brass collar - 03/16/04 03:09 PM
The serfs in England wore brass collars, as described in the
first chapter of Scott's IVANHOE:
" One part of his dress only remains, but it is too remarkable to be suppressed; it was a brass ring, resembling a dog's collar, but without any opening, and soldered fast round his neck, so loose as to form no impediment to his breathing, yet so tight as to be incapable of being removed, excepting by the use of the file. On this singular gorget was engraved, in Saxon characters, an inscription of the following purport:---``Gurth, the son of Beowulph, is the born thrall of Cedric of Rotherwood.'' "
first chapter of Scott's IVANHOE:
" One part of his dress only remains, but it is too remarkable to be suppressed; it was a brass ring, resembling a dog's collar, but without any opening, and soldered fast round his neck, so loose as to form no impediment to his breathing, yet so tight as to be incapable of being removed, excepting by the use of the file. On this singular gorget was engraved, in Saxon characters, an inscription of the following purport:---``Gurth, the son of Beowulph, is the born thrall of Cedric of Rotherwood.'' "