GUILLAUME DE PALERNE (WILLIAM OF PALERNE), hero of romance. The French verse romance was written at the desire of a Countess Yolande, probably daughter of Baldwin IV., count of Flanders. The English poem in alliterative verse was writ ten about 135o by a poet called William. Guillaume, a foundling, is brought up at the court of the emperor of Rome, and loves his daughter Melior. The lovers flee into the woods disguised in bear skins. Alfonso, who is Guillaume's cousin and a Spanish prince, has been changed into a wolf by his step-mother's enchantments. He provides food and protection for the fugitives, and Guillaume eventually triumphs over Alfonso's father, and wins back from him his kingdom. The benevolent wer-wolf is disenchanted, and marries Guillaume's sister.
See Guillaume de Palerne, ed. H. Michelant (Soc. d. anc. textes fr., 1876) ; and W. W. Skeat (E. E. Text Soc., extra series No 1, 1867).