English Versions 30. King Arthur & King Cornwall
[There is a single source for this ballad- Bishop Percy's manuscript which dates c. 1650 (although it could be much older). Several pages of the MS are missing: "The poem is very imperfect, owing to the leaves having been half torn away to light fires (!) as the Bishop tells us, but I am bound to add, previous to its coming into his possession." Madden p. 359]
CONTENTS:
1) Child's notes and text
2) Madden's notes from Syr Gawayne, p. 359.
3) Hales and Furnivall, I, p. 61 notes and text [text unedited for now]
---------------------------
Child's Notes King Arthur & King Cornwall:
The mutilation of the earlier pages of the Percy manuscript leaves us in possession of only one half of this ballad, and that half in eight fragments, so that even the outline of the story cannot be fully made out. [1] We have, to be sure, the whole of a French poem which must be regarded as the probable source of the ballad, and, in view of the recklessness of the destroyer Time, may take comfort; for there are few things in this kind that the Middle Ages have bequeathed which we could not better spare. But the losses from the English ballad are still very regrettable, since from what is in our hands we can see that the story was treated in an original way, and so much so that comparison does not stead us materially.
King Arthur and King Cornwall- Child 30; Version A
Percy Manuscript, p. 24. Hales and Furnivall, I, 61; Madden's Syr Gawayne, p. 275.
1 [Saies, 'Come here, cuzen Gawaine so gay,]
My sisters sonne be yee;
Ffor you shall see one of the fairest round tables
That euer you see with your eye.'
2 Then bespake Lady Queen Gueneuer,
And these were the words said shee:
'I know where a round table is, thou noble king,
Is worth thy round table and other such three.
3 'The trestle that stands vnder this round table,' she said,
'Lowe downe to the mould,
It is worth thy round table, thou worthy king,
Thy halls, and all thy gold.
4 'The place where this round table stands in,
. . . . . .
It is worth thy castle, thy gold, thy fee,
And all good Litle Britaine.'
5 'Where may that table be, lady?' quoth hee,
'Or where may all that goodly building be?'
'You shall it seeke,' shee says, 'Till you it find,
For you shall neuer gett more of me.'
6 Then bespake him noble King Arthur,
These were the words said hee:
'Ile make mine avow to God,
And alsoe to the Trinity,
7 'Ile never sleepe one night there as I doe another,
Till that round table I see:
Sir Marramiles and Sir Tristeram,
Fellowes that ye shall bee.
8 . . . . .
. . . . .
'Weele be clad in palmers weede,
Fiue palmers we will bee;
9 'There is noe outlandish man will vs abide,
Nor will vs come nye.'
Then they riued east and th riued west,
In many a strange country.
10 Then they tranckled a litle further,
They saw a battle new sett:
'Now, by my faith,' saies noble King Arthur,
. . . . . . well .
* * * * *
11 But when he cam to this . . c . .
And to the palace gate,
Soe ready was ther a proud porter,
And met him soone therat.
12 Shooes of gold the porter had on,
And all his other rayment was vnto the same:
'Now, by my faith,' saies noble King Arthur,
'Yonder is a minion swaine.'
13 Then bespake noble King Arthur,
These were the words says hee:
'Come hither, thou proud porter,
I pray thee come hither to me.
14 'I haue two poore rings of my finger,
The better of them Ile giue to thee;
Tell who may be lord of this castle,' he sayes,
'Or who is lord in this cuntry?'
15 'Cornewall King,' the porter sayes,
'There is none soe rich as hee;
Neither in christendome, nor yet in heathennest,
None hath soe much gold as he.'
16 And then bespake him noble King Arthur,
These were the words sayes hee:
'I haue two poore rings of my finger,
The better of them Ile giue thee,
If thou wilt greete him well, Cornewall King,
And greete him well from me.
17 'Pray him for one nights lodging and two meales meate,
For his love that dyed vppon a tree;
Of one ghesting and two meales meate,
For his loue that dyed vppon a tree.
18 'Of one ghesting, of two meales meate,
For his love that was of virgin borne,
And in the morning that we may scape away,
Either without scath or scorne.'
19 Then forth is gone this proud porter,
As fast as he cold hye,
And when he came befor Cornewall King,
He kneeled downe on his knee.
20 Sayes, 'I haue beene porter-man, at thy gate,
This thirty winter and three . .
. . . . . .
. . . . .
* * * * *
21 . . . . . .
. . . . .
Our Lady was borne; then thought Cornewall King
These palmers had beene in Brittaine.
22 Then bespake him Cornwall King,
These were the words he said there:
'Did you euer know a comely king,
His name was King Arthur?'
23 And then bespake him noble King Arthur,
These were the words said hee:
'I doe not know that comly king,
But once my selfe I did him see.'
