200 TEESDALE PLACE-NAMES. 



but the reverse was only occasionally the case. Some, the Ber- 

 serks (Bare-serk, bare shirt, unmailed warrior), were a class of 

 combatants in whom military enthusiasm often developed itself, 

 either as assumed frenzy or real madness. 



The Berserk's Course (Berserksgang), was the fit of fury 

 which seized the Berserk when dangerously excited by his mar- 

 tial frenzy. When under the influence of this paroxysm, he was 

 a raging wolf to his friends and an armed maniac to his enemies, 

 and only force or the battle field could subdue or exhaust his 

 fury." 



Under a similar influence it is that Malays ' run a muck,' and 

 certain tribes of the Turanian people of jSTorthern Asia are known 

 at times to be affected by the same infirmity. 



The sailors of the British fleet resemble in costume and in 

 intrepidity the Berserks of olden time. The Garibaldians wore 

 only red bare shirts in battle, and various nations in their naval 

 forces have adopted the dress of the British man-o'-war's men. 



" Wich. The word in its simple form is of very rare occur- 

 rence ; but a few instances may be produced in which it means 

 a house or farm, as Watton-wick and Castle-wick." Vocab. E. 

 Anglia. 



It is quite possible that in some cases wick, as vicus, may have 

 been left by the Eomaiis in England. 



Examples : — 



Holwick — village of the hollow, from A.-S. holl, cavern, and 

 wic, a village. 



Sledwick, or Sledwitch, or Sledwish — anciently Slidewesse. 

 Symeon of Durham, vol. i., p. 151. A.-S. sled, a plain, village 

 of the plain. See Sledwick. 



Stanwick — stone vicus or village. 



"Westwick — west vicus or village. 



This, our Teesdale district, being quite away from either sea, 

 can have no Scandinavian vik or bay, but we have seen that vih 

 implies perfugium, castellum.(Ihre) and in A.-S. wic means a 

 dwelling place, habitation, mansion, village, street, as well as 

 bay, creek, angle ; it is therefore quite possible that the above 



