by G. A. Henty
CHAPTER XI
AN INVITATION
Edgar laughed heartily at his father's account of the success of hisdefence of the house. Then he said: "I hope, father, that distortedaccounts of the affair may not get you into trouble with the Church."
"I have no fear of that, Edgar. I had shown the prior my preparations,and he approved of them heartily, being a man of much broaderintelligence than is common. Indeed, he begged of me a pot of myshining paste, and with it painted the stone crucifix over the abbeygateway. And it was well that he did so, for last night some men cameout from Dartford with intent to plunder the priory of its deeds andmuniments, but on seeing the glowing crucifix, they went off in fearand trembling, and the villagers were saying this morning that thepriory had been protected by a miracle, while you see in my case theyattribute it to the work of the devil. And now, Edgar, tell me all thathas befallen you since you went away."
Edgar related the various adventures that had happened.
When he had concluded, his father said: "Truly, Edgar, you have beenfortunate indeed, which is another way of saying that you haveskilfully grasped the opportunities that presented themselves. The manwho bemoans ill-fortune is the man too apathetic, too unready, or toocowardly to grasp opportunity. The man who is called fortunate is, onthe other hand, he who never lets a chance slip by, who is cool,resolute, and determined. During the time that you have been away youhave made friends of two wealthy merchants, and have rendered them bothhigh services; you have also as greatly benefited our neighbour, SirRalph De Courcy, and have placed your foot so firmly on the ladder,that 'tis your own fault if you do not rise high. And now, what thinkyou of doing?"
"I have the intention of staying at home for a while, father. Therewill be troubles for a time, but I care not to take part in the huntingdown of these poor peasants north of the river, who, unlike thesefellows, were well content when the king offered them the chartergranting their demands, and retired peacefully to their homes. So Iwould rather remain here quietly until I have a chance of drawing swordin a foreign war, either against the French or the Scots."
"I think that you are right; and, moreover, although you have provedyour manhood against men, you can hardly, when with an army, beregarded as more than a young esquire till another year or two havegone over your head."
Two days later, finding that all was now perfectly quiet, and thatthere was no probability whatever of a renewal of the troubles, SirRalph went up to London with the city knight and his company. They hadridden over on the previous day to call upon Mr. Ormskirk to thank himfor the services that Edgar had rendered them, and upon which theyentered in much fuller detail than Edgar had allowed himself. In returnhe gave them a description of the defence of his house, in which SirRobert was greatly interested, going down into the laboratory andexamining the luminous paint and its effect upon the skull.
"It is a goodly device," he said, "and though I myself have, during myvisit to Italy, come to believe but little in the superstitions thatare held by the mass of the people, I own that my courage would havebeen grievously shaken if I had encountered suddenly that gibberinghead. How long does the effect last?"
"Three or four days. I believe that it is a sort of slow combustionwhich, although it has no sensible heat, gradually consumes theparticles that give rise to it. It may be that further researches willlead to a discovery by which the light might be made permanent, and inthat case the invention would be a useful one. I have, however, no timeto follow it up, being engaged in more serious matters, and regard thisas a mere relaxation from more important work."
"And yet, methinks," the merchant said, "that were men of science, likeyourself, to devote themselves to such discoveries, instead ofsearching for the secrets that always evade them, they might do goodservice to mankind. Look at this discovery of Friar Bacon's. So far, Igrant that it has led to nothing, but I can see that in the future theexplosive power of this powder will be turned to diverse uses besidesthose of machines for battering down walls. Were this light of yoursmade permanent it would do away with the necessity for burning lampsindoors. What could be more beautiful than a hall with its ceilings,rafters, walls, and pillars all glowing as if in the moonlight? Formethinks the light resembles that of the moon rather than any other."
"Were I a young man I would take up such matters, Sir Robert, for Ibelieve with you that the time might be more usefully spent; but 'tistoo late now. 'Tis not when one's prime is past that men can embark ina fresh course or lay aside the work for which they have laboured forso many years."
