English wayfaring life in the middle ages : (xivth century) / by J. J. Jusserand ; tr. from the French by Lucy Toulmin Smith.
- Jean Jules Jusserand
- Date:
- 1899
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: English wayfaring life in the middle ages : (xivth century) / by J. J. Jusserand ; tr. from the French by Lucy Toulmin Smith. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![5° be consecrated to the maintenance of the edifice for ever.1 The bridge was finished in 1209. It was furnished with houses, with a chapel, and with defensive towers. It immediately became celebrated, and was the admi- ration of all England. The Scotchman, Sir David Lindesay, Earl of Crawfurd, having fallen out with Lord Welles, ambassador at the Scottish Court, a duel was decided on, and Lindesay chose London Bridge as the place of combat (1390). He crossed the length of the kingdom, furnished with a safe-conduct from King Richard II.4 and the duel solemnly came off at the place fixed in the presence of an immense concourse. The first shock was so violent that the lances were shivered, but the Scotchman remained immovable in his saddle. The people, fearing for the success of the Englishman, called out that the foreigner was fixed to his horse against all rules. Upon understanding this Lindesay, by way of reply, leapt lightly to the ground, with one bound returned to the saddle and, charging his adversary- anew, overthrew and grievously wounded him.2 The houses built on the bridge were of several storeys; they had cellars in the thickness of the piers. When the inhabitants needed water they lowered their buckets by ropes out of the windows and filled them in the Thames. Sometimes by this means they helped poor fellows whose boat had capsized. The arches were narrow, and it was not uncommon in the dark for a boat to strike against the piers and be dashed to pieces. 1 See Appendix I. 2 Stow’s “Survey,” p. 56; “ Chronicles of London Bridge,” by an Antiquary [Richard Thomson], London, 1S27, pp. 187-193.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b24879502_0054.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
