Arthur | Page 2

1450, so that a few of the
words are queried in the print. The MS. contains a few metrical points

and stops, which I have here printed between parentheses (). The
expansions 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 ne_, 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
o f the text in parentheses (), are those
of the MS.]

Herkene[th], [th]at loue[th]
honour, [Fol. 42_b_]
Of kyng Arthour & hys labour;
How Arthur And furst how he was bygete,
was begotten As [th]a_t we in bok_isdo rede.
4

by Pendragon Vther pendragon_e_ was hys fader,
on Ygerne. And
ygerne was hys Moder.
Pendragone_ ys in walysch_e
Pendragon 'Dragones heed' on Englysch e ;
8

(t.i._ Dragon's He maked ypeynted dragon_es 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