saint george for england-第11章

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　such　things　to　be　at　an　end。〃

〃Women　suffer　most　from　wars；　no　doubt；〃　Geoffrey　said；　〃and　yet　do　you　mark　that　they　are　more　stirred　by　deeds　of　valour　and　chivalry　than　are　we　men；　that　they　are　ever　ready　to　bestow　their　love　upon　those　who　have　won　honour　and　glory　in　war；　even　although　the　next　battle　may　leave　them　widows。　This　has　been　always　somewhat　of　a　marvel　to　me；　but　I　suppose　that　it　is　human　nature；　and　that　admiration　for　deeds　of　valour　and　bravery　is　ingrained　in　the　heart　of　man；　and　will　continue　until　such　times　come　that　the　desire　for　wealth；　which　is　ever　on　the　increase；　has　so　seized　all　men　that　they　will　look　with　distaste　upon　everything　which　can　interfere　with　the　making　of　money；　and　will　regard　the　man　who　amasses　gold　by　trading　as　a　higher　type　than　he　who　does　valiant　deeds　in　battle。〃

〃Surely　that　can　never　be；〃　Walter　said　indignantly。

〃There　is　no　saying；〃　the　armourer　answered；　〃at　any　rate；　Walter；　it　will　matter　little　to　you　or　to　me；　for　many　generations　must　pass　before　such　a　state　of　things　can　come　about。〃

Two　days　later　Walter；　who　had　been　across　into　the　city；　returned　in　a　state　of　excitement。

〃What　do　you　think；　Geoffrey？　The　king；　with　the　Prince　of　Wales　and　all　his　court；　are　coming　to　the　games　next　month。　They　say　that　the　king　himself　will　adjudge　the　prizes；　and　there　is　to　be　a　grand　assault…at…arms　between　ten　of　the　'prentices　with　a　captain；　and　an　equal　number　of　sons　of　nobles　and　knights。〃

〃That　will　be　rare；〃　Geoffrey　Ward　exclaimed；　〃but　there　will　be　some　broken　limbs；　and　maybe　worse。　These　assaults…at…arms　seldom　end　without　two　or　three　being　killed。　　However；　you　youngsters　will　not　hit　as　hard　as　trained　knights；　and　if　the　armour　be　good；　no　great　damage　should　be　done。〃

〃Do　you　think　that　I　shall　be　one　of　the　ten？〃　Walter　asked　anxiously。

〃Just　as　if　you　did　not　know　you　would；〃　Geoffrey　replied；　laughing。　〃Did　you　not　win　the　prize　for　swordplay　last　year？　　And　twelve　months　have　added　much　to　the　strength　of　your　arm；　to　say　nothing　of　your　skill　with　weapons。　If　you　win　this　year　again　…　and　it　will　be　strange　if　you　do　not　…　you　are　like　enough　to　be　chosen　captain。　You　will　have　tough　fighting；　I　can　tell　you；　for　all　these　young　aspirants　to　knighthood　will　do　their　best　to　show　themselves　off　before　the　king　and　queen。　The　fight　is　not　to　take　place　on　horseback；　I　hope；　for　if　so；　it　will　be　settled　as　soon　as　it　begins。〃

〃No；　it　is　to　be　on　foot；　and　the　king　himself　is　to　give　orders　as　to　the　fighting。〃

〃You　had　best　get　out　that　helmet　and　coat　of　mail　of　yours；〃　Geoffrey　said；　〃I　warrant　me　that　there　will　be　none　of　finer　make　or　of　truer　metal　in　the　tourney；　seeing　that　I　made　them　specially　for　you。　They　are　light；　and　yet　strong　enough　to　withstand　a　blow　from　the　strongest　arm。　I　tried　them　hard；　and　will　warrant　them　proof；　but　you　had　best　see　to　the　rivets　and　fastenings。　They　had　a　rough　handling　last　year；　and　you　have　not　worn　them　since。　There　are　some　other　pieces　that　I　must　put　in　hand　at　once；　seeing　that　in　such　a　melee　you　must　be　covered　from　head　to　foot。〃

For　the　next　week　nothing　was　talked　of　in　London　but　the　approaching　sports；　and　the　workmen　were　already　engaged　in　the　erection　of　the　lists　and　pavilions　in　the　fields　between　the　walls　and　Westminster。　It　was　reported　that　the　king　would　add　valuable　prizes　to　those　given　to　the　winners　by　the　city；　that　there　would　be　jousting　on　horseback　by　the　sons　of　the　court　nobles；　and　that　the　young　Prince　of　Wales　would　himself　ride。


