A March on London

ished their evening meal, when one of the retainers announced that two

them into the kitchen and give them a tankard of ale and refreshmen

Ralph. "Go with my retainers, my good fellows," the latter said, "and remain until I see what your master says

o had run across to look at them, said; "

r was as

that such armour should be provided for them by one of those who has benefited by their valour, whose life and that of his wife and daughter have been preserved by them. Therefore I send them two suits as the only token I can at present give them of my thankfulness and grat

joyfully as Albert fin

nour both to the giver and those who receive it. Open the crat

arried his to his father, while Aline placed Edgar's on the t

a good piece of steel, sir knight, for methinks those two suits are the best that I have ever forged, and I would not part with them for less than the price of the very finest of those inlaid ones. I have tried their strength in every way and am proud of them, but it may be that I shall keep them here for some time before I sell them. The foreign arms are now all the fashion, and those who can afford the best would take the more showy of the foreign suits, but I would not bate a penny in their price were these two suits to stand in my shop as long as I live. Do you see

tis in the stuffs of Italy and the East that he chiefly deals, that his agents abroad sometimes send him suits of the finest Milan armour, swords of Da

e armour, with the swords and daggers, laid upon the tab

one me the service many a time, and it is right that you should be the first to do it for Albert. Aline, do you wait upon Edgar. As you are new to such work

how to arm Edgar, and then herself buckled on Albert's harness

e knight said; "and as we ride to-morrow

n that, if it is not as bright as ours, 'tis in battle that its lustre has been lost, whil

as a new suit he had taken from a great French lord he had overthrown in battle, and I was as proud of him as I now feel of you, for y

name a letter of thanks to this noble Fleming. I have not written a letter for years, and our friend would scarce be able to decipher it were I to try." Then he went on, as she removed Albert's casque: "There was good taste as well as judgment in the purchase of those arms, Agatha. To me who knows what arms are, they are superb, but to the ordinary eye they would seem no better than th

and daggers were examined and admired, Sir Ralph declaring the former to be of the finest Toledo steel and the latter to come from Damascus. Edgar had said little, but he was even more delighted with his new acquisition than

Edgar, the latter keeping a watchful eye over her horse, which was fresh after six or seven days' idleness. The two retainers rode behind, having the ladies' valises strapped behind them. The city chu

ight said. "He might well have come alone; but it is ki

he Fleming bowed de

ght introduce her to you, and that she might assure you, in

Van Voorden," Dame Agatha said, as, lea

visit will give her the greatest pleasure-and yours also, Mistress Aline," she a

le Aline's hair was golden, the Joanna's was of a tawny red. Even making allowance for the difference in

oceeded on their way, "I must repeat in person what I said in my letter, how deeply obliged

ly testifying my gratitude. We shall scarcely be able to lodge you, lady," he went on, turning to Dame Agatha, "as I could have done in my house at Bread Street, for the one I have hired, although comfortable enough, is much less commodious; s

ity merchants cannot be far behind you, judging from what

f seeing how the merchant princes there live. I have known him for some years. He is one of the foremost men in the city; he has broad and liberal ideas, and none of the jealousy of us Fleming

ed to the saddles of the Van Voorden's followers, while adieux were exchanged. Then the Fleming's party turned to the right, while the knight, Edgar, Albert

Robert said, as they rode up. "Let me congratulat

t in, "I think we have somewh

ze required, and these suits greatly took my fancy. The armourer guaranteed their temper, and they were, as it seemed to

fortable, Edg

e worn such things, and they seem to me marvellously to confine me, and with the vizo

tomed to changes, but even now I would far rather fight with my vizor up, save that one must have its protection when arrows or cross-bow bolts are flying; but as against other knights I would always keep it up; the helm itself and the cheek-pieces cover no small part of the face, and naught but a straigh

rk, they broke into a gallop. When, after going at this pace for three or four miles, they reined their horses in

I was well-nigh reelin

l you take

ow as at any other time." Under their helmet both wore a small velvet cap.

year or two I hope that I too shall be able to bear the weight of all these things without feeling them; but you

