The Secular ballads were undoubtedly all, or nearly all, importations from the mainland. Of these I have made a selection, and have striven to record those which do not appear to have been already printed, or which, like “La Claire Fontaine,” vary considerably from the continental models. Thus “Malbrouck,” which is one of the most widely known of all our old ballads, appears in every French “Recueil de Chansons,” and the verses of “Le Juif Errant” and “Geneviève de Brabant” of which copies are also found in all our old farm houses, have also been repeatedly printed on the Continent, so are not included here.
Yvon de Galles.
“Surprise de l’Ile de Guernesey l’an 1370, sous le Règne d’Edouard III., Roy d’Angleterre, et de Charles V., Roy de France.”
Note.
This poem is copied from a version compiled by Mr. Métivier, and said by him to be the revised text of seven mutilated manuscript copies. I have also included most of his notes.
“Or, grands et petits entendez
Lai[263] d’allure,[264] fort’ment rimée,[265]
Sur nombre de gent ramassée,
Qui va sillant[266] la mer salée,