Page:A History of Domestic Manners and Sentiments in England During the Middle Ages.djvu/419

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and Sentiments.
399

CHAPTER XIX,

THE CHAMBER AND ITS FURNITURE AND USES. BEDS. HUTCHES AND COFFERS. THE TOILETTE ; MIRRORS.

THE chambers were now, except in fmaller houfes, moftly above the ground-floor; and, as I have already oblerved, the privacy of the chamber was much greater than formerly. In the poem of " Lady Befly," quoted in a former chapter (the whole poem is given in Mr. Halliwell's privately printed "Palatine Anthology"), when the earl of Derby was plotting with the lady BefTy for calling in the earl of Richmond, he propofed to repair fecretly to her in her chamber, in order to prepare the letters : —

"We must depart (separate), lady," the earle fa'id then;
"Wherefore keep this matter secretly.
And this same night, betwix nine and ten.
In your chamber I think to be.
Look that you make all things ready.
Your maids shall not our councell hear.
For I will bring no man with me
But Humphrey Brereton, my true esquire."
He took his leave of that lady fair.
And to her chamber she went full light.
And for all things she did prepare.
Both pen and 'ink, and paper white.

The earl, on his part. —

——— unto his study went,
Forecasting with all his might
To bring to pass all his intent;
He took no rest till it was night.
And when the stars shone fair and bright.
He him disguised in strange mannere;

He