A March on London

went to the fencing-room with Sir Ralph, and they there put on helme

r best," Sir Ralph said

d took on

yed gently Edgar ha

me greatly, and I admit that were we both unprotected I should have no chance with you, but let us see what you

g on, fastened the buc

tion. "Well, it is something to know that, even if you don't know what

om constant exercise, he had some difficulty to save his

his exertions, "your muscles seem to be made of iron, and you are fit to hold your own in a serious mêlé

f it, for he felt that at his age it was best to abstain from tryi

ill fight no more

's armour and hung it up, Edgar said

y, and the knight bur

the jerkin, Albert; it were well that you should feel what a

facing Edgar. They were about the same height, though Al

have looked at Edgar often enough at his exercises to see how you ought to place yours

t putting out his full strength and skill, his son, instead of being scarce able, as he had expected, to raise the heavy sword, not

else taken the place of my son? Take off your helmet. It is i

dy eye, and that this would help him to overcome his nervousness, and would make him strong in body as well as in arm. Since that time he has practised with me almost daily after he had finished his studies at St. Alwyth, and my masters hav

th and has widened out in the shoulders. I understand now how it has come about. We have never questioned him about it; indeed, I should as soon have thought of asking him wh

ut I showed him one or two, and he acquired them so quickly that i

to use a sword. 'Tis not a priest's weapon-although many a priest and bishop have ridden to battle before now-but it has improved your health and given you ten years more life than you would be likely to have had w

d it would have done so had not Edgar constantly encouraged me and held me to

ill in no small degree astonish you," he said, as, followed by the two lads, he returned to the room where she

y have had the better of you, but with a mace you would have dashed my brains out, as

t some day, dame. But that is not the most surprising piece of news. What would you say were I to tell you that this weakling of ou

er you were dreaming, o

lth and bearing. Faith, he used to go along with stooping neck, like a girl who has outgrown her strength. Now he carries himself well, and his health of late has left naught to be desired. It was for that that his friend i

beholden to you. For at one time I doubted whether Albert would ever live to grow into a man; and

ile her father was speaking, an

them now what happened the other day with the b

k bull, Aline?" her father s

ing, "save that the black bull in the lower

but I looked back for some time as I ran, being greatly terrified as to what would come to Albert. He stood still. The bull lowered his head and rushed at him. Then he sprang aside just as I expected to see hi

him. I will wager that if you had not had that practice with the sword, you would not have had the quickness of thought that enabled you to get out of the scrape. You might have stood between the bull and your sister, but if you had done so you w

is not my way; but if you ever want a friend, whether it be at court or camp, you can rely upon me to do as much for you as I would for one of my own; maybe more, for I deem that a man cannot well ask for

of some brave knight raising a force for service there. There is ever fighting in the North, but with the Scots it is but a war of skirmishes, and not as it was in Edward's reign.

household of some p

might be troubles come upon the land, and maybe even civil strife; that one who might hold his head highest of all one day might on the morrow have it struck off with the executione

s. But when I have conversed with your father, I have always found that, although he takes not much interest in public affairs at present, he is marvellously well versed in our history, and can give illustrations in suppor

to have been of service to Albert, who has been almos

rced to tarry there for some time. When I return I will wait upon him and have a talk as to his plans for you. Now, I d

unsel and tell me about your learning to use the sword," Aline said, later on, as they watc

t up from the pain and fatigue that it caused me, had not Edgar urged me to persevere, saying that in time I should feel neither pain nor weariness. Therefore, at first I said nothing to you, knowing that it would disappoint you did I give it up, and then when my arm gained strength, and Edgar encouraged me

was much nicer for me that you should be content to walk and ride with me, and to take interest in things that I like, instead of being like H

ther of them, and knows much more, and is much more likely to be a famous knight some day

when a year ago I fell down when I was out with you, and sprained my ankle. And now, Albert, perhaps some day you will get so strong

d change my mind, it would be that I might always be with Edgar and

but now that one sees that he has spirit, and has, thanks to his friend, acquired a taste for arms, and has a strength I never dreamt he possessed, the matter is changed. I say not yet that he is like to become a famous knight, but it needs not that every one shoul

