saint george for england-第16章

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ly。〃

One　of　the　journeymen　accompanied　Walter　to　Westminster　to　carry　up　from　the　boat　the　valise　with　his　clothes　and　the　armour　which　he　had　worn　in　the　sports。　　Sir　Walter　received　the　lad　with　much　kindness　and　introduced　him　to　his　future　companions。　They　were　five　in　number；　the　eldest　was　a　man　of　some　thirty　years　old；　a　Hainaulter；　who　had　accompanied　Sir　Walter　Manny　to　England　at　the　time　when　the　latter　first　came　over　as　a　young　squire　in　the　suite　of　the　Princess　Philippa。　He　was　devotedly　attached　to　the　knight；　his　master；　and　although　he　might　several　times　have　received　the　rank　of　knighthood　for　his　bravery　in　the　field；　he　preferred　remaining　in　his　position　as　esquire　and　faithful　friend　of　his　master。

The　other　four　were　between　the　ages　of　nineteen　and　twenty…one；　and　all　belonged　to　the　families　of　the　highest　nobility　of　England；　it　being　deemed　a　distinguished　honour　to　be　received　as　a　squire　by　the　most　gallant　knight　at　the　court　of　England。　Their　duties　were；　as　Walter　soon　learned；　almost　nominal；　these　being　discharged　almost　exclusively　by　John　Mervaux。　Two　of　the　young　esquires；　Richard　Coningsby　and　Edward　Clifford；　had　fought　in　the　melee；　having　been　among　the　ten　leaders　under　Clarence　Aylmer。　　They　bore　no　malice　for　the　defeat；　but　received　Walter　with　cordiality　and　kindness；　as　did　the　other　young　men。　Walter　on　his　arrival　acquainted　the　knight　with　Ralph's　wish　to　follow　him；　and　requested　permission　for　him　to　do　so。　This　was　readily　granted；　Sir　Walter　Manny　telling　the　lad　that　although　esquires　were　supposed　to　wait　entirely　upon　themselves；　to　groom　their　horses；　and　keep　their　armour　and　arms　bright　and　in　good　order；　yet；　in　point　of　fact；　young　men　of　good　families　had　the　greater　part　of　these　duties　performed　for　them　by　a　retainer　who　rode　in　the　ranks　of　their　master's　following　as　a　man…at…arms。

〃The　other　esquires　have　each　one　of　their　father's　retainers　with　them；　and　I　am　glad　that　you　should　be　in　the　same　position。　After　you　have　taken　your　midday　meal　you　had　best　go　across　to　the　Earl　of　Talbot's　and　inquire　for　the　Lady　Vernon；　who　is　still　staying　with　him。　She　told　me　at　the　king's　ball　last　night　that　she　wished　to　have　speech　with　you；　and　I　promised　to　acquaint　you　with　her　desire。　By　the　way；　dost　know　aught　of　riding？〃

〃I　have　learnt　to　sit　on　a　horse；　Sir　Walter；〃　the　lad　answered。　〃My　good　friend　Geoffrey；　the　armourer；　advised　that　I　should　learn；　and　frequently　hired　from　the　horse…dealer　an　animal　for　my　use。　I　have　often　backed　half…broken　horses　which　were　brought　up　by　graziers　from　Kent　and　Sussex　for　use　in　the　wars。　Many　of　them　abode　at　the　hostels　at　Southwark；　and　willingly　enough　granted　me　permission　to　ride　their　horses　until　they　were　sold。　Thus　I　have　had　a　good　deal　of　practice；　and　that　of　a　rough　kind；　and　seeing　that　latterly　the　horses　have；　for　the　most　part；　found　it　difficult　to　fling　me　when　sitting　barebacked　across　them；　I　think　I　could　keep　my　seat　in　the　high…peaked　saddles　on　the　most　vicious；　but　I　have　had　no　practice　at　tilting；　or　at　the　ring；　or　other　knightly　exercises。〃

〃That　matters　not　at　all；〃　the　knight　said。　〃All　these　knightly　exercises　which　you　speak　of　are　good　in　time　of　peace；　for　they　give　proficiency　and　steadiness；　but　in　time　of　war　he　who　can　sit　firmly　in　his　saddle　and　wield　sword　and　battle…axe　lustily　and　skillfully　is　equal　to　the　best；　but　never　fear；　when　this　expedition　is　over；　and　we　have　time　for　such　things；　I　will　see　that　you　are　instructed　in　them。　One　who　has　achieved　so　much　martial　skill　as　you　have　done　at　so　early　an　age　will　have　little　difficulty　in　acquiring　what　may　be　termed　the　pastime　of　chivalry。〃

