fighting on foot, 352

; ;
"children" go to keep their vigil in
dashes down the Saxons, 352, 353 ;
the minster, 374 Ban and Bors wait ;

likes Marmadoyse better than Cali- on them, 374 before high mass next ;

bourne, 353 beats off the Saxons, ; day takes Calibourne, 374 girds Ga- ;

353, 615 meets Merlin and the dragon-

; wein with it, 374 dubs him, 374, ;

banner, 353 goes to help Leodogan, :

449 gives him a treasure sword, 374;
;

353 the banner sheds light, 353

; ;
dubs Gaheret, Gaheries, and Agravain,
does marvels on the Saxons, 355, 356 ;
Ewein and Ewein Avoutres, Galaishin,
the bright dragon, 356; Merlin leads Kay Destranx, Kehedin, and gives
him to the three Saxon kings, 356, them treasure swords, 374, 449 dubs ;

357. 359 slays Ysdras, 357;the day ; Dodynell, 374, 449; dubs Seigramor,
breaks and they rest, 357 returns to ; and puts on his spurs, 374, 375, 449
 ;
;; ;;

ARTHUR. [ 709 ]
ARTHUR.

dubs Ewein white hand, Ewein Esclyn, lot'sguardianship of Logres, Bors slays
Ewein Cyuell, Ewein de Lyonell, Alain, Claudas, 401 ] the battle begins again; ;

Aeon, and gives them treasure swords, he has twenty-eight thousand, and
375. 449 all go to mass, and then to
;
Claudas has thirty-five thousand men
a banquet in the palace, 375 forbids ;
in the field, 402 the three hundred ;

quintain because of the Saxons, 375 ;

knights withdraw to repair their
his largess, 375 Merlin tells him to ;
armour, 402 Claudas is getting on ;

prepare to go to Benoyk, 375 tells Ga- ;

better, and drives Pharien and his men
wein to get the host of forty thousand back a little, 402 but Leonce succours ;

men ready to move at midnight, 376 Pharien, 403 people of Logres are ;

Doo is to guard Logres with twenty getting worsted, 404; Merlin scolds
thousand men, 376 remains at Logres, ;
him for his idleness, 404, 407 and ;

378 Merlin tells him to wait for him

;
asks him what Gonnore will think of
at Rochell, 378 Merlin goes to Blase, ;
his cowardice, 404 ashamed, 40 ; ;

378 goes from Logres to Dover, 379

; ;
hangs his shield on his back, and does
arrives at The Rochell, 379 meets ; wonders with his two-handed sword,
Merlin there, 379 Merlin tells him ; 406, 408 slays more than two hundred,
;

to start for Trebes, 381, 382, 400 406; attacks FroUe, Pounce, and
leads the fourth division with the Antony, 408 FroUe makes him bend ;

knights of the Round Table, 382, 383 ;

over the saddle with his spear, 408
Kay is to bear the dragon-banner, 383. Gawein is furious at this, and unhorses
385, 386, 393 Blioberis is to lead
; Frolle, 408, 409 asks Gawein to stay ;

the host, 383, 384 Merlin's departure ;

by his side, 409 enemy confused 409 ; ;

for Briogue, 383, 384 the start for ; meets Bans and Bors, 409, 410 and ;

Trebes, 384, 385, 386, 399 the army ; Adragain, Nascien, and Hervy de
waits for Merlin's signal, 386 Claudas ; Rivell, 410; it is past noon, 410;
on the alert, 386 the signal given, ; Kay finds Arthur's shield on the ground,
386, 387 the battle begins, 387
; fears he is dead, and searches for him,
attacks Randolf, 387 Claudas loses ; 410 Kay finds him, and is glad he is
;

ten thousand men and is wroth, 387 ;

alive, 410 his shield round his neck ;

routs the French under Randolf, 392 ;

again, 410; Merlin conies with the
helped by the Knights of the Round dragon, 410 Merlin's signal for onset, ;

Table, 392 attacks Pounce and An-; 410 Gawein upsets Claudas, 410
;

toyne, 392, 393 succours Bohors, ; Claudas routed, and half his army de-
392, 393 ; Kay's dragon-banner terri- stroyed, 411, 412, 438, 449, 450; the
fies the enemy
confusion, 393 into pursuit lasts till dark, 411, 412 many ;

the meaning of the banner, 393 the ; prisoners, 412 finds great spoil in the ;

dragon signifies his power, 393 the ; tent, 412 Pharien and Grascien keep
;

flame the slaughter of his time, 393 ;

watch the night, 412 Ban and Bors ;

the tortuous tail the treason of Mordred lead him into Trebes castle, 412 Ban's ;

and his band, 393 [passes over sea to ;

queen Helayn and her sister the queen
fight the emperor of Rome, and to take of Bors welcome him, 412; well housed,
the realm of Cannes and Benoyk, be- 412 Helayn's marvellous dream, 413,
;

cause of the false love of Launcelot, 414, 415 is tired with the day's work,
;

who had seduced Gonnore, Arthur's 415 sojourns there a month, 416,
;

wife, 393 ;] the battle is fierce, 393 417, 418 makes daily inroads into
;

Gawein succours Ban, 394, 395 ; and Claudas' land, 416 [succours Ban and ;

unhorses Claudas, 394 Claudas dis- ; Bors' heirs, who are reduced to straits
comfited, 397, 398 the prowess of the ; by Claudas, 416, 699; troubles at
company of the Round Table, 398 the ; home, 416 death of Ban and Bors, ;

field covered with the dead, 398 the ; 416, 699 ] Merlin tells him of He-
;

Trebes folk come on the wall to see layn's dream, 416 and partly explains ;

what is amiss, 398 the two queens, ; it, 416, 417; Merlin's return, 419;
Helayn and her sister, come on the Gawein ravages Claudas' lands, 419
tower, and see the dragon-banner, 398, Gawein returns with much plunder,
399 they wonder at it, 399
; they ; 419; go to Gannes, 419; stays
all
send a messenger, 399 Bretell tells ; there two days, 419 goes to the ;

him that it is Arthur, and the two Rochell, and "thence to the sea, 419,
kings come to raise the siege of Trebes, 420, 447 Merlin tells him to make
;

399 joy in Trebes, 399

;
the joy of ; haste to Carmelide with three thousand
the besieged queens at his rescuing men, 420 asks Merlin to come now so
;

them, 400 lays an ambush with three

; as to be at his marriage, 420 Merlin ;

hundred chosen knights, 401, 402, 404 ;

says he will follow soon, 420 Merlin ;

[after his death, and Ban's and Launce- goes to Rome, 420; [defies Julyus
 ;;; ;

ARTHUR. [ 710 ] ARTHUR.

Cesar, who invades Logres, 420 battle ; Logres with Lot, 479 great joy in ;

with Julyus at Logres, and Julyus Logres, 479 he and his wife give;

slain by Gawein, 420 ] Merlin his ; great gifts, 479, 480 the court royal ;

master counsellor, 436, 437 [the fight ; assembles, 480, 481 establishes his ;

at Trebes was with the Almaynes, court royal, 481 vows that he and ;

Romaynes, and the Frenchmen of his knights will redress all wrongs
Gaule and la Deserte, 438 ] arrives at ; brought before them, 481, 484, 562;
Bloy Bretayne, 447 at Logres, 447 ;
;
the knights of the Round Table vow
all ride to Carmelide, 447, 448, 468, to aid distressed maidens, 481, 484,
471 ; welcomed to Toraise by Leodogan, 562 ; Gawein and his fellows vow to
448; Gonnore's joy at seeing him, be the queen's knights, and do her
448 a day set for his marriage with
; pleasure, 482, 483, 484, 562 ;
gives
Gonnore, 448, 449, 450, 561, 635 his queen charge of his treasure, 483 ;

awaits Merlin's arrival, 449, 451 the ; sends for Gawein, 485 tells Gawein ;

barons begin to repent of their enmity, to prevent strife and disorder in the
450 Lot schemes to get back his own
; lists, 485 ; the tournament, 485, 500,
wife, and to capture Gonnore, 450, 472 ; 562 Gawein won't promise, 485 he
; ;

a plot to substitute the step-daughter and Gonnore watch the jousting, 485
of Cleodalis for Gonnore, 451, 452, ordains a band of men to keep order,
463, 562 Merlin is counter-plotting,
; 486 foul play by the Round Table
;

452 ; the marriage procession, 453 knights, 489, 490, 492 a messenger ;

married to Gonnore, 213, 451, 453, from Gawein, 491, 495, 498 stops the ;

482 Gonnore's extreme beauty, 453

;
;
fight,495; upbraids Gawein for his
wedded at the minster door, 453, 467, conduct, 498 cessation of the tourney,
;

562 the tournament at Toraise, 454,

;
499 ;reconciliation of the Queen's
461, 562; Leodogan hears of the plot knights and Round Table knights,
to kidnap Gonnore, 465 Merlin and
Leodogan lead him to Gonnore, 466
;
—
499 502 the quest of the St. Grail,
;

Ban says don't

502 in council, 504
; ;

[his wife leaves him and is three years let the knights tourney unless with
with Galehaut, 323, 466, 470; her strangers, 504, 562 Lot says, drive ;

love for Launcelot, 466 his adultery ; out the Saxons, 505 the queen com- ;

with Gonnore, step-daughter of Cleo- mends Ban's advice, 505 Lot proposes ;

dalis, 466 the realm is accursed on

; a truce with the princes, and a con-
account of Bertelak, 466, 470 ] the ;
federation against the Saxons, 505
false Gonnore is banished, 468, 469, 562 agrees to send Lot as an am-
;

562 the trial and banishment of Ber-

; bassador to the princes, 505, 519,
telak, 469, 470, 562 Bertelak vows ;
559 Lot agrees to go, and will take
;

revenge, 470 prepares to return to

; his four sons with him, 506, 510, 546,
Logics, 471 tells Gawein to go to
;
559, 561 sorry to spare Gawein, 506
; ;

Logres, and get all ready for the court but the queen persuades him to let him
royal, 471, 562; Gawein goes, 470; is go, 506 the embassy getting ready,
;

left with only five hundred men, 471 ; 507 it meets with the Saxons, 510,
;

Gawein anxious for Arthur's safety, 562 Elizer setting out for his court,
;

471 ; three days afterwards he starts 520, 521, 528, 539 the eldest son of ;

with Gonnore and Ban and Bors for Pellynor of the sauage fountain comes
Bredigan, 472, 473 Merlin goes to ; to take arms of him, 539 his castle ;

Blase, but says he will be at the court of Roestok, 545 a truce made with ;

royal, 472, 473, 562 Lot lays an ; the barons, 560, 562, 576 land is re- ;

ambush to capture him, 472, 473, 562 ; leased from the excommunication, 560,
Lot has seven hundred men, 473 577 a day of meeting on Salisbury
;

meets the enemy, 473 unhorses Lot, ; plain, 560; great preparations for at-
474 his horse killed by Lot, 474
; tacking the Saxons, 560 glad of the ;

his horse falls over him, and pins him truce, 561 Merlin is busy collecting
;

down, 474 Lot essays to cut his head

; forces, 565 Merlin comes, 566 ; is ;

off, 474 rescued by his knights, 474

; told by Merlin to hasten the prepara-
Gawein and Kay come to help with tions for attacking the Saxons, 566,
eighty fellows, 475, 562 Kay is a true ;
567, 574 hears that Nabulall de
;

knight to him, 475,476; [his son Lohoot Camadayse and a young lord, son of
(see Hoot) slayn in treason by Kay, 475 ;
Amaunt, and Cleodalis, are coming to
Percevale ly Galoys is wrongly accused the assembly, but Leodogan does not
of the deed, 475 ] asks Gawein how ; intend to come, 567 Merlin tells him ;

he knew he was in trouble, 477, 478 ; the treason of the three Round Table
Lot and his knight do homage to him, knights, 567, 568 sends Ewein, Kay, ;

478, 479, 480, 518, 557 returns to ; and Gifflet to stop the three traitors,
 ;;; ;;

ARTHUR. [ 711 ] ARTHUR.

568 ; their
573 pacifies the return, ;
disturbed by Merlin's dark saying that
knights, upbraids the three
573 ; a lion, son of a bear and leopard,
Round Table knights, 574 bad blood ; shall aid him, 631 departure of Merlin,
;

between the Queen's and the Round 631 Merhn's return, 635 the advent
; ;

Table knights, 574 goes to Salisbury, ;

of the maiden and dwarf, 635, 679,
575 578 the Saxons on their guard,
• ; 698 the maiden asks a boon, 635 he
;
;

575> 576 talks with Merlin, 578,

;
grants it, 635, 636 she wants him to ;

579 ^Ierlin's prophecy that the father

;
knight her lover the dwarf, 636 Kay ;

and the son shall slay each other, and scorns her, 636 two squires appear
;

ot the crowned and uncrowned lions, with shield and horse for the new
579 visits each of the lords in their
;
knight, 636, 637 dubs the dwarf ;

tents, 579, 580 consultation with the ; knight, 637, 679, 682 the two strange ;

twelve princes, 581, 582 a start for ;

lovers depart, 638 Gonnore and the ;

Clarence agreed to, 582, 585 Elizer is ;

knights ridicule the dwarf, but Merhn
to be knighted, 583, 584; offers Elizer tells them he is of royal blood, 638 an ;

arms and sword 584 departure with , ;

embassy from Luce, emperor of Rome,
the host to Clarence, 585 his banner ; 639 ordering him to do homage to
;

borne by Merlin, 585 slays Magloras, ;

Luce, 640, 644 he answers that he
;

591 the rescue ot Morgeins, 591, 592

; ;
will take Rome, not Rome him, and
Gonnore in Garlot, 592 start of the ; claims Rome by right of his ancestors,
host for Clarence, 592 the battle be- ; 642, 643 invasion preparing, 643 ;
;

fore Garlot, 594 takes the Saxons in ; his princes assemble, 644 his host ;

the rear, 596 rout of the Saxons, ; take ship to Gannes, 644 has a vision ;

597, 617 his losses, 598 advance to

; ; of a bear and a dragon, which Merlin
Clarence, 598 the barons do him ; interprets, 644, 645 hears of a great ;

homage, 599 the battle before Clar- ; dragon which is the terror of the country,
ence, 599, 601, 602 utter rout of ; 645 goes with Kay and Bedyuer to
;

Saxons, 602 division of the spoil, and ; attack the giant, 645, 649 the sorrow ;

five days' revel in Clarence, 603 re- ; of the woman whom the giant has
turn to Gonnore at Camelot, 603 enthralled, 646 attacks the giant ;

Merlin tells Ban and Bors to return single-handed, 647 ; slays the giant
home, 603 their stay at Agravadain's; with his sword ^iarmadoise, 648, 668,
castle, 606 ordains a court royal at; 679 returns victorious with the giant's
;

Camelot, 613, 614, 615, 617 Merlin ; head, 649, 650 advance to Burgoyne,
;

enters disguised as a blind harper, 615 ; 650 joined by Ban and Bors, 650
;

receives a letter of defiance from Rion, sends defiance to Luce, 650, 651, 653 ;

617, 618 Rion wants his beard to add

; the adventures of his embassy, 650,
to the eleven he has flayed already, 653 sends succour to his ambassadors,
;

619 laughs at Rion's request and de-

; 653, 657, 669 erects a castle, 650,
;

fiance, 620, 621 the blind harper ; 653. 676 return of Gawein from the
;

wants to be banner-bearer, 621, 622 embassy with prisoners, 655 an ;

refuses, and the harper vanishes, 622 ; attempt at rescue of the Roman
knows it is Merlin, 622 a little naked ; prisoners, 656 return of the succourers,
;

child comes in, and asks to be banner- 657 goes to Oston, 658; prepares for
;

bearer, 622, 623 and tells him to ; battle with Luce, 658 his dragon- ;

prepare to fight Rion, 622 he thinks ; banner is set up, 658 appoints leaders ;

it is Merlin, and grants his request, of his divisions, 659 the battle, 660, ;

623 Merlin resumes his form, 623

; 664 the great gonfanon of the Gold
;

preparations for battle, 623, 624 Eagle of Luce, 662 Luce is slain by ;

starts for Carmelide, 624 arrival at ; Gawein, 663, 699 the battle is critical, ;

Toraise, 624 battle with Rion's host, ; 663 dashes into the fight and slays
;

624, 630 Rion offers to settle the

; Gestoire and PoUbetes, 663 rout of ;

question by a personal encounter, 627 ;

the Romans, 664, 676, 679 sends the ;

Arthur consents, 627, 628 Gawein ; body of Luce on a bier to Rome as his
wants to go instead, but he won't allow trewage, and asks Merlin what to do
him, 628 the combat, 628 vanquishes
; ; next, 664 Merlin says, go on your way,
;

Rion, who, however, will not yield, 630 as some people want your help, 664 ;

cuts his head off, 630 his joyful entry ; the de\-il cat at Lak de losane, 664
into Toraise, 630 his wounds healed, ; goes against the cat, 666 fights with ;

630 Rion's barons pay their homage,

; the devil cat, and slays it, 667, 676,
630 leaves Toraise, 630 joins Gon-
;
; 679 fight between some of his and
;

nore at Cameloth, 630 returns to ; Claudas' knights, 669, 670 kinsmen ;

Logres, 630; Merlin talksof leaving him of Fflualis come to serve him his ;

now that his work is done, 630 is much ; battle with Mordred, 676 goes to the ;
 ;; ;;

ARTHUR. [ 712 ] BAN OF BENOYK.

castle on the Aube and to Benoyk, 676; does homage to Arthur as his lord,
sends Gawein to destroy the castle of 140, 173 in council with Arthur,
;

the Marche, 677, 678 Gawein returns ; 141, 557 withstands Merlin's advice
;

successful, 678 hears that Leodogan ; at first, but agrees to it, 142, 146
is dead, 678 goes to Logres and
; collects reinforcements for Arthur, 142,
comforts Gonnore, 678 Merlin's fare- ; 143 Merlin his messenger, 142, 143
; ;

well, 678, 681 sends his knights in ; his godson Bawdewyn, 144 ; his son
search of Merlin, 682, 694, 697 the ; Launcelot, 147 Merlin comes, 149 ;

further adventures of the maiden and Merlin leads him to Arthur, 150, 173 ;

dwarf, 684 at Cardoell, 685, 694 the

; ; arianges his forces, 151, 152 leads ;

maiden and dwarf bring a captured the fourth division and is the " best
knight, 685, 687, 69c the adventures, ; knight in the host," 151 Aliaume bears ;

in quest of Merlin, of Seigramor, 687 ;

his banner, 152 takes the enemy in ;

Ewein, 689 Gawein, 692

; Gawein ; the rear, 154; rescues Arthur, 160;
finds Merlin's prison, 693 Gawein's ; assails Ydiers, 161 his banner borne ;

coming back, 695, 697 the dwarf ; by Anthony his steward, 163 routs his ;

returns in his own shape as Evadeam, foes, 163, 164; attacked by Loot, 164;
697, 698 the story becomes silent about
; upsets Roy de Cent Chevaliers, 164 ;

king Arthur, 698. attacked by Brangcre, 164 upsets ;

ARUNDELL. 5^e Arondell. Brangore, 164 Arthur comes to the ;

ATALAS LAMNACHOUR, 348. rescue, 164 on foot, 164 horsed by

; ;

AUADAIX, Evadeam ; turned dwarf by Arthur, 165 with Arthur at Brede- ;

sorcerj' of his love the Feire Beaune gan, 167 the great churl, 168
; goes
—
635 638, 679, 682 691, 697, 698 — to Tarsaide, 202 to Tamelide, 171, ;
;

knighted by Arthur, 637, 638, 682 175, 303, 307 worsts the Saxons, 185 ; ;

son to king Brangore, 638, 688. his age, 203 incog, at Tamelide, 203,
;

AUBE, river in Burgoyne, a castle there, 204 ;the battle with the Saxons, 206,
650, 676. 207, 212 he gives great strokes with
;

AU ENABLE. 5^^ Grisandoll. Carchense, 210 slays Clarion with it, ;

AUXGIER, AUNGIS. 5^^ Angier. 210, 211 Merlin's counsel, 216; puts
;

AUNGIS, 243. Sonygreux to flight, 216 his prowess, ;

AURELIUS AMBROSE, 42. 220 wants to fight Sorfarin, 221

; ;

AYGLYNS DES VAUX, Ayglin des follows Arthur, 221 slays Sortebran, ;

Vaux, Aglins des Vaus, brother to Ke- 222 ; assailed by Malore and Freelent,
hedins le petit, 480 kin to Meranges ; 222, 223 ; rescued by Arthur, 223 ;

de Porlesgues, 518 nephew to Bely- ; cuts off Randoul's arm, 223 ; served
nans, 577. by Gonnore, 225 asks Leodogan why ;

Gonnore is not married, 228 his ;

BAHARAXS, king, 248. answer, 228 Merlin goes to Logres, ;

BAL.AN, a giant slain by Ulfin, 217. 258; Merlin's fears for him, 303; his
BALFIXXE, Balfinnes, 345 kin ; to cousin Leonces, 305 half Brioke ;

Rion, 346. forest his, 308 his vassal Dionas, 308 ; ;

BAX OF BEXOYK (brother of Bors, gives Dionas half Brioke forest, 308 ;

472, etc.) parentage, 122 his enemy,

; ; Merlin conies, 312, 314 Merlin's ;

122, 124 dispute with Claudas, 124

;

lands ravaged, 124, 382 his castle

counsel, 314 316
Merlin's dark saying,
—
hears of Claudas, ;

; 314, 315 ; 315 ;

holds out, 124 goes against Claudas,

; goes to Leodogan, 317, 318, 382 ;

124, 125 puts him to flight, 125

; his ; Arthur's betrothal, 319, 320; discovers
wife Elein, 125, 144, 380, 381, 603 ;
his name, 320 does homage to ;

goes to Arthur, 125 Arthur's messen- ; Arthur, 320 in the first ward, 321
;
;

gers, 128 they tell him of Merlin and

; Leodogan's court royal, 322 sits ;

of Arthur, 129 fears to leave because

; at the head of the dais, 322 praises ;

of Claudas, is assured by Merlin of Gonnore's love for Arthur, 322 ;

safety, 130 agrees to go, and enter-

; follows the dragon-banner, 327 goes ;

tains the messengers, 130 entrusts his ; to the rescue of Xascien and Bors,
lands to Leonces and Pharien, 130, 331, 332 does marvels, 332, 333
; ;

131 ;
goes by ship, 131 his magnifi- ; slays Minap, 333 help comes, 335 ;

cent reception by Arthur, 132 the ; horses Arthur, 336 throws down ;

revels, 133, 138 the tourney, 133, ; Rion's standard, 337; pursues Glorienx,
137 his brother Guynebande, 133, 139;
; Mynados, and Colufer, 338, 343 they ;

praises Kay, 136 conference in the ; are reinforced, 343 slays three of ;

chamber, 138 asks about Merhn, 138;

; their fellows, 343 felh Pignoras, ;

Merlin comes and questions him, 139 ; 344 kills

; Sinagrex, 344 Bors comes, ;

confronts him with his brother, 139 344 ;in a strait, 344 Rion comes, ;
 ; ;; ;; ;;;

BAN OF BEXOYK. [ 713 ] BAN OF BENOYK.

344; cuts Rion's shield in two with 409, 410 Kay comes, 410 ; rout of
;

Corchense, 344, 345 Bors in danger, ;

Claudas' army, 411 the pursuit, 411 ;

345 ;
goes to the rescue, 345 slays ; leads Arthur into Trebes castle, 412 ;

Magoras and another, 345 goes to ;

joy of his queen Helayn at seeing him
help Arthur, whom Rion has seized, again, 412 goes to bed with his wife, ;

346 cuts Rion with Corchense, 346

; 413 his wife conceives a child, 413
;

Rion flies, 346, 347 Arthur shows ;

who shall be the noblest knight of
him Rion's magic sword, 347 Arthur's ;
the world, 438 Helayn's mar%ellous ;

prowess, 352 aids Leodogan, 355,

; dream, 413 417 she wakes up in — ;

356 ; slays Acolas, 357 sends to ; terror, and tells him the dream,
Bors at Charroye, 360 sets out with ; 415 he comforts her, and they go
;

Guynebans through the forest perilouse, to mass and pray God that nought
360, 361 a mar\'ellous adventure in
; but good may come of the dream, 415 ;

the forest, 361 a window full of ladies ; he continues the prayer daily, 415 it ;

and knights, 361 the beautiful lady, ;

is answered, and a voice says he shall

361 a knight of fifty winters, 361

; ;
have what he asks, and that when he
Guynebans loves the lady, 361 Guy- ; wants to die he shall, 415 the voice ;

nebans' enchantments, 362, 363 the ; says he shall sin in adultery before he
chess-board, 362, 363 goes to Bredi- ;
dies, 415 ; thunder follows the answer,
gan, 363, 364 Bors comes, 369 ; ; 415 is shriven and hoseled every
;

praises his prowess, 370 the nephews ;

eight days afterwards, 415 is a good ;

of Arthur and Segramor come out to Christian, 415, 416 ; Arthur wastes
meet Arthur, 370, 371 commends ; Claudas' lands, 416 so that Claudas ;

Gawein, 372 the names of the knights,

;
leaves Ban alone for a bit, 416 Claudas, ;

572. 373 with Arthur at Logres, 374

; ;
aided by Pounce, Antony, and king of
attends on the "children," 374; puts Gawle, ravages his lands, 416 dies of ;

on Gawein's left spur when knighted, starvation, 416 his queen Helayn ;

374 of higher lineage than Arthur,

; takes refuge in a nunnery, 416 but ;

377 remains at Lxsgres, 378

; goes ;
when Arthvu- has time he comes and
with Bors and Arthur to Dover and to restores the lands to his heir, 416
the Rochell, 379 meets Merlin, 379 ; asks Merlin what Helayn's dream
his wife besieged in Trebes, 380, 381 ;
means, 416 Merlin partly explains it, ;

the expedition to Trebes, 381, 382, 399, 416, departure of Merlin, 416,
417;
400 to lead the second division of ten
; 417 the enemy vow- revenge for the
;

thousand men, 382, 383 the battle ; defeat of Trebes, 419 goes to Cannes, ;

begins, 387 dashes at the host of

; the Rochell, and to sea, 419, 420 ;

kills his
—
C.audas, 387 389 fight w ith Claudas,
horse,
; starts for Carmelide, 420, 447, 448
in Toraise, 448, 449 he and Bors lead
;

389. 393 ; 389 ;

;

Claudas fights on his knees, 389 ;

Gonnore in the marriage procession,
hard bestead, 389, 390 only nineteen ;
453 marriage of Arthur and Gonnore,
;

against one hundred, 394 Gawein ; 453 the tournament at Toraise, 455,
;

comes to help him, 394 Gawein up- ; 461 trial and banishment of Bertelak,
;

sets Claudas and succours Ban, 394; 469, 470 sets out with Arthur and;

wonders at the youngGawein's prowess, Bors for Bredigan, 472 battle with ;

394' 395 h'S thanks and gratitude,

; Loot, 473, 474 rescues Arthur, 474 ;

394, 395 swears friendship with Ga-

; Gawein also comes, 475 Lot does ;

wein, and goes with him to attack homage to Arthur, 478, 479 the ;

Claudas again, 395 his men are only ; court royal at Logres, 480, 481 watches ;

twenty against one hundred, 395 ;

the tournament at Logres, 485 ad- ;

dashes after Claudas, 396 diverted ; vises Arthur to have a band of men to
from chasing Claudas by the distress keep order, 486, 495 pacifies Gawein, ;

of Gawein's brethren, 396 goes to ; 498 in council with Arthur, 504

;

help them, 396 applauds Galaishin, ; advises Arthur to let his knights
397 discomfiture of Claudas, 397,
; tourney with strangers, not amongst
398; busy in the fight, 398; sees his themselves, 504, 562 Arthtu- and ;

own army airive, 400 lays an ; Gonnore agree to this, 504; proposes
ambush, 401 battle renewed, 401 ; that Lot should go and make a truce
the enemy are getting the best of with the princes, 505 so that all to- ;

the fight, 404 Merlin taunts him ; gether may drive off the Saxons, 505 ;

with idleness, 404, 405 sees Merlin ; glad of the truce with the barons, 561 ;

ride into the fight with the dragon- his men

fetched to Salisbury by Merlin,
banner, 405, 406 praises his valour, ; 563 Merlin comes, 566, 567
; the ;

405 his godson Banyns, 406, 699

; ;
treason of three Round Table knights,
his prowess, 407, 409 meets Arthur, ; 573 574 goes to Salisbury, 575 with
• ; ;
 ;;;
; ;

BAN OF BENOYK. [ 714 ] BLASE.

Arthur at Salisbury, 579, 581 a start ; 661 ; upset, but rescued by Kay, 661
for Clarence agreed to, 582 the story ; his nephew Segras, 661 rescued by
;

of Elizer, 583, 584 the rescue of ; Segras, 662 ; retires badly wounded,
Morgeins, the wife of Ventres, 587 662.
— 592 slays Pyncenars, 590
; leads ; BELCYS LI LOYS, Blecys the Blake,
the second ward at the battle of Garlot, Belcvs the Danoys kynge, 321, 349, 659.
594' 595 derided by Merlin, 595
;
;
BELINANS, Belynans, Belynant, Bely-
slays Margouns, 595 unhorsed by ; naunt, 241, 249, 250, 373,447, 450, 451,
Sorbares, 595 rescued by Pharien, ;
565. 577. 580, 581, 582, 585, 601, 644,
595 ; in battle before Clarence, 601, 659, 661, lord of Strangore, 247, 601;
602 ;
goes to Camelot 603 Merlin tells ; lord of South Wales, 247, 594 his wife ;

him to return home, 603 starts, 604 ; Esclence, 247 his son Dodynell, 247,;

at Agravadain's castle, 604 607, 612, — 449' 576 brother Tradilyuaunt,

; his
622, 671 Merlin enchants him, and
;
247. 439' 440, 557. 558. 576 his ;

makes him fall in love with Agravadain's brother Agrauandain, 561 his father- ;

daughter, and he lies with her, 608, in-law Natan, 247 his brother-in-law ;

612, 672 Merlin says the son of the

; Ventres, 247.
amour will be celebrated, 609, 672 BELLANDE in Northumberland, the
departs from the castle, and reaches chief citv of king Clarion, 184.
home, 612 at Arthur's court royal,
; BEL YAS,' Duke of Loseres, 578, 601.
622 recognises Merlin disguised, 622
;
;
BELYAS the amerouse of maydens
in the battle with Rion's host, 625 ;
castell, one of the forty-two fellows,
Luce contemplates an invasion of 135. 151. 159. 212.
Britain, 643 Arthur's expedition to ; BELYNS, Belyn, early king of Bretaigne,
Rome, 644 650 in the
;
joins it, ; 641, 642.
fourth division, 659 goes against the ; BEN-OYC, Benoy(c), Benoyk, Beynoyk,
devil cat, 666 his illegitimate son Estor ; a city in Barre, now called Bourges, 26 ;

is born, 674 Arthur's departure, 678;

;
Burges, 124 25, 124, 128, 130, 144,
;

never sees him again, 678 his death, ; 146, 380, 400, 419, 612, 670, 676, 677 ;

678; his son Gallead Lancelot born, steward, see Antoynes ; seneschal, see
698 attacked by the Romans and La
; Antyaume.
Desert men, 699 his city Benoyk ; BENOYK, Beynok, realm, see above for
captured, 699 only Trebes left, 669 ; its chief city
133, 134, 135, 303, 304,
;

betrayed bvhis seneschal of Trebes, 699. 305. 316, 360, 375, 379, 393, 402, 415,
BANDEMAGU, Bandemagn, Bawde- 416, 438, 557, 563, 587, 590, 623, 634,
magn, Badmagn, 172, 240, 566 nephew ; 655, 656. See Ban of Benoyk.
to Urien, 171, 237, 239, 241, 441, 443, BERENNAIN, Brinans (?), king, 173,
445 ; his son Meliagans, q.v. wives, ; 616.
238. BERNAGE, king of Saxon, 196.
BANYNS, Banyn, Bannins, son of BERTELAK, a traitour, Bertelak,
Grascien, 381, 406, 564 godson to ; Bertelak the rede, Bertelak the reade,
Ban, 406, 699 kin to Leonce, 381. ; Bertelak le Rous, Bertelais le Rous,
BARAHANS, a Saxon, 248. Bertelays, Bertelanx the traitour, 322,
BARBARIE, 676. 467, 469, 562 amour with the false ;

BARRE. 124. Gonnore, 466, 468, 470.

BASYNE, wife of Ventres, daughter
q.v. ; BERTONE, a gate of the city of Logres,
of Hoel, 177 sister ; of Arthur, 177 509-
her son Galashyn, 177. BETINGES, 595, 596.
BAWDEWYN, grandson of Ban, 124; BILAS, a Saxon, 278.
son of Grassien, 144. BISS HOP of Logres, no.
BEAUNE THE FEIRE, 635—638, 679, BLACK CROSS, 180.
682—685, 687,
698 689, 690, 691, BLAGNE, 186.
daughter of king Clamedien, 686 her ; BLAIRES, a vauasour, 204; his wife
dwarf love, Evadeam, Auadain, 688, LeoncU. q.v.
697. BLAKESTON, lord of, 441.
BEDIERS, 657. BLASE, hermit, counsels Merlin's mother
BEDYUER, the Constable, 661 a ; and aunt, 5 tells Merlin's mother to
;

knight of Arthur, 645 the adventure ; come to him whenever she is in trouble,
of the great giant, 645 the giant slain ; 6 she comes to him, 7 and tells him
; ;

by Arthur, 649 cuts the giant's head ; of her sister's fall, 8 counsels her, 8 ;
;

off, 649, 650 has charge of some ; she is steadfast in his doctrine, 9 the ;

captured knights, 655, 656 attacked ; other sister slanders him, 9 the devil's ;

by a Roman ambush, 656 in the great ; plot, 9 she comes to tell him how she
;

battle between Arthur and the Romans, has been beguiled, 10 does not at ;
 ;; ;; ;;

BLASE. [ 715 ] BORS OF CANNES.

first believe her innocence, 11 gives ;

go to Arthur because of Claudas, 130
her a penance and absolution, 11, 12 ; is reassured by Merlin, and goes by

she is great with child, and comes to ship, 130 grand reception, 132 ;

him, 12, 13 promises to aid her when ;

revels, the tourney, 133,
133, 138 ;

accused, 13 questioned by the judges, ; 137 ; Guynebande, 133,

his brother
13 ; tells the judge to wait till the 139 praises Kay, 136
;
the conference ;

child is born before burning her, 13 in the chamber, 138 does homage to ;

and to put her in a strong tower, 13 ;

Arthur as liege lord, 140, 173 in ;

they act on his advice, 14 the birth ; council with Arthur, 141, 146, 557 ;

of Merlin, 14, 16 the trial, 16, 23, ; his castle Mouloir, 144 Merlin comes, ;

121 Merlin devises the book for him

; 149 ; Merlin leads him to Arthur, 150,
to write, 23 Merlin tells him he will ; 173 ; his forces set in battle order,
go where the holy Grail is, 23 151, 152 his ensign borne by Pharien,
;

messengers from Vortiger, 30, 31, 32; 151 ;leads the third division, 151 ;

is told by Merlin to follow him to takes the enemy in the rear, 154;
Northumberland, 32, 33 and that he ;
rescues Arthur, 160 assails Vdiers, ;

shall be supplied with all the matter 161; "the grete baner," 161; dashes
for the book there, 32 the book shall ; into the fight, and attacks Carados,
be called the Boke of the St. Grail, 32 ; 162 his godson Biaaris bears his
;

goes to Northumberland, 33 Merhn ;

banner, 162, 212; prowess, 163; with
comes with news for the book, 41, 42, Arthur at Bredigan, 167, 168 goes to ;

46, 47. S3. 56. 81, 88, 97, 143, 166, Tarsaide, 202; to Tamelide, 171, 175,
259, 260, 261, 303, 305, 327, 378, 303, 307 worsts the Saxons, 185
;

635 Merlin's book of prophecies, 53,

;
his age, 203 the battle with the ;

54 Merlin tells him of the Round

; Saxons, 206, 207, 212 his prowess, ;

Table, 61, 62 Merlin's love for him, ; 210 smites Sarmedon, 211
; upsets ;

123 Merlin's dark sayings, 303, 304,

;
Seleuaunt, 217 his prowess, 220 ; ;

305 another visit from Merlin, 438,

;
follows Arthur, 221 slays Clariel, ;

450, 451 more news for his book,

;
222 served by Gonnore, 225
; Merlin ;

438, 451, 472, 562, 563, 679 another ; goes to Logres, 258 Merlin's fears ;

visit from Merlin, 472 asks Merlin ; for him, 303 his cousin Leonces, 305 ; ;

whether the Saxons will be driven out, his vassal Dionas, 308 gives him a ;

and about the dark prophecy of his, town, 308 Merlin comes, 312, 314 ;

563 Merlin's answer, 563

;
writes ; Merlin's counsel, 314 316 hears of — ;

letters which Merhn sticks up in the Claudas, 315 Merlin's dark saying, ;

highways, 563, 564; Merlin's depar- 315 goes to Leodogan, 317, 318
; ;

ture, 564 Merlin again comes, 612,

; Arthur's betrothal, 319 name dis- ;

635. 679 Merlin's farewell, 679, 688.

;
covered, 320 does homage to Arthur, ;

BLEORIS, Blaaris, Bloaris, knight, 162, 320; in the first ward, 321 Leodogan's ;

212, 487 godson of Bors, 162 son

;
; court royal, 322 sits at the head of ;

of Bors, 212. the dais, 322 praises Gonnore, 322 ; ;

BLIOBERIS, Blioberes. Bliobleris, Blyo- follows the banner in the fight, 327 ;

beris, one of the forty-two fellows, 136, chases king Saron, 328 gets a great ;

137, 151, 212, 349, 352, 383, 384, 385, stroke, 328 is surrounded, 328 at- ; ;

459, 480. tacked by Rion, 328 unhor.ses Saron, ;

BLIOS, lord of Cloadas castle, 321. 328 despairs of his life, 329
; hits ;

BLIOS, Blioc de Cassell, Blios del Rion, 329 rescues Hervy the Rivell, ;

Cassett, Blyos de la Casse, 682, one 329 upsets Aroans, 329

; upset by ;

of the fortv-two fellows, 135, 136, 212. Rion, 330 rescued by Hervy, 330 ; ;

BLOY BRETAIGXE. See Bretayne. and by Nascien, 331 Ban and others ;

BLOY MOUNTAYXE, 307. come, 332, 333 fighting on foot, 330, ;

BLOYS of PLAISSHIE, 442. 333 help comes, 335

; overthrows ;

BOCLUS, king of Mede, 661, 662. Rion's standard, 337 meets Ban, 344 ; ;

BOHORT, son of Bors, 698 brother of ; his great deeds, 344 he and his brother ;

Lvonel, 698. hard bestead, 344; Rion comes against

BOORS of BENOYK, 125. See Ban. them, 344; overthrown by Rion, 344,
BORELL, 655. See Bretel. 345 surrounded by Saxons, 345
; ;

BORS of GANNES, Bohort of Cannes, can't rise, his horse has fallen upon
698 brother of Ban, 472, etc.
; parent- ;
him, 345 wounded, 345 rescued,
; ;

age, 122 his enemy, 122, 124 ravages

; ; 345 rises again, 345 slays Maltailliet,
; ;

Claudas' land and subdues Claudas, 345 slits Rion's helm, 345, 346
; ;

125 marries Elein's sister, 125, 144,

; Rion cleaves his shield, 346 titer Pen- ;

380, 603 messengers from Arthur, ; dragon gives him Carroie castle, 350 ;

125 they are attacked, 126

; fears to ; gives it to Guynebant his brother, 350 ;
 — ; ;

BORS OF CANNES. [ 716 ] BORS OF CANNES.

