354 Notes on the Borders of Wilts and Hants. 



is speaking of the New Forest, anciently called " Ytene": — 



"Ytene's oak — beneath whose shade 

 Their theme the merry minstrels made 

 Of Ascapart and Bevis bold " — 



and so on. 



Michael Drayton, also, in the first book of his poem called 

 Polyolbion, devotes two or three pages of verses to the wonderful 

 performances of Bevis : how nothing could resist that sword which 

 slew serpents, lions, and tyrants by the dozen. 



Shakspeare likewise alludes to the wonderful history. In the 

 first act of Henry VIII. the Duke of Norfolk is describing the 

 feats of arms done at the meeting of Henry and the French King 

 at the Field of Cloth of Gold :— 



"Such deeds 

 They did perform, that former fabulous story 

 Being now made possible enough, 

 Got credit, and Bevis was believed." 



The dimensions of Ascapart were, indeed, formidable. He was 

 30 feet long : and he must have been remarkable for a fine open 

 forehead, for the space between his eye-brows was no less than 

 IE inches ! If such was Ascapart, the conquered, what must Bevis, 

 the conqueror, have been ? and who would not like to have seen, 

 between two such competitors, a backswording match at Hurst- 

 bourne ? 



My excuse for introducing this fabulous history must be, that 



"A little nonsense now and then 

 Is relished by the wisest men." 



J. E. J. 



