Note 1125 — APPENDIX I. AN ESSAY ON THE ANCIENT MINSTRELS IN ENGLAND.

Whenever the word Romance occurs in these metrical narratives, it hath been thought to afford decisive proof of a translation from the Romance, or French language. Accordingly it is so urged by T. Warton (i. 146, note), from two passages in the pr. copy of Sir Eglamour, viz., Sign. E. i.

Again in fol. ult.

But in the Cotton MS. of the original the first passage is:

And the other thus:

So that I believe references to "the Romaunce," or the like, were often meer expletive phrases inserted by the oral reciters; one of whom, I conceive, had altered or corrupted the old Syr Eglamour in the manner that the copy was printed.