Amaunt tries to recover it, 350, 351 ;

midday, 392 ; Arthur and the knights
Arthur does well with Marmadoyse, of the Round Table come to the rescue,
352 aids Leodogan, 355, 356 slays
; ; 392, 393 a hard fight of it, 393
; ;

Dodrilas, 357 goes with Arthur to ;

Kay comes with the banner, 393 dis- ;

Toraise, 358 quits them, and goes to

;
comfiture of Claudas, 397, 398 busy ;

Charroye castle, 358 360, 363

message from Ban, 360 Ban sets
a — ; in the fight, 398 the joy of the be-
sieged queens, 400 battle renewed, 401
;

; ;

out with Guynebans, 360 the forest ; [slays Claudas in revenge, 401 who ;

perilouse, 360 Arthur waiting, 363 ; lay in wait to slay him, and Lyonell,
365 ; the barons welcome him, 363, 401 he is preserved by Nimiane, 401 ;]
;

364 departs
; from Bredigan, 364 ;
Pharien fights with Claudas, 402, 403 ;

escorted by Ffragien part of the way, he is repulsed, 403 but Pharien is ;

364 Amaunt hears of his journey,

; succoured by Leonce, 403 the enemy ;

364; Amaunt lays wait for him, 364; is getting the best of it, 404 Merlin ;

Amaunt wants Carroie castle g^ven comes and taunts him with idleness,
up to him, 364 Bors says he got it ; 404, 405 Merlin rides into the fight
;

fairly, and will keep it, 364, 365 ;

with the banner, 405, 406 his prowess, ;

offers to give it up if Amaunt does 407, 409 meets Arthur, 409, 410
; ;

homage to Arthur, 365 a single com- ; Kay comes, 410 rout of Claudas, ;

bat agreed upon between them, 365 if ; 411 ; intercepts the fugitives, 411 ;

he loses, Amaunt to haveCorroie; if he half Claudas' army lost, 411 leads ;

wins, Amaunt to homage Arthur, 365 ;

Arthur and Gawein into Trebes castle,
he is bigger of bones than Amaunt, 365 ; 412 joy of his queen at seeing him
;

his knight would dissuade him, 366 ; again, 412 goes to bed with his wife,
;

but he persists, 366

Amaunt that
sends to tell
if Amaunt
;

loses, his men

413; Helayn's dream, 413 415
dream, 415 is confessed and hoseled
Ban's — ;

may go free, 366, 367 the combat, ; every eight days, 415 of holy ;

367, 370 his son Lyonell, 367

; ;
life, 416 Claudas, aided by Pounce,
;

his courtesy, 367 offers Amaunt ; Antony, and king of Gawle again
his life if he will acknowledge ravages the land, 416 his queen be- ;

Arthur, 368 cleaves him down to the

; comes a nun, 416 dies of starvation, ;

shoulders, 368, 565, 567 is sorry ; 416 his

; heir succoured at last by
for his death, 368 two hundred of ; Arthur, 416 Merlin explains He- ;

Amaunt's men go away, 368 but ; layn's dream, 416, 417 at Cannes, ;

three hundred say they will acknow- 419 welcomes Arthur, 419
; goes to ;

ledge Arthur, 368, 369 ; founds a the Rochell, and thence to sea, 419,
cloister there, with a clerk to sing for 420 starts for Carmelide, 420, 447.
;

Amaunt's soul, 369 reaches Bredigan,

; 448 in Toraise, 448, 449
; he and ;

and is welcome, 369 Arthur's nephews

; Ban lead Gonnore in the marriage
and Seigramore come, 370, 371 com- ; procession, 453 marriage of Arthur ;

mends Gawein, 372 the names of the

; and Gonnore, 453 the tournament at ;

company, 372, 373 with Arthur at

; Toraise, 455, 461 praises Gawein, and ;

Logres,374; attends on the "children," says he'd like to be like him, 456
374 puts on Seigramor's left spur,
;
trial and banishment of Bertelak, 469,
374, 375 gives Dodynell Amaunt's
; 470 sets out with Arthur and Ban
;

sword, because he is somewhat of his for Bredigan, 472 battle with Loot, ;

kin, 375 of higher lineage than

; 473, 474 rescues Arthur, 474
; Lot ;

Arthur, 377 remains at Logres, 378

; ; does homage to Arthur, 478, 479 ; at
goes with Ban and Arthur to Dover the court royal at Logjes, 480, 481 ;
and then on to the Rochell, 379 ;
watches the tournament of Logres,
meets Merlin, 379 his wife is be- ; 485, 495 ;
pacifies Gawein, 498 ; in
sieged in Trebes by Claudas, 380, 381 ;
council with Arthur, 504, 506 Lot ;

the expedition to Trebes, 381, 382, is to go to propose a truce to the

385, 399, 400 to lead the third com-; barons, 506 glad of the truce, 561 ; ;

pany, 382, 385, 386 the battle begins, ; his men brought to Salisbury by Merlin,
387 attacks Pounce and Antony, 387,
; 563 Merlin arrives at Logres, 566,
;

390 combat with Pounce, 390 up-

; ; 567 the treason of three Round Table
;

sets him, 390 Pounce rescued by his ; knights, 573, 574 goes to Salisbury, ;

men, 390 Pounce's wTath, 390, 391

;
; 575, 579, 581 ; a start for Clarence
Pounce again attacks him, 391 again ; agreed to, the story of Elizer, 582 ;

overthrows and defouls him, 391 ; 583, 584 the rescue of Morgeins,
;

Romans rescue Pounce, 391, 392 ;

Ventres' wife, 587 590 leads the — ;

Bohors' men are getting the worst of second w-ard at the battle of Garlot,
itj 392, 393 but fight on until past
; 594 his valour, 595
; in battle at ;
 —
;;; ;
;

BORS OF CANNES. [ 717 ] BRETEL.

Clarence, 601, 602 ;

goes to Camelot, 239, —
252 255, 510 his nephew (or ;

603 ; Merlin tells him to go home, son ?) Orienx, q.v. his son Arans, 291
; ;

603 ; starts, Agravadain's 604 ; at slain, 600.

castle, 604, 612, 671 departs, 612 ; BRAUREMES, a Saxon king, and an
reaches home, 612 in the battle with ;
ally of Rion, 342.
Rion's host, 625 unhorsed, 625 ; BREDIGAN, a castle in the marche of
horsed by Merlin, 625 Luce prepares ;
Breteyne the grete, and in the marche
to invade England, 643 Arthur's ex- of CarmeUde, 146, 148, 152, 167, 171,
—
;

p)edition to Rome, 644 joins Arthur's ;

202, 277 280, 282, 286, 288, 289, 316,
host, 650 in the third division, 659
; 360, 363, 364, 365, 369, 472.
.Arthur's farewell visit, 678 his death, ; BREDIGAN, the marche of, 350.
678, 699 his children Lyonel and
; BREDIGAN FOREST, 142, 144, 148,
Bohort, 698 falls sick, 699 ; and ; 149. 150, 153.
can't help his brother Ban, who is in BREDIGAN MEADOWS, 142, 145, 167.
trouble, 699 worried by Claudas, 699.
;
BREIGHAN, Bregnehan. Brekehan.
BOLRELL, Earl, 657. Brekehen, a forest on the river Sevame,
BOL'RGES, Burges, a city in Barre, —
272 275, 277, 313.
anciently known as Benoyc, which see, BRENNE, brother of Belvns, 641.
26, 124. BRETAYNE, Bretaige, Bretaigne, Bret-
BOYDAS, Moydas, Mydonas, king, a ayne the Breteigne, Bretein,
grete,
Saxon, 549
BRAN'CORS.
— 552.
See Brangoires.
Breteyne Bloy,
la Breting, Bloy
Bretaigne, Bloy Breteyne, Gret Bretein,
BRANDALIS, Braundalis, Saxon king Grete Bretaigne, Grete Bretayne, Grete
Maundalis, 549' 552.
I'called
BRAXDELIS, 366 lordof Gingabresell,
— Breteigne, Grete Breteyne, Grete Bre-
tigne, 23, 32, 49, 121, 124, 129, 130,
;

366 nephew of Amaunt, 366.

; 140, 146, 147, 167, 186, 191, 227, 229,
BRAN'DIXS de la dolerouse garde, 441, 230. 259, 304, 315, 316, 326, 341, 347,
445. 350, 399, 400, 415, 420, 433, 436, 438.
BRANDONS. Brandon, Brandouns, 236, 447. 455. 490. 502, 503, 507, 588, 598.
587, 588 king of a part of Saxonye,
; 609, 6io, 614, 615, 625, 631, 640, 641,
592 ; nephew of Hardogabrant, 592 642.
slain by Gawein, 592. BRETEL, Bretell, Bertel, a knight of
BRANGORE, Brangoires, king, 152, Hoel, duke of Tintagil, 67, 399 sent ;

etc. ; unhorsed
in the battle at Bredigan, by Hoel to Ygerne with a cup, 67 ; in
156, 159, t6i the defeat, 165 sends ; ; Hoel's confidence, 76 Merlin takes his ;

for the other kings, 172, 173, 174 form, 76, 77; sent by the barons to
of South Wales, 185 goes from ; Arthur, no; in council with Arthur,
Sorhant to Strangore, 185. 186, 187, 114; Arthiu-'s battle with the seven
247 his wife the daughter of the
; kings, 118, 119; Ydiers attacks him,
emf)eror Adrian of Constantinople, 119 sent by Arthur for Ban and Bors,
;

186, 577 the Saxons waste his land,

; 124 ; well acquainted with Ban and
247 he arms, 247 the battle, 247
; ; Bors, 124 ; goes by sea to Benoyk, 124;
250 Carados comes to aid him, 249
; ;
at Trebes, 125 starts for Benoyk to
;

and Belynans, 249 the Saxons escape, ; meet Ban and Bors, 126 attacked by ;

250 returns to East Strangore, 250.

; Claudas' men, 126, 127, 128, 131 slays ;

251 his ; cousins, 292 king of ; one, and arrives at ESenoyk, 128; sees
Strangore, 373 his nephews, 373 ; the two kings, 131 ; all return to Logres,
leads the fifth ward in the expedition 131 ; serv'es at the banquet at Logres,
to Clarence against Saisnes, 438, 439 ; 133 finds Merlin has told Arthur all his
;

a night attack, 439 442, 444

comfited, 444 but makes another
dis-
;
— ; adventures, 138 in council with Arthur,
141
;

purveyor, 143 leads the second ;

;

attack, 444, 445 is totally beaten, ; diN-ision at the battle of Bredigan, 151
446, 447, 449; goes home, 447, 449; aids Kay, 155 fights Clarion, 155
;

hears Arthvu- is at Lxjgres, 449, 450 both unhorsed, 156 the battle severe, ;

wishes for peace with Arthur, 450, 157 ; Antor horses him, 158 his ;

451 a conference with Arthur's envoy,

; prowess, 158, 159 recognises Merlin ;

557. 558. 559 a truce, 560 leads his; ;

disguised, 169 aids Leodogan, 209,
;

men to Salisbury, 561, 565, 575 at ; 212 goes to the rescue of Cleodalis,
;

Salisbury, 577, 585 ; wants to see 212 ;the fight with the giants, 216
Seigramor, 577 in the battle of Garlot, ; smites Cordaimt, 217 felled to the ;

593, 594, 595 ; his dwarf son Auadain, earth, 220 tries to dissuade Bors from
;

688 son-in-law to Adrian, 186.

; fighting Amaunt, 366 in the battle ;

BRANGUE, Brangu of Saxoyne, Bran- before Trebes, 399 is asked by a ;

gore of Saxon, Brangare, a Saxon king. messenger from Trebes what the army
 ;

BRETEL. [ 718 ] CHALIS THE ORPHENYN.

is, 399; tells him it has come to raise CAMPERCOREXTIN, Campercoren-

the siege and release the two queens, tyn, a castle, 171, 287.
399 ;a plot to kidnap Arthur's wife CANADE, one of the forty-two fellows,
Gonnore, 452 his counterplot, 452,
; 212.
463 ;the tournament, 455 rescues ; CAXAGUS, Arthur's nephew, 257.
Gonnore from the plotters, 463, 465, CAXDELMESSE, 103, 143, 145, 150.
562; tells Cleodalis of the plot, 467; CAXLEXT, king, 210.
the false Gonnore banished, 468, 469, CAR ADOS, of the perilouse tour, 442;
562 trial and banishment of Bertelak,
;
of the dolerouse toure, 250 ; de la dole-
469, 470 takes convoy of prisoners to
; rouse toure, 446.
Benoyk, 656 an ambush laid for him,
; CAR-\DOS BREXBRAS, 108. 119, 438
656, 657. —441, 449, 450, 451, 565, 575.
BRETOUNS, 147, 590, 641, 642, 652— CAR.\DOS of STRAXGORE,
his
655, 657, 660, 661, 663, 664, 670. nephews Alain and Aeon, 373, 375 king ;

BRIADAS, 121 ; his son Aguysas, q.v. of Strangore, 146, 577 the battle at ;

BRIALEN, near Tintagell, 175. Bredigan, 160, i6x, 165; rides against
BRIAN OF ARONDELL, 287. Bors, 162, 163 goes to his chief city
;

BRIOK, Briogne, Brioke, Bryoke, a Eastrangore, 187 fights the Saxons,

;

forest, 307, 308, 309, 314, 381, 383, 187 goes to aid Brangore, 248 250
;
—
386, 400. his nephew Kay Destranx, 251, 577 a ;

BRIOLORS, a Saxon, 244. conference with Arthur's envoy, 557,

BROCHELONDE, Broceliande, Bro- 559 the meeting of the princes at
;

cheliande, a forest, 178, 179, 189, 190, Salisbury, 577, 585 [discord between ;

235, 681, 692, 698. Arthur and the princes, 577 leaves ;

BROLENDE, a castle near the river the company of the Round Table, 577 ;]
Sourne, 243. asks after his nephews Aglin des vaus
BRULEN'T, a city, 237. and Kehedin le petitz, 577 leads the ;

BRUNS saunz pitee, Bruyn saunz pitee, fourth ward at Garlot, 594 in battle ;

Bruyns saunz pitee, 273, 441, 445 his ; before Clarence, 601 aids Arthur ;

castle of the depe slade in Northum- against Luce's invasion, 643 in the ;

birlonde, 256. second division, 659.

BRUTUS flies from Troy to Bretaigne, CARDOELL, Cardoel, Cardoll, a city
146 ; afterwards called Bretaigne of Arthur in Wales, 60 65, 69, 72, 79, —
after him, and founds Newe Troye, 81, 82, 120,
133, 135, 180, 200, 201,
147- 277, 278, 301, 376, 571, 682, 685, 694,
BURGOYNE, 307, 643, 650. 697 its Castelein
; Doo, q.v.
BURGOYXE, duke of, 307, 308 ; his CARMEDUK the BLAKE, fellow of
niece marries Dionas, 307, 308. Gawein, 682.
CARMELIDE, Carmalide, Carmelyde,
CADOR, one of Arthur's barons, 640, Tamalide, Tamelide, Talmelide, a
655, 656. realm, 114, 123, 141, 171, 173, 175,
CALCEDOYXE, duke of, 340. 188, 192, 205, 209, 212, 259, 260, 266,
CALCHOUS, cousin to Aguysans, the 294. 303. 307. 315. 3211 327. 349. 352.
Roy de Cent Chivaliers, 173. 358. 375. 376, 378, 382, 396, 401. 404.
CALIBOURNE, Escaliboure, Arthur's 420, 448, 450, 451, 453, 454, 468, 471,
miraculous sword, which he afterwards 472, 562, 563, 565, 567, 594, 598, 601,
gives to Gawein, 98 107, 112, 118, — 615, 616, 619, 620, 621, 624, 657, 659,
120, 129, 178, 210, 220, 339—343. 353. 678, 682 a marche, 167, 350 a
; ; city,
374, 460, 476, 492, 493, 511. 514, 530, 202 ; steward, seneschal, see Cleodalis ;

533. 534. 536. 543. 549. 551. 552. 592. king, see Leodogan.
663. CARXILE, Carnyle, an enchantress and
CALIDUS of Rome, a Roman prince, sister to Hardogabrant, 176, 185.
656. CARXYLE? country, 232.
CAMADAYSE. 567. CAROS DE LA BROCHE, one of
CAMBENYK, Cambanyk, Cambenek, a Gawein's fellows, 682.
city ofduke Escam, 145, 157, 159, 160, CASSELL? 682.
161, 253, 255, 271, 274, 276, 277, 313, CATHEX^OIS, Chachelos, a Roman
439. 445. 546. 547. 548, 555. 557. 576. prince, 656, 657.
588, 594, 601, 659; a marche, 188; CAUES DE LILLE, fellow of Gawein,
plains, 509, 550 castelein, see Tria-
; 682.
mores. CEZAR, 641.
CAMELOT,Cameloth,Kamelot, Arthur's CHALIS the ORPHEXYX,
Clealis
town, 259, 260, 261, 266 603, — 270, lorfenyns, one of the forty-two fellows,
604, 612, 613, 617, 618, 619, 623, 630. 212, 682.
 ;;

CHARROYE. [ 719 ] CLAUDAS DE LA DESERTE.

CHARROYE, Carroie, Carroye, a castle against Luce, 644 ; in the second

in the marche of Tamelide and division, 659.
Bredigan, 350, 351, 358, 359, 360, 363, CLAUDAS UE LA DESERTE, his town
364, 365, 369 its Castelein, Ffragein,
;
of Benoyk or Burges in Barre, 124
364- dispute with king Ban about a castle,
CHRISTOFER, king, 445 ; his nephew, 124, 401, 699 wastes Ban's land, 124,
;

445- 130, 382, 603, 167 battle with Ban, ;

CHKISTOFERDE LA ROCHE BYSE, 124, 125 is defeated and his lands

;

one of the forty-two fellows, 212. ravaged, 125 his chief city La Deserte,
;

CIPRE, 676. 125 ; his power paralyzed, 125 his ;

CITIE DE LA DESERTE, 124, 125, knights attack Ulfin and Bretell. 126,
see Claudas. 127, 128 ;does homage to the king of
CLAMADAS, king, 173. Gaul, 303, 305 compact with Rome, ;

CLAMEDEN, Clamedien, Clamedin, 303, 305, 306, '315 Dionas does him ;

king, 560, 594 king of the yles, 578 ;

; great damage, 308 his men again ;

his brother, king Lak, 601 his brother ;

invade Benoyk, 375 disappointed in ;

king Euadain, 601 his daughter, the ;

his hopes of plunder, 380 resolves to ;

Feire Beaune, 686 ; his seneschal, besiege Trebes, 380; the siege of Trebes,
Aguvgneron, q.v. 380; assembly of Arthur's host, 381,
CLAMEDOS, a Round Table knight, 382, 385 Arthur's army approaches,
;

598. 385, 386; gets ready for battle, 386;

CLARELL, king, slain by Arthur, 336. Arthur's host arrives, 386; the battle
CLARENCE, Clarance, Clarion, a rich begins, 387 attacked by Ban, 387,
;

city, 145, 255, 258, 275, 277, 292, 438, 388 ; suffers great loss, 387 mad ;

439, 440, 483. 516. 521. 535, 575, 576, with wrath, 387 encounter with Ban, ;

582, 585, 588, 590, 592, 593, 598, 599, 389 his
; horse slain, 389 fights on his ;

603. knees, and is rescued by his men,

CLARENCE Arthur's war-cry, 136,
! 389 ; Ban is hard bestead, 389, 390,
284, 287, 294. 394 ; Gawein comes and rescues Ban
CLARLAS of GAULE,
one of the forty- and unhorses Claudas, 394 many of ;

two fellows, 212. his knights slain by Gawein, 394; is

CLARIEL, slain by Bors, 222. remounted 395 his coat of arms, ;

CLARION, king, giant, slain by Ban, 395 ; attacked again by Ban and Ga-
210, 211. wein, 395 is furious,
; 395 pursued ;

CLARION, king of Northumberland, by Gawein and Ban, 395, 396 escapes ;

meets the rebel kings at Bredigan, 146 ;

by chance, 396 discomfited. 398 ;

Cloricn, 155 in the battle at Bredigan,

; the battle renewed, 401, 402 [his sad ;

iS.S. 156. 159. 160, i6r, 165; of end, 401 disinherited, 401
; seeks to ;

Northumberland, 159, 160; the council slay Bors and Lyonell by treason, 401 ;]
of kings, 172 goes to his city of Bel-
;
decapitated by Bors whilst disguised as
lande, 184 the battle before Toraise,
; a palmer, 401 has thirty-five thousand
;

210, 220; encounter with Ban, 210, and Arthur's twenty-eight thousand
211 the Saxons destroy his land, 255
;
;
men in the field, 402 Pharien with ;

sends to Escam, 255, 256 battle with ; five thousand men comes on the field,
the Saxons, 256, 257, 258, 271 275 — ; 402 combat with Pharien, 403 rides
; ;

goes to Cambenyk, 276 the spoil ; against him with ten thousand men,
divided, 277; leads the seventh ward 403 vow of revenge on Pharien, 403
; ;

in the expedition to Clarence against drives back Pharien, 403, 409; upset
the Saisnes, 438, 439 a night at- ; and ridden over by Gawein, 410 sore ;

tack, 439, 440, 441 discomfited, ; wounded and overthrown, 410, 411
444 ; but makes another attack, 444, diffouled under horse feet, 411 utterly ;

445 ; is totally beaten, 446, 447, 449, routed, 411, 449, 450 advises a retreat ;

525 goes home, 447, 449

;
hears ; to the Desert, 411 loses half his men, ;

Arthur is at Logres, 449, 450 wishes ; but escapes, 411 Arthur wastes his ;

for peace with Arthur, 450, 451 his ; lands, 416, 699 [reinforced by Pounce
;

forester entertains Lot and his sons, Anthony and king of Gawle, and
518, 519, 524, 535 a messenger from ; reduces Ban and Bors to gmat straits,
Lot, 525 agrees to meet Lot at
;
416, 419 Ban and Bors die of starva-
;

Arestuell, 525, 556 the conference of ; tion,416 their wives take refuge in a
;

the barons and Lot, 558, 559 the ; nunnery from him, 416 Arthur can't ;

assembly of the host at Salisbury, help Ban and Bors, his hands are full,
565, 575, 585 leads the third ward;
416 driven out by Arthur at last, 416 ;]
;

in the battle of Garlot, 594 in battle ; Gawein ravages his lands, 419 Pounce. ;

before Clarence, 601 aids Arthur ; Antony, Frolle, and Randolf depart full
48
 ;;

CLEODALIS. [ 720 ] DIONAS.

of rage, 419 is left poor, 419 his

; ; COLCHOS. Isle of, 339.
Citee de la deserte, 419 lays siege ; COLEGREUAUXT, Calogreuant, Cole,
to the castle, 419 Arthur's exp>e- ; grenaunt, one of the forty-two fellows-
dition to Rome, 650; a fight between 212, 349, 480.
his knights and Arthur's, 669, 670 ;
COLOCALLUS, Colocaullus, Caulus,
battle with Launcelot, 676 gets aid ;
king, ally of Rion, 348, 355, 356, 357.
from Pounce Antony, 699 attacks ; COLUFER. king, ally of Rion, 338, 343,
Ban with Romans' help, 699 his enemy , 344-
Hoel of Nauntes is slain, 699. COXSTANCE, king of Bretayne, 23, 24,
CLEODALIS. Cleodales, 207, 337 42 his three sons are Moyne,
27, 40, 41, ;

seneschal of Carmehde, 657, 659 ;

Pendragon, and Uter.
steward of Tamelide, 205, 463, 467, COXSTANTINUS, Constantynus, aking
468, 469, 567, 594, 601, 627; attacks of Bretaigne and conqueror of Rome,
the Saxons, 207, 209; on foot, 211, 642.
214 his nobility, 212
; his love for a ; CONSTAXTYXEXOBLE, Constantyn-
maiden at court, 212 marries her, ; noble, Costantinenoble, Costantinnoble,
213, 451 his king, Leodogan, beguiles
; Costantynncble, 186, 230, 259, 263, 271,
her, 213 she bears a daughter, 214
; 280, 373, 374, 396, 449, 577, 654, 676 ;

who is named Gonnore, 214. 451 see Segramore Emperor, 186, 230.
;

his wife is shut up by Leodogan, 214 ;

CORBEXYK, castle belonging to king
his forbearance towards Leodogan, Pelles, 229.
214 bears the banner of Leodogan,
; CORCHEXSE, Corsheuse, Ban's sword,
215, 217, 219 his braverj', 215 219; — ; 210, 211, 344, 346.
Merlin's band come to the rescue, 219; CORDAL'XT, a Saxon, 217.
encouraged by the ladies on the wall, COREXGE, Carenges, Corenges, an im-
219; his nephew Landons, 321 leads, ; portant city in Scotland, 187 chief ;

together with Leodogan, Arthur's tenth citv of Agfuysans, 236.

di\"ision,321, 337; he and Leodogan COR'XEUS flies from Troy to Cornwall,
are separated from their men in the which is named after him, 147.
dark, 347 in peril, 348, 353
; Leodo- ; CORXEWAILE, Cornewaile in Bre-
gan is unhorsed, 348 gis-es Leodogan ;
taigne, Cornewayle, 146, 147, 152, 172,
his horse, 348 Leodogan sees his ; 176, 177, 253, 258, 277, 278, 283, 439.
devotedness, and repents his foul deed, 445, 557, 558, 601, 657 whence named ;

348 Leodogan is felled, 354

; he ;
147 for king, see Ydiers.
;

stands over and defends him, 354 CORNYAX, Cornycans, a Saxon king,
Leodogan asks his forgiveness for the 602 kin to Aungis, 248.
;

foul deed, 354 their great peril, 355 ; ;

CRISTENL\SSE, 96.
Merlin comes to the rescue, 355
seneschal of Carmelide, 451, 601 a ;

plot to seize Arthur's wife Gonnore, DAGEXET OF CLARIOX, a knight

451, 452, 463; his kinsmen hate Leo- and a fool, 483, 485 ; see Malory's
dogan, 451 knows nothing of all this
; Morte d'Arthur.
treason, 451 • Ulfm and Bretel tell him DAMSEL OF BRULEXT, whose love
of it, 467 Says she is not his real
; issought bv Gaudius, 237.
daughter, 467- his step- daughter DAXEBLAI'SE, Danablaise, Danablise,
banished b}' Leodogan, 468 takes her ; a noble city, 224, 333, 349. 351, 450,
to an abbey in Carmelide, 468, 469 ; 472 Castelein,
; see Sadoyne and
Bertelak's intrigue with her, 468 Xablaise.
returns to Toraise, 468 leads the ; DAXES, Danoys, 27, 42, 55, 56, 91, 152,
army of Carmelide to Salisbury, 567 ; 659 ; their king Amynadus, 152 ; see
leads the fourth ward at Garlot, 594 228, 659.
in the battle before Clarence, 601 is ; DARMAUXTES FOREST, 401.
besieged by Rion, 616, 617 stout de- ; DEXMARK, Denmarke, 228, 252; for
fence, 618 slays king Margent, 618
; ;
kmg, Rion.
see
sally out to aid Arthur, who is attempt- DIAXE, the goddess, 307, 632, 633, 675.
ing to raise the siege, 627 succours ; DIOGLUS, a Saxon, slain by EUzer, and
Bediuer and his party, 657 returns to ; steward to Magloras, 587.
Arthur, 657 in Arthur's third dixnsion,; DIOXAS, Dionys, Dyonis, a knight, 159,
659 \-isit from Arthur, 676.
; 564, 565, 587, 595.
CLEOLES, Cleolas, king, 595, 600 DIOXAS, a vauasor, 307, 308, 310, 418 ;

called "the firste conquered kynge," his wife niece of the duke of Burgoyne,
578 ; his seneschal Guyonce, 578. 307, 308, 418 his ; daughter Ximiane,
C LOAD AS, a marvellous castle of Blios, 308, 418, -li'hlch see ;
godson of the
321. goddess Diana, 307.
 ;; ;;

DODRILAS. [ 721 ] ESCLENCE.

DODRILAS,anAmyrall,slainbyBors,3S7 EASTRANGORE, the chief city of

DODYNELL the SAVAGE, son of Carados, 187 ; of Brangore, 247, 250,
Belynans, 247, 373, 449, 576 his ; 685.
mother Esclence, 247 cousin of ; EBRON, husband of Enhyngnes, 326.
Galeshyn, 247, 373 hears Lot's sons ; ELEIN, see Helayne.
are going to join Arthur and resolves ELEINE, Elein, wife of Ban of
to go too, 251 goes with Kay ;
Benoyk, 125.
Destranx and Kehedin to Logres, 251, ELIZER, son of Pelles of Lytenoys,
252, 258, 377 battle with the Saxons,
; 521—524, 528—535, 538, S40, 542—546,
294 meets Arthur, 373
; dubbed ; 550. 553—556. 584. 585. 587—590. 596.
knight by Arthur after the usual vigil, 602 Pellynor his uncle, 520, 539,
;

374, 449 who gives him a treasure

; 583 his cousin germain,
;
539 his ;

sword, 374 the banquet. 375

; goes ;
uncle king Alain, 583.
with Gawein, 377 in command under ; ELUNADAS, a young lord, and nephew
Gawein, 378 his prowess at Trebes,
; to the wise lady of the foreste saunz
396 unhorsed, 407, 408
; succoured ; retour, 321, 361, 362, 363.
by Gawein, 407, 408 lodged in Trebes ; EMPRESSE of ROME, wife to Julius
castle, 412 at the marriage of Arthur
; Cezar, 420, 421, 429, 430, 431, 434 ;

and Gonnore, 453, 454 in the tourna- ; burnt for her untruth, 432, 433.
ment of Toraise, 456, 458, 459 at ; ENGELONDE, kings of, 53.
Arthur's Logres court royal, 480, 481 ;
ENHYN'GNES, sister to Joseph (Abara-
his deeds in the Logres tournament, mathie), wife to Ebron, 326.
489 his comeliness, 499 goes seek-
; ;
ENTRE of ROME, 422.
ing adventures with Seigramor and ESCALIBOURE, jt?^ Calibourne.
Galaishin, 561, 562, 566; the treason ESCAM, duke of Camberjyk, comes to
of Three Round Table knights who help the seven kings against Arthur,
attack them, 561, 562, 566, 573; over- 145 in the battle of Bredigan, 157,
;

throws Monevall, one of them, 571 159, 160, 161 arms Cambenyk his city
;

the fight stopped by knights sent by against the Saxons, 188 a messenger ;

Arthur, 571, 572. from Clarion, 255 leads his men to ;

DOLEROUSE GARDE, 273. Seehadns, aid Clarion against the Saxons, 256
Lord. a battle, 256, 257, 258, 271 277 his — ;

DOO of CARDOEL, his son Gifflet, 133, castle Suret, 313 leads the sixth ward ;

I3S' 138, 571 ; castelein of Cardoell, in the expedition against the Saisnes be-
197 a noble man and a true, 197
; fore Clarence, 438, 439 a night attack, ;

bears the banner, and aids Gawein, 439, 440, 441 discomfited, 444 ; but ;

200 overthrown by Madelen, 200

;
;
makes another attack, 444 is totally ;

capture of Logres, 200, 376 divides ; beaten, 446, 449 goes home, 447, 449 ; ;

the spoil, 201 makes great joy of ; hears Arthur is at Logres, 449, 450 ;

Gawein and his fellows, 301 asks ; wishes for peace with Arthur, 450, 451
Gawein about Merlin, 302 master ; Lot and his sons come to aid him just
forester to Uter Pendragon, 133 vows ; as he is driven in by a Saxon host, 547
to find Merlin, 682. — 551 unhorsed, 551
; horsed and ;

DORILAS, Dodalis, Dodalus, a Saxon rescued by Gawein and Gaheries, 551

leader, slain bv Agra vain, 348, 549 — 1552 unhorsed again, 553; horsed by Lot,
;

DORILAS,Doriax,aRoundTableknight, 553 complete rout of the Saxons, 554;

;

kin to Ventres, 243 — 246, 441, 443, 491, finds who Lot is and his company,
587. 588. 554. 555 entry into Cambenyk, 555
;

DOUCRENEFAR, a castle, 518 ;

praises Elizer, 555, 556 Lot proposes ;

castelein. see Grandilus, 518. peace with Arthur, 556 agrees, 556, ;

DOULAS, a Saxon, slain by Gosenaym, 557 sends messengers to the other

;

217. barons to come to the conference, 557,

DOVE, Doue, Dione, river and bridge, 558 Lot and his sons go to Arestuell,
;

281, 282, 286, 287, 288. 558; the conference, 558, 559;
557,
DOVER, 250, 259, 377, 378, 379, 678. the assembly of the host at Salisbury,
DRL^NT the REDE, a Saxon, slain by 565. 575. 576. 582. 584, 585 the battle :

Seigramor, 268. before Garlot, 588 leads the first ;

DRIAS DE LA FOREST SAUAGE, division, 593. 594 slays Salubrun, ;

Drias de la foreste sauge, Diras, one 594 in battle before Clarence, 601
; ;

of the forty-two fellows, 135, 151, 157, aids Arthur against Luce, 644 in ;

159, 212. Arthur's first division, 659.

DRIAS LE GAIS of the forest Perilouse, ESCLEXCE, wife of Belynans, daughter
250, 441. of king Natan, sister to Ventres, and
DRIAS, the lord of Salerne, 441. her son Dodynell, 247.
 ;;;
;; ;;

ESTOR. [ 722 ] FORESTE.

ESTOR, bastard son to Ban, son of EWEIN CYUELL, 373, 375, 377, 378,
.Agravadain's daughter, 674, 675. 449-
ESTREMORS, Destramors, ? city, 345, EWEIN DE LIONELL, 292, 294, 373,
561. 375. 377. 378, 396. 449. 480, 518.
ETHIOCLES, 340. EWEIN ESCLINS, 373, 375, 377. 396.
EN'ADAIN, Euadain, a Christian king, 449, 480.
594. 601, his seneschal Fflamus. EW'EIN ESTRANIS, 292, 294, 378.
EVANDER, Euander, king of Surre, EW'EIN AVOUTRES,
son of king
656, 657 ; slain 658. Urien and the wife of Cleodalis, 238,
EVADEAM, see Auadain. 449 his father's bounty, 238 why so
; ;

EW'EIN, son of Urien, 122, 388, 396, named, 238; his foster brother Ewein,
449. 455. 459. 480, 655; his names, 238 swears not to be dubbed unless
;

le gaunte, 122 the More, 238, 242, ; by Arthur, 238 keeps his father's town
;

279, 284 the Grete, 258

; le graunde, ; Sorham, 238; goes with Ewein on the
283 le graunt,
; 285, 453, 455, way to Arthur, 241, 242, 258, 277, 280,
480 li
; grans, 286, 287, 288 future ; 285 they arrive at Arondell, 277
;

foretold, 122 left in Sorhan, 238 ;his ; leave Arondell, 278 fight with the ;

foster brother Ewein Avoutres 238 Saxons under Bilas, 278, 279, 280, 282,
resolves to be dubbed by Arthur only, 289 ; they are both unhorsed, 283 ;

238 talks to his mother about it, 241

; Gawein and his cousins come to the
she consents to his journey, 241; tells rescue, 280 288 —
defeat of the Saxons,;

Ewein Avoutres about it, 241, 242; 288, 289 withdraws to Bredigan, 288
; ;

tliey both set off, 242, 251, 258, 277, another victory over the Saxons, 294 ;

349 arrives at Arondell, 277 leaves

; ; meets Arthur, 373 ; is welcomed, 373
Arondell, 278 fight with the Saxons, ; the vigil in the minster, 374 dubbed ;

278, 289, unhorsed, 283; his cousins knight by Arthur, 374, 449 goes with ;

come to his aid, 280, 288 defeat of ; Gawein to Dover, 377, 378 his prowess ;

the Saxons, 288, 289 at Bredigan, ; in the battle before Trebes, 388, 396 ;

289; beats the Saxons again, 294; atArthur and Gonnore's wedding, 453,
meets Arthur, 373 welcome, 373 his ; ;
454 at Arthur's Logres court royal,
;

374; dubbed by Arthur, 374, 449;

vigil, 480, 481 in the battle at Garlot, 595 ;
;

goes with Gawein to Dover, 377, 378 ; in Arthur's first division at Oston, 659
the great battle before Trebes, 388
his prowess, 388, 407 lodged in Trebes ; FALSADRES, king, 244, 245.
castle, 412 in Toraise, 448, 449; is an
; ffANNELL, 268.
early riser, 448 at the marriage of ; FANSOBRES, king, 243.
Arthur and Gonnore, 453, 454 in the ; FER OUTE YLLES, dragon there,
tournament at Toraise, 455, 459, 462 316 ; their lord, 577.
the trial and banishment of Bertelak, ffERXICANS, king, 342, 343.
469, 470 at Arthur's Logres court
; FIENDS, assembly of, i, 2, 3; their
royal, 480, 481 Dagenet's cowardice, ; project, 23 ; its execution, 10.
484 cousin
; of Gawein, 280, 485 his ; LAMUS, seneschal of Evadain, 594, 601.
ff
deeds in the tournament of Logres, FLAUNDRYNS LE BLANKE, 135.
—
486 489, 494, 495, 498 the meeting ; FLAUNDRYNS LE BRET, 151, 159,
in the hall, 499 reconciliation of the ; 212.
Queen's knights of the Round Table, ffLUALIS, king of Jerusalem, 632 ;

500, 502 the treason of three Round

; death, 676; a Sarazin, 632; his
his
Table knights, 568 sent by Arthur to ; queen, 632, 633, 634 ; named Lunble,
them, 568, 569, 570, 573 brings the ; 675 her christian name Misiane, 675
; ;

knights to Arthur, 573 at Salisbury, ; his marvellous dream, 632, 634 his ;

579 in the
; battle of Garlot, 596 in ; daughter, 633.
the battle before Clarence, 601, 602; ffOLDATE, daughter of Julius Caesar,
in the battle between Rion and Arthur, Emp. Rome, 423, 434, 437 ; her
624 sent on Embassy to Rome by
; husband Patrik, q.v.
Arthur, 650, 651 Gawein's rashness, ; FOREST, see Bredigan, Briok, Rome,
652 flight, 652 pursuit, 652 slays a
; ; ; and Romayne.
pursuer, 653 hard pressed, 655 vic-
; ; FORESTE denoyable, 316, 370.
tory, 655 in Arthur's first division,
; FORESTE in the shadowe undir Molait,
659 vows ; to find Merlin, 682, 687 411.
his adventures, 687 helps Auadain, ; FORESTE perilouse, forest perilouse,
688, 690 cannot find Merlin, 689
; afterwards called forest saunz retour,
his meeting with Evadeam, 698. 360, 361. 364 lord of the, 445, 475, 682.
;

EWEIN with the white hands, 238, 292, FORESTE saunz retour, 321, 360 ; wise
294. 373. 375. 377. 388, 396, 449, 480. lady of the, 321, 361, 362, 363.
 ;;

FORESTE. [ 723 ] GAHERIES.

