New-York tribune., 1921-02-06

ter5 and parcels had to be sent by
special messenger. The King always
had twelve messengers at his service.
AT times the King imposed what would
now be considered very disagreeable
tasks upon his retainers. SO Edward
III paid $40 to "Sir William de Faring-
ton, knight, for tho costs and expenses
he had incurred for transporting the
four quarters Of the body of Sir John
OF Mistreworth, knight, to different
parts Of England
Minstrelsy Restricted
Professional entertainers were caper-
ly sought after. OF these the most
d'gniiied were the minstrels, who went
about singing the deeds of famous
heroes. Apparently, tho profession of
minstrclsy became oyercrowded; for a
royal decree exists forbidding un-
trained men to waste their time in
idleness, taking away the earnings and
reputation of the genuine minstrcls.
Despite its defective political and
economic organization, life in England
during the fourteenth century was far
from unifCrmly dull or unhappy. It's
most salient characters havo been re-
constructed with much skill by NJ. JUS
serand after indefatigable delving
among the old chroniclcrs and official
records. His work is an illuminating
revelation of a cross section of Eng
lish history; and its publication in a
new, enlarged and revised edition is
both timely and welcome,
The northern counties of England
are rich in song and story and tradi-
ton. They were the scene of many
battles with Scotch invaders; and many
rugged old ballads recount the doughty
deeds of Percy and Douglas.
Mr.. Anderson has made an extremely
thorough study of this region; and
his work is made more interesting and
valuable by a number of excellent IL
Illustrations by Hugh Thompson. The
Roman Wall, one of the memorable an
tiquities of Britain, is described at
some length. The author disagrees with
signed as a first line OF defense against
the incursions of the Picts and Scots.
The real Roman outposts may be found
much further north. The wall was a
sort Of Hindenburg Line, barrier
against serious invasion which might
have swept away the earlier defenses.
The author visits the field Of Flod-
den, commemorated in Sir Walter
SCOTS stirring Marmion, where the
Scotch King, James ", was defeated
and killed in a battle with tho English
forces under the Earl of Surrey. He
describes the Battle of Otterburn, the
vigorous border skirmish which in
spired the fine Ballad of Chevy Chase.
He sketches Hexham, picturesque old
town, where the decisive battle Of the
Wars of the Roses was fought. He
tells the story Of the cave near Hex
ham where, according to tradition.
Queen Margaret and her young son
wore sheltered by q robber after the
disastrous battle.
Historic Castles
The old castles of northumberland
some of them restored, some Of them
fallen in decay, are fascinating specta-
cles. Nearly all of them have sus.
tained fierce sieges in the days when
war, civil or foreign, was the normal
condition OF life. The author relates
many interesting details Of the lives
of the Northumbrian mobiles, who have
always played an active part in the
turbulent episodes of English history
from the early Middle Ages to the
Jacobite uprising in 1715.
To read Mr.. Anderson's book is to
wish to journey through this romantic
moor country of northern England,
where every stone may have its own
bill of history.