William the Trouvère

William, later called William the Trouvère, was an English poet. He translated tales from the Latin Miracles of the Virgin into Anglo-Norman verse.

Works

William was first called Adgar but became more commonly known as William. Working at the instance of one Gregory, his friend, he translated over forty tales into octosyllabic Anglo-Norman verse, from the Latin collection of Miracles of the Virgin which he found in the almarie or bookcase of Old [St Paul's Cathedral|St. Paul's]. His collection of some forty-nine tales, entitled Gracial, was dedicated to one Maud, "dame Mahaut", most likely the abbess of Barking who was a English and [Welsh bastardy laws|bastard] of Henry [II of England|Henry II].