FORESTER, is a Vavasour, 517, 518 court royal, 481 ; his deeds in the
(see Mynoras) ; his wife, 517, 518 Logres tournament, 487, 488, 489 ;

his four sons, 517, 518 his two ; reconciliation of the Round Table and
daughters, 517, 518, 526, 527, 528, Queen's knights, 500, 502 is to go ;

53°- with his father and brethren to make

fifORFRAIN, king, 215, 216. a truce with the princes, 505, 506, 507 ;

FORREYOURS, king, 243. the start, 509, 510 his encounter with ;

FORTY fellows, 396, 203, 401, 412, 413, Saxons, 510, 511, 512 can't find ;

454. 455- Gawein, 513, 514 unhorsed, 5r5 ; ;

FORTY-TWO fellows, 212. rescued by Gawein, 516; they lodge at

FOURSCORE fellows, 458, 486, 494, a forester's house, 517, 518 on their ;

497 and ten, 494, 499, 502.

;
joiuTiey again, 524, 525, 526 their talk ;

ffRAGELLES, Ffagilles, a Saxon earl, by the way, 526, 527 the rescue of ;

593. 595- Elizer, 528 —

531 thrown to the earth, ;

fFRAGlEN, 242; castelein of Carroie 532 captured by Monaquyn, 533

; ;

castle, 364. rescued by Gawein, 533 horsed by ;

FRAUNCE, Ffraunce, 669, 670. Elizer, 534 angry with Gawein, 537
; ;

ffREELAXT, 220, 222, 223. insults his father, 538 the sumpters ;

FRENSHE book (the), 147. are sent to Mynoras, 538, 555 rests at ;

ffREXSSHEMEN, Frenshe, 392, 438. a hermitage, 539, 544 at Roestok ;

fiFROLLE, Duke of Almayne, 303, 306, castle, 545, 546 battle with Saxons ;

315. 375. 379. 380, 386, 387, 388, 394, outside Cambenyk, 547 553; unhorsed, —
397. 398. 402, 408, 409, 411, 419, 421, 551 rescued, 552
; Saxons routed, ;

435. 437. 450- 554 entry into Cambenyk, 555 third

; ;

son of Lot, 555 go to Nonh Wales

;'

GAHERET, his
372; mother, 86, his and thence to Arestuell, 557, 558; keeps
aunt Basyne, 373, 285, 526, 545, 553 ;
vigil with Elizer before he is knighted,
father, 179 resolves to join Arthur,
; 584 in the battle of Garlot, 594 vows
; ;

183, 184, 240, 251, 260, 557, 439 ;

to find Merlin, 682.
joins Galeshyn, 191 the battle with the ; GAHERIES, fourth son of Lot, 555;
Saxons, 193, 194, 230 upset by Guyne- ; his mother, 86, 230, 272 his aunt ;

bans, 194 remounted by Gawein, 195

; ;
Basyne, 373 father, 179, 230, 285, 526, ;

rescues Gaheries, 196 kills Guynebans, ; 545, 555 resolves to join Arthur, 183,
;

199 sojourn at Logres, 201, 202

; 184, 240, 251, 260, 439, 557 joins ;

Arthur is told of him, 230 slays ; Galeshyn, 190, 191 battle with the ;

Vabibre, 265 goes to Camelot, 267 ; ;

Saxons, 193, 194, 230 chases Guyne-- ;

fells Taurus, 268 Merlin calls him ; bans, 194; upsets him, 195; surrounded
coward, 269 Gawein goes to help ; bySaxons and overthrown, 195 rescued ;

Ewein, 280 leads the second ward,

;
by his brothers, 196 rescues Agravain, ;

280 charges the Saxons, 284 forced

; ; 199 sojourn at Logres, 201 202 Arthur
; , ;

to retreat, 285 a reverse, 287 keeps ; ; is told of him, 230 slays Solunant, ;

the bridge, 288 at Arondell, 291, ; 265 ;

goes to Camelot, 267 fells ;

293 prowess,
; 294 a strange guest, ; Ffannell, 268 Merlin calls him coward, ;

297, 301, 314 cuts Taurus to pieces, ; 269 ; Gawein goes to help Ewein,
299, 300 return to Arondell, 301
; at ; 280 leads the third ward, 280 charges
; ;

Logres, 301 makes a vow, 301, 314, ; the Saxons, 286 a reverse, 287 keep ; ;

449, 450 Arthur; is arming, 370 goes ;

the bridge, 288 at Arondell, 291, ;

out to meet him, 370 salutes Arthur ; 293 ;

prowess, 294 a strange guest, ;

on his knees, 371 Gawein tells ; 297, 301, 314 cuts Taurus to pieces, ;

Arthur they are come to be knighted, 299, 300 return to

; Arondell, 301 at ;

371, 372 Arthur promises it, 372

;
;
Logres, 301 makes a vow, 301, 314,
;

presented to King Arthur, 372 Arthur ; 449, 450 Arthur is coming, 370 goes
; ;

makes great joy of him, 373 goes to ;

out to meet him, 370, 371 salutes ;

Logres with Arthur, 374 the vigil in ; Arthiu" on his knees, 371 Gawein tells ;

the minster, 374 is dubbed knight by ; Arthur they are come to be knighted,
Arthur, 374, 440 who gives him a ; 371, 372 Arthur promises it, 373
; ;

treasure sword, 374 goes with Gawein's ;

presented to King Arthur, 372 ;

host to Dover, 377, 378 has part ; Arthur makes great joy of him, 373 ;

command, 378 prowess at Trebes, ;

goes to Logres with Arthur, 374 the ;

388 unhorsed 396 rescued by Gawein

; ;
night-long vigil in the cathedral, 374 ;

and Ban, 396, 397 horsed again, 396, ; dubbed knight by Arthur, 374, 449 ;

397 prowess, 407, 410 at Carmelide,

; ; who gives him one of the swords Merlin
447, 448 at Arthur and Gonnore's
; found, 374 goes wth Gawein's host to
;

marriage, 453, 454 at Arthur's Logres ;

Dover, 377, 378 has part command. ;
 ; ;;;;

GAHERIES. [ 724 ] GALESHYN.

378 ;the battle before Trebes, 388 ;

G''\LES 212 "^^2
next best knight to Gawein, 388 his ; GALESCOWDE, 212, 349, 480; an high
prowess, 396, 407, 410 at Carmelide, ; gentleman, 491, 495 ; one of Gawein's
447, 448 at Arthur's marriage with
; fellows, 498, 579.
Gonnore, 453, 454 Ewein le graunte ; GALESHYN, Galaishin, Galasshin, 459 ;

next best knight after him, 455 in the ; son of Ventres of Garlot, 122, 177,
tournament at Toraise, 458 at Arthur's ; 188,197, 230, 242, 373, 388, 449 his ;

Logres court royal, 481 his deeds in ; mother Basyne, 122, 177, 230, 242
the Logres tournament, 487, 488, nephew of Arthur, 178; future foretold,
489 reconciliation of the Round Table
; 122, 177 his age, 177 knight of the
; ;

and Queen's knights, 50c, 502 is to ; Round Table, 177 Duke of Clarence, ;

go with his father and brethren to the 177 ;asks his mother of Arthur,
princes with a flag of truce, 505, 506, 177, 178 resolves to join him, 178
; ;

507 the start, 509, 510

; encounter ; sends to his cousin Gawein, 178,
with Saxons, 510, 511, 512 can't find ; 179, 197 who agrees to meet him
;

Gawein, 513, 514 rescues Gueheret, ; at Newerk, 189 his joy, 190 un- ; ;

516 they lodge at a forester's house,

; known to his father goes to Logres,
517, 518; on their journey again, 524, 190, 191, 230, 240, 251 the fight with ;

525, 526 their talking on the way,

; the Saxons, 193 helps Gawein, 193 ; ;

526, 527 the rescue of Elizer, 528,

; slays Sarnagut, 194; rescues Gaheries,
529, 531 quarrels with Agravain, 529,
; 196 and Agravayn, 199 sojourn at
; ;

530 rescues Agravain, 531 his valour,

; ; Logres, 201, 202; Arthur is told of
532. 553 rescues Lot, 532, 533; felled
; him, 230; Ventres is angry when he
by Pignoras, 533 horsed by Elizer, ; finds his son gone, 242, 439 his cousin ;

534 quarrels with Agravain, 535

; ; Dodynell, 247, 373 slays Pinados, ;

Agravain strikes him, 536 his for- ; 265 ;

goes to Camelot, 267 slays ;

bearance, 536 Gawein is angry with ; Placidas, 268 tries to take Orienx, ;

him, 537 the sumpters are sent to

; 268 leads Gawein's fifth ward, 281
; ;

Mynoras, 538, 539, 555 at a hermitage, ; beats off the Saxons, 287, 288 a ;

539. 544 taunts Agravain again, 544,

; reverse, 287; at Arondell, 291, 293;
545 at Roestok castle,
; 545, 546 ;
prowess, 294 a strange quest, 297,
;

battle with Saxons outside Cambenyk, 301 return to Arondell, 301

; at ;

547—551; prowess, 549, 550; is

his Logres, 301 captured and condemned ;

Gawein's favourite brother, 550 rescues ; to die by Madagot at Estremors, 345 ;

Escam, 551 maims Oriaunce, horses ; rescued by his cousin Gawein, 345
Gueheret and Agravain, 552 rout of ; hears Arthur is coming and goes out to
the Saxons, 554 squire Elizer's entry ; meet him, 370, 371 Gawein leads the ;

into Cambenyk, 555

Agravain ; chaffs way, 370, 371 salutes Arthur on his ;

again about the daughters of Mynoras, knees, 371 Gawein tells Arthur they are
;

555 goes to North

'• Wales and thence to come to be knighted, 371, 372 Arthur ;

Arestuell, 557, 558 gets arms for Elizer, ;

promises, 372 presented to the king ;

who is to be knighted, 583, 584; keeps Arthur, 373; " shorte and fatte," 373;
the vigil with him, 584; Elizer knighted, Arthur makes great joy of him, 373
584 in the battle of Garlot, 594
; in ; goes to Logres with Arthur, 374 the ;

the battle between Rion and Arthur, joy of the inhabitants, 374 the vigil in ;

624 goes against the devil cat, 666,

;
the cathedral, 374 dubbed knight by ;

668 vows to find Merlin, 682.

; Arthur, 374, 449 who gives him a ;

GAIDON, 220. treasure sword, 374 goes with Gawein's ;

GAILORE, country, (?) 496, 567. host to Dover, 377, 378 has part ;

GALAAD, son of Helayn, 229. command, 378 his prowess at Trebes, ;

GALAAD, son of Launcelot, 326, (?)so2. 388 overthrown by Frolle, 396 who
; ;

GALAD, lord of Pastures, 350, 351, 358, holds him by the "nasell of his helme,"
359- 396 rescued ;by Ban and Gawein, 396;
GAL AGNES, king, 244. is amongst the horse's feet, 397
GALE, city of, 179. Gawein fells Frolle, 397 horsed again, ;

GALEGANTIUS, the Walsh, 480. 397; rushes at Frolle, upsets him, and
GALEGNYNANS, senescallof Galehant rides over him, 397 Gawein applauds ;

and son of the giant, 601. him, 397 one of the best knights of
;

GALEHAUT, 173 (? the son of

466), the world, 397 does wonders, 407 at ; ;

the giant that was lord of the fer out Carmelide, 447, 448 at Arthur's mar- ;

isles,
577, 578. riage with Gonnore, 453, 454 in the ;

GALEHAUT, lord of the fer out isles, 329 tournament at Toraise, 455, 462 trial ;

GALEHAUT, of Sorloys, 466, 601. and banishment of Bertelak, 469, 470

GALEINXE, 250. his deeds in the tournament at Logres,
 ; ;;
;

GALESHYN. [ 725 ] GAWEIN.

487, 489, 498 ;

goes with Segramore to Camelot, 266, 267 encounter with ;

and Dodinell in quest of adventures, Orienx, 267, 268 upsets him, 268 ;

561, 562, 566; the treason of three tries to take him, 268 at Camelot, ;

Round Table knights, Agrauandain, 269, 270 ; the churl and horse, 270
Mynoras, and Monevall, 561, 562, 566, assembles an army, 277 goes to Car- ;

567, 568, 573; overthrows Mynoras, doell and Bredigan, 278, 279 goes to ;

571 ArthuLT sends to stop the fight,

; help the Eweins, 280, 281 his cousin ;

571, 572 at Salisbury, 579.

;
Ewein, 280, 376, 395, 485 the leaders ;

GALIEKS, the lords of the haul moor, of his army, 280, 281 routs the ;

564- Saxons, 288 returns to Bredigan, 288,

;

G.ALLEAD, sumamed Lancelot, 698. 289 ; Merlin's craft, 290, 302, 376
GALNOYE. 176. goes to Arondell, 290 293 dashes at — ;

GALUONYE, marches of, 176. the Saxons, 293 prowess, 294

; his,
GALVOYE, a country, 657. warned by an old man, 294, 295
GALYS. 676. keeps in Arondell, 295 the mysterious ;

CANNES, Pharien's war-cry, 403. knight, 296, 297, 376 rescue of his ;

GANNES or Gawnes, a citee plentevouse mother and Mordred, 296 303, 314, —
of all goodes, 122, 124, 125, 131, 143, 376 slays Taurus, 299, 303
; returns ;

144, 151, 152, 162, 175, 185, 202, 210, with his mother to Arondell, 301, 303;
212, 303, 320, 350, 379, 380, 381, 393, sees Mordred, 301 goes to Logres, ;

399, 401, 402, 403, 415, 419, 447, 472, 301, 370 he and his brothers vow
;

557. 563. 565. 567. 579. 587. 589. 603, Lot shall not see his wife till peace is
623. 643, 644, 698, 699. made with Arthur, 301, 314, 449. 460 ;

GARLOT, 86, 108, 117, 119, 122, 146, enquires after the mysterious knight,
156, 177, 179, 242, 388, 439, 440, 445, 301 ;the mystery solved it is Merlin, —
449. 557. 558. 585—588, 590- 592. 593. 302, 376 captures Madagot at Estre-
;

594, 597, 612. mors and frees Galeshyn, 345 hears ;

GAUDIN, nephew of Aguysas of Scot- Arthur is coming to Logres, 370 all ;

lande, 445. go out to meet Arthur, 370 leads the ;

GAUDIUS, cousin-german to Aguysans, way, 370, 371 his courtesy, 371 asks
; ;

237- for Arthur, 371 Nascien points Arthur

;

GAL'DIUS, 441. out and salutes him on his knees, 371

GAUNT, the depe citee of, 445. made spokesman, 371 tells Arthur ;

GAWEIN, his mother, 86, 122, 179, that they have heard of his fame and
374 his aunt Basyne. 373
; prowess ;
are come to be knighted, 371, 372
foretold, 122 eldest son of King Loot,
; reminds him of their service at Logres,
178, 179, 183, 197, 266, 279, 285, 291, 372 Arthur takes him by the hand,
;

296. 314. 372. 405. 408, 409. 419. 555 and bids them all rise, 372 Arthur ;

the mystery of his strength, 180, 181, promises to knight them all, 372 tells ;

388, 462, 476, 477, 478, 491, 507, 509— Arthur their names and lineage, 372,
512, 514, 518, 531, 532, 562, 591; his 373 Arthur makes great joy of him
;

mother tells him to go to his uncle and kisses him, 373 made constable ;

Arthur's court, 183, 230; resolves to of Arthur's household, 373 chief com- ;

go, 183, 258, 260. 262, 439; and to make mander, 373, 376 thanks him, 374 ; ;

peace between Arthur and Loot, 183, goes to Logres with Arthur, 374 the ;

240, 557, 551 his cousin Galeshene,

; joy of the people of Logres, 374 the ;

189, 345, 395, 397 agrees to and meets ;

night-long vigil in the minster. 374
him at Newerk, 189 his joy, 190 ; Ban and Bors keep the vigil with them,
prowess in fight with Saxons, 193, 374 girded with Calibourne the next
;

197 slays
; Noas, 194 remounts ; day by Arthur at high mass, 374;
Gaheret, 195 receives Gaheries, 196
; ;
Arthur puts the right, and Ban
people of Logres come to aid him, 197, the left spur on, 374 is dubbed a ;

198 upsets Guyneban, 198

; deep in ;
knight, 374, 449 Arthur gives him one
;

among the Saxons, 199; slays Madalen of the treasure swords, 374; and bids
and rescues Doo, 200, 201 defeat of ; him be a good knight, 374; Arthur
the Saxons, 201 enters Logres, 201 ; tells him to get the host ready, 376
his prudence, 201 in favour with the ; tells Arthur it is all ready, 376 sees ;

citizens and sojourns at Logres, 202 ;

Merlin with Arthur, 376 Arthur, at ;

Arthur hears of him, 230 goes to ;

Merlin's request, asks who led him to
Camelot, 261 Merlin comes, 261, 262,
;
rescue his mother at Glocedon, 376
263 goes to aid Segramore, 264
;
and who brought the letter from Ewein,
battle with Orienx, 264, 265 fells ; 376 astonished at this, 376 and asks
; ;

Orienx. 265. 271 Merlin as a knight, ; what Merlin has to do with it and how
266 welcomes Segramore, 266 returns
; ; Arthur knows it, 376 ; recollects Doo's
 ;; ;;;

GAWEIN [ 726 ] GAWEIN.

words, says it was one called

376 ;
412 ;
Queen Helayn's dream explained
Merlin, 376 Arthur laughs and tells
; by Merlin, 416, 417 ravages Claudas' ;

him all,
376, 377 says he is at ; lands, 419 returns to Benoyk, 419
;

Merlin's service, and wants to see Merlin waiting for him, 419 goes to
is ;

him, 377; his eyes are opened, 377; Gannes the Rochell and to sea, 419, 420
Merlin tells him to take leave of his starts for Carmelide, 420, 447, 448 slays ;

mother, 377 and then lead the host

; Julyus Cesar in battle at Logres, 420 ;

to Dover, 377 and to assemble ships ; in Toraise, 448, 449 at Arthur's ;

there, 377 takes leave of his mother,

; marriage with Gonnore, 453, 454 the ;

377 Sir Ewein, Galaishin, Dodynell,

; tournament at Toraise, 454, 461 ;

Seigramore, Ewein Avoutres, the four always wears a habergeon of double

Eweins, and his brethren lead the host mail for safety, 454 his victory in the ;

under his command, 377, 378, 395 tournament at Logres, 455, 462 ever ;

Keheden and*Kay Uestranx with him, true to God and to his lord, 455 gets ;

377. 378. 395 arrives at Dover, 378 ; ;

furious, seizes a beam of oak and rushes
assembles a great navy, 378 at the ; again into the tornament, 460 the ;

Rochell, 379 makes great joy ; knights of the Round Table are angry
on meeting Merlin, 379 the expe- ; at his victory, and swear revenge, 461
dition to Trebes preparing, 381, becomes a knight of the Round Table,
382 is to lead the first division of
; 462 ;trial and banishment of Bertelak,
ten thousand knights, 382, 384, 385, 469, 470 starts for Logres with all
;

395 Ulfyn to bear his banner, 382

;
;
Arthur's host but five hundred men, 471,
the start, 384, 385 the battle begins, ; 562 anxious for Arthur's safety, 471
;
;

387 falls upon Fiolle's host, 387, 394

; ;
makes great preparations for the court
slays five thousand of his men, 387 a ; royal at Logres in August, 471, 472 his ;

fresh onset, 388 rescues Seigramore, ; character detailed, 472 goes with forty ;

388 his prowess,

; 388, 394 sees ; fellows to aid Arthur who is hard bestead
Claudas fighting Ban and fells him, by Lot, 475, 476, 562 overthrows Lot, ;

394 slays
; Mysteres and Antorilas and and rides over him, 476 is about to ;

two thousand others, 394 Ban's grati- ; slay Lot, 476 but finds who it is. 476,
;

tude, 394, 395 their friendly feelings, ;

477 ; Lot embrace him, 477
tries to ;

395 Ban wantshis company, but Gawein

; will not know him until he has done
says he must go to see if his cousins homage to Arthur, 477, 560 takes Lot ;

and brethren are safe, 395 dashes ; to do homage to Arthur, 477, 478, 562 ;

after Claudas, 395, 396 as he goes he ; at the court royal at Logres, 480, 481
sees his brethren and cousins in distress, he and twenty-four of his fellows vow
goes to succour them, leaving Claudas to be Queen Gonnore's knights, 482,
to escape, 396 Agravain unhorsed, ;
483, 484, 518, 562 the details of the ;

Gaheret also, and Galaishin in the vow, 482, 483 the queen appoints four
;

hands of Frolle, 396 Ban and he ; clerks to write his and his fellows
succour their fellows, 396 fells Frolle ; adventures, 483 they are called the ;

and releases Galaishin, 397 applauds ; Queen's knights, 483 Dagenets ;

Galaishin's bravery, 397 busy in the ; cowardice, 484 makes ready the ;

fight, 398 defeat of Claudas, 398,

; tournament at Logres, 484 the tourna- ;

399 Ban's
; own men appear on the ment, 484, 500 Arthur sends to speak ;

field, 400; suggests an ambush, 400; with him, 485 Arthur asks him to keep
;

taunted with cowardice by Merlin, 404, order in the tournament, 485 would ;

405 prowess, 407 slays Randolf, the

; ; not promise, 485, 486 a band of ;

seneschal of Gawle, 407 meets with ; squires and sergeants to keep order,
Dodynell the savage and Kehedin the 486 drives back the Round Table
;

litill, unhorsed and in trouble, 407, knights, 487 sends ten of them
;

408 aids them, 408 the enemy shun

; ; captured to the queen, 488, 502 again ;

his onset, 408 wounds Frolle because ; worsts the Round Table knights, 488 ;

he smote Arthur, 408, 409 at Arthur's ; the Round Table knights are wroth,
side, 409 fells Pounce Antony and
; and in felony use war spears and drive
wounds Randolf, 409 Arthur asks ; in the Queen's knights, 488 remon- ;

him to keep by his side, 409 meets ; strates with them, 489 they will not ;

Ban and Bors, 410 Merlin gives the ; cease their foul play, 489 arms him- ;

signal for another onset, 410; wounds, self and his fellows in complete armour,
upsets, and rides over Claudas, 410 489, 490 returns to the tournament,
;

is admired for his valour, 410 Claudas ; 490 ; Lot's knights offer help, 490 ;

loses half his army and is routed, but accepts it, 491 sends Galescowde to ;

escapes, 411 led by Ban and Bors ; tell Arthur of the state of the tourney,
into Trebes castle, 412 well housed, ; 491, 495, 498 the Round Table knights
;
 ;; ;;;

GAWEIN. [ 727 ] GAWEIN.

getting the best of it, 491 fells Dorilas, ; 513, 514; the chase relinquished, 513;
491 unhorses Nascien, 492 who begs
; ; Lot and the three others go on in front,
him to stop the tourney, 492 ; says the 513 Lot's grief at missing him, 513,
;

Round Table knights began the folly, 514 busy killing Saxons, 514, 515 is
; ;

and will not do so, 492, 493 overthrows ; pleased with his new horse Gringalet,
many, 493; sees an ambush, 493; takes 515 rescues Gueheret, 516 they arm
; ;

a young apple tree and fells many with and lodge at a foresters house, 517,
it, 493 they slay his horse, 493 draws
; : 518, 519; the forester's daughters admire
Calibourne, 493, 494 slays right and ; him, 517; Elizer sets out to seek knight-
left. succoured and remounted by
494 ; hood of him, 520, 521, 528, 530; on
his knights, 494, 495 puts up hissword, ;
their journey again, 524, 525, 526
and takes his tree staff, 494 puts his ;
Agravain's foul thoughts, 526, 527
opponents to flight, 494 drives them ; and the punishment of them, 527
into the city, 494 the other wing of ; cures Agravain's sickness, 527 taunts ;

his men is driven back, 494 but ; Agravain, who gets furious, 528, 529 ;

Ewein succours them, and drives the the rescue of Elizer and his squire
Round Table knights into the town, Lydonas, 528 531, 583 —draws Cali-
bourne, 530 and does wonders, 531
;

494, 495; the Round Table knights ; ;

are driven right up to the minster, 495 ;

promises Elizer knighthood, 531, 532,
the squires come to interfere, 495 his ; 539, 555, 583 his prowess, 532, 533
; ;

men mistake them for opponents and finds his father and brethren in great
give battle, 495 his knights get the ; peril, 532, 533 rescues Gueheret, 533
; ;

worst, 495 draws Calibourne, and

; horses Agravain, 533 slits Monaquyn ;

dashes at the squires, 496 attacks the ; to the waist, 533, 534, 535 slays ;

Round Table knights again, 496 over- ; Pignoras, 534, 535 horses Lot, 534
;

throws Adragain des Vaux de Gailore, slays Maundalis, 534, 535 puts the ;

496 also Pindolus and Idonas, 496

; ;
Saxons to flight, 534, 535 captures all ;

Hervy de Revell says he is cruel, 497 ;

the sumpters, 535, 536 Gaheries and ;

Hersy wants to pacify him, 497 Agravain quarrel again, 535 Agravain ;

refuses to stop, 497 vows eternal ; smites Gaheries, 536; knocks Agravain
enmity to Round Table knights, 497 down, 536, 537, 538 Gaheries ;

Hervy says the Round Table knights intercedes for Agravain, 537; is
will leave Arthur's court if they are so angry with his brothers, 537 a ;

cruelly used, 497 don't care, says ; great squabble, 537, 538 turns Agra- ;

Gawein, 497, 498 says he will follow ; vain out of their company, 538 sends ;

them if they do, and have his revenge, Mynoras the sumpters, 538, .S55 ^^ks ;

498 ; Arthur upbraids him, 498 ; Lot Elizer of his estate and parentage, 539 ;

takes his bridle and entreats him to they arrive at a hermitage, 539 in the ;

cease, 498 Ban and Bors entreat too,

; night saddles Gringalet and goes with
498 cools down, 498
; the Round ; Elizer to succour a lady and a knight,
Table knights are in a great rage, 498, 540, 541, 546; a dilemma, 540, 541 ;

499; end of the tournament, 499; all slays Sortibran and his men, and
go to their lodges, 499 he and his ; succours the lady, 541, 542, 544 attacked ;

band go to their chambers in the queen's by twenty knights, 542 Elizer having ;

palace, 499 the meeting in the hall,

; rescued the knight comes to aid
499 reconciliation with the Round
; Gawein, 542, 543 they return to the
;

Table knights, 500, 501, 502 at first ; hermitage, 543 the lady tells who she
;

refuses to be reconciled, but yields to is and who the knight is, 543, 544;
the queen's entreaties, 500, 501, 503 ;
Lot is astonished when he wakes to
made a lord of the Round Table, 502 ;
find what Gawein and Elizer have, 544 ;

the quest of the St. Grail, 502, 503 Agravain is jealous, 544, 545 at ;

serves at the high dais, 504 is to go ; Roestok castle, 545, 546 goes to aid ;

with his father and brethren to make a Escam, who is beset with Saxons, 547,
truce with the princes, 506 Arthur is ; — 551 commends the prowess of
;

loth to part with him, 506 gets ready ;

Gaheries, 549 the Saxons deem him a
;

to go, 507 asks the queen to prevent

; devil of hell, 549; loves Gaheries best of
ill-will with the Round Table knights, all his brothers,550; rescues Escam, 551,
507 she promises, 507 the start of
; ; rescues Gueheret and Agravain, slays
the embassy at midnight, 509, 510 ;
Mydonas, maims Brandalis, 552 slays ;

encounter with Saxons, 510, 511 slays ; the Saxon banner-bearer Ydonas, 553 ;

Monaclyn, a Saxon, 511 draws Cali- ; flight of the Saxons, 553 the pursuit, ;

bourne, and rescues his father, 511, 512 ; 553, 554 total defeat of the Saxons,
;

fights Clarion, a Saxon, 512 upsets ;

554 ; loses his shield, as it is cut to bits,
him, and seizes Gr ingalet's horse, 512, 554 ; Elizer a good squire, 555 in ;
 ;;;; ;;;

GAWEIN. [ 728 ] GONNORE.

Cambenyk, 555 ; go to North 694 sees the damsel whom
for Cardoell, ;

Wales and thence to Arestuell, 557, he omitted to salute, 694, 695 she ;

558 the conference with the barons,

; deceives him, 695, 696 he fights with ;

SS^i 559 is Arthur's spokesman, 559

; ;
and overcomes two knights who were
proposes a truce until Yule, 559 oppressing the damsel, 695, 696, 697
truce agreed to, 560 lands absolved ; she promises to disenchant him if he
from the excommunication, 560 ;
will always salute ladies, 696, 697 he ;

preparations for the war with the swears and returns to his own shape
Saxons, 560 all are to meet on a set
; again, 697 at Cardoell, 697
; contra- ;

day on Salisbury Plains, 560 the ; diction, 698.

treason of the Round Table knights, GAWLE, Gaule, king of, 25, 212, 303,
568, 574 in council with Arthur, Ban,
;
305, 375, 380, 386, 387, 398, 402,
306,
Bors, and Merlin. 582 Elizer his ;
407, 436, 438, 303, 305, 375, 380,
419,
squire asks to be knighted, 583 tells ; 381, 411, 416, 419, 449, 564, 606,
398,
Arthur of Elizer's bravery, 583, 584 ; 664, 668,
699.
consents to knight Elizer, 583 tells ; GAZELL, ?town, 441.
Gaheries to get arms for Elizer, 583 ;
GEAUNT, 644, 645 slain by Arthur, ;

knights Elizer, 584 the rescue of his ;

649, 650, 668, 679.
aunt Morgeins, Ventres' wife, 587, 588, GEAUNTES, 147.
590, 591 Elizer'sprowess, 587, 588, 589
; GELEGNYAUNT, a Saxon, 595.
rescues his aunt, 591 slays Brandouns, ; GEROMELANS, 366 Guyromelans, ;

592 restores to Ventres his wife, 592

;
; 368.
in the battle of Garlot. 594, 596 in the ; GESTOIRE, Emperor,
656; lord of
battle before Clarence, 601, 602; goes Lybee, 656 Hestor.
; see
to Camelot, 603 the feast at Camelot, ; GIFFLET, Gyfflet, 485; son of Doo
612, 613, 622 in the battle between; of Cardoel, 133, 135, 138, 571 the ;

the hosts of Rion and Arthur, 624, 625, tournament at Logres, 133 tilts with ;

626 slays king Pharaon, 624

; wants ; Ladynas, 133, 134 his cousin Lucas, ;

to take Arthur's place in a personal 134 his prowess, 134, 135

; tilts with ;

combat with Rion, but Arthur refuses, Blioberes, 136 and upsets him, 137 ;

628 Arthur slays Rion, 630 a message

; ; upsets Placidas and Jervas, 137 is ;

of war from Rome to Arthur, 640, 641 highly praised, 138 in command, ;

sent by Arthur to Rome viiih a message 143 the great battle at Bredigan, 151,
;

to Luce, 650, 651 gives Arthur's ; 156, 158, 159 rescued by Arthur, 159
; ;

message, 652 reviled by a Roman

; on guard, 166 one of the famous band
;

knight, 652 is enraged and cuts the

; of forty-two, 212 aids Cleodalis, 214, ;

knight's head off, 652 flight and ; 216 slays Mynadap, 217
; felled by ;

pursuit, 652 slays one of his pursuers,

; Sorfarin, 220; victory, 224; the battle
652 slays another named Marcell, 653
;
;
with Rion, 337 the fight with Saxons, ;

hard pressed, 654 succour comes, ;

349 tries to dissuade Bors from fighting
;

653. 654 victory, 655

; they take ; Amaunt,366; at the marriage of Arthur
Petrius prisoner to Arthur, 655 in ; and Gonnore, 453, 454 in the tourna- ;

Arthur's first division, 659, 662, 663 ;

ment at Toraise, 455, 459 at Arthur's ;

slays Luce the Emperor with Calibourne, Logres court royal, 480, 481 goes to ;

663 goes against the devil cat, 666

; Arthur, 485 the Logres tournament,
;

destroys the castle of the Marche at

Arthur's command, 677 with Arthur
—
485 500 his deeds, 486, 489 serves
; ;

; at the high dais, 504 sent by Arthur ;

at Logres, 678 Arthur is sorry at ; to frustrate the treason of the Round

Merlin's saying he would never return, Table knights, 468, 473.
682 is sent in search of Merlin, 682,
; GLNGABRESELL, 366; Guygebresill,
689, 692; his adventures, 689; meets a 368 ; nephew of Amaunt.
damsel, 690; omits to salute her, 690; GLOCEDON, 250, 295, 298, ^76, 515.
she tells him he is not the best knight GLORIENX, giant, 338, 34^, 344 kin ;

of the world as men say, 690 and that ; to Rion, 346.

he shall be like the first man he meets, GLOUCESTER, earl of, 658 ; is duke
690 she says he may hear of Merlin in
; and castelein, 658.
Little Britain, meets Auadain the
690 ; GOLDEN FLEECE, the, 339.
dwarf and the maiden, 690, 691 ;
GONDOFFLES, the grete king, 236
becomes a dwarf, 691, 692 is loth to ; his brother Trausmaduc, 593, 596, 602.
appear at court, 692 a strange voice ; GONNERE, Gonnore, daughter of
comforts him, 692, 693 finds it is ; Cleodalis, 214,
225, 322, 451 453, —
Merlin's voice, 693 Merlin tells him to ; 463, 46:; — 468, 470, 562.
tell Arthur to stop the quest, as none will GONNORE, wife of Arthur, 213, 482,
see him or hear him again, 694 starts ; 635 ; secret mark on her body, 213,
 ;;

GONNORE. [ 729 ] GRASCIEN.

465; baptism, 114, parentage, 114, in the tournament, 492 grants her ;

115, 141, 208, 222, 404, 448, 472, 623, knight a chamber in his palace, 499
678; of royal blood, 141, 213, 465; makes great joy of Ewein and Gawein,
her beauty, 141, 227 Merlin counsels ; 499 reconciliation of her knights with
;

Arthur to marry her, 141, 177; an the Round Table knights, 499 502 — ;

heiress, 141 the battle at Tamelide,

; claims the ten captive knights as her
208 ;sees her father taken prisoner, own, 502 the quest of the Holy Grail,
;

208, 209 sees him rescued by Arthur,

; 502, 503 commends Ban's counsel,
;

and Merlin, 210 her joy, 210 her ; ;

505 and Lot's, 506 persuades Arthur
; ;

anxiety for Arthur, 219 sees him upset ; to let Gawein go with Lot, 506 ;

Sorfarin, 222 serves Arthur at the ; Gawein asks her to see that the knights
feast, 225, 257 the three kings, ; of the Round Table and her knights
225 pleased with Arthur, 225
;
brings ; don't quarrel again, 507 she promises, ;

him wine, 227 praises him, 227, 228 ; ; 507 Arthurs sister, Morgain, shames
;

loves him, 229 her wisdom, 229 ; ;

her, 508 because she discovered the
;

injures Guyoniar, 316 ; Arthur comes, amour between Morgain andGuyomar,

317, 318, 319 her father offers her to
; 509 glad of the truce with the barons,
;

Arthur, 319 Arthur and she are

; 561 is loved by Amaunt's son, but her
;

betrothed, 319, 320, 341, 357 " is ; father and his are at strife, so cannot
glad of her new lord," 320; at the marry him, 565 constant intercourse ;

court royal, 322 her likeness to ; with him, 565 Merlin comes, 566
; ;

Cleodalis' daughter, 322 arms Arthur, ; the treason of the three Round Table
322 kisses
; him, 323, 325, 335 gives ;
knights, 468 the three knights brought
;

hnn a wondrous helm, 323 her father ; in by Ewein, 573 discord between her ;

is anxious for the marriage, 360 ; knights and the Round Table knights,
Merlin postpones it, 360 ; Arthur goes S74 goes with Arthur to Salisbury,
;

to Bredigan, 360 ; asks him to come 575; in Garlot, 592; valour of her
back soon, 360 ; the love treason of knights at Garlot, 596 return of ;

Launcelot, 393 ; Merlin taunts Arthur Arthur and his men to Camelot, 603
with cowardice, 404 Arthur comes ; court royal at Camelot, 613, 614, 615 ;

back again, 448 makes great joy of ; Merhn disguised as a harper enters and
him, 448 the wedding day fixed,
; sings a lay in her honour, 615 ;

—
448 451 Lot's scheme to capture her,
; victorious return of Arthur from Toraise,
456, 472 a plot to kidnap her and to
; 630 goes with him to Logres, 630
;

substitute Gonnore, the step-daughter Merlin's return, 635 a strange maiden ;

of Cleodalis, 451, 452, 463 her mistress, ; brings a dwarf, her lover, to be knighted
452, 463 the marriage, 452, 453, 562,
; by Arthur, 638 she loathes the dwarf,
;

213, 451 her extreme beauty, 453,

; 638 but Merlin says he is of royal
;

562 ;led up to the ceremony by Ban blood, 638 death of her father
;

and Bors, 453, 562 seized by the ; Leodogan, 678 Arthur's return, 678 ; ;

plotters, 463, 464 rescued by Ulfyn ; the maiden and dwarf come again,
and Bretel, 463, 464, 465 leaves ; 685; Merlin's imprisonment, 694 the ;

Arthur and dwells with Galehaut for fair Beaune dwells with her, 698.
the love of Launcelot for three years, GORGAIN, fellow of Merangis, 349.
466, 323, 470 Arthur's adultery with
; GORRE, 108, 145, 146, 176, 623.
Gonnore, step-daughter of Cleodalis, GOSENAIN, hardy body, 481.
466; the false Gonnore banished. 468, 469; GOSENGES, Gosengos, son of King
Gawein goes to Logres, 471 Arthur is ; Amaunt, 563, 601, 565, 566, 567 ; his
left with only five hundred men, 471 ; seneschal Nabunal, 644.
sets out with Arthur for Bredigan, 472, GOSNAYN DE STR.\XGOT, Grosen-
473 ; begs Sir Annestan as chaplain, ayne, 220, 292, 294.
472 her ; and her brother
cousin GOSNAYNS CADRUS, 212, 217, 220,
Sodoyne accompany her, 472 has an ;
352.
escort of forty knights, 473 Kay is a ; GRAAL, the, 32, 59, 173, 229, 304, 326,
true knight to her, 475 in Logres with ;
341, 502, 520.
Arthur, 479, 480 the court royal, 480, ; GR.\ALANT, 442.
481 accepts the vow of Gawein and
; GRANDILUS, his son Ewein Lionell,
his fellows to be her knights, 482, 483 ; 518 ; castelein of Doucrenefar, 518.
Arthur gives her the charge of his GRANDOYNES, a knight of Round
treasures, 483 chooses four clerks to ; Table, 487.
write the adventures of Gawein and his GRASCIEN, 124, 135 ; of Trebes, 136,
band, 483. 503; watches the tournament 144, 167, 306, 380, 381, 384, 400, 401,
of Logres, 485 Gawein sends her ten ; 406, 412, 564, 565, 587, 588, 589, 650,
captured knights, 488, 502 foul play ;
699 death, 699.
;
 — ;

GRASSIENS LI BLOYS. [ 730 ] JULIUS.

GRASSIENS LI BLOYS, 151. HER\^^ THE RIVELL, 205.

