others who transformed Arthur's Court to a
place of grace and beauty,--the mothers, wives, sisters, and
daughters of the warriors.

Although they did not help in the councils of war, these ladies
were of great assistance in training the knights to be tender and
courteous. They taught the little pages good manners and
unselfishness. They assisted the knights in removing their armor
when they came in tired from riding or fighting. They sat with
Arthur and the knights in the evening in the dining-hall, singing
or playing upon harps, or listening to the tales that were told.
When the knights were away the ladies stayed in their own
chambers, hearing wise readings from the Archbishop of Canterbury,
or other learned men, listening to Merlin's words of wisdom, and
embroidering the beautiful hangings and cushions which were to
adorn the palace.

It was a month before Arthur's Court was established, and during
that time the city of Camelot was a scene of continual merriment.
The people of the place were glad that the king had come, for
that meant much gain for them. Those of them who did not live in
the palace had their houses or shops on the streets which wound
about the foot of the hill. Many of the shops belonged to
armorers, who had armor of all sorts for any one who would buy.
They were glad in their turn to buy the swords of famous knights
which had been used in great battles, for such weapons they could
always sell again at a good price. These shopkeepers and the
servants and the squires and the warriors all united to make the
city of Camelot a beautiful one, for the sake of their king. The
streets were kept strewn with rushes and flowers. Rich awnings
and silken draperies were hung from the houses.

All day long processions passed, made up of the followers of all
those lords who gave allegiance to the king. They carried the
banners of their masters, crimson, white, or scarlet, gold,
silver, or azure, making the streets glow with color. The
marching squires wore ornamented blouses, drawn in at the waist,
long silk stockings, and shoes of embroidered leather. The bowmen
were dressed in green kirtles, rather shorter than those of the
squires, and wore dark woolen hose; they carried their bows and
arrows slung across their shoulders. The servants were dressed in
much the same way, except that their blouses were longer and of
various colors. Many knights rode in the processions, their long
plumes waving in the wind, the