August 22nd, 1358. See Note in Appendix]. I heard that in
her last hours, her wit being returned to her as good as ever it had
been, she had her shriven clean, and spake full meek [humble] and
excellent words of penitence for all her sins, and desired to be buried
in the Church of the Friars Minors in London town, and the heart of her
dead lord to be laid upon her breast. They have met now in the presence
above, and he would forgive her there. _Lalme de qui Dieux eit mercie_!
Amen.

Here have ending the Annals of Cicely.

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Note 1. The chroniclers (and after them the follow-my-leader school of
modern historians) are unanimous in their assertion that the Black
Prince was born on June 15th. If this be so, it is, to say the least, a
little singular that the expenses of the Queen's churching were defrayed
on the 24th and 28th of April previous (Issue Roll, Easter, 4 Edward the
Third). On the 3rd, 5th, and 13th of April, the King dates his mandates
from Woodstock; on the 24th of March he was at Reading. This looks very
much as if the Prince's birth had taken place about the beginning of
April. The 8th of that month was Easter Day.

Note 2. Modern writers make no difference between a Colloquy and a
Parliament. The Rolls always distinguish them, treating; the Colloquy
as a lesser and more informal gathering.

Note 3. Second son of the elder Sir William de Montacute and Elizabeth
de Montfort. He appears as a boy in the first chapter of the companion
volume, _In All Time of our Tribulation_.

Note 4. Discretion, wisdom.

Note 5. The pavon was a slow, stately dance, but it also included high
leaps.

Note 6. Occasion, opportunity. Needles, at this time, were great
treasures; a woman who possessed three or four thought herself wealthy
indeed.

Note 7. Striking clocks were not invented until about 1368.

Note 8. Had the Queen spoken in English, she would certainly have said
_sweet_, not _gentle_, which last is an incorrect translation of
_gentil_. This latter speech, though better known, is scarcely so well
authenticated as the previous one.

Note 9. Royal etiquette prescribed a scratch on the door, like that of
a pet animal; the knock was too rough and plebeian an appeal for
admission.

PART TWO, CHAPTER 1.

WHEREIN AGNES THE LADY OF PEMBROKE TELLETH TALE (1348).

THE CHILDREN OF LUDLOW CASTLE.

"O little feet, tha