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directed to the same end; dangers were always mixed up with amusements. These consisted in taking perilous leaps, climbing the steepest rocks, fighting naked with deadly weapons, and in wrestling; so that it was not uncommon to see them, at fifteen years, robust full-grown men, qualified for a vigorous combat. It was also at this age, that they were emancipated from tutelage, when a buckler, sword, and lance were formally presented to them. This ceremonial was performed in some public assembly, in which the father, or, in his default, the nearest of kin, publicly armed the young warrior. "This" says Tacitus "was his toga virilis, his taking his station in society; before this, he was part of a family; now he is become a member of the state." After this, he was required to provide for himself by the chace, or by inroads upon an enemy. Especial care, too, was taken to prevent the youthful citizen from too early a commerce with the sex, till his limbs had acquired all the vigour, of which they were susceptible. He could never hope to make his way into the hearts of the fair, but by the road of war and arms. Those mothers, whose children were generally born in the midst of camps, military sports, combats real or imaginary, and the effusion of blood, were not likely to enervate their offspring by too much tenderness and indulgence; so that their very infancy was imbued with the warlike spirit of their sires and the stern temper of the mothers.

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Their offensive weapons were the sword, the battle-axe, a bow and arrows. The first of these was short, curved generally like a scymitar, and hung from a little belt, that passed over the right shoulder: sometimes they wore a long straight weapon, that bore a different name; the former being called Sword, the latter, Spade or Spada,-a word found in almost all the languages of Europe. And these the Cimbri used. The heroes or champions took especial care to have very keen swords, which they ornamented with mysterious characters, and to which they gave such names as might inspire terror. The battle-axe had two edges. Besides these ordinary arms, these fierce warriors made use, at their pleasure, of other implements, such as they deemed best adapted to second their valour; and accordingly, we find mention

(6) Mallet, p. 128.

(7) Dalin, Hist. I. 1. p. 8.

(8) Plutarch.

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made of javelins, slings, clubs stuck with sharp points, lances, and a sort of poignard. In their defensive armour was no less variety; of which the buckler was the principal, and this was usually of wood, bark, or leather. That of the warrior of distinction was of iron or copper, painted or embossed, often gilt, and sometimes they were plated even with gold or silver. And the shields were not only the principal instruments of defence in war, but served for various other purposes also; they were used for carrying the dead to the grave, to terrify the enemy by clashing their swords or spears against them, to form occasionally coverings or a kind of tents, when they were encamped in the field in bad weather. And in naval encounters they were of no less utility; for, if the fear of falling into the enemy's hands obliged any man to throw himself into the sea, he might save himself by floating upon his buckler." Lastly, a rampart was made of the shields, by locking them firmly together, so as, on emergency, to form an impregnable barrier against the enemy's assaults. Sometimes too they were arranged into a sort of stage or platform, upheld on the heads of the soldiers, upon which the general standing, harangued his army on the open plain. This useful implement, serving for such a variety of purposes, was, at the end of the campaign on their return home, hung against the walls of their houses, as the most noble ornament, with which they could be decorated.

The casque or helmet was made out of various materials, according to the rank of the wearer. That of the private was of leather generally; that of the officer, of iron, and, if his means would allow, of gilt copper. The coat of mail and other parts less essential were worn by those only, who could procure them.

They did not carry to great perfection the science of fortification, and attacking places of defence, in those rude times when war, as a science, was not understood. Their fortresses were castles, situated usually upon the summit of rocks, and strengthened by rudely built walls; which, surrounding the fortress in an irregular fashion, were often called by a name that signifies a Serpent or Dragon. In these, ladies of distinction, especially those renowned

(9) The two gigantic figures in the Guildhall of London, vulgarly called Gog and Magog, are doubtless representations of Scythian or Danish warriors. (10) Holberg's Danemark, c. XIII.

for extraordinary beauty, were not unfrequently immured for safety, in those lawless times, when so many desperadoes were wandering up and down, in quest of adventures.' It is needless to add, that it was this practice that gave occasion to the Romancists (who knew not how to describe common events in plain terms, but glossed over their stories with figment and fable) of imagining so many prodigies about princesses of transcendant beauty being guarded by furious and fiery dragons, and of young knights who could not succeed in rescuing them, until they had flung to the ground those terrible defenders. These rude forts were commonly taken by surprise, or after they had sustained a long blockade. If however, the fort was of great importance, terraces were raised in the elevated part of the fort, whence the besiegers hurled arrows, stones, boiling water, melted pitch or lead, which the besieged were, on their part, not slow in returning. There is reason to suppose, that the use of catapultæ and balistæ, engines for discharging great stones and darts, was formerly known in the north; but probably they were rare and of rude construction."

