men of iron-第31章

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〃Your　Royal　Highness；〃　said　the　Earl　Marshal；　〃I　must　e'en　do　the　King's　bidding；　and　take　this　gentleman　into　arrest。〃

〃Do　thy　duty；〃　said　the　Prince。　〃We　knew　it　must　come　to　this。　Meanwhile　he　is　to　be　a　prisoner　of　honor；　and　see　that　he　be　well　lodged　and　cared　for。　Thou　wilt　find　my　barge　at　the　stairs　to　convey　him　down　the　river；　and　I　myself　will　come　this　afternoon　to　visit　him。〃



CHAPTER　31

It　was　not　until　the　end　of　July　that　the　High　Court　of　Chivalry　rendered　its　judgment。　There　were　many　unusual　points　in　the　case；　some　of　which　bore　heavily　against　Lord　Falworth；　some　of　which　were　in　his　favor。　He　was　very　ably　defended　by　the　lawyers　whom　the　Earl　of　Mackworth　had　engaged　upon　his　side；　nevertheless；　under　ordinary　circumstances；　the　judgment；　no　doubt；　would　have　been　quickly　rendered　against　him。　As　it　was；　however；　the　circumstances　were　not　ordinary；　and　it　was　rendered　in　his　favor。　The　Court　besought　the　King　to　grant　the　ordeal　by　battle；　to　accept　Lord　Falworth's　champion；　and　to　appoint　the　time　and　place　for　the　meeting。

The　decision　must　have　been　a　most　bitter；　galling　one　for　the　sick　King。　He　was　naturally　of　a　generous；　forgiving　nature；　but　Lord　Falworth　in　his　time　of　power　had　been　an　unrelenting　and　fearless　opponent；　and　his　Majesty　who；　like　most　generous　men；　could　on　occasions　be　very　cruel　and　intolerant；　had　never　forgiven　him。　He　had　steadily　thrown　the　might　of　his　influence　with　the　Court　against　the　Falworths'　case；　but　that　influence　was　no　longer　all…powerful　for　good　or　ill。　He　was　failing　in　health；　and　it　could　only　be　a　matter　of　a　few　years；　probably　of　only　a　few　months；　before　his　successor　sat　upon　the　throne。

Upon　the　other　hand；　the　Prince　of　Wales's　faction　had　been　steadily；　and　of　late　rapidly；　increasing　in　power；　and　in　the　Earl　of　Mackworth；　its　virtual　head；　it　possessed　one　of　the　most　capable　politicians　and　astute　intriguers　in　Europe。　So；　as　the　outcome　of　all　the　plotting　and　counter…plotting；　scheming　and　counter…scheming；　the　case　was　decided　in　Lord　Falworth's　favor。　The　knowledge　of　the　ultimate　result　was　known　to　the　Prince　of　Wales's　circle　almost　a　week　before　it　was　finally　decided。　Indeed；　the　Earl　of　Mackworth　had　made　pretty　sure　of　that　result　before　he　had　summoned　Myles　from　France；　but　upon　the　King　it　fell　like　the　shock　of　a　sudden　blow。　All　that　day　he　kept　himself　in　moody　seclusion；　nursing　his　silent；　bitter　anger；　and　making　only　one　outbreak；　in　which　he　swore　by　the　Holy　Rood　that　should　Myles　be　worsted　in　the　encounter；　he　would　not　take　the　battle　into　his　own　hands；　but　would　suffer　him　to　be　slain；　and　furthermore；　that　should　the　Earl　show　signs　of　failing　at　any　time；　he　would　do　all　in　his　power　to　save　him。　One　of　the　courtiers　who　had　been　present；　and　who　was　secretly　inclined　to　the　Prince　of　Wales's　faction；　had　repeated　this　speech　at　Scotland　Yard；　and　the　Prince　had　said；　〃That　meaneth；　Myles；　that　thou　must　either　win　or　die。〃

〃And　so　I　would　have　it　to　be；　my　Lord；〃　Myles　had　answered。

It　was　not　until　nearly　a　fortnight　after　the　decision　of　the　Court　of　Chivalry　had　been　rendered　that　the　King　announced　the　time　and　place　of　battlethe　time　to　be　the　3d　of　September；　the　place　to　be　Smithfielda　spot　much　used　for　such　encounters。

During　the　three　weeks　or　so　that　intervened　between　this　announcement　and　the　time　of　combat；　Myles　went　nearly　every　day　to　visit　the　lists　in　course　of　erection。　Often　the　Prince　went　with　him；　always　two　or　three　of　his　friends　of　the　Scotland　Yard　court　accompanied　him。

