Chapter 18

I give thee eighteenpence a-day,
And my bow shall thou bear,
And over all the north country,
I make thee the chief rydere.
And I thirteenpence a-day, quoth the queen,
By God and by my faye,
Come fetch thy payment when thou wilt,
No man shall say thee nay.
WILLIAM OF CLOUDESLEY.


The manners of the age did not permit the inhabitants of Glendearg to
partake of the collation which was placed in the spence of that
ancient tower, before the Lord Abbot and his attendants, and Sir
Piercie Shafton. Dame Glendinning was excluded, both by inferiority
of rank and by sex, for (though it was a rule often neglected) the
Superior of Saint Mary's was debarred from taking his meals in female
society. To Mary Avenel the latter, and to Edward Glendinning the
former, incapacity attached; but it pleased his lordship to require
their presence in the apartment, and to say sundry kind words to them
upon the ready and hospitable reception which they had afforded him.

The smoking haunch now stood upon the table; a napkin, white as snow,
was, with due reverence, tucked under the chin of the Abbot by the
Refectioner; and nought was wanting to commence the repast, save the
presence of Sir Piercie Shafton, who at length appeared, glittering
like the sun, in a carnation-velvet doublet, slashed and puffed out
with cloth of silver, his hat of the newest block, surrounded by a
hatband of goldsmith's work, while around his neck he wore a collar of
gold, set with rubies and topazes so rich, that it vindicated his
anxiety for the safety of his baggage from being founded upon his love
of mere finery. This gorgeous collar or chain, resembling those worn
by the knights of the highest orders of chivalry, fell down on his
breast, and terminated in a medallion.

"We waited for Sir Piercie Shafton," said the Abbot, hastily assuming
his place in the great chair which the Kitchener advanced to the table
with ready hand.

"I pray your pardon, reverend father, and my good lord," replied that
pink of courtesy; "I did but wait to cast my riding slough, and to
transmew myself into some civil form meeter for this worshipful
company."

"I cannot but praise your gallantry, Sir Knight," said the Abbot, "and
your prudence, also, for choosing the fitting time to appear thus
adorned. Certes, had that goodly chain been visible in some part of
your late progress, there was risk that the lawful owner might have
parted company therewith."

"This chain, said your reverence?" answered Sir Piercie; "surely it is
but a toy, a trifle, a slight thing which shows but poorly with this
doublet--marry, when I wear that of the murrey-coloured