The Lances of Lynwood

e door; Gaston d'Aubricour, wrapped in his gay mantle, stood caressing his Arab steed Brigliador, and telling him they should soon exchange the chilly fogs of En

od heart. 'Tis not for long. Take heed of your dealings with cousin Fulk. She knows not what

t it is little that a poor Priest like me can do. I

s summoned him to the field. That were to make the King's need be his law. No! no! Watch over her, good father, she is weak

said Father Cyril, "it w

tend her well. Give her my tenderest greetings. Arthur, be duteous to her; tal

stace waited a moment longer. "Good Father, this was to have bee

reach he

me a letter whe

you have the chance-good gifts should not be buried. Bethink you, too, that you

ginald shook his pennon, till the long white swallow tails streamed on the wind, then placed it in the hands of Eustace, and saying, "On, Lances of Lynwood! In the name of God, St. George, and King

and with it they embarked, crossed to St. Malo, and thence proceeded to Bordeaux, but there

y peaks of the Pyrenees began to gleam white like clouds against the sky, and the gray sea-line to the west closed the horizon. Eustace drew his rein, and gazed in silent admiration, and Gaston, riding by his side, pointed out the several bearings and devices which, to the warrior of that day, spoke as plainly (often more so) as written words. "See yonder, the tent of my brave countryman, the Captal de Buch, close to

pectfully aside. He was a man about thirty-six years of age, and looking even younger, from the remarkable fairness and delicacy of his complexion. The perfect regularity of his noble features, together with the comma

hat the Lances of Lynwood would not be absent where kn

rom him but now as he rode to the castle, whi

t Marshal hath no acquaintance with that gallant little band. Methinks I see

"It is my brother Eustace, who has been suffered (I take shame to myself for it)

id Edward. "You are well provided with Squires. The men of So

of Sir Philip Ashton, a l

We have work for all. Let me see yo

yest thou?" said Gaston

ince for whom to give a tho

les!" said Leonard. "Why, he s

of the camp. Within, it was completely lined with silk, embroidered with the various devices of the Prince: the lions of England-the lilies of France-the Bohemian ostrich-plume, with its humble motto, the

led his comrades to the lower end, where Squires and pages were waiting for the provisions brought in by the servants, which they were to carry to their Knights. Gaston was soon engaged in c

imagination would ascribe to him; his features were of the fair and noble type of the old royal Gothic race of Spain; he had a profusion of flaxen hair, and large blue eyes, rather too prominent, and but for his receding forehead, and the expression of his lips, he would have bee

-booting warrior; the youthful form of the young step-son of the Prince, Lord Thomas Holland; the rude features of the Breton Knight, Sir Oliver de Clisson, soon to be the bitterest foe of the standard beneath which he was now fig

r of beef to your brother. Best that you should do it," he added in a low voice, taking

words, a squarely-made, dark-visaged man, with a thick black beard, and a huge scar which had obliterated one eye; his equipment was that of a Squire, but

ish and French, which Leonard could easily understand, although he had always turned a deaf ear

ncy for carrying it yourself? I, for my pa

ince's table as dainty Master Eustace. My father had never put me under Sir

r service?" asked the Squire, to whom Leonard's broad S

rled brown locks, next to that stern-

Lancaster is pledging-a proud, strict Engli

e a choir of novices, to clean our own arms and the Knight's, like so many horse-boy

omise you. And yet Gaston le Maure chooses to stay with him rather than lead a merry life with Sir Perduccas d

ithout ceasing; but yet I could bear it all, were it not for seeing Eustace, the cler

your inheritance?" demanded the one-eyed Squi

Gaston hastened to the spot. "Shame on you, young malapert," said he to his hopeful pupil. "Cannot I leave you one moment unwatched, but you must be brawling in the Prince's own presence? Here, bear this bread to Sir Reginald instantly, and leave me to make your peace. Master Clif

ford; "there would not have been the least offen

ur wealthy Englishmen?" asked t

id Gaston, turning sharply; "beca

the one-eyed, "though you were not wont to like English beef and English discipline better than Gascon wine and Gascon f

laws at your servic

his tone, "But tell me honestly, Gaston, repent you no

ave left hi

t leader, Sir William Felton, is as free and easy as d'Albret, or Aymerigot Mar

or, and over and above to hinder this wiseacre Ashton from ruining himself, or being ruined by le Borgne Basque! What brought him here? I thought he was safe in Cas

e, returned to their own table, now freshly supplied with meat, which the yeomen in the

you take the Prince's pavilion for one of your own island hostels, where men may

e to tread on my foo

ot your office, as I told you, to stand r

a few words to a

you should be instructed in all the dicing and drinking in this camp, and unless you wish that the crowns with

ley with him yourself," s

steed, or handing a wine-cup. I have no purse to lose, and I have wit to keep it if I had, or at least," as a recollection cross

h sulky indignation. "The heir of Ashton is not

For name, I suspect you will find that many a man has trembled at the sound of Beranger d'Albricorte, to whom Ashton would be but that of an English clown. Moreover, in this camp I would have you to know that the question is, not who has the broadest lands, but who has the strongest

What is his name

ient to have them forgotten. He is a Free Companion, a routier, brave enough, but more ready at the sack than the

n gain entrance to t

in most places," said Gaston; "but, as you s

ls, whilst negotiations were passing between the Black Prince and Charles the Bad, King of Navarre, who might

overed with snow and ice, which made them doubly perilous for the horses, and but for Gaston's familiarity with

the army as a reporter of the events of the campaign. This new acquaintance gave very little satisfaction to Sir Reginald, who was almost ready to despair of Eustace's courage and manhood when he found he had "gone back to his books," and manifested, if not so much serious displeasure, yet even more annoyance, on this occasion, than when, shortly after, he found that Leonard Ashton spent every moment at his own dispo

pproach, carrying off, or destroying, all that could be used as food. It was the intention of Bertrand du Guesclin, the ally of Enrique of Trastamare, to remain quietly in his camp of Navaretta, and allow hunger to do its work with the invading force, bu

than these to the half-famished army, encamped upon the banks of the Ebro, on the same ground o