Historic%20Yorkshire

HENRY THE III.'s CHRISTMAS AT YORK. 67
glittering with gilding; we scent the delicious aroma
which ascends from the delicious soups, and the boar's
head, with a lemon on each tusk, or between his jaws;
we see thousands of small birds,includingnightingales,
thrushes, larks,etc., roasted,while sweet pies,jellies, and
marvellous dishes, some of which would be strange to
the reader and others not, were in abundance, whilenot
onlyhoopedmugs of strong ale wereset for the guests,
but also delicateand well-flavouredwinesof high price.
Another important part of these Christmas celebrations
of long ago was the performanceof homageby the
Scottish Kingfor his Englishpossessions. Thequestion
as to whether Alexander should not also do homage for
the Kingdom of Scotland was likewise raised by Henry,
but the young Scottish monarch, with much spirit and a
display of tact that speaks well for his intellectualparts,
replied that he came to York to marry the Princess of
England and not to discuss State affairs, and that he
would not take so important a step without the concurrence
of the national council. Upon this the English
king suffered the matter to drop.
Yet another demand was made,which againroused the
spirit of Alexander. It was the customfor those novices
who had just received the honours of knighthood to surrender
to the Earl Marshal as a perquisite the palfrey
upon which they rode, with its trappings. The Earl
Marshal thought it necessary to explain that in his
demandhe was actuatednot by an avaricious motive,but
by necessary regard for ancient custom, and that he
merelypressed his claim to ensure the due regard of the
observance in the future. Alexander, however, declined
being bound by any such ancient observance,saying that
had he wished, he could have been knighted by any
Catholic prince, or even by one of his ownnoblemen, and
that simply his respect for the King of England caused
him to prefer being belted by him. The Earl Marshal
resigned his claim with good grace, more especially as
Henry sided with his newly-acquiredson-in-law.