Mediceval England. 139 



ing call upon the Anglo-Saxons, dine with the Anglo-Normans, 

 or pay a familiar visit to the early Englishman, when the con- 

 flicting races were fused together, and a single national appella- 

 tion became the grand name of all. We find the Saxon, so far 

 as the upper class was concerned, in a higher condition than has 

 often been supposed, and after Roman influence had been felt, 

 his mode of life was not wanting* in the elegance that is com- 

 patible with a rough iron age. Although stone was occasionally 

 employed, the chief material for the construction of habitations 

 was wood, and the carpenter was the builder in those simple 

 days. The principal apartment was the hall, or public living 

 room for the family and their guests. Internally it was covered, 

 by those who could afford the luxury, with " wall clothing," or 

 hangings, either of plain cloth, or richly ornamented with em- 

 broidered patterns, or pictures of historic scenes. So early as 

 the seventh century, Mr. Wright tells us, that Aldhelm observed 

 that if the tapestries were of ' ' one colour, uniform, they would 

 not seem beautiful to eye." These hangings, together with 

 arms, armour, and trophies of the chase and war, constitute 

 the most noticeable decorations of the abode ; but we find orna- 

 mental tiles covering the roof, and variegated or tesselated pave- 

 ments not unknown for the floor. The vessels of domestic use 

 were not without a fair share of beauty and constructive skill. 

 The bowls with double handles were of graceful form, and 

 buckets, probably used to hold ale or mead, were decorated 

 with bronze handles and hoops, exhibiting considerable know- 

 ledge of design. Very characteristic also were the drinking 

 vessels, especially the " tumblers/'' rounded or trumpet-shaped 

 glasses which would not stand, and which the topers of both 

 sexes emptied at a draught. One of them, sketched by Mr. 

 Fairholt, is elegantly fluted, while another exhibits a (C twisted" 

 pattern often mentioned by Beowulf, and evidently highly 

 esteemed by the fashionables of his day. Separated from the 

 hall were the " bowers," or private sleeping rooms, in which 

 very little luxury was displayed. The bed was a sack of straw, 

 the bed-clothes of a primitive character, and night-gowns (as 

 was the case for many centuries) consisted merely of the natural 

 covering which Nature provided when she benevolently fur- 

 nished our progenitors with a skin. The table in the living 

 room, or hall, was, for the most part, literally a " board," which 

 tressels supported when its services were required for the rough 

 but hospitable meal. Yery harsh were the distinctions of class, 

 but, nevertheless, certain elements of equality prevailed. All 

 halls were open, and any stranger, however lowly his condition, 

 was at liberty to enter, and take his place even at the ' ' board" 

 of a noble or a king. The dinner must have been a very 

 clumsy and dirty affair. In an old picture, given by Mr. Wright, 



