Acheflour (Arthurian, Arthur's sister)

Sir Perceval of Galles

• attestation: The lady Acheflour mourned deeply for her slain husband (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 3)

  "Sclio, pat was his lady, Mighte ho full sary, Pat lorne hade siche a body:"

• attestation: Acheflour vowed her son would never see deeds of arms, and took him to live in the woods (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 3)

  "t*at soho schall never mare wone In stede vciih hir Sfonge sone, Pel- dedez of armez schall be done, By nyghte ne be daye; Bot iw pe wodde schall he be,"

• attestation: Acheflour took a maid and a flock of goats to the woods for sustenance (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 3)

  "Bat with hir tuke a tryppe of gayte, With mylke of jDam for to bayte,"

• attestation: The only weapon Acheflour kept was a small Scots spear (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 3)

  "Off all hir lordes faire gere Wolde scho nojte with hir here Bot a lyttill Scottes spere,"

• attestation: When young Perceval asked about the spear, his mother told him it was a dart found in the woods (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 3)

  "Than by-spakke the lady: "Son", scho sayde, ''sekerly, ''It is a dart doghty; "In J)e wodde I it fande."'"

• attestation: Acheflour refused to teach her son any courtly manners or learning (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 3)

  "Schall he nowper take tent To justez ne to to?(rnament, Bot in pe wilde wodde went, With bestez to playe."

• attestation: Acheflour left behind her bower and hall when she retreated to the woods (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 3)

  "By-hynde scho leved boure and haulle;"

• attestation: Acheflour instructed her son to pray to God's son for help (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 4)

  "Swete ehilde, I redo, J)ou praye To goddez sone dere,"

• attestation: Perceval's mother was distressed when she learned he planned to leave (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 5)

  "The lady was nev<';- more sore by gone;"

• attestation: Acheflour was deeply sorrowful knowing her son intended to seek knighthood (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 6)

  "Bot than by-spakke )e lady, f*at for hir son was sar}''; Hir thoghte wele, J)rtt scho myjt dy,"

• attestation: Acheflour told Perceval the next day was Christmas and he planned to leave (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 6)

  "'To-morne es forthirmaste jole-day, 'And J)ou says, J)ou will away,"

• attestation: Acheflour instructed Perceval in basic courtesy: to lift his hood and greet knights (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 6)

  "'Lyttill J)ou can of nurtowre; 'Bothe in haulle and in boure,"

• attestation: Acheflour showed Perceval the rich fur garments so he could recognize a knight by his attire (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 6)

  "Scho schewede hy»i J)e menevaire, Scho had robes in payre:"

• attestation: Acheflour gave Perceval a ring as a token of recognition and promised to wait for his return (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 6)

  "His moder gaffe hym a ryng And Ijad, he solde agayne it bryng: 'Sone, )is sail be oure takynyng, 'For here I sail J)e byde.'"

• attestation: Perceval's mother Acheflour lived wild in the forest eating grass and drinking from springs (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 24)

  "How scho levyde with )e gres With more drynke and lesse In Welles, )er J)ay spryng."

• attestation: The porter told how the giant had pursued a nearby lady after receiving the ring (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 29)

  "'I*at tyme was here fast by 'Wonnade a lady, 'And hir wele and lely 'He luffede, als me thoghte."

• attestation: When the lady recognized her son's ring, she cried out that a thief had slain her son (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 29)

  "'Sayd: "Thefe, base )ou my sone skne "l^at I hym bi-taughte?""

• attestation: Acheflour went mad with grief, tore off her clothes, and fled into the woods (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 29)

  "'Hir clothes ther scho rafe hir fro 'And to ^e wodd gan scho go; 'Thus es J)e lady so wo,"

• attestation: Perceval found his mother wild and mad, but she recognized him and cried out (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 30)

  "Scho bigan to call and cry, Sayd: ^Siche a sone hade I!'"

• attestation: Acheflour attacked Perceval in her madness and would have slain him if she had the strength (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 30)

  "Scho stertis appon hym in tene, Wete je wele, wit/j-owtten wene, Had hir myghte so mekill bene, Scho had hym slayne l)at tyde."

• attestation: Acheflour slept for three nights and three days while the porter watched over her (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 31)

  "Thus the lady there lyes Thre nyghttis and thre dayes, And )e portere alwayes Lay wakande hir by."

• attestation: When Acheflour awoke she was restored to her right mind, as if she had never been mad (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 31)

  "I^en scho was in hir awenn (state) And als wele in hir gate, Als scho hadde nowthir arely ne late Never J)er-owte bene."