is only a corruption from Palamedes, a famous Grecian leader. Chaucer mentions * Sir Tristram with Achilles. He also joins Virgil's trumpeter Misenus with those fa mous martial musicians of the Turney, who "usid the clarion" in the many celebrated feats of chivalry performed in Catalonia and Arragont. Perceforest, in his romance, says, "Si j'avois autant de possessions comme avoit le roi Alexandre, et de sens comme le sage Solomon, et de chevaliere comme eut le preux Hector de Troye, &c. . But examples are innumerable. The story of Troy they first got from Dares Phrygius, and Dictys Cretensis; for Dante never had read Homer, and Boccace was the first who introduced him into Italy. In the library of Glastonbury Abbey, A. D. 1248, we find a * Assem. of Fowles, 290. House of Fame, 3. 153. Perceforest, tom. ii. fol. 121. versa. col. 1. 2. book, entitled, Excidium Troja*. But much earlier than this, in an age of grosser ignorance, so popular and respectable was the story of Troy, that Witlafius, a king of the West-Saxons, A. D. 833. grants in his charter, among other things, to the church of Croyland-abbey, his robe of tissue, on which was embroidered the Destruction of Troy. This was to be hung against the walls of the choir, on the day of his anniversary †. The story of the golden fleece was likewise held in high reverence, and frequently furnished heroes and heroines for their legends. Chaucer often mentions Duke Jason+ * Hearn, Catal. Johan. Glaston, vol. ii. p. 435. Rerum Anglic. Script. vet. Oxon. 1684. tom. i. Hist. Ingulphi, p. 9. Skelton says, in the boke of Philipe Sparrowe, pag. 233. ed. 1738. and Queen Medea. I have seen the Historie of the Knight Jason, by Gerard de Leew*, fol. Andewarp, [Antwerp] 1480. About the same time, Caxton printed The Historie of Jason; towchynge the conqueste of the golden fleece. This book was translated from the French of Raoul le Feure, chaplain to the famous Duke of Burgundy who, in memory of Jason's expedition, but perhaps more immediately from the popularity of the story at that time, founded the order of the Golden Fleece, the first chapter of which was held, 1468. Caxton, in his Prologue, mentions a stately chamber, in the duke's castle at Hesdin in Artois, sumptuously adorned with paintings, perhaps with tapestry, of this story, and furnished moreover with a curious piece of machinery, by which the magical powers of Medea were represented in the sudden production of * Who wrote also the Chronycles of the reame of Englonde, with their apperteignaunces. snow, rain, lightning, and thunder. " Well wote I, says he, that the noble Duc Philippe, first founder of this said order, did doo make a chambre in the castell of Hesdyn, wherein was craftyly and curyously depeynted the conqueste of the Golden Fleece, by the said Jason. In which chambre I have been, and seen the sayd historie so depeynted; and in remembraunce of Medea, and her cunning and science, he had doo make in the sayd chambre, by subtill engyne, that, when it he wold, it shulde seeme, that it lightned, and after, thondre, snowe, and rayne, and all within the sayd chambre, as aft times, and when it shulde please him, which was all made for his singuler plaisir." But afterwards, by the advice of John German, bishop of Nevers, first chancellor of this order, Jason's fleece was exchanged for Gideon's; and the story of the latter was wrought into rich hangings of gold and silver, which were remaining in the court of Brussels, when Chifletius published his account of this institution*. Few stories of antiquity have more the cast of one of the old romances than this of Jason. An expedition of a new kind is made into a strange and distant country, attended with infinite dangers and difficulties. The king's daughter of the new country is an enchantress; she falls in love with the young prince, who is the chief adventurer. The prize which he seeks is guarded by brazenfooted bulls, who breathe fire; and by a hideous dragon, who never sleeps. The prin cess lends him the assistance of her charms and incantations to conquer these obstacles; she gives him possession of the prize, leaves her father's court, and follows the young prince into his native country. It should be observed, that these wonders subsisted in * Breviarum Velleris aurei. |