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

we passed in to the withdrawing room; and it would seem, it being noon of the day, that my dear and good wife should have handed our lady guest to her chamber; but in all things she esteemed it most courteous that my lady should say her own will. So we were called to our nooning, and my lady sat down with unwashen hands, and the dust of her journey yet thick upon her; which was a thing, her wenches told ours, the most of all others her chiefest dislike. So down we sat, with much constraint of manner, and truly it was a most honest representment of that within our hearts; for my mind was evilly stirred through the coyness and ill manners of my children, the which did mow and peep, and had no manner of breeding but that of extraordinary ill-favour; the which was the more grief to me as they did never before rise in me such vapours, but were as honest and knowledgable fair children as father might desire. And inasmuch as I felt in

great perplexity and wonder, minded to fetch out my rod, I did fail to entertain my worshipful guest in an honourable and kindly manner, but the rather did chafe and answer unwarily, the trouble of mind overmastering my courtesy. And as it so happed, in the overmuch care of my good wife, that none should unaware have reason to cavil at her housewifery, so was our repast of a wearisome and extraordinary duration, wherein was provided as much victual as might serve a Lord Mayor's feast. And by reason of much serving in the kitchen, and no masterful head, as in common days was my wife's usage, it fell out as but little of what was served could stand the tasting. Of a chine of beef it seemed to me that it had but smelt of the fire; and two great and fine poulets were as if the heat had devoured them, bones and all. We had some pasties, and part of a kid, and many other fine and good dishes, had they been but used well in the serving.

I did hope, as time went on, my children would fain have let their belly forget their evil manners, but it was not to be; if they had been certain savage wild beasts, not less could they have eaten up their

guests with dazed eyes. And when my worshipful friend of Warleigh did through very weariness nod and snort in his sleep, they did laugh, as if it were a show that was of very deed done for their pleasure."

And so our ancestor gives a long and minute description of "divers like mischances," the which led him to opine that

in

very deed company was not to his mind, or to the liking of his wife; though perchance it would be well for the children did

they see the ways of the world; the which had they done more, their manners might give him greater contentment, "as truth to say I was verily ashamed of that which I had begotten of my own body."

It does not appear, however, that they acted upon this short experience; for none