[Footnote 4]: A "drost" filled the office of prime-minister to the king. He was often required, not only to take a leading part in the councils of his sovereign, but to conduct warlike operations in a campaign. A prince of the blood might also have his drost, who attended him in the capacity of aide-de-camp. The king's drost superseded the marsk, when present with the army.--Tr.
[Footnote 5]: "Et Sondagsbarn." A superstition exists in Sweden and Denmark, that a child should not be baptised on the same day it is born. Hence it is believed that a child born and baptised on a Sunday will not live long; or, should it happen to live, that trolds and witches can have no power over it. A Sunday's child may, it is said, be known by its clear skin and complexion.--Tr.
[Footnote 6]: A small Norwegian horse--a kind of pony.
[Footnote 7]: Ale brewed of the herb called sweet gale, or Dutch myrtle, instead of hops.--Tr.
[Footnote 8]: A proverbial expression, said of one who conceives and carries out an odd or whimsical idea.--Tr.
[Footnote 9]: A garter--a punning nickname generally given to Drost Peter.
[Footnote 10]: Such was the name given to the municipal law promulgated by King Erik Glipping, in 1269, for the government of Ribe, or Rypen, in Denmark, It contains many judicious and some singular enactments, for the discovery and punishment of offenders against the peace and morals of the community. The penalties it attaches to some crimes might well give rise to coarse remarks among the discontented nobles.--Tr.
[Footnote 11]: "Nidding." A term of contempt, for which we have no equivalent in English. It expresses more than the word coward. In some parts of Scotland and of the north of England, a low, mean-spirited fellow is termed a "niddy," probably from this Scandinavian original.--Tr.
[Footnote 12]: In allusion to an acute and learned work of Master Martin's.
[Footnote 13]: Junker, pronounced "Yungker." A name formerly given to the sons of the king of Denmark.