Tennyson, 'Holy Grail,' 53. This thorn, a patriarchal tree of vast dimensions, was destroyed during the Reformation. But many of its descendants exist about England (propagated from cuttings brought by pilgrims), and still retain its unique season for flowering. In all other respects they are indistinguishable from common thorns.
See also William of Malmesbury, 'Hist. Regum,' § 20.
See p. 62.
See Introduction to Tennyson's 'Holy Grail' (G.C. Macaulay), p. xxix.