  Page 2, l. 16. tourney, tournament; a fight in which many knights joined. Page 3, l. 31. Arthur’s parentage. Uther Pendragon was King Arthur’s father. In Malory’s “Morte d’Arthur,” it is explained how he, when King of all England, marched into Cornwall against the powerful Duke of Tintagil. In the siege that followed the Duke of Tintagil was killed, and his lady, the dame Igraine, afterwards became the wife of King Uthur. It is also explained how, on the advice of Merlin, their son Arthur was fostered by the wife of a certain Sir Ector, and brought up with his son Kay. Uther Pendragon died two years after this, and on his deathbed Merlin asked if Arthur should not be proclaimed his successor. To this Uther Pendragon replied, “I give him my blessing, and righteously may he claim the crown on forfeiture of my blessing.” Merlin had to provide some other means therefore to enable Arthur to succeed to his heritage, and this we have in the tale of the “Drawing of the Sword.” Page 3, l. 32. Merlin. A magician. One of the chief characters in the earlier tales. Page 5, l. 7. seneschal, steward. Page 5, l. 13. Twelfth Day, twelve days after Christmas. Page 5, l. 18. Candlemas, the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary, called Candlemas on account of the number of lighted candles used. Page 6, l. 29. barge here means pleasure-boat. Page 7, l. 14. Carlion, or Carleon, at that time an important city in South Wales, situated about six miles from the mouth of the river Usk. Page 7, l. 27. Round Table, the famous table at which King Arthur’s knights sat. There are several accounts of its origin. One of the reasons suggested for its shape is that, being round, no dispute could arise between the knights for the higher places. Page 8, l. 32. Sir Lancelot, the best loved and bravest of King Arthur’s knights, famed for his chivalry. Page 9, l. 13. Sir Gawaine was one of the five nephews of the King (the other brothers being Mordred, Agrawaine, Gaheris, and Gareth). Page 11, l. 14. Avelion, or Avalon, is generally associated with Glastonbury. Page 18, l. 18. Pentecost, Whitsuntide. Page 19, l. 16. daÏs, a raised platform in the hall at which the highly born sat. Page 25, l. 16. scullion, the lowest servant of the kitchen; washer of dishes. Page 29, l. 19. high degree, high station in life. Page 33, l. 28. venison, the flesh of the deer. Page 33, l. 28. capons, large chickens. Page 36, l. 14. ger-falcon, or gyrfalcon, a large and fierce kind of falcon. Page 37, l. 12. Feast of the Assumption. This took place on the 15th of August (Lady Day). Page 37, l. 16. device, badge; distinguishing mark; coat of arms. Page 37, l. 17. bare them. Bare is the old form of bore; them is themselves. Page 41, l. 5. Michaelmas, the 29th of September. Page 41, l. 28. chamberlain, a high officer of the court; master of the ceremonies. Page 43, l. 31. Gore, or Gower, is a strip of hilly country in Glamorganshire, running out into the sea, and ending in Worm’s Head. Page 46, l. 18. Nimue is the Lady of the Lake mentioned in the story of “Excalibur.” She is generally a good friend to King Arthur. Page 48. the Holy Graal. The graal is the vessel which our Lord used at the Last Supper. Page 49, l. 15. pall, a covering thrown over the dead. Page 49, l. 23. ill-favoured, with unpleasant features. Page 50, l. 28. “till I be shriven of the priest,” “till my sins have been confessed to a priest, and I have been absolved.” Page 50, l. 33. wise, fashion. Page 51, l. 14. divers, several, sundry. Pegs 51, l. 28. samite, a kind of silk stuff. Page 52, l. 4. wist, knew. Page 52, l. 30. Sir Galahad, son of Sir Lancelot, the truest of knights in thought and deed. Page 53, l. 16. White Abbey. The Benedictines wore black garments. This abbey belonged, no doubt, to one of the other orders of monks. Page 53, l. 28. Mass. A service of the Catholic Church. There was, of course, only one Church in those days, Protestantism being of much later date. Page 59, l. 4. palfrey, a horse for riding; distinct from a war-horse. Page 59, l. 31. helm, helmet. Page 60, l. 15. discomfited, routed, defeated. Page 64, l. 9. hair shirt. The irritation caused by wearing a hair shirt was a penance for sins committed. This was a common form of penance. Page 65, l. 17. purged, purified. Page 65, l. 27. peer, equal. Page 66, l. 1. Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Lancelot’s brother. Page 66, l. 13. Sir Percivale and his sister were the daughter of King Pellinore. Page 74, l. 18. King Pelles, the father of Elaine. Page 77, l. 22. almonries, or almories, cupboards. (Literally places where alms were distributed; places for broken victuals.) Page 85, l. 10. made a covenant, made an agreement; undertook. Page 85, l. 29. couched their spears, put their spears in rest, and levelled them for the charge. Page 89, l. 13. Camelot is identified by Malory with Winchester, but there is reason to believe that actually it was in Somerset. Page 90, l. 15. a joust was a trial of strength between two knights. Page 91, l. 10. token. It was the custom for knights to wear their ladies’ “tokens.” Page 91, l. 31. burgess, citizen. Page 93, l. 2. Sir Gawaine. Being the King’s nephew, the King took special interest in him. Page 93, l. 18. press, throng, fight. Page 94, l. 11. mÊlÉe, thick of the fight. Page 95, l. 32. Northgalis, North Wales. Page 105, l. 10. Sir Brandiles, one of the knights of the Round Table. Page 108, l. 2. pavilion, tent. Page 109, l. 4. doublet, the upper part of a man’s dress. Page 119, l. 28. lesses les aller, the old French form of the “Laissez aller” in “Ivanhoe,” meaning “Go!” Page 131, l. 34. craven, coward. Page 132, l. 13. Sir Lionel, Sir Bors’ brother. Page 133, l. 28. olive, the token of peace. Page 137, l. 14. bell, book, and candle. This curse was so called because a bell was rung while it was being read from a book, and as soon as it was over a candle was solemnly extinguished. The last part of the ceremony was meant to show more clearly to the offender how completely he was put beyond the grace of the Church. Page 137, l. 17. waxed, grew. Page 138, l. 34. salves, ointments. Page 140, l. 28. tide me death, though death betide me. Page 142, l. 2. stark, more commonly used with the word stiff (stiff and stark) to denote death. Page 143, l. 5. wan, pale, grey. Page 145, l. 6. alms deeds, deeds of charity. Page 148, l. 32. dwined, dwindled. THE END. PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, BECCLES. |
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