'
'By-the-bye,' said Elizabeth, 'I think I have found out the origin of
the golden spurs being part of a knight's equipment. Do you remember
when the Cid's beloved king Don Sancho was killed, that Rodrigo could
not overtake the traitor Bellido Dolfos, because he had no spurs on,
whereupon he cursed every knight who should for the future ride
without them. Now that was at the time when the laws of chivalry
were attaining their perfection, but--'
'Not so fast,' said Anne; 'I have a much earlier pair of golden spurs
for you. Do not you remember Edmund, the last King of East Anglia,
being betrayed to the Danish wedding-party at Hoxne, by the glitter
of his golden spurs, and cursing every new married pair who should
ever pass over the bridge where he was found. I think that makes for
my side of the question. Here is Edmund, a knight in golden spurs
when Alfred was a child. Ah ha, Miss Lizzie!'
Before Elizabeth could answer, Winifred came to tell her that her
mamma wanted her, and she was forced to leave the question of King
Alfred's and King Edmund's chivalry undecided; for, to her praise be
it spoken, she was much too useful a person ever to be able to pursue
her own peculiar diversions for many minutes together.
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