Saint George for England

G >> G. A. Henty >> Saint George for England

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A renewed shout greeted the judge's decision. The king now ordered the
rival hosts to be mustered before him as before the battle, and when this
was done Earl Talbot conducted Walter up the broad steps in front of the
king's pavilion. Geoffrey Ward, who had, after fastening on Walter's
armour in the tent, before the sports began, taken his place among the
guards at the foot of the royal pavilion, stept forward and removed
Walter's helmet at the foot of the steps.

"Young sir," the king said, "you have borne yourself right gallantly today,
and have shown that you possess the qualities which make a great captain. I
do my nobles no wrong when I say that not one of them could have better
planned and led the assault than you have done. Am I not right, sirs?" and
he looked round. A murmur of assent rose from the knights and nobles, and
the king continued: "I thought you vain and presumptuous in undertaking the
assault of a fort held by an equal number, many of whom are well accustomed
to war, while the lads who followed you were all untrained in strife, but
you have proved that your confidence in yourself was not misplaced. The
Earl of Talbot has adjudged you victor, and none can doubt what the end of
the strife would have been. Take this chain from your king, who is glad to
see that his citizens of London are able to hold their own even against
those of our court, than whom we may say no braver exist in Europe. Kneel
now to the queen of the tourney, who will bestow upon you the chaplet which
you have so worthily earned."

Walter bent his knee before Edith Vernon. She rose to her feet, and with an
air of pretty dignity, placed a chaplet of laurel leaves, wrought in gold
and clasped with a valuable ruby, on his head.

"I present to you," she said, "the chaplet of victory, and am proud that my
gage should have been worn by one who has borne himself so bravely and
well. May a like success rest on all your undertakings, and may you prove a
good and valiant knight!"

"Well said, Mistress Edith," Queen Philippa said smiling. "You may well be
proud of your young champion. I too must have my gift," and drawing a ring
set with brilliants from her finger she placed it in Walter's hand.

The lad now rose to his feet. "The prince my son," the king said, "has
promised that you shall ride with his men-at-arms when he is old enough to
take the field. Should you choose to abandon your craft and do so earlier I
doubt not that one of my nobles, the brave Sir Walter Manny, for example,
will take you before that time."

"That will I readily enough," Sir Walter said, "and glad to have so
promising a youth beneath my banner."

"I would that you had been of gentle blood," the king said.

"That makes no difference, sire," Sir Walter replied. "I will place him
among the young gentlemen, my pages and esquires, and am sure that they
will receive him as one of themselves."

Geoffrey Ward had hitherto stood at the foot of the steps leading to the
royal pavilion, but doffing his cap he now ascended. "Pardon my boldness,
sire," he said to the king, "but I would fain tell you what the lad himself
has hitherto been ignorant of. He is not, as he supposes, the son of Giles
Fletcher, citizen and bowmaker, but is the lawfully born son of Sir Roland
Somers, erst of Westerham and Hythe, who was killed in the troubles at the
commencement of your majesty's reign. His wife, Dame Alice, brought the
child to Giles Fletcher, whose wife had been her nurse, and dying left him
in her care. Giles and his wife, if called for, can vouch for the truth of
this, and can give you proofs of his birth."

Walter listened with astonishment to Geoffrey's speech. A thrill of
pleasure rushed through his veins as he learned that he was of gentle blood
and might hope to aspire to a place among the knights of King Edward's
court. He understood now the pains which Geoffrey had bestowed in seeing
that he was perfected in warlike exercises, and why both he and Giles had
encouraged rather than repressed his love for martial exercises and his
determination to abandon his craft and become a man-at-arms when he reached
man's estate.

"Ah is it so?" the king exclaimed. "I remember Sir Roland Somers, and also
that he was slain by Sir Hugh Spencer, who, as I heard on many hands, acted
rather on a private quarrel than, as he alleged, in my interest, and there
were many who avowed that the charges brought against Sir Roland were
unfounded. However, this matter must be inquired into, and my High
Justiciar shall see Master Giles and his wife, hear their evidence, and
examine the proofs which they may bring forward. As to the estates, they
were granted to Sir Jasper Vernon and cannot be restored. Nevertheless I
doubt not that the youth will carve out for himself a fortune with his
sword. You are his master, I suppose? I would fain pay you to cancel his
apprenticeship. Sir Walter Manny has promised to enroll him among his
esquires."

