Chapter Tulkinghorn to Turpin of T by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Turpin, a churlish knight, who refus es hospitality to sir Calepine and Serena, although solicited to do so by his wife Blanida (bk. vi. 3). Serena told prince Arthur of this discourtesy, and the prince, after chastising Turpin, disknighted him, and prohibited him from bearing arms ever after (bk. vi 7). The disgraced churl now vowed revenge; so off he starts, and seeing two knights, complains to them of the wrongs done to himself and his dame by “a recreant knight,” whom he points out to them. The two champions instantly challenge the prince “as a foul woman-wronger,” and defy him to combat. One of the two champions is soon slain, and the other overthrown, but is spared on craving his life. The survivor now returns to Turpin to relate his misadventure, and when they reach the dead body see Arthur asleep. Turpin proposes to kill him, but Arthur starts up and hangs the rascal on a tree (bk. vi. 7).— Spenser: Faërie Queene (1596).

Turpin, “archbishop of Rheims,” the hypothetical author of a Chronicle, purporting to be a history of Charlemagne’s Spanish adventures in 777, by a contemporary. This fiction was declared authentic and genuine by pope Calixtus II. in 1122; but it is now generally attributed to a canon of Barcelona in the eleventh century.

The tale says that Charlemagne went to Spain in 777, to defend one of his allies from the aggressions of a neighbouring prince. Having conquered Navarre and Aragon, he returned to France. He then crossed the Pyrenees, and invested Pampeluna for three months, but without success. He tried the effect of prayer, and the walls, like those of Jericho, fell down of their own accord. Those Saracens who consented to be baptized, he spared, but the rest were put to the sword. Being master of Pampeluna, the hero visited the sarcophagus of James; and Turpin, who accompanied him, baptized most of the neighbourhood. Charlemagne then led back his army over the Pyrenees, the rear being under the command of Roland. The main army reached France in safety, but 50,000 Saracens fell on the rear, and none escaped.

Turpin (Dick) a noted highwayman, executed at York (1739).

(Ainsworth has introduced into Rookwood Turpin’s famous ride to York on his steed Black Bess. It is said that Magiun really wrote this powerful description, 1834.) The French Dick Turpin is Cartouche, an eighteenth-century highwayman.