Volume 1

The antiquary's portfolio, or cabinet selection of historical & literary curiosities, on subjects principally connected with the manners, customs, and morals; civil, military, and ecclesiastical government, &c. &c. of Great Britain, during the Middle and later ages. (With notes.) / By J.S. Forsyth.

  • Forsyth, J. S.
Date:
1825
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The antiquary's portfolio, or cabinet selection of historical & literary curiosities, on subjects principally connected with the manners, customs, and morals; civil, military, and ecclesiastical government, &c. &c. of Great Britain, during the Middle and later ages. (With notes.) / By J.S. Forsyth. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    beside a broad sword, and sometimes a club, bore only a round shield with an offensive pointed wea- pon in the centre. The cavalry being composed of thanes, huscarles, and the richer ceorles who could afford to keep horses, was better provided with defensive armour. The swords of the horse- men were long and broad; and they bore a spear in a kind of rest.—Strutt's View. Martial Spirit o f the Anglo-Saxons, #c. The character of the Anglo-Saxons as to personal courage, varied according to the behaviour of their leaders. Under Egbert, Albert, and his immediate successors, they maintained the credit which their German ancestors possessed. Cowed by the un- manly bigotry of Edgar and Ethelred the Unready^ they shrunk into the meanest degree of cowardice and treachery ; but when headed by Edmund Ironside and Harold II. they fought (although not with success) with the most undaunted bravery. Articles of Marriage, Ceremonies, Laws, Baptism, fyc. In the article of marriage, very little alteration appears in the era of the Anglo Normans, from the custom used by their predecessors. The guardianship of the maiden was strictly maintained. And an old chronicler bitterly com- plains, c that wardes are bought and solde as commonlye as are beastes,’ and that e they are forced to see with another mannes eye, and say yea with another mannes tongue,’ &c.