"I will cancel his indentures willingly, my liege," the armourer answered,
"and that without payment. The lad has been to me as a son, and seeing his
high spirit, and knowing the gentle blood running in his veins, I have done
my best so to teach him and so to put him in the way of winning back his
father's rank by his sword."

"He hath gone far towards it already," the king said, "and methinks may yet
gain some share in his father's inheritance," and he glanced at little
Mistress Edith Vernon and then smiled at the queen. "Well, we shall see,"
he went on. "Under Sir Walter Manny he will have brave chances of
distinguishing himself, and when my son takes the field he shall ride with
him. But I am keeping the hosts waiting. Bring hither," he said to Earl
Talbot, "Clarence Aylmer."

The young noble was led up to the king. "You have done well, Clarence;
though you have been worsted you fought bravely, but you were deceived by a
ruse which might have taken in a more experienced captain. I trust that you
will be friends with your adversary, who will be known to you henceforth as
Walter Somers, son of Sir Roland of that name, and who will ride to the
wars, whither you also are shortly bound, under the standard of Sir Walter
Manny."

The cloud which had hung over the face of the young noble cleared. It had
indeed been a bitter mortification to him that he, the son of one of the
proudest of English nobles, should have been worsted by a London
apprentice, and it was a relief to him to find that his opponent was one of
knightly blood. He turned frankly to Walter and held out his hand. "I greet
you as a comrade, sir," he said, "and hope some day that in our rivalry in
the field I may do better than I have done today."

"That is well spoken," the king said. Then he rose and in a loud voice
addressed the combatants, saying, that all had borne themselves well and
bravely, and that he thanked them, not only for the rare pastime which they
had made, but for the courage and boldness which had been displayed on both
sides. So saying, he waved his hand as a token that the proceedings were
ended, and returned with the court to Westminster; while the crowd of
spectators overflowed the lists, those who had friends in the apprentice
array being anxious to know how they had fared. That evening there was a
banquet given by the lord-mayor. Walter was invited to be present, with
Giles and Geoffrey, and many complimentary things were said to him, and he
was congratulated on the prospects which awaited him. After dinner all the
'prentices who had taken part in the sports filed through the hall and were
each presented with a gold piece by the lord-mayor, in the name of the
corporation, for having so nobly sustained the renown of the city.

After the entertainment was over Walter returned with Geoffrey to the
bowyer's house, and there heard from his two friends and Bertha the details
of his mother's life from the time that she had been a child, and the story
of her arrival with him, and her death. He had still difficulty in
believing that it was all true, that Giles and Bertha, whom he had so long
regarded as father and mother, were only his kind guardians, and that he
was the scion of two noble families. Very warmly and gratefully he thanked
his three friends for the kindness which they had shown to him, and vowed
that no change of condition should ever alter his feelings of affection
towards them. It was not until the late hour of nine o'clock that he said
goodbye to his foster parents, for he was next day to repair to the lodging
of Sir Walter Manny, who was to sail again before the week was out for the
Low Countries, from which he had only returned for a few days to have
private converse with the king on the state of matters there. His friends
would have delivered to him his mother's ring and other tokens which she
had left, but thought it better to keep these, with the other proofs of his
birth, until his claim was established to the satisfaction of the lord
justiciaries.

The next morning early, when Walter descended the stairs, he found Ralph
Smith waiting for him. His face was strapped up with plaster and he wore
his arm in a sling, for his armour had been twice cut through as he led his
party in through the sally-port.

"How goes it with you, Ralph?" Walter said. "Not much the worse, I hope,
for your hard knocks?"

"Not a whit," Ralph replied cheerfully, "and I shall be all right again
before the week is out; but the leech made as much fuss over me as if I had
been a girl, just as though one was not accustomed to hard knocks in a
smithy. Those I got yesterday were not half so hard as that which you gave
me the day before. My head rings yet with the thought of it. But I have
not come to talk about myself. Is the story true which they tell of you,
Master Walter, that you are not the son of Giles the bowyer, but of a great
noble?"