The　lists　were　laid　out　in　the　usual　form。　The　true　or　principal　list　in　which　the　combatants　were　to　engage　was　sixty　yards　long　and　forty　yards　wide；　this　rectangular　space　being　surrounded　by　a　fence　about　six　feet　high；　painted　vermilion。　Between　the　fence　and　the　stand　where　the　King　and　the　spectators　sat；　and　surrounding　the　central　space；　was　the　outer　or　false　list；　also　surrounded　by　a　fence。　In　the　false　list　the　Constable　and　the　Marshal　and　their　followers　and　attendants　were　to　be　stationed　at　the　time　of　battle　to　preserve　the　general　peace　during　the　contest　between　the　principals。

One　day　as　Myles；　his　princely　patron；　and　his　friends　entered　the　barriers；　leaving　their　horses　at　the　outer　gate；　they　met　the　Earl　of　Alban　and　his　followers；　who　were　just　quitting　the　lists；　which　they　also　were　in　the　habit　of　visiting　nearly　every　day。　As　the　two　parties　passed　one　another；　the　Earl　spoke　to　a　gentleman　walking　beside　him　and　in　a　voice　loud　enough　to　be　clearly　overheard　by　the　others：　〃Yonder　is　the　young　sprig　of　Falworth；〃　said　he。　〃His　father；　my　Lords；　is　not　content　with　forfeiting　his　own　life　for　his　treason；　but　must；　forsooth；　throw　away　his　son's　also。　I　have　faced　and　overthrown　many　a　better　knight　than　that　boy。〃

Myles　heard　the　speech；　and　knew　that　it　was　intended　for　him　to　hear　it；　but　he　paid　no　attention　to　it；　walking　composedly　at　the　Prince's　side。　The　Prince　had　also　overheard　it；　and　after　a　little　space　of　silence　asked；　〃Dost　thou　not　feel　anxiety　for　thy　coming　battle；　Myles？〃

〃Yea；　my　Lord；〃　said　Myles；　〃sometimes　I　do　feel　anxiety；　but　not　such　as　my　Lord　of　Alban　would　have　me　feel　in　uttering　the　speech　that　he　spake　anon。　It　is　anxiety　for　my　father's　sake　and　my　mother's　sake　that　I　feel；　for　truly　there　are　great　matters　for　them　pending　upon　this　fight。　Ne'theless；　I　do　know　that　God　will　not　desert　me　in　my　cause；　for　verily　my　father　is　no　traitor。〃

〃But　the　Earl　of　Alban；〃　said　the　Prince；　gravely；　〃is　reputed　one　of　the　best…skilled　knights　in　all　England；　moreover；　he　is　merciless　and　without　generosity；　so　that　an　he　gain　aught　advantage　over　thee；　he　will　surely　slay　thee。〃

〃I　am　not　afraid；　my　Lord；〃　said　Myles；　still　calmly　and　composedly。

〃Nor　am　I　afraid　for　thee；　Myles；〃　said　the　Prince；　heartily；　putting　his　arm；　as　he　spoke；　around　the　young　man's　shoulder；　〃for　truly；　wert　thou　a　knight　of　forty　years；　instead　of　one　of　twenty；　thou　couldst　not　bear　thyself　with　more　courage。〃

As　the　time　for　the　duel　approached；　the　days　seemed　to　drag　themselves　along　upon　leaden　feet；　nevertheless；　the　days　came　and　went；　as　all　days　do；　bringing　with　them；　at　last；　the　fateful　3d　of　September。

Early　in　the　morning；　while　the　sun　was　still　level　and　red；　the　Prince　himself；　unattended；　came　to　Myles's　apartment；　in　the　outer　room　of　which　Gascoyne　was　bustling　busily　about　arranging　the　armor　piece　by　piece；　renewing　straps　and　thongs；　but　not　whistling　over　his　work　as　he　usually　did。　The　Prince　nodded　to　him；　and　then　passed　silently　through　to　the　inner　chamber。　Myles　was　upon　his　knees；　and　Father　Ambrose；　the　Prince's　chaplain；　was　beside　him。　The　Prince　stood　silently　at　the　door；　until　Myles；　having　told　his　last　bead；　rose　and　turned　towards　him。

〃My　dear　Lord；〃　said　the　young　knight；　〃I　give　you　gramercy　for　the　great　honor　you　do　me　in　coming　so　early　for　to　visit　me。〃

〃Nay；　Myles；　give　me　no　thanks；〃　said　the　Prince；　frankly　reaching　him　his　hand；　which　Myles　took　and　set　to　his　lips。　〃I　lay　bethinking　me　of　thee　this　morning；　while　yet　in　bed；　and　so；　as　I　could　not　sleep　any　more；　I　was　moved　to　come　hither　to　see　thee。〃