GREECE, 340, 437, 676. HESTOR king of Lubye,
[see Gestoire),
GREKES, 146. 663 by Arthur, 663.
; slain
GRETE YNDE, king of, 577. HOEL, duke of Tintagel, Uter goes with
GRINGALET, a horse of Clarion, 510, his wife Ygerne to Cardoel to the Pen-
512, 513, 514, 532, 533, 534, 540. 541, dragon's feast, q.v., 63, 64 Uter Pen- ;

544. 549. 553. 554. 555. 587 Gawein, ;

dragon's love for Ygerne, 64 (see Uter
690, 697. Pendragon and Arthur) greatly ;

GRIRET DE LAMBALL, 489 Grires ; honoured, 64 quits the court, 64; again
;

de lambal, 212 Guyret de lamball, at Cardoel, 64 Uter Pendragon asks;

566, 220, 366, 682. his permission to give a cup to Ygerne,

GRISANDOLL, alias Anable, daughter 67 his knight Bretell, 67
; finds his ;

of Matan, q.v. Grisandolus, 421, 423

; wife in tears, 68 she tells him of Uter
;

429, 431, 432, 435 wife of Julius Cesar

; Pendragon's lust for her, 68 is wroth, ;

that Gawein slew, 420, 423, 436, 437. 68 returns suddenly to Tintagel, 68,
;

GROALES, king, 243. 69 ;Uter Pendragon is furious, 69

GROIXGE poire mole, "cat nose," 321. refuses to return to court, 69 Uter ;

GUEHERET, 285, 294, 388, 453, 481. Pendragon prepares to attack him,
GUYGUERON, king, 560 a rich baron ; 69, 70; is defied, 70; puts Ygerne in
of the land of Sorlovs, 561. Tintagel Castle, 70 and takes refuge ;

GUYNAS LE BLEYS. Guynas le Bloy, in another castle, 70, 71 attacked by ;

135. 157- Uter Pendragon, 70, 71 Uter Pen- ;

GUYNEBANS, Guynebande, 138, 139, dragon's artifice to seduce Ygerne,

170, 194, 195. 76, 77 dies, 77, 78, 140
; his eldest ;

GUYNEHAM? 198, 199. 200. daughter wife of King Lot of Orcanye,

GUYOMAR, knight, 316, 317, 321, 334, 84, 85, 86, 121 ; his five daughters,
335. 337 cousin ;germain of Lynados, 121, 122, 177.
348, 351. 352. 470. 480, 488, 507, 508, HOEL OF NAUNTES, his niece. 646 ;

509, 566, 618. his sister, 646, 647 of the ; litle Bretayne,
GUYOXCE, senescall of Cleolas, 578. 662.
GYXEBANS, the clerke, 322. HOOT, son of Arthur and Lysanor, 171,
GYNEBANT, 268, 350, 360—363. 475-
HUCENT, a poet, 259.
HUMBIR (river), 259.
HALOWMESSE, Halowtide, 63, 97, 100, HUNGRE. 186.
123, 124, 140, 560, 565. HURT ANT, 254.
HARDOGABRAXT, king, 152, 255, HUYDECAN (city), 174.
277, 440 a saisne, 441, 442
; ; is 25 feet
long, 444, 510, 516, 575, 585, 588, 600,
602 nephew to king Amynadus, 152
; ;

his sister, 175, 185 see Carnyle, 185 ; : IDONAS, knight of the Round Table,
his cousin germain, 535 his nephews, ; 496.
592, 593 ; chief lord of all Saxons, IRELONDE, Irlonde, 57, 205, 208, 228,
592- 625.
HARDRANS, king, 248. ISDRAS, see Ysdras, 355.
HAUELL? Hoel, 662. ISELONDE, 194, 252.
HELAIN, king, 561. ISLES, king of the, 578 ;
people of the,
HELAYN, daughter of Pelles, of Lyte- 626, 627.
nor, etc., 229, 520, 636.
HELAYNE, queen, 125, 144, 380, 398,
—
399, 400, 412 416, 603, 608, 612, 630,
698, 699 her sister, 380, 398, 399, 400,
; JASON, 339, 340.
412, 413, 415, 416, 603, 612, 630; her JEROAS, 137.
son Lancelot, 698, 699 her sister's ; TEROHAS LENCHES, 212,
sons Lyonel and Bohort, 698. JESHURALEM, 676.
HERCULES, 339, 340. fHERUSALEN,632.
HERMANS, erle of Tripill, and slain yONAP, giant, 325.
bv a knave, 662. "JORDAN, 76.
HEROARS, king, 342, 343. JOSEP ABARAMATHIE, 23, 59, 61,
HERVY DE REVILL, 407, 206, 218, 326 ; bishop, 502.
220, 226, 329, 330, 337, 342, 343, 345, JUD.AS, 59.
351. 383. 410. 458, 485. 497. 499. 500. JUDAS MAKABEUS. 341.
!;oi, 597, 618, 627. JUES, 59.
HERVY DE RIVEL, 470. JULIUS, Emperor of Rome, 303.
 JULIUS CEZAR. [ 731 ] KINGS.

JULIUS CEZAR, Julyus Cesar, by treason Lohoot, the son of Arthur,

Emperor of Rome, killed by Gawein, 475 Percival by Galoys is accused of
;

420, 423, 426—431, 435, 436, 438 his ; the deed, 475 at Arthur's court royal;

daughter Ffoldate, 423, 434, 437 his ; at Logres, 480, 481 the tournament ;

wife Avenable, q.v. his first empress, ; at Logres proposed by him, 484; his
q.v. empress of Rome.
, deeds in it, 488, 489 serves at the ;

JURDAN, 76. ^d-^ Jordan. high dais, 504 sent by Arthur to stop ;

the treason of the Round Table

knights, 468 473 —
takes the great ;

KAHADINS, king, ally of Rion, 616. banner to Salisbury. 575 it has a red ;

KARISMANX, a knight of the Round cross under the dragon on it, 575 at ;

Table, 487. Salisbury, 579 in the battle before ;

KARLION, 108, 109. 120. Garlot, 596 also that before Clarence,
;

KAY, second son of Antor, 88, 453 his ; 601; banner-bearer again, 601; at
mother, 88, 135 born, 89 sent away, ; ; the court royal at Camelot, 614, 615,
89, 90, 112, 135 knighted, 97 Arthur ; ; 619 the unknown maiden and her
;

brings him Escalibur, loi thinks by it ; dwarf lover, 636 scorns the dwarf, ;

to be king, loi says he drew it, loi ; ; 636 when Arthur agrees to knight
;

his father incredulous, loi confesses ; the dwarf he wants to set his
his ruse, loi gives it to his father,
;
spur on, but the maiden stops him,
loi Arthur replaces it, loi he can't
; ; 637 ;the adventure of the giant,
draw it, loi Arthur's steward, 102,
; 645, 649 the giant slain by Arthur,
;

104, 109 chief banner-bearer, 116,

; 649 in the battle between Arthur's
;

136, 405, 453, 475. 480, 484, 488, 489, host and the Romans, 661 succours ;

596, 614, 645, 649, 575, 571, 504, 661, Bediuer, 661 overthrown, 661.
;

475, 596; rescues Arthur, 119; chases KAY-DESTRANX, his nephew Kehe-
the rebel kings, 119 serves at the ; din, 251, 293 squire to Carados, ;

banquet to Ban and Bors, 133 rushes ; 249 ;Carados wants to knight him,
into the tourney, 135 his character, ; 249 ;but he says he will only be
135 he is a japing, reviling man, 136,
; knighted by Arthur, 249 meets ;

636 unhorses Lydonas and Grascien,

; Dodynell, 251 goes with Dodynell to ;

136; cries "Clarence!" 136; praised Logres, 252, 258 leads a band of ;

by Arthur, Ban, and Bors, 136; attacked squires against the Saxons, 291, 292,
by Blioberes, 136 Gitflet conies to the ; 377 his
; prowess, 294 meets Arthur ;

rescue, 136 attacked by Placidus, 136

; ;
at Logres, 373 vigil, 374 dubbed ; ;

rescued by Gifflet, 137 his followers ; knight, 374, 449 given a treasure ;

join in the melee, 137 honours awarded ; sword, 374 the banquet, 375
; in ;

him, 138 incouncil,i4i leads Arthur's

; ; command under Gawein, 378 his ;

first battalion, 151 the banner, 151, 155, ; prowess at Trebes, 396 nephew of ;

596 Ulfyn comes to the rescue, 155

;
;
Carados, 449 at Arthur's Logres court
;

goes himself to the rescue, 156 is un- ; royal, 480, 481 at the Salisbury ;

horsed. 156 helped by Gifflet, 156

;
;
conference, 577.
helps Antor, 158 helped by Arthur, ; KEHEDIN DE BELLY, 212 (251).
159 meets Merlin, 169 an incident of
; ; KEHEDIN LE BEL, 349.
his youth, 180 aids Arthur at Tamelide,
; KEHEDIN LE BENS, Kehedin bens, li

212 overthrows Sonygrenx, 214 fights

; ; 251 ; nephew of Kay Destranx, 251,
a giant, 216 upsets Dandevart, 217 is
; ; 252, 377, 378 goes with ;
Kay Destranx
whole and sound. 224 in the battle with ; to Logres, 252, 258 ; he and Kay
Arthur against Rion, 337, 349 tries to ; Destranx lead the squires against the
dissuade Bors from a single combat Saxons, 291, 377 meets Arthur, 373 ;
;

with Amaunt, 366 bears the great ; nephew of the King of Strangore, 373 ;

dragon banner in the battle before dubbed knight after a vigil, 374, 449 ;

Trebes, 383, 393, 398, 399 people of ;

is given a treasure sword, 374 the ;

Trebes scared by the fiery banner 399 ;

banquet, 374 in command under ;

Merlin snatches the banner from him, Gawein, 378 at Arthur's Logres court
;

405, 406 finds Arthur's shield on the

; roval, 480 481 vows to find Merlin, ;

field of battle, 410 fears Arthur is ; 682.

dead, and searches for him, 410 finds ; KEHEDIN THE LITILL, 294, 396,
him with Ban and Bors. and restores the 407.
shield, lodged in Trebes castle,
410 ; KEHEDINS LE 480, PETIT, 518,
412 at the marriage of Arthur and
;
577 his brother, 400, 518, 577.
;

Gonnore, 453, 454 in the tournament ; KEHENYNS, knight, 342, 343.

at Toraise, 459 goes to help Arthur, ;
KINGS, four mighty Saxon, 585, 586,
475 his character detailed, 475 slays
; ;
 ; ;;

KINGS. [ 732 ] LEODEGAN.

KINGS, the twenty, 440, 441, 575, 585, be married to Arthur, 115 king of ;

(thirty kings) 521. Carmelide, 123, 141, 450; the knights

KNIGHTS of King Lot, 486. 487, 490, of the Round Table aid him, 141 ;

491. 494. 495. Rion has warred against him for two
KNIGHTS of Orcanye, 495, 496. years, 173 Arthur, Ban, and Bors go
;

KYNGXENANS, king, 248. to rescue him, 175, 202 defeated by ;

Rion, 202 Rion besieges Nablaise,

;

LA DOLEROUSE GARDE, 441, 256, 202 ;the arrival of Arthur and his
445. company, 203 the forty-two knights, ;

LADRIS DE LA DOLEROUSE 203 ;Arthur, Ban, and Bors are

GARDE, 256, (445?). incognito, 203 is ; offered their aid
LADY DAY, 120, 525, 546, 556, 557, against Rion, 203 ; confers with the
558. Round Table, 203 ; accepts their
LADY DE LAK, 401. sers-ices, and summons his forces, 204,
LADY OF ROESTOK, her sister, 543 205 ; his army assembles at Toraise,
— 546; cousin germain, 543 546. — 205 ; the men of Rion ravage the land,
LADY OF THE LONDE SUSTEYNE, 205 ; they come to Toraise, 205 his ;

361, 362, 363. men make ready for battle, 205 his ;

LADYMUS, a knight of the Round Table, steward Cleodalis, 205 Hervy the ;

487. rivell commands the Round Table, 205 ;

LADYNAS, Lydonas, Ladunas, a knight the battle begins, 206, 207 overthrown ;

of Benoyc, 133, 136, 151 de Benoyk,; and taken prisoner, 208 Gonnore ;

weeps for pity of her father, 208

LAIDON, 222. rescued by the forty-two fellows, 209;
LAK, king of the grete ynde, 577 his ; Gonnore is glad, 210 praises Ban, ;

general, 594, 601. 211 ;the mar\'ellous forty-two, 211,

LAK DE LOSANE, 664, 665, 666; 212 the peril of Cleodalis, 212, 213
;
;

cat-devil there, 664, 665, 669, 679 how he had wronged Cleodalis by
mountain de Lak, 665, 666, 669. violating his wife, 212, 213 Cleodalis ;

LAMBALL (country), 563, 565 (212, forgives him and keeps still loyal to
220, 366, 419), 566. him, 212, 213, 214 his wife, 212; Gon- ;

LAMBEGES, Lambuges, 144, 564. nore, 213 the two Gonnores, 213, 214 ;
;

LAND of king Clamedin, 560 Guy- ; shuts Cleodalis's wife up from him for
gueron, 560 Helain, 561
; Pellynor, ; five years, 214 asks Hervy to join ;

561 Pelles of Lystenoys, 561

; duke ; Merlin, 218 felled by Sorfarin, 221
;

Roches, 561. Rion swears vengeance, 223 safe in ;

LANDALUS, a Saxon, 597. Toraise, 224 his generosity, 224 bids; ;

LANDONS, nephew of Chadlis, 321. Arthur and his company into the
LANDOUNSOFCARMELIDE, Round palace, 225 makes Gonnore dress ;

Table knight, 598. richly, 225 she waits upon Arthur,

;

LANNERIUR, 236. 225 ;notices the respect shown to

LANOR DE BETINGES, a Saxon, 595, Arthur, 225, 226 wishes Arthur would ;

596, 602. spouse Gonnore, 226 in a brown ;

LAUDALUS DE LA PLAYNE. one of study, 226 his gloomy conduct causes

;

Arthur's knights, 682. complaint, 226 rouses himself, and is ;

LACEREP, town? 313? castle of leue- merry, 226; Arthur gets pensive too,
rop, 546. 227 makes Gonnore serve Arthur
;

LAUNALL, 459, 480. kneehng, 228 Ban tells him that he ;

LAUNCELOT, Lancelot, 326, 393, 401, wonders why Gonnore has not yet been
466, 610, 676, 699 de lak, 527.; married, 228 says he's been too busy,;

LAWS of a tournament, 456. 228 would like to marry her to a

;

[the] LAYS HARDY, 212, 349; Lait, bachelor who could defend the land,
349 ; lylais the hardy, 352. 228 says he thinks he knows one, 228
; ;

LEGATE, Pope's, 560, 577. Merlin and Bors see through it and
LEIRE, lever, river, 306, 385, 386. laugh, 228 tries to find out who they
;

LENTON\ 142. are, 229 notices the great respect

;

LEODEGAN, his wife, 114, 212, 213, shown Arthur, 229 banquets, 231, 257; ;

225, 465 ;of Tamelide (Car-

king honours Arthur greatly, 257 Merlin ;

melide, 404), 114, 173, 175 an old ; counsels him to arm for battle, 314,
man, 114; a widower, 114 his only ; 315; his cousin germain Guyomar,
child Gonnore, 114, 448, 450, 465, 316 the three kings and Merlin come,
;

623, 678; at war with Rion, 114; 317; Merlin's advice, 317; he is over-
Merlin counsels Arthur to help him, whelmed with grief, 318 Merlin says ;

115, 123, 141, 142 his daughter will

; they seek a wife for Arthur, 319 ; he
 ;; ;
;;

LEODEGAN. [ 733 ] LONDON.

says they need go no further, for Arthur Bors, 143, 307, 381 gathers his people ;

shall have Gonnore, 319 brings :

together before Benoyk, 144 Merlin ;

Gonnore in, 319 gives her to Arthur, ;

comes, 144 goes with Merlin to the
;

319, 341, 357; Merlin tells him who Rochell, 146 arrives at Great Britain,
;

Arthur 320
is, his joy, 320 does
; ; 147 leads Ban's second ward at the
;

homage to Arthur, 320 prepares his ;

battle of Bredigan, 151 the battle, ;

army, 321, 330; he and Cleodalis lead 152, 161 his prowess, 161
; keeps ;

the tenth division, 321 holds court ; watch, 166 y returns to guard the lands,
royal, 322 slain by Bertelanx the
; 167 Merlin
; comes, 305, 308 Merlin ;

traitor, 322 the two lovers kiss, 322,

;
prophesies, 305, 306 counselled by ;

323 a fierce onset, 332 his nephew

; ;
Merlin, 306, 315, 381 is to lie in ;

Saydoynes comes to the rescue, 334 ambush, 306 Merlin goes away, 307, ;

they smite in fiercely, 335; chases Rion, 379 cousin

; to Ban and Bors, 305, 315 ;

337 he and Cleodalis get separated

;
prepares to resist the invaders, 379
irom their men in the dark, 347 the ;
at Benoyk, 380; nigh cousin to Banyn,
giants see they are but two, and turn 381 goes to the forest of Briogne, 381
; ;

on them, 348 overthrown, 348 Cleo-

; ;
his nephew, 381 Merlin comes, 384; ;

dalis gives him his horse, 348 he re- ;

his host gets ready for battle, 384
pents his foul deed to Cleodalis, 348 before Trebes, 400 goes to aid Pharien, ;

his knights think he is lost, 349 403,409 his valour, 403 Merlin comes,
; ;

Amaunt takes advantage of his troubles, 564 is told by Merlin to get the host
;

350. 351. 3^5 is in great peril, 353;

;
ready and go to Salisbury Plain, 564
the floble truth of Cleodalis, 353, 354 ;
is to carry a red cross banner, 564
asks Cleodalis to forgive his foul deed, agrees to follow Merlin's advice, 565
354 fight together against their foes
;
goes to the rescue of Morgeins, Ventres'
till midnight, 355, 615 Merlin comes ; wife, 587, 588, 589 Merlin tells him ;

to the rescue, 355 horsed again, 355 ; ;

to start for Camelot with his host, 623 ;

they all return to their tents at dawn, keeps the land against Claudas, 650
357 gives all the spoil to Arthur, 357
; ;
succours some of Arthur's knights,
goes to Toraise, 358 asks Arthur to ; 670 ; his valour, 699.
marry Gonnore, 360 Merlin says they ;
LEONELL, wife of Blaires, 204.
must wait a little, 360 Arthur's de- ; LEONES DE PAERNE, Leonces, 129,
parture, 360, 404 Arthur's return, 448 ; ;
130, 143, 144. 146, 151, 161, 166, 167;
at Toraise, 448, 471 Arthur's wedding ;
cousin to Ban and Bors, 305 308, 315. —
day fixed, 448, 449, 451 Merlin comes, ;
LEONOYS, Leoneys, 254, 285, 291, 295,
451 the marriage of Arthur and Gon-
;

nore, 213, 451, 452, 453 his chaplain ;

LEOXPADYS OF THE PLAYN, 212.
Sir Annistan, 453, 472 the tournament ;
LERIADOR. 671, 673, 674.
afterwards, 455 hears of the plot to;
LESPINE, castle de, 562.
kidnap his daughter, 465, 466, 468 ;
LESPINOYE. a plain, 509.
leads Arthur to Gonnore, 466 his ; LEYCESTRE, 312.
knight Bertelak, 466 Bertelak's com- ; LILLE, Caues de, 682.
plaint, 466, 467 banishes the false ; LITTLE BRITAIN, 121, 124, 146, 147,
Gonnore, 468, 469 Bertelak has slain ; 166, 173, 402, 563, 564, 662, 690, 692.
a knight in revenge, 467, 469 brings ; LOGRES, see New Troy and Bloy
Bertelak to judgment, 469, 470 ;
Bretaigne, 57, 67, 97, 104, 106, 107,
banishes him, 470 Bertelak vows ; no, 120, 121, 123, 124, 131, 132, 134,
revenge, 470 Gawein takes leave and
; 135 fellowship of
;
the Table of, 136,
goes to Logres, 471 Ban and ; 141, 149, 180, 186, 191, 192, 194, 196,
Bors, and Arthur and Gonnore 200, 201, 230, 240, 252, 258, 262, 283,
take their leave, 472 Merlin leaves, ; 301. 303. 314. 316. 341. 374. 376, 378,
472, 473 ;does not go to the Salisbury 379, 401—404, 406, 420, 447, 449, 450,
assembly, 567 Rion prepares to re-
; 455, 462, 471, 472, 473, 479, 484, 502,
attack him, 616; besieged by Rion in 550, 562, 566, 573, 579, 598 630, 631,
Toraise, 616, 617, 624 makes a stout ; 635, 643, 644, 658, 674, 676, 678, 682,
defence, 618 in the battle between
; 690, 692.
Arthur and Rion outside Toraise, 626, LOGRYN, Logryns, 147.
627 Arthur
; slays Rion, 630 departure ; LOHOOT, son of Arthur, and slayn by
of Arthur from Toraise, 630 his death, ; Kay, 475.
678. LONDE DES PASTURES, Londe of
LEODOBRON, king, 191. pastures, 114, 616.
LEONCES DE PAERNE, a knight of LONDE of GEAUNTES, 114.
Ban and Bors, 129 is left in charge ; LONDON, i.e. Logres, Arthur's chief
of their lands, 130 cousin of Ban and of ; city, 95, 120.
 ;

LONOR. [ 734 ] LOTH OF ORCANYE.

LONOR, the lestregues (duke), a Saxon, sons' vow, 450 resolves to get back ;

593- his wife, 450 and to capture Arthur's ;

LOONOIS, io8. 146. so as to be quits, 450, 472 sends spies, ;

LORD of the DOLEROUSE GARDE, 450, 472 lays an ambush, 472 rushes
; ;

445- out on Arthur, 473 borne to ground ;

LORD of the STREITE WEYES, 247. by Arthur's spear, 474 slays Arthur's ;

LORDE of the FOREST PERILOUSE, horse, 474 Arthur preserved, 474

; a ;

445- hard fight, 474, 475 overthrown by ;

LORDE of the STREITE MARCHE, Gawein, 476, 562 who will not em- ;

247. 249, 558. brace him until he does homage to

LOSERES (land), 601. Arthur, 477, 560 makes peace and ;

LOTH, Kynge in Bretayne, named does homage, 478, 479, 480, 518, 557,
Constance, 23. 559, 560 goes to Logres with Arthur,
;

LOTH of ORCAXYE(Loot, 439; Looth, 479, 480 his knights in the tourna-
;

486) to marry Hoel's eldest daughter,

; is ment of Logres, 486, 487, 490, 491, 494,
84, 121, 179, 230, 393 consents, 85 ; ; 495 ;persuades Gawein to cease the
the marriage, 86 his sons are Gawein, ; tournament 498 in council with Arthur,
,
;

Agrauuayn, Gaheret, Gaheries, and 504, 507 a truce with the princes pro-
;

Mordred, 86, 122, 179, 230, 439, 449, posed by him, 505 so that a general ;

450, 462, 518, 519, 524, 545, 554, 555, attack may be made on the Saxons,
557' 59^^ goes to Arthur's court royal,
; 505, 556 Ban wants him to go as am-
;

108 holds Arthur in disdain, 108

;
;
bassador, 505 Arthur and Gonnore ;

battle with Arthur, 117, 118 unhorsed ; agree, 505, 506 will take his four sons ;

by Arthur, 118; upset by Kay, 119; with him, 506, 546, 559, 561 preparing ;

Merlin prophesies Gawein's disobedi- for the start, 507 starts at midnight, ;

ence, 122 the great battle at Bredigan,

; 509 encounter with Saxons, 510, 511
; ;

146, 165 has a fearful dream, 153

;
;
unhorsed, 511 horsed and rescued by ;

upset by Kay, 156 revenged and re- ; Gawein, 512 cuts his way through the ;

horsed by Aguysans, 156 the battle ; Saxons, 512 misses Gawein and is ;

turns against him, 160, 162, 163, 165 ;

sorrowful, 513, 514 sees Gawein sur- ;

smites Ban, 164 who returns the blow, ; rounded with Saxons, 514, 515 slaugh- ;

164; defeated, 165; in trouble with tering Saxons, 515 Gueheret unhorsed ;

the Saxons, 175 counsels the kings, ; by Saxons, 515, 516 Gueheret rescued ;

175 goes to the city of Gale, 179

; ;
by Gawein, 516 they lodge at a ;

assembles a great host, 179 Arthur's ; forester's house, 517, 518, 524 the ;

amour with Lot's wife, 180, i8i his ; country they are in belongs to king
wife wants Gawein to make peace be- Clarion of Northumberland, 518 the ;

tween Lot and Arthur, 182, 251 the ; forester [Mynoras] talks of Arthur's
Saxons ravage his lands, 254, 258, 291, court, 518, 519 Mynoras has friends ;

295 loses many men with ffghting the

; and kin at Arthur's court, 518 tells ;

Saxons, 295, 349 retires with his wife ; him who he is and his mission, 519 ;

to Glocedon, 295 curses the day he ; Mynoras will tell Clarion Lot is coming,
quarrelled with Arthur, 295 his little ; 519, 556 takes leave of Mynoras, 524,
;

son Mordred two years old, 295 his ; 525, 526 Agravain's foul thoughts,
;

wife captured by the Saxons, 296 his ; 526, 527, 528 meets Elizer's squire, ;

squire escapes with his little son, 296, Lydonas, flying from a host of Saxons,
298 his wife ill-used by the Saxons,
; 528 goes to the rescue of Elizer, 528
;

298, 299 Gawein kills Taurus and

; — 531 tells Lydonas who he is, 529
;

rescues her, 299, 300, 301 returns to ; in great peril, 532, 533 rescued by ;

Glocedon, 298 his cousins, 292, 373; ; Gaheries, 532, 533 felled by Pignoras, ;

bewails his lost wife and son, 312, 439 ; 533 ;horsed by Gawein, 534 the ;

his sons determine to make him at quarrel of Gaheries and Agravain, 535 ;

peace with Arthur before they bring is angry with Agravain, 536 his sons' ;

back his wife, 304 she is with Arthur ; quarrel, 537; Gueheret insults him,
at Logres, 374, 449 the expedition ;
538 ;sends the captured sumpters as
against Saisnes to Clarence, 438, 449 ;
a present to Mynoras, 538, 539, 555 ;

leads the eleventh ward, 439 sorrowful, ; hears of Gawein's midnight rescue of a
439 a night attack, 439 444
; his — ; lady, 544 at Roestok castle, 545, 546
; ;

courage, 443 discomfited, 444 ;

;
starts for Leuerop castle, 546 at Cam- ;

another onset, 444, 445 totally beaten, ; benyk, 546 tussle with the Saxons, ;

446, 447, 449; goes home, 447, 439; 546 to the rescue of Escam of Cam-
;

hears Arthur is at Logres, 449, 450 is

glad his wife and son Mordred are safe,
;
—
benyk, 547 551 calls Gawein to rescue
Gueheret and Agravain, 552 horses
;

450 but angry about his grown-up

; Escam, 553 utter rout of the Saxons, ;
 ;;;; ;

LUCAS. [ 735 ] MARGONDRE.

554; tells Escam who they are, 554, Logres tournament, 489 ; serves at the
555 entry into Cambenyk, 555 talks
; ; high dais, 504.
with Escam about peace with Arthur, LUCE, emperor of Rome, 639 643, 650, —
556 ; Aguysant agrees to the confer- 651 his sister's son Tutillius, 652, 653,
;

ence, 546, 556 Escam agrees to the ; 656, 657, 660, 662 slain by Gawein, ;

conference, 557 Escam by his advice ; 663, 664, 669.

sends messengers to bid all the rebel LYBEE, Lubee, country of, 656,663 ; lord
barons to the conference, 557 go to ;
of, see Gestoire.
North Wales and thence to Arestuell, LYDARUS, king, 248.
557. 558 the conference, 558, 559
; LYDONAS, squire to Elizer, 522, 523,
Gawein addresses the barons from 524, 528, 529, 538, 539, 555, 584.
Arthur, 559 confirms all Gawein says,
; LYOXELL, son of Bors, 367, 401, 698.
559 ; Urien is angry at his taking LYSANOR, daughter of earl Sevain, 171.
Arthur's part, 559 a truce, 560 leads ; ; LYTEXOYS, Lystenoys, 173, 229, 326,
a large host to Salisbury, 561, 565, 575 ; 519, 528, 539, 561, 577, 583, 584, 594,
tells Arthur of the truce, 561 consul- ; 636.
tation with the princes, 580; urges
them to do homage to Arthur, 581 MADAGOT, knight of the Black Isle
they demur, 581 Arthur speaks to ;
tournoye, 345.
them, 582 Merlin advises a start for
; MADELANS, 198, 200, 201.
Clarence, 582 maims Sjiiarus, 591 ; ;
MADYEXS LE CRESPES, 135.
leads the fourth ward at Garlot, 594 MAGALOES, a Saxon, 593.
in the battle before Clarence, 601 goes ;
MAGDALEYX, 313.
to Camelot, 603 reassembly for battle, ; MAGLAAXT, 281.
623 battle with Rion's host, 625 un-
; ; MAGLAAS, the riche kinge of Iselonde,
horsed, 625 horsed by Merlin, 625
; 252.
prepares for the invasion of Britain by MAGLAXS, 244, 245, 253, 254, 255, 286,
Luce, 643 in Arthur's eighteenth di-
; 287, 289.
vision, 659 goes against the devil-cat,
;
MAGLORAS (a Saxon) king, 236, 587
666 Loot's wife is Arthur's sister, 179,
; slain, 591 ; nephew of Hardogabran,
372, 373 ;her sons, 179, 295, 372 593-
Arthur lies with her unknown, 180, 393 ;
MAGOXDES, king, 243, 245, 246, 255.
birth of Mordred, 181, 393 talks to ; MAGORAS, 345.
Gawein about Arthur, 181 her three ; MAHIDRAP, king, 342, 345.
sons to join Arthur, 183, 184 their ; MAIDEX and DWARF, 635, 638, 679,
prowess, 188 at Glocedon, 295 her ; ; 682, 685, 690, 691 ; her name Beaune.
beauty, 298, 376 captured by Saxons, ; 686 ; his Evadeam, 697, 698.
296, 298, 312 her sorrow, 298 ill- ; ; MALES LE BRUxXS. 205, 598, 618.
used by Taurus, 298, 299 rescued by ; MALET, 217.
—
Gawein, 300 303, 376 tells her Mor- ; MALOHAUT. 236.
dred is safe, 301 sorrow for Lot, 300, ; MALOXAXT, a city, 184.
301 conveyed to Arondell, 301 sees
; ;
MALORE, cousin to Ffreelant, 220, 222,
Mordred, 301 goes to Logres, 301, ; 223.
449 ; welcome, 301 her sons' vow, ;
MALTA! LLEES, king, 342, 345.
301, 314, 449 Arthur enters Logres, ; MAXDALET, king, 191.
374 go^ ^o
;
meet him with Morgne le MAXDOXES, kin to Rion, 346.
fee her sister, 374 Arthur's joy, 374 ; ;
MARASSE, castel of, 605, 622, 671, 672,
all go to the palace, 374 Gawein takes ; see Agravadain, lord of, 670 his ;

leave, 377 her sister Morgain, 507.

; daughter, 670.
LUCAS THE BOTILLER, son of a MARCELL, a Roman knight slain by
castelein, 133 of great prowess, 133
;
;
Gawein, 653 his uncle, 653.
;

the banquet at Logres, 133 cousin- ; MARCHE, castel of the, 677.

german to Gifflet, 134 the tourna- ; MARES, 158, 441.
ment at Logres, 134, 135, 136, 138 MARGALY\^\UXT, 217.
upsets Blios, 136 is praised, 138 ;
MARGAMOUR, 164.
governor, 143 the battle at Bredigan,
; MARG.\XORS. 165, 233, 234.
151, 156, 158, 159 on the watch, 166 ; MARGAXS, king, 152.
one of the forty-two knights, 212 MARGAXT, a king, slain, 618.
assists Cleodalis, 214, 216, 217, 220, ^L•\RGXAM, steward to Roy de Cent
224 the battle with Rion, 337, 349 at
; ;
Chevaliers, 158, 233, 234.
the marriage of Arthur and Gonnore, MARGOIRES, 236.
453, 454 in the tournament at Toraise,
;
MARGOXDRE, king, 244 ; cousin-
455' 459 ^t Arthur's Logres court
;
german to Aungis the Saxon, 600.
royal, 480, 481 his deeds in the ;
See Margounces.

49
 ,;;; ;

MARGOUNCES. [ 736 ] MERLIN.

MARGOUNCES, Saxon king, 600 ;

takes leave of his mother, 33 the ;

slain, 600. churl story, 33 priest's child story, ;

MARGOUNDES, seneschal of Sorloys, 34 ; counsels the messengers, 34 goes ;

578, 601. to Vortiger, 36 clears up the tower ;

MARGOUNS, 591—594; slain, 595; mystery, 37 and the dragon mystery, ;

botiller of King Pignores, 591, 592, 39, 42 releases the clerks, 40

; fore- ;

595- tells Vortiger's downfall, 40, 41 takes ;

MARGRAT, a Saxon, 510. leave of Vortiger, 41 goes to Blase, ;

MARKE, Lord of Roestock, 256. 41 ; sought for by Pendragon, 42 ;

MARKE DE LA ROCHE, 135, 151. leaves Blase, 42; meets the messengers,
MARMYADOISE, Rions sword, 339, 43 ; Pendragon comes, 44 he sees ;

340, 346, 347, 352, 353, 357, 648. Pendragon, 44, 45 disguises himself, ;

MARTIN'-Masse, 96. 43, 46 goes to warn Uter, 46

;
back ;

MARTYX, Maister, 23. to Blase, 46 goes disguised to Uter, ;

MATAN, a young knight of the baron's 47 ; reveals himself, 47 proves his ;

side, 442. identity, 49 will help Pendragon and ;

MATAN, duke of Almayne, 421 his ;

Uter, 49 Pendragon to send for the
;

daughter GrisandoU or Anable, q.v. Saracens, 49 advises Pendragon, 50 ; ;

his wife, and his son Patrick, 435, 436. barons jealous, 50; trap laid, 51, 52;
MATHEU, 59. story of the baron, 51, 53 goes to ;

MATHUCUS, king, 255. Blase, 53 returns to court, 54

; Pen- ;

MAUDRAS, 673, 674. dragon and Uter swear to obey him,

MAUNDALIS, Saxon steward, slain, 55 his plans, 55
; goes to Blase, 56 ; ;

534. 535- at court, 57 builds Stonehenge, 57, ;

MA US, a Roman (? prince), 656. 58 tells

; Uter Pendragon of his
MAXL\nAN, lord of Bretaigne and parentage, 58 of the source of his ;

Rome, 642. power, 58 of the Graal, 59 ; designs ;

MEDE, 661, 662 ; king of, 661. See the Round Table, 59 to found it at ;

Boclus. Cardoell, 60 chooses fifty knights for ;

MKDEA, wife of Jason, 340. it, 60 the vacant seat, 61

; goes to ;

MEHAIGNYES, see Alain de Lille, 229. Blase, 61 three years away, 61

; his ;

MELEKINS, Malaquyn, saxon Caste- enemies' spite, 61, 62 on the alert, 62; ;

lein, 593, 595- said to be dead, 62 fate of one enemy, ;

MELIADUS, a Saxon, 593, 595. 63 goes to court, 63 the vacant seat,

; ;

MELIADUS LE BLOYS, 212. 63 ; appears disguised to UUyn, 72,

MELL\DUS THE BLAKE, 151. 74 ; discovered, 74 plan to seduce ;

MELIAGANS, 238. Ygerne, 75, 121 goes with Uter Pen- ;

MENLA.DUS, 236. dragon and Ulfyn to Tintagel, 76 ;

MEODALIS, 461. disguised as Bretel, 76 plan succeeds, ;

MER.\NGES DE PORLENGES, Me- •J7 ; is promised the child, 78 comes ;

ranges de Porlesgues, 212, 217, 220, to Uter Pendragon, 80, 302 praises ;

349, 363; his sister, 518. Ulfyn, 80 arranges for the child, 80
; ;

MERLIN, of Northumberlande, 436, tells Uter Pendragon to marry Ygerne,

437 , his aunts, 479 his grandfather ; 81 ; quits Uter Pendragon, 81 goes to ;

Merlin, 15 his mother, 33, 723

; Blase, 81 to Ulfyn, 87 ; sees Uter ;

begotten of the devil, 302, 405 the ; Pendragon, 87 gfuilty still, 87 his ;
;

fiends' plot, 10, 302, 405 his mother's ; plan, 88 goes to Blase, 88
;
secretly ;

sorrow, 11 consults Blase, 7, 22; ac-

; to Ulfyn, 89 to Uter Pendragon, 92 ;
;

cused, 13; birth of her son, 14; names foretells Uter Pendragon's death, 93 ;

it Merlin, 15; again accused, 16, 17; to shows him how to beat the Danes, 92,
be burnt, 16, 17, 121 saved by her ; 94 goes to the dying Uter Pendragon,
;

son, 21 a nun, 121

;
his birth, 14 ; 94; death of Uter Pendragon, 95;
counsels his mother, 15, 16 taken for ; sent for by the nobles, 95 the vacant ;

a devil, 16 pleads for his mother, 17

;
throne, 95 tells the barons to wait
:

accuses the judge's mother, 18, 20 ;

till Yule, 96 goes to Blase, 97 to ; ;

confesses his parentage, 20 pro- ;

Karlion, 109 barons send for him, ;

phesies, 21 delivers his mother, 21

; ; 109 his advice about Arthur, 109
; ;

Blase to make a book of his sayings, says Arthur is of good blood, 109 tells ;

22, 23, 32, 327 life in danger, 23

;
;
them to bring Antor, Ulfyn, and
sends Blase after the Grail, 23 appears ; Arthur before him, 109 barons send ;

to the sages, 28 life is sought, 29

; Bretell for them, no they arrive, no; ;

takes his pursuers to his mother, 30 tells Arthur's history, in barons ;

and to Blase, 31 ; their terror, 31 resist still, 113 warns them, 113 ;

sends Blase to Northumberland, 32 ;

counsels Arthur, 114 tells him of ;
 ; ;;;;

MERLIN. [ 737 ] MERLIN.

