Digital Index of Middle English Verse: No. 2628

DIMEV 2628

IMEV 1566

NIMEV 1566

In the time of Arthur an aunter betide

The Awntyrs off Arthure at the Terne Wathelyne — 715 lines in 13-line alliterative stanzas (ababababcdddc).

Title(s): The Awntyrs off Arthure at the Terne Wathelyne

Subjects: romances; Arthurian literature

Versification: — thirteen-line, alliteration — ababababcdddc

Manuscript Witnesses:

1.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Douce 309 (SC 21883), ff. 1-11v

First Lines:

In the Tyme of Authur an Aunter by tydde
By ye turnen athelan as ye boke telles…

Last Lines:

…In ye tyme of Arthore
This anter betide

Note: Ninteenth-century transcript by Douce in Oxford, Bodleian Library Douce 309 (SC 21883), f. 1.

2.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Douce 324 (SC 21898), ff. 1-11v

First Lines:

IN the tyme of Arthur an aunter by tydde
By þe turnewathelan as þe boke telles…

Last Lines:

…In þe tyme of Arthore
This anter be tide

Note: Nineteenth-century transcript by Douce in Oxford, Bodleian Library Douce 309 (SC 21883), f. 1.

Editions:

Amours, François Joseph, ed. Scottish Alliterative Poems in Riming Stanzas. 2 vols. Scottish Text Society 27 (1892), 38 (1897); Edinburgh, London: Blackwood, 1892-1897: 1.116-71.

Pinkerton, John, ed. Ancient Scottish Poems Never Before in Print. 2 vols. London and Edinburgh, 1786: 3.197.

Sibbald, John. Chronicle of Scottish Poetry…. 4 vols. Edinburgh and London, 1802: 1.xvii-xxvii (lines 1-332 only).

Hanna, Ralph, ed. The Awntyrs off Arthure at the Terne Watthelyn: An Edition Based on the Bodleian Library MS. Douce 324 Manchester: University Press, 1974.

Hahn, Thomas, ed. Sir Gawain: Eleven Romances and Tales. Kalamazoo, MI: Western Michigan University for TEAMS, 1995: 169-226.

3.Source: London, Lambeth Palace Library 491, ff. 275-286v

First Lines:

In the tyme of Arthur an auntur bytid
In talkyng of his turmentis þe tale of hym tellis…

Last Lines:

…Thurgh a forest as y fore
wiþ stif knyghtis and store
In þe tyme of Arthur
This auntour bytyd
Explicit

4.Source: Lincoln, Lincoln Cathedral Library 91 [Robert Thornton MS], ff. 154-161

First Lines:

In Kyng Arthure tyme ane awntir by tyde
By the Ternewahethelyne als the buke tellis…

Last Lines:

…This fferly byflle full sothely to sayne
In yggillwede fforeste at þe Ternwathelayne

Note: One leaf missing between 157 and 158; lower outer corner of f. 159 torn away, with loss of text.

Attributed Title: Here By gynnes The Awntyrs off Arthure at the Terne Wathelyn (f. 154)

Facsimiles:

Brewer, Derek Stanley, and A. E. B. Owen. “Introduction.” The Thornton Manuscript (Lincoln Cathedral MS. 91). London: Scolar Press, 1975.

Editions:

Amours, François Joseph, ed. Scottish Alliterative Poems in Riming Stanzas. 2 vols. Scottish Text Society 27 (1892), 38 (1897); Edinburgh, London: Blackwood, 1892-1897: 1.116-71.

Laing, David. Select Remains of the Ancient Popular and Romance Poetry of Scotland. Edinburgh: 1822; rev. J. Small , Edinburgh: Blackwood, 1885; rev. W. C. Hazlitt , “Early Popular Poetry of Scotland” , London: Reeves and Turner, 1895: 1.4.

Madden, Frederick, ed. Syr Gawayne. Bannatyne Club. London: R. and J. Taylor, 1839: 95-128.

5.Source: Princeton, Princeton University Library Taylor Medieval 9 [olim Bodmer, prior Ireland, Blackburn], ff. 1-15v

First Lines:

IN þe tyme of Arthor thys anter be tydd
Be syde þe tarne Wathelan as þe boke tellus…

Last Lines:

…In the tyme of king Arthore
this anter be tidde

Note: ‘finis’ after last line

Editions:

Robson, John. “Three Early English Metrical Romances.” Camden Society o.s. 18 (1842): 1-26.