[211] Fairy Queen, book iii. canto 5. st. 31. 33.
[212] Before the year 1680, when coaches were first used in England, as Percy observes, ladies rode chiefly on horseback, either single on their palfreys, or double behind some person on a pillion. Not but in case of sickness, or bad weather, they had horse-litters, and even vehicles called chairs, and carrs or charres. Note on the Northumberland Household Book.
[213] It is evident that the good King of Hungary was a boon companion, and we will fancy that it was from a very common and natural feeling, that he supposed his daughter’s inclinations similar to his own. Of the formidable list of wines which he gives, some names declare their growths very clearly; of the rest, I believe, that Rumney wine means the wine from La Romanée, a vineyard of Burgundy. Dr. Henderson, however, suggests that it was an Andalusian growth. Malmesyne was a Greek wine, from Malvagia in the Morea, the original seat of the Malmsey grape. Vernage was perhaps a Tuscan wine. Osey was Alsatian wine. Respice, (vin rapé) was the produce of unbruised grapes, and Bastard was a sweet Spanish wine.
[214] Baked meats were the usual food of our ancestors. Thus Chaucer says of his Frankelein (the modern country squire),
“Withoutin bake-mete never was his house.”
[215] Station.
[216] Two species of hawks.
[217] Sewed or quilted.
[218] Rennes in Brittany was highly famous for its manufacture of linen.
[219] Inlaid with jewels.