as it would be to you, though I, too, would prefer that he should not be lost to us, and would rather that he went to Court and played his part there. I believe that he has talent. The prior of St. Alwyth said that he and young Ormskirk were by far his most promising pupils; of course, the latter has now ceased to study with him, having learned as much as is necessary for a gentleman t

d it will be a struggle between them for supremacy. If he goes he shall go as a king's man. Richard, as he grows up, will resent the tutelage in which he is held, but will not be able to shake it off, and he will need men he can rely upon-prudent and good advisers, the nearer to his own age the better, and it may well be t

his manner he has also much to thank young Ormskirk. Edgar caught it from his father, who, though a strange man according to my thinking, is yet a singularly courteous gentleman, and

ome he told his fathe

fortunes. Learning I can give you, but I scarce know a man at Court, for while I lived at Highgate I seldom went abroad, and save for a visit now and then from some scholar anxious to consult me, scarce a bei

atters, and of the history of this country, and of France and Italy, than can be

ful friend; for although Sir Ralph De Courcy is but a simple knight, with no great heritage, his wife is a daughter of Lord Talbot, and he himself is one of the most valiant of the nobles and knights who

mes, he will be able to secure for you a post in the following of some brave leader. I would rather that it were so than in the household of any great noble, who would assuredly take one side or other in the factions of the Co

ld not care to become a knight simply because I was the owner of so many

n into the field were I called upon to do so, and should send you as my substitute if the call should not come until you are two or three years older; but in this way you would be less likely to gain opportunities for winning honour than if you formed part of the following of some

lf for some time to come; he is still a very strong man, and he would chafe like a c

e town returned with a budget of news. Edgar

t?" he said, for he saw that the

nd girls, who, as they might see, are still under fourteen. It happened so to-day at Dartford. One of the tax-collectors went to the house of Wat the Tyler. His wife had the money for his tax and hers, but the man insolently demanded tax for the daughter, who is but a girl of twelve; and when her mother protested that the child was two years s

r hands, and are declaring that they will submit no more to the exactions, and will fight rather than pay, for that their lives are of little value to them if they are t

of the king. These had borrowed money from the Flemings on the security of the tax; the amount that it was likely to produce had been considerably overrated, and the result was that the Flemings, finding that they would be heavy losers by the transaction, ordered their collectors

grossly, but his employers will take no heed of that, and will lay complaints before the king of the slaying of one of their servants and

irits elsewhere, and there are many who would be like to take up arms as well as the men at Dartford,

minds become calmer the people of Dartford will think it

reaching of sedition. I say not that the people have not many and real grievances, but the wa

in to his father, told him wh

it pressed them, but when it comes to demanding money for children under the age, and to insulting them, it is pushing matters too far, and I fear with you, Edgar, that the trouble will spread. I am sorry for thes

sorry, not only for the men themselves, but for others who, like myself, altogether disapprove of any rising. Just at first the mob may obey its leaders and act with moderation; but they are like wild beasts-the sight of blood maddens them-and if

ets. Sir Ralph said that he would give much if he, with half a dozen men-at-arms, could light upon a meeting of these people, when he would give them a lesson that would silence their saucy tongues for a long time to come. I told him I was glad that he had not the opportunity, for that methought it would do more harm than good. 'You won't think so,' he said, 'when there is a mob of these rascals thundering at your do

fighting man, I may possess means of defence that are to the full as serviceable as swords and battle-axes. I have long foreseen that should trouble arise, the villagers of St. Alwyth would be like enough to raise the cry of magician, and to take that opportunity of riddin

k in the village of making an assault upon you that you send a messenger to me straightway, and you may be sure that er

ay be able to manage without need for bloodshed. You are a vastly more formidable enemy than I am, but I imagine that t

ll weight yet, though I own that I myself would rather meet the bravest knight in batt

but chemists,' I said. 'Their object of search is the Elixir of Life or the Philosoph

en know that there are sorcerers who can command the powers of the

I believe that such powers exist. Men have at all times believed in portents, and even a Roman army would turn back were it on the march against an enemy, if a hare ran across the road they were following; I say not that there may not be something in such portents, though even of this I h

, indeed, the power of superstition over men, otherwise sensible, is wonderful. However, he took