suit： When go you to Tilford？〃
〃Even now。〃
〃Heh； Jenkin； fetch out the cob！〃 cried the worthy Wat。 〃May my
right hand lose its cunning if I do not send you into battle in
your father's suit！ To…morrow I must be back in my booth； but
today I give to you without fee and for the sake of the good…will
which I bear to your house。 I will ride with you to Tilford； and
before night you shall see what Wat can do。〃
So it came about that there was a busy evening at the old Tilford
Manor…house； where the Lady Ermyntrude planned and cut and hung
the curtains for the hall； and stocked her cupboards with the good
things which Nigel had brought from Guildford。
Meanwhile the Squire and the armorer sat with their heads touching
and the old suit of mail with its gorget of overlapping plates
laid out across their knees。 Again and again old Wat shrugged his
shoulders； as one who has been asked to do more than can be
demanded from mortal man。 At last； at a suggestion from the
Squire； he leaned back in his chair and laughed long and loudly in
his bushy beard； while the Lady Ermyntrude glared her black
displeasure at such plebeian merriment。 Then taking his fine
chisel and his hammer from his pouch of tools； the armorer； still
chuckling at his own thoughts； began to drive a hole through the
center of the steel tunic。
VIII。 HOW THE KING HAWKED ON CROOKSBURY HEATH
The King and his attendants had shaken off the crowd who had
followed them from Guildford along the Pilgrims' Way and now； the
mounted archers having beaten off the more persistent of the
spectators； they rode at their ease in a long； straggling；
glittering train over the dark undulating plain of heather。
In the van was the King himself； for his hawks were with him and
he had some hope of sport。 Edward at that time was a well…grown；
vigorous man in the very prime of his years； a keen sportsman； an
ardent gallant and a chivalrous soldier。 He was a scholar too；
speaking Latin； French； German； Spanish； and even a little
English。
So much had long been patent to the world； but only of recent
years had he shown other and more formidable characteristics： a
restless ambition which coveted his neighbor's throne； and a wise
foresight in matters of commerce； which engaged him now in
transplanting Flemish weavers and sowing the seeds of what for
many years was the staple trade of England。 Each of these varied
qualities might have been read upon his face。 The brow； shaded by
a crimson cap of maintenance； was broad and lofty。 The large
brown eyes were ardent and bold。 His chin was clean…shaven； and
the close…cropped dark mustache did not conceal the strong mouth；
firm； proud and kindly； but capable of setting tight in merciless
ferocity。 His complexion was tanned to copper by a life spent in
field sports or in war； and he rode his magnificent black horse
carelessly and easily； as one who has grown up in the saddle。 His
own color was black also； for his active； sinewy figure was set
off by close…fitting velvet of that hue； broken only by a belt of
gold； and by a golden border of open pods of the broom…plant。
With his high and noble bearing； his simple yet rich attire and
his splendid mount； he looked every inch a King。
The picture of gallant man on gallant horse was completed by the
noble Falcon of the Isles which fluttered along some twelve feet
above his head； 〃waiting on；〃 as it was termed； for any quarry
which might arise。 The second bird of the cast was borne upon the
gauntleted wrist of Raoul the chief falconer in the rear。
At the right side of the monarch and a little behind him rode a
youth some twenty years of age； tall； slim and dark； with noble
aquiline features and keen penetrating eyes which sparkled with
vivacity and affection as he answered the remarks of the King。 He
was clad in deep crimson diapered with gold； and the trappings of
his white palfrey were of a magnificence which proclaimed the rank
of its rider。 On his face； still free from mustache or beard；
there sat a certain gravity and majesty of expression which showed
that young as he was great affairs had been in his keeping and
that his thoughts and interests were those of the statesman and
the warrior。 That great day when； little more than a school…boy；
he had led the van of the victorious army which had crushed the
power of France and Crecy； had left this stamp upon his features；
but stern as they were they had not assumed that tinge of
fierceness which in after years was to make 〃The Black Prince〃 a
name of terror on the marches of France。 Not yet had the first