Ralph　arrived　just　as　Walter　was　setting　out。　The　latter　presented　him　to　the　knight；　who　spoke　with　praise　of　the　gallantry　which　he　had　displayed　on　the　previous　day；　and　then　handed　him　over　to　John　Mervaux；　with　instructions　to　enroll　him　as　a　man…at…arms　among　his　followers；　to　inform　him　of　his　duties；　and　to　place　him　with　those　who　attended　upon　the　other　esquires。

After　seeing　Ralph　disposed　of；　Walter　went　across　to　the　Earl　of　Talbot　and　was　again　conducted　to　the　presence　of　Dame　Vernon。

〃You　have　changed　since　we　met　last；　young　sir；〃　she　said　with　a　smile；　〃though　it　is　but　a　month　since。　Then　you　were　a　'prentice　boy；　now　you　are　an　esquire　of　Sir　Walter　Manny；　and　on　the　highway　to　distinction。　That　you　will　win　it　I　am　well　assured；　since　one　who　risked　his　life　to　rescue　a　woman　and　child　whose　very　names　were　unknown　to　him　is　sure　to　turn　out　a　noble　and　valiant　knight。　I　little　thought　when　my　daughter　called　you　her　knight；　that　in　so　short　a　time　you　might　become　an　aspirant　to　that　honour。　I　hope　that　you　do　not　look　askance　at　us；　now　that　you　know　I　am　in　possession　of　the　lands　of　your　parents。　Such　changes　of　land；　you　know；　often　occur；　but　now　I　know　who　you　are；　I　would　that　the　estates　bestowed　upon　Sir　Jasper　had　belonged　to　some　other　than　you；　however；　I　trust　that　you　will　hold　no　grudge　against　us；　and　that　you　may　win　as　fair　an　estate　by　the　strength　of　your　arm　and　the　king's　favour。〃

〃Assuredly　I　feel　no　grudge；　madam；〃　Walter　replied；　〃and　since　the　lands　were　forfeited；　am　pleased　that　of　all　people　they　should　have　gone　to　one　so　kind　and　so　fair　as　yourself。〃

〃What；　learning　to　be　a　flatterer　already！〃　Dame　Vernon　laughed。　〃You　are　coming　on　fast；　and　I　predict　great　things　from　you。　And　now；　Edith；　lay　aside　that　sampler　you　are　pretending　to　be　so　busy　upon　and　speak　to　this　knight　of　yours。

Edith　laid　down　her　work　and　came　forward。　She　was　no　longer　the　dignified　little　queen　of　the　tournament；　but　a　laughing；　bright…faced　girl。

〃I　don't　see　that　you　are　changed；〃　she　said；　〃except　in　your　dress。　You　speak　softly　and　naturally；　just　as　you　used　to　do；　and　not　a　bit　like　those　little　court　fops；　Uncle　Talbot's　pages。　I　am　afraid　you　will　not　want　to　be　my　knight　any　more；　now　that　you　are　going　to　get　great　honours　at　the　war；　for　I　heard　my　Uncle　Talbot　tell　my　lady　mother　that　he　was　sure　you　would　gain　great　credit　for　yourself。〃

〃I　shall　be　always　your　knight；〃　Walter　said　earnestly；　〃I　told　you　I　should；　and　I　never　break　my　word。　That　is；〃　he　went　on；　colouring；　〃if　Dame　Vernon　makes　no　objection；　as　she　well　might。〃

〃If　I　did　not　object　before；　Walter；〃　she　said　smiling；　〃why　should　I　do　so　now？〃

〃It　is　different；　my　lady；　before；　it　was　somewhat　of　a　jest；　a　sort　of　childish　play　on　the　part　of　Mistress　Edith；　though　so　far　as　I　was　concerned　it　was　no　play；　but　sober　earnest。

