whereas bretasches of course were impossible at the time. One is reminded of the description, by Piramus, of the coming of the English, when 'over the broad sea Britain they sought':
'Leuent bresteches od kernels,
Ke cuntrevalent bons chastels,
De herituns [? hericuns] e de paliz
Les cernent, si funt riulez
Del quer des cheygnes, forze e halz,
Ki ne criement sieges ne asalz.'
(Vie Seint Edmund le Rey, ll. 228-33.)
[28] English Historical Review, ix. 66.
[29] Ibid., 31-7, 17-18, and throughout his paper.