J&uing of <lip2tone palace. 143 



evinces a considerable improvement in society, for during 

 the insecure condition of the country, when Clipstone 

 Palace was last brought into view, every baronial residence 

 was strongly fortified, and scarcely any intermediate 

 gradations existed between the vassal and his lord, except 

 in commercial cities. Men had consequently little 

 inclination to cultivate the arts of peace. The knight or 

 squire who rode forth fully caparisoned, and armed cap-a- 

 pie, turned not aside his charger into the recesses of the 

 forest to gather such beautiful flowers as might grow 

 therein, when there was danger in his path ; the serf, who 

 toiled hard to sustain his wife and children, had neither 

 time nor inclination to seek out, or to plant around his 

 cabin either the wild rose or the honeysuckle. The 

 wild rose grew, as now it grows, fragrant and beautiful ; 

 the honeysuckle, too, and wild flowers of all scents and 

 hues sprung beside the common, or skirted the thorny 

 brake ; but the outlaw often lurked among them, and it 

 was death to him who sought, unarmed or alone, the 

 beautiful solitude of nature. But now that the country- 

 is at peace, and the towns and cities contain a class of 

 persons who grow rich by commerce, and who frequently 

 obtain in their intercourse with foreign nations, curious 

 specimens both of art and nature, men begin to lay aside 

 that dread of their fellow-men which has hitherto caused 

 them to think most of their personal safety, and to direct 

 their attention towards improving their own condition. 

 The dwellings which arose in consequence throughout 