"Not of a great noble, Ralph, but of a gallant knight, which is just as
good. My father was killed when I was three years old, and my mother
brought me to Bertha, the wife of Giles the bowyer, who had been her nurse
in childhood. I had forgotten all that had passed, and deemed myself the
son of the good citizen, but since I have heard the truth my memory has
awakened somewhat, and I have a dim recollection of a lordly castle and of
my father and mother."

"And they say, Walter, that you are going with Sir Walter Manny, with the
force which is just sailing to the assistance of Lady De Montford."

"That is so, Ralph, and the good knight has taken me among his esquires,
young as I am, although I might well have looked for nothing better than to
commence, for two years at least, as a page, seeing that I am but eighteen
now. Now I shall ride with him into the battles and shall have as good a
chance as the others of gaining honour and winning my spurs."

"I have made up my mind that I will go with you, Master Walter, if you will
take me; each squire has a man-at-arms who serves him, and I will give you
good and faithful service if you will take me with you. I spoke to the
smith, my master, last night when I heard the news, and as my
apprenticeship is out next week he was willing enough to give me the few
days which remain. Once out of my apprenticeship I may count to be a man,
and seeing that I am nineteen, and as I may say well grown of my years,
methinks I am fit for service as a man-at-arms, and I would rather fight
behind you than labour all my life in the smithy."

"I shall be glad indeed, Ralph, to have you with me if such be really your
wish, and I do not think that Sir Walter Manny will say nay, for they have
been beating up for recruits through the kingdom, and we proved yesterday
that you have courage as well as strength. If he will consent I should be
glad indeed to have so brave a comrade with me, so we may consider that
settled, and if you will come down to Westminster, to Sir Walter Manny's
lodging, this afternoon, I will tell you what he says touching the matter.
You will, of course, need arms and armour."

"I can provide that," Ralph replied, "seeing that his worshipful the
lord-mayor bestowed upon me yesterday five gold pieces as the second in
command in the sports. I have already a steel cap and breast and back
pieces, which I have made for myself in hours of leisure, and warrant will
stand as hard a knock as the Frenchmen can give them."

Going across into the city with Geoffrey, Walter purchased, with the
contents of the purse which the king had given him, the garments suited for
his new position. He was fortunate in obtaining some which fitted him
exactly. These had been made for a young esquire of the Earl of Salisbury;
but the tailor, when he heard from Geoffrey for whom they were required,
and the need for instant despatch, parted with them to Walter, saying that
he for whom they were made could well wait a few days, and that he would
set his journeymen to work at once to make some more of similar fit and
fashion.

Walter felt strange in his new attire, and by no means relished the
tightness of the garments, which was strictly demanded by the fashion of
the day. His long hose, one of which was of a deep maroon, the other a
bright yellow, came far up above the knee, then came a short pair of trunks
of similar colours divided in the middle. The tight-fitting doublet was
short and circled at the waist by a buff belt mounted in silver, and was of
the same colours as the hose and trunks. On his head was a cap, peaked in
front; this was of maroon, with a short erect feather of yellow. The
long-pointed shoes matched the rest of the costume. There were three other
suits similar in fashion, but different in colour; two like the first were
of cloth, the third was of white and blue silk, to be worn on grand
occasions.

"You look a very pretty figure, Walter," Geoffrey said, "and will be able
to hold your own among the young gallants of the court. If you lack
somewhat of courtly manners it will matter not at all, since you are
leaving so soon for the wars.

The dress sets off your figure, which is fully two years in advance of your
age, seeing that hard work has widened you out and thickened your muscles.
I need not tell you, lad, not to be quarrelsome, for that was never your
way; but just at first your companions may try some jests with you, as is
always the manner of young men with newcomers, but take them in a good
spirit and be sure that, seeing the strength of arm and skill which you
showed yesterday and the day before, none will care to push matters with
you unduly."

One of the journeymen accompanied Walter to Westminster to carry up from
the boat the valise with his clothes and the armour which he had worn in
the sports. Sir Walter received the lad with much kindness and introduced
him to his future companions. They were five in number; the eldest was a
man of some thirty years old, a Hainaulter, who had accompanied Sir Walter
Manny to England at the time when the latter first came over as a young
squire in the suite of the Princess Philippa. He was devotedly attached to
the knight, his master, and although he might several times have received
the rank of knighthood for his bravery in the field, he preferred remaining
in his position as esquire and faithful friend of his master.