Then bespake Cornwall King againe,
These were the words said he:
24 Sayes, 'Seuen yeere I was clad and fed,
In Litle Brittaine, in a bower;
I had a daughter by King Arthurs wife,
That now is called my flower;
For King Arthur, that kindly cockward,
Hath none such in his bower.
25 'For I durst sweare, and saue my othe,
That same lady soe bright,
That a man that were laid on his death bed
Wold open his eyes on her to haue sight.'
'Now, by my faith,' sayes noble King Arthur,
'And that's a full faire wight!'
26 And then bespake Cornewall [King] againe,
And these were the words he said:
'Come hither, fiue or three of my knights,
And feitch me downe my steed;
King Arthur, that foule cockeward,
Hath none such, if he had need.
27 'For I can ryde him as far on a day
As King Arthur can doe any of his on three;
And is it not a pleasure for a king
When he shall ryde forth on his journey?
28 'For the eyes that beene in his head,
Th glister as doth the gleed.'
'Now, by my faith,' says noble King Arthur,
'That is a well faire steed.'
* * * * *
29 . . . . . .
. . . . .
'Nobody say . . . .
But one that's learned to speake.'
30 Then King Arthur to his bed was brought,
A greeiued man was hee;
And soe were all his fellowes with him,
From him th thought neuer to flee.
31 Then take they did that lodly groome,
And under the rub-chadler closed was hee,
And he was set by King Arthurs bed-side,
To heere theire talke and theire comunye;
32 That he might come forth, and make Proclamation,
Long before it was day;
It was more for King Cornwalls pleasure,
Then it was for King Arthurs pay.
33 And when King Arthur in his bed was laid,
These were the words said hee:
'Ile make mine avow to God,
And alsoe to the Trinity,
That Ile be the bane of Cornwall Kinge,
Litle Brittaine or euer I see!'
34 'It is an vnaduised vow,' saies Gawaine the gay,
'As ever king hard make I;
But wee that beene five christian men,
Of the christen faith are wee,
And we shall fight against anoynted king
And all his armorie.'
35 And then bespake him noble Arthur,
And these were the words said he:
'Why, if thou be afraid, Sir Gawaine the gay,
Goe home, and drinke wine in thine owne country.'
36 And then bespake Sir Gawaine the gay,
And these were the words said hee:
'Nay, seeing you have made such a hearty vow,
Heere another vow make will I.
37 'Ile make mine avow to God,
And alsoe to the Trinity,
That I will haue yonder faire lady
To Litle Brittaine with mee.
38 'Ile hose her hourly to my heart,
And with her Ile worke my will;'
. . . . .
. . . . .
* * * * *
39 . . . . .
These were the words sayd hee:
'Befor I wold wrestle with yonder feend,
It is better be drowned in the sea.'
40 And then bespake Sir Bredbeddle,
And these were the words said he:
'Why, I will wrestle with yon lodly feend,
God, my gouernor thou wilt bee!'
41 Then bespake him noble Arthur,
And these were the words said he:
'What weapons wilt thou haue, thou gentle knight?
I pray thee tell to me.'
42 He sayes, 'Collen brand Ile haue in my hand,
And a Millaine knife fast by me knee,
And a Danish axe fast in my hands,
That a sure weapon I thinke wilbe.'
43 Then with his Collen brand that he had in his hand
The bunge of that rub-chandler he burst in three;
With that start out a lodly feend,
With seuen heads, and one body.
44 The fyer towards the element flew,
Out of his mouth, where was great plentie;
The knight stoode in the middle and fought,
That it was great ioy to see.
45 Till his Collaine brand brake in his hand,
And his Millaine knife burst on his knee,
And then the Danish axe burst in his hand first,
That a sur weapon he thought shold be.
46 But now is the knight left without any weapons,
And alacke! it was the more pitty;
But a surer weapon then he had one,
Had neuer lord in Christentye;
And all was but one litle booke,
He found it by the side of the sea.
47 He found it at the sea-side,
Wrucked upp in a floode;
Our Lord had written it with his hands,
And sealed it with his bloode.
* * * * *
48 'That thou doe not s . . . .
But ly still in that wall of stone,
Till I haue beene with noble King Arthur,
And told him what I haue done.'
49 And when he came to the kings chamber,
He cold of his curtesie:
Says, 'Sleepe you, wake you, noble King Arthur?
And euer Iesus waken yee!'
50 'Nay, I am not sleeping, I am waking,'
These were the words said hee;
'Ffor thee I haue card; how hast thou fared?
O gentle knight, let me see.'
51 The knight wrought the king his booke,
Bad him behold, reede and see;
And euer he found it on the backside of the leafe
As noble Arthur wold wish it to be.
52 And then bespake him King Arthur,
'Alas! thow gentle knight, how may this be,
That I might see him in the same licknesse
That he stood vnto thee?'