"And which, even if made, might bring more woe than good upon theworld," Sir Robert said. "Where would be the value of gold if othermetals could at will be transformed into it? When first produced, itmight enable monarchs to raise huge armies to wage war against theirneighbours; but, after a time, its use would become common. Gold wouldlose its value, and men would come to think less of it than of iron,for it is not so strong nor so fitted for weapons or for tools; andthen some other and rarer metal would take its place, and alchemistswould begin their work again in discovering another philosopher's stonethat would transmute other metals into the more valuable one."
Mr. Ormskirk was silent. "I think, Sir Robert," he said, at last, "thatwe alchemists do not work solely for the good of mankind, nor give athought to the consequences that might follow the finding of thephilosopher's stone. We dream of immortality, that our name shall passdown through all ages as that of the man who first conquered the secretof nature and made the great discovery that so many thousands of othershave sought for in vain."
"It is assuredly an ambition as worthy as many others," Sir Robertsaid, thoughtfully. "A knight would be ready to risk his life athousand times in order to gain the reputation of being one of theforemost knights of Europe. A king would wring the last penny from hissubjects for a rich monument that will, he thinks, carry down his nameto all time; and doubtless the discovery of a secret that has baffledresearch for hundreds of years, is at least as worthy an ambition asthese--far more laudable, indeed, since it can be carried out withoutinflicting woes upon others. And now farewell, Mr. Ormskirk. I trustthat your son will always remember that in me he has a friend ready todo aught in his power for him. I am but a simple citizen of London, butI have correspondents in well-nigh every city in Europe, and can givehim introductions that may be valuable wheresoever he goes, and I shallbe grieved indeed if he does not avail himself of my good-will andgratitude."
Three days later Sir Ralph returned to St. Alwyth from London with hisdame and Aline. For some weeks time passed quietly and pleasantly toEdgar. The intimacy between the two houses became even closer thanbefore, and Sir Ralph's report of Edgar's doings in London caused himto be frequently invited to the houses of all the well-to-do people inthe neighbourhood. In the meantime the insurrection had been finallycrushed. The commissioners in various parts of the country were tryingand executing all who had taken any lead in the movement, and until ageneral amnesty was passed, two months later, every peasant lived inhourly dread of his life. They had gained nothing by the movement fromwhich they had hoped so much, and for a while, indeed, their positionwas worse than it had ever been before.
In time, however, as the remembrance of the insurrection died out, itbore its fruits, and although there was no specific law passedabolishing serfdom, the result was arrived at insensibly. Privilegeswere granted, and these privileges became customs with all the effectof the law, and almost without their knowing it, the people becamepossessed of the rights for which their fathers had in vain taken uparms. Three weeks after Edgar's return from London a royal commissioncame down to Dartford, and the authorities of the town and others werecalled upon to name the leaders of the insurgents.
Sir Ralph, who was one of those summoned, said that he was altogetherunable to give any information. He had been away when the firstoutbreak took place. On his return he found his castle besieged, buthaving with him fifty stout men-at-arms, he attacked and pursued theinsurgents, and nearly five hundred
of them were slain. But fighting,as he did, with his vizor down, and having, for a time, as much as hecould do to defend himself, he had recognized no one, and indeed, sofar as he knew, he did not see one among the rioters with whose face hewas acquainted.
Two days later, as Edgar was riding back from Sir Ralph's castle, hecame suddenly upon a man at a cross-road. He was one of the villagers.
"Well, Master Ormskirk," he said, folding his arms, "you can kill me ifyou will, and it will be best so, for if you do not I shall live butthe life of a hunted dog, and sooner or later fall into their hands."
"Why should I kill you, Carter? I have naught against you."
"Then it was not you who denounced me as one of those who foughtagainst you at De Courcy's castle?"
"Not I, assuredly. I have had no communication whatever with thecommissioners, nor did I know that you were one of those we encounteredthere."
"Someone has given my name," the man said, moodily. "I suppose it wassome of those at Dartford, for it is true enough that I joined theTyler the day he slew the collector. I thought that he had donerightfully, and it may be that, like a fool, I have exhorted others tojoin him to win our charter of rights, I thought it was to be gothonestly, that no harm was to be done to any man; but when we got toLondon, and I saw that the Tyler and others intended to slay manypersons of high rank and to burn and destroy, I was seized with horror,and made my way back. When the others returned I was fool enough to letmyself be persuaded to join in the attack on Sir Ralph's castle; andfor that and the speeches, it seems that I am to be tried and hung. Youhad best run me through, Master Ormskirk, and have done with it; Iwould rather that than be hung like a dog."
