When he prepared to arm himself, he called first for his good hauberk, and a man brought it on his arm, and placed before him; but in putting his head in, to get it on, he inadvertently turned it the wrong way, with the back part in front. He quickly changed it, but, when he saw that those who stood by were sorely alarmed, he said, "I have seen many a man who, if such a thing had happened to him, would not have borne arms, or entered the field the same day; but I never believed in omens, and I never will. I trust in God; for he does in all things his pleasure, and ordains what is to come to pass, according to his will. I have never liked fortune-tellers, nor believed in diviners; but I commend myself to our Lady. Let not this mischance give you trouble. The hauberk which was turned wrong, and then set right by me, signifies that a change will arise out of the matter we are now moving. You shall see the name of duke changed into king. Yea, a king shall I be, who hitherto have been but duke[8]." Then he crossed himself, and straightway took his hauberk, stooped his head, and put it on aright; and laced his helmet and girt his sword, which a varlet brought him. [Footnote 1: We make no attempt to translate Wace's Saxon; for which a previous examination of his original MS. not now in existence, would certainly be a necessary preliminary. The existing copies are obviously the work of French transcribers, wholly ignorant, no doubt, of the Saxon. The MS. of Duchesne is said to read, for the two first words, 'bufler' and 'welseil,' Three of the words sound at least like 'wassail,' 'drink to me,' and 'drink health' or 'half.' In the appendix to M. Raynouard's observations on Wace, some suggestions are given from high English authority; but they throw very little light upon the matter. See _Jeffrey of Monmouth's_ story of Vortigern and Rowena. _Robert de Brunne,_ in translating the passage, makes Rowena give this explanation of the Saxon custom: This is ther custom and ther gest Whan thei are at the ale or fest; Ilk man that loves where him think Sall say _wassail_, and to him drink. He that bids sall say _wassail_; The tother sall say again _drinkhail_; That said _wassail_ drinkes of the cup, Kissand his felow he gives it up; _Drinkhail_, HE says, and drinkes thereof, Kissand him in bord and skof. The king said, as the knight gan ken, _Drinkhail_, smiland on Rouwen; Rouwen drank as hire list, And gave the king, sine him kist. Ther was the first wassail in dede, And that first of fame gede; Of that wassail men told grete tale, &c.]