"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.