or Nktlbv.]
317
It happened one day that King Ilenry IT. was indulging in hunting, thefavourite amusement of the Anglo-Norman princes, probably in the woods ofHampshire. Eager in pursuit of the chase, the king was separated from hiscompanions, and, missing his way, came at night-fall to a house of Cistercianmonks on the border of the wood, and, pretending to be one of King Henry'sknights, he demanded a lodging there. The abbot and brethren receivedthe wanderer with a hospitable welcome; and after supper the former calledfor a plentiful supply of the choicest liquor in the abbey. In the merry daysof Old England, a particular form in drinking, derived from our Saxonforefathers, was universally observed: with each full cup one party pledgedthe other with the word (or rather words) Washed, equivalent to Health tothee! and the origin of the more modern wassail: the answer was Drincheil,or, I drink thy health. But great topers and men of social habits, instead ofusing the common expression, invented drinking words of their own, privatesignals of affectionate regard, which appear to have had no particularmeaning. Such was the case with the abbot in our story: the supposedknight, in return for his hospitable entertainment, had promised to use hisinfluence with the king in furtherance of a suit which the abbot intended toprefer the next morning; and the latter, in the openness of his heart, pledgedhis guest with his private drinking-word, which was pril, and he instructedhim in the proper mode of answering, which was by the similar word writ.In this manner they spent a considerable portion of the night with themonks in great joviality, the walls resounding to the continual shouts of priland writ. After having taken a short repose, the king departed at the breakof day, and hastened to a neighbouring town where he had established hiscourt: he there gave strict orders to the officers of his household, that theyshould give the abbot immediate admission to his presence. Accordingly, atan early hour in the forenoon, the abbot, attended by two of his monks,repaired to the court, light-hearted with the expectation of the good offices ofhis guest of the preceding night. On his arrival, he was astonished to findthat the servants of the king appeared as though aware of his mission, andthat they passed him with unusual quickness and attention from one room toanother, until he found himself suddenly in the royal presence. The monarch,who in his altered dress was not recognized by his host, caused the abbot tobe seated by his side, and scarcely giving him time to utter his petition, toldhim that he had been made acquainted with his wishes, and that they werealready granted. The abbot, after returning his humble thanks, would havetaken his leave; but the king insisted on retaining him and his two monksto dinner. At table the abbot was seated near the king, and was treatedwith the greatest attention; and after the eating was over, large (Linking-