[Court of King Arthur] The History of Tarquin and Lancelot du Lake

Description: [Anon.] [Court of King Arthur] The History of Tarquin and Lancelot du Lake. Tamworth, [England]: Cotton, Printer, [n.d., ca. 1780s; pre-1783]. 12½ x 7½ inches. Woodcut, two ornamental chain lines. Printed in four columns. Three old manuscript corrections in last column; two lines of text are mostly worn off at the top, one partly legible. Archival mat window, mylar sheet. An unrecorded 18th century broadside commemorating Sir Lancelot du Lake and Sir Tarquin’s hand-to-hand combat battle. The sheet was sold to tourists at Tamworth Castle in Tamworth, Staffordshire where a 16th century mural on the castle’s Great Wall depicted the fight. The mural was whitewashed over in 1783. (Friends of Tamworth Castle and Museum) The broadside states: “If Travellers who pass that way [Tamworth Castle], On Serjeant Willcox call, He to this Day can shew these Knights Fighting against a Wall.” Prefatory text wraps around a woodcut of Sir Tarquin falling to the ground, mortally wounded by Lancelot. Based on Thomas Deloney’s The Noble Acts newly found, Of Arthur of the Table Round, the verse has has 144 lines consisting of 36 hymnal stanza quatrains. A lesser-known character in Arthurian lore, Tarquin had imprisoned 44 knights of King Arthur’s court. When Lancelot confronts him, Tarquin at first does not recognize him as the slayer of his brother: “If thou be of the Table Round, Quoth Tarquin furiously, Both thee and all thy Fellowship, I utterly defy. / Tarquin, that’s over bold reply’d Du Lake courageously; Then clapping Spurs unto their Steeds They at each other fly. / ... Both wounded were and bled full sore, For breath they both did stand. Leaning upon their Swords awhile, Quoth Tarquin, Hold thy hand, / ... Why that’s well said, quoth Lancelot then, Thy motion likes me well; But who’s this Knight thou so do’st hate. His name I pray thee tell? / His name, quoth Tarquin is Du Lake, He slew my Brother dear… / Strait at each other, like two Boars, They both enraged fly; And two long Hours by Tamworth They fought most furiously. / The Ground besprinkled was with gore Long Time was hard to say, Which of these knights the bravest was Or which would win the day; / Till Lancelot with one mighty Stroke, His foe did so assail, That Tarquin stagger’d, and his strength, Therewith began to fail; / With loss of blood he then grew faint, Which when Sir Lancelot found, With all his Force a blow he gave, Which brought him to the Ground. / Then forthwith taking off his Helm, Smiting his Neck in twain, His Body and his Bason threw, Into the River Tame. / ... God bless our King and may his Knights When put upon the Trial, Approve themselves as Lancelot did, As Valiant and as Loyal.” We find no 18th century items with this imprint in OCLC or ESTC. Not in ESTC or OCLC and no entries in either of any items having this imprint. Not to be mistaken for ESTC N8306, i.e., A famous battle fought between Sir Lancelot du Lake, and the famous giant Tarquin,which begins: “Within this ancient British land…”Our Stock# 3731482 About Us Established in 1995, Ian Brabner, Rare Americana, LLC buys and sells rare and antiquarian books and historical manuscripts published or created in pre-1900 America. We are located in Wilmington, Delaware. Member Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA). International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB). The Manuscript Society. Ephemera Society of America. Guarantee All items are guaranteed to be as described. Authenticity is guaranteed for the lifetime of the original purchaser. As a member of the above-named trade organizations, we abide by their published code of ethics. Any item is returnable for any reason within 30 days(prior notice appreciated). If you have questions regarding our description for this item, please contact us. We will be happy to answer them. Shipping Items are expertly packed in bubble wrap and shipped in new boxes or reinforced envelopes. No International Buyers Please, no buyers outside of the USA. Feedback We leave feedback after receiving feedback from buyers. If you're unhappy with any part of your transaction with us, please let us know. Our priority is to make you happy and resolve issues promptly. © 2024 Ian Brabner, Rare Americana, LLC. All rights reserved.

Price: 2000 USD

Location: Wilmington, DE

End Time: 2024-12-09T18:12:05.000Z

Shipping Cost: 5 USD