The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-10
KING PEPIN OF FRANCE.
auellinG His COurtiers' RidicuIe-
Originator of Servants Ltyeries


So far as the present writer is aware the
earnest mention of "liveries" made in his
tory Is in the reign of King Pepn. of France.
ms KING hour:shed about the year $50 A. D.
ana because OF his diminutive size he had
bestowed upon him the rather disrespectful
appellation OF "Pepin the Short" 1t would
appear that certain of the French courters
were so tll-mannered, as well as iII-advised
as to make the monarch s deficiency in inches
the subject OF ill-natured ridicue This un-
becoming conduct having become known to
the king his majesty resolved to put an end
TO such derision of his person by performing
some feat which would prove, once for all
that II deficient In stature he was not so in
manllness. In pursuance of this DESIGN
therefore, on the occasion of a pubic com
Dat between lion and q bull, when the for
mer animal had succeeded after a terrib!e
struggle. in pulling the bull to the ground,
hing Pepin, turning toward those OF his no
Dillty who were present. said: Which one
OF you Will dare to enter the arena now
ana ana part the combatants or kill them?" A
dead silence and very perturbed looks were
the only reply. Then here is the man VINO
Will dare 1t, shouted the little king spring
ing, as he spoke into the arena. With drawn
blade he rushed upon the lion and stabbed
the fierce brute to the heart ere it could
Withdraw It's fangs from the neck OF the
bull In which they were imbedded. Then
with one mighty stroke the intrepid monarch
almost severed the bulls head from it's body
The whole vast audience was lent and
amazed at so un -ooked-for exhibition of
courage, deXterity, and strength combined
Turning toward his courtiers, the king merely
said. in very quiet tone: You should
na at,o remembered re that although David was
lent giant who defed Israeli
a less dangerous form of amusement to
Whlch King Pepin was partial was what
were termed cours plenieres. Those were as
semDlles at which, upon the kings invita-
ton, all the lords and courters OF France
were expected to be present They were held
t"ice In each year-at Christmas and Easter
and generally lasted for about week at
each time. Sometimes these gatherings took
place at the kings pa'ace; sometimes In the
helShDorhood OF one of the larger French
cites, and sometimes in some rural district
While the festival lasted the king took ali
his meals in public, bishops and dukes alone
belng privileged to sit at the royal table
second table was provided for abbots counts
and other leading men, and at both tables
there was shown more profuson than deli
cacy; both in the quality OF the meats and
orlnks and the manner in which they were
served Flutes hautboys and other musical
instruments were played before the bearers
Oh eacn course, as 1t was removed from the
tables When dessert was served twenty her
ads each holding aloft jeweled goblet
shouted thrice: 'Largesse largesse from the
most potent of kings!" AS they shouted,
they scattered among the crowds handouts
OF gold and silver coins. Then the trumpets
were blown. while the better-class spectators
shouted, and the meaner sort scrambled and
often fought vigorously for the money scat
tered by the heraIds
Charles VII. OF France put final stop to
the cours plenieres, alleging that the ex-
pense attendant upon his wars with England
made 1t impossible for him to continue them.
one or the severest causes of expense. it was
claimed, arose from the fact that beginning
with King Pepin's time, etiquette and Gus
tom alike demanded that the king should up
on these occasions, give entire suit of new
ana gorgeous clothing, not only to his own
servants and retainers, but a so to those of
the queen and all the princes and the blood
royal. These garments were said to be Hvres
that is, delivered at the kings expense;
and from this word the English word livery
was derived az the custom providing
servants with livery" from the above-men.
TONED practice Of certain Of the French
kings.-London Society.