Chapter Gryphon to Guiderius of G by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Gudyill (Old John), butler to lady Bellenden.—Sir W. Scott: Old Mortality (time, Charles II.).

Guelpho, son of Actius IV. marquis d’Este and of Cunigunda (a German). Guelpho was the uncle of Rinaldo, and next in command to Godfrey. He led an army of 5000 men from Carynthia, in Germany, to the siege of Jerusalem, but most of them were cut off by the Persians. Guelpho was noted for his broad shoulders and ample chest. —Tasso: Jerusalem Delivered, iii. (1575).

Guendolen, a fairy whose mother was a human being. King Arthur fell in love with her, and she became the mother of Gyneth. When Arthur deserted the frail fair one, she offered him a parting cup; but as he took it in his hand, a drop of the liquor fell on his horse and burnt it so severely that it “leapt twenty feet high,” ran mad, and died. Arthur dashed the cup on the ground, whereupon it set fire to the grass and consumed the fairy palace. As for Guendolen, she was never seen afterwards.—Sir W. Scott: The Bridal of Triermain, i. 2 (“Lyulph’s Tale,” 1813).

Guendolœna, wife of Locr in (eldest son of Brute, whom he succeeded), and daughter of Corineus. Being divorced, she retired to Cornwall, and collected an army, which marched against Locrin, who “was killed by the shot of an arrow.” Guendolœna now assumed the reins of government, and her first act was to throw Estrildis (her rival) and her daughter Sabre into the Severn, which was called Sabrina or Sabren from that day.—Geoffrey: British History, ii. 4, 5 (1142).

Guenever or Guinever, a corrupt form of Guanhumara , daughter of king Leodegrance of the land of Camelyard. She was the most beautiful of women, was the wife of king Arthur, but entertained a criminal attachment to sir Launcelot du Lac. Respecting the latter part of the queen’s history, the greatest diversity occurs. Thus Geoffrey says—

King Arthur was on his way to Rome … when news was brought him that his nephew Modred, to whose care he had entrusted Britain, had … set the crown upon his own head; and that the queen Guanhumara … had wickedly married him. … When king Arthur returned and put Modred and his army to flight … the queen fled from York to the City of Legions [Newport, in South Wales], where she resolved to lead a chaste life among the nuns of Julius the martyr.—British History, xi. 1 (1142).

Another version is that Arthur, being informed of the adulterous conduct of Launcelot, went with an army to Benwick (Brittany), to punish him. That Mordred (his son by his own sister), left as regent, usurped the crown, proclaimed that Arthur was dead, and tried to marry Guenever the queen; but she shut herself up in the Tower of London, resolved to die rather than marry the usurper. When she heard of the death of Arthur, she “stole away” to Almesbury, “and there she let make herself a nun, and wore white cloaths and black.” And there lived she “in fasting, prayers, and alms-deeds, that all marvelled at her virtuous life.”—Sir T. Malory: History of Prince Arthur, iii. 161–170 (1470).

(For Tennyson’s account, see Guinevere.)

Guenevra, wife of Nectabanus the dwarf, at the cell of the hermit of Engaddi.—Sir W. Scott: The Talisman (time, Richard I.).

Guerin or Guerino, son of Millon king of Albania. On the day of his birth his father was dethroned, but the child was rescued by a Greek slave, who brought it up and surnamed it Meschino, or “The Wretched.” When grown to man’s estate, Guerin fell in love with the princess Elizena, sister of the Greek emperor, who held his court at Constantinople.—An Italian Romance.

Guesclin’s Dust a Talisman. Guesclin, or rather Du Guesclin, constable of France, laid siege to Châteauneuf- de-Randan, in Auvergne. After several assaults, the town promised to surrender if not relieved within