[Guy was one of the most popular of the heroes of romance, and the Folio MS. contains three pieces upon his history, viz., the two printed here and _Guy and Colbrand_.
The original of the present ballad in the Folio MS., entitled _Guy and Phillis_ (ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. ii. p. 201), is a mere fragment beginning with verse 89. Percy tore out certain leaves to send to the printer, and in consequence the whole of _King Estmere_ and the beginning of this ballad are lost. Alterations have been made in nearly every verse by the help of the printed copies. _Guy and Phillis_ was entered on the Stationers' books, 5th January, 1591-2.
We are told by Dugdale that an English traveller, about the year 1410, was hospitably received at Jerusalem by the Soldan's lieutenant, who, hearing that Lord Beauchamp "was descended from the famous Guy of Warwick, whose story they had in books of their own language, invited him to his palace; and royally feasting him, presented him with three precious stones of great value, besides divers cloaths of silk and gold given to his servants." Dugdale's authority for this story was John Rous, a priest of the chapel at Guy's Cliff, near Warwick, who compiled a biography of the hero, in which all the incidents of the romance are narrated as sober fact. The constant praises of the hero bored some people, and Corbet, in his _Iter Boreale_, expressed the hope that he should hear no more of him--
"May all the ballads be call'd in and dye Which sing the warrs of Colebrand and Sir Guy."
Much valuable information on this subject will be found in Mr. Hale's interesting introduction to the Guy poems in the Folio MS.]
Was ever knight for ladyes sake Soe tost in love, as I sir Guy For Phelis fayre, that lady bright As ever man beheld with eye?
She gave me leave myself to try, The valiant knight with sheeld and speare, Ere that her love shee wold grant me; Which made mee venture far and neare.
Then proved I a baron bold,[257] In deeds of armes the doughtyest knight That in those dayes in England was, With sworde and speare in feild to fight.
An English man I was by birthe: In faith of Christ a christyan true: The wicked lawes of infidells 15 I sought by prowesse to subdue.