The Prince and the Page: A Story of the Last Crusade

e his son

for their

knight

ey vil

of Simon de

ad been under the careful training of the excellent chaplain, Adam de Marisco, a pupil and disciple of the great Robert Grostete, Bishop of Lincoln. His elder brothers had early left this wholesome control; pushed forward by the sad circumstances that finally drove thei

model of all that was admirable, wise, and noble; deeply religious, just, and charitable, and perfect in all the arts of chivalry and accomplishments of peace-a tender and indulgent fa

always, even at the worst, pleaded the King's helplessness, and Prince Edward's honourable intentions. Understanding little of the rights of the case, Richard only saw his father as the maintainer of the laws, and defender of the oppressed against covenant breakers; and when the appeal to arms was at length made, he saw the white cross assumed by his father and brothers, in full belief that the war in defence of Magna Carta was indeed as sacred as a crusade, and he had earnestly entreated to be allowed to bear arms; but he had been deemed as yet too young, and thus had had no share in the victory of Lewes, save the full triumph in it th

at one day his brave godson would shake off the old King's evil counsellors, and show himself in his true and noble colouring. His brothers, however, laughed and chid any word about the Prince's kindness. Edward's flattery and seduction, they declared,

es, and fell upon Leicester and his followers. His father had mournfully yielded to the boy's entreaty to remain with him, instead of being sent away with his mother and the younger ones for security: an honourable death, said the Earl, might be better f

he had answered, "I do not, my son; but your presumption, and the pride of thy brothers, h

n and bitter were his feelings at finding himself in the hands of the Prince himself. He chafed all the more at feeling the ascendency which Edward's lofty demeanour and personal kindness had formerly exerted over him, reviving again by force of habit; he hated himself for not having at once challenged his father's murderer; so as, if he could not do more, to have died by his hand; and he despised himself the more, for knowing that all he could have said would have been good-naturedly put down by the Prince; all he could have done would have been but like a gnat's efforts against that mighty strength. Then how despicable it was to be sensible, in spite of himself, that this atmosphere of courtly refinement was far more natural to him-the son of a Provencal noble, and

he half brothers of Henry III., stood in the same relationship to Prince Edward and to Richard, whose mother was the sister of King Henry. Probably Hamlyn had had a hint from

show him the creature's lair. He had proposed to Richard to join the hunt; but the boy, firm to his resolution of accepting no favour from him, that could be helped, had refused as curtly as he could; and then,

call and explain to himself. Ever his father's stately figure was the centre of his recollections, whether receiving tidings of infractions of engagements, taking prompt measures for action, or striving to repress the violence of his sons and partizans, or it might be gazing on his younger boys w

l that was knightly and virtuous; and had added, on the loud outcry of the more prejudiced brothers: "It is only the truth. Were it not that the King's folly and his perjured counsellors had come be

lowest dungeon, than eat of his bread as a guest! By our Lady, I will tell him so to his face! I will none of his favours! Alone I will go to the coast- -alone make my way to Simon and Guy, with no letters to the French king! All kings, however saintly they ma

n. She turned as she was passing him, and smiled with a sweet radiance that would have won him instantly, had he not heard his elder brothers sneer at the cheap coin of royal smiles. He only bowed; but Leonillo was more accessible, and started forward to pay his homage of dignified blandishments to t

eanor, her hand upon the proud head; "

eath, Lady," repli

, that when thy brave father brought my lord and me back from our bridal a

ts of my Leonillo," said Richard

ign over a race of kings.' And how good he was to me when I wept at leaving my home and friends! How he framed his tongue to speak my own Castillian to me; how he comforted me, when the Queen, my mother-in-law, required more dignity of me than I yet knew how to assume; and how he chid my boy bridegroom for showing scant regard for his girl bride!" said Eleanor, smil

id Richard. "It was he tha

rself speaking, as to draw Richard into walking with her along the path that ha

ply: 'No quarter for traitors!' and Henry fell before us a dead man. My father shouted, 'By the arm of St. James, it is time for me to die!' I saw him, with his sword in both hands, cut down

or, caressing the animal. "And thou,

m aside; and when one bolder than the rest came near the mound where we lay, good Leonillo flew at his savage throat. I heard the struggle as I lay-the growls of the dog, the howls of the man; and then they were cut short. And next I heard de Gourdon's gruff voice commending the good hound, whose note had led him to the spot, from the woods, where he was hiding after the battle. The faithful beast sprang from him, and in a moment more had led him to me. Then-ah, then, Lady! when Adam had freed me from my broken helm, and lifted me in his arms, what a sig

overcame all joy in his victory. And I can assure thee, dear Richard, that when, three months after, I came to him at Canterbury, just after he had been with thy mother at Dover, even then he was sad and mournful. He said that the wisest and best baron in England had been made a rebel of, and then slain; an

et forth I was still lame, and too feeble to go far in a day; and we fell in with-within short, with a band of robbers, who detained us, half as guests, half as captives. They needed Adam's stout arm; and there was a shrewd, gray, tough old fellow, who had been in Robin Hood's band, and was looked up to as a sort of prince among them, who was bent on making us one with them. Lady, you would smile to hear how the old man used to sit by me as I lay on the rushes, and talk of outlawry, as Father Adam de Marisco used to talk of learning-as a good and noble science, decaying for want of spirit and valour in these days. It was all laziness, he said; barons and princes must needs have their wars,

ought for thee," replied Eleanor. "What didst thou do, young Ri

for me," bluntly said Richard, with a return o

thou didst overhear him concerting with Thomas de Clare the plan of an escape, and tho

ard with surprise; "

'pity that such a heart should be pierced in an inglorious field. Would that I could find him, and strive to return to him something of

be-" and a sob checked him, as the contrast rose before him of the great Earl and beautiful Countess pr

lf," said Eleanor. "See, here he com

had ended, and hearing that his wife had walked forth into the wood, the Prince had come by another path to meet her, and his rar

y Lord! he feels that there is a long dark reckonin

not speak. The Princess had

hat a question hath two sides-though it is not given to all men to do so. Hearken then.-Thy father was the greatest man I have known-nay, but for the thought of my uncle of France, I should say the holiest. He was my teacher in all knightly doings, and in a

rd, calling to mind many

and as the crown had been led to invade the rights of the vassals, so the vassals invaded my father's rights. Oaths were extorted, though both sides knew they could never be observed; and between violences, now on one side, now on the other, the right course could scarce be kept. The Earl imagined that, with my father in his hands, removed from all other influences, he could give England the happy days they

is," said Richard, wi

ly hoped, so to rule affairs, that the Earl might own that his training had not been lost on his nephew, and that the Crown might be trusted not to infringe the Charter. I had hoped that he might yet be my wisest counsellor. But, Richard, I too had supporters who outran my commands. Bitter hatred and malice had been awakened, and cruel reso

s; and the evident struggle to repress his feelings, brought home dee

understand that it was their own excesses that armed those merciless hands against him. Even my aunt shrank from me, and implored my mercy as though I were a ruthless tyrant. But thou, Richard, t

; the Princess watched him eagerly. The boy spoke at last in perplexity. "My

ich is most Christian is most knightly." Then pausing: "Ask thine heart, Richard; which would thy father choose for thee-to live in

sey. He knew that these two brethren had long been a pain and grief to his father; and began to underst

ve one day to bring to pass the state of things for which th

the words with the more difficulty, because he felt so strongly drawn

us render to one another the kiss of peace, as kinsme

there was exchanged between them that solemn embrace, whic

e devotion, composed of affection and loyal homage to a great character, which ever since the days of the bond between the son of t