shadow of fell disease come to poison his nature ere it struck at
his life； as he rode that spring day； light and debonair； upon the
heath of Crooksbury。
On the left of the King； and so near to him that great intimacy
was implied； rode a man about his own age； with the broad face；
the projecting jaw and the flattish nose which are often the
outward indications of a pugnacious nature。
His complexion was crimson； his large blue eyes somewhat
prominent； and his whole appearance full…blooded and choleric。 He
was short； but massively built； and evidently possessed of immense
strength。 His voice； however； when he spoke was gentle and
lisping； while his manner was quiet and courteous。 Unlike the
King or the Prince； he was clad in light armor and carried a sword
by his side and a mace at his saddle…bow； for he was acting as
Captain of the King's Guard； and a dozen other knights in steel
followed in the escort。 No hardier soldier could Edward have at
his side； if； as was always possible in those lawless times；
sudden danger was to threaten； for this was the famous knight of
Hainault； now naturalized as an Englishman； Sir Walter Manny； who
bore as high a reputation for chivalrous valor and for gallant
temerity as Chandos himself。
Behind the knights； who were forbidden to scatter and must always
follow the King's person； there was a body of twenty or thirty
hobblers or mounted bowmen； together with several squires； unarmed
themselves but leading spare horses upon which the heavier part of
their knights' equipment was carried。 A straggling tail of
falconers； harbingers； varlets； body…servants and huntsmen holding
hounds in leash completed the long and many…colored train which
rose and dipped on the low undulations of the moor。
Many weighty things were on the mind of Edward the King。 There
was truce for the moment with France； but it was a truce broken by
many small deeds of arms； raids； surprises and ambushes upon
either side； and it was certain that it would soon dissolve again
into open war。 Money must be raised； and it was no light matter
to raise it； now that the Commons had once already voted the tenth
lamb and the tenth sheaf。 Besides； the Black Death had ruined the
country； the arable land was all turned to pasture； the laborer；
laughing at statutes； would not work under fourpence a day； and
all society was chaos。 In addition； the Scotch were growling over
the border； there was the perennial trouble in half…conquered
Ireland； and his allies abroad in Flanders and in Brabant were
clamoring for the arrears of their subsidies。
All this was enough to make even a victorious monarch full of
care； but now Edward had thrown it all to the winds and was as
light…hearted as a boy upon a holiday。 No thought had he for the
dunning of Florentine bankers or the vexatious conditions of those
busybodies at Westminster。 He was out with his hawks； and his
thoughts and his talk should be of nothing else。 The varlets beat
the heather and bushes as they passed； and whooped loudly as the
birds flew out。
〃A magpie！ A magpie！〃 cried the falconer。
〃Nay； nay； it is not worthy of your talons； my brown…eyed queen；〃
said the King； looking up at the great bird which flapped from
side to side above his head； waiting for the whistle which should
give her the signal。 〃The tercels； falconer … a cast of tercels！
Quick； man； quick！ Ha！ the rascal makes for wood！ He puts in！
Well flown； brave peregrine！ He makes his point。 Drive him out
to thy comrade。 Serve him； varlets！ Beat the bushes！ He breaks！
He breaks！ Nay； come away then！ You will see Master Magpie no
more。〃
The bird had indeed； with the cunning of its race； flapped its way
through brushwood and bushes to the thicker woods beyond； so that
neither the hawk amid the cover nor its partner above nor the
clamorous beaters could harm it。 The King laughed at the
mischance and rode on。 Continually birds of various sorts were
flushed； and each was pursued by the appropriate hawk； the snipe
by the tercel； the partridge by the goshawk； even the lark by the
little merlin。 But the King soon tired of this petty sport and
went slowly on his way； still with the magnificent silent
attendant flapping above his head。
〃Is she not a noble bird； fair son？〃 he asked； glancing up as her
shadow fell upon him。
〃She is indeed； sire。 Surely no finer ever came from the isles of
the north。〃
〃Perhaps not； and yet I have had a hawk from Barbary as good a
footer and a swifter flyer。 An Eastern bird in yarak has no
peer。〃
〃I had one once from the Holy