[Footnote 9]: Since writing the above, I have seen a beautiful sketch by Sir Walter Scott, of a scene very similar. The coincidence of even the minute points is striking; but I know that Sir Walter, and I trust the public also, will believe me, when I pledge my word that the whole of this book was written before I ever saw "My Aunt Margaret's Mirror," and, I believe, before it was published.
[Footnote 10]: Alluding to the vision of Fair Geraldine, called up in a mirror at the request of Lord Surrey.
[Footnote 11]: I have not been able to discover at what precise period the custom of exacting a ransom from each prisoner taken in battle was dropped in Europe. It certainly still existed in the reign of Elizabeth, and perhaps still later, for Shakspere (writing in the days of James I.) makes repeated mention of it. Some centuries before the period of this tale, Edward the Black Prince fixed the ransom of Du Guesclin at one hundred francs, which the constable considered degrading, and rated himself at the sum of seventy thousand florins of gold.
[Footnote 12]: A suit of horse armour and housings.
[Footnote 13]: We have every reason to believe that this adventure is by no means the invention of Vonderbrugius, but a simple historical fact.
[Footnote 14]: Hall gives an account of this event, with very little variation in the circumstances, stating that only a footman was with the king, one Moody; but, of course, Vonderbrugius may be relied on as the most correct.
[Footnote 15]:: It stood nearly where Westminster Bridge stands at present.
[Footnote 16]: This circumstance is generally placed by the French anecdotarians some ten days later; but weconceive that the precision of a Dutchman is to be relied on in preference.
[Footnote 17]: We cannot help calling attention to the scrupulous accuracy of Vonderbrugius. Supposing that he might, in some fit of unwonted imaginativeness have invented this circumstance, we searched through many tomes for confirmation, when we at last found the whole story alluded to in the exact Montluc; which, though it leaves the Dutchman no other merit than that of a compiler, justifies implicit belief in every part of this surprising history.
[Footnote 18]: The original words of Francis were, Ma lance contre un écu d'Espagne; écu meaning either a shield or a crown-piece.