Horseshoes, swords, and the heads of halberds, or bills, are often found there ; one place is called the ``Danes' well,'' another the ``Battle flats.'' From a tradition that the weapon with which the Norwegian champion was slain, resembled a pear, or, as others say, that the trough or boat in which the soldier floated under the bridge to strike the blow, had such a shape, the
country people usually begin a great market, which is held at Stamford, with an entertainment called the Pear-pie feast, which after all may be a corruption of the Spear-pie feast.
The peddler with his pack traversed the country by all manner of lonely roads, and was compelled to rely upon the
country people for hospitality.
He assured us that they were good for one--better than medicine; in his
country people lived on them at this time of year.
He keeps no company with anybody, and seldom walks out but by night, for he doth not care to be seen; and all the
country people are as much afraid of meeting him; for his dress is enough to frighten those who are not used to it.
It is wonderful how soon he transformed this rough mob of
country people into the semblance of a regular army.
Why, my poor
country people in their bit cobles[16] pass from island to island in all weathers, ay, and by night too, for the matter of that."
All the
country people were standing round the King's throne, and were crowded together in thick masses almost out of the windows to see the Princess receive the suitors; and as each one came into the room all his fine phrases went out like a candle!
True, I replied, I had forgotten; of course they must have a relish-salt, and olives, and cheese, and they will boil roots and herbs such as
country people prepare; for a dessert we shall give them figs, and peas, and beans; and they will roast myrtle-berries and acorns at the fire, drinking in moderation.
One of them is a Tyrolese, an exceedingly clever fellow, who makes rough shoes for
country people's wear, and boots for people of fashion in Grenoble as no one can make them, not even in Paris itself.
As illustrating the peculiar mental processes of the
country people, I remember that I asked one coloured man, who was about sixty years old, to tell me something of his history.
By his own account he must have lived his life among some of the wickedest men that God ever allowed upon the sea, and the language in which he told these stories shocked our plain
country people almost as much as the crimes that he described.
None of the
country people round here, your own people, believe anything evil about you.