And the hall of the palace is full nobly arrayed, and full
marvellously attired on all parts in all things that men apparel
with any hall. And first, at the chief of the hall is the
emperor's throne, full high, where he sitteth at the meat. And
that is of fine precious stones, bordered all about with pured gold
and precious stones, and great pearls. And the grees that he goeth
up to the table be of precious stones mingled with gold.
And at the left side of the emperor's siege is the siege of his
first wife, one degree lower than the emperor; and it is of jasper,
bordered with gold and precious stones. And the siege of his
second wife is also another siege, more lower than his first wife;
and it is also of jasper, bordered with gold, as that other is.
And the siege of the third wife is also more low, by a degree, than
the second wife. For he hath always three wives with him, where
that ever he be.
And after his wives, on the same side, sit the ladies of his
lineage yet lower, after that they be of estate. And all those
that be married have a counterfeit made like a man's foot upon
their heads, a cubit long, all wrought with great pearls, fine and
orient, and above made with peacocks' feathers and of other shining
feathers; and that stands upon their heads like a crest, in token
that they be under man's foot and under subjection of man. And
they that be unmarried have none such.
And after at the right side of the emperor first sitteth his eldest
son that shall reign after him. And he sitteth also one degree
lower than the emperor, in such manner of sieges as do the
empresses. And after him sit other great lords of his lineage,
every of them a degree lower than the other, as they be of estate.
And the emperor hath his table alone by himself, that is of gold
and of precious stones, or of crystal bordered with gold, and full
of precious stones or of amethysts, or of lignum aloes that cometh
out of paradise, or of ivory bound or bordered with gold. And
every one of his wives hath also her table by herself. And his
eldest son and the other lords also, and the ladies, and all that
sit with the emperor have tables alone by themselves, full rich.
And there ne is no table but that it is worth an huge treasure of
goods.
And under the emperor's table sit four clerks that write all that
the emperor saith, be it good, be it evil; for all that he saith
must be holden, for he may not change his word, ne revoke it.
