Social life in Britain from the conquest to the reformation / compiled by G.G. Coulton.

  • Coulton, G. G. (George Gordon), 1858-1947.
Date:
1918
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Social life in Britain from the conquest to the reformation / compiled by G.G. Coulton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    fair to see. His household crowded to welcome his return,, marvelling at this event, rejoicing in the overthrow of the fallen knight, and chanting the prowess of their renowned lord. Then Osbert disarmed ; and, taking off his steel chausses1, he found one full of clotted blood. His house¬ hold were aghast at the wound, but the lord scorned all fear. Meanwhile the townsfolk rose from their beds and were gathered together ; for the marvel grew from minute to minute, and dispelled all drowsiness even from those who had so lately been weighed down with sleep. The horse, pledge of this victory, was held with a free rein and shown to the public gaze; men admired his flashing eyes, his proud neck, his jet-black coat and the equal blackness of his saddle and trappings. And now the first cock crowed ; whereupon the horse began to bound and prance, snorting with open nostrils and pawing the ground, until he had burst his reins and galloped off in native liberty, disappearing from the eyes of those who would have pursued him. Moreover, our noble lord kept this lifelong memorial of his wound, that yearly on this same day and this same hour the ancient scar would open and bleed afresh. Wherefore, not many years afterwards, he crossed the seas [to the Holy Land], where he fought doughtily in many battles against the pagans and ended his days in the service of God. 14 THE ENCHANTED MERE It is difficult to choose among the many marvels related by Gervase and copied from him by later compilers such as Higden ; but the following' may be taken as fairly typical. c. lxxxviii. p. 410. For the insulting word Phrut, see Section VI., no. 2. Liebrecht refers for similar legends to Grimm, Deutsche Mytho- logie, 563-5. In the same parts [i.e. England] is Haveringmere. If any man sailing or rowing over this mere cry aloud : Phrut, Haveringmere, And alle those [that] over the fere2! 1 Stockings of mail reaching almost to the waist, frequently shown on monu¬ ments of about this time, e.g. the brass of Sir Roger de Trumpington. 2 over thee fare.