King Rion, 114, 115; of the daughter Table knights, 218 charges the Saxons, ;

Gonnore, 115 promises his help to ;

218, 219. 221 calls Arthur coward, ;

Arthur for ever, 115 the dragon ; 221 king Leodogan gives them the
;

banner, 115 sets the barons' tents on ; spoil, 224, 225 his advice, 225 Gon- ; ;

fire, 120, 129; counsels Arthur,

116, nore serves Arthur, 225 sees Leodo- ;

121 explains his nature, 123 makes

; ; gan, wants Arthur to marry Gonnore,
Arthur swear secrecy, 133 counsels ; 228 tells Arthur of his nephews, 230
; ;

Arthur, 131 goes to Arthur, 131 ; ;

says he must go to Logres, 258 goes ;

arranges the reception of Ban and to Blase, 259, 260, 261 in disguise to ;

Bors, 132 accounted the greatest

; Camelot, 261 questioned by Gawein, ;

astronomer, 133 tells Arthur of the ; 262, 263 tells him of Seigramor, 263,
;

messengers, 138 Ban wants to see ; 302; battle with Orienx, 265, 266;
him, 138 sent for by Arthur, 139 he
; ; again disguised, 269, 270, 279 goes ;

goes, 139 is questioned by Guyne-

; to Bredigan, 279 his crafty letter, ;

bande, 139 tells Ban the history of

; 279. 280, 290 disguised, 294 ; goes to ;

Arthur, 139; and that Arthur is his Leoneys in Orcanye, 295 disguised as a ;

liege lord, 139; instructs Guynebande, knight, 296, 302; sends Gawein and his
143 swears that Arthur is the son of
; company to the rescue of Mordred and
Uter Pendragon, 140 UlfjTi corrobo- ; his mother, 296, 301, 302 discovered, ;

rates him, 140; in council, 141 tells ; 302 Blase's books ordered by Merlin,
;

Arthur to msirry Gonnore, 141 to go ; 327 ; goes to Blase, 303 tells him he is ;

to Carmelide for a year or two, 141 ;

going to Benoyk, 303 his fears for Ban ;

Ban withstands this, 142 foretells that ; and Bors, 303 the wolf that shall bind ;

Arthur gain Leodogan's kingdom',

will the leopard, 304, 563 foretells his own ;

142 and the battle with the barons,

; fate, 304 the quest of the St. Grail,
;

142 goes to collect reinforcements,

; 304 goes to Leonces at Benoyk, 305,
;

142, 143, 144 and to Blase, 143 ; ; 308, 315 takes him into confidence,
;

to Little Britain, 143; to Cannes, 143; 305, 315, 381 the serpent shall over-
;

delivers the ring taken to I.^onces, come the leopard, 305 tells Leonces ;

144 leads the reinforcements by ship

; to victual and arm his castles, 306
to Arthur, 144, 146 the seven kings ; foretells an incursion into Benoyk,
vow revenge on ^lerlin, 145, 148 the ; 306 ; foretells the great battle with the
ships arrive at Bloy Bretaigne, 146 Saxons and giants, 307 goes to the ;

Arthur's death, 147 his precautions, ; forest of Briok to meet Ximiane, 307, '
147 joins Arthur with the army, 148
; 308 his love has been foretold by
;

goes to the three kings, 148 arrives ; Diana, 307 disguises himself as a
;

at Logres same day, 149 says that ; young temptation, 308,

squire, 308 ;

Arthur will lose only twenty-four men 309 ; sees Ximiane,

308 her beauty, ;

in the battle, but the three kings, 307, 308 her prudent answer, 309
;

thousands, 149 leads them to Bredi- ; tells her of his power in magic, 309 ;

gan, 150 shows Arthur a great

; she promises her love, 309 he grants her ;

treasure in the ground, 150 prepares ;

powers, 309, 310, 314; raises a magic
for the battle, 151 rides in front of ; bower and company, 309, 310, 311
the army, 151 attacks the sentries, ; the fatal pledge, 310, 311 converses ;

153 appears to Arthur, 165 tells him

; ;
with her, 311 teaches her some magic,
;

to return to his kingdom, 166 goes to ; 312 agrees to see her again on St.
;

Blase, 166; Arthur sojourns at Bredi- John's Eve, 312 goes to Toraise in ;

gan, 167; the great churl, 167; is Tamelide, 312, 314 his welcome, 3T2, ;

recognised by Ulfyn, 168 resumes his ; 314; counsels the three kings, 3r4
usual form, 170 helps Arthur's amour, ; teUs Arthur of his nephew's doings,
171 his counsel, 173, 175; barons fear
;
314 and Ban and Bors of Claudas,
;

his power, 173, 175 love for Nimiane, ;

314, 315; counsels them, 315; great
185, 607 goes with Arthur to Leodo-
; dragon shall overcome the lion, 315 ;

gan, 202, 203, 212, 257 sojourns with ; but a leopard shall aid the lion, 315,
Blaire, 204 bears Arthur's dragon- ; 316 ;the kings wonder at his dark
banner, 206, 209 town gate flies open ; saying, 315, 316 tells Arthur he is ;

at his bidding, 206 the great battle ; concerned in it, 315 tells him of ;

with the Saxons, 206, 207 raises a ; the swords in the forest, 316 goes ;

storm of wind, 209 rescues Leodogan, ; to Leodogan and counsels him,

209 ; and the knights of the Round 317, 318 Leodogan ; wonders who
Table, 210 the mar^'el of the dragon
; he is, 318 his craft, ;319 tells ;

banner, 210, 219; aids Cleodalis, 211, Leodogan that they seek a fit
215 his advice, 216, 224
; rests his ; wife for Arthur, 319 Arthur's be- ;

men, 218 is joined by the Round

; trothal, 319, 320 discovers Arthur's ;
 ;; ;;;

MERLIN. [ 738 ] MERLIN.

name and estate to Leodogan, 320; 383 Blioberis is to lead the host, 383
; ;

discovers himself to the Round Table goes off to Leonce, 384 vanishing ;

knights, 320 Leodogan's court royal,

; powers, 384 the hosts encompass ;

322 sits at the head of the dais, 322

; ;
Claudas, but wait for Merlin's signal,
laughs at Arthur and his love Gonnore, 386 gives the signal, 386, 387 the
;
;

322 tells them to kiss each other, 322,

; battle begins, 387 his miraculous ;

323 leads the first ward, 323

; the ; powers, 386, 387 the wonder-working ;

dragon-banner borne by him, 323, 324, banner, 393 sends Arthur and the two
;

327, 332, 336 sets on Rion, 324 ; kings to help the people of Logres, who
makes a storm, 324; disguises himself are being worsted, 404 scolds and ;

and encourages Arthur, 325 leads ; taunts Arthur, 404, 407 taunts Ga- ;

Arthur to the rescue of Nascien and wein, 404 taunts Ban and Bors, 405
; ;

Boors, 331, 332, 333 raises a tempest, ; takes the banner from Kay, 405, 406 ;

332 the dragon-banner throws out

; his marvellous deeds, 405, 406; rides
fire and flame, 332 help comes, 335 ; into the thick of the battle, 405, 406
collects the fellowship of the Round Merlin's personal appearancedescribed,
Table, 335 encourages Arthur, 335
; ; 405, 406 on a black horse, 406
; never ;

dashes into the fight again, 336 Arthur ; knowTi to slay any man unless by riding
overthrown, 336 goes to the rescue, ;
down, 406 his company counts a
;

336 ;follows a band of Saxons, 349, thousand, 406 dragon vomits fire, 406 ; ;

350 raises a storm over them, 350

; ;
leads on Arthur and his knights to the
and a river in their front, 350, 351 ;
attack, 410 utter rout of Claudas,
;

causes friends to take each other for 411, 412 many prisoners, 412 lodged
; ;

foes, 351 ; fetches Arthur to aid Leo- in Trebes castle, 412, 413; Helayn's
dogan, 353 ;the dragon-banner lightens marvellous dream, 413, 414, 415; re-
the darkness, 353 goes to Leodogan, ; lates and explains the dream, 416, 417 ;

353. 354 finds Leodogan on foot and

; on St. John's day departs and goes to
wear}', 354 fetches reinforcements,
; his love Nimiane, 416, 417, 418 she ;

356;' in the thick of the fight, 356; meets him at the well, 417 she con- ;

bears the dragon, which lights up the ducts him secretly into a chamber, 418 ;

darkness, 356 leads Arthur to the ; tells her how to make people sleep at
three Saxon kings, 356, 357 they rest ; will, 418 tells her three names which
;

at dawn, 357 returns to Leodogan, ; will guard her chastity from violence,
who is glad, 357 tells Arthur how to ; 418 stays there eight days, 418 he
; ;

divide the spoil, 357, 358 Leodogan ; is quite chaste, 418 teaches her the ;

wants Arthur's marriage to come off, past and future, 418 she puts them in ;

360 says it must wait until he has been

;
WTiting, 418 leaves her and goes to
;

to Benoyk, 360 at Bredigan, 363 ; ;

Arthur at Benoyk, 418, 419 waits for ;

Ban comes, 363 asks Ban about Guy- ; Gawein and goes to Gannes, 419 ;

nebans, 363 Bors comes, 369 ; the ; welcomed by Bors and stays two days,
treasure, 370 the twelve swords, 370,
; 419 goes to la Rochelle and to the
;

374; Galeshyn, Seigramor, Gawein, and sea, 419, 420 tells Arthur, Gawein, ;

his brethren come to meet Arthur, and the two kings to sail for Carmelide,
370, 371 they all enter Logres, 374
; 420 Arthur wants him to come too so
;

counsels Arthur to gird Gawein with as to be at the marriage, 420 says he ;

Calibourne, 374 tells Arthur not to ; will follow soon to Carmelide, 420
let the knights joust in the meadows, leaves Arthur, 420; goes to the forests of
because of the Saxons, 375 teaches ; Rome, 420, 422 this was in the time ;

Morgne le fee astronomye and egre- of Julius Cesar that Gawein slew, 420 ;

mauncye, 375, 508 tells Arthur to get ; Julius has a beautiful but lecherous wife,
ready to move to Benoyk, 375, 376 420 her devices, 420 she disguised a
; ;

asks Gawein about the mysterious dozen squires as women to serve her
knight, 376, 377 tells Gawein to take ; will, 420; the arrival of Grisandoll,
leave of his mother and to lead the host 421 ; the dream of Juljias Cesar, 421,
to Dover, 377 remains at Logres and ; 422 Juhiis is pensive, 422 arrives at
; ;

tells Arthur to move to the Rochelle, the entry of Rome, 422 casts an en- ;

and not to move until he sees him chantment and becomes a large hart,
again, 378 goes to Blase in North-
;
422, 435, 436, 437 is chased through ;

umberland, who is joyful at seeing him, Rome, 422 rushes into the Emperors
;

378; tells Blase of Nimiane, 378 Blase ; palace, upsetting the dinner tables,
chides him, and tells him of prophecies, 422, 423 tells the Emperor he will
;

378 goes to Arthur at the Rochelle,

;
never understand the dream until a
379 arranges the expedition to Trebes
;
savage man explains it, 423, 436, 437
with Arthur and the others, 381, 382, enchants the doors of the palace and
 ; ;

MERLIX. [ 739 ] MERLIN.

runs out into the fields, 423 chased, ; are burnt alive, 431, 432 it is noised ;

423, 436 vanishes, 423 the Emperor

; ; all over the country, 431 praised by ;

is WTOth, 423 half the kingdom and ; the barons, 432 explains why he ;

the Emperors daughter promised to laughed at Grisandolus, at the undutiful

anyone \s'ho will discover the hart or squires, 433, 444 and at the Empress,
;

the savage man, 423, 435 the knights ; 432, 434 laughed at Grisandolus be-
;

of the Emjjeror make an unsuccessful cause he was snared by a woman, 432

search, 423 Grisandoll is searching
; at the beggars because great treasure
too, 423; the hart (Merlin) app)ears to lay in the earth under their feet and
her, and tells her how she can find the they knew it not, 432 says GrisandoU ;

savage man, 423, 436 disappears in ; is a woman though disguised as a man,

the forest, 424 comes to Grisandoll ; 432, 433 ; says the Emperor shall have
as the savage man, 424, 425 eats ; a good Empress after all, 433 gives ;

heartily of the food and sleeps, 424 ;

the Emperor a dark prophecy about a
Grisandoll steals his staff, 425 on ; great dragon from Rome going to de-
horseback in chains, 425 will not ; stroy great Bretayne and to subdue a
speak to Grisandoll, but only laughs, crowned lion in spite of a turtill, but
425 ;tells her he will not sp>eak a bull stall aid the lion and slay the
until he comes before the Emperor, dragon, 433, 435, 436 will not explain ;

425 ;they come to an abbey, 425 ;

this, but tells the Emperor to eschew
laughs to see a host of beggars outside edl counsel, 433 tells the Emperor ;

the gates, 425 goes to mass, 426 the ; ; that his child is his really, and wants to
incident of the undutiful squire, 426, depart, 435 Emjjeror wants to know
;

427 laughs again, 426

•
the knight ; about Grisandol and to see the treasure,
smitten by the squire asks the savage 435 GrisandoU, the Emperor's steward,
;

man who he is, 427 Merlin won't say, ; is found a fair maiden, 435 the Em- ;

and is led into Rome, 427 a crowd of ; peror is in a fix about the promise of
people followed, 427 Grisandoll gfives ; his daughter and half the realm, 435 ;

him into the Emperor's hands, 427 tells the Emperor to make Avenable
chains are sent for, 427, 428 but he ; (Grisandoll) his wife, 435 tells him her ;

offers his word as a christian man not parentage and kin, 435 tells him to ;

to escape, 428 Emperor amazed to ; restore her brother's heritage and marry
hear he is christened, 428 is asked his ; his daughter to him, 435 the barons ;

story, 428 says he was got by a savage

; commend this counsel, 435 won't tell ;

man on his mother, was baptised when his name nor who the hart was, 435 ;

born and led up by his mother, 428 ;

amplifies his dark prophecy about the
but his blood yearned for the forest, dragon, etc., 435, 436; the boar of
and he escajjed to it and became a wild Rome is the dragon which shall against
man, 428 is not to be fettered, 428
; the advice of his love the turtill go into
Grisandoll tells the Emf)eror of his Gaule against the crowned lion of the
laughing, 428 he says he will tell ; Bloy Bretayne; one of the fawns of the
why he laughed when the barons are crowned lion shall slay the boar, 436 ;

all assembled, 428 the barons assemble, ; strongly advises the Emperor never to
429 the Emperor asks him to tell the
; go against his wife's counsel, 436-; as
barons why he Came, 429 wnll not ; he takes his leave he writes his name
until the Empress and her twelve and who the hart was on the lintel of
maidens are there, 429 they come, ; the Emperor's door, 436 the Emperor ;

429, 434 laughs;again when they come, reads the letters and they disappear,
and the Emperor wants to know why, 437 the Emp>eror sees it is Merlin,
;

429 says he will tell if no harm will

; Arthur's counsellor, 436, 437 goes by ;

be done to him, 429, 430 tells the ; art to Northumberlande to Blase m

Emperor the dream and asks if it were half a day and one night, 438, 450 j
not so, the Emperor says
430, 438 ; tells Blase all about the Emperor of
yes, 430 says the great sow in the
; Rome, and how twelve kings and a
dream is the Empress, 430 will not ; duke are getting ready to attack the
go on until the Emj^eror intreats him, Saisnes before Clarence, of the great
431 the twelve lyonsewes that accom-
; battle before Trebes, and how Ban's
panied the sow mean the twelve squires wife was with child, which child should
disguised as maidens to serve the Em- be the first knight in the world, 438 ;

press's lust, 431. 432, 436 the Emperor ; Blase wTites it all down, 438 Arthur s ;

is sad, 431 Grisandolus strips the

; wedding day fixed, 449 goes to Arthur ;

maidens and finds it as Merlin says, at Toraise, 451 a plot to kidnap Gon-
;

431 the Emperor casts the Empress

; nore, 451, 452, 463, 467 his counter ;

and her squires into the fire, and they plot, 452, 463 takes Ulfin and Bretell
;
 ; ;

MERLIN. [ 740 ] MONPELLIER.

into his secret, 452 the tournament, ; and to Blase, 612 goes disguised to ;

455, 461 stops the tournament, 460,

; Arthur's court royal at Camelot, 615,
462 tells Leodogan of the plot to
; 621 and asks to be banner-bearer, 621,
;

kidnap Gonnore, 465, 468 leads Arthur ; 622 recognized by Ban, 622 Arthur
; ;

to Gonnore, 466 consults with Leo- ; refuses his request, and he vanishes,
dogan, 467 the false Gonnore banished,
; 622 makes the request again, disguised
;

468, 469 the trial of Bertelak, 469,

; as a naked child, 622 Arthur grants ;

470; takes leave of Arthur, but promises it,and he throws off his disguise, 623 ;

to be at the court royal, 472, 473, 562 ;

beats up reinforcements in Gannes,
goes to Blase, 472, 473, 562 tells Blase ; Paerne, Benoyk, Gorre, and Orcanye,
everything, how Lot lies in wait for and returns to Camelot, 623 the battle ;

Arthur, 473, 562 Blase asks about the ; with Rion, 624 rescues Bors and Loth, ;

chance of driving out the Saxons, 563 ; 625 Arthur slays Rion in personal
;

is going to fetch Ban and Bors' people combat, 630 at Logres, 630 ; tells ;

to the gathering at Salisbury, 563 says ; Arthur he must go now that his
the Saxons will not be driven out until work is done, 630. 631 another dark ;

peace between Arthur and barons, 563 ;

saying of his of the lion that was son
makes Blase write letters, and sticks of the bear and leopard, 631 ; departure
them up in highways, 563, 564 goes ;
from Arthur, 631 goes to Flualis, king ;

to little Britain, 564 instructs Leonce ; of Jerusalem, 632 explains Flualis's ;

and Pharien to go to Salisbury with marvellous dream, 633, 634, 675 is ;

their host, 564, 565 goes to Nimiane ;

invisible while he does it, 623 goes to ;

and teaches her some of his cunning, Benoyk to Nimiane, 634 he never ;

565 goes into Lamball, into Carme-

; loses his chastity, 634 goes to Blase, ;

lide, 565 with Nabulall and Bande-

; 634. 635 goes again to Arthur at
;

magn, 566 goes to Logres, 566;; Logres, 635 the dwarf and maiden
;

Arthur makes great joy of him, 566 adventure, 638 a message from Luce, ;

tellsArthur of the assembly collecting, Emperor of Rome, to Arthur, 639 ;

566, 567 tells Arthur of the treason of

; preparations for war with Luce, 643 ;

thelhree Round Tableknights, 567, 568 ; warns Arthur's princes to get ready,
the three knights are brought back, 643, 644 Arthur's host at Gannes,
;

573' 574 -^thur's great dragon-banner

;
644 Arthur's vision, which he interprets,
;

has a red cross put on it, 575 others ; 644, 645 an embassy to Luce, 650,
;

like it, 576, 585, 586, 601 ; talks with 653, 657 defeat of the Romans and
;

Arthur at Salisbury, 578, 579 his pro- ; death of Luce, 664 tells Arthur to go ;

phecy that the father and the son shall on his way still, 664, 665 to tackle ;

slay each other, and of the crowned and the devil-cat, 664, 665 goes against ;

uncrowned lions, 579 visits the lords ; the devil-cat, 666, 669 with Arthur at ;

with Arthur, 579, 580 consultation ; Logres and takes farewell of Arthur
with the twelve princes, 580, 581, 612 ; and Gonnore, 678 and sets out for ;

urges them to do homage to Arthur, Blase and Nimiane, 678, 679 farewell ;

and they demur, 581 advises a start ; to Blase, 679, 680 with Nimiane, who ;

for Clarence, 582 the start, 585 bears ; ; gets power over him, 680; is shut up
Arthur's great banner, 585 meets ; by her through enchantment, and never
squires who say the Saxons have taken returns, 681, 693 Arthur's quest for ;

Ventres' wife, 586 goes to the rescue, ; him, 682, 687, 689, 690, 692 speaks to ;

587, 588, 590, 612 Elizer's prowess, ; Gawein, 692 Gawein recognises his ;

587, 589 meets the Saxon host, 593

;
;
voice, though he can't see him 693, 694 ,

the disposition of his host, 593, 594 ;

calls himself a fool, 694 ; tells Gawein
the attack, 595, 596 tells Arthur to ; to tell Arthur the quest is useless, as
take the Saxons in the rear, 596 de- ; none will see or hear him again, 694.
feat of Saxons, 597 Arthur advances ; MINAP, king, 333.
to Clarence, 598 tells the barons they ; MOLAIT, 411.
must make peace with Arthur, 598, 599 ;
MOLEHAUT, castelein of, 442 ; cite of,
they do homage, 599 the battle before ; 546.
Clarence, 599 carries the great banner, ; MONACLYNS [Saxon], 510, 511.
599 harangues the host, 601 rout of
; ; MONAGINS, Monaquyn, Saxon king,
Saxons, 602 tells Ban and Bors to ;
521,524; brother of Pygnoras, 524;
return to their homes, 603 goes with ; cousin-german to Hardogabran, 535.
Ban and Bors, 605 at Agravadain's ; MONEVALL, a knight of the Round
castle, 605—608, 612 causes Ban to ; Table, 561, 562, 566, 567, 568, 573, 574.
lie with Agravadain's daughter, 607, MONGIN, 640; mountains of, 643.
612 is transformed into a young knight,
; MONPELLIER, a riche town in Pro-
608, 622; goes to Benoyk, to Nimiane, vince, 435, 436.
 ;

MORDRED. [ 741 ] NORTH WALES.

MOR.\S, 222. visions and annexes it to Blase's book,

MORDRED, 147, 180 his mother, 86, ; 327 counsels Arthur in his peril, 327
; ;

179, 180 father, 179, 180, 393, 450

;
with Arthur in the battle against Rion,
youngest son, 179 carried to Glocedon, ; 327 smites Rion down and rescues
;

295, 312, rescued by Gawein,

439 ;
Bors, 331 his horse slain, 331
;
over- ;

298 ; his mother thinks he

is lost, 300 ;
throws Rion's standard, 337 chases ;

Gawein reassures her, 301 at Arondell ;

the Sarazins, 342, 345 flight of the ;

with his mother, 301 his treason, 393. ; Saxon kings, 343 goes to Danablaise, ;

MORE, 250. 351 does marvels, 355, 356

; slays ;

MORET DE LA ROCHE, 156, 212. ColocauUus, 357 returns to the tents, ;

MORET DE LA VEYE, 151. 357 assembly of Arthur's host, 383,

;

MORGAIN, sister of Arthur, 185 an ; 385 prowess at Trebes, 407, 410 in

;
;

enchantress, 185, 316, 374 Morgne le ; the tournament at Toraise, 455, 457,
fee, 374, 375 why called le fee, 507,
; 458 trial and banishment of Bertelak,
;

1508, 509, 592. 469, 470 at Arthur's Logres court

;

MORGEINS, 86, 108, 588—592. royal, 481, 482 his deeds in the tour-
;

MOULOIR, 144. nament of Logres, 490, 492, 493 goes ;

MOYDAS, Mydonas, a Saxon, 550, 552 ;

with a message of peace to .Arthur, 499 ;

slain, 552. See Boydas, 551. reconciliation of the Round Table and
MOYNE, first son of king Constance, Queen's knights, 500, 501, 502.
24, 40 ; king, 24 ; slain, 25, 26. NATALIS, a knight of the Round Table,
MURGALANS DE TREBAHAN, 602. 487.
MYCENES, king, 255. NAT AN DE LILLE PERDUE, king,
MYGORAS, 458. 247.
MYiNADAP, 217. NAUNTES, inbreteyne, 176, 646. 662,
MYNADOS, a knight of the Round 669.
Table, 499. NEW TROY, name changed to Logres,
MYNADUS, king, 254. 255, 338, 343, 147.
344. NEWEWERKE in Brochelonde, 178,
MYNORAS, a knight of the Round 189, 190.
Table, 484, 487, 561, 562, ly Engres, NICHODEMUS, 502.
567, 568, 574. NIMLANE, Nimyane, meaning of the
MYNOR.AS, lord of the new castle in name, 308 her birth, 308
;
Merlin ;

Northumbirlond, 518, 519, 538, 539 loves her, 185, 607 dwells near Briok ;

his sons, 517, 518. 525, 555 his wife, ; forest, 307 her parentage, 307, 309
; ;

518, 524, 555 his brother, 518 his two

; ; her beauty, 307 Merlin comes to her ;

daughters, 517, 518, 526, 530, 535, 555. at Briok, 308 he is disguised as a
;

MYXORAS, the senescall of the kynge young squire, 308 her prudent answer, ;

lak of the grete ynde, 577, 601. 309 her compact with Merlin, 309,
;

MYSTERES, a knight of Claudas, 394 ; 310, 311, 314; he shows her his power
killed by Gawein, 394. of magic, 309 the magical bower com-
;

pany, 309, 310, 311 converses with ;

NABLAISE 314 of da Nab-

[city], 202, ; him, 311 he teaches her some magic,
;

laise, 332 ; of Danablaise, 333, which 312 he ; leaves her and goes to Tanie-
see. lide, 312, 314 she will meet him again
;

NABULALL, steward to Amaunt, 565, on St. John's Eve, 312 Merlin tells ;

566 de Camadayse, 567, 594.

; Blase of her, and Blase is angry, for he
N ABU N ALL, senescall of Gosenges, knows she will outwit Merlin, 378 a ;

601, 644. visit from MerUn, who teaches her more

NADRES, a city in Spain, 676. of his art, 565 Merlin comes, 612 ; ;

NAMELES, city, 363. another visit, 634, 635 Merlin's last ;

NAPIN, Admyrall, 276, 602. visit, 678, 681 he teaches her how to
;

NASCIEN, duke de Breting, 326. imprison by enchantment, 680, 681 ;

NASCIEN, a Round Table knight, 490 ;

she uses it on him and imprisons him
named after the duke of Breting, 326 ;
for the rest of his life, 681.
a young knight, 326 the best knight ; NO.A^S, king of Iselonde, 194.
of liter Pendragon's and Arthur's time, NO H ANT, castelien of, 256.
326 cousin germain to Percevall de
; NOHAUT, lord of,442. 445-
Galoys, and kin to Joseph Abaramathie, NOIRON mede, 421.
and son of Ebron and Enhyngnes, 326 ;
NORHAM (? castle), 253.
has the care of Galaad the son of NORHANT (a place), 259 lord of, 273. ;

Launcelot, 326 becomes a devout ; NORTH WHALES, Northwalis, 242, 146,

hermit and a priest, 326 his heavenly ; 161, 174, 185, 231, 236, 312, 438, 445,
visions, 326, 327 makes a book of his ; 509. 557. 558. 576. 594. 601, 626, 659.
 ;;

XORTHUMBERLONDE. [ 742 ] PHARIEX.

NORTHUMBERLONDE, 518; Nor- PARLIAMENT, 253, 576.

thumberlande, 436 ;
Northumbirlonde, PARTREUX, a knight of the Round
32. 33. 43. 44. 56. 121, 159, 160. 161, Table, 487.
165, 172, 184, 252, 253, 255, 256, 259, PASCH, high feast, 63, 64, 189; Passh,
260, 271, 303, 378, 437. 438. 439, 445. 104 Phasche, 178.
;

450. 525. 556. 558. 562. PASTURES, land of, 350.

NORWEY, 321. PATRIDES, steward of Bandemagn, 566.
NUNADUS, 253. PATRIK, 435 son of Matan and brother ;

of Avenable or GrisandoU, 436, 437.

OATH on relics, 55. PELLES of LYTENOYS, Pelles of Ly-
ORCAXYE, 84, 85, 86, 108, 117, 118, stenoys, 173, 229, 326, 519, 520, 521,
146, 172, 176, 189, 254, 260, 266, 285, 528. 539. 555. 561. 577. 583. 584. 636
292, 295, 439, 445, 462, 477, 495, 496, his seneschal, 594.
525. 530. 545. 546, 554. 561. 564. 581. PELLYNAUS, steward to Pelles of Ly-
587. 591. 594. 603, 623, 625, 643, 659. tenoys, 577.
ORIAUNCEiS, Saxon king and leader, PELLYNOR, 173, 229, 519, 561, 583;
549. 550. 551 ; maimed, 552. of the sauage fountain, 539 his sons, ;

ORIELS, 236. 539 his seneschal, 577 of the waste

; ;

ORIENX, son of Nunadus, 253 son of ; londes, 577 his brother, 577 Pelly-
; ;

Brangue of Saxoyne, 510 nephew of ; nour, 577.

Brangue, king of Saxoyne, 253 and of ; PENDRAGON, second son of king Con-
Maglaans, king of Iselonde, 253 ra- ; stance, 24, 25 carried to Benoyc, 25,;

vages Northumberland, 253, 254, 259 ; 26; returns to Britain, 41, 42; seeks
arrives before Norham, 253 his men ; Merlin, 41 their welcome, 42
;
attacks ;

meet with Seigramor, 259, 263 battle ; and burns Vortiger in his castle, 42
with Gawein and his fellows, 264 one ; is made king, 42, 173 besieges Aungier, ;

of his nephews slain by Agravain, 265 ; 42 is told the mystery of the dragons,
;

fells Agravain, 265 smitten down by ; 42; seeks Merlin, 42; return of the
Gawein, 265, 268 his men come to ; messengers, 43 goes after Merlin, 44, ;

the rescue, 265 taken up for dead,

; 121 meets him without knowing it,
;

'265, 266; he recovers, 267; pursues 44 again meets him, 45, 46 returns
; ;

Gawein and his band, 267 attacks ; to Uter, 47 Merlin comes, 48 ; wants ;

Gawein in a fury, 267 rescued, 268 ; ; him to stay, 49 makes a compact with ;

defouled under feet, 268 mad with ; him, 49 sends messengers to the castle
;

rage, 268 swears revenge on Gawein,

; andconsultsMerlin, 50; barons grumble,
269, 271 in the lands of Clarion and
;
50; proves Merlin, 51, 52; makes a
Escam, 271 lodges by the river Sau-
; book of Merhn's prophecies, 53 is ;

arne, 272 battle, 274, 275

; the escape ; warned of the Saracens, 54 Merlin's ;

of the enemy, 275, 276 goes to Cam- ; counsel, 54, 55 takes an oath on the ;

benyk, 276 his foragers destroyed,

; highest relics to obey Merlin, 55 Merlin ;

276 joins Hardogabran at Clarence,

; foretells his death, 55 summons his ;

277 a battle with the barons, 443,

; nobles, 55 sends to Merhn, 55 who
; ;

444 defeat of the barons, and a fresh

; prophesies victory, 56 his deeds, 56 ; ;

attack by the barons, 444, 445 who ; death in battle, 56, 57, 121 his tomb, ;

are utterly routed, 446, 447 his men ; 58.

meet Lot and his sons, 510, 511 de- ; PENTECOSTE, 55, 60, 62, 63, 65, 105,
feated before Clarence, 602. 307. 314. 321. 327. 374-
ORIGINAL HISTORY alluded to, 147, PERCE, 420.
150, 152, 166, 179, 181, 189, 202, 253, PERCEVALE LY GALOYS. 475.
254, 256, 259, 271, 303, 313, 340, 349, PERCEVALL DE GALOYS, 326.
351. 393. 394. 406, 407, 411, 437, 438, (The) PERILOUSE TOURE, 442.
450. 451. 562, 576. PESCEOR, uncle of Helavn, 229.
OSENAYN CORS HARDY, 212, 459. PETRIUS, a Roman kni'ght, 653, 654,
OSTON, city in Burgoyne, 643, 658, 659, 655.
660. PHARAON, king, ally of Rion, slain,
OSTRICH. 252. 624.
OUT ISLES, 173. PHARIEN, of Trebes, 379 of Gannes, ;

402 a friend of Leonces, 129 con-

; ;

PAERNE, 143, 151, 161, 167, 305, 308, ducts Arthur's messengers to Ban and
315. 379. 381. 384. 400, 403. 564. 587. Bors, 129 gives the messengers a
;

588 Paierne, 589, 623, 650, 670, 699.

; welcome, 130 cousin germain to Ban ;

PALERENS, king, an ally of Rion, 6i6. and Bors, 130 left in charge of their ;

PALERNE, lord of, 272. lands, 130 his nephew Lambuges, 144,
;

PALES DE TREBES, 151. 564 ; Merlin comes, 144 ;

goes with
 ; ;

PPIARIEN. [ 743 ] RION.

him to the Rochell, 146 arrives at ; POUNCE and ANTONYE, 306, 390,
Bloy Bretaigne, 146, 147 leads Ban's ; 392, 393.
first ward, 151, 161 bears Bors ;
POUNCES and ANTONY, 375.
ensign, 151 the great battle of Bredi-
;
POUNCES and ANTONYE, 386.
gan, 161 governor of the watch, 166,
;
POUNCES and ANTON YES, 306, 315,
167 returns to his country, 167
; a ; 380.
confidant of Leonces, 306 reinforces ;
POUNCY and ANTONY, 387.
Leonces, 379 at Gannes, 380 a ; ;
PREVY COUNSEILE, 251.
messenger from Leonce, 381 sets out ; PROVINCE, 435, 436.
for Briogne forest, 381 Merlin's arrival, ;
PURADES DECARMELIDE, Arthur's
384 preparations for battle, 384 be-
; ;
knight, 682.
fore Trebes, 400; rides into the battle PYNADOS, 484. 485, 487.
with five thousand men, 402 attacked ;
PYNCENARS, Pynsonars, 236, 587, 588,
by Claudas with ten thousand men, 589. 593 ; slain, 590.
403 obliged to retreat, 403
;
cries ; PYNGRES, king, 255.
" Gannes " 403 Leonce comes to the
! ; PYNOGRAS. 289.
rescue, 403 who does great execution,
;

403, 4og watches the post at night,

;
QUEEN'S KNIGHTS, 483, 484, 485,
412 Merlin comes, 564 is to get the
; ;

487, 488, 490, 491, 494, 499, 504, 518,

host ready and go to Salisbury plains,
561, 562, 568, 570, 573, 574, 596. See
and to bear a red cross banner, 564 Gonnere and Gawein.
his preparations, 565 at Salisbury, ;
QUEST OF THE SEINT GRAAL, 502.
565 the battle at Garlot, 588, 589
;
See Graal.
rescues Ban, 595 slays Sorbares, 595
Merlin tells him to lead his men to
; ;
QUINTAIN, 133.

Arthur, 623 but he remains to g^ard ;

the land, 650 succours some knights of ;

RAHIER DE HAUT MUR, 144.
Arthur, 670, 676; visit from Arthur, 676. RANDOLF, steward of Gaul, 380 sene- ;

PHARIOUNS, king of Irelonde, 205. schal of the king of Gaul, 386, 387, 392,
PIERON, 23. 393. 407. 409. 4". 419. 449-
PIGNARUS, Pygnoras, Saxon king, 521, RANDOLL, castle, 278, 279, 280, 282.
522, 524, 531, brother of Monaquyn, RANDOUL, 223, 242.
533, 534 ; cousin germain to Hardo- REOSTOK, plavn of, 509.
gabran, 535. REPAYRE of Joye and of Feeste, 311.
PIGNORES, 593 Pyngnores, king, 243 ;
;
RESCOUSE, a place of Ventres', 586.
Pyngnoras, 245, 286, 287, 344, 587, RICHER, a knight of Arthur, 655, 656,
588 slain, 589 his brother, 591, 593.
; ; 657-
PILATE, 59. RION, king of the land of giants and of
PLXADOS, 265 ; a knight of the Round pastures, 114; of the lynage of giants,
Table, 485. 141 ; king of Irelonde, 175, 208, 228,
PINDOLUS, a knight of the Round 327 king of Denmarke, 327, 328 of
; ;

Table, 496. Iseloude, 327 of the yles, 619; has ;

PLACIDAS, 268. nine conquered kings as lieges, 628 ;

PLACIDAS LE GAYS, 135, 136, 137, war with Leodogan, 114, 141, 173, 350
144, 212, 682. a cruel man, 115 has a mantle made ;

PLACIENS, king, 208. of the beards of twenty conquered kings,

PLAISSHIE, BLOYS OF, 442. 115 ; swears he won't stop until he has
PLANTAMORE, king, 255. got thirty, 115 ; lodges at Narblaise,
POIGERES, 236. 202, 314, 317 Arthur comes to aid
;

POINCE ANTONY, a prince of Rome, Leodogan, 202 swears to imprison ;

699. See Antony. Leodogan, 223 assembles and victuals ;

POLEMYTE, 340. his host, 223, 224 ; Leodogan prepares

POLIBETES, king of Mede, slain by to attack him, 314 Leodogan gets ;

Arthur, 663. ready, 321 a night surprise, 323 his

; ;

POLYDAMAS, 231, 232, 234; Polydo- camp in confusion, 324, 325 his great ;

mas, nephew of Tradylyuant of North banner, 327, 330 fight with Bors, 328, ;

Wales, 445. 329 overthrows Bors, 330 fight with

; ;

POUNCE, 390, 391, 392, 408, 409. Herog, 330, 331 the battle increases, ;

POUNCE ANTONY, tweyne of the 332, 333 tries to take Bors, 333 felled
; ;

counseillours of Rome, 303, 387, 406, by Arthur, 336 his men rescue him ;

408, 409, 411, 416. and bear down Arthur, 336 ; diffouled,
POUNCE and ANTONY, 379. 336 dashes down all near him, 336,
;

POUNCE ANTONH^E, 393, 398, 402, 337 his standard thrown down and
;

419. 449- defeat, 337 Arthur pursues him, 338

;
;
 ;

RION. [ 744 ] SEIGRAMORE.

the fight between them, 338, 343, 346, 201, 213, 214, 217, 219, 221, 223, 224,
347 flies, 347, 450 his sword Mar-
; ; 225, 230 240, 242 — 250, 252, 253 — ;

niadoise, q.v. captured by Arthur, 346,

, siege of, 254, 256, 257 260, 262 267, — —
347. 352. 353' 615, 648 his friends' ; 271, 277, 278, 302, 312, 313, 314, 316,
rage and sorrow, 349 prepares for re- ; 332. 348. 349. 350. 352—355. 356. 357.
venge on Arthur and Leodogan, 615, 359. 371. 377. 438—444. 447. 45°. 479.
616 besieges Torayse, 616, 617, 619,
; 500. 505. 506, 509, 510, 511, 513—516,
620, 624 hears that Arthur has beaten
; 518—525, 528, 534, 535, 539, 547—554.
the Saxons, 617 sends defiance to ;
556. 559. 562, 568, 573, 575, 576, 579,
—
Arthur, 617 620 wants Arthur'sbeard,
; 580, 582, 585—592, 594, 595, 598, 599,
619 Arthur laughs at his request and
; 602, 603.
defiance, 620, 621 battle with Arthur's
; SALEBRUN, Salubruns, Saxon, 510,
host, 624, 630; offers to settle the 593 slain, 594.
;

matter by a personal combat with SALERNE, lord of, 256, 273, 274, 441,
Arthur, and Arthur agrees, 627, 628 ; 445-
the combat, 628, 629, 630 vanquished ; SALISBERI, 147; Salisbury, 565, 585;
but will not yield, so Arthur kills him ;
Salesberye, Salisburye playne, 54, 55 ;

his body taken home and buried, 630.

