men of iron-第4章

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　serve　him　upon　all　occasions　of　need；　and　from　whom　were　supplied　his　quota　of　recruits　to　fill　such　levies　as　might　be　made　upon　him　by　the　King　in　time　of　war。

The　knights　and　gentlemen　of　this　little　army　of　horse　and　foot　soldiers　were　largely　recruited　from　the　company　of　squires　and　bachelors；　as　the　young　novitiate　soldiers　of　the　castle　were　called。

This　company　of　esquires　consisted　of　from　eighty　to　ninety　lads；　ranging　in　age　from　eight　to　twenty　years。　Those　under　fourteen　years　were　termed　pages；　and　served　chiefly　the　Countess　and　her　waiting　gentlewomen；　in　whose　company　they　acquired　the　graces　and　polish　of　the　times；　such　as　they　were。　After　reaching　the　age　of　fourteen　the　lads　were　entitled　to　the　name　of　esquire　or　squire。

In　most　of　the　great　houses　of　the　time　the　esquires　were　the　especial　attendants　upon　the　Lord　and　Lady　of　the　house；　holding　such　positions　as　body…squires；　cup…bearers；　carvers；　and　sometimes　the　office　of　chamberlain。　But　Devlen；　like　some　other　of　the　princely　castles　of　the　greatest　nobles；　was　more　like　a　military　post　or　a　fortress　than　an　ordinary　household。　Only　comparatively　few　of　the　esquires　could　be　used　in　personal　attendance　upon　the　Earl；　the　others　were　trained　more　strictly　in　arms；　and　served　rather　in　the　capacity　of　a　sort　of　body…guard　than　as　ordinary　squires。　For；　as　the　Earl　rose　in　power　and　influence；　and　as　it　so　became　well　worth　while　for　the　lower　nobility　and　gentry　to　enter　their　sons　in　his　family；　the　body　of　squires　became　almost　cumbersomely　large。　Accordingly；　that　part　which　comprised　the　squires　proper；　as　separate　from　the　younger　pages；　was　divided　into　three　classes　first；　squires　of　the　body；　who　were　those　just　past　pagehood；　and　who　waited　upon　the　Earl　in　personal　service；　second；　squires　of　the　household；　who；　having　regular　hours　assigned　for　exercise　in　the　manual　of　arms；　were　relieved　from　personal　service　excepting　upon　especial　occasions；　and　thirdly　and　lastly；　at　the　head　of　the　whole　body　of　lads；　a　class　called　bachelorsyoung　men　ranging　from　eighteen　to　twenty　years　of　age。　This　class　was　supposed　to　exercise　a　sort　of　government　over　the　other　and　younger　squiresto　keep　them　in　order　as　much　as　possible；　to　marshal　them　upon　occasions　of　importance；　to　see　that　their　arms　and　equipments　were　kept　in　good　order；　to　call　the　roll　for　chapel　in　the　morning；　and　to　see　that　those　not　upon　duty　in　the　house　were　present　at　the　daily　exercise　at　arms。　Orders　to　the　squires　were　generally　transmitted　through　the　bachelors；　and　the　head　of　that　body　was　expected　to　make　weekly　reports　of　affairs　in　their　quarters　to　the　chief　captain　of　the　body。

From　this　overlordship　of　the　bachelors　there　had　gradually　risen　a　system　of　fagging；　such　as　is　or　was　practised　in　the　great　English　public　schoolsenforced　services　exacted　from　the　younger　ladswhich　at　the　time　Myles　came　to　Devlen　had；　in　the　five　or　six　years　it　had　been　in　practice；　grown　to　be　an　absolute　though　unwritten　law　of　the　bodya　law　supported　by　all　the　prestige　of　long…continued　usage。　At　that　time　the　bachelors　numbered　but　thirteen；　yet　they　exercised　over　the　rest　of　the　sixty…four　squires　and　pages　a　rule　of　iron；　and　were　taskmasters；　hard；　exacting；　and　oftentimes　cruel。

The　whole　company　of　squires　and　pages　was　under　the　supreme　command　of　a　certain　one…eyed　knight；　by　name　Sir　James　Lee；　a　soldier　seasoned　by　the　fire　of　a　dozen　battles；　bearing　a　score　of　wounds　won　in　fight　and　tourney；　and　withered　by　hardship　and　labor　to　a　leather…like　toughness。　He　had　fought　upon　the　King's　side　in　all　the　late　wars；　and　had　at　Shrewsbury　received　a　wound　that　unfitted　him　for　active　service；　so　that　now　he　was　fallen　to　the　post　of　Captain　of　Esquires　at　Devlen　Castlea　man　disappointed　in　life；　and　with　a　temper　imbittered　by　that　failure　as　well　as　by　cankering　pain。