"I shall do nothing of the kind, Carter. I have known you for years asan honest, and a hard-working fellow. Here are a couple of crowns withwhich you can make your way to London."
"'Tis no good, sir. I hear that there are parties of men on every road,and that orders have been given in every township to arrest allpassers-by, and to detain them if they have not proper papers withthem. Well, I can die better than some, for I lost my wife lastChristmas, and have no children; so if you won't do my business for meI will go straight back to Dartford and give myself up."
"No, no, Carter. Do you go into that wood, and remain there tillnightfall; then come to our house and knock at the gate, and you canshelter there as long as you like. As you know, there are few indeedwho come there, and if I get you a servitor's suit, assuredly none ofour visitors would recognize you, and as for the village folk, you havebut to keep out of their way when they come with wood, meat, and othermatters. It may not be for long, for 'tis like that I shall be going tothe wars soon, and when I do so I will take you with me as myman-at-arms. Moreover, it is probable that when the commissioners havesat for a time, and executed all the prominent leaders of this rioting,there will be an amnesty passed. What do you say to that?"
"I say, God bless you, sir! I know well enough that I deserveeverything that has befallen me, for of a surety the murders that weredone in London have so disgraced our cause that no one has a right tolook for mercy. However, sir, if you are willing to give me suchshelter as you say, I will serve you well and faithfully, and willright willingly imperil the last drop of my blood in your service."
"Then it is agreed, Carter. Come soon after nightfall. I am sure thatmy father will approve of what I am doing, and should the worst come tothe worst, and you be discovered, he would be able to say truly that heknew not that you were wanted for your share in the matter, for,indeed, he takes but small notice of what is passing without. Now youhad better be off at once to hiding before anyone else comes along."
"Father," Edgar said, when he returned, "I have taken on an additionalservitor in the house. He will cost you naught but his food while he ishere, and he will ride with me as my man-at-arms if I go abroad. He isa stout fellow, and I beg that you will ask me no questions concerninghim, and will take him simply on my recommendation. He will not stirout of the house at present, but you may make him of use in yourlaboratory if you can."
"I think that I understand, Edgar. After a business like that which isjust over, vengeance often strikes blindly, and 'tis enough for me thatyou declare him to be honest, and that you have known him for sometime."
"Andrew," Edgar said to the old servitor after he had left his father,"I know that you are no gossip, and that in the matter of which I amgoing to speak to you I can rely upon your discretion. I have taken ona stout fellow, who will follow me to the wars as a man-at-arms. It maybe that you will know him when you see him; indeed, I doubt not thatyou will do so. It is good for him at present that he should not stirbeyond the walls, and he will, indeed, remain indoors all day. Thereare a good many others like him, who just at present will be keepingquiet, and you may be sure that I should not befriend the man were itnot that I feel certain he has had no hand in the evil deeds performedby others."
"I understand, young master, and you may trust me to keep my lipssealed. I hear that a score have been hung during the last three days,and though I am no upholder of rioters, methinks that now they have hada bitter lesson. The courts might have been content with punishing onlythose who took a part in the murders and burnings in London. The restwere but poor foolish knaves, who knew no better, and who were ledastray by the preachings of some of these Jack Priests and othertroublers of the peace."
"Think you that it would be best to speak to old Anna?"
"Not a bit, Master Ormskirk. Save to go to mass, she never stirs beyondthe house, and she is so deaf that you have to shout into her ear tomake her hear the smallest thing. I will simply say to her that youhave got a man-at-arms to go with you to the wars, and that until youleave he is to remain here in the house. You did not tell me whether Iwas to take your horse round to the stable."
"No; I am going to ride into Dartford now, to get the man some apparelsuited to his station here."
Edgar returned in an hour, bringing with him a servitor's suit. As soonas Hal Carter arrived, Edgar himself opened the gate to him.