RIVER at Cambenyk, 550. See Saverne.
the battle, 56, 57, 121, 560, 564 567, —
574. 575. 576. 580, 585, 612.
ROCHE FLODOMER, 564. SALUBRIUS, 236.
ROCHE MAGOT, 256, 274. SAPERNYE, forest, 472, 473.
ROCHE OF SAXONS, castle, 176, 185, SAPHIRUS, king, 255.
188, 242, 247, 250, 2C2, 341, 521. SAPINE CASTELL, 509.
ROCHELL. the, 378,''379, 419. SARAZINS [Saracens, heathens], 49, 50,
ROCHES, Duke, 561. 54. 55. 94. 172. 174. 194. 209, 210, 307,
ROESTOK, 538. 325. 327. 330. 333. 335. 336. 342. 351.
ROMANS, 303, 306, 391, 392, 400, 402, 664.
—
438, 639 642, 651 —
661, 663, 664, 669, SARMEDON. the gonfanoned, 211.
676, 679. 699. SARNAGUT, king, 194.
ROME, 303, 305, 306, 393, 419 ; forests, SARON, king, 328, 329.
420, 422, 423, 426, 427, 433, 436, 437, SARRAS, city, 502.
438, 639, 641, 642, 650, 653, 636, 660, SATHANYE, gulf, 341.
66.], 665, 678, 699. SAVARNE, river of, 256, 257, 271, 272,
RORESTOK, valey of, 535. 277.
ROSTOCK, 250, 256 a plain ; or plains, SAXOYNE, Saxoynie, king of, 172, 250,
509, 510, 521, 528; valley, 535, 538, 292, 510, 592, 603.
539' 543 lord of, 545, 546.
; SCOTLONDE, 108, 145, 121, 158, 160,
ROUND TABLE, founded by Uter Pen- 161, 187, 236, 237, 439, 445, 509, 519,
dragon, 60; empty seat, 61, 108, 114, 546, 548, 558, 601.
141 members and governors, 205, 208 SEGAGAN, king, 191.
— ;

211, 215, 217, 218, 224, 247, 316, 319 SEGARS, Segras, nephew of Bediuer,
—322, 325, 327, 331, 332, 335, 336, 337, 661, 662.
345. 348, 349. 358. 360, 371, 374, 378, SEGURADES [on barons side], 441.
382, 383, 392, 398, 401, 407, 408, 410, SEGURADES de la forest perilouse, 682.
412, 413, 453, 454, 455, 458—462, 471, SEIGRAMORE, son of a king of Blagne
474. 477. 481—484. 486—499, 500—504, and Hungary a knight, 186
; goes ;

507, 561, 562, 566, 567, 568, 570, 572, when fifteen to Great Britain to Arthur,
573. 577. 584. 585. 594. 596, 597. 624, 186, 271 heir to Adrian, emperour of
;

626, 630, 678, 698. Constantinople, 86, 230, 262, 270, 280,
ROY DECENT CHIUALIERS, reason 373, 449 Arthur is told of him, 230
;

of the name, 185. See Aguysans. his prowess foretold, 230 goes with ;

RYOLENT, king of Ireland, 205. knights to Dover, 259 his adventures, ;

—
260 263 Gawein comes to aid him,
;

SACREN of the STREITE MARCHE, 264 welcomed by Gawein, 266, 302

;
;

knight of Arthur, 682. goes to Camelot, 266, 267 smites ;

SADOYNE, Sadoynes, nephew of Driant, 268 tries to take Orienx, 268,

;

Leodogan, 334, 337 the castelein of ;

279 ; revels at Camelot, 271 leads ;

Daneblaise and brother of Gonnore, Gawein's fourth ward, 280, 281 charges ;

472, 566. the Saxons, 287 a reverse, 287 at

; ;

SADUC, 217. Arondell, 290 293 —

prowess, 294 ; a ;

ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S DAY, 519. strange quest, 297 301 —

return to ;

ST.JOHN, feast of, 381, 417, 421. Arondell, 301 at Logres, 301 Arthur
; ;

SAISNES (Saxons), 173 176, 179, 182, — is coming, 370 meets him, 370, 371
; ;

185, 187, 188, 191, 192, 193, 195 199, — salutes him kneeling, 371 Gawein tells ;
 ;

SEIGRAMORE. [ 745 ] TTDEUS.

Arthur they are come to be knighted, SONYGRENX, 214, 215, 216, 218, 255,
373 Ai-thur promises, 373
; Gawein ; 344-
presents him to Arthur, 373 his come- ;
SORBARE, Sorbares, Saxon king, 510,
liness, 373 he and Gawein to be fellows
; 593, 595, 602.
in arms, and Arthur makes great joy SORBARIES, 236, 255.
of him, 373 goes to Logres with Arthur,
;
SORFARIN, 216, 217, 220, 221, 222.
374 the night-long vigil, 374 knighted
; ; SORFR.-\lNS, 214, 215, 218.
by Arthur, 374, 449 who girds him ; SORHAN, 239, 277, 280.
with Adrian's sword, 374 Arthur puts ;
SORHANT, 171, 179, 184—188, 239.
on the right, and Bors the left spur, SORIONDE, bridge of, 280.
374. 375 ;his good array, 374 goes ;
SORIOUNDES, nephew of king Brangue,
with Gawein's host to Dover, 377, 378 ;
and Maglaans, 254 ravages the
253, ;

has part command, 378 the battle ; lands of Ydiers, 253, 254 lodges in ;

before Trebes, 387 encounter with ;

the meadows of Bredigan, 277 a battle ;

FfroUe, 388 his prowess, 388

; keeps ; with Ydiers, 278, 279 drives Ydiers
;

two thousand foes at bay, 396 does ; away, 281, 282; goes to the bridge of
wonders in battle, 407 in Trebes ;
Doue, 282 fight with the Eweins and
;

castle, 412 at Arthur's marriage with

;
Agravain, 283, 284, 285 Gawein's ;

Gonnore, 453, 454 in the tournament ;

fellows join in the battle, 284 287 —
at Toraise, 455, 458, 462 at Arthur's ; Segramor and Galaishin come, 287 is ;

Logres court royal, 480, 481 Dagenet's ; worsted, 288, 289 takes counsel, 289.
;

cowardice, 484 the tournament at

;
SORLOYS, king of, 173, 243, 466, 561,
Logres, 484, 500 goes to Arthur, 485 ; ; 578.
his prowess is commended, 487 his ; SORTEBRAN. 220. 222 ; Sortibran, 541.
deeds, 486 489 — his comeliness, 499
the reconcihation of the Round Table
; ;
SOURNE, river of, 243.
SOUTH WALIS, 185, 247, 373, 439, 445,
and Queen's knights, 500, 502 he, ;
449. 576, 594-
Dodinell, and Galaishin go out seeking SPAYNE, 676.
adventure, 561, 562, 566 and meet with ; STEPHENE, seynt, the martir, minster
three Round Table knights, Agravan- of, 453, 463, 495, 614.
dain, Mynoras, and Moneval, who STEWARD OF BENOYK, 130.
attack them, 562, 566, 573 overthrows ; STONEHENGE, 57.
Agravandain, 570, 571 Arthur sends ; STRANGORE, land of, 108, 146; a city,
to stop the fight, 571, 572; his uncle 185, 247, 291, 293, 373, 558, 577, 601.
king Brangores, 577 at SaUsbury, 579 ; ;
STRANGOT, 220, 292, 294.
in the battle before Garlot, 596 in the ; STREITE MARCHE, 247, 249. 682.
battle before Clarence, 601, 602 in ; STREITE OF THE ROCHE MAGOT,
the battle between Rion and Arthur, 256, 271.
624 sent with a message to Rome by
;
STREYTE WEY CASTLE, 247.
Arthur, 650, 651 Gawein's impudence, ; SU RET CASTLE, 313.
652 flight, 652 slays one of his pur-
; ;
SURRE (? Syria), king of, 656. See
suers, 652 struggle with Petrius,
; Evander.
who is captured at last, 655 vows to ; SYMOND LEPROUSE, 59.
find Merlin, 682, 687 unsuccessful, 687. ;
SYNADOS, cousin germain of Guyomar,
SELEVAUNT, 217. 348, 351, 352, 480.
SELYDOYNE, son of duke Nascien de SYNAGONS, king. 255.
reting, 326. SYUARUS, a Saxon king, 591, 593.
SEMPTIPRES, king, 255.
SENEBANT, 220, 222. TAMELIDE, see Carmelide.
SENSADOYNS,castelienofNohant,256. TAMYSE, 55.
SENYGRES, king, 205. TARSAIDE, city, 202.
'SERANS, king, 205. TASURS, a king. 616.
SKREBRUNS, lorde of Salerne, 256. TAULUS LE ROUS, knight of Arthur,
SERNAGE. king, 195. 682.
SERNAGUT, king, 191. TAUMDES, lord of, 257.
SEVAIN, eirll, 171. TAURUS, king, 268, 298, 299, 300, 303,
SEVARNE, Saverne, Savarne, 313, 509, 616.
S50> 554- TEBRES (? Trebes), 406.
SIEGE perilous, 61, 62, 63. TEMSE, river of, 134, 138.
SOLIMAS, king and ally of Rion, 616, TEUCUS (? king), 296.
617. THOAS, king. 255.
SOLUNANT, a Saxon, 265. THORNE CASTELL. 251.
SOLYNAS, knight, 325, 326 ; cousin of I'IDEUS, son of the Duke of Calcedoyne,
Rion, 331. 340-
 ; ;;;

TIXTAGEL. [ 746 ] ULFVN.

TIXTAGEL, duke of, named Hoel on TROY, destruction of, 146.

p. 177. See Hoel. TUTILLIUS, a Roman knight, slain by
TORAISE, 204, 205, 210, see 257, Gawein, and nephew of Luce, 652.
307, 215, 217, 220, 224, 229, 257, 307 (the) TWELVE PRIXCES. 580. 581.
bishop of, 320, 349, 358, 359, 360 ; city
in Carmelide, 448, 451, 471, 460, 468,
562 castle of, 616, 618 621, 624,
; — 630. UEXTRES OF GARLOT. Ventres,
TORXOYIER, castle, 363. 161, 443; Ventre, 449; Ventrez, 197;
TOROISE. a valley. 658. V. marries a daughter of Ygeme, 86,
TOURXA.MEXT AT LOGRES, 133, 121, 179 goes to Arthurs court
;

484. royal, 108 holds Arthur in dis- ;

TOfRXOYE, isle, 345. dain, 108 refuses Arthur's gifts,;

TOWER OF VORTIGER, 27, 29, 31, 108 rebels, 108 marvellously strong,
; ;

35, 36 the mystery, 37

; the dragons, ; 117 swears to take Arthur's life and
;

37, 38, 41, 121 Vortiger takes refuge; rushes at him, but is felled to the
in it, 42 the tower surrenders, 50,
; ground, 117; cousin-german to Lot of
121. Orcanye, 117 fights with Ulfyn, and ;

TRADILYUAUXT, Tradilyuant. Tra- both fall, 119; his son Galeshyn, 122,
dilyuans, king of Xorth Wales, 157, 161 188, 373, 388, 439, 449; meets the
upset by .\rthur in the battle of Bredi- other rebel kings at Bredigan, 146
gan, 157 the battle, 157, 159, 161
;
;
imhorsed, 156 horsed again, 156, 157; ;

counsels how to drive out the Saxons, unhorses Kay and Gifflet, 159 makes ;

174, 176 leaves Sorhant and goes to

; a vigorous defence, 161, 165; goes to
N. Wales, 185 the enchantments of ; Wydesans, 177 his wife Basyne, 177 ; ;

Carnile, 185 attacks the Saxons, 231

;
;
his son wants to join Arthur, 177, 178 ;

loses ground, 232 Aguysanx comes to ; leaves Sorhant, 179 is angry about ;

aid him, 233, and some of Arthur's Galeshyn's departure with Basyne, his
men, 233 defeats the Saxons, 234,
; wife, 242, 439 won't speak to her for ;

242 takes counsel of Aguysanx, 235,

; a month, 242 goes against the Saxons, ;

312 goes to Arundell, 236 retiu^ns to

; ; 242, 243, 244 shows great powers, ;

X. Wales, 236 his brother Belynans, ; 244, 245, 246, 439 escap>es in the dark, ;

247, 249, 557, 558, 576 the expedition ; and goes to Wyndesore, 246 his ;

to Clarence, 438, 439 leads the second ; sister Elsclence, 247 the expedition to ;

ward of seven thousand men, 437, 438 ;

Clarence against the Saisnes, 438, 439
a night attack, 439, 440, 441 discom- ; leads the twelfth ward, 439 a night ;

fited, 444, but makes another attack, attack, 439, 440, 441, 444 his courage, ;

445 his nephew Polydomas, 445

;
; 443 discomfited, but makes another
;

totally beaten, 446, 447, 449 goes ;

attack, 444, 445 totally beaten, 446, ;

home, 447, 449 hears Arthiu- is at ;

447, 449 goes home, 447, 449
;
hears ;

Logres, 449, 450 wishes for peace ; Arthur is at Logres, 449, 450 wishes ;

with Arthur, 450, 451 his city in X. ; for peace with Arthur, 450, 451 con- ;

\\'ales, 509, 558 conference with ; ference with Arthur's envoy, 557, 559 ;

Arthur's envoy, 557, 558, 559 the host ; the host assembles at Salisbury, 565,
assembles at Salisbury, 565, 575, 585 ; 575, 581 hesitates to homage Arthur,
;

leads first di^sion of Alerhn's host, 593 ; 581 his chief fortress Garlot surrounded
;

in battle before Clarence, 601 in the ; by Saxons, 585 his w'ife in danger ;

battle between Rion and Arthiu-'s host, from them, 586 his steward slain by ;

626 unhorsed and rescued by Merlin

; Saxons, 586 his wife captured by ;

and Gawein, 626 aids Arthur against ; them, 586, 588, 590 the rescue, 588, ;

Luce, 644 in the first division, 659

;
; 590, 612 his wife restored to him,
;

his godson Tradilyuaunt, 683, 687, 592 leads Merlin's first division, 593
; ;

690. valour, 595 in the battle before ;

TRAELUS, a knight of the Round Clarence, 601 in the battle between ;

Table, 487. the hosts of Arthur and Rion at

TRAMELMEXS, king of Xorth Wales, Toraise, 626 aids Arthur against ;

146. Luce, 644 in the first division, 659,

;

TR--\.XSMADUC, a Saxon, brother of 66r wounded by Alipatin, 662.

;

Gondofles. 593. ULFYX, sent by Uter to the Saxons,

TREBAHAX (place), 602. 50 hears of liter's love for Ygerne,
;

TREBES, 125, 126, 136, 144, 151 castle ; 65 a favourite, 65 tells Uter to offer
; ;

of, 449, 564, 589, 670, 699. gfifts to her companions, 65 speaks ;

TRLAMORES, castelein of Cambenyk. with Ygerne, 66 gives her L'ter's ;

slain, 594. gifts, 66 she resents it, 66 tells her

; ;

TRIPILL, Hermans. Earl of, 662. of Uter's love, 66 her scorn, 66 ;

 ;; ;;

ULF\^N. [ 747 ] VORTIGER.

tellsUter of her speech, 67 inveigles ;

plot, 452, 463, 562 the tournament, ;

Ygerne into accepting a gold cup, 67 ; 455 rescues Gonnore from the plotters,
;

finds Ygerne pensive and angry, 67 463, 465, 562 tells Cleodalis of the ;

she says she will tell Hoel, 67 tell her ;

plot, 467 the false Gonnore accused
;

to beware if she does, 68 Uter asks ;

before Leodogan and banished, 467,
his advice, tells him to send for 468, 469, 562 trial and banishment of
79 ;
;

Merlin, 71 comforts Uter, 71

;
meets ; Bertelak, 469, 470.
with Merlin in disguise, 72, 74 leads ;

Uter to him, 73 in council with ;

Uter and Merlin, 74, 75 Merlin's ; VABIBRE, 265.

plan to beguile Ygerne, 75, 76 trans- ;
VALDESBIRES, 201, 234, 236, 250, 254,
formed like Jordan by Merlin, 76, 77 ;
258, 289 Valdesbiry, Valdisbery, siege
;

goes with Uter and Merlin to Tintagel, of. 576, 582 Vandeberes, castle of, in
;

76 successful villany, 77 returns to

: ;
Cornwall, 172 Vandesberes, 172 ; ; Van-
his own semblance, 78 advises the ; desbires, 187 ; Vandesbyry, 250.
barons, 79 a wise and true knight, 80
; ;
VAXDELERS, a castle in Cornwall
at Cardoel, 81 in council with Uter ;
152-
Pendragon, 81, 82, 109 the barons ;
VEXGERESSE, a spear, 229.
ask his ad\ice, 83, 84, 85 the treaty ; VENTRES OF GARLOT. king, 242.
with Ygerne, 85 the king, Uter Pen- ;
See Uentres.
dragon, tells him of Ygeme's anxiety, VLCAN, 340.
87 sees Merlin privily, 87 somewhat
; ;
VRIEN OF GORRE at Arthur's court
acquit of his sin, 87 gives Merlin's ;
royal, 108 holds Arthur in disdain,
;

message to Uter Pendragon, 89 gives ;

108 marries a daughter of Ygerne,
;

credence to Merlin, 93 sent for by the ; 121 his son Ewein le gaunte, 122, 388,
;

barons, 109 Bretel comes to fetch

; 396, 449, 455, 459, 480, 655, 659 goes ;

him, no; meets Merlin, no; keeps with seven thousand men to Bredigan,
Uter Pendragon's seal, in the ; 146 the battle of Bredigan, 156 un-
; ;

covenant with Merlin, 75, 78, 80, 81, horsed, 156, 159 his prowess, 161, 165 ; ;

III, 1X2 in counsel with Arthur, 114

; ;
defeated, 171 at his town Sorhant, ;

combat with Ventres, 119 in counsel ; 171, 172 distressed by the Saxons, 188,
;

with Arthur and Merlin, 121 sent by ; 238 his nephew Bandemagn, 237, 441,
;

Arthur to Ban and Bors, 124 an old ; 443, 445 helps Aguysanx against the
;

friend of Arthur's, 124, 130 goes by ;

Saxons, 237, 238, 242 retreats to ;

sea to Benoyk, 124 comes to Trebes, ; Sorhan, 239 more fighting the Saxons,
;

125 meets
; seven knights of Claudas, 239, 240 his son Ewein's wish to join
;

126 the combat, 126, 127, 128

; slays ;
Arthur, 241, 251, 258, 277, 280, 349 ;

one, 128 upsets another, 128 goes to

; ;
his son Ewein Avoutres, 241, 242, 258,
Benoyk, 127 Leones and Pharien ; 277, 280, 285, 290, 294, 373, 374,
welcome him, 129 sees Ban and Bors, ; 376 leads the ninth ward in the expe-
;

129 delivers Arthur's message, 129,

; dition to Clarence against Saisnes, 438,
130, 131 tells of the combat with the
; 439 a night attack, 439, 440, 441, 444
; ;

knights, 130 returns to Arthur with

;
his courage, 443 discomfited, 444 a ; ;

Ban and Bors, 131 arrives at Logres, ; fresh onset, 444, 445 totally beaten, ;

132 serves at the banquet to Ban and

; 446, 447, 449 goes home, 447, 449 ; ;

Bors, 133; tells Arthiu- of the combat, hears Arthur is at Logres, 449, 450
138 is sent to fetch Merlin, 139
; in ; wishes for peace with Arthur, 450, 451
council, 141 made governor, 143
; a conference with Arthur's envoy, 557,
wants to go to the three kings instead 559 angry %vith Lot for his submission
;

of Merlin, 148 leads Arthur's third ;

to Arthur, 559, 581 the host assembles ;

di\ision, 151 aids Kay, 155 ; un- ; at Salisbiury, 565, 575, 581 in the ;

horsed, 155 aided by Bretell, 155 on

; ;
battle before Clarence, 601 reassembly ;

foot, 157 Arthur aids him, 157 his

; ; for another battle, 623 in the battle ;

valour, 159 sees through \Ierlin's

; between Rion and Arthur's host, 626 ;

disguise, 168 aids Arthiu- at Tamelide,

; in the first division, 659, 661.
212 fights a giant, 216
; overthrows ; VORTIGER, a wise man, 24 made king ;

Balan, 217 follows Arthur to fight,

; of Britain, 25, 307 consecrated, 26 ; ;

221 slays laisdon,

; 222 Arthur's ; executes the slayers of Moyn, 26, 40
battle with Rion, 337 tries to dissuade ;
offends the barons, 26 marries Angler's ;

Bors from fighting Amaunt, 366 sent ;

daughter, 27 builds a tower, 27 is ; ;

by Bors to Amaunt, 366, 367 bears ;

overthrown, 27 consults the clerks, ;

Gawein's banner, 382, 388 rescues ; 28 their answer, 29

;
sends after ;

Seigramor, 388 a plot to kidnap ;

Merlin, 29, 31, 121 examines him, 36 ; ;

Arthur's Gonnore, 452 his counter- ;

the secret of the tower, 37, 38 the ;
 ; ;

VTER. [ 748 ] YDIERS.

meaning of the dragons, 40, 41, 42 ;

the children to be exchanged, 88, 90
his anger, 41 summons his army and ; goes to the queen, 90 sends the child ;

arrives at Wynchester, 41 the arrival ; away, 90, 112 has the gout, 91 ;
;

of his foes, 41, 42 his people fail him, ; Danes arise, 91 collects an army, 92 ;
;

42 flies to his castle wherein he is at-

; it is worsted in fight, 92 Merlin ;

tacked and burnt, 42, 121 his Danes ; comes, 92 his counsel, 92
; his death ;

in trouble, 42 rescued, 586. ; foretold, 93 Merlin goes, 94 he van-

; ;

VTER, third son of King Constance, 24, quishes the Danes, 94 borne in a ;

25 carried to Benoyc, 25, 26 returns

; ; litter to battle, 94 goes to London, ;

to Britain, 41, 42; seeks Merlin, 41 ; 94 gives all away in alms, 94 falls
; ;

their welcome, 42 attacks Vortiger's ; sick and Merlin comes, 94 his death, ;

castle, 42 ; is left in charge of the 95, 180 burial. 95 ; at Martinmass, ;

kingdom, 44; slays Aungier, 44, 341, 96 ; Arthur's parentage laid on him,
248 Aungier tries to kill him, 47
;
;
III, 130, 139, 24T, 326 his master ;

return of Pendragon, 47 his mistress, ; forester, 133 wars upon Amant, 350 ; ;

47 Merhn's deceit, 47
; sees Merlin, ; captures Amant's castle of Carroie, 350,
48, 49, 121 reproved by Merlin, 52 ; ; 364 gives the castle to Bors, 350, 364,
;

takes an oath to obey Merlin, 55 his ; 365 who gives it to Guynebant, 350
; ;

counsel, 56 the battle with the Danes, ; Amant tries to recover it, 350, 351.
56, 152 his courage, 56; victory, 56 ; ;
VUNDE, father of Ydier, 654, 655.
succeeds his brother as king, 57 VUT, 655, 656.
crowned at Logres, 57 Merlin at ; VYSEE, castle, 42.
court, 57 tells Vter to change his;

name to Vter Pendragon, 57.

VTER PENDRAGON, makes a gold WALIS, Wales, Walys, 60, 120, 146,
157, 180, 189, 685, 694.
dragon, 57; prepares to build Stone-
henge, 57, 58 Merlin tells him of the
WELSH, Walissh, mile, 594, 689, 690.
Graal, 59 the Round Table founded,
;

WHITE TOWER, lorde of, 257.

60 goes to Cardoell, 60
;

the
WISE MAN, ? Solomon, 496.
59, ;

vacant seat at the Table, 61 Merlin's

;

WITSONDAY, 60, 322.

explanation, 61 some knights defame
;
WITSONEVEN, 62, 106.
Merlin, 62 his fate, 63, 71 Merlin
;
WITSONTYDE, 60, 62, 106, 312.
comes, 63 builds a palace, 63 rules
; ;
WITSONWIKE, 351.
of the Round Table,
;

loves
;
WYDESANDE, Wydesans, a city in
63 ;
Cornwall, 177.
Ygerne, 64 ; his plans, 64, 66 takes
counsel of Vlfyn, 65, 109 sends him
;
WYNCHESTER, 41.
to her, 65 her anger, 65 he persists,
;
;

;
WYNDESORE, in Brochelonde, 235,
246, 247, lord of, 249, 441.
67 she
; tells her husband, 68 and ;

they go away secretly, 69 his anger, ;

69, 70 he sends for them; and they

; YDIERS [king] of Cornewaile ? son of
refuse to come, 69 he collects his ; Vunde, 654 ofVut 655, 659 at Arthur's
; , ;

barons, and defies the duke, 70 ;

court royal, 108; rebels, 108 defeated, ;

ravages his territory, 70 besieges the ; 119 brings seven thousand men to
;

duke, 71 love-sickness, 71 the

; ;
Bredigan, 146 unhorsed in the battle, ;

story of the old man and the cripple, 156 swears revenge, 157; "sore battle,"
;

71, 73 discovers Merlin, 74 asks his

; ; 161, 162, 165 takes refuge at Nantes, ;

advice, 74 Merlin's plan, 76 goes ; ; 176 fights the Saxons, 176, 253, 258,
;

with Merlin and Ulfyn to Tintagel 278, 279, 280; routs some of them, 281 ;

disguised as the duke, 76, 121 he ; is drawn back, 281 repents of his re- ;

seduces Ygerne, 77, 180, 320, 341 ; belHon, 282 leads the eighth ward in
;

promises the child to Merlin, 78 hears ;

the expedition to Clarence against the
the duke is dead, 78 consults the ; Saisnes, 438, 439 a night attack, 439, ;

barons, 79 Ulfyn's guile, 79, ; 440, 441, 444 his courage, 443 dis- ; ;

80 ; to marry Ygerne, 81 goes to ;

comfited, 444 another onset, 444, 445 ; ;

Cardoel, 81 takes counsel, 81 prof- ;

;
totally beaten, 446, 447, 449 goes ;

fers peace, 82 is accepted, 82 con- ; ; home, 447, 449 hears Arthur is at ;

ditions left open, 82 Ygerne comes, ; Logres, 449, 450 wishes for peace ;

82, 83 her plans, 83

; asks counsel, ;
with Arthur, 450, 451 a conference ;

83 ; Ulfyn's plans, 85, 121 marries ; with Arthur's envoy, 557, 559 the ;

Ygerne, 86, 177 he questions her, 87 ; ;

assembly of the host at Salisbury, 565,
she admits the truth, 87 and agrees ; 575 in battle before Clarence, 601
; ;

to give up the child, 87 tells Ulfyn, ; aids Arthur against Luce, 644 succours ;

87 ;consults Merlin, 87 Merlin's ; Gawein and his party, 654, 655 ; slain
plan, 88 sends after a knight, 88
; ;
by Euander, 657.
 YDIERS. [ 749 ] YSORES.

YDIERS, Ydier, knight, 348, 349, 351, 77, HI, hears of her husband's
121, 140 ;

352. death, 81 messengers from Uter Pen-

;

YDIERS OF NORWEY, 321. dragon with peace, 81 she consents to ;

YDONAS, a proud Saxon, 550; slain, peace, 82 the conditions, 82

;
goes ;

553 ; banner-bearer, 553. to the king, 82, 83 her plans, ;

YDRAS, YSDRAS, king, 348, 357. 359. 83 Ulfyn comes to her, 84

;
his ;

YGRIXE, Ygerne, wife of Hoel, duke of advice, 84, 85, 121 she agrees to;

Tintagel, 177; previous marriage, 121 ;

marry Uter Pendragon, 86; marries
two daughters, 121 five daughters, ; him, 86; her two daughters married,
121 comes to court, 64
; discovers ; 86 her troubles, 86
; she confesses ;

Uter Pendragon's base love, 64 her ;

how she became with child, 86 agrees ;

modesty and grief, 64 the king's suit, ;

to give it up, 87 lies down, 89;
is ;

65 Ulfyn's visits, 66 her resentment,

; ;
delivered, 90 the child sent away, 90
; ;

66, 67 threatens to tell her husband, 67;

;
her sorrow, 90; her death, 93; her
tells him, 68, 69 his anger, 69
; they ;
daughters' marriages, 121 her sister ;

return to Tintagel secretly, 69 king's ;

Basvne, 177.
anger, 69 he summons them to return,
;
YOLE, 63, 97, 559-
69 ; they refuse, 69 the king collects
;
YOOLE, 96. 97. 129, 144.
an army, 70 and defies them, 70
; ;
YOOLE EVEN, 97.
she is placed in Tintagel, 70 the duke ;
YROYS, land of, 191.
besieged, 70, -jx king tells Merlin of
; YSORES, Saxon, 510, 511.
her, 75 Merlin's plan, 76 carried out.
; ;
i
 ;;

GLOSSARY.

a, conj. and, 523, 6 ; 524, 12. a-dubbe, v. to dub, furnish with

a, interj. ab. 8, 7, arms, 122, 20 183, 14; 637, 7.
;

Aatine, s. quarrel, 497, 30. afeerde, 14, 29; afeirde, adj. afraid,
abaisshed, v. abashed, defeated, frightened, 16, 32; a-ferde, 221,
12, 25; 232,4. 28.
a-bakke, adv. aback, 40, 16. aferid, v. feared, took fright, 15, 26.
a-bandoned, v. risked, sacrificed, affiaunce, s. trust, 103, 22,
354, 29. afficched,v. fixed, fastened, 11 7, 2 1.

abide, v. to wait for, endure, 44, affiered, belonged, 225, 36.

24 50, 12.
; affraied, pp. frightened, 8, 2.
a-bidinge, s. waiting, stay, delay, aflayed, pp. frightened, alarmed,
45, 18 256, 17.
; 296, 5.
abode, t. waited for, 205, 17; after, prep, until, for, 50, 12.
379, 8. after that, according as, 167, 8.
a-boode, v. remained, 297, 15 again, 1, 7 ; ageyn, 26, 28 ;
prep.
432, 25. against,
a-bouten, adv. about, 7, 30. a-geins, conj.by the time, 55, 15.
a-bouen, prep, above, over, 134, 4. a-geyn, prep, towards, 94, 19.
abreedeed, pp., 275, 14, ageyn, adv. again, 12, i.
a-brethe, v. to give time to recover a-guvlte, pp. guiltv of, sinned,
breath, 335, 17. 19, 15.
a-brode, adv. open, abroad, 396, 28. aissh, s. ash, 390, 12.

absoyle, v. to absolve, 11, 88. aisshen, adj. of ash, 117, 18.

a-coled, v. embraced, 501, 35. a-kele, v. to cool, 590, 21.
acolee, s. embrace aroucd the neck alle, gen. pi. of all, adj., 3, 10.
the newly dubbed knight,
of almesse, s. alms, benefit, 12, 7 ;

374, 25. 505, 17.

a-complvsshen, v. to accomplish, a-lowe, V. praise, approve, 355, 35.
61, 17. als, conj. as, 48, 14.
a-coole, s.same as acolee, 520, 9 alther, gen. pi. of all, 138, 6.
570, 4. allher, firste, i.e. first of all, 401, 3.
acooley, s. 267, 3. ambeler, s. ambler, 521, 24.
a-corded, v. agreed, 380, 13. amenuse, v. get less, 657, 4.
a-dongon, s. dungeon, 389, ^^. a-merveyled, adj. surprised, 30, 20.
50
 !

752 GLOSSARY.

amoneste, v. advise, 559, 20. a-rayment, s. dress, 507, 4.

amyrall, adj. admiral, 281, 28. arblast, s. cross-bow, 196, 4; 254,

an, coDJ. and, 92, 24. 30-
and, conj. if, 45, i 46, 31.
; arblaste, s. bow-shot, 194, 31.
and, adj. an, 221, 20. arblastiers, 659, 21 ; arblasters,
a-newe, s. another one, 399, 8. 143, 7; arblastis, 113, 18; s.

anguyshous, adj. sad, painful, 257, cross-bowmen,

a-reche, v. reach, come at, 154, 8 ;

angwisshouse, adj. anxious, 262, pt. a-raught, 193, 19.

10. a-reised, v. raised, 57, 4.
annoye, s. annoyance, injury, 154, a-resoned, v. 508, 25; a-resoned, v.
22 156, 27.
; 17, ID a-resonde, pp. 18, 33
; ;

a-noon, adv. anon, 47, 33. questioned, examined,

a-noyed, pp. hurt, affected, 300, aried, pp. arrayed, 107, 13.
14. a-rivage, s. 54, 29 aryvage, s. ;

ant, conj. and, 263, :g. arrival, landing, 56, i.

a-pair, v. injure, 397, 35. a-rived, pp. arrived, 42, 13.
a-paraile, v. apparel, 241, 31. aryve, v, to arrive, land, 54, 27.
a-peche, v. accuse, 492, 17. armure, s. armour, 242, 9.
a-peire, v. to impair; a-peired, a-rome, adv. aloof, off, 477, 13.
pp. impaired, 110, 30; 355, 23. a-rowme, 627, 20; same as a-rome.
apele, v. challenge, 469, 15. arson, s. the bow of a saddle, 119,
aperceyvaunte, pres. p. under-
standing, 73, 36. artrye, s. artillery, 115, 21.
a perceyve, V. to perceive, 29, 10; as amies, to arms ! Fr. aux armes
aparceyved, pt. 64, 28 aper-; 192, 34.
ceyved, pt. 12, 14. a-say, v. try, prove, 51, 2.
a-pert, adj. free, open, 507, 34. ascaped, v. escaped, aschaped, 56,
aperteneth, appertaineth, 106, 2. 33; 240, 15.
aperteliche, 76, 23 apertly, 35,
;
aschape, v. to escape, 154, 12.
22 adv. openly, clearly,
; a-scride, a-scryed, v. cried 'out
appareile, v. prepare, furnish, 357, upon, 343, I 464, 13; 473, 35.
;

26. ascry, s. shout, outcry, 160, 4.

appareilleden, v. prepared, got a-sege, v. besiege, 258, 18.
ready, 360, 17. asked, v. asked for, 317, 7.
apperly, adv. dexterously, 155, assaie, s. trial, test, 100, 1 1 (assay,
12. 219, 24).
a-putayn, adj. 496, i. assaien, v. to try, prove, 99, 4.
a-putein, adj. 542, 10, same as assaute, 71, i ; a-saute, 157, 6 ;

a-putayn. a-sawte, 217, 17 ; s. assault,

a-quyt, a-quytte, pp. acquitted, assawte, v. to assault, 69, 27.
87, 27. asseles, s. shoulders, cf. N. E. D.,
a-race, v. remove, 346, 26. 116, 30.
arached, v. pulled 134, ig.
off, assels, s. ; same as asseles, 473,
a-rafte, v. struck, smote, 210, 22. 33-
araide, pp. beaten, thrashed, 343, assoiled, v. pardoned, 11, 35 ; 560,
18. 26.
araied, v. 571, 2 i ; same as araide. asspie, s. spy, 306, 30.

a-raught, v. reached, 264, 26. assured, v. agreed, 362, 16.

 . ;

GLOSSARY. 753

astoned, 48, 12 astonyed, 21, 22 ;

;
awmenere, s. purse, 637, 13.
astonyd, 8, 4 pp. astonished, ;
axed, V. asked, 3, 23.
at, prep, on, 265, 27. axeden, v. 12, 15.
atame, v. penetrate, 648, 33. ayre, s. air, 56, 5.
atise, V. brag of, 404, 3 1
atised, v. challenged, provoked, baas, adj low, whispering, 611,23.
.

366, 12. baile, 113, 22, 248, 28 ; baill, 113,

attones, adv. at once, 118, 31. 14; 8. an enclosure by the keep
attonys, 551, 3 same as attones.
;
of a castle.
atynes, s. hatred, wrath, 490, 14. baile, 350, 15; bailie, 350, 26,
auctorite, s. authority, power, 518, 18; s. power, custody.
21, 3. bailly, 111, 13 baillye, 185, 20
; ;

auenaunt, adj. becoming, graceful, 8. custody, government.

507, 34; 607, 35. baisyers, s. kisses, 323, 7.

auerouse, adj. avaricious, 106, 13. bakke, s. back, 101, 8.
auenture, 5, 18 a-uenture, 188, ; bapteme, s. baptism, 214, 2.

2g ; aventure, s. adventure, bar, V. 16, 36, bore, carried.

danger, chance, 35, 35. bar hir on-hande, 9, 18; to keep
auer, s. horse, 167, 20; 272, 11. a person in play, to pretend for
auers, s. possession, property, 92, a sinister purpose, to deceive.
31 106, 22; 176, 20 Fr. avoir,
; ; barbe, s. beard, 117, 14.
auncyent, adj. ancient, 305, 27. barbican, s. an outwork, a watch
auoir, s. property, goods, 173, 28 ;
tower, 618, 23.
357, 31. barnysshed, pp. made, propor-
aust, 8. august, 132, 33. tioned, 520, 5.
auter, 102, 34; awter, 98, 29; baronye, s. baronage, 106, 34.

s. altar, baste, 8. bastardy, 86, 12.

a-valed, v, let down, lowered, bataille, s. army, 56, 33.
476, 24 571, 13.
; bawdrike, s. belt, 608, 3; 615, 3.
a-vaunte, V. boast, 263, 9; 275,28. be, pp. been, 1, 13 263, 28. ;

a-vaunter, s. a boaster, braggart, be, prep, by, about, 3, 3 ; 14, 2.

126, 36. be-come, pp. gone, 259, 6.
avauntour, s., 398, 17; same as beerdes, s. beards, 619, 29.
a-vaunter. beere, s. bier, 674, 2.
a-vented, pp. lowered the aven- be-fill, adj. suitable, 546, 29.
taile, 335, 20 459, 6. ; be-fill, V. happened, 12,35; 1^3, i.

aventeed, v. opened the aventaile be-heilde, v. looked, beheld, 7, 8

for the purpose of breathing, 158, 16.
371, 9. be-hielde, v. 514, 8.
aviso, 79, 21 ; a-visement, 78, 28 ;
be-hote, v. to promise, 59, 33.
s. advice, counsel; v. look at, be-hoved, v. were compelled,
308, 31. forced, 479, 9.
a-vised,pp. advised, a88ured,45,36. beilde, v. to build, 63, 27.
avoure, s. possessions, 433, 35, be-knowe, v, to confess, acknow-
avouterye, s. adultery, 17, 34. ledge, 20, 22.
a-voy, V. away, leave, 486, 31. be-lefte, pp. remained, left, 202,
a-vye, v. advise, ask, 284, 25. 32-
a-wayte, s. trouble, mischief, 478, beleve, 27, 11; bileve, 50, 36 ;

I ;'653, 36. 8. belief.

 .

754 GLOSSARY.

be-leve, 48, 13; bileve, 17, 23 ; v. bordclothes, s. tablecloths, 240, 8.

believe, hordes, s. tables, 454, 7.
ben, y. to be, 2, 3. bore, pp. born, 1, 9.
bendes, s. bands, stripes, border, borough, V. borrow, 434, 8.
279, 26; 161, 32. botiller, s. butler, 349, 4.
be-raffte, pp. bereft, 2, 19. boton, s. button, 486, 34.
be-raften, v. carried away, seized, bounte, s. goodness, favour, 102,
396, ig. 16; 122, 18.
berde, s. beard, 43, i ; 279, 28. bourde, s. table, game, feast, 67, 32
bere, v. bear, 176, 16. bourded, v. tilted, 133, 16.
be-reve, v. to bereave, deprive of, bourdeyse, s. sport, play, 455, 24.
145, 32. bourdinge, pai-t. pres. 31, 29;
be-seged, 42, 22; besieged, 311, 14; playing, sporting,
be-seke, v. to beseech, 37, 9. bourdise, s. tournament, play,
bestes, s. beasts, 3, 27. sport, 100, 29.
be-taught, v. committed, handed boustouse, adj. rough, clumsy,
over, 12, 6; 162, 13. 42, 36.
bete, v. covered, overlaid, 608, 5. bowes, s. boughs, 349, 1 1.
betell, s. mallet, 329, 17. boysteis, adj. rough, 168, 7.
beth, imper. be, 16, 13. braied, v. started, 464, 19.
betid, pp. happened, 53, 16. braied, 298, 33; brayed, 343, 17 ;

betyden, v. to happen, come to V. shouted,

pass, 69, 23. brakke, v. broke, 53, 8.
bewte, 12, 29; 177, 18; bewtee, brasen, adj. of brass, 339, 33.
347, 27 s. beauty,
; braste, v. broke, burst, 200, 21.
beyes, s. horses, 117, 36. braundon, s. flame, 386, 7.

beyeth, v. buys, purchases, 93, 7. brayt, a cry, 216, 36.

s.

biried, v. buried, 95, 22. breche, s. breeches, 536, 4.

birthon, s. burthen, 648, 6. bregge, 53, _6 brigge,53, 9; 165,
;

bith, V. be, 556, 14. 31 8. bridge,

;

blenche, v. to start, deviate, 159, breke, v. to break, 52, 31.

brenne, v. to burn, 18, 27.
blisse, V. bless, 8, 23 ; 170, 7. brennynge, part, burning, 18, 25.
blissynge, s. blessing, 11, 35. brent, pp. burnt, 16, 26.
blody, adj. bloody, 193, 18. breres, s. briars, 517, 13.

bloy, adj. sad, unhappy, 147, 16. brestes, s. breasts, 268, 18.
blusht, 265, 22 blusshet, 120, 3
;
;
bretesches, s. brattices, bartizans,
494, 5 V. fell, dropped,
; ramparts (Fr. les bretesces),
blusshed, v. came upon, 259, 32. 677, ii.
bobaunce, s. boasting, bombast, briaunt, adv. brilliant, well,l 17, 20.
116,23. briddes, s. birds, 168, 14; 169,
.

bode, V. waited for, 329, 15. 2; bridde, 183, 35,

bokill, s. buckle, 339, 3 1 ; bocle, briste, adj. breast, 194, 10.
395, 22. bristelis, s. bristles, 421, 30.
bole, s. bull, 343, 17. broder, s. brother, 8, 35 ; brothem,
bon, s. bone, 338, 24. 122, 13.
bonche, s. bunch, 635, 18. brondes, s. swords, 246, 25.
boorde, v. to tourney, jest, sport, brosed, all to, i.e. very much
100, 28. bruised, 157, 17.
 . . .

