The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-01-17
1784~1842


their riches and their pride. 1t was
a great hunting feast and the beauty
and high blood of Derbyshire were as
sembled. Lords of distant counties
came, for to bend q bow or 'brittei'
a deer under the eyes OF Sir George
vernon was an honor sought by
many. Over the Chase OF Haddon,
over the Hill Of Stanton. over Bake
W~eli-edge, over C~hatSworth Hill and
Hardwicke Plain and beneath the an
cient castle of Bolsover, as far as the
edge of the old forest of Sherwood.
were the sounds of the arauebuses and
the boWstring heard and the cry of
dogs and the cheering of men. The
broWn-mouthed and white-footed dogs
of DerbyShire We're there among the
foremost: the snoW-white hound and
the coal-biack from the Scottish
border: and the dogs from bonny
Ncstmoreland preserved or augment
ed their ancient fame. Nor were the
dappled pounds Of Foijambe of Bake
Well Bank far from the throat of the
red deer when they turned at bay
and gored horses and riders. The
great hall floor of Haddon was covered
with The products OF the chase.
h preparation for feasting the
noble hunting party was not un-
worthy OF the reputation for solid
hospitality which appertained TO the
King Of the Peak. Minstrels had
S'A~ iat "a -, d. o. v
as from the Scottish border-bold.
f~ree-spoken. rough-witted men. for
the sewage Of the web" az the
northern proverb says. is AYE. the
cOarest of the cloth" In the great
larder q thousand ~rarities were pre-
pairing for pleasing the eye and ap-
peasing the appetite. In the kitchen.
with it's huge tireplaceS and prodigious
splits. the maidenS were flooded nigh
ankle deep in the Hrease which came
from the richness Of roasted oxen
and deer turning on the splits. The
great kitchen tables groaned and
Yielded beneath the weight of roast
ed oxen and spitted deer while 4
stream OF rich smoke. massy and
SaVory. sailed out Of the CRATE viii
dows and sailed around the mansion
like a mist exhaled by the inflence
golden DAYS Of England. and a high
born gentleman stinted not the pro-
fuseness OF his hospitality.
The great hall prepared foi this
princely feast had a floor of solid
stone which was straWn deep With
sweet smelling rushes and ferns. The
dogs of the chase lay there, their
mouths still red with the blood of the
stays and painting Yet from the fervor
Of their long pursuit At the lower
end Of the hall was a table for the
stewards and other chiefs over the
menials. There sat the keeper Of the
bows, the chief falconer. the warder
OF the chase. together with many
others of lower degree. Over their
heads We're hung the horns Of stays,
the jaws of bears, the skulls of enor-
nous bisons and the foreheads Of
foxes. Banners. shields. helmets and
armor hung in p~rofusion along the
walls, With many a trophy won in the
Scottish vars and many a one gained
in the wars OF the ~crusadeS. Also
might be seen strange Of Of
fente and defense wrested. long ago.
from invading Danes and o wegians.
And many a knightly banner waved
in the breath of wind which wander
ed along the rich and lofty roof.
Nor did this ~at baronial hall lack
family portraits" They were crude
affairs. rudely executed by rustic
artists, but they were the effisles Of
heroes. Hunting horns. a~rquebuses.
swords. buff coats, bows and caps
We're thrown ~negiigently in heaps upon
the floor. while their owners took
their seats. with many a laughing jest.
at the great tables and waited ex-
p~ectantly for the feast to begin-tha
feast which they hoped to wash down
with foods of wine or that salutary
drink the brown blood of the barley.
At the supper end Of the hall. where
the floor was elevated a few steps.
was spread the great table for the
feasting of the mobiles. It was solid
plank Of white sycamore shaped from
the entire shaft Of an enormous tree.
and was supported by squat columns
OF oak ornamented with the arms Of
In NernonS and srooSed into the
stone floor beyond all chance Of be-
ing upset by human powers. Benches
OF carved oak. covered with cushions
of embroidered velvet. were
around this table. while behind II.
upon the wall. hung a great arraS. Oh
which were depicted in needlework
bridal professions and festivals taken
from the old poets. On the other
hangiDgs were worked monktsh
legends and scenes from the coHtro-
rersiai fathers. Much Of this needle