"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 gipciere, 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 gipciere." A gipciere 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 gipcieres. 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."