53 And then bespake him the Greene Knight,
These were the words said hee:
'If youle stand stifly in the battell stronge,
For I haue won all the victory.'
54 Then bespake him the King againe,
And these were the words said hee:
'If wee stand not stifly in this battell strong,
Wee are worthy to be hanged all on a tree.'
55 Then bespake him the Greene Kinght,
These were the words said he:
Saies, 'I doe coniure thee, thou fowle feend,
In the same licknesse thou stood vnto me.'
56 With that start out a lodly feend,
With seuen heads, and one body;
The fier towards the element flaugh,
Out of his mouth, where was great plenty.
57 The knight stood in the middle p . . .
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
. . . . .
* * * * *
58 . . . . . .
. . . . .
. . . they stood the space of an houre,
I know not what they did.
59 And then bespake him the Greene Knight,
And these were the words said he:
Saith, 'I coniure thee, thou fowle feend,
That thou feitch downe the steed that we see.'
60 And then forth is gone Burlow-beanie,
As fast as he cold hie,
And feitch he did that faire steed,
And came againe by and by.
61 Then bespake him Sir Marramiles,
And these were the words said hee:
'Riding of this steed, brother Bredbeddle,
The mastery belongs to me.'
62 Marramiles tooke the steed to his hand,
To ryd him he was full bold;
He cold noe more make him goe
Then a child of three yeere old.
63 He laid vppon him with heele and hand,
With yard that was soe fell;
'Helpe! brother Bredbeddle,' says Marramile,
'For I thinke he be the devill of hell.
64 'Helpe! brother Bredbeddle,' says Marramile,
'Helpe! for Christs pittye;
Ffor without thy help, brother Bredbeddle,
He will neuer be rydden for me.'
65 Then bespake him Sir Bredbeddle,
These were the words said he:
'I coniure thee, thou Burlow-beane,
Thou tell me how this steed was riddin in his country.
66 He saith, 'There is a gold wand
Stands in King Cornwalls study windowe;
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
67 'Let him take that wand in that window,
And strike three strokes on that steed;
And then he will spring forth of his hand
As sparke doth out of gleede.'
68 And then bespake him the Greene Knight,
. . . . .
. . . . . .
. . . . .
* * * * *
69 . . . . . .
. . . . .
. . . . . .
A lowd blast he may blow then.
70 And then bespake Sir Bredebeddle,
To the feend these words said hee:
Says, 'I coniure thee, thou Burlow-beanie,
The powder-box thou feitch me.'
71 Then forth is gone Burlow-beanie,
As fast as he cold hie,
And feich he did the powder-box,
And came againe by and by.
72 Then Sir Tristeram tooke powder forth of that box,
And blent it with warme sweet milke,
And there put it vnto that horne,
And swilled it about in that ilke.
73 Then he tooke the horne in his hand,
And a lowd blast he blew;
He rent the horne vp to the midst,
All his fellowes this th knew.
74 Then bespake him the Greene Knight,
These were the words said he:
Saies, 'I coniure thee, thou Burlow-beanie,
That thou feitch me the sword that I see.'
75 Then forth is gone Burlow-beanie,
As fast as he cold hie,
And feitch he did that faire sword,
And came againe by and by.
76 Then bespake him Sir Bredbeddle,
To the king these words said he:
'Take this sword in thy hand, thou noble King Arthur,
For the vowes sake that thou made Ile giue it th[ee,]
And goe strike off King Cornewalls head,
In bed were he doth lye.'
77 Then forth is gone noble King Arthur,
As fast as he cold hye,
And strucken he hath off King Cornwalls head,
And came againe by and by.
78 He put the head vpon a swords point,
. . . . .
. . . . . .
. . . . .
* * * * *
_________________
Notes from Madden's Syr Gawayne, p. 359.
FROM the same Manuscript, and hitherto inedited. It has no title, and the first line has been cut away by the ignorant binder to whom the volume was intrusted, but both are supplied from the notice given of the ballad in the Dissertation prefixed to vol. iii. of the "Reliques," p. xxxvii.
Dr. Percy has added in the margin of the MS. these words, " To the best of my remembrance, this was the first line, before the binder cut it." The poem is very imperfect, owing to the leaves having been half torn away to light fires (!) as the Bishop tells us, but I am bound to add, previous to its coming into his possession. The story is so singular, that it is to be hoped an earlier and complete copy of it may yet be recovered. On no account perhaps is it more remarkable, than the fact of its close imitation of the famous gabs made by Charlemagne and his companions at the court of king Hugon, which are first met with in a romance of the twelfth century, published by M. Michel from a MS. in the British Museum, 12mo, Lond., 1836, and transferred at a later period to the prose romance of G alien Rethoré, printed by Verard, fol. 1500, and often afterwards. In the absence of other evidence, it is to be presumed that the author of the ballad borrowed from the printed work, substituting Arthur for Charlemagne, Gawayne for Oliver, Tristram for Roland, etc., and embellishing his story by converting king Hugon's spy into a " lodly feend," by whose agency the gabs are accomplished. It is further worthy of notice, that the writer seems to regard Arthur as the sovereign of Little Britain, and alludes to an intrigue between the king of Cornwall and queen Guenever, which is nowhere, as far as I recollect, hinted at in the romances of the Round Table.
