Sir Geoffrey himself superintended the purchase of a new
pillion, and ordered it to be covered with green velvet. Lord Marnell,
who did not often come to Lovell Tower himself, sent over a trusty
messenger every day to inquire if Mistress Margery had rested well and
was merry. From the latter condition she was very far. At length the
preparations were completed; and on a splendid summer day, when the
birds were singing their most joyous melodies, Margery Lovell was
married, in Bostock Church, to Sir Ralph Marnell, Baron Marnell of
Lymington, Knight of the Garter. The bride was attired in blue cloth of
silver, trimmed with miniver; and her hair, as was then the custom at
weddings, was not confined by any head-dress, but flowed down her back,
long and straight. The bridegroom was dressed in cramoisie--crimson
velvet--richly trimmed with bullion, and wore three long waving plumes
in his cap, as well as a streamer of gold lace. If any one who may read
these pages should inquire why Margery chose blue for her wedding-dress,
I may answer that Margery would have been greatly astonished if any one
had recommended white. White at this period was not only a mourning
colour, but mourning of the very deepest character.

No pains were spared to make this a merry wedding, and yet it certainly
could not be called a joyous one. All the inhabitants of Lovell Tower
knew well that the bride was very far from happy; Sir Geoffrey and Dame
Lovell were naturally sorry to lose their only child; Friar Andrew
mourned over his favourite and his kettle of furmety; while Richard
Pynson had his own private sorrow, to which I need not allude further in
this place.

The bridal feast was held at Lovell Tower, and all the neighbours were
invited to it. The festivities were prolonged to a late hour; and at
five o'clock next morning everybody was busy helping the bride to pack
up. Everybody thought of everything so well, that there was very little
left for her to think of; but she did think of one thing. When Margery
set out for her new home in London, the book went too.

The journey to London from the North was in those days a long and
wearisome one. There were no vehicles but litters and waggons. Margery
travelled part of the way in a litter, and part on a pillion behind her
bridegroom, who rode on horseback the whole way. He had with him a
regular army of retainers, besides sundry maidens for the Lady Marnell,
at the head of whom was A