The Captain of the Wight

s to form three sides of a quadrangle, a boy was standing, idly leaning his arms o

is eyebrows, but falling in wavy masses on each side of his face. His eyes were bright, and full of life. His strongly-knit frame gave promise of strength and

the sea, over forest, gorse-covered common, and well-

ll looming out of the grey mist which rose, film-like, behind the nearer masses of the russet forest. Here and there some larger expanse of mist looked like a lake amid the overhanging trees, while

ng through the gateway, he darted down the road in front of th

verse rang merrily in the stillness of the evening. It was the

my hound, wit

the green wo

horn and ble

-ro-ro-ro! t

go bet! hey

th, there he goe

have sport an

the wood, and cheeri

ight; but, prythee, cease thy song for a while,

t little bird for mounting a heron, or springing a pheasant, as ever I did see.

protected by a stout leathern glove with a large gauntlet. Two leather thongs, called lunes, were connected by two rings or tyrrits,

side to side, causing the little artificial plume

bury to buy this hawk for his favourite son--put out his hand too quickly, for the hawk made a peck at it; but he

fine one. She is a long ha

and eightpence, over and above the price of the bird, I had to pay to Brother Anselm for the licence of bringing her over; but I got her cheap,

s birthday present. The groom took off the leather glove and gave it to Ralph, who put it on, and to

, and bills were hung or fixed all along the walls, and a few skins of red deer and other wild animals lay about on

ady's voice, and Ra

ft thou couldst have chosen!" And the boy went up to the large armchair, in which an old man was sitt

growing a stout lad, and 'tis time to be thinking of thy after life. I would fain have ye all s

kest thus dolefully?" said Ralph, his ardou

ad doffed his cap the moment he entered his parents' presence, "nay, child, 'tis

might reasonably be supposed to have been surrendered; but in his eyes she was always fair. "Perchance 'tis naught; but my mind misgiveth me, and I would fain talk gr

hat thou gavest me. See what a long hawk it is; a

e rarely, I'll venture. Thou must fly her to-morrow--there's many

I'll e'en try her

and two other boys came in; one a good deal o

coming up and looking at the bird. "Marry she's a

t, let alone the toll of forty shilling

ld Simon Bridle. He knows where all the best bir

ith his pretty bird? Thou knowest she is a good bird, and thou

gone. Jasper, you are the eldest, to you will fall my Bailiwick of Chute Forest, my manors of Chute, Holt, and Thruxton, and many other fair lands. Now wouldst thou go to the c

tle time to answer, but

ou and my lady mother, and mind the fair

so be it, and may God's blessing and thy parents' b

then down, and finally, raising his eyes with a keen

in some noble prince's household, for I am of an age now

space, but it is thy life that must be spent, not ours, and we have ever thought on thy weal. I will take thought what can

st either seek their fortune in war, or else in the Church. He had not physical strength, nor sufficiently combative instincts, for the profession of arms, although, boylike, he had often been led away, when reading the romances of the time, to wish to i

d follow in the steps of Our Lord and Master

what hath best be done for thee also, and will send a missive to my right reverend kinsman the Abbot of Quarr, and perchance he will do his best to help us. And now, my sons, since all is in fair trim for your future welfare, and thy noble and fair mother is right pleased, I know, as truly am I--and I give God thanks that He hath given

ons, who ran to aid him, for he had received a severe wound from a b

thou lead in thy lady mother, for to

servants were all assembled in the body of the hall, and the sons carved for their parents at the high table.

ysle, was staying, to ask him to come over to Thruxton Hall, and advise his kinsman on the future of his sons. The worthy

d the matter, and then left the

ovided for, and may marry and raise up a fair lineage; but for our nephew Ralph other thoughts will be requisite. He will need fair clothes, as becometh one of a noble house, and an honest varlet to go with him, and a mettlesome courser; one not too fiery, that will lead him astray, and perchance disgrace him, or his cl

thee humble thanks," st

Henry hath made his brother Captain-General of our land; and Sir Edward Woodville, whom most men call the Lord Woodville, and who some even think will be called to the council by the style of Lord Rivers, is but now on his way back from the hard fight at Stoke by Newark, where he hath gained himself fresh glory. Certes he is a gallant, very puissant, and right hardy lord, and one under whom much knighthood

e an interest in the lad. His own son, I hear, hath been disinherited by him for his wilfulness and strong fealty to the house of York. I would fain see them reconciled,

he should be entered at Oxen ford shortly, for he is of age to go thither. I will write to my well-beloved brother and kinsman, the Abbot of A

expedite matters, a serving-man was sent to Salisbury to fetch out a tailor with the necessary cloth and stuff suitable to apparel a young man of good birth who wa

brother had tried the qu

as they rode along on their small ponies towards Chute F

trow. See there's a bird yonder; 'ti

the noble birds were cast off the fist. Up they sprang high in air. The gerfalcon mounted quicker, but th

hold a candle to mine. Well flown, Swiftwi

mund, she'll cross my beauty! Listen to the sweet tinkle of her bells.

against your new set of bells,

ried Ralp

wo birds, and they rode on, heeding nothing, the varlet

ou goest," cried out the servant;

w a man with a hood drawn over his head, and an old tattered gown on, who was with difficulty wal

dst not see the game toward? Fie, I should have tho

y way, and am parlous footsore; so is this poor lass, my daughter;

r the common, and we shall follow you anon. Thou canst not miss thy way. Say yo

ll not keep thee from thy sport to wast

and the young girl

aking his daughter on the croup behind him. There was something in the manner of the wanderers which seemed to tell him they were not common people. The man was evidently much touched. He th

shout of disappointm

h risen above the heron, and

e to see his gerfalcon give a swoop, and the next minute descend like a falling bolt right on to the doomed heron, who, how

, by all the saints, she has done it! There they

l struggling, but feebly, was falling with the hawk's claws and talon

ed, brave bird!" cr

t my riding-whip,"

never take it; 't

the goshawk, and with hawks hooded, jesses on legs, and fast on fist