P. 276, 1. 26. Sir Marramiles and Sir Tristeram.
As four knights accompanied the king, a line would seem to be wanting here, containing the names of Sir Gawayne and Sir Bredbeddle. Of the remaining two, Sir Tristeram is sufficiently well known, but of Sir Marramiles I am unable to supply any information.
P. 283, 1. 195. "Sayes, sleep you, wake you, noble King Arthur?"
This is a phrase which seems to have been popular at the end of the sixteenth century, and may, perhaps, mark the age of the ballad. See the song of Old Robin of Portmgale, in Percy, iii. 49, edit. 1794; Ravenscroft's Pammelia, 4to, 1609, No. 30; and Scott's Border Minstrelsy, vol. i. p. 151, 8vo, 1803. It is alluded to by Shakepere in King Lear, Act. iii. Sc. 5, where Edgar, repeating some snatches of old ballads, says,
Sleepest or wakest thou, jolly shepherd?
P. 284,1. 210. The Grene knight.
This is Sir Bredbeddle, who has subdued the fiend Burlmo-beanie by means of the " litle booke," he carried about him. See a previous Note, p. 353.
_____________
King Arthur and King Cornwall [1] Hales and Furnivall, I, p. 61 notes and text [text unedited for now]
[Footnote 1. Percy's title. No other copy known.]
This piece has been already printed from the fol. MS. by Sir Frederick Madden, in his " Syr Gawayne."
The story, as that learned editor says, is " a close imitation of the famous gabs made by Charlemagne and his companions at the court of King Hugon, published by M. Michel from a MS. in the British Museum [King's Library MSS. 16 E. viii..], London, 1830, and transferred at a later period to the prose romance of Galien Rethor6, printed by Verard, foL 1500, and often afterwards."
King Charles, in the romance edited by M. Michel, and assigned by him to the twelfth century, recrowned at St. Denis, and exulting, is rebuked by his queen for his pride, and assured that she has seen a far nobler prince than he. The king, irritated by this humiliating assertion, insists on knowing whom she means, and when he knows, determines on visiting him. With his twelve peers he makes a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and on his return visits the court of the surpassing prince, who is Hugo, King of Constantinople. He is most hospitably received, and in due time conducted to a chamber considerately furnished with thirteen beds. When he and his twelve are comfortably distributed in these, he suggests that each one of them should make a gab—an extravagant boast, a fanfaronnade. Charles, commencing the sport,—we quote, for the sake of brevity, not from the original romance, but from M. Menage's account of " Roman de Galien Restaure," to be found in Menagiana I. 110 et seq. of the third edition, Paris, 1715 (a good account of the tale published by
M. Michel may be seen in Mr. Wright's " Essays on the Literature of the Middle Ages ")—" Se vanta que d'un revers de Joyeuse sa bonne epee il couperoit net par le milieu un homme couvert d'un harnois du plus fin acier; Roland, que du seul bruit de son cor il feroit tomber cinquante toises des murailles du Palais du Koy Hugon; Oger, qu'en tirant du bout du doight une corde qu'il auroit nouee au tour du gros pilier qui etoit au milieu de la sale, il le renverseroit et tout Pedifice en meme tems." And so they brag on. But King Hugo, unhandsomely, had stationed a spy in their chamber—" un homme cache dans le creux du gros pilier." The spy, as soon as the worthy gabeurs are asleep, reports their conversation. King Hugo by no means enters into the humour of it, but next day gravely insists that each vaunt must be verily performed. Charlemagne, sorely perplexed, betakes himself to his prayers. They are answered. And so, with the assistance of Heaven and of King Hugo's daughter, to whom Oliver's gab related, the emperor and his paladins are extricated from the difficulties brought on them by their ill-timed rhodomontade. Such is the basis of the present fragment. The story, originally belonging to that cluster of romances which connect Charlemagne with the East, and entitled " Comment Charels de Fraunce voiet in Jherusalem e par parols sa feme a Constantinople par ver roy Hugon," seems to have been extensively popular. It was translated into Icelandic, and inserted in a saga—" Sagum of Karlamagnum og Hoppum Hans."
