"king arthur and king cornwall" may be a version of a lost medieval story, but it is also possible that it is a product of the 17th century, taking hints from older chivalric romance. the character of bredbeddle makes the author's knowledge of "the greene knight" obvious; whether made in the 16th century or before, the ballad relies on the audience's knowledge of the gawain romances popular since the 12th century. gawain's promise to have his way with cornwall's daughter is in accordance with his womanizing portrayal in certain old french works.