This eBook was produced by Tapio Riikonen
and David Widger
The young men entered the Strand, which, thanks to the profits of atoll-bar, was a passable road for equestrians, studded towards theriver, as we have before observed, with stately and half-fortifiedmansions; while on the opposite side, here and there, were stragglinghouses of a humbler kind,—the mediaeval villas of merchant and trader(for, from the earliest period since the Conquest, the Londoners haddelight in such retreats), surrounded with blossoming orchards, [Onall sides, without the suburbs, are the citizens' gardens andorchards, etc.—FITZSTEPHEN.] and adorned in front with the fleur-de-lis, emblem of the vain victories of renowned Agincourt. But by farthe greater portion of the road northward stretched, unbuilt upon,towards a fair chain of fields and meadows, refreshed by many brooks,"turning water-mills with a pleasant noise." High rose, on thethoroughfare, the famous Cross, at which "the Judges Itinerant whilomesate, without London." [Stowe.] There, hallowed and solitary, stoodthe inn for the penitent pilgrims, who sought "the murmuring runnels"of St. Clement's healing well; for in this neighbourhood, even fromthe age of the Roman, springs of crystal wave and salubrious virtuereceived the homage of credulous disease. Through the gloomy archesof the Temple Gate and Lud, our horsemen wound their way, and finallyarrived in safety at Marmaduke's hostelrie in the East Chepe. HereMarmaduke found the decorators of his comely person already assembled.The simpler yet more manly fashions he had taken from the provinceswere now exchanged for an attire worthy the kinsman of the greatminister of a court unparalleled, since the reign of William the RedKing, for extravagant gorgeousness of dress. His corset was of thefinest cloth, sown with seed pearls; above it the lawn shirt, wornwithout collar, partially appeared, fringed with gold; over this wasloosely hung a super-tunic of crimson sarcenet, slashed and pouncedwith a profusion of fringes. His velvet cap, turned up at the sides,extended in a point far over the forehead. His hose—under whichappellation is to be understood what serves us of the modern day bothfor stockings and pantaloons—were of white cloth; and his shoes, verynarrow, were curiously carved into chequer work at the instep, andtied with bobbins of gold thread, turning up like skates at theextremity, three inches in length. His dagger was suspended by aslight silver-gilt chain, and his girdle contained a large gipsire, orpouch, of embossed leather, richly gilt.
And this dress, marvellous as it seemed to the Nevile, the tailorgravely assured him was far under the mark of the highest fashion, andthat an' the noble youth had been a knight, the shoes would havestretched at least three inches farther over the natural length of thefeet, the placard have shone with jewels, and the tunic luxuriated inflowers of damacene. Even as it was, however, Marmaduke felt anatural diffidence of his habiliments, which cost him a round third ofhis whole capital; and no bride ever unveiled herself with moreshamefaced bashfulness than did Marmaduke Nevile experience when heremounted his horse, and, taking leave of his foster-brother, bent hisway to Warwick Lane, where the earl lodged.
The narrow streets were, however, crowded with equestrians whose dresseclipsed his own, some bending their way to the Tower, some to thepalaces of the Flete. Carriages there were none, and only twice heencountered the huge litters, in which some aged p