It is greatly altered in the present version. King Arthur's character is saved from any imputation of braggadocio. An Anglo-Saxon MS. (Calig. A. xv.) speaks of" Elevatio Francorum " and " ira Brittonum," which phrases may happily characterise the French and English versions of the story. Charlemagne's boasts spring from mere wantonness. The Arthurian vows are the result of the King of Cornwall's insolence. Here indeed the King of Cornwall plays the gascon, not the King of Little Britain. The English adapter of the piece has transferred the vice to the foreign potentate. We may also note how the plain, unadorned spy of the French original is in the Northern version transformed into a hideous monster, with seven fire-breathing heads. Perhaps with the French warp have been interwoven threads of a quite distinct origin. The piece may be a fusion of several pieces.
The phrase in v. 198, being a very common one about the end of the sixteenth century, suggests to Sir Frederick Madden that the version may belong to that period.
There is known no other allusion to the intrigue with Queen Guinevere of which the King of Cornwall boasts. But Holinshed says of her too truly, "She was evil reported of, as noted of incontinence and breach of faith to her husband." See " Sir Lambwell."
Sir Marramiles is not heard of elsewhere. Sir Bredbeddle is the " Green Knight," the hero of the-feniduce of the name.
" Little Britain " is of course Armorica.
For the steed and the trick of its management, compare the horse of brass in Chaucer's " Squyer's Tale."
[saies, " come here Cuzen gawaine so gay]1 [page 24.] King Arthur
my sisters sonne be yeo; totookat"'»
ffor yon shall see one of the fairest round tables, Tabic."» that ener you see with your eye."
then bespake Lady Queen. Gueneuer, Guenever
says she
& these were the words said sheo : knows where
there Is a
" I know where a round table is, thou noble Kimi, much fairer
7 J' one.
is worth thy round table & other such 3.
0110.
1 " come here, Cuz»'w, Gawaine, so was the first line before the binder cut gay;" it.—P. The bottoms of the letters left
To the best of my remembrance this suit better those in the text above.—F.
If Arthur would know where It is, let him seek till be finds It.
" The trestle that stands vnder this round table," she said, " lowe downe to the mould, it is worth thy round table,1 thou worthy King, 12 thy halls, and all thy gold; " the place where this round table stands in, it is worth thy castle, thy gold, thy fee; and all good litle britaine." 16 " where may that table be, Lady ?" q/toth hee, or where may all that goodly building be ?"
" you shall it seeke," shee says, " till you it find, for you shall neuer gett more of me." then bespake him Noble King Arthur,
these were the words said hee ; " He make mine avow to god,
& alsoe to the trinity,
" He never sleepe one night, there as I doe another,
till that Round Table I see ! Sir Marramiles and Sir Tristeram, fellowes that ye shall bee ;
" weele bo clad in palmers weede,
5 palmers we will bee; There is noe outlandish man will vs abide, Nor will vs come nye." then they riued2 east & th£ riued west, in many a strange country ;
then they tranckled3 a litle further,
they saw a battle new sett; " now, by my faith," saies Noble King Arthur, well [mett]
[half a page is here torn away.]
1 the d of round and the e of table have tags like cites to them.—F. a riued, i.e. arrived.—P.
* travelled, qu.—P. Dutch tranteten or tranten, to goe lazely, softly, or a soft pace (Hexham, 1660).—F
But when he cam to this . . C
& to the palace gate, soo ready was ther a proud porter, 41 & met him soone therat.
[page 25.]
They come to the palace gate,
and meet a proud porter.
shooes of gold the porter 2 had on,
& all his other rayment was vnto the same; " now, by my faith," saies Noble Kin/; Arthur, 45 " yonder is a minion 3 swaine."
Then bespake Noble King Arthur, these were the words says heo: " come hither, thou proud porter, 49 I pray thee come hither to me.
to whom Arthur offers
" I haue 2 poore rings of my finger,
they better of them lle giue to thee ; tell who may be Lord of this castle," he sayes, 53 " or who is lord in this cuntry ? "
a ring for information who is the lord of tho castle and country.
" Cornewall King," the porter sayes,
" there is none soe rich as hee ; neither in christendome, nor yet in heathennest, 57 none hath soe much gold as he."
The King of Cornwall, says the Porter.
1 Percy suggests " that castle to," but these words do not suit the parts of letters left.—F.
* There was a change in porters by 1611. " Taquin: m. A niggard, miser,
micher, penie-father, pinch-crust, holdfast ; also, a Porter, or any such base companion." Cotgrave.—F.
* mignon: Minion, daintie, neat, spruce. Cotgrave.—F.
and pray his " pray him for one nights lodging, & 2 meales meate,
board and f0r his love that dyed vppon a tree ;
lodging for .
him- A vne 1 ghesting, & two meales meate,
67 for his loue that dyed vppon a tree,
" A vne 1 ghesting of 2 meales meate, The Portor for his love that was of virgin boirne,
& in the morning that we may scape away, 71 either without scath or scorne."
then forth his gone this proud porter,
as fast as he cold hye ; & when he came befor cornewall King, 75 he kneeled downe on his knee. sayes, " I haue beene porter-man, at thy gate, this 30 winter and three . . . [? MS.] [half a page is wanting.]
