Note 1269 — Chapter II · RICHARD AND FRANCE 1194-1199

Cf. Rigord’s description, 144, with the story of the discovery in W. Armor., Phil., lib. v. vv. 492-9. I suppose census in l. 498—“Census absconsos in arato repperit agro”—stands for coins. As to the figures and the “table,” M. Richard (Comtes, ii. 322 note) suggests that the treasure was a gilded shield—the “table” being the central knob or umbo, with the figures arranged round it—buried for safety in the time of the Bagaudes or of the Barbarian invasion, and that Châlus was chosen as a safe hiding-place because “Châlus, c’est le castrum luci, le château du luc, autrement dit du bois sacré.”