indentures had been made at Salisbury, endeavoured to come out in some
of his bravery, but was admonished that such presumption might be
punished, the first time, at his master's discretion, the second time,
by a whipping at the Hall of his Company, and the third time by six
months being added to the term of his apprenticeship.

Master Randall was entertained in the place of honour, where he
comported himself with great gravity, though he could not resist
alarming Stephen with an occasional wink or gesture as the boy
approached in the course of the duties of waiting at the upper board--a
splendid sight with cups and flagons of gold and silver, with venison
and capons and all that a City banquet could command before the
invention of the turtle.

There was drinking of toasts, and among the foremost was that of Wolsey,
who had freshly received his nomination of cardinal, and whose hat was
on its way from Rome--and here the jester could not help betraying his
knowledge of the domestic policy of the household, and telling the
company how it had become known that the scarlet hat was actually on the
way, but in a "varlet's budget--a mere Italian common knave, no better
than myself," quoth Quipsome Hal, whereat his nephew trembled standing
behind his chair, forgetting that the decorous solid man in the sad-
coloured gown and well-crimped ruff, neatest of Perronel's performances,
was no such base comparison for any varlet. Hal went on to describe,
however, how my Lord of York had instantly sent to stay the messenger on
his landing at Dover, and equip him with all manner of costly silks by
way of apparel, and with attendants, such as might do justice to his
freight, "that so," he said, "men may not rate it but as a scarlet
cock's comb, since all men be but fools, and the sole question is, who
among them hath wit enough to live by his folly." Therewith he gave a
wink that so disconcerted Stephen as nearly to cause an upset of the
bowl of perfumed water that he was bringing for the washing of hands.

Master Headley, however, suspected nothing, and invited the grave Master
Randall to attend the domestic festival on the presentation of poor
Spring's effigy at the shrine of Saint Julian. This was to take place
early in the morning of the 14th of September, Holy Cross Day, the last
holiday in the year that had any of the glory of summer about it, and on
which the apprentices claimed a prescriptive right to go out nutting in
Saint