Quite　a　number　of　the　Prince's　faction　were　at　the　breakfast　at　Scotland　Yard　that　morning；　among　others；　the　Earl　of　Mackworth。　All　were　more　or　less　oppressed　with　anxiety；　for　nearly　all　of　them　had　staked　much　upon　the　coming　battle。　If　Alban　conquered；　he　would　be　more　powerful　to　harm　them　and　to　revenge　himself　upon　them　than　ever；　and　Myles　was　a　very　young　champion　upon　whom　to　depend。　Myles　himself；　perhaps；　showed　as　little　anxiety　as　any；　he　certainly　ate　more　heartily　of　his　breakfast　that　morning　than　many　of　the　others。

After　the　meal　was　ended；　the　Prince　rose。　〃The　boat　is　ready　at　the　stairs；〃　said　he；　〃if　thou　wouldst　go　to　the　Tower　to　visit　thy　father；　Myles；　before　hearing　mass；　I　and　Cholmondeley　and　Vere　and　Poins　will　go　with　thee；　if　ye；　Lords　and　gentlemen；　will　grant　me　your　pardon　for　leaving　you。　Are　there　any　others　that　thou　wouldst　have　accompany　thee？〃

〃I　would　have　Sir　James　Lee　and　my　squire；　Master　Gascoyne；　if　thou　art　so　pleased　to　give　them　leave　to　go；〃　answered　Myles。

〃So　be　it；〃　said　the　Prince。　〃We　will　stop　at　Mackworth　stairs　for　the　knight。〃

The　barge　landed　at　the　west　stairs　of　the　Tower　wharf；　and　the　whole　party　were　received　with　more　than　usual　civilities　by　the　Governor；　who　conducted　them　at　once　to　the　Tower　where　Lord　Falworth　was　lodged。　Lady　Falworth　met　them　at　the　head　of　the　stairs；　her　eyes　were　very　red　and　her　face　pale；　and　as　Myles　raised　her　hand　and　set　a　long　kiss　upon　it；　her　lips　trembled；　and　she　turned　her　face　quickly　away；　pressing　her　handkerchief　for　one　moment　to　her　eyes。　Poor　lady！　What　agony　of　anxiety　and　dread　did　she　not　suffer　for　her　boy's　sake　that　day！　Myles　had　not　hidden　both　from　her　and　his　father　that　he　must　either　win　or　die。

As　Myles　turned　from　his　mother；　Prior　Edward　came　out　from　the　inner　chamber；　and　was　greeted　warmly　by　him。　The　old　priest　had　arrived　in　London　only　the　day　before；　having　come　down　from　Crosbey　Priory　to　be　with　his　friend's　family　during　this　their　time　of　terrible　anxiety。

After　a　little　while　of　general　talk；　the　Prince　and　his　attendants　retired；　leaving　the　family　together；　only　Sir　James　Lee　and　Gascoyne　remaining　behind。

Many　matters　that　had　been　discussed　before　were　now　finally　settled；　the　chief　of　which　was　the　disposition　of　Lady　Falworth　in　case　the　battle　should　go　against　them。　Then　Myles　took　his　leave；　kissing　his　mother；　who　began　crying；　and　comforting　her　with　brave　assurances。　Prior　Edward　accompanied　him　as　far　as　the　head　of　the　Tower　stairs；　where　Myles　kneeled　upon　the　stone　steps；　while　the　good　priest　blessed　him　and　signed　the　cross　upon　his　forehead。　The　Prince　was　waiting　in　the　walled　garden　adjoining；　and　as　they　rowed　back　again　up　the　river　to　Scotland　Yard；　all　were　thoughtful　and　serious；　even　Poins'　and　Vere's　merry　tongues　being　stilled　from　their　usual　quips　and　jesting。

It　was。　about　the　quarter　of　the　hour　before　eleven　o'clock　when　Myles；　with　Gascoyne；　set　forth　for　the　lists。　The　Prince　of　Wales；　together　with　most　of　his　court；　had　already　gone　on　to　Smithfield；　leaving　behind　him　six　young　knights　of　his　household　to　act　as　escort　to　the　young　champion。　Then　at　last　the　order　to　horse　was　given；　the　great　gate　swung　open；　and　out　they　rode；　clattering　and　jingling；　the　sunlight　gleaming　and　flaming　and　flashing　upon　their　polished　armor。　They　drew　rein　to　the　right；　and　so　rode　in　a　little　cloud　of　dust　along　the　Strand　Street　towards　London　town；　with　the　breeze　blowing　merrily；　and　the　sunlight　shining　as　sweetly　and　blithesomely　as　though　they　were　riding　to　a　wedding　rather　than　to　a　grim　and　dreadful　ordeal　that　meant　either　victory　or　death。



CHAPTER　32

In　the　days　of　King　Edward　III　a　code　of　laws　relating　to　trial　by　battle　had　been　compiled　for　one　of　his　sons；　Thomas　of　Woodstock。　In　this　work　each　and　every　detail；　to　the　most　minute；　had　been　arranged　and　fixed；　and　from　that　time　judicial　combats　had　been　regulated　in　accordance　with　its　mandates。

It　was　in　obedience　to　this