Many of the traits here attributed to Athelwold appear to be borrowed from the praises so universally bestowed by our ancient historians on the character of King Alfred, in whose time, as Otterbourne writes, p. 52, “armillas aureas in bivio stratas vel suspensas, nemo abripere est ausus.” Cf. _Annal. Eccl. Roffens._ MS. Cott. Nero, D. II. The same anecdote is related of Rollo, Duke of Normandy, by Guillaume de Jumieges, and Dudon de Saint Quentin. 91. _Sprong forth so sparke of glede._ Cf. l. 870. It is a very common metaphor in early English poetry. He sprong forð an stede, swa sparc ded of fure, _Laȝamon_ v. ii. p. 565. He sprange als any sparke one glede. _Sir Isumbras_, st. 39 (Camd. Soc. 1844) He spronge as sparkle doth of glede, _K. of Tars_, l. 194. And lepte out of the arsoun, As sperk thogh out of glede. _Ly Beaus Desconus_, l. 623. Cf. Chaucer, Cant. Tales, l. 13833, and Tyrwhitt’s note. 110. _Of his bodi_, &c. Compare the French text, l. 208. Mes entre eus n’eurent enfant Mes qe vne fille bele; Argentille out non la pucele. Rois Ekenbright fut enfermez, Et de grant mal forment greuez; Bien siet n’en poet garrir. [Here _Argentille_ is _Goldborough_, and _Ekenbright_ answers to _Athelwold_. This quotation, and others below, shewing the passages of the French text which most nearly resemble the English poem, are from a MS. in the Herald’s College, marked E. D. N. No. 14. See the Preface.] [118. _Wat shal me to rede_, lit. what shall be for a counsel to me. See _Rede_ in the Glossary to _William of Palerne_. 130. _And don hem of þar hire were queme_, lit. and do them off where it should be agreeable to her; i.e. and keep men at a distance as she pleased. Such seems to me the meaning of this hitherto unexplained line. 132. For _me_ we ought probably to read _hit_.] 136. _He sende_ writes _sone onon._ We must here, and in l. 2275, simply understand _letters_, without any reference to the official summonses of parliament, which subsequently were so termed, κατ’ εξοχην. The word _briefs_ is used in the same sense by the old French writers, and in Laȝamon we meet with some lines nearly corresponding with the present; see ll. 6669-6678. [175. _þa_. Frequently written for _þat_. See _William of Palerne_.] 189-203. _Ther-on he garte_, &c. Compare the French Romance, ll. 215-228. Sa fille li ad comandée, Et sa terre tote liuerée. Primerement li fet iurer, Veiant sa gent & affier, Qe leaument la nurrireit, Et sa terre lui gardereit, Tant q’ele fust de tiel age Qe suffrir porroit mariage. Quant la pucele seit granz, Par le consail de ses tenanz, Au plus fort home la dorroit Qe el reaume troueroit; Qu’il li baillast ses citez, Ses chasteus & ses fermetez. 263. _Justises dede he maken newe, Al Engelond to faren thorw._