father fled from his thoughts like
sickly dreams.

BOOK II. THE KING'S COURT.

CHAPTER I. EARL WARWICK THE KING-MAKER.

The young men entered the Strand, which, thanks to the profits of a
toll-bar, was a passable road for equestrians, studded towards the
river, as we have before observed, with stately and half-fortified
mansions; while on the opposite side, here and there, were straggling
houses of a humbler kind,--the mediaeval villas of merchant and trader
(for, from the earliest period since the Conquest, the Londoners had
delight in such retreats), surrounded with blossoming orchards, [On
all sides, without the suburbs, are the citizens' gardens and orchards,
etc.--FITZSTEPHEN.] and adorned in front with the fleur-de-lis, emblem
of the vain victories of renowned Agincourt. But by far the greater
portion of the road northward stretched, unbuilt upon, towards a
fair chain of fields and meadows, refreshed by many brooks, "turning
water-mills with a pleasant noise." High rose, on the thoroughfare,
the famous Cross, at which "the Judges Itinerant whilome sate, without
London." [Stowe.] There, hallowed and solitary, stood the inn for the
penitent pilgrims, who sought "the murmuring runnels" of St. Clement's
healing well; for in this neighbourhood, even from the age of the Roman,
springs of crystal wave and salubrious virtue received the homage of
credulous disease. Through the gloomy arches of the Temple Gate and
Lud, our horsemen wound their way, and finally arrived in safety at
Marmaduke's hostelrie in the East Chepe. Here Marmaduke found the
decorators of his comely person already assembled. The simpler yet more
manly fashions he had taken from the provinces were now exchanged for an
attire worthy the kinsman of the great minister of a court unparalleled,
since the reign of William the Red King, for extravagant gorgeousness of
dress. His corset was of the finest cloth, sown with seed pearls; above
it the lawn shirt, worn without collar, partially appeared, fringed
with gold; over this was loosely hung a super-tunic of crimson sarcenet,
slashed and pounced with a profusion of fringes. His velvet cap,
turned up at the sides, extended in a point far over the forehead. His
hose--under which appellation is to be understood what serves us of the
modern day both for stockings and pantaloons--were of white cloth; and
his shoes, very narrow, were curiously carved into chequer work at the
instep, and tied with bob