hly esteemed and
costly material for dress in the later Middle Ages.

_chevalier haubert_, i. e. a knight who has the right to wear the
haubert or cuirass.

_Urbain quatre_, Pope (1261-. 1264). He is rightly described as the son
of a cobbler.

_Afranus_, introduced as the bishop of Frejus, and one of Ratbert's evil
counsellors, in the poem of 'Ratbert'. See note on l. 435 _supra_.

L. 721. For the element of supernatural vengeance on cruelty compare
_L'Aigle du casque_, published in the 1877 series.

LA ROSE DE L'INFANTE.

A French critic has said happily of this poem: '"La Rose de l'Infante"
est un chef-d'oeuvre, digne d'etre illustre par Velasquez.' (Gaston
Deschamps in Petit de Julleville's _Histoire de la langue et de la
litterature francaises_.)

The little princess, of whom such an enchanting picture is given in this
poem, is an imaginary figure. There was no Infanta of five years of age
at the epoch of the Armada.

_ basquine_, a rich skirt worn by Spanish women.

_point de Genes_, Genoese lace, which at one time rivalled that of Venice.

_fil d'or florentin_, gold thread of Florence.

_Duc de Brabant_ was one of the many titles of the King of Spain.

L. 69. See note on LA CONFIANCE.

_glas_ (pronounced _gla_), 'passing bell.'

_vitreux_: 'glassy,' 'lack-lustre.' The sunken eyes seemed of an
unfathomable depth.

_Iblis_. See note on PUISSANCE EGALE BONTE,

_Escurial_. The vast and gloomy palace near Madrid built by Philip II in
the form of a gridiron in memory of St. Laurence, on whose feast-day he
won the battle of St. Quentin.

_L'Inde_. The inclusion of India in Philip's dominions can hardly be
justified. As King of Spain he possessed nothing in India, and as King
of Portugal only a few trading stations and fortresses.

For Hugo's conception of the power and position of Spain at this epoch,
see _Le Rhin: Conclusion_, II, III.

L. 130. Prescott describes Philip as being habitually grave in manner,
unsocial and sombre, and always dressed in black. The Order of the
Golden Fleece was the only jewel he ever wore.

L. 137. 'Better a ruined kingdom, true to itself and its king, than
one left unharmed to the profit of the Devil and the heretics.
'--Correspondence of Philip, quoted by Prescott in the History
of Philip II.

_Burgos_, the ancient capital of Old Castile. _Aranjuez_, a town in the
province of Toledo, where Philip had a summer residence.

_la toison d'or_, the Golden Fleece, a