III: They Come to the City of the Five Crafts, and Birdalone Meets with the Poor-Wife explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Female Agency and Autonomy

  Birdalone takes initiative in her new life, joining the guild, managing her work, and forming a bond with the poor-wife, asserting her independence.

• Class and Servitude

  The poor-wife's worn appearance and meekness reflect her history of hardship and oppression, contrasting with Birdalone's rising status.

Characters to notice

• Birdalone

  Arrives at the City of the Five Crafts, joins the broiderers' guild, and meets the poor-wife, feeling a deep bond with her.

• Gerard of the Clee

  Guides Birdalone to the city and helps her find the embroiderers' guild and market.

• Master Jacobus

  Master of the broiderers' guild, admires Birdalone's work, arranges her guild membership, and introduces her to the poor-wife.

• The Broiderers

  The guild of embroiderers in the city, which Birdalone joins.

• Arthur the Black Squire

  Birdalone secretly longs for him to find her, though he does not appear in this chapter.

Key passages

• “They made not so much way that they came to the Five Crafts on the fourth day, but lay under the bare heavens in a dale below the big swell of the downland, whereof Gerard spake.”

  They did not travel fast enough to reach the Five Crafts by the fourth day, so they camped overnight in a valley beneath the open sky.

  Describes the journey's pace and the overnight camp.

• “Then Birdalone cried aloud with joy to see the lovely land before her, and the white walls and the towers of the great city, whereas Greenford was but small beside it.”

  Birdalone shouted with joy at the sight of the beautiful landscape and the large city with its white walls and towers, which dwarfed Greenford.

  Birdalone's reaction to the city's grandeur.

• “So they rode down into the frank, and entered the gates of the city a little after noon, and again was Birdalone in all amaze at the going to and fro in the streets and the thronging of the markets, and the divers folk, as chapmen and men-at-arms, and craftsmen and lords, who used the said city;”

  They rode down into the open country and entered the city gates shortly after noon. Birdalone was again astonished by the bustling streets, crowded markets, and the variety of people—merchants, soldiers, craftsmen, and nobles—who frequented the city.

  Describes the lively urban scene.

• “But betimes in the morning Birdalone arose and stirred up her men, and they gat to horse, and rode the hill before them till they came on to the crest thereof.”

  Early in the morning, Birdalone got up and roused her men; they mounted their horses and rode up the hill until they reached the top.

  Shows Birdalone's leadership and determination.

• “And she sent forth Gerard and his sons to find out where was the market for such goods, and if she would have leave to sell the same therein, or anywhere in the town;”

  She sent Gerard and his sons to discover where such goods were sold and whether she had permission to sell them in the market or elsewhere in town.

  Birdalone's practical approach to selling her work.

• “So the very next day went Birdalone thither, and found the master a well-looked tall man of some five-and-forty winters, who looked on her from the first as if he deemed it were no ill way of wearing the time.”

  The very next day, Birdalone went there and found the master, a handsome tall man about forty-five years old, who looked at her as if he thought it was a pleasant way to spend his time.

  Introduction of Master Jacobus and his initial interest in Birdalone.