The other four were between the ages of nineteen and twenty-one, and all
belonged to the families of the highest nobility of England, it being
deemed a distinguished honour to be received as a squire by the most
gallant knight at the court of England. Their duties were, as Walter soon
learned, almost nominal, these being discharged almost exclusively by John
Mervaux. Two of the young esquires, Richard Coningsby and Edward Clifford,
had fought in the melee, having been among the ten leaders under Clarence
Aylmer. They bore no malice for the defeat, but received Walter with
cordiality and kindness, as did the other young men. Walter on his arrival
acquainted the knight with Ralph's wish to follow him, and requested
permission for him to do so. This was readily granted, Sir Walter Manny
telling the lad that although esquires were supposed to wait entirely upon
themselves, to groom their horses, and keep their armour and arms bright
and in good order, yet, in point of fact, young men of good families had
the greater part of these duties performed for them by a retainer who rode
in the ranks of their master's following as a man-at-arms.

"The other esquires have each one of their father's retainers with them,
and I am glad that you should be in the same position. After you have taken
your midday meal you had best go across to the Earl of Talbot's and inquire
for the Lady Vernon, who is still staying with him. She told me at the
king's ball last night that she wished to have speech with you, and I
promised to acquaint you with her desire. By the way, dost know aught of
riding?"

"I have learnt to sit on a horse, Sir Walter," the lad answered. "My good
friend Geoffrey, the armourer, advised that I should learn, and frequently
hired from the horse-dealer an animal for my use. I have often backed
half-broken horses which were brought up by graziers from Kent and Sussex
for use in the wars. Many of them abode at the hostels at Southwark, and
willingly enough granted me permission to ride their horses until they were
sold. Thus I have had a good deal of practice, and that of a rough kind;
and seeing that latterly the horses have, for the most part, found it
difficult to fling me when sitting barebacked across them, I think I could
keep my seat in the high-peaked saddles on the most vicious, but I have had
no practice at tilting, or at the ring, or other knightly exercises."

"That matters not at all," the knight said. "All these knightly exercises
which you speak of are good in time of peace, for they give proficiency and
steadiness, but in time of war he who can sit firmly in his saddle and
wield sword and battle-axe lustily and skillfully is equal to the best; but
never fear, when this expedition is over, and we have time for such things,
I will see that you are instructed in them. One who has achieved so much
martial skill as you have done at so early an age will have little
difficulty in acquiring what may be termed the pastime of chivalry."

Ralph arrived just as Walter was setting out. The latter presented him to
the knight, who spoke with praise of the gallantry which he had displayed
on the previous day, and then handed him over to John Mervaux, with
instructions to enroll him as a man-at-arms among his followers, to inform
him of his duties, and to place him with those who attended upon the other
esquires.

After seeing Ralph disposed of, Walter went across to the Earl of Talbot
and was again conducted to the presence of Dame Vernon.

"You have changed since we met last, young sir," she said with a smile,
"though it is but a month since. Then you were a 'prentice boy, now you are
an esquire of Sir Walter Manny, and on the highway to distinction. That you
will win it I am well assured, since one who risked his life to rescue a
woman and child whose very names were unknown to him is sure to turn out a
noble and valiant knight. I little thought when my daughter called you her
knight, that in so short a time you might become an aspirant to that
honour. I hope that you do not look askance at us, now that you know I am
in possession of the lands of your parents. Such changes of land, you know,
often occur, but now I know who you are, I would that the estates bestowed
upon Sir Jasper had belonged to some other than you; however, I trust that
you will hold no grudge against us, and that you may win as fair an estate
by the strength of your arm and the king's favour."

"Assuredly I feel no grudge, madam," Walter replied, "and since the lands
were forfeited, am pleased that of all people they should have gone to one
so kind and so fair as yourself."

"What, learning to be a flatterer already!" Dame Vernon laughed. "You are
coming on fast, and I predict great things from you. And now, Edith, lay
aside that sampler you are pretending to be so busy upon and speak to this
knight of yours.

