This same accomplished and luckless lady had, princess though she was, every advantage of early tuition in this notable art, having been sent in her childhood to a lady called Abro, who not only taught her “curtesye and thewe” (virtue and good manners), but also
“Golde and sylke for to sewe,
Amonge maydenes moo:”
evidently an old dame’s school; where, however, we may infer from the arrangement of the accomplishments taught, and the special mention of needlework, that the extra expense would be for the sewing; whereas, in our time and country (or county), the routine has been, “REDING AND SOING, THREE-PENCE A WEEK: A PENY EXTRA FOR MANNERS.”
This expensive and troublesome acquirement—the art of sewing in “golde and silke”—was of general adoption: gorgeous must have been the appearance of the damsels and knights of those days, when their
“——Clothys wyth bestes & byrdes wer bete,[42]
All abowte for pryde.”
“By that light Amadis saw his lady, and she appeared more beautiful than man could fancy woman could be. She had on a robe of Indian silk, thickly wrought with flowers of gold; her hair was so beautiful that it was a wonder, and she had covered it only with a garland.”[43]
“Now when the fair Grasinda heard of the coming of the fleet, and of all that had befallen, she made ready to receive Oriana, whom of all persons in the world she most desired to see, because of her great renown that was everywhere spread abroad. She therefore wished to appear before her like a lady of such rank and such wealth as indeed she was: the robe which she put on was adorned with roses of gold, wrought with marvellous skill, and bordered with pearls and precious stones of exceeding value.”[44]
“His fine, soft garments, wove with cunning skill,
All over, ease and wantonness declare;
These with her hand, such subtle toil well taught,
For him, in silk and gold, Alcina wrought.”[45]
“Mayde Elene, al so tyte.
In a robe of samyte,[46]
Anoon sche gan her tyre,
To do Lybeau’s profyte
In kevechers whyt,
Arayde wyth golde wyre.
A velvwet mantyll gay,
Pelored[47] wyth grys and gray
Sche caste abowte her swyre;
A sercle upon her molde,
Of stones and of golde,
The best yn that empyre.”[48]
We read perpetually of “kercheves well schyre,[49]