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(A.D. 1100)
“MY son,” said the Norman Baron, “I am dying, and you will be heir | |
| To all the broad acres in England that William gave me for my share | |
| When we conquered the Saxon at Hastings, and a nice little handful it is. | |
| But before you go over to rule it I want you to understand this:— | |
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| “The Saxon is not like us Normans. His manners are not so polite. | 5 |
| But he never means anything serious till he talks about justice and right. | |
| When he stands like an ox in the furrow with his sullen set eyes on your own, | |
| And grumbles, “This isn’t fair dealings,” my son, leave the Saxon alone. | |
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| “You can horsewhip your Gascony archers, or torture your Picardy spears, | |
| But don’t try that game on the Saxon; you’ll have the whole brood round your ears. | 10 |
| From the richest old Thane in the county to the poorest chained serf in the field, | |
| They’ll be at you and on you like hornets, and, if you are wise, you will yield. | |
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| “But first you must master their language, their dialect, proverbs and songs. | |
| Don’t trust any clerk to interpret when they come with the tale of their wrongs. | |
| Let them know that you know what they’re saying; let them feel that you know what to say. | 15 |
| Yes, even when you want to go hunting, hear ’em out if it takes you all day. | |
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| “They’ll drink every hour of the daylight and poach every hour of the dark, | |
| It’s the sport not the rabbits they ’re after (we ’ve plenty of game in the park). | |
| Don’t hang them or cut off their fingers. That’s wasteful as well as unkind, | |
| For a hard-bitten, South-country poacher makes the best man-at-arms you can find. | 20 |
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| “Appear with your wife and the children at their weddings and funerals and feasts. | |
| Be polite but not friendly to Bishops; be good to all poor parish priests. | |
| Say ‘we,’ ‘us’ and ‘ours’ when you’re talking instead of ‘you fellows’ and ‘I.’ | |
| Don’t ride over seeds; keep your temper; and never you tell ’em a lie!” | |
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