1 640-45. J OF THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. 90 



the parlour, that the Masquers might have room enough 

 to dance in. At last, when the Masque was ended, 

 and Time had brought in supper, the Cushion led the 

 dance out of the Parlour into the Hall,* and saluted the 

 old new-made bridgroom and his lady, leading them into 

 the parlour to a table which was furnished with the 

 same allowance that was allotted for all the nobles ; 

 where they were soon forced to sit down,&quot; and were 

 bountifully served. 



u Supper being ended, the Marquis of Worcester asked 

 the Lady, his daughter, if she had a hundred pounds 

 about her. No, my Lord, she answered, but I can send 

 for as much. I pray do, said the Marquis, but it must 

 be all in gold. She sent for it accordingly, presenting 

 it to her father, who pulled out another purse of a 

 hundred pieces ; and put the two hundred pieces in the 

 basin, saying 4 Madam, if you do not give earnest, 

 Deputy will tell you in the morning, that he married 

 your woman but in jest. Whereupon some gave fifty, 

 others forty, some twenty, others ten, the least gave five 

 pieces, who sat at the table, in all seven hundred pounds ; 

 the apparel and other gifts amounting to no less value 

 than one thousand pounds, which so transported the old 

 man, that he protested, that now he was in the humour, 

 he would marry all the waiting gentlewomen they had ; 

 one every day in the week, as long as the wedding 

 lasted.&quot; 



Thomas, however, was at that period of the entertain 

 ment overcome with the potent effects of the good wine 

 of which he had freely partaken. The Marquis, 

 desirous of making the practical experiment of trying 

 whether Thomas could be persuaded that the past was 

 all a dream ; had him carried to his old lodging in the 



The Banqueting Hall. See plan, preceding Chapter I. 



H 2 