"Strip off those clothes, and put on this suit; it were best that yoube not seen in your ordinary attire. However, you can trust old Andrew,and as to Anna, there is little chance of her recognizing you, and Idon't suppose she as much as knows that there has been trouble in theland."
A month later a mounted messenger brought Edgar a letter--it was thefirst that he had ever received. Telling the man to alight, and callingCarter to take his horse, he led the man into the kitchen and told Annato give him some food. He then opened the letter. It ran as follows:
_To Master Edgar Ormskirk, with hearty greeting,_
_Be it known to you, good friend, that having wound up my businessaffairs, I am about to start for Flanders, and shall, in the firstplace, go to Ghent, having a mission from those in authority at Courthere to carry out in that city. It would greatly please me if you wouldaccompany me. The times are troubled in Flanders, as you doubtlessknow, and you would see much to interest you; and, moreover, as atpresent there is naught doing in England, save the trying and executingof malefactors, you could spend your time better in seeing somewhat ofa foreign country than in resting quietly at St. Alwyth. I need not saythat the trip will put you to no cost, and that by accepting, you willgive pleasure to my wife and daughter, as well as to myself._
_Yours in friendship,_
_NICHOLAS VAN VOORDEN._
_P.S.--I am writing at the same time to Master De Courcy, who, I hope,will also accompany me._
Edgar went down at once to his father's laboratory and handed him theletter. Mr. Ormskirk read it.
"It is a hearty invitation, Edgar," he said, "and after the kindness ofthe Fleming in presenting you with that splendid suit of armour, youcan scarce refuse it; but, indeed, in any case, I should be glad foryou to accompany him to Flanders. The Flemings are mostly our alliesagainst France, and it would be well for you to pass some time amongthem, to learn as much as you can of their language, and to acquaintyourself with their customs. Their
towns are virtually independentrepublics, like those of Athens, Sparta, and Thebes. The power lieswholly in the hands of the democracy, and rough fellows are they. Thenobles have little or no influence, save in the country districts. TheFlemings are at present on ill terms with France, seeing that they,like us, support Pope Urban, while the French, Spaniards, and othershold to Pope Clement.
"Possibly neither may care very much which pope gets the mastery, butit makes a convenient bone of contention, and so is useful toneighbours on bad terms with each other. Go, by all means. You had bestwrite a reply at once, and hand it to the messenger. Have you heard yetwhether he has been to the De Courcy's castle?"
"I did not ask him, father, for I did not read the letter until I hadhanded him over to Anna to get some food in the kitchen. I will go andask him now, and if he has not yet gone there I will ride with him.'Tis a cross-road, and he might have difficulty in finding it; besides,perhaps if I tell Sir Ralph that I am going, it may influence him tolet Albert go also."
He went down to the kitchen and found that the messenger had not yetbeen to the castle. Telling him that he would go with him and act ashis guide, and would be ready to start in a quarter of an hour, Edgarsat down to write to the Fleming. It was the first time that he hadever indited a letter, and it took him longer than he expected. When hewent down, the messenger was already standing by his horse, whileCarter was walking Edgar's up and down.
Albert and Aline were at the castle gate as they rode up.
"We were in the pleasaunce when we saw you coming, Edgar. We did notexpect you until to-morrow."
"I have come over with a messenger, who is the bearer of a letter toyou."
"You mean to my father, I suppose?"
"No, indeed; it is for yourself, and I have had a similar one. I havewritten an answer, and I hope you will write one in the same strain."
"Who can it be from?" Aline said, as Albert took out his dagger and cutthe silk that held the roll.
"It is from our good friend, Mynheer Van Voorden," Edgar said. "He isjust leaving for Flanders, and has written to ask Albert and myself toaccompany him thither."
"And I suppose that you have accepted," Aline said, pettishly.
"Yes, indeed; my father thinks that it will be very good for me to seesomething of foreign countries, and especially Flanders. As there isnothing doing here now, I am wasting my time, and doubtless in thegreat Flemish cities I shall be able to find masters who can teach memany things with the sword."
"And how are we going to get on without you, I should like to know?"she asked, indignantly, "especially if you are going to take Albertaway too."
"Albert will decide for himself--at least Sir Ralph will decide forhim, Mistress Aline."
