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Chapter 41

           TheSaxonarchitecthadexhaustedhisartinrenderingthemainkeepdefensible,andtherewasnoothercircumvallationthanarudebarrierofpalisades.

           Ahugeblackbanner,whichfloatedfromthetopofthetower,announcedthattheobsequiesofthelateownerwerestillintheactofbeingsolemnized.Itborenoemblemofthedeceased’sbirthorquality,forarmorialbearingswerethenanoveltyamongtheNormanchivalrythemselvesand,weretotallyunknowntotheSaxons.Butabovethegatewasanotherbanner,onwhichthefigureofawhitehorse,rudelypainted,indicatedthenationandrankofthedeceased,bythewell-knownsymbolofHengistandhisSaxonwarriors.

           Allaroundthecastlewasasceneofbusycommotion;forsuchfuneralbanquetsweretimesofgeneralandprofusehospitality,whichnotonlyeveryonewhocouldclaimthemostdistantconnexionwiththedeceased,butallpassengerswhatsoever,wereinvitedtopartake.ThewealthandconsequenceofthedeceasedAthelstane,occasionedthiscustomtobeobservedinthefullestextent.

           Numerousparties,therefore,wereseenascendinganddescendingthehillonwhichthecastlewassituated;andwhentheKingandhisattendantsenteredtheopenandunguardedgatesoftheexternalbarrier,thespacewithinpresentedascenenoteasilyreconciledwiththecauseoftheassemblage.Inoneplacecooksweretoilingtoroasthugeoxen,andfatsheep;inanother,hogsheadsofaleweresetabroach,tobedrainedatthefreedomofallcomers.

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