--L. and Ed.
One day, at a banquet that the King gave to him, he was seated beside a
lord (2) of high lineage, who had on his doublet a little glove, such
as women wear, fastened with hooks of gold and so adorned upon the
finger-seams with diamonds, rubies, emeralds and pearls, that it was
indeed a glove of great price.
2 The French word is _Millor (Milord)_ and this is probably
one of the earliest instances of its employment to designate
a member of the English aristocracy. In such of the _Cent
Nouvelles Nouvelles_ in which English nobles figure, the
latter are invariably called _seigneurs_ or _chevaliers_,
and addressed as _Monseigneur_, Later on, when Brantome
wrote, the term _un milord anglais_ had become quite common,
and he frequently makes use of it in his various works.
English critics have often sneered at modern French writers
for employing the expression, but it will be seen from this
that they have simply followed a very old tradition.--Ed.
The Lord de Montmorency looked at it so often that the English lord
perceived he was minded to inquire why it was so choicely ordered; so,
deeming its story to be greatly to his own honour, he thus began--
"I can see that you think it strange I should have so magnificently
arrayed a simple glove, and on my part I am still more ready to tell you
the reason, for I deem you an honest gentleman and one who knows what
manner of passion love is, so that if I did well in the matter you will
praise me for it, and if not, make excuse for me, knowing that every
honourable heart must obey the behests of love.
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