Sources

Collier, in his 1883 edition of The Misfortunes of Arthur, stated categorically that "the substance of the story is to be found in [Malory's] Morte Arthur." He was joined in this opinion by Ward, ¹³ Klein, ¹⁴ and Prölss. ¹⁵ To be sure, beginning with Caxton's 1485 compilation, Malory's treatment of the Arthur legend had found its way into six editions by 1588. Roger Ascham attested to Malory's popularity when he said, "I know when God's Bible was banished the court and Morte Arthur received into the prince's chamber." ¹⁶ This popularity during the Renaissance is no doubt responsible for the nineteenth-century belief in Malory's primacy as the source for The Misfortunes of Arthur. Beginning with Grumbine's admirable discussion in his 1900 edition of The Misfortunes of Arthur, however, Malory's claim on the play has been diminished to virtual non-existence. One must look back before the time of Malory's work to find the version of the legend informing the play.