A French author, in 1553, says,--"The English are fond of eating with their beer soft saffron cakes stuffed with raisins."

Beer was the principal drink of all classes of society, though at this period fifty-six sorts of French and other small wines, with thirty of Spanish and strong wines were known, besides mead and various mixed liquors, as clary and hippocrass, made from wine and spices. The poorer classes were extremely fond of bracket, which was ale boiled up with honey and pepper. The importance of a proper supply of malt liquor is thus spoken of by the Earl of Leicester, in a letter written in 1575, during one of Elizabeth's progresses. "At her first coming here, being a marvellous hot day, not one drop of good drink for her; but we were fain to send to London with bottles, to Kenelworth, to divers other places where ale was. Her own here was such that there was no man here able to drink it; and yet was it laid in about three days before her majesty came. Hit did put her very farr out of temper, and almost all the company beside so; for none of us was able to drink either beer or ale here. Synce, by chance, we have found drink for her lyking, and she is well again; but I feared greatly, two or three days, some sickness to have fallen by reason of this drynk.”

We shall conclude this sketch of the manners and customs of the sixteenth century by describing the articles of dress worn by persons of exalted rank. The instructions given to a chamberlain "how to dress his soverayne lord and master" at the commencement of this period, are as follows :-" At morne, when your soverayne will arise, warm his shirte by the fyre, and see ye hav a fote shete made in this manner: fyrst set a chayre by the fyre, with a cushion under his fete; then sprede a shete over the chayre, and see that there be ready a kerchife and combe; then warm his peticote, his doublet, and his stomachere; and then put his hosen on and his shone, or slippers ; then stryke up his hose mannerly, and tye them up; then lace his doublet hole by hole, and lay the necke clothe, and komb his head; then look yew have a basyn and towele, washe his hands; then kuele upon your knee, and ask your soverayne what robe he will were, and put it upon him; then do his gyrdell about him, and take your leve mannerly." The obsequious chamberlain was then to go to church or chapel, and on his return to make the "soverayne's closet ready; then to the chamber, and make the bed; to beat the feather bed well, but loke ye waste no feders." The ceremony of putting to bed was much the same; but concluded with master chamberlain's being recommended “alwaye to take and drive oute dogge or catte."

158

THE SEVEN SONS OF LARA.

(Concluded.)

After that Nuno Salido had permitted the young men to depart alone, in opposition to his advice, and despite the ill augury exhibited, he reflected to himself: "Certes, if death is to take any one, it is better that it should be me than these children, so young. I should gain a bad name; and I, who have been accounted honourable in my younger days, should suffer an old age of disgrace." Thus communing with himself he retraced his steps and followed the seven sons.

He arrived where Velasquez was; and there was a great dispute going on, for Nuno Salido was insulted, and Gonçalo Gonçalez would not allow of it, but killed one of Ruy Velasquez' vassals with a blow of his poignard. As he was about to strike the old man, the cry,-"To arms !" was raised, and great rage exhibited on both sides. Then Don Ruy once more feigned to be loyal and on good terms with his seven nephews.

And afterwards, when all appeared arranged in love and harmony, they went towards Almenar. Don Ruy and his people placed themselves in ambuscade, and ordered the sons of Lara to scour the country.

The Moors being previously informed of this movement, soon appeared with more than ten thousand spears and banners. "Nephews," said he," this is nothing; all my courses in the plains have proved successful; do not be afraid, and if it is necessary I will come to your succour.' Then the crafty Ruy went towards the Moors to speak to them of the attack and of his seven nephews.

And it is related that Nuno Salido having glided behind him and seen him speak to the Moors, cried out in a terrible voice,-" O, traitor! man of no faith God has given thee but little comfort; for so long as the world lasts, thy base treachery shall be spoken of and remembered." No sooner had he spoke these words than he rode towards the seven sons at full speed: "Arm yourselves, my children, for Ruy Velasquez and the Moors are resolved to take your lives."

And the sons when they heard his words armed themselves with the greatest haste; but as the Moors were extremely numerous they made fifteen halts, and running towards the sons surrounded them on every side. Now, Nuno Salido encouraged them, saying, “My children! O, my children! fear nothing; the auguries are always good to strong men. I speak to you in good sooth. I will be the first to attack that first band of Moors. God pro

tect you afterwards." So saying, he sprang into the midst of the enemy, and killed many, but as they were extremely numerous, he was himself killed.

The combatants harrassed each other as long as they could, and the Christians fought with such good heart that they killed many more of the enemy than they lost on their own part. But, alas! the two hundred cavaliers that accompanied the seven sons all bit the dust, and they remained without any fresh company of men to assist them afterwards.

And when they perceived that nothing else was left them but to con quer or to die, they invoked the aid of the Apostle St. Jago, and dashed against the Moors. Feran Gonçalez then said to his two brothers," Be of good courage; brothers; let us fight with good heart, for should no one come to our aid, God alone can help us. Now that our brave tutor is dead, with so many brave lancemen, let us revenge them or die, my brothers."

They fought like enraged lions, and every blow carried death; then retreating to a rising piece of ground, they washed their faces from the dust and blood that blinded them. Looking around they missed Feran Gonçalez their brother, and naturally concluded that he was either dead, a prisoner, or badly wounded.

And the sons of Lara determined to send and demand a truce of Viara and of Galve, the Moorish chiefs, that they might inquire of Ruy Velasquez if he intended to succour them. The Moors granted the truce required, and Gonçalo Gonçalez was chosen to go and speak with Don Ruy.

