Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-01-23
Sir John Faistan.


rear the sea. and contains few houses and a
great deal of sand. There are a few trees near it,
and those few seem sickly,as ifther growth were
stunned by the keen winds which sweep along the
coast. The only object which attracts attention
is lofty tower, surmounted by a%slender flag
pole. which points towards the sky. On nearer
inspection, Il is found 10 be only ruin. The
windinp stairs which led . the summit of the
towe have been removed, and in places the wall
has crumbled away, leaving apertures through
which the winds moan mournfully. Four walls
enclose large space of gro0nd, but everything is
decayed and in ruins, though enough is left to
Give the spectator an idea Of its former grandeur.
| Here is what was a moat but now dry ditch
chuked up with mud and weeds; and there is a
massive pate and remains of drawbridge.-
Part of a chanel is visible, where, in times past,
priests with rich vestments sung the solemn mass
and instructed the devout christians who were as
sembled in the way TO everlasting ile. But
priests and auditors. nay The chapel itself. are
gene, and nought rela.irs but the crumbling
stones, which mutely tell their tale
The castle was built by,ao less persnnage
than Sir John FaIstaff-honest Jack Falstaff J
Yet the brave knight bore character far differ
ent from that portrayed by the immortal dramat-
list. Sir John was no FULLY, no boaster, no igno-
rant boor. England is indebted to him for coun-
Gil and assistance in times of danger, and ought
not entirely to forget the exploits Of 50 brave and
loyal a subject.
| Old Fuller tells us that Shakespeare at first in
troduced Sir John Oldcaslle upon the stage; but
that being resented on account ofihe high re-
ligious character Of the knight, he gave his idea
creation new name, being that of another per-
sonage of the period. whose real character was
scarcely less different.
| Sir John Falstaff, or more correctly, Fastolte,
was the son of John Fastofe, mariner, and
came in to the world about 379 He was soon
left faiher!ess, and according to The custom OF the
feuda times, was placed under the guardianship
of John, Duke of Bedford, the regent of France
| He afterwards accompanied to Ireland, Thomas,
Duke of Clarence, on appointment to the Cover
nurship of that country. Whilst there, we pre-
sumo, he fell in love; for on st. Hiary's day,
| 1909. he married Millicent, daughter Of Slr hob
ert Tiptofi, the widow of Sir Stephen Scroope
whom, on his wedd ng day, he contracted to give
fl00 per anum for pin money. The sum was
regularly paid until her death, which took place
during her husbands lifetime.
The vice regents court appears not to have
suited the tastes of Falstaff. who was more addict
ed to fighting than lounging about in ldleness.-
| He soon therefore. assumed another character
and having buckled on his armour proceeded Il
France where abundance of glory was To be 90
! tanned. There his bravery soon made hi'r
known. In the accounts of most of the engage
ments of that period Fasiaff's name occurs IN the
| list ofcombatants In Normandy, Gascony. Gu
enue, Anjont and Maine, his arm helped TO sus
tain the british power. When Harceur was Ia
| ken in I4I4. he was made lieutenant of the place
and shortly after received the honor ofknlghthood
| At Agincourt he took noble prlSoner-no less
parsonage than the Dnke of AIencon. lie was an
the midst of the strife at the taking OF Rouen
Caen. Falsie. and Seez, and stormed toriresses
and cas,es-amung others, the castle OF Sllle lie
Guillaume, for the capture of which he was re
warded by the title OF Baron lie France.
Among other honors poured upon him, he was
elected Knight of the Garter. At his electlog
there were an equal number of votes for oul
knight and Sir John Radcliffe, whereupon the
| Duke of Bedford gave the casting vote in faver o
| Falstaff, and sent him letter abounding with
expressions of praise Now Monstrelet. in his
Chronicle, states that Falsaf was degraded from
the order on account of his daslardly conduct al
the battle of Patay, where he and his followers,
being struck with terror at the appearance OF the
the mysterious Joan of Arc, took to their heel:
and left the French army in possession OF the
field. This tale unsupported by other testimony
is utterly false: for although it is fact that 81
John was put to flight at Paiay, the tale ot hi:
being degraded from the Order OF the Garter II
proved untrue by The circumstances OF his regnla
attendance at the chapters of the Order long afte
the period at which his degradation is stated Il
have taken place. Shakespeare, however, did no
forget this story witness fhe first part "HenrJ
VI" where Lord Talbot says:
s.Shame on the Duke Of Burgundy and thee
| | vowed, base knight whca did meet the next,
To tear the garter from thy craven leg, (P'ackins
Which have done, because unworthily
! Thou vast installed in that high degree"
The crowning exploit of Sir John was hi
brave conduct at the battle of the Herrlngs; ant
how could Yarmouth man fail to conquer il
such battle With small band OF English
men, he routed numerous French army, com
manded by "le jeune ct bean Dunols" himself
The battle gets its name from the crcumstanc
of our knight making ki nd of !ortficatlon wit
his wagons, which were for the most part full {
herrings; for besides the army being led by
Yarmouth man, the season was Lent, and thes
two circumstances combined show the reason q
his carving SO large quantity Of that small bu
excellent fish.
The year following the affair at Patay foun
Sir John lieutenant of Cen land he was sent !
1882 as an ambassador 10 the Council of Base
where he seems to have fulfilled his duty salts
lactorily, for he was afterwards sent to conclnd
peace with France A few years after this
vent. the good old knight retired from service
with glory and renown; he turned his steps It
ward, his native place and building castle
Casior. there spent the remainder OF his lie
He died in 1859 and was buried at the prlory !
Bnomholm. His resting place while dead, an
his habitatiOn while living. have bowed before tn
stroke of lime, and nothing now remains but
few mouldefing. crumbling walls. A few MOI
years and all will he gone.
In his retirement, Sis .Iohn not oblivior
of the advantares of learning. In that age, itt
announcement was given to literature: but
tha, lille he contributed a part. The translatio
of Tully de Senectue was made by his orde
and printed in 1881. by the farther OF Eng
lisb printing. To Oxford he was a bonnuil
bene(ac,or NOR was he forgetlul of the sister uni
versly of Cambridge.
He was intent in his old age upon founding
oollage fnr seven priests and the same number {
MN, r men bn, unexpected difficulties arrested i
progress and death proven d" i'ies's'i''e o'S'a''
to its completon. ~
Such was the Faslaff OF fact soldier OF couT
: age and conduct, and all9ge'ner, Tor his age,
worhy AMI respectable charac er; 1t wi
a,,w,rs romain mystery how Shakespea
4 should have thought Of adopting Tor his e'
lraordiuary persona'ion Of Of sensnal'y, cowardic
and drulery, the name, first; ofa vir'uous marty
and and secondly. Of thoroughly noble soldier. S
II was however; and never. while the Engs
lanrnaqes endures. shall we cease to recognize
,ho word Falstaff. instead of a name Of honor an
dignity, signal for raising m'rth
, SpRp,p,Sc ONES BUrrER OVER TOO MUG
pas,n~Fred Douglas, the colored agilator,
the cnurse Of late lecture told the following ar
scdo,s s"d abnnt President Pierce, which is wort
preserving: -