The oily-tongued barbarian, with his soft voice and his bland smile, asseverating that his only interest in life was to do good and make other people happy, stands out in fine contrast with the blunt, straightforward, and truthful New Englander; and their conversation reminds one of the old story of Coeur-de-Lion with his curtal-axe and Saladin with the blade that cut the silken cushion.
"The Critical Period of American History"
John Fiske
Here is a thong indeed, by the mass, though ich speak it; Tom Tankard's great bald curtal, I think, could not break it!
"Gammer Gurton's Needle"
Mr. S. Mr. of Art
As to the hardy feats, both of sword and trencher, performed by this "curtal fryar," behold are they not recorded at length in the ancient ballads, and in the magic pages of Ivanhoe?
"Abbotsford and Newstead Abbey"
Washington Irving