Homer's heroes were among the Greeks; for, as Ulysses is always represented crafty, Achilles irascible and Ajax rough; so Sir Gawain is ever courteous and gentle, Sir Kay rugged and disobliging, &c. "Sir Gawain with his olde curtesie," is mentioned by Chaucer as noted to a proverb, in his Squire's Tales. Canterb. Tales, vol. ii. p. 104.

11. Syr Launfal, an excellent old romance concerning another of King Arthur's knights, is preserved in the Cotton Library, Calig. A. 2. f. 33. This is a translation from the French*, made by one Thomas Chestre, who is supposed to have lived in the reign of Henry VI. (See Tanner's Biblioth.) It is in stanzas of six lines, and begins,

Be douzty Artours dawes.

The above was afterwards altered by some minstrel into the romance of Sir Lambewell, in three parts, under which title it was more generally known. This is in the Editor's folio MS. p. 60, beginning thus:

Doughty in King Arthures dayes.

12. Eger and Grime, in six parts (in the Editor's folio MS. p. 124.) is a well invented tale of chivalry, scarce inferior to any of Ariosto's. This, which was inadvertently omitted in the former editions of this list, is in distichs, and begins thus :

It fell sometimes in the land of Beame.

13. The Romance of Merline, in nine parts, (preserved in the same folio MS. p. 145) gives a curious account of the birth, parentage, and juvenile adventures of this famous British prophet. In this poem the Saxons are called Sarazens; and the thrusting the rebel angels out of Heaven is attributed to "oure Lady." It is in distichs, and begins thus:

He that made with his hand.

There is an old romance Of Arthour and of Merlin, in the Edinburgh MS. of old English poems: I know not whether it has any thing in common with this last mentioned. It is in the volume numbered xxiii., and extends through fifty-five leaves. The two first

lines are,

Jesu Crist, heven king,

Al ous graunt gode ending.

14. Sur Isenbras (or as it is in the MS. copies, Sir Isumbras) is quoted in Chaucer's R. of Thop. v. 6. Among Mr. Garrick's old plays is a printed copy; of which an account has been already given in Series I. Book iii. No. 8. It is preserved in MS. in the Library of Caius Coll. Camb. Class A. 9. (2) and also in the Cotton Library, Calig. A. 12. (f. 128.) This is extremely different from the printed copy,

God þat made both erpe and hevene.

E. g.

15. Emarè, a very curious and ancient romance, is preserved in the same volume of the Cotton Library, f. 69. It is in stanzas of six lines, and begins thus: Jesu þat ys kyng in trone.

The French original is preserved among the Harl. MSS No. 978, sec. 112, Lanval.

+ See Laneham's Letter concerning Queen Elizabeth's entertainment at Killingworth, 1575, 12mo, p. 34,

16. Chevelere assigne, or, The Knight of the Swan, preserved in the Cotton Library, has been already described in the Essay on P. Plowman's Metre, &c. Series II. Book iii. No. 1, as hath also

17. The Sege of Jérlam (or Jerusalem), which seems to have been written after the other, and may not improperly be classed among the romances; as may also the following, which is preserved in the same volume; viz.

18. Owaine Myles, (fol. 90) giving an account of the wonders of St. Patrick's Purgatory. This is a translation into verse of the story related in Mat. Paris's Hist. (sub. ann. 1153.)-It is in distichs beginning thus:

God þat ys so full of myght.

In the same manuscript are three or four other narrative poems, which might be reckoned among the romances, but being rather religious legends, I shall barely mention them; as Fundale f. 17. Trentale Sci Gregorii, f. 8. Jerome, f. 133. Eustache,

f. 136.

19. Octavian imperator, an ancient romance of chivalry, is in the same volume of the Cotton Library, f. 20.-Notwithstanding the name, this old poem has nothing in common with the history of the Roman emperors. It is in a very peculiar kind of stanza, whereof 1, 2, 3, and 5, rhyme together, as do 4 and 6. It begins thus

Thesu þat was with spere ystonge.

In the public Library at Cambridge, is a poem with the same title, that begins very differently

Lyttyll and mykyll, olde and yonge.

20. Eglamour of Artas (or Artoys) is preserved in the same volume with the foregoing, both in the Cotton Library, and public Library at Cambridge. It is also in the Editor's folio MS. (p. 295,) where it is divided into six parts.-A printed copy is in the Bodleian Library, C. 39. Art. Seld. and also among Mr. Garrick's old plays, K. vol. x. It is in distichs, and begins thus:

Ihesu Crist of heven kyng.

21. Syr Triamore (in stanzas of six lines) is preserved in MS. in the Editor's volume (p. 210), and in the public Library at Cambridge, (690, § 29. Vid. Cat. MSS. p. 394 )-Two printed copies are extant in the Bodleian Library, and among Mr. Garrick's plays, in the same volumes with the last article. Both the Editor's MS. and the printed co pies begin,

Nowe Jesu Chryste our heven kynge, The Cambridge copy thus:

Heven blys that all shall wynne.

