_Hal_, moreover, is well pleased that the Common Council of _London_ should forbid all plays in the City, the which, as he will have it, be ill and foolish matter. Truly, it maketh little matter to me here in _Derwent_ dale: but methinks, if I dwelt in _London_ town, I should be but little pleased therewith. Why should folk not divert them? Being aweary of Master _Hal's_ grave discourse, went I over to _Anstace_, whom I found mighty busied of more lighter matter,--to wit, the sumptuary laws of late set forth against long cloaks and wide ruffs, which do ill please her, for _Anstace_ loveth to ruffle it of a good ruff. Thence gat she to their _Cicely_, which is but ill at ease, and Dr _Bell_ was fetched to her this last even: who saith that on _Friday_ and _Saturday_ the sign [of the Zodiac] shall be in the heart, and from _Sunday_ to _Tuesday_ in the stomach, during which time it shall be no safe dealing with physic preservative, whereof he reckoneth her need to be: so she must needs tarry until _Wednesday_ come seven-night, and from that time to fifteen days forward shall be passing good. Howbeit, we gat back ere long to the fashions, whereof _Anstace_ had of late a parcel of news from her husband's sister, Mistress _Parker_, that dwelleth but fifty miles from _London_, and is an useful sister for to have. As to the newest fashion of sleeves (quoth she), nothing is more certain than the uncertainty; and likewise of hoods. Cypress, saith she, is out of fashion (the which hath put me right out of conceit with my cypress kirtle that was made but last year), and napped taffeta is now thought but serving-man-like. All this, and a deal more, _Anstace_ told us, as we sat in the compassed window [bay window]. Dr _Meade's_ hour-glass is broke of the sexton. I am fain to hear the same, if it shall cut his sermons shorter. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Note 1. At this time, shaking hands indicated warmer cordiality than the kiss, which last was the common form of greeting amongst all classes. Note 2. Four-hours answered to afternoon tea, and was usually served, as its name denotes, at four o'clock. Note 3. Millicent has really no connection with Melissa, though many persons have supposed so. It comes, through Milisent and Melisende, from the Gothic _Amala-suinde_, which signifies Heavenly wisdom. Note 4. Bade is the imperfect, and bidden the participle, of bid, to invite, as well as of bid, to command. Note 5. The reader who wishes for more light on this point than was allowed to Milisent, will find it in "Lettice Eden." Note 6. At this time "pleasant" meant humorous, and "witty" meant intellectual. This curious child's play termed Euphuism, to which grave men and sedate women did not hesitate to lower themselves, was peculiar to the age of Elizabeth, than whom never was a human creature at once so great and so small. CHAPTER FOUR. IN BY-PATH MEADOW.