The jolly Hermit at length agrees to venture thither, and to enquire for Jack Fletcher, which is the name assumed by the King.

After the Hermit has shown Edward some feats of archery, the joyous pair separate.

The King rides home, and rejoins his retinue.

As the romance is imperfect, we are not acquainted how the discovery takes place; but it is probably much in the same manner as in other narratives turning on the same subject, where the host, apprehensive of death for having trespassed on the respect due to his Sovereign, while incognito, is agreeably surprised by receiving honours and reward.
In Mr Hartshorne's collection, there is a romance on the same foundation, called King Edward and the Shepherd, [4] which, considered as illustrating manners, is still more curious than the King and the Hermit; but it is foreign to the present purpose.
The reader has here the original legend from which the incident in the romance is derived; and the identifying the irregular Eremite with the Friar Tuck of Robin Hood's story, was an obvious expedient.
The name of Ivanhoe was suggested by an old rhyme.

All novelists have had occasion at some time or other to wish with Falstaff, that they knew where a commodity of good names was to be had.