"It is all very well to say that, but you know perfectly well thatAlbert will be wanting to go if you are going, and that Sir Ralph willnot say no, if you and he both want it."
"Well, you would wish us to become accomplished knights some day, andassuredly, as all say, that is a thing better learned abroad than inEngland."
"I am quite satisfied with you as you are," she replied, "and I call ita downright shame. I thought, anyhow, I was going to have you both hereuntil some great war broke out, and here you are running away for youramusement. It is all very well for you to contend that you think it maydo you good, but it is just for change and excitement that you want togo."
By this time Albert had finished reading the letter.
"That will be splendid," he said. "I have always thought that I shouldlike to see the great Flemish cities. Why, what is the matter, Aline?"he broke off, seeing tears in his sister's eyes.
"Is it not natural that I should feel sorry at the thought of yourgoing away? We have to stay all our lives at home, while you wanderabout, either fighting or looking for danger wherever it pleases you."
"I don't think that it is quite fair myself, Aline, but I did not haveanything to do with regulating our manners and customs; besides, it isnot certain yet that my father will let me go."
They had by this time reached the spot where Sir Ralph was watching aparty of masons engaged in heightening the parapet of the wall, as theexperience of the last fight showed that it did not afford sufficientprotection to its defenders.
"Well, Albert, what is your news?" he said, as he saw by their facesthat something unusual had happened.
"A letter from Mynheer Van Voorden to ask me to accompany him toFlanders, whither he is about to sail. He has asked Edgar too, and hisfather has consented."
"Read me the letter, Albert. 'Tis a fair offer," he said, when Albertcame to the end, "and pleases me much. I had spoken but yesterday withyour mother, saying that it was high time you were out in the world,the only difficulty being with whom to place you. There are manyknights of my acquaintance who would gladly enough take you as esquire,but it is so difficult to choose. It might be that, from some cause orother, your lord might not go to the wars; unless, of course, it were alevy of all the royal forces, and then it would be both grief to youand me that I had not put you with another lord under whom you mighthave had a better opportunity.
"But this settles the difficulty. By the time you come back there maybe some chance of your seeing service under our own flag. Lancaster hasjust made a three years' truce with the Scots, and it may be that hewill now make preparations in earnest to sail with an array to conquerhis kingdom in Spain. That would be an enterprise in which an aspirantfor knighthood might well desire to take part. The Spaniards arecourtly knights and brave fellows, and there is like to be hardfighting. This invitation is a timely one. Foreign travel is a part ofthe education of a knight, and in Flanders there are always factions,intrigues, and troubles. Then there is a French side and an Englishside, and the French side is further split up by the Flemings incliningrather to Burgundy than to the Valois. Why, this is better than thatgift of armour, and it was a lucky day indeed for you when you went tohis daughter's aid. Faith, such a piece of luck never fell in my way."
"Shall I go and write the letter at once, father?"
"There is no hurry, Albert. The messenger must have ridden from townto-day, and as he went first to Master Ormskirk's, that would lengthenhis journey by three or four miles, therefore man and horse need rest,and it were best, I should think, that he sleep here to-night, and beoff betimes in the morning. It would be dark before he reached thecity, and the roads are not safe riding after nightfall; besides, itcan make no difference to Van Voorden whether he gets the answerto-night or by ten o'clock to-morrow morning."
Dame Agatha did not, as Aline had somewhat hoped, say a word topersuade Sir Ralph to keep Albert longer at home. She looked wistfullyat the lad as the knight told her of the invitation that had come, andat his hearty pleasure thereat, but she only said: "I am sorelyunwilling to part with you, Albert, but I know that it is best for youto be entering the world, and that I could not expect to have you manymonths longer. Your father and I were agreeing on that yesterday. Aknight cannot remain by a fireside, and it is a comfort to me that thisfirst absence of yours should be with the good Flemish merchant, and Ilike much also his wife and daughter, who were most kind to us when wetarried with them in London when your father was away. I would farrather you were with him, than in the train of some lord, bound for thewars. I am glad, too, that your good friend Edgar is going with you.Altogether, it is better than anything I had thought of, and though Icannot part with you without a sigh, I can feel that the parting mightwell have been much more painful. What say you, Aline?"