78 our Lady was borne. [page 26.]
then thought cornewall King these palmers had beene in Britteme.
The King then bespake him Cornwall King,
guc»ts if these were the words he said there :
they know , ,
anything of 82 " did you euer know a comely Kino,
one. King ' . «
Arthur. his name was King Arthur ? "
& then bespake him Noble King Arthur,
these were the words said hec : " I doe not know that conily King, but once my selfe I did him see." 88 then bespake Cornwall King againe, these were the words said he :
1 one; repeating 1. 64. Fr. hoslclage, a betl or night's lodging for a guest. Cot.—F.
102
106
" for I durst sweare, & saue my othe,
tliat same lady soe bright, 98 that a man that were laid on his death bed wold open his eyes on her to haue sight." " Now, by my faith," sayes noble Ki»j Arthur, " & thats a full faire wight! "
& then bespake cornewall againe, & these were the words he said a : " Come hither, 5 or 3 of my knights, & feitch me downe my steed ; King Arthur, that foule Cocke-ward, hath none such, if he had need. " for I can ryde him as far on a day,
as King Arthur can doe any of his on 3. 110 & is it not a pleasure for a Klng
when he shall ryde forth on his Iourney ?
" for the eyes that beenc in his head, the glister as doth the gleed.3 " 114 "Now, by my faith," says Noble King Arthur, that is a well faire steed.4 " [? MS.] [half a page is wanting.]
Then ho boasts of his steed.
Arthur has none such.
His eyes glisten like fire.
1 cnckwold.—P. Cp. The Horn of King Arthur, 1. 17-18, Child i. 18— " Ho was kokwold sykerly; ffor sothe it is no lesyng." There is a French phrase, Voyager en Cornouaille: To be a cuckeld; or to haue his head horne-graffed at home while his feet are plodding abroad. Cotgrave.—F.
VOL. I. F
* said he. MS. he hight.—Percy (who puts 1. 99-102 as a four-line stanza. —FA
" In Shropshire Gleed or Gleeds signifies embers, vide p. 80 [of MS.] N.B. gted A.-Sax. est pruna, a live coal.—P.
* Percy reads " That is a noble steed, qu.»
116 "nobody say
but one thate learned to speake."
[page 27.]
Then King Arthur to his bed was brought, a greeiued man was hee ; After hearing all theae boastings, Arthur
restTM th his 12° & soe were all his fellowes with him,
fellows.
from him the thought neuer to flee.
then take they did that lodly boorue,1 & under thrub chadler 2 closed was hoe; " A loathly fiend" is posted by their bedside
to eavesdrop. 124 & he was set by King Arthurs bed-side,
to heere theire talke & theire comumye;
that he might come forth, and make proclamation, long before it was day. 128 it was more for King corn walls pleasure, then it was for King Arthurs pay.3 Arthnr vows he will be the bane of the King.
& when King Arthur in his bed was laid, these were the words said hee : 132 " llc make mine avow to god, and alsoe to the trinity,4 that lle be the bano of Cornwall Kinge, litle brittaine or euer I see ! " Gawain reproves
136 " it is an vnaduised vow," saies Gawaine the gay,
" as ever King hard make I; but wee that beene 5 christian men, of the christen faith are wee ; 140 & we shall fight against anoynted King & all his armorie."
1 ? beam, log. Du. boom, a Tree, a Barro, or a turning Logg, to look and open into the entrance of a Haven. Hexham.—F.
1 Cp. the bunge of the trubchandler, 1.172. A kind of tub? Phillips gives
Trnh or Trubtail, a little squat woman. Trubs, a sort of herb.—F. * t. i. pleasure.—F.
* This and the lino above arc written as one in the MS.—F.
& then bespake him Noble Arthur, & these were the words said ho: 144 "why, if thou be afraid, Sir Gawaine the gay,
goe home, and drinke wine in thine owne country."
The 3d Part.1
AjSD then bespake Sir Gawaino the gay, and these were the words said hee: 148 " nay, seeing you have made such a hearty vow, heere another vow make will I.
" Nay," answers Gawain," I will vow too.
" Ho make mine avow to god, and alsoe to the trinity, 152 that I will haue yonder faire lady to litle brittaine with mee.
I vow to carry off the fair lady we have heard of."
" lle hose a her homly to my hurt,3 & with her lle worke my will; " [half a page is wanting.]
[top line pared away.]
156 these were the words sayd hee :
" befor I wold wrestle with yonder feend, it is better be drowned in the sea."
and then bespake Sir Bredbeddle, 160 & these were the words said he :
" why, I will wrestle with yon lodly feend, god ! my gouernor thou. wilt bee." Brwibeddle offers to encounter the fiend.