22. Sir Degree (Degare, or Degore, which last seems the true title,) in five parts, in distichs, is preserved in the Editor's folio MS. p. 371, and in the public Library at Cambridge (ubi supra:)-A printed copy is in the Bod. Library, C. 39. Art. Seld.

* No. 690 (30). Vid. Oxon. Catalog. MSS. p. 394.

and among Mr. Garrick's plays, K. vol. ix. The Editor's MS. and the printed copies begin,

Lordinge, and you wyl holde you styl.

The Cambridge MS. has it,

Lystenyth, lordyngis, gente and fre.

23. Ipomydon (or Chylde Ipomydon) is preserved among the Harl. MSS. 2252, (44.) It is in distichs, and begins,

Mekely, lordyngis, gentylle and fre.

In the Library of Lincoln Cathedral, K k. 3. 10. is an old imperfect printed copy, wanting the whole first sheet Á.

24. The Squyr of Lowe Degre, is one of those burlesqued by Chaucer in his Rhyme of Thopas Mr. Garrick has a printed copy of this among his old plays, K. vol. ix. It begins,

It was a squyer of lowe degre,

That loved the kings daughter of Hungre.

25. Historye of K. Richard Cure [Caur] de Lyon (Impr. W. de Worde, 1528, 4to.) is preserved in the Bodleian Library, C. 39. Art. Selden. A fragment of it is also remaining in the Edinburgh MS. of old English poems, No. xxxvii. in two leaves. A large extract from this romance has been given already above (p. 190.) Richard was the peculiar patron of chivalry, and favourite of the old minstrels and Troubadours. See Warton's Observ. vol. i. p. 29.; vol. ii. p. 40.

26. Of the following I have only seen No. xxvii, but I believe they may all be referred to the class of

romances.

The Knight of Courtesy and the Lady of Faguel (Bodl. Lib. C. 39. Art. Sheld. a printed copy.) This Mr. Warton thinks is the story of Coucy's Heart, related in Fauchet, and in Howel's Letters (v. i. s. 6. 1. 20. See Wart. Obs. v. ii. p. 40.) The Editor has seen a very beautiful old ballad on this subject in French.

27. The four following are all preserved in the MS. so often referred to in the public Library at Cambridge (690. Appendix to Bp. More's MSS. in Cat. MSS. tom. ii. p. 394,) viz, The Lay of Erle of Tholouse, (No. xxvii,) of which the Editor hath also a copy from "Cod. MSS. Mus. Ashmol. Oxon." The first line of both is,

Jesu Chryste in Trynyte.

28. Roberd Kynge of Cysyll (or Sicilly,) shewing the fall of pride. Of this there is also a copy among the Harl. MSS. 1703 (3.) The Cambridge MS. begins,

Princis that be prowde in prese.

29. Le bone Florence of Rome, beginning thus: As ferre as men ride or gone.

30. Dioclesian the Emperour, beginning,

Sum tyme ther was a noble man.

This is alluded to by Shakespeare in his Henry V. (Act 5) where Fluellyn tells Pistol, he will make him a squire of low degree, when he means to knock him down.

31. The two knightly brothers Amys and Amelion (among the Harl. MSŠ. 2386, § 42) is an old romance of chivalry; as is also, I believe, the fragment of the Lady Belesunt, the duke of Lombardy's fair daughter, mentioned in the same article. See the Catalog. vol. ii.

32. In the Edinburgh MS. so often referred to (preserved in the Advocates' Library, W. 4. 1,) might probably be found some other articles to add to this list, as well as other copies of some of the pieces mentioned in it; for the whole volume contains not fewer than thirty-seven poems or romances, some of them very long. But as many of them have lost the beginnings, which have been cut out for the sake of the illuminations, and as I have not had an opportunity of examining the MS. myself, I shall be content to mention only the articles that follow; viz.

An old romance about Rouland (not I believe the famous Paladine, but a champion named Rouland Louth; query) being in the volume, No. xxvii, in five leaves, and wants the beginning.

33. Another romance, that seems to be a kind of continuation of this last, intitled, Otuel a Knight (No. xxviii, in eleven leaves and a half.) The two first lines are,

Herkneth both zinge and old,

That willen heren of battailes bold.

37. A mutilated tale or romance (No. xi. in thirteen leaves.) The two first lines that occur are, That riche Dooke his fest gan hold With Erls and with Baronns bold.

I cannot conclude my account of this curious manuscript, without acknowledging that I was indebted to the friendship of the Rev. Dr. Blair, the ingenious professor of Belles Lettres in the University of Edinburgh, for whatever I learned of its contents, and for the important additions it enabled me to make to the foregoing list.

