----------------

Note 1. These descriptions are taken from the invaluable illuminations
in Creton's _Histoire du Roy Richart Deux_, Harl. Ms. 1319. Creton was
a contemporary and personal friend of King Richard.

Note 2. The frontlet and barb were pieces of white linen, the former
worn over the forehead, the latter over the chin.

Note 3. Gloves were just becoming fashionable in the fourteenth century
for common wear. Before that, they were rarely used except when the
wearer carried a falcon on the wrist.

Note 4. A sweet wine or liqueur, generally served at the "void."

CHAPTER FIVE.

THE BEGINNING OF THE END.

"All quick and troubled was his speech,
And his face was pale with dread,
And he said, `The king had made a law,
That the book must not be read,--
For it was such fearful heresy,
The holy abbot said.'"

Mary Howitt.

Three years had passed since the events narrated in the last chapter,
and Margery was now twenty-one years of age. She appeared older than
she was, and her face wore an unnaturally pensive expression, which had
been gradually settling itself there since the day of her marriage. She
never laughed, and very rarely smiled, except when her eyes rested upon
her little golden-haired Geoffrey, whom she had sought and obtained
permission to name after her father. He was a bright, merry little
fellow, perpetually in motion, and extremely fond of his mother, though
he always shrank from and seemed to fear his father.

On a summer day in the year 1399, Margery sat in her bower, or boudoir,
perusing the book. Lord Marnell was, as usual, at Court; and little
Geoffrey was running about his mother's apartments on what he doubtless
considered important business. Suddenly, in the midst of her reading, a
cry of pain from the child startled Margery. She sprang up, and ran to
him; and she found that in running about, he had contrived to fall down
a step which intervened between the landing and the antechamber, whereby
he had very slightly bruised his infantine arm, and very greatly
perturbed his infantine spirit. Geoffrey was weeping and whining
piteously, and his mother lifted him up, and carried him into her
bedroom, where she examined the injured arm, and discovered that the
injury consisted only of an almost imperceptible bruise. The child,
however, still bewailed his misfortune; and Lady Marnell, having applied
some ointment to the sore place, sat down, and taking Geo