Note 2191 — Chapter X · THE NEW ENGLAND. 1170–1206.

“Sicut ab historico cantore Britone audierat antiquo,” Gir. Cambr. De Instr. Princ. (Angl. Christ. Soc.), p. 192. “Ex gestis Britonum et eorum cantoribus historicis,” Spec. Eccles., dist. ii. c. 9 (Brewer, vol. iv. p. 49). These pyramids were there in William of Malmesbury’s day, when one of them was already threatening to fall “præ nimiâ vetustate.” They were covered with “antiquitatis nonnulla spectacula, quæ plane possunt legi licet non plane possunt intelligi.” These were pictures of bishops and kings, with old English names written under them; Arthur, however, is not in the list. William thought that the persons represented were buried underneath. Will. Malm. Gesta Reg., l. i. c. 21 (Hardy, pp. 34, 35).