[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.[The bear], when he was being shown and led before the people, Primary Documents 155amused the crowd much and pleased them.they were not able to [seehim] on account of those who guarded him for the lord, if he did not re-ceive a loaf for feeding the beast from each one who saw the spectacle;.so the foolish people, churchmen as well as nobles, voluntarily promisedthe lord of Ardre to give to the guards of the bear for each batch of breadto be baked in the town oven a loaf of bread for the support of the bearso that they might be entertained by its appearance on feast days andtake pleasure to see it fight.[Even after the bear died, the people hadto pay a bread tax.] Without pleasure which the miserable bear mightgive the people the bread for the bear is claimed by the lord, and cus-tomarily collected by the law.as a relic of ancient dues and customs.Source: Lambert, cure of Ardre.The Chronicle of Guines and of Ardre.Ch.CXXVIII, pp.103 4.DOCUMENT 59A City Is Forced to Feed the Army.It was determined to open a treaty with the inhabitants of Rheims[Reims, France], in order to induce them to supply the army with provi-sions; but they refused to enter into any negotiation, and in reply saidthat the English must make the best of their own case.This answer wasso galling, that in one week the English light troops burnt upwards ofsixty villages dependent upon Rheims; moreover, having heard that 6,000sheep had been secured in the ditches of that town, the vanguard ad-vanced thither and drove them off, without anyone daring to come outfrom the town to prevent them; for the archers who were posted on thebanks of the ditch shot so sharply that the bulwarks were quite cleared.Having gained this success, the English sent to inform the townsmen thatthey would burn all the standing corn [grain] unless they ransomed it bysending bread and wine.At this they were so much alarmed, that theyimmediately sent off from ten to sixteen carts of provisions.Source: Jean Froissart.The Chronicles of England, France, and Spain.P.178. 156 Primary DocumentsDOCUMENT 60A Rare Description of a Poor Woman s House; the Earl TakesRefugeThe earl [of Flanders] himself went up a by-street, where he changeddresses with one of his servants, commanding the fellow at the same timeto be silent on the subject should he chance to fall into the hands of theenemy.All this while the men of Ghent were going up and down thestreets searching everywhere they could think of in order to find the earl;indeed, he was in the greatest danger, and it was God alone who watchedover him and delivered him from his perilous situation.After ramblingsome time through the streets, and hiding himself in different corners notknowing what course to take, he entered the house of a poor womana very unfit habitation for so mighty a lord, for it contained but one room,over which was a sort of garret to be approached only by means of a lad-der of seven steps, where, on a miserable bed, the children of this poorwoman lay.It was with fear and trembling that the earl entered the hovel;and making his case known to the woman said, Good woman, save me:I am thy lord, the Earl of Flanders, but at this moment in the greatestdistress.I must hide myself, for my enemies are in pursuit of me, and Iwill handsomely reward you for any favor you may grant. The poorwoman knew the earl well for she had frequently received alms at hisdoor, and also seen him pass and repass when going out hunting.Movedat his condition, therefore, she admitted him most willingly.And as itturned out, it was very fortunate for him that she did so, for had she de-layed her answer but one moment, the enemies would have found himin conversation with her. My lord, she said, mount this ladder, and getunder the bed in which my children sleep. This the earl did, while thepoor woman employed herself by the fire-side with another child in a cra-dle; and scarcely had the earl concealed himself, when the mob enteredthe house; for one of them had seen a man go in there.Source: Jean Froissart.The Chronicles of England, France, and Spain.P.241. Primary Documents 157DOCUMENT 61Homes in the Countryside[T]hey [the Welsh] neither inhabit towns, villages, nor castles, but leada solitary life in the woods, on the borders of which they do not erectsumptuous palaces, nor lofty stone buildings, but content themselves withsmall huts made of the boughs of trees twisted together, constructed withlittle labour and expense, and sufficient to endure throughout the year.They have neither orchards nor gardens, but gladly eat the fruit of bothwhen given to them.The greater part of their land is laid down to pas-turage; little is cultivated, a very small quantity is ornamented with flow-ers, and a still smaller is sown.Source: Giraldus Cambrensis.Description of Wales.Ch.XVII, pp.505 6.DOCUMENT 62The Welsh Character, Hospitality, and Personal Hygiene[Ch.IX] Not addicted to gluttony or drunkenness, this people, whoincur no expense in food or dress, and whose minds are always bent uponthe defence of their country, and on the means of plunder, are whollyemployed in the care of their horses and furniture.[Ch.X] No one of this nation ever begs, for the houses of all are com-mon to all; and they consider liberality and hospitality amongst thevirtues.Those who arrive in the morning are entertained till evening withthe conversation of young women, and the music of the harp; for eachhouse has its young women and harps allotted for that purpose.ineach family the art of playing on the harp is held preferable to any otherlearning.While the family is engaged in waiting on the guests, the host andhostess stand up, paying unremitting attention to every thing, and takeno food till all the company are satisfied; that in case of deficiency, it mayfall upon them.A bed made of rushes, and covered with a coarse kindof cloth manufactured in the country called brychan, is then placed along 158 Primary Documentsthe side of the room, and they all in common lie down to sleep; nor istheir dress at night different from that by day, for at all seasons they de-fend themselves from the cold by only a thin cloak or tunic.The firecontinues to burn by night as well as by day, at their feet, and they re-ceive much comfort from the natural heat of the persons lying nearthem.[Ch
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
