s such, was
shown, for there was no mercy for the weak or weakly. Such had better
betake themselves at once to the cloister, or life was made intolerable
by constant jeers, blows, baiting and huntings, often, it must be owned,
absolutely brutal.

Stephen and Giles had however passed through this ordeal. The letter to
John Birkenholt had been despatched by a trusty clerk riding with the
Judges of Assize, whom Mistress Perronel knew might be safely trusted,
and who actually brought back a letter which might have emanated from
the most affectionate of brothers, giving his authority for the binding
Stephen apprentice to the worshipful Master Giles Headley, and sending
the remainder of the boy's portion.

Stephen was thereupon regularly bound apprentice to Master Headley. It
was a solemn affair, which took place in the Armourer's Hall in Coleman
Street, before sundry witnesses. Harry Randall, in his soberest garb
and demeanour, acted as guardian to his nephew, and presented him, clad
in the regulation prentice garb--"flat round cap, close-cut hair, narrow
falling bands, coarse side coat, close hose, cloth stockings," coat with
the badge of the Armourers' Company, and Master Headley's own dragon's
tail on the sleeve, to which was added a blue cloak marked in like
manner. The instructions to apprentices were rehearsed, beginning, "Ye
shall constantly and devoutly on your knees every day serve God, morning
and evening,"--pledging him to "avoid evil company, to make speedy
return when sent on his master's business, to be fair, gentle and lowly
in speech and carriage with all men," and the like.

Mutual promises were interchanged between him and his master, Stephen on
his knees; the indentures were signed, for Quipsome Hal could with much
ado produce an autograph signature, though his penmanship went no
further, and the occasion was celebrated by a great dinner of the whole
craft at the Armourers' Hall, to which the principal craftsmen who had
been apprentices, such as Tibble Steelman and Kit Smallbones, were
invited, sitting at a lower table, while the masters had the higher one
on the days, and a third was reserved for the apprentices after they
should have waited on their masters--in fact it was an imitation of the
orders of chivalry, knights, squires, and pages, and the gradation of
rank was as strictly observed as by the nobility. Giles, considering
the feast to be entirely in his honour, though the transfer of his