按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
End Notes
NOTE TO CHAPTER I。
Note A。…The Ranger or the Forest； that cuts the
foreclaws off our dogs。
A most sensible grievance of those aggrieved times were the
Forest Laws。 These oppressive enactments were the produce of
the Norman Conquest； for the Saxon laws of the chase were
mild and humane； while those of William； enthusiastically attached
to the exercise and its rights； were to the last degree
tyrannical。 The formation of the New Forest； bears evidence
to his passion for hunting； where he reduced many a happy village
to the condition of that one commemorated by my friend；
Mr William Stewart Rose：
‘‘Amongst the ruins of the church
The midnight raven found a perch；
A melancholy place；
The ruthless Conqueror cast down；
Woe worth the deed； that little town；
To lengthen out his chase。''
The disabling dogs； which might be necessary for keeping
flocks and herds； from running at the deer； was called _lawing_；
and was in general use。 The Charter of the Forest designed to
lessen those evils； declares that inquisition； or view； for lawing
dogs； shall be made every third year； and shall be then done by
the view and testimony of lawful men； not otherwise； and they
whose dogs shall be then found unlawed； shall give three shillings
for mercy； and for the future no man's ox shall be taken
for lawing。 Such lawing also shall be done by the assize commonly
used； and which is； that three claws shall be cut off without
the ball of the right foot。 See on this subject the Historical
Essay on the Magna Charta of King John； （a most beautiful
volume）； by Richard Thomson。
NOTE TO CHAPTER II。
Note B。…Negro Slaves。
The severe accuracy of some critics has objected to the complexion
of the slaves of Brian de Bois…Guilbert； as being totally
out of costume and propriety。 I remember the same objection
being made to a set of sable functionaries； whom my friend； Mat
Lewis； introduced as the guards and mischief…doing satellites of
the wicked Baron； in his Castle Spectre。 Mat treated the objection
with great contempt； and averred in reply； that he made
the slaves black in order to obtain a striking effect of contrast；
and that； could he have derived a similar advantage from making
his heroine blue； blue she should have been。
I do not pretend to plead the immunities of my order so highly
as this； but neither will I allow that the author of a modern
antique romance is obliged to confine himself to the introduction
of those manners only which can be proved to have absolutely existed
in the times he is depicting； so that he restrain himself to
such as are plausible and natural； and contain no obvious anachronism。
In this point of view； what can be more natural； than
that the Templars； who； we know； copied closely the luxuries of
the Asiatic warriors with whom they fought； should use the
service of the enslaved Africans； whom the fate of war transferred
to new masters？ I am sure； if there are no precise proofs
of their having done so； there is nothing； on the other hand；
that can entitle us positively to conclude that they never did。
Besides； there is an instance in romance。
John of Rampayne； an excellent juggler and minstrel； undertook
to effect the escape of one Audulf de Bracy； by presenting
himself in disguise at the court of the king； where he was confined。
For this purpose； ‘‘he stained his hair and his whole
body entirely as black as jet； so that nothing was white but his
teeth；'' and succeeded in imposing himself on the king； as an
Ethiopian minstrel。 He effected； by stratagem； the escape of
the prisoner。 Negroes； therefore； must have been known in
England in the dark ages。*
* Dissertation on Romance and Minstrelsy； prefixed to Ritson's Ancient
* Metrical Romances； p。 clxxxvii。
NOTE TO CHAPTER XVII。
Note； C。…Minstrelsy。
The realm of France； it is well known； was divided betwixt
the Norman and Teutonic race； who spoke the language in
which the word Yes is pronounced as _oui_； and the inhabitants
of the southern regions； whose speech bearing some affinity to
the Italian； pronounced the same word _oc_。 The poets of the former
race were called _Minstrels_； and their poems _Lays_： those of
the latter were termed _Troubadours_； and their compositions
called _sirventes_； and other names。 Richard； a professed admirer
of the joyous science in all its branches； could imitate either
the minstrel or troubadour。 It is less likely that he should have
been able to compose or sing an English ballad； yet so much do
we wish to assimilate Him of the Lion Heart to the band of
warriors whom he led； that the anachronism； if there be one
may readily be forgiven。
NOTE TO CHAPTER XXI。
Note D。…Battle of Stamford。
A great topographical blunder occurred here in former editions。
The bloody battle alluded to in the text； fought and won
by King Harold； over his brother the rebellious Tosti； and an
auxiliary force of Danes or Norsemen； was said； in the text； and
a corresponding note； to have taken place at Stamford； in Leicestershire；
and upon the river Welland。 This is a mistake； into
which the author has been led by trusting to his memory；
and so confounding two places of the same name。 The Stamford；
Strangford； or Staneford； at which the battle really was
fought； is a ford upon the river Derwent； at the distance of
about seven miles from York； and situated in that large and
opulent county。 A long wooden bridge over the Derwent； the
site of which； with one remaining buttress； is still shown to the
curious traveller； was furiously contested。 One Norwegian
long defended it by his single arm； and was at length pierced
with a spear thrust through the planks of the bridge from a boat
beneath。
The neighbourhood of Stamford； on the Derwent； contains
some memorials of the battle。 Horseshoes； swords； and the
heads of halberds； or bills； are often found there ； one place is
called the ‘‘Danes' well；'' another the ‘‘Battle flats。'' From a
tradition that the weapon with which the Norwegian champion
was slain； resembled a pear； or； as others say； that the
trough or boat in which the soldier floated under the bridge to
strike the blow； had such a shape； the country people usually
begin a great market； which is held at Stamford； with an
entertainment called the Pear…pie feast； which after all may be
a corruption of the Spear…pie feast。 For more particulars；
Drake's History of York may be referred to。 The author's mistake
was pointed out to him； in the most obliging manner； by
Robert Belt； Esq。 of Bossal House。 The battle was fought in
1066。
NOTE TO CHAPTER XXII。
Note E。…The range of iron bars above that glowing
charcoal。
This horrid species of torture may remind the reader of that
to which the Spaniards subjected Guatimozin； in order to extort
a discovery of his concealed wealth。 But； in