Malory's Major Explicits in One Possible Order of Composition

Early:

Sankgreall: one source (La Queste del Saint Graal); limited alterations which emphasize reconciling sacred and secular/chivalric values; "brefly drawy[n]" treats composition as condensation and movement from French to English; "a tale cronycled for one of the trewyst and of the holyest that ys in thys worlde" attaches "chronicle" authority to the religious mysticism of the Grail source; named signature and bidding prayer suggesting a major pause in composing process.

Explicit text: Thus endith the tale of the Sankgreal that was brefly drawy[n] oute of Frenynshe which ys a tale cronycled for one of the trewyst and of the holyest that ys in thys worlde by sir Thomas Maleorre knyght.  O blesse Jesu helpe hym thorow hys myght.  Amen.  (409r/1037).

Middle:

King Arthur and Merlin: multiple sources (Suite du Merlin, Hardyng's Chronicle); aware of other sources (Prose Tristan and Prose Lancelot?) now unavailable to Malory; implies imagination of projects involving future acts of composition based on those sources; "drawyn" treats composition as movement from French to English; named signature and bidding prayer suggesting a major pause in composing process.

Explicit text: Here endyth this tale as the Freynshe booke seyth fro the maryage of kynge Uther unto Kyng Arthure that regned aftir hym and ded many batayles.  And this booke endyth whereas sir Launcelot and sir Trystrams com to courte.  Who that woll make ony more lette hym seke other bookis of kynge Arthure or of sir Launcelot or sir Trystrams for this was drawyn by a knyght presoner sir Thomas Malleorre that God sende hym good recover.  Amen.  Explicit.  (70v/180)

Trystram: one source (Prose Tristan), significant alterations which emphasize reconciling erotic and politico-chivalric conceptions of knighthood; "drawyn . . . oute of Freynshe" treats composition as movement from French to English; announces intentional incomplete performance of the translation now ending (in which Galahad's conception is explained) and emphasizes the linkage to that which follows (in which Galahad's career occurs); interpretive gloss on the following tale "the noble tale off the Sankegreall whyche called ys the holy vessell and the sygnyfycacion of blyssed bloode off oure lorde Jesu Cryste whyche was brought into thys londe by Joseph off Aramathye"; closes without signature but with bidding prayer.

Explicit text: Here endyth the secunde boke off syr Tystram de Lyones whyche drawyn was oute of Frenyshe by sir Thomas Malleorre knyght as Jesu be hys helpe.  Amen.  But here ys no rehersall of the thirde booke.  But here folowyth the noble tale off the Sankegreall whyche called ys the holy vessell and the sygnyfycacion of blyssed bloode off oure lorde Jesu Cryste whyche was brought into thys londe by Joseph off Aramathye.  Therefore on all synfull blyssed lord have on thy knyght mercy.  Amen.  (246v/845-6).

Late:

Lancelot and Guenevere: multiple sources (Le Mort le Roi Artu, Stanzaic Morte Arthur, Prose Lancelot); reference to lack of source MS which necessitates next compositional task; "I departe . . . and here I go" casts composition as a personal journey in which the author has fused his fortunes with those of Arthur; adds interpretive gloss; named signature and bidding prayer.

Explicit text: And bycause I have loste the very mater of Shevalere de Charyot I departe from the tale of sir Launcelot and here I go unto the morte Arthur and that caused sir Aggravayne.  And here on the othir syde folowyth the moste pyteuous tale of the morte Arthure saunz Gwerdon par le shyvalere sir Thomas Malleorre knyght.  Jesu ayde ly pur voutre bone mercy.  Amen.  (449r/1153)

"Morte" proper: multiple sources (Le Mort le Roi Artu, Stanzaic Morte Arthur); composition verb is "to end," used three times to terminate the process; audience identified as "jentylmen and jentylwymmen that redeth this book of Arthur and his knyghtes from the begynnyng to the endynge"; named signature and bidding prayer with date of composition by regnal year.

Explicit text: Here is the ende of the hoole book of kyng Arthur and of his noble knyghtes of the rounde table that whan they were hole togyders there was ever an hondred and forty.  And here is the end of the deth of Arthur.  I pray you all jentylmen and jentylwymmen that redeth this book of Arthur and his knyghtes from the begynnyng to the endynge praye for me whyle I am on lyve that God sende me good delyveraunce.  And whan I am deed I praye you all praye for my soule.  For this book was ended the xi yere of the reygne of kyng Edward the Fourth by sir Thomas Maleore knyght as Jesu helpe hym for hys grete myght as he is the servaunt of Jesu both day and nyght.  (1260)

"Gareth": one source? (the "missing source" theory: Vinaver, Norris) or many sources ("fair unknown" romances (chiding damsel and serial testing); Gawain romances (wedding and beheading games); composition verb is "to write" (unique), perhaps implying fully developed "authorship" persona; bidding prayer adds "sone and hastely," implying increased urgency (poor health?).

Explicit text: And I pray all you that redyth this tale to pray for hym that this wrote that God sende hym good delyveraunce sone and hastely.  Amen.  Here endyth the tale of sir Gareth of Orkeney.  (148r/363)