The interchange of a cuff with the jolly priest is
not entirely out of character with Richard I., if
romances read him aright. In the very curious
romance on the subject of his adventures in the Holy
Land, and his return from thence, it is recorded how
he exchanged a pugilistic favour of this nature, while
a prisoner in Germany. His opponent was the son
of his principal warder, and was so imprudent as to
give the challenge to this barter of buffets.
The King stood forth like a true man, and received
a blow which staggered him. In requital, having
previously waxed his hand, a practice unknown, I believe,
to the gentlemen of the modern fancy, he returned
the box on the ear with such interest as to kill his
antagonist on the spot. —–See, in
Ellis’s Specimens of English Romance, that of
Coeur-de-Lion.
Note I.—–Hedge-Priests.
It is curious to observe, that in every state of society,
some sort of ghostly consolation is provided for the
members of the community, though assembled for purposes
diametrically opposite to religion. A gang of
beggars have their Patrico, and the banditti of the
Apennines have among them persons acting as monks
and priests, by whom they are confessed, and who perform
mass before them. Unquestionably, such reverend
persons, in such a society, must accommodate their
manners and their morals to the community in which
they live; and if they can occasionally obtain a degree
of reverence for their supposed spiritual gifts, are,
on most occasions, loaded with unmerciful ridicule,
as possessing a character inconsistent with all around
them.
Hence the fighting parson in the old play of Sir John
Oldcastle, and the famous friar of Robin Hood’s
band. Nor were such characters ideal. There
exists a monition of the Bishop of Durham against
irregular churchmen of this class, who associated
themselves with Border robbers, and desecrated the
holiest offices of the priestly function, by celebrating
them for the benefit of thieves, robbers, and murderers,
amongst ruins and in caverns of the earth, without
regard to canonical form, and with torn and dirty
attire, and maimed rites, altogether improper for
the occasion.
Note J.—–Castle of Coningsburgh.
When I last saw this interesting ruin of ancient days,
one of the very few remaining examples of Saxon fortification,
I was strongly impressed with the desire of tracing
out a sort of theory on the subject, which, from some
recent acquaintance with the architecture of the ancient
Scandinavians, seemed to me peculiarly interesting.
I was, however, obliged by circumstances to proceed
on my journey, without leisure to take more than a
transient view of Coningsburgh. Yet the idea dwells
so strongly in my mind, that I feel considerably tempted
to write a page or two in detailing at least the outline
of my hypothesis, leaving better antiquaries to correct
or refute conclusions which are perhaps too hastily
drawn.
