[310] Extract from a letter to the author: “Yesterday I was reading your ‘Vie Nomade,’ and that portion of it which speaks of the rewards given in fourteenth and fifteenth centuries to messengers who brought good tidings to the king. It may interest you to know that a remnant of this custom still survives. The officer sent by a general after a victory to convey the despatch to the Queen, receives besides a promotion in rank (or a decoration), a pecuniary reward. The officer who brought the news of the fall of Sebastopol to the Queen received the rank of Colonel, and a present of 500 guineas.
“My brother A.D.C., Major Anson, who carried home from China the despatch announcing the fall of Pekin, was promoted Colonel, and received a present of 500 guineas.—St. James’ Club, May 30, 1890.—F. Grant.”
What happened, in our less ceremonious days, when the news was brought of the Marne, of Ypres, of Messines? Doubtless it was not brought; it came.
[311] “Item, be it prohibited everywhere that any alien send letters beyond the sea, or receive letters which come thence; unless he shew them to the chancellor or to some other lord of the Privy Council, or at least to the chief wardens of the ports or their lieutenants, who shall further show them to the said Council.” “Rolls of Parliament,” vol. ii. p. 163, 20 Fd. III.
[312] Text C, pas. xiv. ll. 33–59.
[313] 5 and 6 Ed. VI, ch. 21. Statutes, vol. iv. part i. p. 155.
[314] 14 Eliz. ch. v. “Statutes,” vol. iv. part i. pp. 590 ff.
[315] 8 and 9 Will. III, ch. 25.
[316] Cf the contents of the pack of a French “porte-balle” of the eighteenth century: “ . . . Un de ces merciers ambulants qu’on appelle porte-balles et qui lui crie: Monsieur le chevalier, jarretières, ceintures, cordons de montre, tabatières du dernier goût, vraies jaback, bagues, cachets de montre. . . .” Diderot, “Jacques le Fataliste.” Ed. Asseline, p. 30.
[317] Text B, pas. v. l. 257.