Yet　Perhaps　no　one　could　have　been　better　fitted　for　the　place　he　held　than　Sir　James　Lee。　The　lads　under　his　charge　were　a　rude；　rough；　unruly　set；　quick；　like　their　elders；　to　quarrel；　and　to　quarrel　fiercely；　even　to　the　drawing　of　sword　or　dagger。　But　there　was　a　cold；　iron　sternness　about　the　grim　old　man　that　quelled　them；　as　the　trainer　with　a　lash　of　steel　might　quell　a　den　of　young　wolves。　The　apartments　in　which　he　was　lodged；　with　his　clerk；　were　next　in　the　dormitory　of　the　lads；　and　even　in　the　midst　of　the　most　excited　brawlings　the　distant　sound　of　his　harsh　voice；　〃Silence；　messieurs！〃　would　bring　an　instant　hush　to　the　loudest　uproar。

It　was　into　his　grim　presence　that　Myles　was　introduced　by　Gascoyne。　Sir　James　was　in　his　office；　a　room　bare　of　ornament　or　adornment　or　superfluous　comfort　of　any　sortwithout　even　so　much　as　a　mat　of　rushes　upon　the　cold　stone　pavement　to　make　it　less　cheerless。　The　old　one…　eyed　knight　sat　gnawing　his　bristling　mustaches。　To　anyone　who　knew　him　it　would　have　been　apparent　that；　as　the　castle　phrase　went；　〃the　devil　sat　astride　of　his　neck；〃　which　meant　that　some　one　of　his　blind　wounds　was　aching　more　sorely　than　usual。

His　clerk　sat　beside　him；　with　account…books　and　parchment　spread　upon　the　table；　and　the　head　squire；　Walter　Blunt；　a　lad　some　three　or　four　years　older　than　Myles；　and　half　a　head　taller；　black…browed；　powerfully　built；　and　with　cheek　and　chin　darkened　by　the　soft　budding　of　his　adolescent　beard；　stood　making　his　report。

Sir　James　listened　in　grim　silence　while　Gascoyne　told　his　errand。

〃So；　then；　pardee；　I　am　bid　to　take　another　one　of　ye；　am　I？〃　he　snarled。　〃As　though　ye　caused　me　not　trouble　enow；　and　this　one　a　cub；　looking　a　very　boor　in　carriage　and　breeding。　Mayhap　the　Earl　thinketh　I　am　to　train　boys　to　his　dilly…dally　household　service　as　well　as　to　use　of　arms。〃

〃Sir；〃　said　Gascoyne；　timidly；　〃my　Lord　sayeth　he　would　have　this　one　entered　direct　as　a　squire　of　the　body；　so　that　he　need　not　serve　in　the　household。〃

〃Sayest　so？〃　cried　Sir　James；　harshly。　〃Then　take　thou　my　message　back　again　to　thy　Lord。　Not　for　Mackworthno；　nor　a　better　man　than　he　will　I　make　any　changes　in　my　government。　An　I　be　set　to　rule　a　pack　of　boys；　I　will　rule　them　as　I　list；　and　not　according　to　any　man's　bidding。　Tell　him；　sirrah；　that　I　will　enter　no　lad　as　squire　of　the　body　without　first　testing　an　he　be　fit　at　arms　to　hold　that　place。〃　He　sat　for　a　while　glowering　at　Myles　and　gnawing　his　mustaches；　and　for　the　time　no　one　dared　to　break　the　grim　silence。　〃What　is　thy　name？〃　said　he；　suddenly。　And　then；　almost　before　Myles　could　answer；　he　asked　the　head　squire　whether　he　could　find　a　place　to　lodge　him。

〃There　is　Gillis　Whitlock's　cot　empty；〃　said　Blunt。　〃He　is　in　the　infirmary；　and　belike　goeth　home　again　when　he　cometh　thence。　The　fever　hath　gotten　into　his　bones；　and〃

〃That　will　do；〃　said　the　knight；　interrupting　him　impatiently。　〃Let　him　take　that　place；　or　any　other　that　thou　hast。　And　thou；　Jerome；〃　said　he　to　his　clerk；　〃thou　mayst　enter　him　upon　the　roll；　though　whether　it　be　as　page　or　squire　or　bachelor　shall　be　as　I　please；　and　not　as　Mackworth　biddeth　me。　Now　get　ye　gone。〃

〃Old　Bruin's　wound　smarteth　him　sore；〃　Gascoyne　observed；　as　the　two　lads　walked　across　the　armory　court。　He　had　good…naturedly　offered　to　show　the　new…comer　the　many　sights　of　interest　around　the　castle；　and　in　the　hour　or　so　of　ramble　that　followed；　the　two　grew　from　acquaintances　to　friends　with　a　quickness　that　boyhood　alone　can　bring　about。　They　visited　the　armory；　the　chapel；　the　stables；　the　great　hall；　the　Painted　Chamber；　the　guard…house；　the　mess…room；　and　even　the　scullery　and　the　kitchen；　with　its　great　range　of　boilers　and　furnaces　and　ovens。　Last　of　all　Myles's　new　friend　introduced　him　to　the　armor…smithy。

〃My　Lord　hath　sent　a　piece　of　Milan　armor　thither　to　be　repaired；〃　said　he。　〃Belike　thou　would　like　to　see　it。〃

