_Beowulf_, ed. Thorpe, p. 2. Welle wide sprong þas eorles word. _Laȝamon_, l. 26242. Of a knight is that y mene, His name is sprong wel wide. _Sir Tristrem_, st. 2, p. 12. The word of Horn wide sprong, How he was bothe michel and long. _Horn Childe_, ap. Rits. _Metr. Rom._ V. iii. p. 291. See also the _Kyng of Tars_, ll. 19, 1007, _Emare_, l. 256, _Roland and Ferragus_, as quoted by Ellis, _Ly beaus Desconus_, l. 172, and _Chronicle of England_, l. 71. 984. _In armes him noman (ne) nam, þat he doune sone ne caste._ The same praise is bestowed on Havelok in the French text, l. 265,-- Deuant eus liuter le fesoient As plus forz homes q’il sauoient, Et il trestouz les abatit-- and it was doubtless in imitation or ridicule of the qualities attributed to similar heroes, that Chaucer writes of Sir Thopas, “Of wrastling was ther non his per.” Cant. Tales, l. 13670. 1006. _To ben þer at þe parlement._ Cf. l. 1178. If we examine our historical records, we shall find that the only parliament held at Lincoln was in the year 1300, 28 Edw. I., and the writs to the _Archbishop of York_, and other Nobles, both ecclesiastical and secular, are still extant. The proceedings are detailed at some length by Robert of Brunne, Vol. II. p. 312, who might have been in Lincoln at the time, or, at all events, was sufficiently informed of all that took place, from his residence in the county. If we could suppose that the author of the Romance alluded to this very parliament, it would reduce the period of the poem’s composition to a later date, than either the style or the writing of the MS. will possibly admit of. It is therefore far more probable the writer here makes use of a poetical, and very pardonable licence, in transferring the parliament to the chief city of the county in which he was evidently born, or brought up, without any reference whatever to historical data. 1022. _Biforn here fet þanne lay a tre, And putten with a mikel ston_, &c.