But when he had spoken, Don Ruy replied,-"I do not understand what you are asking, my nephew."

"Don Ruy, do us the courtesy to send to our succour, as you promised you would do, for the Moors are too numerous for us to combat. They have killed Feran Gonçalez your nephew, and with him two hundred brave lancemen that we commanded; in truth, if you will not help us on our own account, do it for God's sake, for we are good Christians."

And Ruy Velasquez slily answered," My friend, return and complete your joyous adventure,-remember the wedding feast of Donna Lambra! You are good chevaliers, and strong to defend yourselves."

When Gonçalo heard these words he bit his lips in silence and returned to his brothers; they were very sorrowful that no assistance was forthcoming in the fight. But God inspired the hearts of some Christians who were with Ruy Velasquez, and about three hundred gallant cavaliers decided voluntarily to join the brothers. Ruy wished to prevent them, but on the first halt, seeing this horrible treachery, they departed three by three and four by four, vowing to kill Ruy if he any longer opposed their departure, for they were men of good courage, and proud bearing, not easily to be put down.

And when the sons saw such a number arriving, they imagined Ruy had sent to demand their heads, and prepared to fight to the last. But the cavaliers raised their voices, crying,-"Sons of Lara, if we live-if we die-it will be with you, for your uncle desires your death, and we are no friends of traitors; but if we escape alive, we desire you will defend us against Don Ruy;" which the sons promised to do.

And after having thus spoken they commenced the attack on the Moors. Thereupon commenced a battle, such as no man before had ever heard of for bloody feats of arms; a combat more extraordinary than ever was undertaken by such a handful of Christians; for history relates that they killed two thousand Moors before one on their side had fallen. In spite of these valorous deeds, the three hundred cavaliers who came to aid the sons of Lara dropped fast around, and at length not one survived. The sons, fatigued to death with their superhuman efforts, no longer had strength to raise their arms or strike a blow.

When the Moorish chiefs, Viara and Galve, saw them thus exhausted, they took pity on them, and drawing them from the mêlée, conducted them to their tents, where they were detained, and partook of bread and wine.

But when Ruy Velasquez came to learn this circumstance, he sent word to the Moorish commanders, saying, that it would prove a fatal thing to preserve the lives of such men ; that evil must come out of it, because they should never return again to Castille, but that he would go to Cordova, and demand their death of the Moorish king.

Gonçalo Goncalez, on learning these words of Ruy, raised his hand to heaven, saying, "He is a false traitor!—our wicked uncle. God alone can pardon him." Now Viara and Galve in their turn thus spoke to the brothers: "We know not how to act, for if your uncle goes to Cordova, as he says he will, much hatred will be caused against us. Almançor will give him full power to act, and from this cause evil will befall us. Since things stand thus, we will reconduct you to the plain from whence you came, and you must do your best." And when the sons of Lara were once more on the plain, the Moorish troops fell upon them like a storm of hail,-then commenced a battle more cruel than all that had yet preceded it.

Although the six sons were like one giant warrior fighting with untamed courage, it must be remarked that Gonçalo Gonçalez, the younger son, performed more feats of daring courage than any of his brothers; but the number of the enemy was so great that it could no longer be resisted; the sons were now so exhausted with fighting, that they remained motionless on the same spot. And their noble horses! it was painful to see them, for even if their riders could have continued the fight, the poor animals could not; they

were like their masters, fast sinking under wounds and fatigue. The sons had now no defensive arms, either swords or lances,-all were lost, or broken.

When the Moors beheld these gallant warriors without arms, they killed their horses, and took the riders prisoners; then taking off their armour, beheaded them, one by one, without delay,-it may be said, under the eyes of Ruy Velasquez, their unnatural, disloyal uncle.

Gonçalo Gonçalez, the younger of all, seeing his brothers beheaded before him, took heart and rushing upon the miscreant who had executed them by a single blow of his fist in the stomach, laid him dead at his feet. He also killed several more in the same way, but finally was overcome, and shared the fate of his brothers.

After this fatal tragedy was enacted, Ruy Velasquez took leave of the Moors, and returned to his quarters of Bilaren.

The Moors collected the heads of the seven sons of Lara, and their good preceptor, and carried them to Cordova.

When Viara and Galve were arrived in presence of Almançor, they displayed the seven heads of the sons of Lara, and that of Nuno Salido. Almançor viewed them, recognised their features, and ordered the blood to be washed from them with wine and spices.

After they were washed, he caused a white cloth to be spread in the palace, and the heads to be placed thereon in a row ; that of Nuno was placed by itself above them.

'

Almançor then went to the prison, where lay Don Gustios, the father of the seven sons, and said to him ; “ Gonçalo Gustios, how are you?” “My lord, he replied," as you wish me,-quite well; and in truth, I am rejoiced that you have come here, for I understand by it that you are going to spare my life; and so it should be, for when a king visits his prisoner, the prisoner is free."

And the king spoke: "I am come to you, to tell you that my troops in the country of Castille have beaten the Christians on the plains of Almenar. My chiefs have brought eight heads of noble warriors, seven of them are young men, and one the head of an old, venerable man; I wish you to see themto learn if you can recognise them, for my adalides (scribes) say they are from the country of Lara."

66 King Almangor, when I see them, I can surely say to whom they belonged; for in truth, there is not in all Castille a single noble cavalier, whom I do not know." Don Gustios was then conducted into the palace, where the heads were exposed. On seeing them, he instantly recognised the SEPT. 1845. #