furnishing of fair water, running with a gentle speed through the land. Also, to my mind, it is well that it stands alone, unneighboured by house or burgh, wherein might be much ill-comfort, seeing that we have no means to move, and that our fair house and goodly pasture might ill-content us, through the villain ways of those from whom we may not be rid; and so my moneys had well remained in my coffer, seeing that out of it they brought me nought but vexation and great troubling of spirit. For my mind is to dwell at peace, with my good wife, and my fair children, seven in all, with the two serving wenches, Gregory my servitor, with Dickon the boy. To which I mind to add another wench, and a hind for my land, with a good worthy upper man to guard and watch all for me, as my second self, and who shall serve as pot-fellow, when my mind is for company. And my wife will have her wenches, and the little

maidens her daughters, and much labour and contentment of ordering her house, which is a fair large one, and so will haply catch time in pleasant works."

Forty years later, his son and successor writes thus:

"It hath happed that this hath been a time of grievous dolour to my wife and me. Nathless the sin is not of ours, inasmuch as we sought not that which came to us; but out of good hearts and godly fellowship welcomed our worshipful neighbour of Warleigh, who journeyed in his coach from his own house, to give us gracious greeting as he saith; and madam his lady, journeyed with him, together with the young gentleman their son, and the three young misses their daughters; and waiting on them were servant wenches two, with a man, a horse, of which it was needful for so great a journey to take six. And besides this notable company there were of running footmen two, a goodly number

for mine house in orderly times; but as it then fared, we were in no manner of ways fitted for the half of them. But insomuch as they had insensed us betimes that such was their purpose, sending a before man on a pad over-night, it did seem as it would be right discourtesy and evil mannered to say them nay. But the entertaining of company was never to my mind or that of my good wife; we did think this life but too short to entertain each other, and had so much complacency one for the other, we could never too much oblige each with the company of the other. In verity we thought that day a lost one, in which we missed a pleasant parlance together; and did send our little varlets with their sisters early to roost, that we might more evenly converse. But as the worshipful Squire of Warleigh did say in that writing, wherein he did advise us of his coming:

"What cheer, neighbour Lovel, what cheer? but six miles parted, and my dame

and thine have not bragged their silken gear to each other, or matched their crowing cockerels and pretty poulets. We will pay thee the primus courtesy; and knowing thy good house of Lovel-Leigh well conditioned, of fair size, and fitly caparisoned, we will not pay thee that ill thought of scanty fare and hasty usage; but the rather see with our eyes that the master of Lovel-Leigh hath not gained an honoured name for right good deeds and worthy manners by nought.'

"We had ever a fair table, and the plenishing of the chambers was that excellent, as never in a king's house could be better lodgment. Yet grievous mishaps did ensue, and my good, dear wife hath not yet wiped away the tears of shame.

"Madam of Warleigh hath been to Court, and is much given to fashion and greatness, and though my good lady did lace on her best paduasoy, and donned her Brussels suit, she did but look at most in a strange

heat and fluster; and being new to the modes and ways of visiting, did, all unwotting, trouble and disquiet those she did strive to pleasure; and it seemed to me our honoured guests were in more haste to go, than to come.

"They had set out by six of the clock, and after divers mishaps, they made a grand entry into our court of Lovel-Leigh ; the which so affrighted my little maids, that they one and all screeched, fleeing away with great vigour and past the hearing of any words of mine or their mother; and so the little misses of Warleigh did gaze around in much amaze, as if a sudden horrid devil had broke loose and scared my maids. And Linton, our heir of LovelLeigh, did seem of some sort taken like his sisters with an inward quaking-for he did stand all amost like to a clown; while methought the young varlets of Warleigh had a pretty modest air with them, and would fain have sworn a friendship. So