Then bespake him Noble Arthur, 164 & these were they words said he :
" what weapons wilt thou haue, thou gentle knight ? I pray thee tell to me."
he sayes, " Collen brand1 He haue in my hand, 168 & a Millaine knife 2 fast by me knee ; & a Danish axe3 fast in my hands, that a sure weapon I thinke wilbe."
1 Hall speaks of " long spares called Collegno clowystes." 5th year of Henry VIII. "Espee de Collogne.—L'AUemagnc a, pendant longtemps, joui d'une juste reputation pour la trempe et la solidite des armes blanches ; encore de nos jours on estime particulierement les lames fabriquees a Klingenthal, bourg du Bas-Rhin: " in " Proverbes ot Dicton9 populaires avec les dits du mercier et des marchands et les crieries de Paris aux xiii» et xiv" siecles, publics d'apres les manuscrits de la Bibliotheque du Roi, par J. A. Crapelet, Imprimeur." Paris, 1831.—H.
" Coleyn'e threde" only is mentioned in The Libel of English Policy (Pol. Songs, ed. Wright, v. 2, p. 171).—F.
* Cp. 1. 169of "Eger& Grine"below: " My Habergion that was of Millaine fine."
In " Sir Degrevant," Florence swords are noticed—
" Bot twey swerdus thei bene
off Florence ful kene." 1. 1608.
" The dealers in miscellaneous articles were also called milliners, from their importing Milan goods for sale, such as brooches, aiglets, spurs, glasses, &c." Saunders's Chaucer, p. 241-2.—F. * " Haiche de Danomarche.
" Les haiches du Nord etoient fort estimees au moyen age."—Crapelet.
" Hache noresche out mult bele." Wace, v. 13,391. " una Hachet Denesh," in Plac. Corona; de An. 12 Edw. 1 Cornub. Blount 54.
"Les hasches estoient les armes particulieres des Banois. Isaac. Pontanus lib. V. Rcr. Danicar. parlant de 1' equipage des soldats Danois qui furent enuoyez par Godwin au Roy Kanut. ' Pendebant de humeris sinistris Danicie secures auro similiter argentoque redimitse undique.' D' oil vient que souuent dans les Autheurs les hasches sont nominees Danoises. Guillaume le Briton, 1. xi. Philipp.
Hastis confractis mucronibus atque
cutellis Insistunt, Dacisquc sccuribus excere
brant se.
Et plus bas au mesme liure:
Nil miseros longa arma inuant, nil Dacha bipennis. Le Roman des Loherenes:
Et portent glaiues et espies Poiteuins Haches Danoises por lancier etferir. II est encore parle dc ces hasches Danoises dans l'Autheur de Im Vie de Guillaume I. Roy d'Anglcttrre, p. 192; en la Chron. de Flandres, chap, ix., &c.; Orderic Vital. 1. xiii. a tlit Horicasecuris." —Dufresne's Ga?f. de Ville-Hardouin. Observations, p. 298, fol. 1657 (referred to bv Sir F. Madden in his reprint of this ballad).—H.
In Denmarke were fulle noble con
querours In tyme passed, fulle worthy werriours.
Libel, p. 177.—F.
Then with his Collen brand that he had in his hand, the bunge of the trubchandler he burst in 3 ; 173 with that start out a lodly feend, with 7 heads, & one body.
the fyer towards the element flew
out of his mouth, where was great plentie ; 177 the knight stoode in the middle, & fought, that it was great Ioy to see,
With his brand he smashes in the bung of the tub wherein tho fiend lies concealed. Out starts the fiend, firebreathing.
They fight.
till his collaine brand brake in his hand, & his millaine knife burst on his knee ; 181 & then the danish axe burst in his hand first, that a sur1 weapon be thought shold be.
All the knight's weapons fail
but now is the knight left without any weapons, & alacke ! it was the more pitty; 185 but a surer weapon then had he one, had neuer liord in Christentye :
& all was but one litle booke,
he found it by the side of the sea.
But he has a surer one, a little book which bo found by the sea-side, 189 he found it at the sea-side,
wrucked 2 upp in a floode ; Our Lord had written it with his hands, & sealed it with his bloode. [half a page is wanting.]
written by our Lord's own hand and sealed with bis blood.
103 " That thou doe not s
but ly still in that wall of stone ; till I haue beene with Noble King Arthur, & told him what I haue done."
He goes to
Arthur's
chamber,
And when he came to the Kings chamber, he cold of his curtesie, 199 says, " sleepe yon, wake yon, noble King Arthur ? & ener Iesus waken yee !"
