Ivanhoe

CHAPTER III

1 (p. 48) epigraph: The lines are from James Thomson’s long poem Liberty (1735-1736; 4.668-670).

2 (p. 52) “I might even have made him one of my warders”: [Author’s note] Cnichts. The original has cnichts, by which the Saxons seem to have designated a class of military attendants, sometimes free, sometimes bondsmen, but always ranking above an ordinary domestic, whether in the royal household or in those of the aldermen and thanes. But the term cnicht, now spelt knight, having been received into the English language as equivalent to the Norman word chevalier, I have avoided using it in its more ancient sense, to prevent confusion.—L. T.

3 (p. 54) the most odiferous pigments: [Author’s note] Morat and Pigment. These were drinks used by the Saxons, as we are informed by Mr. Turner. Morat was made of honey flavoured with the juice of mulberries; pigment was a sweet and rich liquor, composed of wine highly spiced, and sweetened also with honey; the other liquors need no explanation.—L. T.