of the contractions are printed in italics, but the ordinary doubt whether
the final lined _n_ or _u_--for they are often undistinguishable--is
to be printed n_e_, n_ne_, or u_n_, exists here too.
I am indebted to Mr. Sims, of the Manuscript Department of the British
Museum, for pointing out the Poem to me, and to the Marquis of Bath for
his kind permission to copy it for printing.
_3, Old Square, Lincoln's Inn,_
_London, W.C., August 30, 1864._
Arthur [pg 1]
From the Marquis of Bath's MS.
BEF. 1450 A.D.
[The Latin side notes in italics, and the stops
of the text in parentheses (), are those of the MS.]
Herkene[th], [th]at loue[th] hono_ur_, [Fol. 42_b_]
Of kyng Arthour & hys labo_ur_;
How Arthur And furst how he was bygete,
was begotten As [th]_a_t we in bok_is_ do rede. 4
by Pendragon Vther pendragon_e_ was hys fader,
on Ygerne. And ygerne was hys Moder.
Pendragon_e_ ys in walysch_e_
Pendragon 'Dragones heed' on Englysch_e_; 8
(_t.i._ Dragon's He maked ypeynted dragon_e_s two;
Head) made Oon schold byfore him goo
two painted Whan he went to batayle,
dragons, Whan he wold hys foes sayle; 12
That other abood at wynchester,
Euermore stylle there.
and thence Bretones [gh]af hym [th]_a_t Name,
had his name. Vther Pendragon_e_ [th]e same, 16
For [th]at skyle fer & nere
Euer-more hyt to here.
How Uther loved The Erles wyff of Cornewayle
the Earl of He loued to Muche sanz fayle; 20
Cornwall's wife,
[Arthur Has the Round Table Made.]
Merlyn wy[th] hys sotelnesse
Turned vtheris lyknesse,
And maked hym lyche [th]e Erl anone,
And wy[th] hys wyff (:) his wyll_e_ to done 24
In [th]e cou_n_tre of Cornewell_e_:
In [th]e Castel of Tyntagell_e_,
and begat Arthur Thus vther, yf y schall_e_ nat lye,
in adultery. Bygat Arthour in avowtrye.
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