LECTURE I.

towns in England. Of similar derivation are places ending in coln, (as Lincoln), indicating the locality of a Roman colony; also with the word pons (pontis), the Latin for a bridge, as Ponte-fract, which means the broken bridge, contracted to Pomfret; likewise with portus, a gate, and also a port, as in Stockport, Gosport, &c.; to which are to be added those in which street is introduced, from the Latin strata, as in Watling-Street and Stretton; as also Chester-le-street, the le having been doubtless introduced by the Nor­mans; as probably was the last syllable of Ponte-fract, where they may have found the Roman bridge in a dilapidated condition. In Ireland, which was not invaded by the Romans, or perhaps known to them, we find no names of places with the above Latin-derived words incorporated into them.

It is remarkable, that notwithstanding the efforts of the Normans, after the conquest, to substitute their own language for that of the subdued Saxons—such as making Norman-French the forensic language, and that of the Royal Court, and enacting laws enjoining that no other language should be taught in schools, and no petitions received by the king unless couched in the favoured tongue—yet all these proved of no avail (any more than similar measures adopted in the sixteenth century to suppress the Irish language); while, as a natural consequence of

LECTURE I. 7

penal enactments, the arbitrary prohibition of the native language of the people caused them to cling more earnestly to this, the last vestige of their former liberty.

Moreover, the descendants of the Normans who first settled in England naturally adopted, after a time, the language spoken by the ma­jority of the people amongst whom their lot was cast. Thus the only immediate effect of the Norman Conquest on the language of the country was the introduction of a comparatively small number of words from the Norman French.* But its ultimate effect upon the character of the language was considerable; as it,led to the greater civilization of the people, and prepared the way for a gradual improvement of the language, as the result of education and refinement of manners consequent upon increased intercourse with the Continent.

It was not, however, until three centuries after the Conquest that the English language was en­riched by the general use and application, if not the first introduction, of the Provencal, by the famous Geoffrey Chaucer, who effected a great improvement in the language; although some condemn him as having " brought in foreign words by the cart load." It has been well ob­served, however, that it should be borne in mind,

* See English Roots, as above, pp. 10-13. Third Edition.

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