GLOSSARY. <00

brosed, pp. bruised, 391, 26. , charge, v. to weigh, carry, 57, 35.
brosten, v. broken, burst, 649, 10. ,
chauchie, s. on the road or high-
brunt, s. ? leap, 282, 34.; at a way, 493, 22.
=
brunt sudde n ly chede, s. child, 15, 23.
brut, s. tumult, 574, 36. chekier, s. chess-board, 362, 28.
bruTt, s. report, noise, mmoiir, chere, s. countenance, look, 44, 7 ;
211,32. 227, 19.
burgeys, burgesses, 453, 28.
s. cherl, s. churl, 43, 26.
but, conj. save, except, unless, ;
ches, T. saw, 336, 7.
43, 31 56, 7; 104, 11.
;
\
chese, y. to choose, 60, 2 1

butte, s. hutte length, i.e. the [

cheyer, s. chair, seat, 362, 1 1

distance between two butts or chielde, person, 264, 25.

s.

targets, 385, 22. childeren, s. knights, 259, 31.

by, prep, on, 278, 2. chiualrie, s. cavalry, 256, 25.
by, V. be, let me be, 183, 22. chyne, s. backbone, 118, 21.
bye, V. buy, pay for, 299, 26. chyne, y. to split, 265, 22.
by-fore, prep, before, 24, 8. chyne, s. chin, 635, 20.
by-leve, s. belief, 578, 20. chyuachie, s. contest, war, expe-
by-sette, v. allotted, 369, 13. dition, 145, 13; 173, 2; 174,
13; 274, 30; 370, 32.
cacchynge, adj. catching, 106, 10. Clarance, cried a Clarance, i.e.
caliouns, s. flint stones, 281, 15 ;
"the word and sign of King
329, 4; 677, 28. Arthur," 287, 16.
carfowgh, s. junction of four claretee, s. brightness, 340, 15.
roads, 273, 35. clatered, y. noised abroad, 12, 29.
cariage, s. baggage, 658, 20. clayned, pp. justified, cleaned,
carl, 33, 22; karll, 261, 30; s. 19, 19.
rustic, clepe, y. to call, 45, 16.
camell, adj. related by blood, clepid, 13, 20; cleped, 29, 27;
117, 8. clepeden, 16, 18; called,
casteleyn, s. 545, 35 ; castelleynes, cler, adj. clear, 338, 9.
s. 320, 2 1 ; same as castellein. clerenesse, s. brightness, light,
castell, s. castle, 49, 30. 8, 28.
castellein, s. constable or keeper clergesse, s.female clerk, 374, 6.
of a castle, 247, 30. clergie, s. learning, science, 634,
cauchie, 278, 13 ; cawchie, 380, 32 27, 33.
;

17 chauchie, 604, 28 ; s. path

; cleymed, y. claimed, see qnyfe
or road, cleymed, 502, 2.
ceme, s. circle, 309, 31 ; 310, 2 ;
clier, adj. clear, 191, 8.
681, 14. dipt, y. embraced, 143, 4 149, 6. ;

cesse, V. to cease, 5, 2; 116, 19. clobbe, 648, 4 clubbe, 649, 2 ; s.

;

chacche, v. to go, 424, 25. club, weapon,

j

clowte, adj. " clowte leather,"

'

chacche, t. to catch, 640, 6.

chaffed, pp. excited by anger, 460, j
i.e. leather for mending, 33, 26.

13 chauffed, 460, 36.

; clowte, v. to mend or patch shoes,
champ, s. field of the shield, 636, '

33, 23.
29. cofiin, s. cover for a letter, 279, 20.
chaple, 134, 34; 389, 29; chaplee, ,
cofres, s. coffers,
326, 1 1 ; s. battle, fight. , cole, s. cool, 191, 16.
756 GLOSSARY.

com, V. came, 5, i6. corsure, s. horseman, 328, 4.

coinaunde, v. to commend, 8, i
;
cosin, cousin, 117, 28.
33, 13. cote, s. coat, 261, 5.
comberaunce, s. trouble, 8, 21. coton, s. cotton, 294, 27.
comen, adj. common, 104, 7. couetyse, 13, 8 ; covetise,
106,
coraounte, s. mass, quantity, 574, 22 ; covetousness, desire,
s.

33- counfort, s. comfort, 7, 16.

complayned, v.be-wailed, lamented, counseile, v. used intransitively,
24,25. 95, 25.
complysshe, 61, 20; complesshen, counterfeited, pp. ill-shapen ; Fr.
62, I ;
V. to accomplish, fulfil, contrefais,
comynyally, adv. in assembly, counterynge, s. encounter, meet-
96, 19. ing, 200, 21.
condite, v. to conduct, 50, 2, used courbe, adj. bent, curved, 635, 17.
passively, 50, 30. courbed, pp. bent, 261, 6.
condite, conduct, 82, 28.
s. covered, v. recovered ? hid his
conditour, conductor, 392, 14.
s. feelings? 213, 6.
coniorison,607, 20; coniurison, covyne, s. secret contrivance, 306,
362, 34; 608, 14; 8. conjuring, 31 465, 12.
;

sorcery, cowde, V. knew, 28, 8 482, 7. ;

conne, v. to know, 22, 16. cowde, 9, 7; cowden, 2, 14; could,

conne, v. give, render, 73, 8 ;
cowpe, s. cup, 67, 7.
123, 9. coy, adv. shyly, 125, 16.
connynge, s. knowledge, science, cracchinges, s. scratchings, 668,30.
2, 29. crasinge, s. 200, 26 same as ;

connynge, adj. knowing, ac- crassinge.

quainted with, 17, 4; 122, I. craspe, v. grasp, seize, 649, 10.
conseille, conseill, s. council, 3, crassinge, s. crashing, noise, 1 55, 17.
12 ; 2, 22. crature, s. creature, 11, 30.
constabilrie, s. management, care creaunce, s. belief, 5, 29; 340, 36 ;

of,373, 32. 662, 13.

contene, v. defend, preserve, 77, crepell, s. cripple, 73, 5.
6; 264, 18. ere well, 39, i ; cruewell, 281, 28 ;

contened, v. continued, 355, 13. adj. cruel,

contirfet, adj. counterfeit, 635, 13. cride, 161, 24; cryde, 215, 7; v.
centre, s. country, 5, 12 153, ly. ; proclaimed, exposed,
contrey, s. 153, 19. cristen, s. christians, 57, 3.
convenable, adj. like, fitting, 59, cristendom, s. Christianity, 55, 1 1.

29. christynte, s. Christianity, 226, 12.

conveye, v, to show, put in the croupe, 117, 25 ; crowpe, 128, 5 ;

way, 538, 33. s. the buttocks of a horse,

conveyed, v. showed, 525, 4. crull, adj. curled, 508, 24.

conysshaunce, s. badge, crest, crysten, adj. christian, 23, 31.
510, 12. cure, s. care, desire, 229, i.
corage, s. inclination, intention, curroure, sb. courier, runner, 279,
heart, 228, 30 ; 309, 3. 19.
cordewan, s. Spanish leather, curroyes, couriers ? runners ? 485,
615, 7. 1 2.
corse, s. corpse, 34, 9. curteys, adj. courteous, 266, 9.
 ; ;;

GLOSSARY. '57

daisslit, pp. spoilt, 246, 23. derkly, adv. darkly, obscurely,

damage, s. injury, defeat, 349, 53, 22.
'3- deserue, v. serve for, do work
dampned, pp. condemned, for, 660, 25.
punished, 11, 32. desese, s. inconvenience, hard-
daunger, 2, 27 ; daungier, 434, ship, trouble, 260, 2.
14; s. power, dominion, desesse, s. decease, 228, 25.
dawe, V. to dawn, 98, 9. desier, s. desire, wish, 4, 18.
dawenynge, s. daybreak, 297, 35. desseuered, pp. divided, sepa-
day, s. time, 82, 25. rated, 259, 33.
deboner, adj. courteous, gentle, deth, s. death, 45, 6.
266, 9. dever, s. duty, 162, 13.
debonerly, adv. courteously, 105, devise, at all points, 278, 32;
s.

21; 140, 31. 508, 10; 519, 2.

debonertee, s. gentleness, courtesy, devised, v. directed, 659, 23.
123, 7. devynour, s. deviner, 45, 19.
dede, s. deed, 5, 24. deyen, v. to die, 3, 29.
dede, v. caused, made, 37, 29. deynteis, s. dainties, 471, 12.
deduyt, s. pleasure, delight, 307, deyse, s. high table in haU, 480, z8.
34; 437. 8; 640, 31. dierly, adv. dearly, eagerly, 302,
deed, adj. dead, 34, 8. 12 ;631, 4.
deffence, s. prohibition, defence, diffence, s. gainsaying, 686, 17.

54, 27. diflfende, v. to prohibit, prevent,

deffende, v. to forbid, 54, 23. resist, 29, 10; 428, 14.
deflfende, v. to preserve, defend, diffoulde, pp. 10, 33 ; defiled
39, 26; 121, 17. diflfoiled, 276, 35.
defensable, adj. able to defend, dight, pp. arrayed, dressed, 110,13.
54, 18. disavaunce, v. forestall (Fr. desa-
delicatys, s. delicacies, 6, 26. uanchier), 658, 15.
delyte, delight, 6, 25.
s. disavaunced, pp. thrown or driven
delyuer, adj. active, nimble, 267, back, 250, 22.
34; deliuere, 136, 23; adj. discendir, v.to fall, drop, 118, 19.
tree, 692, 20. discesed, pp. deprived, 229, 31.
delyuerly, adv. actively, nimblv, disceytis, s. deceits, 8, 7.
158, 36. disceyve, 3, 23 disseyve, 87, 29
;

demaundes, s. questions, 16, 12. v. to deceive.

demened, pp. treated, 465, 1 3 ;
discheueled, pp. dishevelled, 453,
656, 35. 16; 646, 15.
demened, pp. conducted, directed, discheuelee, s. entanglement of
75, 33; 79, 9. hair, 298, 31.
demonstraunce, s. demonstration, disconfited, pp. discomforted, de-
sign, 59, II. feated, 24, 24.
depaite, v. to separate, divide, discouert, adj. uncovered, 628, 34.
distribute, 61, 8 ; 92, 29 discounfit, v. to discomfort, defeat.
ended, 90, 13. discounfited, discomfited, 120, 14.
dere, adj. dear, 49, 27. discure, v. to discover, make
derenged, v, attacked, fought, plain, 58, 19.
549, I. disered, v. desired, 27, 7.
derke, adj. dark, 348, 2. diserte, s. desert, 59, 8.
 ; ;

758 GLOSSARY.

disese, v. to trouble, discomfort, dolven, pp. buried, 5, 14.

2, 26 ; 115, 31 649, 29.
; don, prep, down, 53, 8.
disese, s. harm, injury, 1, 20 dought, V. ought, should, 47, 17.
30, 25. dought, V. thought, 3, 36 ; seemed,
disgarnysshed, pp. deprived of, 106, 14 ; feared, doubted, 6, 9;
go without, 440, 17. 248, 36.
disherit, v. to disinherit, 42, 7. dought, s. thought, 555, 18.
disparble, v. to disperse, 208, 5 ;
dought, s. fear, 226, 29.
disparbled, pt. dispersed, 196, doute, V. to fear, 62, 7 171, 7. ;

19 214, 18.
; doute, 70, 15; 94, 22 ; dowte, s.
dispeire, s. despair, 4, 17. fear, 117, 32.
dispitously, adv. pitifully, 355, 6. douted, V. feared, dreaded, 265,
disporte, v. engage, practise, 352, 17; 343, 7.
.
'5- draweth, v. resembles, 434, 35.
dispyte, s. pity, regret, 70, 23. drede, s. fear, dread, 16, 27.
disray, s, clamour, commotion, dressed, v. reared, prepared, set
407, II ; 460, 10. in order, 58, 11; 110, 25 ; went,
dissese, s. discomfort, trouble, addressed, 255, 2.
54, 30. drof, V. drove, 26, 36.
distraught, pp. distracted, 20, 21. drough, 17, 22; drowgh, 28, 28 ;

distreined, v. vexed, upset, 71, 3. drow, 47, 3 1 V. drew, ;

distreyned, v. constrained, 193, 4. druweries, s. love, esteem, 641, 2.

distrif, s. strife, 536, 9. dubbe, V. dub, 316, 7.
distrowed, 26, 19; distrued, 184, duelled, v. dwelled, remained,
29; distrowied, 40, 28; pp. 645, 16.
destroyed, duerf, s, dwarf, 638, 13.
distroyne, 174, 31; distrye, 191, dure, V. to endure, last, 116, 8.
22 ; V. to destroy, duresse, s. constraint, confine-
distrubier, s. disturber, 240, 22. ment, 19, 10.
distrubinge, s. disturbance, upset, dureth, v. extends, 260, 18.
296, 4. dyed, v. died, 4, 25.
distrubled, v. disturbed, troubled, dyen, 65, 26; dye, 3, 34; v. to
.
1^4' .5- dye.
distruxion, s. destruction, 172, 6.
disturbier, s. hindrance, 509, 36. ech, eche, adj. each, 110, 32.
disturdison, s. moaning, suffering, efte-sones, adv. afterwards, pre-
.266,35. sently, 226, 31.
disturue, v. dispute, question, egramauncye, 375, 30 ; 508, 4
680, I. egremauncye, 176, 6 ; s. magic,
distyne, distynes, s. destiny, 166, divination.
3; 582, 30. eiled, v. ailed, 3, 33.
do, V. execute, fulfil, 5, 13. eleccion, s. election, choice, 96,
do, V. caused, 25, 25 ; 57, 16. 25.
doctryne, s. doctrine, teaching, ellis,76, 15 ; elles, 54, 2; adv. else,
5, 30. either, adj. older, 5, 29; 529, 6.
doel, 34, 9 ; doell, 4, 25 ; s, grief, empeire, v. hurt, 606, 27.
sorrow, mourning, empere, s. empire, 105, 36.
dolent, adj. sad, sorrowful, 331, emprise, s. enterprise, 263, 9.
I ; 572, 20. en, conj. and, 14, 27.
 . .

GLOSSARY. 759

enannynge, s. handle of a shield, enterpassaunt, v. returning, pas-

667, 25. sing back, 329, 20.
enbelynk, 584, 9. enterpendaunt, adj. independent,
enbrace, v. puts on his arm, 516, 5. enterprising, 475, 7.
enbuschement, 161, 5 enbusshe- ;
entiere, v. buried, interred, 369,
ment, 135, 5 s. ambush, ; '.3-

enbusshed, pp. amassed, ambushed, entirpassinge, v. passing back,

246, 12. 407, 32.
enchase, v. to pursue, 218, 6. entrauerse, adj. crossed, 163, 12.
encombraunce, s. encumbrance, entre,s. entry, 55, 23; beginning,

5, 23. 191, 7; entreynge, s. begin-

encrese, v. to increase, 223, 3 1 ning, 205, 12.
enderdited, pp. interdirted, 466, entysement, s. enticement, 5, i.
19. enuay, envaie, s. Fr. envahie, an ;

enffeflPe, v. infeof,
373, 32. assault, an onset, 318, 15; 352,
enforce, v. increase, 443, 3. 18.
engender, 102, 8 engendre, 62,;
enuoysed, v. 463, 2.
I Y. to beget,
; environ, prep, about, around, 113,
engyn, 20, 33; engyne, 14, 14; 22153, 17.
;

s. craft, subtlety, deceit, er, adv. before, 190, 19.

enmy, 20, 32 ; enmye, 55, 9 ; s. errour, s. chagrin, vexation, 318,
enemy, 25-
ennoisies, adj. gay, lively ["mis- erthe, s. earth, 128, 5.
reading for efwoisies." K. E. D.], ese, s. ease, 257, 23.
106, 12. espleyted, pp. fulfilled, completed,
enprise, enterprise, 242, 30.
s. 10, 16.
enquere, v. to enquire, ask for, espyes, 146, 10 ; esspies, 575, 15 ;

44, 3 ; 49, 22. s. spies.

enquesitif, adj. inquisitive, 292, 34. este, adv. first, 72, 31.
enquest, s. search, 687, 10. estres, s.outs, 242, 13.
ins and
enquire, s. enquiry, 3, 12. euell, adv. mis-, 5, 22.ill,

ensele, v. seal, 617, 32. cure, s. luck, fortune, 320, 32.

entailled, v. carved, shaped, 362, evereche, 31, 36 everich, 63, 32 ;
;

each one, every.

adj.
entassed, pp. incumbered, heaped, evesonge, s. evensong, vespers,
337, 29. 102, 36.
entassement, s. accumulation, expowned, pp. expounded, ex-
heaping, 398, 7. plained, 42, 26.
entende, v. learn, pay attention, eyder, pron. either, 148, 6.
310, II.
entended, v. heard, attended, 23, facion, s. appearance, 427, 27.
18; 266, 34. fader, 5, 10 ; ffader, 102, 5 ; fadir,
entente, intent, intention, 97, 25.
s. 5, 18 ; s. father,
entententifly, adv. attentively, fadome, s. fathom, 430, 11.

567, 25. falle, pp. fell out, happened, 5, 1 1

entered, v. buried, 647, 9. false, V. betray, deceive, 608, 28.
entermedled, intermixed, 227, 7. falsed, V. falsified, 666, 7.
entermete, v. to meddle with, fantasie, s. desire, liking, 213, 5.
interfere, 19, 31; 39, 33. faste, adj. near, close, 213, 22.
760 GLOSSARY.

fauced, 628, 22 faused, 456, 25 ;

;
fieraunt, adj. becoming, suitable,
V. pierced, cut. 583, 26.
faucouns, s. falcons, 135, 9. fiers, adj. fierce, 193, 19.
faugh, T. fought, 159, 8. fill, V. fell, went, 4, 17.
faute, n. want, 568, 27. fill, pt. fell out, happened, 44, 5 ;

fecche, v. to fetch, 100, 35. 59, 6.

feed, adj. paid, 472, 16. fin, s. end, conclusion, 229, 33.
feende, 3, 35; fende, 1, 11; s. fin, 249, 16; 287, 6; fyn, 156,
fiend, 16; adj. sheer, entire,
felfed, V. infeofed, 374, 2. fitz, s. sons, 496, i 542, 10. ;

feire, 8, 8 ; fere, 114, 19 ; s. fear, flain, 268, 34; fiayn, 347, 9; pp.
feire, 4, 13; feyre, 6, 31 ; adj. flayed, skinned,
fair, flat, V. ? extend, 275, 30.
felen, v. to feel, perceive, 38, 3. flawme, s. flame, 332, 17.
felischep, 28, 10; felschip, 6, 9; flayle, s. portion of a gate, the bar,
felishep, 34, 31 ; 56, 1 1 ; s. 206, 29.
fellowship, company, fle, V.to fly, 199, 28.
fell, adj. fierce, strong, cruel, 30, flekered, v. fluttered, waved, 324,
8; 102, 30. 30.
fellenouse, adj. fierce, wicked, fleynge, part. pres. flying, 56, 5.
118, 7; 352, 25. florte, adj ? flowered, decorated,
.

felliche,adv. cruelly, felly, 571, 395, 14.

1 1. flos of the see, high tide, 646, 5.
felly, adv. fiercely, 215, 31. flote, s. mass, company, 198, 3.
felon, adj. dangerous, 548, g. flour, s. flower,
i.e. best, 401, 8.
felonously, adv. fiercely, cruelly, fly, V. flew, 199, 25; 216, 34.
216, I. fole, s. fool, 53, 14; 357, 15.
felt, s. hat, 279, 23. folily, adv. foolishly, 7, 1 8 ; 650,
fenisshe, v. to finish, end, stop, 32.
54, 12. fonde, V. found, 11, i 36, 29. ;

fer, adj. far, distant, 6, 3. foorde, s. ford, 606, 17.

fercely, adv. fiercely, 119, 35. for, adv. because, inasmuch as,
ferde, v. acted, conducted, 4, 1 5 ; 108, 17.
went, 211, 22. for, prep, from, 260, 4.
ferde, adj. afraid, frightened, for-swellen, very much swollen,
terrible, 27, 4; 346, 23. 172, 19.
feriage, s. passing over water, for-swette, t.e. covered with sweat,
606, 20. 296, 19.
ferly, adj. strange, 93, 30. fore, prep, of, 300, 25.
ferther, adj. foreign, distant, 103, forewarde, s. first portion, van,
36- 276, 16.
feste, s. feast, 63, 22. forfet, s. 109, 2.
off'ence, 69, 8 ;

fewtee, s. fealty, 121, 3. forfet, V. prepared, 84, 20.

fewtre, s. the rest for a speai-, forfete, v. to injure, offend, misdo,
127, 9. 115, 18.
ficched, V. moved uncomfortably, forgeven, v. to forgive, 55, 31.
335, 30. for-juged, pp. wrongfully judged,
ficchid, pp. fixed, fastened, 98, 470, 19.
14; 164, 9. for-leyn, v. lain with, 544, 3.
 ;;

GLOSSARY. 761

formednesse, s. silly action, con- gabbe, v. to lie, talk idly, 31,4.

ceit, 639, 26. gabbynge, s. lying, 13, 5.
formeste, adj. foremost, 46, 12. ganfanon, s. standard, 205, 35
foiTears, 146, 17 ; forryoars, 230, 323, 18.
1 3 ; 8. scouts, foragers. ganfanoner, a. standard-bearer,
forry, v. forage, 272, 7. 211, 7.
forse, s. force, number, 126, 19. garcion, s. stripling, boy, 103, 32.
for-swollen, adj. 538, 6. gamement, s. garment, 384, 29.
fort, adv. forth, 361, 12. gamyson, s. garrison, 174, 29.
f or-thought, pp. repented, grieved, gamyyshed, v. garrisoned, 381,
40, 28. 21.
forthynke, v. to repent, 25, 15. gamysshe, 115, 19; 55, 22; 176,
foryete, v, to forget, 71, 33. 14; gamyssh, 174, 23; v. to
foryete, pp. forgotten, 9, 33. furnish, prepare, guard ?
for-yeten, pp. forgotten, 138, 18; gate, V. got, 333, 29.
545, 6. gavelokkes, s. spears or javelins,
foryevenesse, s. forgiveness, 10, 300, 34; 662, 33.
28. geauntes, s. giants, 209, 15.
foundement, s. foundation, 31, 24. gete, V. to get, beget, 3, 5 ; 3, 9
foimden, pp. found, 4, 15. 67, 34.
fowled, V. trampled, 494, 36. geve, V. to give, 95, 26.
fowrtithe, 40th? 171, 19. gige,8, handle of a shield, 344,

foyson, 8. plenty, 150, 31 ; 176, 36; 496, 31.

34- gipser, 8. pouch or purse, 608, 5.
frayen, v. rubbed, dashed, 594, 34. girde, v. smite, strike, 408, ^^ ;

frayinge, s. collision, struggle, 596, 8.

339, 14. glenched, v. glanced, slipped aside,
frayned, 6, 13; freyned, 50, 7 ; 158, 6; 329, 6.
v. asked, questioned, enquired, gleves, 660, 34; glevis, 275, 23;
freissh, adj. fresh, gay, 203, 10. gleyves, 264, i ; 331, 26 ; s. a
fremyssh, v. tremble, shake, 284, weapon composed of a long
9 ; 336, 18. cutting blade at the end of a
fremysshed, v. trembled, shook, lance,
162, 28 ; 648, 32. glode, V. glided, 594, 29.
frende, s. friend, 49, 27. glood, do., 595, 23.
fres, adj. vigorous, 156, 10. glose, V. flatter, cajole, 680, 9,
fro, prep, from, 4, 22. go, pp. gone, 267, 6.
frote, V. rub, 76, 20 424, 25. ; gode, s.. goods, property, 4, 4.
frotinge, v. rubbing, 649, 7, :
gode, adj. good, 3, 27.
frusht, 207, 2 frussht, 164,
;
I
gome, s. man, 594, 29.

14; ffirushed, 219, 18; 661, 5 ; gonne, v. began, commenced, 369,

V. dashed, smashed, rushed, 30-
I

violently, : goolde, gold, 57, 15.

s.

fulfilde, V. filled, 59, 28. goste, ghost, 12, 3.

8.

full, adv. very, qmte, 41, 17, gotere, s. gutter, 38, i.

fullich, adv. fully, 275, 14. goth, imper. go, 13, 12.
fyngres, s. fingers, 635, 19. j
goules, 205, 35 ;
gowles, 395, 15 ;

fvnvshment, s. end, conclusion, I

s. gules.
'
2^, 3- I
gowe = go we, let us go, 68, 4.
762 GLOSSARY.

gramercy, interj. great thanks, hardy, adj. bold, brave, 113, 23.
many thanks, 115, 32. hardynesse, s. boldness, 103, 18;
graunted, v. promised, 557, 13. 169, 3.
gre, s. favour, pleasure to take ; harlotis, s. harlots, followers,
in gre = take kindly, 204, 13. scouts, base men,
12; 276, 9,
greces, 279, 30 427, 30 greeces,
;
; 14; 404, 16.
555, 8 ; s. ? steps, entrance. harneyse, s. weapons, armour, 120,
grees, s. same as greces (279, 30), 26.
639, 3. haten, v. to hate, 5, 22.
grennynge, v. roaring, crying, hau, have. 111, 21.
209, 9. haubrek, 118, 35 hauberkes, 628,
;

gret, adj. great, 50, 26. 21; s. a coat of mail,

gretinge, greeting, 47, 24.
s. hedylyche, adv. ? heavily, strongly,
gretnesse, pregnancy, 86, 19.
s. 119,4.
.

grette, adj. great, 648, 4. heer, s. hair, 261, 6.

greve, v. to vex, injure, 154, 24. heirdes, s. herdsmen, 3, 28.
greves, s. shores, beach? 649, 29. heire, adv. here, 23, 30.
grewe, 436, 20; griewe, 437, 15 ;
heire, s. air, 393, 6.
8. Greek, heiren, v. to hear, 32, 33.
griped, v. seized, 9, 21 ; 119, 14. heir-to, adv. hereto, 24, 8.
growe, adj. grown, 390, 12. hele, s. health, 71, 27.
grucched, 355, 24; 392, 26; helue, s. helve, handle, 339, 28.
grucchid, 206, 32 v. opposed, ; hem, pron. them, 3, 28 ; 5, 17.
resisted, henge, v. hung, 4, 22.
grucchynge, s. opposition, 73, 19. hens, adv. hence, 15, 14.
grym, adj. rough, dirty, 43, i ;
hente, v. seize, take hold of, 30,
196, 18. 8; 101, 8.
grysly adj horrible, terrible, 15,8.
, . her, pron. their, 34, 6.
guerdon, v. reward, 102, 22. herbegage, s. quarters, lodgings,
gyde, s. guide, 280, 26. 154, 25.
gyge, same as gige. herberewe, 30, 31 herberowe, ;

gynneth, v. begins, commences, 204, 20 s. lodging, shelter,

;

313, 8. harbour,
gynnynge, s. beginning, 10, 30. herberough, s. hauberk, 387, 5.
gysarmes, s. bills or battle axes, herberowed, pp. lodged, 546, 34.
281, 31. here, pron. her, 3, 17.
here, v. to hear, 23, 23; heren,
habergon, s. breast-plate, armour 171, 16.
for the neck and breast, 110, herken, v. to listen, herkened, pt.,
21. 23, 17.
halowmasse, s. the feast of All hertely, adv. heartily, 48, 26 ; 81,
Saints, 97, 12. 31-
halsed, v. embraced, 74, 26. hertys, s. ? persons, 22, g.
haluendell, s. half, 157, 25. hevied, v. made heavy, depressed,
haly, adj. holy, 12, 2. 182, 19.
happed, v. happened, 7, 11. bevy, adj. heavy, dull, 53, 25.
harde, adv. hard, terribly, strongly, hevyeth, v. hesitate, 368, 13.
214, 19. heyer, s. heir, 80, 20.
hardely, adv. boldly, 35, 7. hider, adv. hither, 25, 16,
 . ;

GLOSSARY. '63

hidouse, adj. hideous, frightful, i-gon, pp. gone, 68, 35.

40, 36. I-loste, pp. lost, 312, 33.
hidously, adv. 207, 22. [I have heard a gamekeeper say to his
hier, adj. higher, upper, 175, 17. when he had shot some game,
retriever,
hierdes, s. shepherds, 252, 20. and wished the dog to go and get it,
"I-lost, I-lost."—W. A. D.]
hiest, adj. highest, most renowned,
55, I. in-countre, s. encounter, 134, 6.
hight, 24, 2 ; 59, 25; highte, 129, indure, v. to last, 24, 27.
3 ; pp. called, Inngendure, s. ? charge of guilt,
hilde, V. held, 14, 18. 18, 23.
hir, pro. their, 33, 33. I-nowgh, 213, 29; i-r.ough, 68,
hire, v. to hear, 102, 36. 18; i-nowe, 77, 5; adj. enough,
hit, pro. it, 91, 22. inteript, pp. interrupted, 105, 28 ?
hoilde, V. to hold, side, 42, 9. intermete, v. to interfere, meddle
hoill, adj. whole, entire, 52, 28 ;
with, 24, 21.
57, 2 ; hool, 224, 23. in-to, prep, until, 30, i 105, 27. ;

holicherche=holy church, 14, 18. ioly, adj. pretty, 106, 12.

holtes, s. woods, groves, 274, i. iolye, adj. pleasant, joyful, 47, 8. 1

holy, adv. wholly, 86, 4. iour, s. day, 67, 5.

hom, s. home, 250, 35. ioume, s. journey, 251, 15,
horse, s. horses, a company of lowes, s. jaws, 273, 22 496, 34. ;

horse, 4, 3; 50, 17; 117, i

;
iren, s. iron, 98, 13.
193, 14; 335, 17. irouse, adj. angry, enraged, 71, 3.
hosebonde, s. husband, 19, 27. I-spredde, pp. spread, 240, 7.
hoseled, pp. comforted, 415, 35 ;
isse, V. issue, sally forth, 255, 22 ;
was hoseled, i.e. received, 334, 31.
houe, pp. brought up, reared ? issed. 111, 6; isseden, 42, 13; v.
124, 28. issued forth,
houeth, V. behoves, 33, 9. issu, issue, s. doorway, outlet, 90,
hovid, V. stopped, 200, 4. 3; 357, 21.
howsolde, s. household, family, I-teyed, v. moored, 464, 3.
49, 10. iustice, V. to judge, 122, 35.
howsynge, s. housing, houses, iustynge, s. jousting, 127, 21.
63, 27. iuwelles, 64, 8 juwels, 65, 29
;

huch, s. hutch, 4, 20. s. jewels,

hurdeysed, v. hurdled, 604, 2 1 luyse, s. judgment, 35, 4; properly

hurtelid, v. rushed, dashed, 117,35. imoyse fin judicium,
hym, pron. he, 250, 30. iyen, s. eyes, 172, 18.

kach, V. to catch, 9, 23.

iape, V. to jest, mock, 66, 28; keeled, v. cooled, 371, 9.
113, 3.1- keen, s. kine, 274, 12.
iapes, jests, mockery, 113, 32.
s. keled, pp. cooled, 214, 4.
I-be, pp. been, 258, 16; 363, 28. kenne, v. to know, recognize, 45,
i-come, pp. come, 25, 16. 22.
i-don, pp. done, 76, 23. kenrede, s. kindi-ed, 79, 35.

i-douted, pp. feared, dreaded, 163, kilde, pt. killed, 209, 21.
34- kirchires, s. covering for the head
iepardye, s. jeopardy, 69, 28. of a woman, 689, ^^.
 ;

764 GLOSSARY.

knowe, pp. 11, i6 ; knoweth, lenger, adj. longer, 110, 11.

pres. pi. 2, 3. lenton, s. the season of Lent, 142,
knowleche, s. knowledge, 2, 29. 24.
knowliche, v. to acknowledge, 26, lenynge, part, pres., leaving, rest-
12. ing, 168, I.
knowynge, s. knowledge, wisdom, leopart, 304, 1 1 ; lupart, 304, 6
3, 1 1 ; 13, 22 ; 58, 23. s, leopard,
knyghthode, s. chivalry, warlike lepe, V. leapt, 68, 32 ; 195, 13.
deed, 56, 29. lerned, v. taught, 5, 31 ; pp. 9, 7.
kowde, 21, 22; kowthe, 100, 5 ;
lese, V. to lose, 6, 8.
V. could, lessed, v, deprived, 401, 18.
koye, adj. quiet, coy, shy, 78, 11. leste, v. to please, desire, 48, 32.
krowne, s. crown, 24, 13. lesynge, s. lye, lying, 31,6; 62, 9.
kutte, V. cut, 339, 28. let, V. to hinder, 7, 24; prevent,
kyngeles, adj. kingless, 24, 30. 12, 19.
kyton, s. kitten, 665, 28. lete, 12, 19 (to cause, ?13, 17;
kyttynge, v. cutting, 118, 15. 18, 31; 27, 18).
kyutte, 195, 4; kutte, 195, 2; lette, V. prevent, to hinder, 188,
kytte, 137, 16 v. cut, cut ofp. ; 29.
letted, pp. hindered, 228, 18.
lettynge, s. hindrance, 6, 36 131, ;

laden, v. to dip or bale water, 37,29. 10.

lakke, s. lack, 54, 30. leve, V. to believe, 11, 21 ; 29, 5 ;

lappe, s. skirt, 101, 10. 62, 28.

lardre, 336, 28 ; lardure, 337, 27 ;
leve, V. to live, 24, 34.
655, 18; s. slaughter, leve, V. accept, follow, 365, 1 1
;

lasted, V. extended in space, 274, 507, 21.

15; 350, 23. leven, v. leave, forsake, 202, 20.
laught, V. caught, 199, 29. lever, adv. rather, sooner, 35, 33.
launchant, part, leaning forward, leyser, s. leisure, 7, 2; 32, 26.
288, 33. leysere, s. chance, 100, 20 ; all
launde, s. bit of open country, be leysere.
298, 6 Fr. lande, 683, 4.
; lifly, adv. lively, 355, 5.
laweers, s. lawyers, 434, 14. lifte, adj. left, 211, 5.
layners, s. cords, 697, 6. liggynge,58,ii; 155,6; lyggynge,
leche, s. doctor, 336, 7. 196, 10; part. pres. lying down,
lechours, s. lustful men, 434, 29. lightly, adv. quickly, 241, 17;
leder, s. leather, 168, 7. 634, 32.
leed, s. lead, 63, 5. litere, 93, 31 ; letere, 94, 6; lytier,
leff, V. leave, 299, 24. 92, 25 301, 14; s. litter,
;
litier,
lefte, V. remained, 70, 25 ; 95, 20. logged, pp. lodged, encamped, 277,
lefte, pp. broken, 85, 15, 25-
leged, V. laid, fixed, 166, 29. logges, s. tents, lodges, 116, 23.
leide to the deef ere, i.e. turned a loigge, V. to lodge, stay, 127, 18.
deaf ear, 261, 34. loigges, s. tents, camp, 387, i.
leife, s. lover, 636, 12. loigginge, 43, 34; loigynge, 68,
leiser, s. chance, opportunity, 346, 8 ; s. lodging, abode,
21. loiginge, s. tent, lodging, 387, 8.
leneth, v. lendeth, 434, 9. londe, s. land, 26, 26.
 GLOSSARY. '65

longed, V. belonged, 42, 4; 470, make, v. used passively, 38 i ; 57,

'5- 16 ; to cause, ? 6, 17 29, 25. ;

longes, s. lungs, 357, 8. males, s. wallets, budgets, 147,

Ion gin ge, pres. part, belonging, 34- .

605, 21. maletalentif, adv. with ill-will,

loose, V. to lose, 6, 30. 338, 27.
lordinges, s. Sirs, masters, 172, 30. malle, s. club, mallet, 339, 9.
lordship, s. estate, 350, 23. maltalente, maltelente, s. anger,
lorn, pp, forsaken, 58, 27. evil disposition, 500, 27.
lose, s. honour, fame, praise, 176, manased, v. menaced, 651, 16.
18. manasynge, s. threats, 26, 22.
losenges, s. [in heraldry], 205, 35. manece, 652, 10; manese, 26, 25 ;
lothly, adj. loathsome, 262, 16. V. threaten,
lotly, adj. ugly, 265, 32. maners, s. ways, 2, 13.
lough, V. laughed, 33, 25. mantelent, s. anger, ill-will, 339, 2.
lowed, V. lowered, 397, 8. maras, 254, 27 380, 16; s. marsh,
;

lower, s. hire, reward, 59, 5. marasse, s. bog, 604, 28.

lowted, V. bent, bowed, made marche, s. border, boundary, limit,
obeisance, 98, ig. 167, 23.
lurdevn, s. lazy person, 537, 7 ; maroners, s. mariners, 379, 5.
538, 2. marteleise, 211, 26; martileys,
luste, 8. will, desire, 7, 23 ; 268, 334, 23 ; 8. hammering,
25- martirdom, s. slaughter, 163, 2g.
lusty, adj. vigorous, merry, 191, martire, s. torment, martyrdom,
12. 17, 7; slaughter, 193, 25.
lyen, t. to lie, 86, 27. maryne, s. sea-coast, 230, 6.
lyfte, adj. left, 128, 4. marysse, s. marsh, 254, 19.
lyfte, V. lifted, raised, 24, 14. mased, pp. confounded, 201, 12.
lym, s. limb, 321, 33. massage, s. message, command, 29,
lynage, 59, 8; lyngnage, 105, 6; 28.
s. lineage, massagiers, 33, 20; massanger,
lyntell, s. lintell, s. lintel, 436, 31, 7; massenger, 33, 18; s.
19- messenger,
lyonsewes, s. young lions Fr. ; mat, adj., same as maat, 145,
lion9eaux, 413, 22 417, 10. ; 24.
lysted, pp. edged or bordered, mate, adj. dejected, exhausted,
163, 12. 269, 33; 355, 8; 396, 20.
matelentif, adj. angry, 219, 30.
mater, s. ? matter, 503, 25.
maat, adj. stupefied, overpowered, matere, 114, 7; matire, 50, 34;
125, 16. s. matter, business,
magre, 40, 7; 83, 17; misfor-
s. maundement, s. demand, 643, 15.
tune, displeasure, s. in spite ; mayden, s. "He was a preste
:

of, prep. 206, 31 ; 214, 23. . and also a mayden," i.e.