"I knew, as you say, mother, that it was certain that Albert would haveto leave us, but I did not think that it would be so soon. It is veryhateful, and I shall miss him dreadfully."
"Yes, my dear, but you must remember it was so I felt the many timesthat your father went to the war. It is so with the wife of everyknight and noble in the land. And not only these, but also the wives ofthe men-at-arms and archers, and it will be yours when you too have alord. Men risk their lives in battle; women stay at home and mind theircastle
s. We each have our tasks. You know the lines that the priestJohn Ball used, they say, as a text for his harangues to the crowds,_When Adam delved and Eve span_. You see, one did the rough part of thetoil, the other sat at home and did what was needful there, and so ithas been ever since. You know how you shared our feelings of delightthat your brother had grown stronger, and would be able to take his ownpart, as his fathers had done before him, to become a brave and valiantknight, and assuredly it is not for you to repine now that a fairopportunity offers for him to prepare for his career."
"I was wrong, mother," Aline said, penitently. "I was very cross andill-behaved, but it came suddenly upon me, and it seemed to me hardthat Albert and Edgar should both seem delighted at what pained me somuch. Forgive me, Albert."
"There is nothing to forgive, dear. Of course I understand your feelingthat it will be hard for us to part, when we have been so muchtogether. I shall be very sorry to leave you, but I am sure you willagree with me that it is less hard to do so now than it would have beenif I had been going to be shut up in a convent to prepare for enteringthe Church, as we once thought would be the case."
"I should think so," the girl said. "This will be nothing to it. Thenyou would have been going out of our lives; now we shall have aninterest in all you do, and you will often be coming back to us; therewill be that to look forward to. Well, you won't hear me say anotherword of grumbling until you have gone. And when are you to go?"
"To-morrow or next day," her father said. "Mynheer Van Voorden says, 'Iam about to start,' which may mean three days or six. It will need awhole day for your mother and the maids to see to Albert's clothes, andthat all is decent and in order. To-day is Monday, and I think that ifwe say that Albert will arrive there on Thursday by noon it will dovery well. Will you be ready by that time, Edgar?"
"Easily enough, Sir Ralph; for, indeed, as we have no maid, my clothesneed but little preparation. I wear them until they are worn out, andthen get new ones; and I doubt not that I shall be able to replenish mywardrobe to-morrow at Dartford."
Well pleased to find that Albert was to accompany him, Edgar rode home.As he passed in at the gates, Hal Carter ran up to him. "Master tellsme that you are going away, Master Edgar. Are you going to take me withyou?"
"Not this time, Hal. I am going to Flanders as a guest of a Flemishgentleman, and I could not therefore take a man-at-arms with me;besides, as you know naught of the language, you would be altogetheruseless there. But do not think that I shall not fulfil my promise.This is but a short absence, and when I return I shall enter the trainof some warlike knight or other, and then you shall go with me, neverfear."
"Thank you, sir. 'Tis strange to me to be pent up here; not that I haveaught in the world to complain of; your father is most kind to me, andI do hope that I am of some use to him."
"Yes, my father has told me several times how useful you were to him inwashing out his apparatus and cleaning his crucibles and getting hisfires going in readiness. He wonders now how he got on so long withouta helper, and will be sorry when the time comes for you to go with me.Indeed he said, but two days ago, that when you went he shouldcertainly look for someone to fill your place."
"So long as he feels that, Master Edgar, I shall be willing enough tostay, but it seemed to me that I was doing but small service in returnfor meat and drink and shelter. I should feel that I was getting fatand lazy, were it not that I swing a battle-axe every day for an hour,as you bade me."
"Look through your apparel, Edgar," his father said that evening, "andsee what you lack. To-morrow morning I will give you moneys wherewithyou can repair deficiencies. The suits you got in London will sufficeyou for the present, but as winter approaches you must get yourselfcloth garments, and these can be purchased more cheaply in Flandersthan here. Of course, I know not how long your stay there may be; thatmust depend upon your host. It would be well if, at the end of a month,you should speak about returning, then you will see by his mannerwhether he really wishes you to make a longer stay or not. Methinks,however, that it is likely he will like you to stay with him until thespring if there is no matter of importance for which you would wish toreturn. I am sure that he feels very earnestly how much he owes to you,and is desirous of doing you real service; and to my thinking he can doit in no better manner than by giving you six months in Flanders."
