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

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father, to become his godfather in the combat, as one whose character stood too high to be injured by connection with him. Even this plan was frustrated, for Hamlyn de Valence entered, led by Earl Gilbert as his sponsor. Should he turn to his one other friend, the Prince himself? Nay, the Prince was umpire a

pe," said he; "I have ridden ever since Lauds at Castel San Giova

welling in his eyes, as he wrung Sir Raynald's hand. "I have no

the stress you were in-that your Montfort lineage was out, and that you were thought to have w

ugh the solemnity of

fight in defence of h

ed the presentation.

hing but a satisfactory

y, a sort of radiance c

comforting not t

knight had received, and he could scarcely clear his voice to speak the words of absolution. Even as they left the confess

ands of his godfather before the Prince: Hamlyn de Valence swearing that to the best of his belief, Richard de Montfort was a traitor, in league with his brothers, and art and part in the murder of Prince Henry of Almay

eir places, and the Prince's clear voice exclaimed, "And so God show the right."

into his flesh; but at the same instant his lance was pushing, driving, bearing on Hamlyn before him; the sheer force in his Plantagenet shoulders was telling now, the very pain seemed as it were to add to the energy with which he pressed on-on, ti

him. "Yield thee, Hamlyn de Valence. Confess that t

," he said sullenly; "I will confe

ment of Heaven, Richard de Montfort hath cleared himself of all share in the foul murder of Lord Henr

or, but where were t

nder hurrah was lost

nal. Richard de Montfort is pronounced free of all penalty for treason in t

that he had hankered after his brothers, and held dangerous communings with them, was evidently st

ce towards him. The next moment Raynald's kind hand was on his shoulder, and his

hed the tent there was a plunging rush and scampering behind them, and John of Dunster came dashing up. "I knew it! I knew it!" he crie

s gauntleted hand caressin

n't heed the judgment of Heaven one jot. And that's what they call being warriors of the Cross! If the Prince were a true-born Englishman, he wou

eath nor voice to speak? If you wish to do him a service, hie to our

ohn, perfectly civil

h as h

Bartlemy, he is a be

bring his salv

and wine, silencing a half-murmured scruple about Lenten diet with the dispensation due to sickness. The wound was not likely to be serious or disabling, and the cares of the Hospitalier and hi

roke over the contending armies roared again in his ears; and then again recurred the calm still night, when he had lain helpless on the battle-field; even the caress of Leonillo, and his low growl, were vividly repeated; but as the dog moved, it was to Richard as if the form of his father rose up in its armour from the dark field, and said in a deep hollow voice, "Well fought, my son; I will give thee k

that voice that at times was so ineffably sweet, "Be still, Richard; I fear me thou ha

e oaken chest; while Richard, after

bout which there has

him the scroll

Richard in amaz

etter thou

ne," repeat

rd, "it concerns

, and could not suppress a gasp of di

nnections, and many thought the letter to the Grand Prior Darcy a mere excuse. But when Hamlyn fell, and I still held that thou wert merely cleared from wilful share in the deadly crime of which I had never held thee guilty, then she spake more earnestly. She of her own will sent for Raynald Ferrers to our tent, and called me to speak with him, sure that, even though his family had been our foes, he was too honourable a knight to have e

n as Edward. He held the Prince's hand to his lips, and exclaimed, "Oh, how-how could I have ever felt dis

, smiling; "we have mu

ichard, this begga

hung h

mayst not

r an oath,

mmer of life only to-to see the ruin of his house; and all that he could not be saved from. O Richard, to no man in either host could the day of Evesham have been so sore, as to me, who had to sit in the gate, to gladden men's hearts, like holy King David, when he would fain have been weeping for his son! But in early morning came Abbot William of Whitchurch to my chamber, and with much secrecy told me that the corpse of Henry de Montfort had been stolen from the c

was the curse he laid me under, should I make him known to you. He calls himself thus a freer and hap

e could utter his gibe, Henry little recked which way the world passed round him; and I

fidelity. The Prince was deeply touched, and then remembered the marked manner in which the Baron of Mortimer had replied to his inquiry, in what convent he had bestowed Hen

ses for Henry's resol

t harsh and distrustf

knowledg

rets before now," he added, with a smile. "Only, when we are at home again-so it please the Saints to spare us-thou shalt strive to show him cause

and now, more than ever! I long to thank

d?' said

naught, I sca

then till supper-time." And as he spoke he rose to depart, but Richard made a gesture of entreaty. "So please your Grace, grant me a few farther words. I sware, an

A dagger in store for me too, is there? Well, my cousins have a goodly

f the archers, one of whom was in Simon's troop, and went with

oke wit

rough the outposts to a spot where mean

d, smiling, "didst cho

hren when Guy had been so near me in Africa; but now,

e own name, Richard, and as my kinsman and esquire. Thou shalt bear thine own name and arms. I will cause a mourning suit to be sent to thee-thou art equally of kin with myself to poor Henry-and shalt mourn him with

each; and if I were to stand on my guard against every man who loved thy father better than mine, wha

punctilious exactitude in matters of discipline. But the evils of a lax and easy-going court had been so fatal, and had produced such suffering, that it was no marvel that he had adopted a rule of iron; and in the pain and distress of seeing his closest friends, the noblest subjects in the realm, pushed into a rebellion where he had himself to maintain his father's cause, and then to watch, without being abl

to follow the dictates of her own heart, was kind to him with a motherly or sisterly kindness, could not bear to receive from him his wonted attendance, but made him lie upon the cushions at he

at waiting than he would have suffered from doing it himself. And not a few dissatisfied glances were leve

all the old court faction, deemed Edward's regard for the Barons' party an unreasonable weakness that they durst not indeed combat openly, but which angered them as a species of disaffection to his

rom association with Richard; and both prince and squire, and all the rest of the train, made it

howing him more tenderness and consideration than he would otherwise have thought befitting. Moreover, an esquire, as Richard had now become, might be in

the gravity of the Prince's mourning household as a dispensation. However, when Richard, leaning fondly on little John's ready shoulder, crossed to his own tent, he found his good friend waitin

vely Princess had taken your matters in hand. Tell me, Richard, h

as she," said R

egun talking to me! And so wise and clear of wit too. I thought women were feather-pated wilful beings, from whom there was no choice but to shut oneself up! I trow, that now all is well with

Sir Raynald, my first duty under Heaven must be to redeem my father's name, by my service to the Prince. My brothers think they uphold it by deadly revenge. I want to show what a true Montfort can be with such