whole population, for, with all its faults, the Court of bluff King
Hal was thoroughly genial, and every one, gentle and simple, might
participate in his pleasures.

Seats were reserved at the lists for the city dignitaries and their
families, and though old Mistress Headley professed that she ought
to have done with such vanities, she could not forbear from going to
see that her son was not too much encumbered with the care of little
Dennet, and that the child herself ran into no mischief. Master
Headley himself grumbled and sighed, but he put himself into his
scarlet gown, holding that his presence was a befitting attention to
the king, glad to gratify his little daughter, and not without a
desire to see how his workmanship--good English ware--held out
against "mail and plate of Milan steel," the fine armour brought
home from France by the new Duke of Suffolk. Giles donned his best
in the expectation of sitting in the places of honour as one of the
family, and was greatly disgusted when Kit Smallbones observed,
"What's all that bravery for? The tilting match quotha? Ha! ha! my
young springald, if thou see it at all, thou must be content to gaze
as thou canst from the armourers' tent, if Tibble there chooses to
be cumbered with a useless lubber like thee."

"I always sat with my mother when there were matches at Clarendon,"
muttered Giles, who had learnt at least that it was of no use to
complain of Smallbones' plain speaking.

"If folks cocker malapert lads at Sarum we know better here," was
the answer.

"I shall ask the master, my kinsman," returned the youth.