. .

maister, s. master, 3, 30. unmarried, 326, 36.

maister, adj. chief, 110, 6. mayme, s. injury, 527, 9.
maistries, 78, 17; mastryes, 134, maymen, v. to maim, 208, 13.
14 s. feats, deeds.
; mavne, meyne, s. retinue, house-
maistris, s. leaders, 549, 35. hold, 42,' 15; 46, 26.
 ;

766 GLOSSARY.

roayntene, meyntene, v. to main- moste, adj. greatest, 210, 36.

tain, uphold, 97, 22; 112, 33. mouncels, s. portions, 413, 36.
me, s. men, 244, 13. moustred, v. mustered, 560, 26.
meddelynge, 199, 32; medelinge, mowe, V. may, 22, 29.
207, 28 352, 12; s. fighting.
; musardes, s. dull persons, fools,
medle, 100, 33; 118, 7; 156, 183, 34; 582, 15.
15; medlee, 163, 29 j s. fray, mustre, s. muster, 658, 22.
tourney, fight. myddill, s. middle, 108, 3.
mees, s. mice, 665, 30. mynistre, s. minster, 98, 26.
mene, adj. many? mean? com- myri, adj. merry, 384, 31.
mon? 243, 28. myrily, adv. pleasantly, joyously,
mene, s, means, way, 20, 14. 77, 7.
mennes, s. men's, 262, 33. mysauenture, s. misadventure,
ment, v. meant, 25, 2. mishap, 68, i.
mervelle, 3, 30; merveyle, 5, 15; mysbelevynge, adj. unbelieving,
merveile, 42, 2 s. vronder. ; 191, 23.
merveloise, adj. marvellous, 56, myschaunce, s. misfortune, 78, 27.
29. myschef, s. danger, injury, 4, 5 ;

merveyled, v. marvelled, wondered, 356, 18.

3, 29. myscheved, pp. injured, 8, 36.
mese, s. mess, meal, 614, 36. myschief, s. odds, 265, i.
messagers, s. messengers, 29, 36. mysdon, pp. done wrongly, 500,
messe, s. mass, service, 52, 11. 20.
mete, s. food, 240, 6. mysese, s. discomfort, 64, 33.
mevable, adj. movable, 116, 5, mysese, adj, injured, troubled, 94,
meve, v. to move, 38, 15; start, '3-
go, 130, II. myshevouse, adj. unfortunate, in-
meyne, s. (chess) men, 362, 30. jurious, 5, 28.
mo, pron. me, 431, 19. myslyvinge, s. evil life, 2, 10.
mo, 56, 7; moo, 258, 10; adj. myssese, s. trouble, discomfort,
more. 331, 21.
moche, adj broad, great, 97, 7 1 1 7,
. ; myssey, v. to slander, revile, 30,
13; 351, 20; many, 262, 35. 10.
moche, adv. much, 4, i. myster, s. need, necessity, 44, 31;
modir, 5, 18 moder, 8, 35
; ; 65, 33; 93,28.
modre, 15, 5 s. mother.; mystere, s. skill, occupation, 14,
monestede, v. admonished, 530, 18. 6; 156, 34.
monge, prep, amongst, 244, 4. mystered, s. needed, 22, 35.
morderid, pp. murdered, 46, 10. mystily, adv. obscurely, darkly,
moreyn, s. murrain, 3, 30. 54, 6.
morowe, s. morning, 204, 30 mystrowe, v. to mistrust, 21, 12 ;

545, 8. 48, 33.

morownynge, s. morning, 273, 56.
mortalite, mortality, 56, 27.
s. namly, adv. especially, 8, 20.
mortalito, s. mortality, 337, 10. nas, was not, 267, 25.
mortall, adj. deadly, 214, 16. nat, adv. not, 4, 30.
morthered, murdered, 401, 29.
v. natht, s. naught, 18, 23.
niossell, s. morsel, 6, 24; mossel navie, s. ships, navy, 50, 31.
brede, a morsel of bread. nay, adv. no, 3, 34; 5, 26.
 GLOSSARY. 7G7

ne, adv. not, 2G4, 12. on, 2, 32; 167, 7; 00, 220, 16;
ne a-bide not, double negative, 316, 26; oon, 3, I ; 4, 34; adj.
258, 31. one.
ne, conj. nor, 2, 20. ones, adv. once, 11, 20.
nece, s. niece, 63, 33. only, adj. alone, 264, 8.
neethe, s. needs, wants, 505, 28. ordenaunce, s. ordinance, plan,
neke, 53, 8; nekke, 51, 17; s. 3, II.
neck, ordeyned, v. provided, 301, 14;
nempned, pp. named, 143, 9. prepared, 473, 24.
ner, adv. near, 277, 30. orfraied, adj. gold- embroidered,
netherdeles, adv. nevertheless, 43, 615, 7.
30- orped, adj. valorous, bold, 439, 22.
nevew, 171, 34; nevewe, 152, 11 ;
orphenyn, s. orphan, 212, 18.
s. nephew, oste, s. host, army, 24, 16 43, 22. ;

nyegh, 215, nyghe, 684, 25

i ; ;
ostein, s. hostel, lodging, 130, 13.
V. to near, approach, osteye, v. to make warlike incur-
neighed, 207, 31; neyhed, 263, sions, 70, 5.
21 V. neared, approached,
; other, adv. either, 217, 24.
no, adv. not, 302, 8. ouer-gate, v. overtake, 276, 28.
noon, adv. no, not, 6, 17 ; 33, 14. ouerlede, v. to oppress ?, 122, 35.
norice, s. nurse, 135, 34. ought, adv. very ... he shall
norished, v, brought up, 26, i. come er ou/jht long, 449, 8.
norisshe, t. to nourish, nurse, ought, 8. anything, 269, 6.
bring up, 88, 10. ought, V. owed, 302, 11.
not, v.=ne wot, know not, 20, 5. oughten, v. owed, 138, 25.
not, s. naught, nothing, 54, 2. oure, s. hour, 13, 2 151, 4.
;

nother, adv. 102, 5 ; adj. 109, 2, outerage, s. outrage, violence, 69,

neither, 6; 81, 35.
nought, adv. not, 1,7. outerly, adv. entirely, 340, 33 ;
noye, v. annoy, 368, 17. 571, 15.
noysaunce, s. injury, 456, 2. outraied, 629, 20; 630, 8 ; outreyed,
nurture, s. training, cultivation, 458, 6 ; outrayed, 458, 1 1 ; pp.
227, 13. beaten, ruined,
ny, adv. nigh, nearly, 199, i. overene, prep, over, 18, 29.
nys =
ney6, is not, 87, 10. overthrewe, v. fell down, fell over,
27, 22.
o, adj.one, 318, 20. owe, 83, 13 369, 23 owcn, 60,
; ;

obbeye, v. to obey, 66, 18. 1 1 oweth, 54, 36

; 449, 7 ; ;

occision, s. killing, slaying, 118, V. ought,

24
; 159, 15, owther, adv. either, 357, 12.
of, adv. off, 53, 8; 220, 5. owzht, v. ought, 14, 7.
of, prep, from, 33, 8 59, 7 ; for, ;

210, 1; by, 265, 30; concern- paas, 127, 24; pas, pase, 162, 15;
ing, about, 47, 16; during, 8. pace,

171, 29. pallet, s. pallet, couch, 95, 5.

olyfauntes, s. elephants, 327, 29. paleis, 105, 2; paleise, 202, 21 ;

olyvere, s. olive-tree, 541, 29. s. palace,

on, prep, in, 86, 12; on baste = pament, s. pavement, 496, 7.
in bastardy. panes, s. skirts, 501, 27.
51
 .;

768 GLOSSARY.

pantoneres, 323, 2 1 ; s. spies, perveied, pp. provided, 108, 20.

paramours, (Fr. par amour), with pesaunt, adj. heavy, weighty, 119,
love, tenderly, 9, 19. 12.
paraunt, adj marked, conspicuous,
. peses, s. pieces, 136, 26.
356, I. petaile, s. infantry, followers, 253,
par- a- venture, adv. haply, 204, 1 1 20.
parde, adv. an oath, par Dieu, peyne, s. pain, torment, 122, 34.
652, 25. peyned, v. strived, desired, took
pareile, like, 584, 15. pains, 5, 31 119, 21 412, 20.
; ;

parentes, s. relatives, 463, 10. picche, V. to pitch, strike, 116,

parformed, v. completed, finished, 1 1.

629, 22. pight, ijp. pitched, erected, 150,

parlament, 99, 25 ; parlement, 30; 239, 32; 476, 19; 672, 30.
311, 13 ; s. conversation, a pilche, s. outer garment, 424, 22.
meeting for consultation, piled, pp. pilfered, robbed, 191,
partie (grete partie, 48, 26; a 7,y, 207, 8.
grete partye, 21, in great 5= pite, s. pity, sorrow, 5, 9 208, ;

part) partye, 32, 34 (?)

;
139, ; 35-
1 1 ; 195, 1 1 ; s. part, portion, pitosly, 17, 12; pitously, 54, 8 ;

parties, s. districts, 321, 3. adv. piteously, pitifully,

party, s. a body of men for military plaisshes, s. pools of water, 337,
work, 54, 16. 28.
Pasch, 63, 30; Passh, 104, 11 ; plants of an oke, s. pike, 600, 6.
Phasche, 178, 35 Easter, ; playnynge, v. lamenting, 171, 28.
passe, V. to pass away, die, 55, 14. pleet, s. ? pleading, 366, 33.
pavelouns, s. pavilions, 116, 11. plegge, s. pledge, 11, 31.
pawtener, s. rascal, vagabond, plegge, v. become surety for, 571,
268, 36. 32.
paynymes, s. pagans, 446, 1
8 plegged, pp. pledged, 35, 33.
594, 15. I
pleide, v. played, 529, 19.
paytrell, s. the breastplate of a plenteuouse, 191, 23 plentevouse, ;

horse's armour, 330, 34. 202, 26; adj. plenteous,

peas, 175, 33; pees, 27, 6; pes, plesier, 1, 3; 39, 27; plesire, 74,
16, 13 s. peace,
; 1 8 ; s. pleasure.

pelow, s. pillow, 634, 23. I

pletere, pleading, 18, 29.
s.

penon, s. skin that covers the pletours, pleaders, 434, 11,

8.

shield, 570, 9. plite, s. condition, 354, 14.

pepill, 26, 32 ;
peple, 32, 33 ;
s. plites, V. folds, 265, 11 338, 33. ;

people, plukkynge, s. drawing, pulling,

perage, s. lineage (Fr. parage), 339, 31.
655, 36. poste,s. power, 610, 9.

perche, s. pole, 4, 21. pouke, V. poke, 367, 24.

perchemyn, s parchment, 312, 5. powestee, s. power, might, 660,
perdurable, adj. everlasting, 93, 4. 22.
pereyle, s. peril, 142, u. pownes, s. pawns, 362, 30.
peringall 394, i ; peryngall, 163, powste, s. power, 639, 20.
4 adj equal,
; . poynt, s. dawn, 585, 13.
persch, 155, 13; persh, 327, 25; pray, s. cattle driven off, 192, 20 ;

pershe, 293, 16; v. to pierce. 196, 35.

 . ; .

GLOSSARY. 760

prayes, s. raids, plunder, 26, 34 quyte, v. requite, reward, 173,

272, 8; 276, 16. 20; 377, 8.
preced, v. pierced, 117, 23; 155, quyte, pp. acquitted, 1 9, 1 2 ; 37, 2 1
9; pressed, went, 156, 7. quytely, adv. freely, 651, 28.
preche, v. to preach, 110, 35.
preiden, v. prayed, 450, iz. raced, v. took, pulled away, 424,
preised, v. valued, 464, 13. 31; 633, 27.
prese, s. press, multitude, 61, 11. radde, v. read, 280, 3.
prevy, adj. privy, secret, 47, 21. raile, v. run, 342, 2.
prewe, v. to prove, 18, 26. randon, 401, 10; ranndon, 118,
preyse, v. prize ? praise? 6, 22. 34; raundon, 210, 3; 219, 5;
priked, v. rode hard, spurred on, s. force, impetuosity; pace, 652,

73, 33. 21.

prikinge, adv. gaUoping, 329, 15. rasour, s. razor, 427, 18.
pris, s. enterprise, hazardous under- rattes, s. rats, 665, 30.
taking, 176, 18. raught, V. lifted, 697, 11.
prise, V. to take, 670, 16. raught, V. reached, 159, 25.
privees, s. trusted persons, 377, ravayn, s. force, rage, 127, 12;
13- raveyn, 444, 27 ravyn, 549,;

processe, progress, 255, 28.

s, 32 swiftness, 600, 15.
;

provertee, s. poverty, 59, i reade, adj. red, 37, 16; 635, 15.
pryme, s. six o'clock a.m., 132, reame, 40, 19; reeme, 84, 32;
7; 182,3. reme, 259, 10; s. realm, king-
purchased, v. gained, acquired, dom,
obtained, 190, 28. recche, v. care for, reck, 93, 35.
putaile, s. populace, common recete, s. place of refuge, 684, 26.
people, rabble, 192, 9. recouer, s. remedy, stratagem, 332,
puyssaunce, s. power, 202, 28. 27.
pyne, s. pine-tree, 605, 10. recouerer, s. recovery, 4, 19.
pytaile, s. foot-soldiers, 256, 25. reddure, s. violence, punishment,
538, 9.
quarelles, s. arrows, cross-bow rede, v. to advise, counsel, 25, 14
bolts, 196, 4; 271, 33. rede, s. advice, counsel, 60, 7.
quat, 463, 26 ; quatte, 463, 22 ; reden, v. rode, 30, 3.
pp. hidden, squat, out of sight, redy, adj. assembled together,
queche, s. thicket, 540, g. 243, 24.
queynte, adj. artful, cunning, refraite ,615, 19; refreite , 310,
113, 28. 12 ; s. refrain, burden of a
quod, quo, v. quoth, said, 3, 25 ;
song,
33, 36- refroide, v. restrain, cool, 500, 27.
quyk, adj. alive, living, 12, 33 ;
refte, v. took from, deprived,
29, II 347, 9.
; 27,3.
quynsyme, 374, 16; quynsynne, regrated, v. sorrowed for, 646, 24.
57, 11; quynsyne, 62, 22 (s. regrater, s. huckster, 168, 12.
Pr. quinzieme), fifteen days, or rehete, v. cheer, encourage, 549, 19.
fifteenth day. reinde, ? [f]reinde freineth =
quyntayne, s. a board set up to (imp.), ask, inquire, 18, 2.
be tilted at, 133, 16; 375, 17; reine, lete reine, v. urge, 243, 36.
584, 33. relented, v. remained, 323, 28.
 ; ;

770 GLOSSARY.

releve, v. get up, 397, 22. rimpled, pp. wrinkled, puckered,

relied, v. to rally, relead, 196, 31 ;
168, 10.
relye, 281, 2. rivelid, pp. wrinkled, 262, i6.
relikes, s. relics, 75, 26. roche, s. coast, 250, 13.
reme, s. realm, 610, 10. roches, s. rocks, 125, 14.
remeve, v. to remove, 58, 10; rody, 335, 29; rody, 181, 21;
397, 33. adj. red, ruddy,
range, s. rank, row, course, 133, roiall, 108, 4; rioaU, 107, i ; adj.
30; 162, 28. royal,
renged, 127, 27 ; t. set in order, ronne, v. run, 243, 22.
arranged, rought, V. cared, 654, 21.
renue, v. run, 347, 2. rounge to messe, 97, 26 ; rang for
renomede, 431, 35 renomee, 186, ; mass?
1 7 s. renown,
; rounsies, s. horses, 636, 27.

renomede, pp. renowned, 124, 29. rowe, adj. rough, 168, 10; 635,15.
renon, s. renown, 106, 21. rowned, v. whispered, 95, 6.
repair, 20, 33 ; repaire, 43, 8 roynouse, adj. mangy, scabby,
repeire, 311, 19; 669, 6; s. eaten up with itch, 527, 27.
abode, place of resort. rudely, adv. furiously, 350, 6.
repeyred, t. resorted, 132, 25. ruse, V. give way, retire, 494, 26.
repress, y. reprove, 269, 31. rused, 333, 34 rused, 155, 9 ;

requere, v. require, request, 49, 29. 330, 15 rused, 288, 9; ruseden,

;

requereth, pp. required, 65, 27. 409, 20; rusen, 550, 14; 662,
rerewarde, 276, 17 ; 194, 7 s. ; 20 V. rushed,
;

after portion of an army, rear- ryiche, adj. rich, 3, 17.

guard, rympled, adj. curled, 424, 21.
rescewe, 214, 20; rescouse, 586, ryvage, s. shore, beach, 377, 25 ;

14; rescowe, 119, 18; s. rescue, 378, 12.

deliverance,
rescettes, s. places of refuge, 568, sacred, pp. consecrated, 26, 4; 57, 9.
27. sacred, v. consecrated, 502, 33.
resceve, 224, 32 resceyve, 54,
; sacringe, consecration, 105, 13.
36 ; 32, I v. to receive,
; sadde, adj. staid, solemn, 106, 14.
rescowed, pp. rescued, 119, 18. sadly, adv. seriously, 226, 18.
resorte, v. fall back, 391, 32. saf, adv. safe, 266, 12.
resovned, v. resounded, 274, 4. safe, 5, 19; saf, 273, 18; conj.
reuerse, v. fall, overturn, 157, 33. save, but.
rewarde, s., precaution, regard, safte, 8. safety, 471, 28.
599, 26. saisnes, 176, 28; sasnes, 172, 31 ;

reynes, s. body, 465, 33. s. 8axons.

reynes, s. kidneys, 53, 10; loins, salew, 8. salutation, 506, 32.
.213,33. salude, v. saluted, 266, 9.
riaU, adj. royal, 320, 27. salue, s, salve, 193, 20.
ribaudes, 277, i; 278, 7; 317, salued, saluted, hailed, 36, 3.
34 ; base men, the lowest
s. samyte, s. a kind of rich sUk,
sort of retainers of the nobility, 608, 5.
richesse, s. property, riches, 3, 20; sanourlv, adv. heavily, soundly,
92, 36. 415, '13.
right, V. put in order, 209, 35. sarazin, s. ? infidel, 193, 16.
 . ;

GLOSSARY. 771

sarazins, s. Saxons (saisnes), 260, seth,12,3o;sethe,71,22;conj. since.

i6. sethen, adv. afterwards, 209, 35.
sauacion, 96, 3; savacion, 580, 28; sette, V. to send, grant, 114, 17.
s. salvation. sewed, V. followed, 33,30; 349,35.
saunz-faile, without fail, 91, 11. sewen, v. pursue, follow, 274, 18.
savete, s. safety, 542, i. sey, V. to say, tell, 7, 22 5, 21 ; ;

sawter, s. psalter, 213, 22. 172, I ; pt. seyde, 7, 12 ; sede,

sajTied, y. 14, 31 ; 66, 20; 304, 7, 17; seide, 1, 12; pp. seyde,
1 6 ; crossed himself ? blessed 7.5.
himself? shalbe, shall be, 14, 34.
scade, s. pity, misfortune, 678, 12. shamefest, adj. full of shame, 269,
scarmyshe, v. skirmish, flourish ^^•, shamefaste, 426, 11.
arms, 648, ig Fr. escrimer. ;
shapte, s. shape, form, 43, 30.

scawberk, s. scabbard, 460, 14; sheltron, s. division of soldiers,

scauberke, 367, 34. troop, company, 151, 13; 326,
schoved, V. shoved, pushed in, 6 ; 660, 24.
218, 34. shet, pt. 9, 25 ; 14, 5 ; pp. 10, 10
scirmyssh, v. skirmish, 570, 26. shett, pp. 29, 26 ; shut,
se, V. to see, 29, i
;
pt. sien, 1, 3; shette, adj. shut, 545, 15.
sye, 3, 35; sygh, 18, 6; sigh, shetynge, v. shooting, 170, 29.
64, 7; pt. sedd, 18, 5 saugh, ; shewde, 56, 22; sewde, 57, 17;
17," 21; pp. seyen, 21, 16; V. appeared,
seyn, 108, 2g seye, 26, 7. ; shof, V. shoved, 199, 18.
seche, v. to seek, 10, 24; 23, 22 ;
shofte, 208, 12; shofFe, 219, 19;
used passively, 41, 27. s. shove, push,

see, s. sea, 263, z8 ; 313, 31. shold, sholde, 1, 9 6, 30 ; shulde, ;

seel, s. seal, 617, 32. 1, 14 ; V. should,

sef, adv. only, 63, 35. sholdres, s. shoulders, 635, 17.
sege, 63, 19; 152, 19; seege, 254, shone, 33, 22 ; shoon, 279, 25 ;

3 1 ; s. seat, encampment, siege. s. shoes,

seilden, adv. seldom, 6, 16. shour, 336, 24; 353, 14; shour,
seinge, part. pres. of verb to see, 663, 17 ; s. fight, encounter,
86, 36. shrewdely, adv. in bits, 313, 5.
seintewaries, s. holy things, 75, 25. shrewe, s. giant, enemy, 347, 16.
seke, 51, 25 ; sike, 52, 5 adj. sick. ; shrewe, s. pity, sin, 568, 26.
sekenesse, s. sickness, 52, 28. shulder, s. shoulder, 211, 5.
seleres, s. cellars, 125, 14. shull, V. shall, 5, 34.
self, 26, 1 2 adj. same.
; selue, 32, 2 3 ; sibbe, s. relation, 373, 9.
semblant, 17; semblaunt, 25,1, siche, adj. such, 3, i.
1 2 204, 3
; s. semblance, pre- ; sigh, V. saw, 361, 8 ; 605, 27.
tence, appearance. siker, adj, secure, safe, 32, 16.
semblaunce, s. likeness, appear- sith, conj. since, 10, 5 ; 25, 25.
ance, 45, 25; 57, 15; 170, 16. sithes, 24, 1 1 ; sythes, 7, 6 s.;

sendall, s. thin silk, 281, 8. times,

seneschall, s. steward, 169, 13. sithes, s. sides, parties, 244, 3 1

sercle, s.531, i. circle, sitteth, V. becometh, 537, 9.

serkeles, s. circles, 220, 8. skaberke, 347, 21 skabrek, 118, ;

sesed, v. seized, 649, 2. ID skawlerke, 340, 15

;

sesid, V. ceased, 49, 23. scabbard.

51a
 ;

772 GLOSSARY.

skirmerie, s. fencing, fighting with sowderes, 120, 25; 174, 16;

the sword, 368, 20 571, 5. ; sowdiours, 175, 28; s. soldiers,
sklender, adj. slender, 279, 24. sowowne, s. swoon, 134, 5.
ekole, 8. school, 86, 13. sowowned, v. swooned, 208, 23.
skyle, s. skill, 27, 33. sparble, v. to scatter, 396, 28.
slade, a valley, 256, 33.
s. sparbled, v. ran away, 274, 30
slakede, v. slacken, 293, 13. scattered, 411, 6.
sle, 21, 23; slen, 15, 30; v. to sparre, s. spar, 460, 16.
slay, kill, spayne, 615, 15; spaynell, 615,
slode, V. did slide, 570, 12. 1 7 ; s. spaniel,
slouthe, s. sloth, 640, 30. splyndered, v. broke, splintered,
slowe, 4, 3 ; slow, 217, 8 ; v. 244, 24; 338, 36.
slew. sporered, v. spurred, 282, 34.
snewen, v. follow, 296, 27. spores, s. spurs, 101, i ; "at the
soche, adj. such, 4, y. spore," 282, 27; 531, 33.
socour, s. succour, 50, 12. stablie, s. stand, 386, 26.
soell, 4, 1 1 75, 5
; sole, 9,soill, ; stablisshement, s. establishment,
29; soole,
128, 33; sool, 297, 61, 29.
3 ; adj. alone, stale, V. make water, 526, 12.
sogect, 6, 30 ; soget, 627, 26 ; s. stall, kept at, i.e. kept back, with-
subject, stood, 286, 9.
soiour, s. sojourn, 311, 25. stalled, V. met in confusion, 324,
Romdell, somewhat, 135, 4.
s. 26.
someres, i sommers, 378,
192, ; stalleden, v. fixed, placed, 161, 28.
5 s. sumpter horses,
; starke, adj. long, 214, 31.
somowne, v. to summon, 41, 20 ;
startelinge, adj. spirited, 257, 3.
249, 6. steill, 118, lb; stiel, 98, 20; s.
somte, misprint, perhaps for smote, steel,
299, 9, steirne, adj. stern, fierce, 43, i.

sone, adv. soon, 3, 26. stelen, adj. of steel, 119, 5.

sooll, adv. sole, 634, i. stent, V. to cease, 145, 14.
sop, 260, 33; soppe, 218, 29; s. stered, v. guided, directed, 4, 33.
body, company, sterten, v. started, leaped, 214, 34.
soper, s. supper, 59, 22; 545, 26. stightlynge, s. fear, dread, 408, 3.
sopores, s. spurs, 299, 21. still, s. steel, armour, 618, 21.
sore, adv. very, sorely, 52, 13; stilliche, adv. stilly, silently, 180,
much, 169, 1 1.
sore, sorrow, 126, 35. stinte, 253, 22 ; stinte, 548, 34 ;

sore-holdynge, adj. very tenacious, V. remain, cease,

222, 8. stynte, pt. stopped, 127, 1 1; 21 7,33.
sorte, s. chance, lot, destiny, 36, stodye, s. condition of mind, 243, 2.
29. stonyed, pp. stunned, 265, 30.
soth, true, truth, 7, 12; 37, 35; stounde, s. short time, 594, 29.
51, 16. stoupe, V. to stoop, 119, 16.
sotilly,adv. artfully, knowingly, stour, stoure, s. tumult, battle,
21, ^b. passion, 119, 20; 161, 16 ;

souereine, adj. sovereign, 48, 11. 125, 2.

souke, s. suck, 646, 31. straitely, adv. strictly, closely,
sowke, V. to suck, 112, 4. 221, 6.
 GLOSSARY. 773

stranght, v. stretched, handed, tacched, pp. taken, 88, 4.

gave, 639, 15. talent, s, disposition, desire, 32,
straungeled, pt. 4, 14; strangelid, 6 ; 573, 3.

pp. 4,23; strangled, talentif, adj. desirous, 352, 10.

streite, s. strait, 256, i. targe, s. a small shield, 338, 24.
stieite, adj. narrow, 558, 32. tarie, v. to wait, stay, 47, 35.
streite, 126, 2; streyte, 205, 2; tarien, v. tarry, 259, 5.
adj. strict, taste, V. feel, touch, 681, 12.
strengthes, s. pi. form of strength, tasted, V. tried, groped, 649, 6,
1, 6. tastinge, pr. part, trying, 648, 26.
stroied, pp. ruined, 5, 4. taught, V. (1) led, 316, 26; (2)
stronge, adv. very, 52, 5. told, 550, 3.
strongeleche, adv. strongly, tecche, s. fault, peculiarity, 135,
greatly, 13, i. 34; 182, I.

stronke, adj strong, 380, 7. tecches, devices, 462, 33.

s.

stuffed, V. filled, garrisoned, 70, teche, V. teach, take or intrust to,

16; 120, 30. 72, 18.
sturopes, s. stirrups, 117, 21. techynge, s, teaching, instruction,
stwarde, s. steward, 24, g. 7, 21.
styghtled, pp. fought, struggled, teinte, 46, 10-12; teynte, 116,
'333, 3. 1 1 ; s. tent,
styth, 98, 12; stithi, 98, 14; tentefly, adv. steadfastly, 506, 1 6.
stith, 98, ig ; s. anvil, teyed, v, tied, 413, 30.
sue, V. to follow, 206, 10. teysed, v. drawn, 590, 3.
suerdes, s. swords, 388, 14. thaire, pr. their, 5, 22.
suffraite, s. suffering, 59, i. tham, 2, 2; theym, 1, 15; 141,
suffretouse, sufferers, 201, 35. 36; pron. them,
surbated, v. rushed, 531, 5. than, 4, 1 2 thanne, 4, 13; adv. ;

sured, v. plighted, 628, 2. then,

surmounte, v. excel, 602, 3. tharchebisshop, the Archbishop,
surnonn, s. surname, 57, 13. 104, 21.
sustene, v. stand, 354, 11. tharldom, s. thraldom, 1, 20.
suster, sustres, syster, s. sister, that, pro. =that which, 2, 34; 3,2.
4, 34; 5, 18; 7, 18; 399, 26. J'at, conj. that, 73, 16.
suweth, V. follow, 210, 3; 331, thaugh conj. though, 103, 19.
36. the, pro. (1) thee, 44, 28; (2) they,
swamed, pp. turned aside, 341, 36. 256, 4.
swenene, s. dream, 430, 25. ]>e,adj. the, 63, 21 352, 32. :

swerde, s. sword, 100, 17. theder, 36, 15; thider, 32, 20;
swight, adj. swift, 324, 35. adv. thither,
swote, adj. sweet, 133, i. thei, pr. they, 3, 3.
swowne, s. swoon, 119, 6. ]>ei, pron. they, 197, 33.
swyfht, adj. swift, 209, 36. their, adv. there, 3, 16.
sye, V. see, 248, 15. thencheson, s. the reason, cause,
sye, V. saw, 597, i. 28, II.
sympilliche, adv. simply, 140, thens, adv. thence, 25, 16.
32. theus-forth, adv. thenceforth,
sympilly, adv. weakly, 78, 20. 121, 5-
symple, adj. weak, 116, 36. ther, conj. where, 263, 18,
 ;

'74 GLOSSARY.

ther, adv. where, 25, 8. trauerse, "on traverse," 425, 31 ;

ther-as, adv, where, 3, 15. "a trauerse," 427, 17; adv.

)7er-inne, adv. therein, 188, 28. leeringly, with side glance,
thirthe, adj. third, 121, 34. trayned, pp. dragged, 299, 11.
this, adj. these, 363, 14, tresour, s. treasure, 167, 6.
this, adv. thus, 14, 28. trewage, pledge, hostage, 50,
s.

thise, pro. these, 3, 33. 17; 126, 28.

thiside, n. =
? this side, 562, 15. trewis, s. truce, 505, 13.
tho, adv. then, thereupon, 7, 1 1
;
troath, 18, 11 ; trouth, 107, 21 ;

44, 33 ; thoo, 273, 31. s. truth,

tho, pro. those, 2, 22 ; thoo = those trobellion, s. ? storm, tempest,
who ? 162, 34. 324, ID.
thonkeden, v. thanked, 210, i. tronchon, s. fragment, 248, 25.
thourgh, prep, through, 4, 34 tronchown, s. truncheon, staff,
34, 7. 156, 19.
thove, v. = thave, permit, allow, trouble, adj. dense, thick, dark,
18, 22. 248, 5 treble, 248, 34.
;

thowz, conj. though, 2, 8. trowe, V. think, suppose, 2, 34;

thre, adj. three, 50, 4. 22, 22.
thunder, lightning, 387,
s. i. trumpes, s. trumpets, 276, 9.
]7us, adv. thus, 79, 32. trusse, V. pack up, 378, 5.
tierce, s. the third hour of the trussed, v. fastened, 259, 27.
artificial day, 182, 4; 274, 29. tryrabled, v. trembled, 27, 26.
tierme, s. time, 41, 20. tukked, pp. ? dressed, 279, 23 ;

to, adv. too, 258, 7. tucked up ?

to-brosed, pp. bruised, battered, turment, s. tournament, 102, 36.
268, 24; 548, 29. turmente, s. torment, 5, 20.
to foren, adv. before, 201, 18. turney, s. tourney, 404, 33.
to-geder, adv. together, 29, 36. tweyn, 49, i tweyne, 129, 4;
;

to he wen, hewn to pieces, 135, 23. twey, 225, 22 two. ;

tokenynge, s. sign, token, 60, 32; tymbres, s. spears, 117, 34.

98, 3. tymbres, s. bells, 276, 12.
tole, V. told, 50, 19. tysed, V. enticed, 418, 25.
to-morou, s. to-morrow, 60, 22.
ton, the ton=rthe one, 216, 9. un-ethe, adv. scarcely, 677, 15.
tortue, adj. twisted, 206, 17. unpossible, adj. impossible,
to ther, adj. the tother=that other, untrouthe, s. untruth, falsehood,
34, 16. 69, 21.
tow, adj. two, towe, 214, 33.
5, 16;
towaile, s. towel, 225, 21. down, 478, 13.
valed, V. let
towarde, adv. near at hand, 353, 25. vauasour, s. a sort of inferior
towon, s. town, 379, 8. gentry, 204, 19; 307, 15.
traied, pp. betrayed, 463, ro. vaunt garde, s. van guard, 151,
trauayle, 32, 25 traueill, 32,
;
3 ; from French avant?
28 traueile, 32, 30
; 128, 23 ; ;
venged, pp. avenged, revenged,
traueyle, 122, 34 ; s. toil, 119,32.
injury, labour, pain, venquysshed, v. gained, 56, 33.
trauers, in trauers, adv, contrarily, vergier, s. orchard, 310, 6.
262, 14; 429, 19. very, adj. true, 11, 27.
 . ;

GLOSSARY. 775

very, v, ferry, 605, 31. warantise, v. keep harmless, 269, 3.

viage, s. journey, voyage, 130, 7. warde, s. army, division, 286, 7.
vilenis, 102, 31 ; vylenis, 127, i
;
wardeyns, s. guards, watchmen,
vileyns, 26, 21 ; adj. disgracefid, 220, 8.
shameful, ware, adj. cautious, wary, 5, 26 ;

viliche, adv. basely, 477, 12. 113, 2.

vitaile, s. provisions, 50, 12. warishen, v. cure, 696, 24.
vn-couthe, adj. unknown, 190, wame, v, to proclaim, command,
30 ; un-cowthe, 381, 22. 60, 15 used passively, 62, 16.
;

vnethe, 19, 7; vn-ethe, 154, 4; warrisshed, v. pp. recovered from

vn-nethe, 172, 19; adv. scarcely, sickness, 173, 11.
vnther, adj. under 169, 5. waymentacion, 513, 33 ; weymen-
vn-to, prep, until, 160, 23. tacion, 347, 10; lamentation,s.

vn-trewc, adj. untrue, 276, 34. waymented, pp. lamented, 262, 2.

vntterly, adv. utterly, entirely, wedde, s. pledge, 477, 18.
181, '22. weder, s. weather, 150, 33.
voide, V. to leave, depart (make wedowe, s. widow, 596, 33.
empty), 108, 28-30. wele, adv. well, 44, 27,
volage, adj. ? light, giddy, 436, i. wele, V. to will, wish, intend, 54,
volente, volunte, 22, 30; 29, 21 ; 14.
58, 29: voluntee, 201, 32; s. well, V. 243, 26 ; to will, desire,
will, pleasure, welwellinge, s. welfare, interests,
vowarde, s. the vanguard, 285, 25. 505, 35.
voyde, adj. empty, vacant, 59, 21. wende, v. ? would, 246, 6.
voyded, adj. 279, 25 open-worked.
; wende, v. intended, thought, 1,
Cf. Fr. perce a jour. 12 ; 156, 7.
vp-right, adv. perpendicularly, wene, v. to think, deem, 52, 19.
58, 1 1 ;. 542, 7. wepnes, s. weapons, 264, 2.
vp-right, adv. flat on the back, werre, s. war, 26, 27 ; 49, 21.
128, 3; 476, 21. werre, v. to make war, 115, 6.
vtas, s. that day week, 449, 12. werreden, v. made war, 24, 10.
vyces, s. practices, deeds, 51, 6. werrye, v. dwell, 318, 16.
vyuier, s. ? fish pond, pool, vivary ? werryen, v. 320, 1 5 make war on. ;

308, 6. werse, adj. worse, 56, 28,

wery, adj. weary, 128, 23.
wacche, 76, 9 656, 25 waicche,
; ; wete, v. to know, 10, 28 ; 28, 2 ;
46, 14; s. watch, guard, wethet, 34, 17.
waisshe, 301, 11 wosh, 225, 20;
; wetynge, s. knowledge, 14, 12.
wossh, 301, 13; V. wash, weymente, v. lament, 513, 31.
waisshen, 2, 3; waisch, 225, 25; what, adv. partly, in part, 205, 7.
pp. washed, whens, adv. whence, 44, 7.
wake, V. watch, 584, 29. where-as, conj. where, at which
walop, s. gallop a grete walop =
; place, 242, 22.
in full gallop, 209, 1 1 where-as = where were, 635, 9.
walshe myle, s. 247, 36. wherthourgh,adv. whereby, 17, 22.
wape, V. to weep, 30, 10. whider, adv. whither, 61, 25.
war, adj. aware, 274, 34 654, 25. ; whowle, V. to cry as a cat, 668, 9,
warant, 29, 5 warante, 162, 30
; whowpe, V. to whoop, 358, 23;
V. save, preserve. whowped, 168, 3.
 ; .

776 GLOSSARY.

wiesshe, v. to wish, 113, 36. wurship, s. dignity, honour, 54, g.

wight, adj. active, swift, 136, 22; wurshipf ullest,adj most honoured, .

350, 28. 5, 12.

wight, s. weight, 57, 35. wymple, s. covering for the neck,
wiste, V. knew, perceived, 4, 12. 361, 14; 681, 14.
wite, 45, 4; 13, 11; witen, 82, wynnynge, s. spoil, 224, 25.
20 ;V. to know, perceive wyssher, miser? 168, 12.
s.

wyte, 5, 23 I do the to wite,

; wytinge, 190, 3; witynge, 12,
93, 2i=make to know, 19; 45, 9; 8. knowledge.
with-holde, v. receive, retain, 372,
21. yaf pt. gave, 3, 1 6
, pp. yove, ;

with-outen, prep, without, 69, 18. yoven, 22, 12; 4, 7.

with-sey, v. to deny, 204, 4. yat, s. gate, 509, 13.
wode, s. wood, 199, 10; 337, 22. yates, s. gates, 125, 10.
wode, adj. mad, 165, 5; 196, 19. ye, adv. yea, 12, 34 ; 32, 9.
woke, week, 82, 33.
s. yed, 167, 27 ;
yede, 2, 13 ;
yeden,
wolde, would, 2, 12 4, i. ; 1, 15 went.
;

woned, v. dwelt, 687, 13. yef, conj. if, 2, 9 ; but yef= unless,
wordynesse, s. worthiness, 203, 32. 2, 5 ; 5, 6 182, 32.
;

worschipe, v. to honour, 166, 2. yefte, s. gift, 4, 8; 55, 21.

worship, 20, 29; 134, 2; wurship, yelde, v. to yield, 33, 9.
54, 9; 132, 13; s. dignity, yelde, pp. yielded, 8, 21.
honour, worth- ship, yen, s. eyes, 85, 33 ; 648, 17.
worthen, v. be, go, 58, 13. yesse, adv. yes, 54, 1 1 ; 85, 2 1
;

woste, V. knowest, 19, 3b. 169, 27.

wote, V. knew, 101, 28 ; wote, yeste, s. ? feasts, 55, 28.
pres. know, 162, 9, 11. yeve, v. to give, 47, 26.
woued, v. wooed, loved, 137, 11. yie, s. eye, 304, 36.
woxen, V. waxed, grown. 228, 14. ylles, s. isles, 316, 13.
wrathe, 18, 16; 41, 8; wratthe, ympe, s. part of a tree, 418,
3, 31 639, 30; V. to be angry,
; 16.
enraged, ynde bende or wide hende, ? 1 6 1, 32
wreche, s. wrath, anger, venge- ynge, adj. young, 198, 4.
ance, 113, 27. yole, 63, 30 yoole, 96, 13; ; s.

wrenne, s. wren, 573, 2. Christmas,

wreten, pp. written, 53, 32. yoven, pp. given, 106, 17 241, ; 8.
wroken, pp. revenged, 451, 22. ys, V. 103, 32.
is,

wrothe, adj. angry, 3, 26. ysse, V. to issue forth, 113, 23;

wrother, adj. more angry, 4, i. yssed, pt. 207, 19.
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