The　king　had　once　before　taken　part　in　the　city　sports；　and　with　ten　of　the　citizens　had　held　his　own　against　an　equal　number　of　knights。　This　was　at　the　commencement　of　his　reign；　but　the　accident　to　the　queen's　stand　had　so　angered　him　that　he　had　not　again　been　present　at　the　sports；　and　his　reappearance　now　was　considered　to　be　an　act　of　approval　of　the　efforts　which　the　city　had　made　to　aid　him　in　the　war；　and　as　an　introduction　of　the　young　prince　to　the　citizens。

When　the　day　arrived　there　was　a　general　flocking　out　of　the　citizens　to　the　lists。　The　scene　was　a　picturesque　one；　the　weather　was　bright　and　warm；　the　fields　were　green；　and　Westminster；　as　well　as　London；　sent　out　large　numbers　to　the　scene。　The　citizens　were　all　in　their　best；　their　garments　were　for　the　most　part　of　somber　colours　…　russet；　murrey；　brown；　and　gray。　Some；　indeed；　of　the　younger　and　wealthier　merchants　adopted　somewhat　of　the　fashion　of　the　court；　wearing　their　shoes　long　and　pointed；　and　their　garments　parti…coloured。　The　line　of　division　was　down　the　centre　of　the　body；　one　leg；　arm；　and　half　the　body　would　be　blue；　the　other　half　russet　or　brown。　The　ladies'　dresses　were　similarly　divided。　Mingling　with　the　citizens；　as　they　strolled　to　and　fro　upon　the　sward；　were　the　courtiers。　These　wore　the　brightest　colours；　and　their　shoes　were　so　long　that　the　points　were　looped　up　to　the　knees　with　little　gold　chains　to　enable　them　to　walk。　The　ladies　wore　headdresses　of　prodigious　height；　culminating　in　two　points；　and　from　these　fell；　sweeping　to　the　ground；　streamers　of　silk　or　lighter　material。　　Cloths　of　gold　and　silver；　rich　furs；　silks；　and　velvets；　were　worn　both　by　men　and　women。

None　who　saw　the　nobles　of　the　court　walking　in　garments　so　tight　that　they　could　scarce　move；　with　their　long　parti…coloured　hose；　their　silk　hoods　buttoned　under　the　chin；　their　hair　braided　down　their　back；　would　have　thought　that　these　were　the　most　warlike　and　courageous　of　knights；　men　whose　personal　prowess　and　gallantry　were　the　admiration　of　Europe。　Their　hair　was　generally　cut　close　upon　the　forehead；　and　the　beard　was　suffered　to　grow；　but　was　kept　trimmed　a　moderate　length。　Many　of　the　ladies　had　the　coat…of…arms　of　their　family　embroidered　upon　their　dresses；　giving　them　the　appearance　of　heralds'　tabards。　　Almost　all　wore　gold　or　silver　girdles；　with　embroidered　pouches；　and　small　daggers。

Thus　the　appearance　of　the　crowd　who　moved　about　among　the　fields　near　the　lists　was　varied　and　brilliant　indeed。　　Their　demeanour　was　quiet；　for　the　London　merchants　deemed　a　grave　demeanour　to　belong　to　their　calling；　and　the　younger　men　and　apprentices　restrained　their　spirits　in　the　presence　of　their　superiors。　　For　their　special　amusement；　and　in　order；　perhaps；　to　keep　them　from　jostling　too　freely　against　the　court　gallants　and　ladies；　the　city　authorities　had　appointed　popular　sports　such　as　pleased　the　rougher　classes；　and　bull　baiting；　cock…fighting；　wrestling　for　a　ram；　pitching　the　bar；　and　hand　ball；　were　held　in　a　field　some　distance　away。　Here　a　large　portion　of　the　artisans　and　apprentices　amused　themselves　until　the　hour　when　the　king　and　queen　were　to　arrive　at　their　pavilion；　and　the　contests　were　to　commence。

Presently　a　sound　of　trumpets　was　heard；　and　the　royal　procession　was　seen　moving　up　from　Westminster。　Then　the　minor　sports　were　abandoned；　the　crowd　gathered　round　the　large　fenced…in　space；　and　those　who；　by　virtue　of　rank　or　position　in　the　city；　had　places　in　the　various　stands；　took　their　places　there。

There　was　a　flourish　of　trumpets　as　the　king　and　queen　appeared　in　front　of　the　pavilion；　accompanied　by　the　Prince　of　Wales　and　many　of　the　nobles　of　the　court；　and　a　shout　of　welcome　arose　from　the　crowd。　The　shooting　at　a　mark　at　once　began。　The　preliminary　trials　had　been　shot　off　upon　the　preceding　day；　and　the　six　chosen　bowmen　now　took　their　places。

