bode at the Court with the other Barons.

NOTE 1.--"_Joenne Bacheler_."

NOTE 2.--"_Sire, il est mon filz et vostre_ homme." The last word in the
sense which gives us the word _homage_. Thus in the miracle play of
Theophilus (13th century), the Devil says to Theophilus:--

"Or joing
Tes mains, et si devien _mes hom_.
_Theoph._ Vez ci que je vous faz _hommage_."

So infra (Bk. I. ch. xlvii.) Aung Khan is made to say of Chinghiz: "_Il
est_ mon homes _et mon serf_." (See also Bk. II. ch. iv. note.) St. Lewis
said of the peace he had made with Henry III.: "Il m'est mout grant
honneur en la paix que je foiz au Roy d'Angleterre pour ce qu'il est _mon
home_, ce que n'estoit pas devant." And Joinville says with regard to the
king, "Je ne voz faire point de serement, car je n'estoie pas _son home_"
(being a vassal of Champagne). A famous Saturday Reviewer quotes the term
applied to a lady: "_Eddeva puella_ homo _Stigandi Archiepiscopi_."
(_Theatre Francais au Moyen Age_, p. 145; _Joinville_, pp. 21, 37; _S.
R._, 6th September, 1873, p. 305.)

CHAPTER XV.

HOW THE EMPEROR SENT MARK ON AN EMBASSY OF HIS.

Now it came to pass that Marco, the son of Messer Nicolo, sped wondrously
in learning the customs of the Tartars, as well as their language, their
manner of writing, and their practice of war; in fact he came in brief
space to know several languages, and four sundry written characters. And
he was discreet and prudent in every way, insomuch that the Emperor held
him in great esteem.[NOTE 1] And so when he discerned Mark to have so much
sense, and to conduct himself so well and beseemingly, he sent him on an
ambassage of his, to a country which was a good six months' journey
distant.[NOTE 2] The young gallant executed his commission well and with
discretion. Now he had taken note on several occasions that when the
Prince's ambassadors returned from different parts of the world, they were
able to tell him about nothing except the business on which they had gone,
and that the Prince in consequence held them for no better than fools and
dolts, and would say: "I had far liever hearken about the strange things,
and the manners of the different countries you have seen, than merely be
told of the business you went upon;"--for he took great delight in hearing
of the affairs of strange countries. Mark therefore, as he went and
returned, took great pains to learn about all ki