we are told at the outset that the volume had an English
origin. Philippe Comte de Hainault having accompanied Marguerite daughter
of Philippe III. (_le hardi_) to England in order to be present at her
nuptials with Edward I. (1299), the Count made an excursion to the north
of England. Chancing to harbour at a monastery 'on the banks of the
Humber,' he was shown an ancient manuscript which had been discovered in
a vault under the ancient (? Saxon) part of the building. One of the
monks had translated it into Latin. Philippe borrowed it and took it back
with him to Hainault, where it was reduced into French. It is every whit
as good as the Morte d'Arthur, and still awaits its Malory. The 1531
Paris edition consists of six folio volumes, the page in double columns
of black letter type, with 53 lines to the column. The whole book
contains rather more than six hundred thousand words. Here is a chance
for some enthusiast! At the least he would learn patience,
carefulness--and a deal of mediaeval French.

[36] O. Fr. _pierron_.

[37] That there is a distinct crack on its upper side, you may see from
the photograph here reproduced.

[38] Sir J. Rhys, 'Studies in the Arthurian Legend,' Oxford, 1891, pp.
300-327.

[39] In the list of books at the Louvre belonging to Charles V. of
France, drawn up by Gilles Malet, his librarian, in 1373, there is a
volume 'Du roy Artus, de la Table Ronde, et de la Mort dudit roy, tres
bien escript et enlumine.' It would be interesting to compare this
manuscript (if it is still in existence) with Malory's work, and to see
whether the incident of the _peron_ is described therein.

[40] _i.e._ the golden vessel, because of the samite (silken) covering.

[41] As the table is painted at present, 'S. Galahallt' is upon the
King's immediate left.

[42] Of one of these enterprising antiquaries (a clergyman) it is proudly
related that in the course of _three years_ "he opened no less than a
hundred and six tumuli and graves, and obtained from them a large
proportion of that valuable collection of antiquities now in possession
of Mr. Meyer, of Liverpool." See _A Corner of Kent_, by J. R. Planche,
1864, page 115.

[43] Milton.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER V

THE CARE OF BOOKS

'Wher so ever y be come over all
I belonge to the Chapell of gunvylle hall;
He shal be cursed by the grate sentens
That felonsly faryth and berith me thens.
And whether he bere me in pooke