Perceforest (King), the hero of a prose romance "in Greek."  The MS. is said to have been found by count William of Hainault in a cabinet at "Burtimer" Abbey, on the Humber; and in the same cabinet was deposited a crown, which the count sent to king Edward.  The MS. was turned into Latin by St. Landelain, and thence into French under the title of La Tres Elegante Delicieux Mellislue et Tres Plaisante Hystoire du Tres Noble Roy Perceforest (printed at Paris in 1528).
    (Of course, this pretended discovery is only an invention.  An analysis of the romance is given in Dunlop's History of Fiction.)
    He was called "Perceforest" because he dared to pierce, almost alone, an enchanted forest, where women and children were most evilly entreated.  Charles IX. of France was especially fond of this romance. (The Reader's Handbook of Famous Names in Fiction, &c., Brewer, v.2, 1899)