Arthurian Chronicles

The Romance language Wace wrote in is variously regarded as an Old Norman dialect of the Norman language, a dialect of Old French, or specifically the precursor of J rriais. Writers in Jersey have looked on Wace as the founder of Jersey literature, and J rriais is sometimes referred to as the language of Wace although the poet himself predated the development of J rriais as a literary language. Wace is the earliest known Jersey writer. Although the name Robert has been ascribed to Wace, this is a tradition resting on little evidence. It is generally believed nowadays that Wace only had one name. As a clerc lisant, he was proud of his title of Maistre (master) and is consequently sometimes referred to as Maistre Wace. There is a granite memorial stone to Wace built into the side of the States Building in Jersey's Royal Square. This includes a quote from the Roman de Rou that expresses the poet's pride in his place of birth: Jo di e dirai ke jo sui Wace de l'isle de Gersui Modern J rriais: J'dis et dithai qu'j sis Wace d l' le d J rri Modern French: Je dis et dirai que je suis Wace de l' le de Jersey English: I say and will say that I am Wace from the Island of Jersey