Earl Hubert's Daughter. Emily Sarah Holt

      “First, that my daughter shall not be required to work in any manner on the holy Sabbath—namely, as my Lady will understand it, from sunset on Friday until the same hour on Saturday.”

      “That I expected. I know Jews are very precise about their Sabbaths. Very well—so that the scarf be finished by Wednesday before Whitsuntide, that I swear.”

      “Secondly, by my Lady’s leave, that she shall not be compelled to eat any thing contrary to our law.”

      “I have no desire to compel her. But what will she eat? I must know that I can give her something.”

      “Any kind of vegetables, bread, milk, and eggs.”

      “Lenten fare. Very well. I swear it.”

      “Lastly, that my Lady will appoint her a place in her own apartments, or in those of the damsel her daughter, and that she may never stir out of that tower while she remains in the Castle.”

      “Poor young prisoner! Good. If thou art so anxious to consign thy child to hard durance, I will swear to keep her in it.”

      “May my Lady’s servant ask where she will be?”

      The Countess laughed merrily. “This priceless treasure of thine! She might be a king’s daughter. I will put her in my daughter’s ante-chamber, just behind thee.”

      The pedlar walked into the ante-chamber, and inspected it carefully, to the great amusement of the ladies.

      “It is enough,” he said, returning. “Lady, my child is not a king’s daughter, but she is the dearest treasure of her old father’s heart.”

      The old man had well spoken, for his words, Jew as he was—a creature, according to the views of that day, born to be despised and ill-treated—went straight to the tender heart of the Princess Margaret.

      “ ’Tis but nature,” she said softly. “Have no fear, old man: I will take care of thy treasure. What is her name?”

      “Will my Lady suffer her grateful servant to kiss her robe? I am Abraham of Norwich, and my daughter’s name is Belasez.”

      Singular indeed were the Jewish names common at this time, beyond a very few Biblical ones, of which the chief were Abraham, Aaron, and Moses—the last usually corrupted to Moss or Mossy. They were, for men—Delecresse (“Dieu le croisse”), Ursel, Leo, Hamon, Kokorell, Emendant, and Bonamy:—for women—Belasez (“Belle assez”), Floria, Licorice (these three were the most frequent), Esterote, Cuntessa, Belia, Anegay, Rosia, Genta, and Pucella. They used no surnames beyond the name of the town in which they lived.

      “And what years has she?” asked the Countess.

      “Seventeen, if it please my Lady.”

      “Good. I hope she will be clever and tractable.—Now, Madge, what do you want?”

      The Princess Marjory wanted a silver necklace, a piece of green silk for a state robe, and some unshorn wool for an every-day dress, beside lamb’s fur and buttons for trimming. Buttons were fashionable ornaments in those days, and it was not unusual to spend six or eight dozen upon one dress.

      “Now, Magot, let me see for thee,” said her mother. “Thy two woollen gowns must be shorn for winter, and thou wilt want a velvet one for gala days: but there is time for that by and bye. What thou needest now is a blue Cyprus (crape) robe for thy best summer one, two garments of coloured thread for common, a silk hood, one or two lawn wimples (Note 5), and a pair of corsets. (Note 6.) Thou mayest have a new armilaus (Note 7) if thou wilt.”

      “And may I not have a new mantle?” was Margaret’s answer, in a coaxing tone.

      “A new mantle? Thou unconscionable Magot! Somebody will be ruined before thy wants are supplied.”

      “And a red velvet gipcière, Lady? And I did so want a veil of sendal of Inde!”

      “Worse and worse! Come, old man, prithee, measure off the Cyprus, and look out the wimples quickly, or this damsel of mine will leave me never a farthing in my pocket.”

      “And Eva wants a new gown,” suggested Margaret.

      “Oh yes!” said the Countess, laughing. “And so does Marie, and so does Doucebelle, I suppose—and Hawise, I have no doubt. I shall be completely ruined among you!”

      “But my Lady will give me the sendal of Inde? I will try to do without the gipcière.”

      A gipcière was a velvet bag dependent from the waist, which served as a purse or pocket, as occasion required.

      “Magot, hast thou no conscience? Come, then, old man, let this unreasonable damsel see thy gipcières. And if she must have some sendal of Inde, well—fate is inevitable. What was the other thing, Magot? A new mantle? Oh, shocking! I can’t afford that. What is the price of thy black cloth, old man?”

      It was easy to see that Margaret would have all she chose to ask, without much pressure. Some linen dresses were also purchased for the young wards of the Earl—a blue fillet for Eva, and a new barm-cloth (apron) for Marie; and the Countess having chosen some sendal and lawn for her own use, the purchases were at last completed.

      The old Jew, helped by Delecresse, repacked his wares with such care as their delicacy and costliness required, and the Countess desired Levina to summon the varlets to bear the heavy burden down to the gate.

      “Peace wait on my Lady!” said the pedlar, bowing low as he took leave. “If it please the Holy One, my Belasez shall be here at my Lady’s command before a week is over.”

      Note 1. This was the answer given to her judges, four hundred years later, by Leonora Galigai, when she was asked to confess what kind of magic she had employed to obtain the favour of Queen Maria de’ Medici.

      Note 2. The Earl’s quotation from Scripture was extremely free, combining Matthew eleven verse 25 with the substance, but not the exact words, of several passages in the Psalms. Nor did Friar Matthew Paris know much better, since he refers to it all as “that passage in the Gospels.”

      Note 3. King Henry was given to allusions of this class, to the revered memory of his excellent father.

      Note 4. “Oh, delightful!” The modern schoolboy’s “How jolly” is really a corruption of this. The companion regret was “Ha, chétife!”—(“Oh, miserable!”)

      Note 5. The wimple covered the neck, and was worn chiefly out of doors. Ladies from a queen to a countess wore it coming over the chin; women of less rank, beneath.

      Note 6. Tight-lacing dates from about the twelfth century.

      Note 7. A short cloak, worn by both sexes, ornamented with buttons.