The National tribune., 1889-01-24
THE BOY DUKE.
[Cnntinund from, LET rnaonN

beautiful and brilliant colors, and the finest
needlework, by the
FAIR HANDS OF ALAN's DAUGHTERS AND
THEIR LADY MOTHER,
and the high-born damsels who were sent to
Nantes to be instructed ia such arts in return
for their service of attendance on the ladies
of the house--as their brothers. the boy pages
and young Squires, were taught good manners
and the use of arms. Great quantities of such
tapestry were produced, in the feudal ages, by
clustered nuns and the noble ladies, who were
almost as closely confined in their castle towers
as were the convent sisters in their houses of
religion, but far from being so safe i'll their
seclusion; and both nuns and courtly danes
found i'll their wonderful embroidery work an
occupation well fitted to relieve and lessen the
mOnotony of their lives
But the hangings of Richards bed chamber
at Nantes were not so good as the tapestries he
saw at home, executed by the ladies of Bayeux
and Centoville. of Harcourt and Falaise, or by
the nuns of Rouen; for it was in Normandy
that the art of needlework was carried to its
greatest perfection. The feudal danes are dead
and gone, centuries ago; but their handiwOrk
has long outlived them, and remains price
less heirloom to the ages in the Bayeux tapes
try. To this day, the religious sisterhoods and
the middle-clSss peasant women of Normandy
are famous for their skill in various kinds of
lace-making, knitting work, and fine embrOid-
cry.
The floor of Richards chamber was freshly
strewn with PUSHES, and lighted lamp, Sus-
pended by curious chains of silver was hang
ing from great beam across the low, dark
ceiling; all the Normans recognized the lamp
as the work of renowned silversmith at ROuen.
There was also in the room a heavy settle of
carved oak, standing back against the wall, and
two or three ponderous chairs; but the most
imposing article of furniture was the huge,
tall-posted bedstead, also much carved and hung
with an embroidered conopy. 1T was filled
with straw, fresh and clean like the rushes on
the floor, with linen sheet spread over the
straw, and over the sheet a scarlet coVerlet.
This was sumptuous couch at time when
sleeping accommodations, even in the houses of
the great, were commonly of the rudest charac-
ter. Richard, when at home, slept in a similar
bed; but this was merely point of etiquet,
since he cared nothing for luxury to which
indeed-even to such luxury as the times af-
forded-he had not been accustomed in his boy
hood at BayeuX, where the common people
lived in more than the usual degree of comfort,
and the noblest born were very simply bred.
He declared his entire satisfaction with the
lodging provided for him by his Breton vassal
and Alan then withdrew, after taking leave of
his Lord for the night with stately ceremony.
He left couple of the pages in waiting, to be
at hand if Richard should desire to send him
any message or communicate with any inmate
of the castle.
These boys were expected to sleep on the
floor, in little ante-room which led to Rich
ards chamber; and when the Boy Duke had
betaken himself to bed. Sir Two and Bothon of
Bayeux stretched themselves upon the rushes
just outside the door, each with his hand upon
his sword, and lying in such manner that no
one could enter without stepping over him ;
while Osmond, also with his sword at hand,
slept on the floor at the foot OF Richards bed.
These precautions, however, were far from in
dicating any distrust of Alans loyalty; the
Breton Duke would have looked upon it as a
matter of course that his guest should be thus
guarded by his own retainers-and in fact it
was quite the usual order of proceeding.
No one removed the clothing which was worn
throughout the day, except that Richard laid
aside the cloak and cap which he had assumed
on leaving the hall, while the two Danes I'M
belted, and took off their iron guarded boots,
for greater ease.
Thus did the Boy Duke of the Normans lie
down to take his rest; and soon forgot the cares
of his exalted station in the peaceful sleep of
boyhood, innocence and health.
To be continued