As in many of the variations, mentioned just before, there are many omissions in the Ashmole MS., which are related in the «Sowdan», it becomes evident that the Ashmolean version cannot have been the original from which the «Sowdan» was copied, which is also proved by several names occurring in the «Sowdan», but which are not to be found in «Syr Ferumbras». Thus, for instance, the names of «Espiard», «Belmore», «Fortibrance», «Tamper»,[61] do not occur at all in the Ashmolean version, whereas other names have quite a different form in the latter poem. For «Generyse», «S» 1135, 1239, we find «Garin», «A» 216, 443; «Barrock», «S» 2939, 2943, 3022 = «Amyote», «A» 4663; «Alagolofur», «S» 2135, 2881 = «Agolafre», «A» 3831, 4327; and «Laban» is always spelt «Balan» in the Ashmolean poem, &c. Now as there are some passages where the «Sowdan», while it differs from the Ashm. MS., corresponds with the French «Fierabras», we might be inclined to think that poem to be the original of the «Sowdan». Thus Charlemagne’s prayer and the name of Bishop Turpin, which are omitted in the Ashm. MS., occur in the French «Fierabras». But there are several differences between the «Sowdan» and the French poem. In the «Fierabras», l. 1933, the French prisoners, on being brought before the Soudan, do not avow their true names as they do in the «Sowdan», l. 1498. In the French poem, l. 704, Oliver tells his adversary his name before the fight begins; in the «Sowdan», l. 1249, he does not confess his true name until they had fought for a considerable time. In the «Fierabras», l. 1043, Oliver drinks of the bottles of balm, which is not mentioned in the «Sowdan», l. 1190. Again, «Fierabras», ll. 1329 ss., where Ferumbras having disarmed Oliver, tells him to take his sword back again, does not agree with ll. 1279–82 of the «Sowdan». Instead of Floripas («S» 1515), «Brulans» advises the Soudan not to slay the prisoners in «F» 1949. The French knight slain at the sally of the captives is called «Bryer» in «S» 2604, but «Basin» in «F» 3313. [p-xxx] Concerning the sacred relics there is no mention made of the «cross» («S» 3236) in the French poem, and the «signe», «i. e.» ‘the shroud or winding-sheet of the Lord’[62] («F» 6094), is omitted in the «Sowdan». Besides these variations of the two versions there is an incident of Marsedag being killed by Guy, and buried by the Saracens («S» 2247–2274), which being omitted in the «Fierabras» proves that the author of the «Sowdan» cannot have followed the French poem, or at least not that version which is edited by MM. Krœber and Servois. Similarly there is no mention made in the French «Fierabras» of Bryer being charged to take care of the relics and of Charles’s treasure («S» 3204). The game of blowing burning coals is related in «Sowdan», l. 1996 ss., with several details which are wanting in the French poem, l. 2907.