The Legend of Sir Perceval; Studies Upon Its Origin, Development, and Position in the Arthurian Cycle Volume 1

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1906 edition. Excerpt: ... coutel ne vit hon tel que Dieu le fist non pas nature au manche avoit ceste escripture " In honore Sancte et individue Trinitatis."' He then ascended into heaven, leaving the impression of his foot on the stone. From that day onward, under the fostering care of the Dukes of Normandy, the abbey increased in wealth and prosperity. The poet concludes the legend with these words: 'je ay rudement dicte 1'ystoire mes fermement la devon croire que saintes gens 1'ont approuvee et miracles 1'ont confermee devant le sanc donc merchi crie tu qui ceu lis, et pour moy prie.' In the foregoing account there is one omission: the writer did not know what was the second relic enclosed in the fig-tree. From the Latin versions we learn that the blood which had dried on the wounds of Our Lord was removed by means of a knife: ' In ipsa tamen depositione Nichodemus ille qui, teste Evangelic, venerat ad Jhesum nocte, non minima accensus dilectione, sanguinem veri prophete Jhesu circa vulnera pedum et manuum et lateris refrigeratum suo abrasit cultello et in sua reposuit ciro-teca.'1 It was this knife which was concealed in the second tube placed in the fig-tree. The raison d'etre of the second knife, that brought by the angel, is not very clear. I am inclined to think it may have arisen from the details concerning the preservation of the first having dropped out of the story, while the writer was well aware of the fact that it existed side by side with the Saint Sang at Fescamp. Now to what date should this tradition be assigned? If we set on one side as legendary the miraculous introduction to the story recounting the various foundations of the present Abbey, there is solid historical evidence for the tradition of its foundation in its present form under...