Note 410 — Chapter XII · WILLIAM THE LION—1165–1214.

Some idea might be formed of the rate of progression of a knight in full armour, were it not for the ambiguity of the expression of Newbridge, “ante horam quintam viginti quatuor millia passuum transmearent”—“before five o’clock;” or “under five hours,” as some translate it. But this forced march was looked upon as an almost incredible performance; and if our forefathers required supernatural assistance (tanquam propellente vi aliqua properantes) to accomplish five miles an hour, their ordinary movements must have been leisurely indeed.