mances were. 7. Historye of Kyng Richard Ceur de Lyon. [Impr. W. de Worde, 1528.] His exploits were a favourite subject, and many legends were written about him, partly on account of his fondness for chivalry; for he was the first king of England that ever published a precept or permission for holding public tournaments in England. His first instrument of this kind I have * printed above, [pag. 42. vol. i.] by which it appears, that these institutions brought in a considerable revenue to the crown. 8. Syr Bevis of Southampton ; in the same verse as Syr Degore, &c. viz.

It is also printed in Selden's England's Epinomis, op. vol. iii. p. 35. fol. 1726. And Kennet's Paroch. Antiq. pag. 153. It is in MSS. Bib. Bodl. James. No. 27. But Gul. Neubrigiensis says, that the first use, though not royal permission, of these exercises, was in the reign of Stephen. Hist. Lib. v. c. 4. See Matth. Par. 237. post Hoveden. p. 424.

↑ The French have also this romance, which they call Beuves de Hanton. He was Earl of Southampton, about the Norman invasion. His sword was kept in Arundel castle.

Such a stroke was not sene in no land
Sithens Oliver died and Rowland *.

But I have given a long passage from it,
above; [pag. 70. seq. vol. i.]
70. seq. vol. i.] 9. The
Battayl of Egyngcourte. [Agincourt.] 10.
The Wyf lapped in Morells Skin, Or, The
Taming of a Shrew. Hence we perceive,

• This metre came from the French; but they called the French language Romance. This is what Robert de Brunne means, in his translation of Peter Langtoft's French Chronicle, published by Hearn.

Peres of Langtoft, a chanoun

Schaven in the house of Brydlyngtoune,
On Romaunce al thys story he wrote,
Of English kynges as well he wote.

i. e. he wrote it in French.

Pag. 36. v. 1. Pref.

See an account, and many specimens, of French Ro. mans, in a curious Memoir, viz. “Discours sur quelques anciens Poetes, et sur quelques Romans Gaulois, peu connus; par M. Galland.” Mem. de Lit. Amsterdam, 1719. 12mo. tom. iii. pag. 424. These are pieces not mentioned by La Croix du Maine and Fauchet. Among others there is the Roman of Troy, and the Roman of [Syr] Percivall, one of Spenser's knights. There is also, Le Roman de Fortune et de Felicitè, which is a translation of Boethius, De Consolatione, into verse.

how Shakespeare adopted the titles of pieces which were popular and common in his time. This too shews his track of reading. 11. Thirteen merry Jests of the Wydow Edyth. 12. The Temple of Glass. [of Lydgate.] Spenser, I believe, might have this piece in

his

eye, where he describes the lovers in the Temple of Venus. 4. 10. 43. &c. There are several other pieces of the same sort in this collection.

We learn from the following passage in Skelton, who wrote in the beginning of the reign of Henry VIII. what books and stories were then the delight of English readers, and the fashion of the times.

And tell can a grete pece
Of the golden flese,

How Jason it wan

Like a valiant man.
Of Arthur's round table,
With his knights commendable;
How dame Gaynour his queen,
Was somewhat wanton, I ween;
How Syr Lancelot du Lake
Many a spear brake,

For his ladies sake:

Of Triston and King Marke,

And all the whole warke

Of Bel Isold his wife.

And of Syr Libius, [Libeaux]

Named Diosconius:

Of quater fils Aymund,

And how they were sommond
To Rome to Charlemagne *,
Upon a greet payne ;

* The entire history of Charlemagne was first imported into England by Caxton, who printed the Hystory and Lyf of the most noble and cristen prince, Charles the Great, Kyng of Fraunce, and Emperor of Rome, &c. 1485. In this book, besides those of Charlemagne, we have the achievements of Richard of Normandy, Rowland and Oliver, the Four Sons of Aymon, &c. It consists of three parts; and was compiled by the transla

2

And how they rode eche one,
On Bayard Mountalbon.
What though I can frame
The storyes by name,
Of Judas Machabæus,

And of Cæsar Julius;

And of the love between

Paris and Viene†:

And of Duke Hanyball.
And though I can expound
Of Hector of Troye.

tor, Caxton, from two French books, by the advice of Henry Bolounyer, canon of Lausanne. The first and third part were drawn from a book which he calls Myrrour Historyall; the second from an old French romance. Lewis, in his Life of Caxton, pag. 97. mentions a history of Charlemagne, written in French, by Christiana of Pisa, 1404.

* A horse famous in romance, belonging to Reynaldo of Montauban.

† A romance printed by Caxton, viz. Thystorye of the noble, right valyant, and worthy Knight Parys, and of the fayre Vyenne, the Daulphyns Doughter of Vyennoys ; the which suffered many adversyties, because of their true love, &c. fol. 1485. It is translated from the French The Dauphin is Sir Godfrey of Alaunson, cousin to Charles, King of France, 1271.