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and backgammon, the Prince with hawking and conrsing 
on the Heath. I could tell you many anecdotes of their 
doings in this county, having made myself intimately ac- 
quainted with their habits, but I will mention only one to 
show how different were the manners of the 14th century 
from those of the 19th. One day the King's Lincoln tailor, 
Tassin de Breuil by name, came over to Somerton with a 
new suit, or to receive orders, or at all events on business, 
when the Royal captive said, " Mr. Tassin, I want a coat ;" 
but instead of ordering his measure to be taken, he added, 
" Sit down Tassin, and I will play you a game at backgam- 
mon for one so the King and the tailor sat down to the 
game, and his Majesty of France most properly lost it, for 
there still stands in the Royal accounts the following item : — 
" Lost, at backgammon, to Tassin de Breuil, a 1 cote-hardi,' 
i.e. an overcoat!" But while we laugh, let us not forget 
that noble act of King John of France, who after his return 
to his own domains, upon the flight of some of the hostages 
rendered up to England as security for his promised ransom, 
immediately once more crossed the Channel and delivered 
himself up to Edward of England ; nor one of his noble 
sayings in connection with that act : " If justice and good 
faith should be banished from all the rest of the world, these 
ought ever to be found in the hearts as well as on the lips of 
Kings." 
" Funeral of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York." — It is now 
a hot day in July (the 27th), in the year 1466, and again a 
grand funeral procession is crossing the Heath, but on this 
occasion it is coming from Lincoln southwards towards 
Grantham, where the mourners will rest awhile ; and strange 
to say this is the funeral of one who has been dead for six 
years. Two knights in plate armour, covered with black 
surcoats, advance first, followed by a troop of horse ; next a 
long train of priests follow, one of whom bears a veiled 
crucifix, and others massive wax lights, while they chaunt 