〃Aye；〃　said　Myles；　eagerly；　〃that　would　I。〃

The　smith　was　a　gruff；　good…natured　fellow；　and　showed　the　piece　of　armor　to　Myles　readily　and　willingly　enough。　It　was　a　beautiful　bascinet　of　inlaid　workmanship；　and　was　edged　with　a　rim　of　gold。　Myles　scarcely　dared　touch　it；　he　gazed　at　it　with　an　unconcealed　delight　that　warmed　the　smith's　honest　heart。

〃I　have　another　piece　of　Milan　here；〃　said　he。　〃Did　I　ever　show　thee　my　dagger；　Master　Gascoyne？〃

〃Nay；〃　said　the　squire。

The　smith　unlocked　a　great　oaken　chest　in　the　corner　of　the　shop；　lifted　the　lid；　and　brought　thence　a　beautiful　dagger　with　the　handle　of　ebony　and　silver…gilt；　and　a　sheath　of　Spanish　leather；　embossed　and　gilt。　The　keen；　well…　tempered　blade　was　beautifully　engraved　and　inlaid　with　niello…work；　representing　a　group　of　figures　in　a　then　popular　subjectthe　dance　of　Death。　It　was　a　weapon　at　once　unique　and　beautiful；　and　even　Gascoyne　showed　an　admiration　scarcely　less　keen　than　Myles's　openly…expressed　delight。

〃To　whom　doth　it　belong？〃　said　he；　trying　the　point　upon　his　thumb　nail。

〃There；〃　said　the　smith；　〃is　the　jest　of　the　whole；　for　it　belongeth　to　me。　Sir　William　Beauclerk　bade　me　order　the　weapon　through　Master　Gildersworthy；　of　London　town；　and　by　the　time　it　came　hither；　lo！　he　had　died；　and　so　it　fell　to　my　hands。　No　one　here　payeth　the　price　for　the　trinket；　and　so　I　must　e'en　keep　it　myself；　though　I　be　but　a　poor　man。〃

〃How　much　dost　thou　hold　it　for？〃　said　Gascoyne。

〃Seventeen　shillings　buyeth　it；〃　said　the　armorer；　carelessly。

〃Aye；　aye；〃　said　Gascoyne；　with　a　sigh；　〃so　it　is　to　be　poor；　and　not　be　able　to　have　such　things　as　one　loveth　and　would　fain　possess。　Seventeen　shillings　is　nigh　as　much　by　half　again　as　all　my　yearly　wage。〃

Then　a　sudden　thought　came　to　Myles；　and　as　it　came　his　cheeks　glowed　as　hot　as　fire　〃Master　Gascoyne；〃　said　he；　with　gruff　awkwardness；　〃thou　hast　been　a　very　good；　true　friend　to　me　since　I　have　come　to　this　place；　and　hast　befriended　me　in　all　ways　thou　mightest　do；　and　I；　as　well　I　know；　but　a　poor　rustic　clod。　Now　I　have　forty　shillings　by　me　which　I　may　spend　as　I　list；　and　so　I　do　beseech　thee　that　thou　wilt　take　yon　dagger　of　me　as　a　love…gift；　and　have　and　hold　it　for　thy　very　own。

Gascoyne　stared　open…mouthed　at　Myles。　〃Dost　mean　it？〃　said　he；　at　last。

〃Aye；〃　said　Myles；　〃I　do　mean　it。　Master　Smith；　give　him　the　blade。〃

At　first　the　smith　grinned；　thinking　it　all　a　jest；　but　he　soon　saw　that　Myles　was　serious　enough；　and　when　the　seventeen　shillings　were　produced　and　counted　down　upon　the　anvil；　he　took　off　his　cap　and　made　Myles　a　low　bow　as　he　swept　them　into　his　pouch。　〃Now；　by　my　faith　and　troth；〃　quoth　he；　〃that　I　do　call　a　true　lordly　gift。　Is　it　not　so；　Master　Gascoyne？〃

〃Aye；〃　said　Gascoyne；　with　a　gulp；　〃it　is；　in　soothly　earnest。〃　And　thereupon；　to　Myles's　great　wonderment；　he　suddenly　flung　his　arms　about　his　neck；　and；　giving　him　a　great　hug；　kissed　him　upon　the　cheek。　〃Dear　Myles；〃　said　he；　〃I　tell　thee　truly　and　of　a　verity　I　did　feel　warm　towards　thee　from　the　very　first　time　I　saw　thee　sitting　like　a　poor　oaf　upon　the　bench　up　yonder　in　the　anteroom；　and　now　of　a　sooth　I　give　thee　assurance　that　I　do　love　thee　as　my　own　brother。　Yea；　I　will　take　the　dagger；　and　will　stand　by　thee　as　a　true　friend　from　this　time　forth。　Mayhap　thou　mayst　need　a　true　friend　in　this　place　ere　thou　livest　long　with　us；　for　some　of　us　esquires　be　soothly　r