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THE CHAMPION OF ENGLAND,

135

That the shouts were but the pretext for a preconcerted attack and plunder of the people, appears but too clearly from the subsequent remontrances of the king with the barons, whom he warned (1) against the certain result of oppressing the English; while he strictly prohibited (2) the soldiers from appearing at taverns, or molesting the private abode of the citizens, and appointed a commission (5) to enforce his regulations.

THE CHAMPION OF ENGLAND.

At the coronation of the kings of England, a singular and imposing ceremony takes place. Between the first and second course (4) of the banquet, the champion of England on horseback, in complete armour, attented by his pages, t., challenges (5) any one to dispute the right of the sovereign to the crown. The polished armour and waving (6) plumes of the champion, and the rich trappings (7) of his noble charger, produce a fine effect in the ancient abbey (8), and surrounded as they

(1) To warn, averlir, prévenir. (2) To prohibit, défendre.

(3) A commission, un conseil.

(4) First and second course, premier et second service.

(5) To challenge, provoquer, appeler en duel.

(6) Waving, flottant.

(7) Trappings, housses, harnais.

(8) Westminster abbey, à Londres, où sont couronnés les rois d'Angleterre.

are by fair dames and noble lords, bring back (1) to the imagination the times of chivalry.

At the entrance into the hall, the trumpets sound thrice, and the passage to the king's table being cleared by the knight marshal, the herald (2) with a loud voice proclaims the champion's challenge in the following words:

"If any person of what degree soever (3), high or low, shall deny or gainsay (4) our sovereign Lord King

- of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Son and next Heir to our sovereign Lord King-(the last King), deceased, to be right heir (5) to the imperial Crown of this United Kingdom; or that he ought not to enjoy the same, here is (6) his champion, who saith (7) that he lieth, and is a false traitor; being ready in person to combat with him, and in this quarrel will adventure his life against him, on what day soever that shall be appointed.

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The champion then throws down (8) his iron glove or gauntlet, which having lain for a short time upon

(1) To bring back, ramener, rappeler.

(2) Herald, héraut d'armes, officier chargé des proclamations.

(3) Whatsoever, quel que soit.

(4) To gainsay, contredire.

(5) Heir, héritier.

(6) Here is, voici.

(7) Saith et lieth pour says et lies. Le th est l'ancienne terminaison des verbes à la troisième personne du singulier au présent de l'indicatif, remplacé à présent par s. La terminaison th est conservée dans le langage de la chaire et par les poètes.

(8) To throw down, jeter à terre.

THE CHAMPION OF ENGLAND.

157

the ground, the herald takes up (1) and delivers again to him.

They then advance to the middle of the hall, where the ceremony is repeated. Lastly they advance to the steps of the throne, where the herald (and those who precede him) ascend to the middle of the steps (2), and proclaim the challenge in the like manner; when the champion, having thrown down the gauntlet, and received it again from the herald, makes a low obeisance to the King. The Peers cry out : "God bless the King! God save the King (3)!" which is repeated throughout the hall.

The cup-bearer (4) then receives from the officer of the jewel-house (5) a gold cup and cover filled with wine, and presents it to the King. His Majesty drinks to the champion and sends him the cup by the cupbearer, and (having put on his gauntlet) the champion makes a low obeisance to the King, drinks off the remainder of the wine, and exclaims 66 : Long life to his Majesty, etc., " which of course elicits (6) a shout of applause from the noble assembly. After which he makes another low obeisance and departs, taking with him the cup and cover as his fee (7), and in order to

(1) To take up, ramasser.
(2) Steps, marches, degrés.

(5) God save the king! vive le roi..
(4) Cup-bearer, échanson.

(5) Jewel-house, garde-meuble, trésor.

(6) To elicit, produire, attirer.

(7) Fee, récompense, honoraire.

keep his face towards the King, backs (1) his horse out of the hall.

EXECUTION OF ANNE BULLEN, WIFE OF HENRY
THE EIGHTH.

The executioner was a Frenchman of Calais, who was supposed to be exceedingly skilful. Anne Bullen, being on the scaffold, would not consent to have her eyes covered with a bandage, saying that she had no fear of death. All that the divine (2) who assisted at her execution could obtain from her, was that she would shut her eyes. But as she was opening and shutting them at every moment, the executioner could not bear their mild and tender glances; and fearful of missing his aim (3), he was obliged to have recourse to an expedient to behead (4) her. He drew off (5) his shoes and approached her silently on the left side, while another person advanced on the right, who made a great noise in walking; this circumstance attracting the attention of the Queen, she turned her face from the executioner, who was enabled by this stratagem to strike the fatal blow, without being disarmed by that spirit of affecting resignation, which shone (6) in the eyes of the lovely and unfortunate Anne Bullen.

(1) To back, reculer, faire reculer.

(2) The divine, le prêtre.

(Historical.)

(5) To miss one's aim, manquer son coup.

(4) To behead, décapiter.

(5) To draw off, ou take off, ôter.

(6) To shine, briller.

THE TACITURN ACADEMY.

THE TACITURN ACADEMY.

159

There was at Amadan, in Persia, a celebrated academy, the first statute of which was worded (1) in the following manner : "The academicians must think much, write but little, and speak as little as possible. It was called the Taciturn Academy, and there was not a truly learned man in Persia who did not aspire to be one of its members. In his retirement in a distant part of the country, Dr. (2) Zeb, the author of a small but excellent volume entitled "The Gag " (5), learned that there was a place vacant in the Taciturn Academy. He set off (4) immediately, arrived at Amadan, and presenting himself at the gate of the hall, where the academicians were assembled, he requested the door-keeper (3) to deliver to the president the following billet: "Dr. Zeb humbly requests the vacant place. "The door-keeper instantly executed his commission; but the doctor and his billet were too late the vacant seat was already filled.

The academy was much afflicted by this unluckyevent. It had, much against its will, been obliged to receive a young wit (6) of the court, whose flippant (7)

(1) Worded, rédigé.

(2) Dr., abrégé de Doctor, docteur.

(5) The gag, le bâillon.

(4) To set off, partir.

(5) The door-keeper, le portier, le concierge.

(6) A wit, un homme qui a plus d'esprit que de bon sens. (7) Flippant, légèr.

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