Accordingly, three days later, the two friends again rode to London.Each was followed by a man on horseback leading a sumpter-horsecarrying the baggage; and Hal Carter was much pleased when he was toldthat he was to perform this service. Both, for the convenience ofcarriage, wore their body-armour and arm-pieces, the helmets andgreaves being carried with their baggage. On their arrival they weremost cordially received by Van Voorden and his family, and found thatthey were to start on Saturday. On the following morning the lads wentto the Tower to pay their respects to the king.
"Be sure you do not neglect that," Sir Ralph had said; "the king ismightily well disposed to you, as I told you. I had related to him infull the affairs in which you took part in London, and on my returnafter the fight here, I, of course, told him the incidents of thebattle, and he said, 'If all my knights had borne themselves as well asyour son and his friend, I should not have been in so sore a strait. Ishould be glad to have them about my person now; but I can wellunderstand that you wish your son to make a name for himself as avaliant knight, and that for a time I must curb my desire.'"
The king received them very graciously. "Sir Ralph and you did goodwork in dispersing that Kentish rabble, and doing with one blow what ithas taken six weeks to accomplish in Essex and Hertford. So you aregoing to Flanders? You will see there what has come of allowing therabble to get the mastery. But of a truth the knaves of Ghent andBruges are of very different mettle to those here, and fight as stoutlyas many men-at-arms."
"'Tis true, your Majesty," Edgar said, "but not because they arestouter men, for those we defeated so easily down in Kent are of thesame mettle as our archers and men-at-arms who fought so stoutly atCressy and Poictiers, but they have no leading and no discipline. Theyknow, too, that against mail-clad men they are powerless; but if theywere freemen, and called out on your Majesty's service, they wouldfight as well as did their forefathers."
"You are in favour, then, of granting them freedom?"
"It seems to me that it would strengthen your Majesty's power, andwould add considerably to the force that you could put in the field,and would make the people happier and more contented. Living down amongthem as we do, one cannot but see that 'tis hard on men that they maynot go to open market, but must work for such wages as their lords maychoose to give them, and be viewed as men of no account, whereas theyare as strong and able to work as others."
"You may be right," the young king said, "but you see, my councillorsthink otherwise, and I am not yet rightly my own master. In one matter,however, I can have my way, and that is in dispensing honours. You knowwhat I said to you before you went hence, that, young as you were, Iwould fain knight you for the valiant work that you had done. Sincethen you have done me good service, as well as the realm, by having,with Sir Ralph De Courcy and Sir Robert Gaiton, defeated a great bodyof the Kentish rebels, who were the worst and most violent of all,though there were with you but fifty men-at-arms. This is trulyknightly service, and their defeat drove all rioters in that part totheir homes, whereas, had they not been so beaten, there might havebeen much more trouble, and many worthy men might have been slain bythem.
EDGAR AND ALBERT ARE KNIGHTED BY KING RICHARD.]
"Moreover, as you are going to Flanders with our good friend MynheerVan Voorden, who is in a way charged with a mission from us, it is wellthat you should travel as knights. It will give you more influence, andmay aid him to further my object. Therefore, I am sure, that all herewho know how stoutly you have wielded your swords, and how you gave aidand rescue to the worshipful Mynheer Van Voorden and his family, tostout Sir Robert Gaiton, Dame De Courcy and her daughter, and how youbore yourselves in the fight down in Ke
nt, will agree with me that youhave right well won the honour."
Then, drawing his sword, he touched each slightly on the shoulder:
"Rise, Sir Albert De Courcy, and Sir Edgar Ormskirk."
As the lads rose they were warmly congratulated by several of thenobles and knights standing round.
"I will not detain you," the king said, a short time later. "Doubtlessyou have many preparations to make for your voyage. I hope that thingswill fare well with you in Flanders. Bear in mind that if you drawsword for Mynheer Van Voorden you are doing it for England."