〃It　needs　no　permission　from　me；〃　Dame　Vernon　replied；　〃for　you　to　wear　my　daughter's　colours。　Any　knight　may　proclaim　any　lady　he　chooses　the　mistress　of　his　heart；　and　a　reigning　beauty　will　often　have　a　dozen　young　knights　who　wear　her　colours。　However；　I　am　well　content　that　one　who　has　done　me　such　great　service　and　who　has　shown　such　high　promise　should　be　the　first　to　wear　the　gage　of　my　little　daughter；　and　if　in　after　years　your　life　fulfils　the　promise　of　your　youth；　and　you　remain　true　to　her　gage；　there　is　none　among　all　the　youths　of　the　court　whom　I　would　so　gladly　see　at　her　feet。　Remember；〃　she　said；　as　Walter　was　about　to　speak；　〃her　hand　will　not　be　at　my　disposal；　but　at　that　of　the　king。　His　majesty　is　wont　to　bestow　the　hands　of　his　wards　upon　those　who　most　distinguish　themselves　in　the　field。　You　have　already　attracted　his　royal　attention　and　commendation。　Under　Sir　Walter　Manny　you　will　be　sure　of　opportunities　of　distinguishing　yourself；　and　the　king　may　well　be　glad　some　day　at　once　to　reward　your　services　and　to　repair　a　cruel　injustice　by　bestowing　upon　you　the　hand　of　the　heiress　of　your　father's　lands。　If　I　mistake　not；　such　a　thought　has　even　now　crossed　his　majesty's　mind；　unless　I　misinterpreted　a　glance　which　yesterday　passed　between　him　and　our　sweet　queen。　I　need　not　tell　you　to　speak　of　your　hopes　to　none；　but　let　them　spur　you　to　higher　exertions　and　nobler　efforts。　Loving　my　little　Edith　as　I　do；　I　naturally　consider　the　prize　to　be　a　high　one。　I　have　often　been　troubled　by　the　thought　that　her　hand　may　be　some　day　given　to　one　by　years　or　temper　unsuited　for　her；　and　it　will　be　a　pleasure　to　me　henceforth　to　picture　her　future　connected　with　one　who　is；　I　am　sure；　by　heart　and　nature　fitted　for　her。　And　now；　farewell；　young　sir。　May　God　protect　you　in　the　field；　and　may　you　carry　in　the　battle　which　awaits　you　the　gage　of　my　daughter　as　fairly　and　successfully　as　you　did　in　the　mimic　fray　of　yesterday！〃



CHAPTER　VIII：　OFF　TO　THE　WARS


Two　days　later　Walter　started　with　Sir　Walter　Manny；　with　a　large　number　of　knights；　squires；　men…at…arms；　and　archers；　for　the　Orwell。　Walter　was　mounted；　as　were　the　other　squires　and　men…at…arms；　and　indeed　many　of　the　archers。　Ralph　Smith；　in　the　attire　of　a　man…at…arms；　rode　behind。

Walter　was　in　the　highest　spirits。　A　brilliant　career　was　open　to　him　under　the　most　favourable　circumstances；　he　had　already　distinguished　himself；　and　had　gained　the　attention　of　the　highest　personages　in　the　realm；　his　immediate　lord　was　one　of　the　bravest　and　most　chivalrous　knights　in　Europe；　and　he　had　to　sustain　and　encourage　him　the　hopes　that　Lady　Vernon　had　given　him；　of　regaining　some　day　the　patrimony　of　his　father。　It　was　a　satisfaction　to　him　that　he　was　as　well　born　as　those　who　surrounded　him；　and　his　purse　was　well　lined　as　any　in　the　company。　Although　he　had　spent　the　largess　which　had　been　bestowed　upon　him　at　the　tournament　in　procuring　clothes　fitted　for　his　rank；　he　was　yet　abundantly　supplied　with　money；　for　both　Geoffrey　Ward　and　Giles　Fletcher；　having　no　children　of　their　own　and　being　both　well…to…do　men；　had　insisted　upon　his　accepting　a　sum　which　would　enable　him　to　make　a　good　appearance　with　the　best。

A　large　number　of　squires　followed　the　banner　of　Sir　Walter　Manny。　The　records　of　the　time　show　that　the　barons　were　generally　accompanied　in　the　field　by　almost　as　many　squires　as　men…at…arms。　The　former　were　men　of　good　family；　sons　of　knights　and　nobles；　aspirants　for　the　honour　of　knighthood；　and　sons　of　the　smaller　gentry。　Many　were　there　from　pure　love　of　a　life　of　excitement　and　adventure；　others　in　fulfilment　of　the　feudal　tenure　by　which　all　land　was　then　held；　each　noble　and　landowner　being　obliged　to　furnish　so　many　knights；　squires；　men…at…arms；　and　archers；　in　accordance　with　the　size　of　his　holding。　　The　squires　fought　in　the　field　in　the　front　rank　of　the　men…at…arms；　save　those　who；　like　Walter；　were　attached　to　the　person　of　their　leader；　and　who　in　the　field　fought　behind　him　or　bore　his　orders　to　the　companies　under　his　banner。

In　the　field　all　drew　pay；　and　it　may　be　interesting　in　the　present　day　to　know　what　were　the　rates　for　which　our　forefathers　risked　their　lives。　They　were　as　follows：　　each　horse　archer　received　6　deniers；　each　squire　12　deniers　or　1　sol；　each　knight　2　sols；　each　knight　banneret　4　sols。　20　sols　went　to　the　pound；　and　although　the　exact　value　of　money　in　those　days　relative　to　that　which　it　bears　at　the　present　time　is　doubtful；　it　may　be　placed　at　twelve　times　the　present　value。　Therefore　each　horse　archer　received　an　equivalent　to　6s。　a　day；　each　squire　12s。；　each　knight　24s。；　and　e