How formidable soever were the ancient Danes and Norwegians to their neighbours and distant nations by land, it must, notwithstanding, be confessed that the watery element was the true theatre of their glory. By their maritime expeditions they terrified and ravaged Europe; and of all the northern swarms that covered the sea with their fleets, the Saxons were the most numerous and formidable. An author, who wrote in the fifth century,' gives a frightful picture of the inroads, descents, and devastations of this turbulent race. "The Saxon pirates have not only a knowledge of, but a familiarity with, the dangers of the sea an enemy more truculent than any enemy; he attacks unexpectedly; he escapes unobserved; he despises those who oppose him, and lays prostrate those off their guard."' Just as is this character of the Saxons, it may, with far stronger reason, be applied to their Danish neighbours.

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But to the cruelty and tyranny of the Saxons, the Danes added a rigorous exaction of annual tribute, called Danegelt, but by the Saxons Heregeld, i. e. a military and naval impost which was

(1) Dalin, 1. I. c. 7. 20.

(3) Sidon. Apoll. lib. VIII, epist. 6.

(2) Idem.

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begun to be collected about the reign of Ethelred, anno 990, as some writers suppose, ob pacandos Danos patriam infestantes,' or according to others, for hiring Danish and other soldiers, or mariners, to oppose the incursions of foreign invaders. But we adhere to the opinion of Sir H. Spelman, who describes this tax to be " a tribute imposed on the English, sometimes for pacifying the Danes, sometimes for keeping them off the island," and a little after, "an annual tribute of 8000 pounds, was wrung out of the people." It was originally an annual tax of two shillings on every hide of land in the kingdom; and was in its nature a land-tax, and the first of that kind, mentioned by our historians. But this, like many other imposts, retained its name, after it became appropriated to uses entirely different. Mr Tate reckons the number of hides in England' to have amounted to 246,000; consequently, the gross income of the tax was £24, 600; an estimate coinciding with that of Spelman, nearly; if we take the pound weight Troy, usually valued at three pounds sterling. The Author of the "Dialogue on the Exchequer" makes the subjoined comment upon this odious and extortionate impost: "Our island, content with its own riches and blessings, needs not those of the foreigner. This country, therefore, was justly called by our ancestors,

Divitiisque sinum, deliciisque larem

The lap of riches, and the home of joys.

On this account, it sustained innumerable injuries at the hands of foreigners; for it is written, things valuable entice the thief. And so, pirates from the circumjacent countries made inroads upon and laid waste the maritime parts, carrying off gold, silver, and other valuables. But, when the king at the head of the natives prepared for a vigorous defence of the land, these intruders fled by sea. Among these, the principal and those more inclined to do mischief were that warlike and populous nation, who, besides the avarice common to robbers, were more frequent and formidable in their attacks, because they made some claim, by an ancient right, to the sovereignty of the kingdom, as the History of the Britons more fully relates. Therefore, to keep off these enemies, it was enacted by the English kings, that for every hide (4) Spelman's Glossary, p. 181.

(5) Camden's Brit. I. 226; and Spelman's Gloss., p. 292.

of land two shillings be paid as a perpetual tax, for the service of warlike men, who were to guard the sea-coasts and be a check on the enemy's attacks."

6. The extravagant love of war among the ancient Scandinavians, is the prominent feature in their character. Their prejudices, customs, daily occupations, and amusements, in short, the whole tenor of their life, took a colouring and bias from this passion. The greater part of their existence was spent in the camp, or on board the fleet, in actual warfare, or in preparation for it. They had constantly reviews, sham fights which often proved serious encounters, and other military diversions; and, even when forced to live in peace, the representations of war were their liveliest entertainment; while hunting, the discussion of public affairs, drinking and sleeping, and the pleasures of the table occupied the rest of their time. The bravest and the most active consigned the care of the house and family to women, old men, or the infirm. "The same people, by a strange contradiction, cannot live in inactivity, and yet love idleness.""

Like the modern English, they had the highest zest for the festive board. Among them was no public assembly, no civil or religious festival, no birth-day, marriage, or funeral duly solemnized, no friendship or alliance was properly cemented, in which feasting did not form the chief part. The plentiful tables of the grandees were the wages of their dependents. A great lord could not more effectually succeed in drawing around him a great number of followers, than by giving magnificent and frequent repasts. At table they deliberated upon political matters, on war, peace, &c. and on the following day, reviewed what had been concluded upon the previous evening, thinking that a proper season for taking a man's opinion, when his heart, cheered and laid open by the copious and generous bowl, is free from disguise and dissimulation, and for taking his resolution, when he is cool and sober. At those carousals beer or mead was the usual beverage, or wine, when they could procure it. These were drunk from earthern or wooden pitchers, or from the horns of wild bulls, with which

(6) Quotiens bella non ineunt, multum venatibus, plus per otium transigunt, dediti somno ciboque. Tacit. Germ. c. 15.

(7) Id. c. 2.

(8) Pelloutier, I. b. 2, c. 12.

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