In this volume the text of Bülg has not been followed over-scrupulously: but it is hoped that, in a book intended for general circulation, none will deplore such excisions and euphemisms, nor even such slight additions, as seemed to make for coherence and clarity and decorum.
The curious are referred to the pages of Poictesme en Chanson et Légende for a discussion of the sources of The Silver Stallion; and may decide for themselves whether or not Bülg has, in Codman’s phrase, “shown” these legends to be “spurious compositions of 17th century origin.” For myself, I here confess to finding the evidence educed, alike, a bit inadequate and, as far as goes my purpose, wholly immaterial. These chronicles, such as they are, present the only known record of the latter days of champions whose youthful exploits have long since been made familiar to English readers of Lewistam’s Popular Tales of Poictesme: authentic or not, and irrespective of whether such legends cannot be quite definitely proved to have existed earlier than 1652, here is the sole account we have anywhere, or are now likely ever to receive, of the changes that followed in Poictesme after the passing of Manuel the Redeemer.
It is as such an account—which for my purpose was a desideratum,—that I have put The Silver Stallion into English.
THE LORDS THAT POICTESME HAD IN DOM MANUEL’S TIME
These ten were of the Fellowship of the Silver Stallion:
¶ Dom Manuel, Count of Poictesme, held Storisende and Bellegarde, the town of Beauvillage and the strong fort at Lisuarte, with all Amneran and Morven.
¶ Messire Gonfal of Naimes, Margrave of Aradol, held Upper Naimousin.
¶ Messire Donander of Évre, the Thane of Aigremont, held Lower Naimousin.
¶ Messire Kerin of Nointel, Syndic and Castellan of Basardra, held West Val-Ardray.