To the preceding articles, two ancient metrical

Some of these I give, though mutilated and divested of their titles, because they may enable a curious inquirer to complete or improve other copies.

romances in the Scottish dialect may now be added, which are published in Pinkerton's "Scottish Poems, reprinted from scarce editions." Lond. 1792, in 3 vols. 8vo. viz.

38. Gawan and Gologras, a metrical romance, from an edition printed at Edinburgh, 1508, 8vo. beginning,

In the tyme of Arthur, as trew men me tald. It is in stanzas of thirteen lines.

39. Sir Gawan and Sir Galaron of Galloway, a metrical romance, in the same stanzas as No. xxxviii, from an ancient MS. beginning thus:

In the tyme of Arthur an aunter * betydde
By the Turnwathelan, as the boke tells;
Whan he to Carlele was comen, and conqueror
kyd, &c.

Both these (which exhibit the union of the old alliterative metre, with rhyme, &c. and in the termination of each stanza the short triplets of the Turnament of Tottenham) are judged to be as old as the time of our King Henry VI., being apparently the production of an old poet, thus mentioned by

Dunbar, in his "Lament for the Death of the Makkaris:"

"Clerk of Tranent eik he hes take,

That made the aventures of Sir Gawane."

It will scarce be necessary to remind the reader, that Turnewathelan is evidently Tearne-Wadling, celebrated in the old ballad of the Marriage of Sir Gawaine. See the concluding Notes to No. 4, Series I. Book i, and No. 19, Series I. Book iii. Many new references, and perhaps some additional articles might be added to the foregoing list from Mr. Warton's 66 History of English Poetry," 3 vols. 4to., and from the notes to Mr. Tyrwhitt's improved edition of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales," &c., in 5 vols. 8vo., which have been published since this Essay, &c. was first composed; but it will be sufficient once for all to refer the curious reader to those popular works.

The reader will also see many interesting particulars on the subject of these volumes, as well as on most points of general literature, in Sir John Hawkins's curious History of Music," &c. in 5 vols. 4to. as also in Dr. Burney's History, &c. in 4 vols.

4to.

I.

Is printed verbatim from the old MS. described in the Preface. The Editor believes it more ancient than it will appear to be at first sight; the transcriber of that manuscript having reduced the orthography and style in many instances to the standard of his own times.

The incidents of the "Mantle" and the "Knife" have not, that I can recollect, been borrowed from any other writer. The former of these evidently suggested to Spenser his conceit of Florimel's Girdle," B. IV. Č. 5, St. 3.

"

That girdle gave the virtue of chaste love

And wivehood true to all that did it beare;
But whosoever contrarie doth prove,
Might not the same about her middle weare,
But it would loose or else asunder teare.

So it happened to the false Florimell, st. 16, when

-Being brought, about her middle small
They thought to gird, as best it her became,
But by no means they could it thereto frame,
For ever as they fastned it, it loos'd
And fell away, as feeling secret blame, &c.
That all men wondred at the uncouth sight

And each one thought as to their fancies came.
But she herself did think it done for spight,
And touched was with secret wrath and shame
Therewith, as thing deviz'd her to defame :
Then many other ladies likewise tride
About their tender loynes to knit the same,
But it would not on none of them abide,
But when they thought it fast, eftsoones it was untide.
Thereat all knights gan laugh and ladies lowre,
Till that at last the gentle Amoret

Likewise assayed to prove that girdle's powre.
And having it about her middle set

i. e. Adventure.

Did find it fit withouten breach or let,
Whereat the rest gan greatly to envie.
But Florimel exceedingly did fret,
And snatching from her hand, &c.

As for the trial of the Horne, it is not peculiar to our Poet: It occurs in the old Romance, intitled "Morte Arthur," which was translated out of French in the time of King Edward IV., and first printed anno 1484. From that romance Ariosto is thought to have borrowed his tale of the Enchanted Cup, C. 42, &c. See Mr. Warton's Observations on the Faerie Queen, &c.

:

The story of the Horn in Morte Arthur varies a good deal from this of our Poet, as the reader will judge from the following extract." By the way they met with a knight that was sent from Morgan la Faye to King Arthur, and this knight had a fair horne all garnished with gold, and the horne had such a virtue, that there might no ladye or gentlewoman drinke of that horne, but if she were true to her husband and if shee were false she should spill all the drinke, and if shee were true unto her lorde, shee might drink peaceably and because of Queene Guenever and in despite of Sir Launcelot du Lake, this horne was sent unto King Arthur."-This horn is intercepted and brought unto another king named Marke, who is not a whit more fortunate than the British hero, for he makes "his qeene drinke thereof and an hundred ladies moe, and there were but foure ladies of all those that dranke cleane," of which number the said queen proves not to be one [Book II, chap. 22, Ed. 1632.]

:

In other respects the two stories are so different, that we have just reason to suppose this Ballad was written before that romance was translated into English.

As for Queen Guenever, she is here represented