Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1902 — A Knight's Way of Marrying. [ARTICLE]

A Knight's Way of Marrying.

Of all the matrimonial traffickingin the age of chivalry—the ways of widows are jit once the boldest and most comprehensive. As a rule their methods seldom resort ta blandishment: it is remarkable when tenderness is an item in their bargain. Speed was their maxim; it was one King John honored, for he profited by it. —-yet-ene of the rarert-exceptions ia-l the way of delicacy to these, compnrclal negotiations l.as ...evidently been® prompted by a widow-who had quite an exceptional lover. In 1200 William de Landa—either one of the most fainousnof Tbe crusaders .qr ids -sos-*offers 50 marks, and a pttyjpey for having to wife Joan,' whlT fths tile wife of Thomas de Arcsey. “if .he may bo pleasing to the said Joan,’’ the sheriff is instructed to ascertain the -widow’s wishes.- “and if. the said Joan shall be pleased to have him for a husband then the sheriff shall cause William to have seizin of Joan and her land,” both of which he obtained in the name of gentle love and the faith of a true soldier. It i« fitting that the name of one of the men who led the assault of Acre should be preserved in such a record ns the above. He was in truth a very perfect knight.—Gentleman’s Magazine. ‘