Next, Lord Salisbury's severity fell upon Hob the carter and Hodge
the smith, for leaving such perilous wares unwatched in the court-
yard. Servants were not dismissed for carelessness in those days,
but soundly flogged, a punishment considered suitable to the
"blackguard" at any age, even under the mildest rule. The gunner,
being somewhat higher in position, and not in charge at the moment,
was not called to account, but the next question was, how the "Mother
of the Maids"--the gouvernante in charge of the numerous damsels who
formed the train of the Lady of Salisbury, and were under education
and training--could have permitted her maidens to stray into the
regions appropriated to the yeomen and archers, and others of the
meine, where they certainly had no business.

It appeared that the good and portly lady had last seen the girls in
the gardens "a playing at the ball" with some of the pages, and that
there, on a sunny garden seat, slumber had prevented her from
discovering the absence of the younger part of the bevy. The demure
elder damsels deposed that, at the sound of wains coming into the
court, the boys had rushed off, and the younger girls had followed
them, whether with or without warning was not made clear. Poor
little Grisell's condition might have been considered a sufficient
warning, nevertheless the two companions in her misdemeanour were
condemned to a whipping, to enforce on them a lesson of maidenliness;
and though the Mother of the Maids could not partake of the
flagellation, she remained under her lord's and lady's grave
displeasure, and probably would have to submit to a severe penance
from the priest for her carelessness. Yet, as she observed, Mistress
Grisell was a North Country maid, never couthly or conformable, but
like a boy, who would moreover always be after Leonard Copeland,