f the London
criers were in full bay. Scarcely had Marmaduke's ears recovered
the shock of "Hot peascods,--all hot!" than they were saluted with
"Mackerel!" "Sheep's feet! hot sheep's feet!" At the smaller taverns
stood the inviting vociferaters of "Cock-pie," "Ribs of beef,--hot
beef!" while, blended with these multi-toned discords, whined the
vielle, or primitive hurdy-gurdy, screamed the pipe, twanged the harp,
from every quarter where the thirsty paused to drink, or the idler stood
to gape. [See Lydgate: London Lyckpenny.]
Through this Babel Marmaduke at last slowly wound his way, and arrived
before the mighty mansion in which the chief baron of England held his
state.
As he dismounted and resigned his steed to the servitor hired for him by
Alwyn, Marmaduke paused a moment, struck by the disparity, common as
it was to eyes more accustomed to the metropolis, between the stately
edifice and the sordid neighbourhood. He had not noticed this so much
when he had repaired to the earl's house on his first arrival in London,
for his thoughts then had been too much bewildered by the general
bustle and novelty of the scene; but now it seemed to him that he better
comprehended the homage accorded to a great noble in surveying, at a
glance, the immeasurable eminence to which he was elevated above his
fellow-men by wealth and rank.
Far on either side of the wings of the earl's abode stretched, in
numerous deformity, sheds rather than houses, of broken plaster and
crazy timbers. But here and there were open places of public reception,
crowded with the lower followers of the puissant chief; and the eye
rested on many idle groups of sturdy swash-bucklers, some half-clad
in armour, some in rude jerkins of leather, before the doors of these
resorts,--as others, like bees about a hive, swarmed in and out with a
perpetual hum.
The exterior of Warwick House was of a gray but dingy stone, and
presented a half-fortified and formidable appearance. The windows, or
rather loop-holes, towards the street were few, and strongly barred.
The black and massive arch of the gateway yawned between two huge square
towers; and from a yet higher but slender tower on the inner side, the
flag gave the "White Bear and Ragged Staff" to the smoky air. Still,
under the portal as he entered, hung the grate of the portcullis, and
the square court which he saw before him swarmed with the more
immediate retainers of the earl, in scarlet jackets, wrought
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