Compare pp. 129, 315, of present volume, for the _Antidote_ version and note upon it. Brief references must suffice for annotation here. See Mallory’s “_Morte d’Arthur_,” the French _Lancelot du Lac_, and _Sir Tristram_. Three MSS., the Auchinlech, Cambridge University, and Caius College, preserve the romance of _Sir Bevis of Hamptoun_, with his slaying the wild boar; his sword _Morglay_ is often mentioned, like Arthur’s _Excalibur_: Ascapard, the thirty-feet-long giant, who after a fierce battle becomes page to Sir Bevis. Caius Coll. MS. and others have the story _Richard Cœur de Leon_, but the street-ballad served equally to keep alive his fame among the populace, _Coll. Old. Bds._ iii. 17. Wm. Ellis gives abstracts of romances on Arthur, Guy of Warwick, Sir Bevis, Richard Lion-heart, Sir Eglamour of Artoys, Sir Isumbras, the Seven Wise Masters, Charlemagne and Roland, &c., in his _Spec. Early English Metrical Romances_; of which J. O. Halliwell writes, in 1848:—“Ellis did for ancient romance what Percy had previously accomplished for early poetry.” In passing, we must not neglect to express the debt of gratitude due to the managers of the _E. E. Text Soc._, for giving scholarly and trustworthy prints of so many MSS., hitherto almost beyond reach. For _Orlando Inamorato_ and _Orlando Furioso_ we must go to Boiardo and Ariosto, or the translators, Sir John Harrington and W. Stewart Rose. Dunlop’s _Hist. of Fiction_ gives a slight notice of some of this ballad’s heroes, including _Huon_ of Bordeaux, the French _Livre de Jason_, Prince of the Myrmidons, the _Vie de Hercule_, the _Cléopâtre_, &c. Valentine and Orson is said to have been written in the reign of Charles VIII., and first printed at Lyons in 1495. SS. David, James, and Patrick, with the rest of the Seven Champions, like the Four Sons of Aymon, are of easy access. Cp. Warton. ARTHUR O’BRADLEY. (_Merry Droll., Com._, pp. 312, 395; _Antidote ag. Mel._, 16). Here is the five years’ earlier Song of “Arthur o’ Bradley,” (_vide ante_, pp. 166-175) never before reprinted, we believe, and not mentioned by J. P. Collier, W. Chappell, &c., when they referred to “Saw ye not Pierce the Piper” of _Antidote_ and _M. D., C._, 1661. But ours is the earliest-known complete version [before 1642?]:— A SONG. [p. 81.] All you that desire to merry be, Come listen unto me, And a story I shall tell, Which of a Wedding befell, Between _Arthur_ of _Bradley_ And _Winifred_ of _Madly_. As _Arthur_ upon a day Met _Winifred_ on the way, He took her by the hand, Desiring her to stand, Saying I must to thee recite A matter of [great] weight, Of Love, that conquers Kings, In grieved hearts so rings, And if thou dost love thy Mother, Love him that can love no other. _Which is oh brave ~Arthur~_, &c.