in ftanzas of 6 lines, the first of which may be seen in vol. 2. p. 163. beginning thus,

When meate and drinke is great plentye.

In the Edinburgh MS. (mentioned above) are two ancient poems on the fubject of Guy of Warwick: viz. Num. XVIII. containing 26. leaves. and XX. 59 leaves. Both these have unfortunately the beginnings wanting, otherwife they would perhaps be found to be different Copies of one or both the preceding articles.

5. From the fame MS. I can add another article to this lift, viz. The Romance of Rembrun fon of Sir Guy; being Num. XXI. in 9 leaves: this is properly a Continuation of the Hiftory of Guy: and in Art. 3. the Hift. of Rembrun follows that of Guy as a neceffary Part of it. This Edinburgh Romance of Rembrun begins thus

Jefu that erst of mighte most

Fader and fone and Holy Goft.

Before I quit the fubject of Sir Guy, I muft obferve, that if we may believe Dugdale in his Baronage, [vol. 1. p. 243. col. 2.] the fame of our English Champion had in the time of Henry IV. travelled as far as the Eaft, and was no lefs popular among the Sarazens, than here in the West among the Nations of Chriftendom. In that reign a Lord Beauchamp travelling to Jerufalem, was kindly received by a noble perfon, the Soldan's Lieutenant, who hearing he was defcended from the famous Guy of Warwick, "whose story "they had in books of their own language," invited him to his palace; and royally feafting him, prefented him with three precious ftones of great value; befides divers cloaths of filk and gold given to his fer

vants.

6. The Romarce of Syr Bevis is described in pag. 216. of this vol. Two manufcript copies of this poem are extant at Cambridge; viz. in the Public Library (a), and in that of Caius Coll. Class A. 9. (5.)—The firft of thefe begins,

Lordyngs lyftenyth grete and fmale.

There is also a Copy of this Romance of Sir Bevis of Hamptoun, in the Edinburgh MS. Numb. XXII. confifting of 25 leaves, and beginning thus,

Lordinges kerkneth to mi tale,

Is merier than the nightengale.

The printed copies begin different from both: viz.

Lyften, Lordinges, and hold you ftyl.

7. Libeaux (Libeaus, or, Lybius) Difconius is preferved in the Editor's folio MS. (pag. 317.) where the firft ftanza is,

An older copy is preferved in the Cotton Library [Cal. A. 2. fol. 40.] containing innumerable variations: the first line is,

Jefu Chrift our Savyour.

(a) No. 690. §. 31. Vid. Catalog. MSS. p. 394.

As

As for Blandamoure, no Romance with this title has been discovered; but as the word occurs in that of Libeaux, 'tis poffible Chaucer's memory deceived him.

8. Le Morte Arthure, is among the Harl. MSS. 2252. $49. This is judged to be a tranflation from the French; Mr. Wanly thinks it no older than the time of Hen. vii. but it feems to be quoted in Syr Bevis, (Sign. K. ij. b.) It begins

Lordinges, that are leffe and deare.

In the Library of Bennet Coll. Cambridge, No. 351. is a MS. intitled in the Cat. Acta Arthuris Metrico Anglicano, but I know not whether it has any thing in common with the former.

9. In the Editor's Folio MS. are many Songs and Romances about King Arthur and his Knights, fome of which are very imperfect, as K. Arthur and the king of Cornwall. (p. 24-) in ftanzas of 4 Lines, beginning

Come here, my cozen Gawain fo gay.

The Turke and Gawain, (p. 38.) in ftanzas of 6 lines, beginning thus,

Liften, Lords, great and small.

Sir Lionel in diftichs (p. 32.) thus beginning,

Sir Egrabell had Sonnes three.

but these are so imperfect. that I do not make diftinct articles of them. See alfo in this Vol. Book 1. N°. I. II, IV. V.

10. In the fame MS. p. 203. is the Greene Knight, in 2 Parts, relating a curious adventure of Sir Gawain, in ftanzas of 6 lines, beginning thus,

Lift: when Arthur he was kinge.

11. The Carle of Carlisle, is another romantic tale about Sir Gawain, in the fame MS. p. 448. in diftichs.

Listen to me a little ftonde.

In all thefe old poems the fame fet of knights are always drawn with the fame manners and characters ; which feem to have been as well known and as distinctly marked among our ancestors, as Homer's Heroes were among the Greeks: For as Ulyffes is always reprefented crafty, Achilles irafcible, and Ajax rough. So Sir Gawain is ever courteous and gentle, Sir Kay rugged and difobliging, &c. "Sir Gawain with his "ould courtesy" is mentioned by Chaucer as noted to a proverb, in his Squire's Tale. Urry's Ed. p. 60. V. 115.

12. Syr Launfal, an excellent old Romance concerning another of K. Arthur's Knights, is preferved in the Cotton Library, Calig. A. 2. f. 33. This is a tranflation from the French (b) made by one Thomas Cheftre, who is fuppofed to have lived in the reign of Hen. vi. [See Tanner's Biblioth.] It is in ftanzas of Lines, and begins,

Le douzty Artours dawes.

The above was afterwards altered by fome Minstrel into the Romance of Sir Lambwell, in 3 Parts, under which title it was more generally known (c). This is in the Editor's folia MS. p. 60. beginning thus,

Doughty in king Arthures dayes.

13. The

(b) The French Original is preferved among the Harl. MSS. No. 978. § 112. Lanval.

(See Langham's Letter concern. Q. Eliz. entertainment at Ki ingworth, 1575. 12mo. p. 34.

13. The Romance of Merline, in 9 Parts, (preferved in the fame folio MS. p. 144.) 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 66 oure Lady." It is in diftichs, 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 laft mentioned. It is in the volume, numbered XXIII. and extends through 55 leaves. The two firft Lines are

Jefu Crift, heven king

Al ous graunt gode ending.

14. Sir Ifenbras, (or as it is in the MS. copies, Sir Yumbras) 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 Vol. 1. P. 303. It is preferved in MS. in the Library of Caius Coll. Camb. Clafs A. 9. (2.) and alfo in the Cotton Library, Cal. A. 12. (f. 128.) This is extremely dif ferent from the printed copy. E. g.

God þat made both erpe and hevené.

15. Emarè, a very curious and ancient Romance, is preferved in the fame Vol. of the Cotton Library, f. 69. It is in ftan. of 6 lines, and begins thus,

Jefu þat ye kyng in trone,

16. Chewelere affigne, or, The Knight of the Swan, preferved in the Cotton Library, has been already defcribed in Vol. z. p, 272. as hath also

97. The