Note 499 — APPENDIX II. ON THE ANCIENT METRICAL ROMANCES, &c.
Reading edition
Vid. supra, note (d), vol. i. Essay, &c. Et vide Rapin, Carte, &c. This song of Roland (whatever it was) continued for some centuries to be usually sung by the French in their marches, if we may believe a modern French writer. "Un jour qu'on chantoit la Chanson de Roland, comme c'etoit l'usage dans les marches. Il y a long temps, dit il (John K. of France, who died in 1364), qu'on ne voit plus de Rolands parmi les François. On y verroit encore des Rolands, lui répondit un vieux capitaine, s'ils avoient un Charlemagne à leur tête." Vid. tom. iii. p. 202, des Essaies Hist. sur Paris, de M. de Saintefoix: who gives as his authority, Boethius in Hist. Scotorum. This author, however, speaks of the complaint and repartee, as made in an Assembly of the States (vocato senatu), and not upon any march, &c. Vid. Boeth. lib. xv. vol. 327. Ed. Paris, 1574.