erein the Lady Queen sailed, was built a special chamber
for her, of polished wood, for the which three hundred planks were sent
from the forest to Portsmouth. But so short was she of money, that she
was compelled to bid the Treasurer to send her all the cups and basins
which the King had of silver, and all gold in coin or leaf that could be
found in the treasuries. Moreover, the Jews throughout England were
distrained for five thousand marks, for the ransom of their bodies, and
their wives and little ones, and by sale of their lands and houses. The
Lady Queen took with her divers pieces of English cloth for the Lord
King, seeing that French cloth is not nigh so good. Some things also
she commanded for the children, who were to tarry at Windsor during her
absence. Twenty-four silver spoons were made, and fifty wild animals
taken for their provision in the park at Guildford. Robes were served
out, furred with hare's fur, for Edmund the King's son and Henry de
Lacy; four robes for the gentlewomen that had the care of the children;
and for Richard the chaplain, Master Simon de Wycumb the keeper, and
Master Godwyn the cook: these were of sendal. And there were robes
furred with lamb for the King's wards, and for John the Varlet, and
Julian the Rocker, and my mother, and me thine aunt." [See Note 1.]

Both to Avice and Bertha it seemed quite a matter of course that the
Jews should find the money when the King wanted silk, or the King's
children silver spoons.

"But it seems to me, Aunt," suggested Bertha, "that the Lady Queen must
have spent all her money before she started."

"Oh no! the money was for the Lord King. In truth, I know not whether
she paid for the other things. But I did hear that as soon as the Lord
King knew she would come, and that she was bringing with her so much
money and plate, he began to spend with both hands on his side of the
sea. He sent at once for six cloths of gold that the Queen and Lord
Edward might offer in the churches of Bordeaux when they should arrive
there; he commanded to be made ready a fair jewel for Saint Edward the
Martyr, and a hundred pounds of jewels for Saint Edward the King, and
divers more for Saint Thomas of Canterbury, all which were offered when
he and the Queen returned home in December. There came in also, for the
King's coming back, many frails of figs, raisins, dates, cinnamon,
saffron, pepper, ginger, and such like; I remember seeing them unpacked
in Anti