, Albert, and I wo

tted by the peasants on their homeward way. Houses had be

was news that many manors and the houses of men of law have been destroyed in Essex, and that the rioters have beheaded the Lord Chief-Justice of England, Sir John of Cambridge, and the Prior of St. Edmondsbury, and set up their heads on poles in the market-place of Bury, and have destroyed all the charters

rong place,

lows as these, but it could not stand for a day against an attack by a

ews that it was attacked by some two thousand of the riot

on, Sir Ralph?" t

strength, for we may have to charge through them two or three times before they break and run, and then we will pursue and cut t

of Sir Ralph and the alderman, and lowered their vizors, for, as the knight said, "Though some of the knaves threw away their bows at Smithfield, many of the others took them away." On reaching a field

lines and follow us, one line twenty yards behind the other. Bid them all keep together in their rank, the second line closing up wi

s voice, and repeated

, do you keep between us, and leave a space of some three yards between each horse, s

f the rioters, however, held their ground, seeing how small was the number of their opponents. A flight of arrows was shot when they were some sixty yards distant, but as all were bending forward in their saddles, and the arrows were shot in haste, most of them fell harmless; three or four of

beyond, the peasants seeking only to get out of their way. As soon as they were through the crowd they turned again, and in the same order a

sheartened now," he said, "an

e crowd had broken up, and the rioters were

izor that his voice might reach all; "give no quar

e horsemen followed the fugitives in all directions. The two lads kept together so as to be able to give each other assistance should any stand be

by the scenes that they had witnessed in London; and for an hour they fo

exclaimed at last; "I am fairly sp

turdy alderman, and will then ride home and see how my father has fared. I have little fear that any harm has befallen him, for his magic would frighten the rioters even more than our swords. Well, our armour has stood us in good stead, Albert. When we charged the fir

s glanced off the armour as a stone

e ridden a devious course in pursuit-they arrived in an hour at the castle. Here they found that most of the horsemen had already returned. Two hundred bodies lay

urnished him, he and the city would have been spared the humiliation that they have suffered. One blow struck in time will save the need of twenty struck afterwards. Had we but killed a thousand on Blackheath it would have spared us the trouble of slaying perha

of my men to ride with

, any one of which would terrify these peasants out of their wits; and if they have troubled him, which is

ide an animal that can carry you off gaily should you fall in with another party. There are half a dozen in the stalls. I don't suppose they

ged his saddle to a fresh horse, and the lad then started for home. Confident as he felt, it was still a great satisfaction to him to

small grille in the door opened,

are you staring at? Why

et I did not at first make you out. Well, I am glad that you have come

right. I hope that everyt

, the master sent them running, most scared out of th

rse, Andrew; I mus

Ormskirk exclaimed; "i

at I felt sure you would be able to hold your own here; still, I was very pleased

skirk asked; "and knows he that th

have given the rioters such a lesson that methinks there will be no more rioting in this part of Kent

se fellows would never have been quiet, had they not been roughly taught

a goodly suit. My coffer is so low that I k

d many a shrewd blow from arrow, bill-hook, and pike in to-day's fight. But the story is a long one to tell, and I pray you, be

brought me news of their intentions, so I was ready for them. I had gone out and had painted on the door, with that stuff I told you of, the rough figure of a skeleton holding a dart in his hand. It was of the same colour as the door, so that it did not show in the daylight. Then I fixed along o

s a curiosity at Genoa, and lighted a fire in the courtyard. As soon as they approached I threw pitch into the fire, making thereby a great column of smoke, and set Andrew to beat the gong furiously, telling him to shout and yell as he pleased. Then I went to an upper window to obs

before they got fairly in motion, and I went down and prepared to fire the powder should it be needful, and besides I hoisted the skull above the parapet over the gate. Thinking that the light of the phosphorus might not show up well a short distance away, I placed in addition some red fire in the skull. I then got on the wall, and sat down where I coul

going it would wag for two or three minutes before it stopped. Then he ran one way with a brand from the fire, and I the other, and twelve green fires burst out. There was a yell of horror when the skull was made out. The alarm was doubtless he

y fright. All sorts of tales were told of great blazing skeletons that dashed out from the gate with dart in hand, and of a skull that breathed out red fire from a blazing mouth, and grinned and gibbered at the