New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-09

N,'i "'hi.'r'' '"''''
cage q gold snail hance alonc.
Chauc.r had . keen eye for a comfortable bel
and the due furnishing OF s.e"ping-foom.
OF dovnc Of pure doves White
wo, 81" . IT. al. i,'n ,,, 1 ,ri, u., clad
IL nne blacke satin douremcre,
AND many a pillow~. ana every bore
or cloth II KhSnes 70 sleI~ on SOFT
II may well be Imagined that our for5ears set
great store upon their costly beds. one f'hs3n Tor
the lavish ornamentation Of th~ bed was ma IL VS.
mans house OF that day OF any considerable v"lu.'
ami for centuries Englshmcn Of wealth ana station
put up with discomfOrts which would drive our
modern Lazarus INTO frantic revolt. Coarse wooden
stools. sottccs and benches. with oaken chest or
and 4 rough table. comprised for the most part
the furniture of the English home Of those fai on
days. There was 40 temptation TO lavish the 70
sources OF art upon these poor moFaDes. anu con,
and establishment Of the bed. The entry IN Shakes
pcares Will bcqueahng his second best bed to ms
wife has amused ana puzzled many people Dnt tnr
poet only following an old and general custom
IN making distinct and separate belncst OF one OF
his most precious household possessions. IL hhi LOT
more than two centuries been the regular custom 10
Thus, in 1886. We find Elizabeth, Countess OF N0rlh
ampton bequoaihing her daught'r an embroidered
In 1861 left 70 her daughter BED win me tuinituie
OF her fathers arms" Edward the Black Prince.
which the King our father gave US, to SIR Koter
Clarendon silk bed: TO Sir Robert de Wnlsham.
confessOr. large bed OF red camorra. with our
arms embroidered at each corner" The Black
Princes widow was as generous as her departed
dear son the King Orchard IL my new bed Of red
velvet embroidered with ostrich feathers OF silver
and heads Of leopards Of gold. Eith boughs and
leaves issuing ont of their mouths" a bed OF this
rich and sumptuous quality would be couch III
even for a King to lie upon.
But for choice commend us 10 the beds that Lazy
Bcrgavenny bequcathei IN lBi-"a bed OF spI
swans with tapettor of green tapestry, with
branches and flowers Of divers cOlors, and two pairs
Of sheets OF kayneT Pan Of iusians SIX pairi OF
bed of blue bardckyn TINT Is six, gold and en-
brodery; and bed of SILK, black and red, embroid-
cred with woodland flowers In silver" This be-
queathing OF beds was a strictly observed custom
from the thirteenth 10 the middle OF the eighteenth
century. The last bequest Of bed that we know now
OF occurs In VII proved as late as i!'5 IN ~
Bishop Burnet gave the bed and furniture OF MS
best bedchamber. -four pairs Of holland sheets ana
three pairs of common Sheets for the use OF ser
wants TO his son William and distributed his re-
naming beds among his other children The beds
for the most part were nlled with straw. flOcks
and feathers were used. II IL true but rule the
English gentry. from the thirteenth I'LL past the
sixteenth century. content TO sleep on beds OF
straw 1t was the outside Of their beds that they
chiefly concerned Themselves with II the family
heds were made OF velvet or bardekyn and were
sufficiently ornamental then al was well. Even the
English kings slept ON straw. In the accounts OF
Grave. e,s for the Kings bedd kill XIV -"
The Sedstcai was also In receipt OF much Thought
fu attention on the part OF the owner ana noi new is%
are made have come down to Us In uninpaiIcd
strength and dignity The old time bedstead was a
ppDics and haneings. The bedstead itself did not
always go In the beguest with the bed ana nence
hedsteads in which have rested whole generations
Of seepers; Perhaps the mos, famous Of English
couch this and not wanting the honors Of literary
mention shakesPeare gave II friendly notre IN IN
..as many lies that will lie in thy sheet OF paper
aitboueh the sheet were big enough for the Bed OF
,m oueen Eiizabeih's time. and is OF most porten-
,nus size II measures 10 feet inches in length
t ~" IN feet inches In breadth and II over feet IN
pS There is a legend that less than twelve
penple slept In 1t at one time