Chapter Labarum to Lady of the Sun of L by Brewer's Readers Handbook

LADY OF THE LAKE (A), a harlot. (Anglo-Saxon, lác, “a present.”) A “guinea-fowl” or “guinea-hen” is a similar term.

But for the difference marriage makes
’Twixt wives and “ladies of the lake.”
   —S. Butler: Hudibras, iii. I (1678).

Lady of the Lake (The), Nimue [sic], one of the damsels of the lake, that king Pellinore took to his court: Merlin, in his dotage, fell in love with her, when she wheedled him out of all his secrets, and enclosed him in a rock, where he died (pt. i. 60). Subsequently, Nimue married sir Pelleas (pt. i. 81,82). (See next article.)

So upon a time it happened that Merlin shewed Nimue in a rock whereas was a great wonder, and wrought by enchantment, which went under a stone. So, by her subtle craft and working, she made Merlin go under that stone … and so wrought that he never came out again. So she departed, and left Merlin.—Sir T. Mabory: History of Prince Arthur, i. 60 (1470).

(Tennyson, in his Idylls of the King (“Merlin and Vivien”), makes Vivien the enchantress who wheedled old Merlin out of his secrets; and then, “in a hollow oak,” she shut him fast, and there “he lay as dead, and lost to life, and use, and name, and fame.”)

N. B.—This seems to be an error. At any rate, it is not in accordance with the Mort d’Arthur of Caxton renown.

Lady of the Lake (The), Nineve. It is not evident from the narrative whether Nineve is not the same person as Nimue, and that one of the two (probably the latter) is not a typographical error.

Then the Lady of the Lake, that was always friendly unto king Arthur, understood by her subtle crafts that king Arthur was like to have been destroyed; and therefore this Lady of the Lake, that hight Nineve, came into the forest to seek sir Launcelot du Lake.—Sir T. Malory: History of Prince Arthur, ii. 57 (1470).

The feasts that underground the faëry did him [Arthur] make,
And there how he enjoyed the Lady of the Lake.
   —Drayton: Polyolbion, iv. (1612).

Lady of the Lake (The). Vivienne is called La Dame du Lac, and dwelt en la marche de la petite Bretaigne. She stole Lancelot in his infancy, and plunged with him into her home lake; hence was Lancelot called du Lac. When her protégé was grown to manhood, she presented him to king Arthur.

Lady of the Lake (The), Ellen Douglas, once a favourite of king James; but when her father fell into disgrace, she retired with him near Loch Katrine.—Sir W. Scott: Lady of the Lake (1810).

Lady of the Lake and Arthur’s Sword. The Lady of the Lake gave to king Arthur the sword “Excalibur.” “Well,” said she, “go into yonder barge and row yourself to the sword, and take it.” So Arthur and Merlin came to the sword that a hand held up, and took it by the handles, and the arm and hand went under the lake again (pt. i. 23).

This Lady of the Lake asked in recompense the head of sir Balin, because he had slain her brother; but the king refused the request. Then said Balin, “Evil be ye found! Ye would have my head; therefore ye shall lose thine own.” So saying, with his sword he smote off her head in the presence of king Arthur.—Sir T. Malory: History of Prince Arthur, i. 28 (1470).

Lady of the Mercians, Æthelflæd or Elflida, daughter of king Alfred. She married Æthelred chief of that portion of Mercia not claimed by the Danes.

Lady of the Sun, Alice Perrers (or Pierce), a mistress of Edward III. of England. She was a married woman, and had been lady of the bed-chamber to queen Philippa. Edward lavished on her both riches and honours; but when the king was dying, she stole his jewels, and even the rings from his fingers.