Saint George for England

. Although he endeavoured to assume an air of carelessness and ease as he approached the dwelling of Earl Talbot, he was very far from feeling comfortable, and wished in his hear

ire to have speech with me," he said quietly,

ntice was, who with such an assured air, marched up to the door; but if what thou sayest be true, that he saved the life of Dame Vernon and her littl

d indignantly. "I am an armourer, and m

ong, lad. I will take you to Dame Vernon at once. She is expecting you; and, my faith, it would not be safe to

corridors, whose spaciousness and splendour quite overpowered the young apprentice, he handed him over to a waiting woman, who ushered him into an apartment where

the boy that rescued

d a blow from the sword of one of her assailants and that when she found herself on a couch in the abode of her kinsman; and when she had bee

wave back on his forehead. His bearing was respectful, and at the same time independent. There was none of that confusion which might be expected on the part of a lad from the city in the presence of a lady

stom of the time, raised to his lips, bending upon one knee as he did so, "for the lives of

safety of the boat, told my master of it, as I should have done, instead of taking the adventure upon mine own shoulders, doubtless a boat would have been sent up in ti

ernon

ul to you? Are you discontent with your state? For, in truth, you look as if Nature had intended you for a gallant soldier rather than a city craftsman. Earl T

my craft, which is that of an armourer, until, at any rate, I have gained such manly strength and vigour as would fit me fo

ou more about the interview you overhead in the marshes. Sir William de Hertford told me of the evidence that you had given before the justice. It is p

ther times forewarned is forearmed. Frankly, I did not tell all I know before the court, deeming that peradventure you might wish to see me, and that I could then tell th

se beyond your years, yo

t my master's. I took counsel wit

uredly I looked not for such evil designs. It will grieve me to be convinced that the suspicion

have two rivets put into his hauberk. I liked not his face then, and should have remembered it anywhere. I knew h

ation, which assured the lad tha

ould detain your boat so that it should not come along until dark, and, moreover, he

e time with her face

so nearly related in blood, I regarded as a brother, should have betrayed me to death. My mind is trouble

ill tell no more at the trial than I revealed yesterday; but I would remind you that there is a danger that the leader of yon

isoners had pointed out the one among their number who was their chief. This morning, however, it was found that the warder who had charge of them had been bribe

with me, suggested that this evil knight might be scared from attempting any future enterprise against you were he informed that it was known to several persons t

poorly reward your services, would yet have proved useful to you when the time came for you to start as a craftsman on your own account; but now that I have seen you, I feel that although there are few who think themselves demeaned by accepting gifts of money in reward for services, you would rather my gratitude took some other form. It can only do that of offering you such good services that I can render with Earl Talbot, should you ever choose the professi

ful consideration of the lady, Walter knelt on one knee before her, and

oil gained by King Edward from the French. Maybe," she added kindly, "it

hed again w

eds of valour, to attain a knight's spurs even though they may not be of noble blood or have served as page

e talking now. And what are you going to give thi

orse would suit you better than a girl's gift. And yet I should like to give you something, such as ladies give their knights who

week," her mother said; "I would rather that you did

would not kiss me; he always looks as if he were going to

h the bracelet from tha

d brought out the little brace

y's gifts. Now hold out your hand. There," she went on in a pretty imperious way, "take this

lowing cheek, and then, half frightened at he

five comrades for their service in the matter, and

, who will, I know, exert what influence she has in getting me a good husband for my child. But even for myself I have some fears, since the king hinted, when last he saw me, that it was time I looked out for another mate, for that the vassal of Westerham and Hyde needed a lord to lead them in the field. However, I hope that my answer that they were always at his service under the leading of my cousin James will suffice for him. Now, what am I to do in that matter? Who would have thought that he so coveted my lands that he would have slain me and Edith to possess himself of them? His own lands a thrice as broad as mine, though men say that he has dipped deeply into them and owes much money to the Jews. He is powerf

expected?" the armourer asked the lad when he re-entered

first arrived at the great mansion; but the lady put me quite at my ease, and she talked to me for so

examining it, "of Genoese work, I reckon, and worth a lar

e in a cloth doublet," Walter said indigna

ll not sell it, and you cannot wear it, you had best give it me

hoped one day it might again belong to a knig

a complaint before the lord mayor against Dame Vernon, for unsettling the mind of my apprentice, and setting him a

coloure

o render you as good a one as any who draws sword 'neath the king's banner, and assuredly I would not have taken all these pains with you did I think that you were always to wear an iron cap and trail a pike. I too, lad, hope so

ld," he added reverently, "and such that when she grows up, the bravest knight in England might be proud to

be twenty-two when she is seventeen. You have time to make your way yet, and I tell you, though why it matters not, that I would rather you set your heart on winning Mistress Edith Vernon than any other heiress of broad lands in merry En

omise to tell him the causes which had involved

ill draw upon the wall the pedigree of the royal line of France from Phillip downwards, and then you will s

cannot lead her armies to battle, yet she no ways forfeits otherwise her rights, and that her son is therefore the heir to the throne. If this contention, which is held by all English jurists, and by many in France also, be well founded, Edward is the rightful King of France. Phillip of Valois contends that the 'Salic law' not only bars a female from ascending the throne, but also destroys all her rights, and that the succession goes not to her sons but to the next heir male; in which case, of course, Phillip is rightful king. It is n

of France, and having shown great energy in at once marching against and repressing the people of Flanders, who were in a state of rebellion against their count, one of the feudatories of the French crown, the nobles were well satisfied with their choice, and no question as to his right was ever henceforth raised in France. As soon as the rebellion in Flanders was crushed, Phillip summoned the King of England to do homage for Aquitaine, Ponthieu and Montreuil, fiefs held absolutely from the crown of France. Such a proceeding placed Edward and his council in a great embarrassment. In case of a refusal the whole of the possessions of the crown in France

n terms and questions open for the consideration of his council. For some time the matter remained in this shape; but honest men cannot but admit that King Edward did, by his action at the time, acknowledge Phillip to be King of France, and that he became hi

and one, though England was well-nigh thrown into mourning by an accident which took place. The gallery in which the queen and her attendants were viewing the sports had been badly erected, and in the height of the contests it gave way. The queen and her ladies were in great peril, being thrown from a considerable height, and a number of persons were severely injured. The king, who was furious at the danger to which the queen had been exposed, would have hung upon the spot t