The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-12-15
CHAP. ".
The SerfS' Quarter

CHAP ".
The SerfS Quarter.
Hath not a Jew eyes
Hath rot Jew hands, organs, dimensions senses
Affections, passions? Fed with the same food
Hurt with the weapons subject to tho same DIS
eases,
Hailed hy the same means warmed and cooled
By the same winter and summer as a Christian is
Merchant Of Venice.
High I'D in green, gentle valley, lap
among the hills, which, though not very lofty,
were steep and abrupt with limestone crags
and lodges, heaving themselves above the soil
on their upper slopes and SUBMITS, perched on
small isolated knoll, or hillock, SO regular in
form, and 80 evenly scarped and rounded, that
it bore the appearance of an artificial work,
stood the tall Norman fOrtalice of Sir Alberto
de MOrtcmar.
1t was not a very large building consisting
principally of a single lofty square keep, or
donion, with four square turrets at the angles,
attached to the body of the place, merlonwise,
as 1t is termed in heraldry, or corner to corner,
rising some twenty feet or moro above the fiat
roof Of the tower, which was surrounded with
heavy projecting battlements widely overhaDg-
Ing the base, and pierced with crenelles for
archery, and deep machicolations by which to
pour down boiling oil, or molten lead upon any
who should attempt the walls.
10 the upper stories, only, of this strong
place, were there any windows, such as de-
served the name, beyond mere loops and ar
rowots but there, far above the reach Of any
sealing ladder, they looked out, tall and shape
ly glmmerng in the summer sunshine, in the
rich and gorgeous hues of the stained glass
at that time the most recent and costly of for
eign lnxuries opening on a projecting gallery,
or bartizan, of curiously carved stone work,
which ran round all the four sides of the build
ing and rendered the dwelling apartments Of
the castelar, and his family both lightsome
and commodiOus. One Of the tall turrets,
which have been described, contained the
winding staircase, which gave access to the
halls and guard-rooms which occupied all the
lower floors, and to the battlements above,
while each OF the others contained sleeping
chambers of narrow dimensions, on each story,
opening into the larger apartments.
This keep which, with the exception of the
III battlemented flanking walls, with their e.
planados and turrets, and advanced barbican
or gate house, was the only genuine Norman
portion Of the castle, and occupied the very
summit of the knoll but below it, and for the
most part concealed and covered by the ram.
parts on which it abutted was long, low,
rOomy stone building, which had been in old
tunes the mansion of the Saxon thane, who
had occupied the rich and fertile lands of that
upland vale, in the happy days before the ad-
vent Of the fierce and daring Normans, to whom
he had lost both life and lands, and left an
empty name alone to the inheritance, which
Yves not 20 descend to any of his race or line
age.
Below the walls which encircled the hillock
about midway between the base and summit,
except at one spot, where the gate-house was
thrust forward to the brink of large and
RAPID brook, which had been made by artificial
means completely to encircle the little hill,
lhe slopes Were entirely bare of trees or I'M
derEood; everything that could possibly cover
me advances of al enemy being carefully cut
down or uprcoted and were clothed only by q
dense carpet of short, thick greensward, enam.
eled with daisies pied and silver lady Ssmocks ::
but beyond the rivulet, covering all the bottom
Of the valley with rich and verdant shade,
were pleasant orchards and coppiccs, among
which peeped out the matched roofs and mud
walls of the little village, inhabited by the few
Tree laborers, and the more numerous thrals
aud land serfs who cultivated the demesnes of
the iOreign noble, who possessed them by right
Of the sword
Through this pleasant little hamlet, the yell
low road which led up to the castle, wound
devious, passing in its course by an open green
On which half dozen sheep and two or three
asses were feeding on the short heritage with
asmall Saxon chapel, distinguished by its low
round wolf-toothed arch and bclfry, on the
lar'her eide; and, in singular proximity to the
pat, hxy
paIbade, containing gullows a whipping
Ios', and pair Of stocks-sad monuments
q Saxon slavery and Norman tyranny and
wrong.
In one of the upper chambers Of the feudal
A'ep small square room, with vauted roof
'pnng'ng from four clustered columns in the
"fhers with four grOined ribs meeting in the
''ntre, icom which descended long curiously
carved pendant of stone, terminating in gilt
"oo candelabrum of several branches two
,aan were seated at board, On sch, though
NE solid viands of the midday neal had been
removed, there were displayed several silver
I1ae' with wastel bread, dried fruits, and
asa' contections, az well As two or three tall,
Ee'fii' TASKS Of the light fragrant wines OF
SONY and ANTON, and several cups and tan
Arl' OF richly chased aud gllded metal, inter
nat with two or three large bowled and thin
'1''med goblets Of purple and ruby-colored
ao room was very pleasant one, lighted
Two tai! windows on two different sides
I% Nv stood wide open, admitting the soft,
no. summer air, and the fresh smell of the
u6~oring greenwoods the breezy voice of
es. .',u came gently in, whispering through the
,r'ss Meh' Tho walls were hung with tapes
60 embossed and gilded Spanish leather,
WV" WI. spirited figures of Arab skirmishl
Hhu Tristan ch'valry, engaged in the
eng game or warfare; while. no unf,, deco.
''oon ior q wall 40 covered, two or three 6re
,,Is OF chain and plate armor, burn;.hsa 90
nga'ly that they shone like silver. with ,bc;r
'a'azoned shields and appropriate veanons
'ol Ike armed knights on constant A ,,tv :,
,"op'ed inches, framed especially to receive
'sret-, pages, and attendants had all with.
avn aud the two Norman barons sat alone.
,PI"hg their vino in silence, and apparently
!, 'nTgSSung on some subject which they found
.m'ut to approach without offence or en-.
s, 'a lament AT last the younger Of the two,
o,,0 n'oerIo de Mortemar, after drawing bis
nahl across his fair, broad forehead, as
looD.H, 0u'd nave swept away some cloud which
egIs, over his mind, and drinking of deep
60 Vi wine, opened the conversation with
NJ confusion and reluctance.
oso. e',' well he said, "it must out Sir En-.
1, anu and though it is not very grateful
.e,, 4A OF such things, must needs do 30
ppeAf 10 you unoourtly and ungracious,