Walter　had　not　entered　for　the　prizes　at　archery。　He　had　on　previous　years　shot　well；　but　since　he　had　fully　determined　to　become　a　man…at…arms　he　had　given　up　archery；　for　which；　indeed；　his　work　at　the　forge　and　his　exercises　at　arms　when　the　fires　were　out；　left　him　but　little　time。　The　contest　was　a　close　one；　and　when　it　was　over　the　winner　was　led　by　the　city　marshal　to　the　royal　pavilion；　where　the　queen　bestowed　upon　him　a　silver　arrow；　and　the　king　added　a　purse　of　money。　Then　there　were　several　combats　with　quarterstaff　and　broadsword　between　men　who　had　served　among　the　contingents　sent　by　the　city　to　aid　the　king　in　his　wars。　Some　good　sword…play　was　shown　and　many　stout　blows　exchanged；　two　or　three　men　were　badly　hurt；　and　the　king　and　all　present　were　mightily　pleased　with　the　stoutness　with　which　they　fought。

The　apprentices　then　came　forward　to　compete　for　the　prizes　for　sword…play。　　They　wore　light　iron　caps　and　shirts　of　thickly　quilted　leather；　and　fought　with　blunted　swords；　for　the　city　fathers　deemed　wisely　that　with　these　weapons　they　could　equally　show　their　skill；　and　that　with　sharpened　swords　not　only　would　severe　wounds　be　given；　but　bad　blood　would　be　created　between　the　apprentices　of　the　various　wards。　Each　ward　sent　its　champion　to　the　contest；　and　as　these　fought　in　pairs；　loud　was　the　shouting　which　rose　from　their　comrades　at　each　blow　given　or　warded；　and　even　the　older　citizens　joined　sometimes　in　the　shouting　and　took　a　warm　interest　in　the　champions　of　their　respective　wards。

The　iron　caps　had　stout　cheek…pieces　which　defended　the　sides　of　the　face　and　neck；　for　even　a　blunted　sword　can　deliver　a　terrible　blow　if　it　fall　upon　the　naked　flesh。　It　took　a　long　time　to　get　through　the　combats；　the　pairs　were　drawn　by　lot；　and　fought　until　the　king　decided　which　was　the　superior。　Some　were　speedily　beaten；　at　other　times　the　contests　were　long　and　severe。　It　was　generally　thought　by　the　apprentices　that　the　final　contest　lay　between　Walter　Fletcher　of　Aldgate　and　Ralph　Smith　of　Ludgate。　The　former　was　allowed　to　be　superior　in　the　use　of　his　weapon；　but　the　latter　was　also　skilful；　was　two　years　older；　and　greatly　superior　in　strength。　He　had　not　taken　part　in　the　contest　in　the　preceding　year；　as　he　had　been　laid　up　with　a　hurt　in　his　hand　which　he　had　got　in　his　employment　as　a　smith；　and　the　lads　of　Ludgate　were　confident　that　he　would　turn　the　tables　upon　the　champion　of　the　eastern　ward。　　Both　had　defeated　with　ease　the　various　opponents　whom　they　had　met；　but　it　chanced　that　they　had　not　drawn　together　until　the　last　round；　when　they　remained　alone　to　struggle　for　the　first　and　second　prizes。

The　interest　in　the　struggle　had　increased　with　each　round；　and　wagers　were　freely　laid　upon　the　result。　According　to　custom　the　two　champions　had　laid　aside　their　leathern　shirts　and　had　donned　mail　armour；　for　it　was　considered　that　the　crowning　contest　between　the　two　picked　young　swordsmen　of　the　city　would　be　a　severe　one；　and　greater　protection　to　the　limbs　was　needed。

Before　taking　their　places　they　were　led　up　to　the　royal　pavilion；　where　they　were　closely　inspected　by　the　king　and　his　nobles。

〃You　are　sure　that　this　man　is　still　an　apprentice？〃　the　king　asked　the　Lord　Mayor；　who　was　seated　next　to　him；　〃he　has　the　appearance　of　a　man…at…arms；　and　a　stout　one　too；　the　other　is　a　likely　stripling；　and　is；　as　I　have　seen；　marvellously　dexterous　with　his　sword；　but　he　is　but　a　boy　while　the　other　is　a　grown　man。

〃He　is　an　apprentice；　my　liege；　although　his　time　will　be　up　in　a　few　days；　while　the　other　has　yet　three　years　to　serve；　but　he　works　for　an　armourer；　and　is　famed　through　the　city；　boy　as　he　is；　for　his　skill　with　weapons。〃

After　a　few　words　to　each；　exhorting　them　to　do　their　best　in　the　sig