The Knights of the Cross, or, Krzyzacy: Historical Romance
other countries, to break wafers at receptions and parties, on Christmas
eve and the following two days, expressing in the meantime good wishes
for all manner of prosperity and happiness. The wafers are distributed by
the parish that is to say by the priest or sexton. The author refers to
that custom.]
[Footnote 103: Siebenkirchen in German, a province which now belongs to
Hungary, it was then an independent principality.]
[Footnote 104: Diminutive of mother; it is a charming expression. The
Polish language, like the Italian, has a great variety of diminutives.]
[Footnote 105: _Glowacz_ the Polish for the Bohemian _Hlawa_, the latter
means "head," but the former means also "big" or "thick head."--(S.A.B.)]
[Footnote 106: Lotarynczyk means the man from Lotaringen.]
[Footnote 107: _Byway_ means, in this instance, "here we are".]
[Footnote 108: _Pontnik_, "Pardoner," one who dispenses
indulgences.--(S.A.B.)]
[Footnote 109: Called: _Misericordia_.]
[Footnote 110: February is called in Polish "Luty," meaning also
dreadful, awful, etc.]
[Footnote 111: The diminutive of Anna.]
[Footnote 112: Lit., She was walking on live coals.]
[Footnote 113: Meaning never.]
[Footnote 114: Relics of the gallows were preserved down to the year
1818.]
[Footnote 115: One Polish mile is about three American miles.]
[Footnote 116: _Setnik_, captain over one hundred.]
[Footnote 117: The Greater Bear, or Charleswain ... other names are hen
and chickens, dipper, etc. Arabic, _Dhiba_.]
[Footnote 118: _Wieczny odpoczynek racz mu daj Panie_. "God rest his
soul."]