rt, do hie you abed and sleep in peace, and let other folks do
the like! I never harry me with other men's troubles. Good even!"

And Dame Elizabeth laid her down and happed the coverlet about her, and
was fast asleep in a few minutes.

The next even, when we came into hall for supper, was Sir Roger de
Mortimer on the dais, looking as though the world belonged to him.
Maybe he thought it was soon to do the same; and therein was he not
deceived. The first day, he sat in his right place, at the high table,
after the knights and barons of France whom the King of France had
appointed to the charge of our Queen: but not many days were over ere he
crept up above them--and then above the bishops themselves, until at
last he sat on the left hand of Queen Isabel, my Lord of Chester being
at her right. But this first night he kept his place.

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

Note 1. Neuilly. Queen Isabelle's scribe is responsible for the
orthography in this and subsequent places.

Note 2. The old Palace of the French Kings, the remaining part of which
is now known as the Conciergerie.

Note 3. September 12th.

Note 4. Cakes made with honey. Three pennyworth were served daily at
the royal table.

Note 5. Wardrobe Account, 19 Edward the Second, 25/15.

Note 6. Rheims and Soissons. An idea of the difficulties of travelling
at that time maybe gathered from the entry of "Guides for the Queen
between Paris and Rheims, 18 shillings."

Note 7. The vessel containing the oil wherewith the Kings of France
were anointed, oil and ampulla being fabled to have come from Heaven.

Note 8. 2 pounds 13 shillings 4 pence.--Wardrobe Account, 19 Edward the
Second, 25/15.

Note 9. Gee. This is one of the few words in our tongue directly
derivable from the ancient Britons.

Note 10. "Avice Serueladi" occurs on the Close Roll for 1308.

PART ONE, CHAPTER 3.

HOW DAME ELIZABETH'S BILL WAS PAID.

"And yet it never was in my soul
To play so ill a part:
But evil is wrought by want of thought
As well as by want of heart."

Thomas Hood.

As I came forth of hall, after supper, that even, and we were entered
into the long gallery whereinto the Queen's degrees opened, I was aware
of a full slender and white-faced young maid, that held by the hand a
small [little child] of mayhap five or six years. She looked as though
she waited for some man. The Queen had tarried in