CHAPTER XII. HOW ALLEYNE LEARNED MORE THAN HE COULD TEACH.

Andnowtherecameatimeofstirandbustle,offurbishingofarmsandclangofhammerfromallthesouthlandcounties.Fastspreadthetidingsfromthorpetothorpeandfromcastletocastle,thattheoldgamewasafootoncemore,andthelionsandliliestobeinthefieldwiththeearlyspring.Greatnewsthisforthatfierceoldcountry,whosetradeforagenerationhadbeenwar,herexportsarchersandherimportsprisoners.Forsixyearshersonshadchafedunderanunwontedpeace.Nowtheyflewtotheirarmsastotheirbirthright.TheoldsoldiersofCrecy,ofNogent,andofPoictiersweregladtothinkthattheymighthearthewar-trumpetoncemore,andgladderstillwerethehotyouthwhohadchafedforyearsunderthemartialtalesoftheirsires.Topiercethegreatmountainsofthesouth,tofightthetamersofthefieryMoors,tofollowthegreatestcaptainoftheage,tofindsunnycornfieldsandvineyards,whenthemarchesofPicardyandNormandywereasrareandbleakastheJedburghforests—herewasagoldenprospectforaraceofwarriors.Fromseatoseatherewasstringingofbowsinthecottageandclangofsteelinthecastle. Nordidittakelongforeverystrongholdtopourforthitscavalry,andeveryhamletitsfootmen.Throughthelateautumnandtheearlywintereveryroadandcountrylaneresoundedwithnakirandtrumpet,withtheneighofthewar-horseandtheclatterofmarchingmen.FromtheWrekinintheWelshmarchestotheCotswoldsinthewestorButserinthesouth,therewasnohill-topfromwhichthepeasantmightnothaveseenthebrightshimmerofarms,thetossandflutterofplumeandofpensil.Frombye-path,fromwoodlandclearing,orfromwindingmoor-sidetracktheselittlerivuletsofsteelunitedinthelargerroadstoformabroaderstream,growingeverfullerandlargerasitapproachedthenearestormostcommodiousseaport.Andthereallday,anddayafterday,therewasbustleandcrowdingandlabor,whilethegreatshipsloadedup,andoneaftertheotherspreadtheirwhitepinionsanddartedofftotheopensea,amidtheclashofcymbalsandrollingofdrumsandlustyshoutsofthosewhowentandofthosewhowaited.FromOrwelltotheDarttherewasnoportwhichdidnotsendforthitslittlefleet,gaywithstreamerandbunting,asforajoyousfestival.ThusintheseasonofthewaningdaysthemightofEnglandputforthontothewaters. IntheancientandpopulouscountyofHampshiretherewasnolackofleadersorofsoldiersforaservicewhichpromisedeitherhonororprofit.InthenorththeSaracen'sheadoftheBrocasandthescarletfishoftheDeRocheswerewavingoverastrongbodyofarchersfromHolt,Woolmer,andHarewoodforests.DeBorhuntewasupintheeast,andSirJohndeMontagueinthewest.SirLukedePonynges,SirThomasWest,SirMauricedeBruin,SirArthurLipscombe,SirWalterRamsey,andstoutSirOliverButtesthornwereallmarchingsouthwithleviesfromAndover,Arlesford,OdihamandWinchester,whilefromSussexcameSirJohnClinton,SirThomasCheyne,andSirJohnFallislee,withatroopofpickedmen-at-arms,makingfortheirportatSouthampton.Greatestofallthemusters,however,wasthatofTwynhamCastle,forthenameandthefameofSirNigelLoringdrewtowardshimthekeenestandboldestspirits,alleagertoserveundersovaliantaleader.ArchersfromtheNewForestandtheForestofBere,billmenfromthepleasantcountrywhichiswateredbytheStour,theAvon,andtheItchen,youngcavaliersfromtheancientHampshirehouses,allwerepushingforChristchurchtotakeserviceunderthebannerofthefivescarletroses. Andnow,couldSirNigelhaveshownthebachellesoflandwhichthelawsofrankrequired,hemightwellhavecuthisforkedpennonintoasquarebanner,andtakensuchafollowingintothefieldaswouldhavesupportedthedignityofabanneret.Butpovertywasheavyuponhim,hislandwasscant,hiscoffersempty,andtheverycastlewhichcoveredhimtheholdingofanother.Sorewa