Edith laid down her work and came forward. She was no longer the dignified
little queen of the tournament, but a laughing, bright-faced girl.

"I don't see that you are changed," she said, "except in your dress. You
speak softly and naturally, just as you used to do, and not a bit like
those little court fops, Uncle Talbot's pages. I am afraid you will not
want to be my knight any more, now that you are going to get great honours
at the war; for I heard my Uncle Talbot tell my lady mother that he was
sure you would gain great credit for yourself."

"I shall be always your knight," Walter said earnestly; "I told you I
should, and I never break my word. That is," he went on, colouring, "if
Dame Vernon makes no objection, as she well might."

"If I did not object before, Walter," she said smiling, "why should I do so
now?"

"It is different, my lady; before, it was somewhat of a jest, a sort of
childish play on the part of Mistress Edith, though so far as I was
concerned it was no play, but sober earnest.

"It needs no permission from me," Dame Vernon replied, "for you to wear my
daughter's colours. Any knight may proclaim any lady he chooses the
mistress of his heart, and a reigning beauty will often have a dozen young
knights who wear her colours. However, I am well content that one who has
done me such great service and who has shown such high promise should be
the first to wear the gage of my little daughter, and if in after years
your life fulfils the promise of your youth, and you remain true to her
gage, there is none among all the youths of the court whom I would so
gladly see at her feet. Remember," she said, as Walter was about to speak,
"her hand will not be at my disposal, but at that of the king. His majesty
is wont to bestow the hands of his wards upon those who most distinguish
themselves in the field. You have already attracted his royal attention and
commendation. Under Sir Walter Manny you will be sure of opportunities of
distinguishing yourself, and the king may well be glad some day at once to
reward your services and to repair a cruel injustice by bestowing upon you
the hand of the heiress of your father's lands. If I mistake not, such a
thought has even now crossed his majesty's mind, unless I misinterpreted a
glance which yesterday passed between him and our sweet queen. I need not
tell you to speak of your hopes to none, but let them spur you to higher
exertions and nobler efforts. Loving my little Edith as I do, I naturally
consider the prize to be a high one. I have often been troubled by the
thought that her hand may be some day given to one by years or temper
unsuited for her, and it will be a pleasure to me henceforth to picture her
future connected with one who is, I am sure, by heart and nature fitted for
her. And now, farewell, young sir. May God protect you in the field, and
may you carry in the battle which awaits you the gage of my daughter as
fairly and successfully as you did in the mimic fray of yesterday!"

CHAPTER VIII: OFF TO THE WARS

Two days later Walter started with Sir Walter Manny, with a large number of
knights, squires, men-at-arms, and archers, for the Orwell. Walter was
mounted, as were the other squires and men-at-arms, and indeed many of the
archers. Ralph Smith, in the attire of a man-at-arms, rode behind.

Walter was in the highest spirits. A brilliant career was open to him under
the most favourable circumstances; he had already distinguished himself,
and had gained the attention of the highest personages in the realm, his
immediate lord was one of the bravest and most chivalrous knights in
Europe, and he had to sustain and encourage him the hopes that Lady Vernon
had given him, of regaining some day the patrimony of his father. It was a
satisfaction to him that he was as well born as those who surrounded him,
and his purse was well lined as any in the company. Although he had spent
the largess which had been bestowed upon him at the tournament in procuring
clothes fitted for his rank, he was yet abundantly supplied with money, for
both Geoffrey Ward and Giles Fletcher, having no children of their own and
being both well-to-do men, had insisted upon his accepting a sum which
would enable him to make a good appearance with the best.

A large number of squires followed the banner of Sir Walter Manny. The
records of the time show that the barons were generally accompanied in the
field by almost as many squires as men-at-arms. The former were men of good
family, sons of knights and nobles, aspirants for the honour of knighthood,
and sons of the smaller gentry. Many were there from pure love of a life of
excitement and adventure, others in fulfilment of the feudal tenure by
which all land was then held, each noble and landowner being obliged to
furnish so many knights, squires, men-at-arms, and archers, in accordance
with the size of his holding. The squires fought in the field in the front
rank of the men-at-arms, save those who, like Walter, were attached to the
person of their leader, and who in the field fought behind him or bore his
orders to the companies under his banner.

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