" Nay, I am not sleeping, I am waking," these were the words said hee : 203 " ffor thee I hane card ; how hast thou fared ? 0 gentle knight, let me see."
the knight wroughta the King his booke, bad him behold, reede, and see; 207 & euer he found it on the backside of the leafe, as Noble Arthur wold wish it to be.
who wishes to see the fiend.
& then bespake him King Arthur,
" alas ! thow gentle knight, how may this be, 211 that I might see him in the same bcknesse that he stood vnto thee ? "
Bredbeddle says he shall, if he will be firm.
and then bespake him the greene knight,3 these were the words said hee : 215 " if youle stand stifly in the battell stronge, for I hane won all the victory." then bespake him the King againe, & these were the words said hee: 219 " if wee stand not stifly in this battell strong, wee are worthy to be hanged all on a tree." Bredbeddie then bespake him the ereene Knight,
conjures the r 6 o )
foul fiend to these were the words said he :
appear just
asithsd 223 saies, " I doe coniure thee, thou fowle feend,
appeared
be*0TM- in the same licknesse thou stood vnto me."
1 knew of, remembered.1 rought, reached.—F.
' Soe the Romance of the Green Knight, p. 203 [of MS.].—P.
with that start out a lodly feend, 226 with 7 heads, & one body;
the fier towards the element flangh1
out of his mouth, where was great plenty.
the knight stood in the Middle p . . . [half a page is wanting.] 230 . . . they stood the space of an houre, I know not what they did.
[page 30.]
And then bespake him the greene knight, & these were the words said he : 234 saith, " I coniure thee, thou fowle feend,
that thou feitch downe the steed that we see."
Bredbeddle orders the fiend to fetch the steed above boasted of.
& then forth is gone Burlow-beanie, as fast as he cold hie ; 238 & feitch he did that faire steed, & came againe by & by.
Then bespake him Sir Marramiles, & these were the words said hee: 242 " Biding of this steed, brother Bredbeddle, the mastery belongs to me."
Marramiles tooke the steed to his hand, to ryd him he was full bold ; 246 he cold noe more make him goe then a child of 3 yeerc old.
he laid vppon him with heele and hand, with yard that was soe fell; 250 " helpe ! brother Bredbeddle," says Marramile, " for I thinke he be the devill of hell.
It fetches it.
Sir Marramiles proposes to ride it,
bat he
cannot make it stir.
" helpe ! brother Bredbeddle," says Marramile, " helpe ! for christe pittye ; 254 ffor without thy help, brother Bredbeddle, he will neuer be rydden pro me." The flend, conjured by Breillushlle, Bays that there is a gold wand in the King's study window, which will make the steed go.
Then bespake him Sir Bredbeddle, these were the words said he : 258 " I coniure thee, thou Burlow-beane, thou tell me how this steed was riddin in his country." he saith, " there is a gold wand Stands in King Cornwalls study windowe ;
262 " let him take that wand in that window, & strike 3 strokes on that steed ; & then he will spring forth of his hand as sparke doth out of Gleede.1" 266 & then bespake him the greene knight, [half a page is wanting.] A lowd blast he may blow then [? MS.]
[page 31.]
& then bespake Sir Bredebeddle, to the ffeend these words said hee : Bredbeddle
orders the
liond to fetch
thepowder .. T . .- .- ~ . .
box. 270 says, " 1 coniure thee, thou .Burlow-beanie,
the powder-box thou feitch me."
it fetches it. Then forth is gone Burlow-beanie
as fast as he cold hie ; 274 & feich he did the powder-box, & came againe by & by.
Then Sir Tristeram tooke powder forth of that box,
& blent it with warme sweet milke ; & there put it vnto that horne,
& swilled1 it about in that ilke.
Tristeram rinses the horn with warm sweet milk and the powder; then he tooke the horne in his hand,
& a lowd blast he blew; he rent the horne vp to the midst, 282 all his ffellowes this the knew.
then blows a blast. The horn is rent in twain. Then bespake him the greene knight,
these were the words said he : saies, " I coniure thee, thou Burlow-bcanie, 286 that thou feitch me the sword that I see."
Bredbeddlo orders the fiend to fetch the sword.
Then forth is gone Burlow-beanie,
as fast as he cold hie ; & feitch he did that faire sword, 290 & came againe by & by.
He fetches it.
Then bespake him Sir Bredbeddle, Bredbeddie
to the King these words said he : Arthur Ro
" take this sword in thy hand, thou noble King Arthur! off the King for the vowes sake that thou made lle giue it th[ee;] wall's head.
and goe strike off King Cornewalls head,
in bed were he doth lye." Then forth is gone Noble King Arthur, as fast as he cold hye ; & strucken he hath off King Cornwalls head, & came againe by and by.
lie dues so.
ho put the head vpon a swords point,
[/mz7/ a page wanting.]
i. e. rinsed it, washed it, Verb. Salop.—P.