His remarks on the subject may, however, mean simply that he was familiar with early Middle English.[97] In his essay on Romance he referred to Sharon Turner's account of the story of Beowulf, but called the poem Caedmon, and made no correction when he added the later footnote in regard to Conybeare's fuller and more interesting analysis published in 1826.[98] The researches of these men indicate the state of Anglo-Saxon scholarship in England.

Sharon Turner's very inaccurate description of _Beowulf_ was published in 1805.
Danish scholars made the first translations of the poem, but no one could give a really scholarly text or translation until the year after Scott died, when the first edition by J.M.Kemble appeared.

There were students of the language, however, who were doing good work in feeling their way toward a comprehension of its special qualities.

One of these was George Ellis.

In his _Specimens_ he published examples of Anglo-Saxon and Middle-English poetry, and his information was helpful in enlarging Scott's outlook.