CHAPTER XVIII. HOW SIR NIGEL LORING PUT A PATCH UPON HIS EYE.

relievetheovercrowdingofhiscapital. InfrontoftheminsterandabbeyofSt.Andrew'swasalargesquarecrowdedwithpriests,soldiers,women,friars,andburghers,whomadeittheircommoncentreforsight-seeingandgossip.Amidtheknotofnoisyandgesticulatingtownsfolk,manysmallpartiesofmountedknightsandsquiresthreadedtheirwaytowardstheprince'squarters,wherethehugeiron-clampeddoorswerethrownbacktoshowthatheheldaudiencewithin.Two-scorearchersstoodaboutthegateway,andbeatbackfromtimetotimewiththeirbow-stavestheinquisitiveandchatteringcrowdwhoswarmedroundtheportal.Twoknightsinfullarmor,withlancesraisedandclosedvisors,sattheirhorsesoneitherside,whileinthecentre,withtwopagestotenduponhim,therestoodanoble-facedmaninflowingpurplegown,whoprickedoffuponasheetofparchmentthestyleandtitleofeachapplicant,marshallingthemintheirdueorder,andgivingtoeachtheplaceandfacilitywhichhisrankdemanded.Hislongwhitebeardandsearchingeyesimpartedtohimanairofmasterfuldignity,whichwasincreasedbyhistabardlikevestureandtheheraldicbarretcapwithtripleplumewhichbespokehisoffice. “ItisSirWilliamdePakington,theprince'sownheraldandscrivener,”whisperedSirNigel,astheypulledupamidthelineofknightswhowaitedadmission.“Illfaresitwiththemanwhowouldventuretodeceivehim.HehathbyrotethenameofeveryknightofFranceorofEnglandandallthetreeofhisfamily,withhiskinships,coat-armor,marriages,augmentations,abatements,andIknownotwhatbeside.Wemayleaveourhorsesherewiththevarlets,andpushforwardwithoursquires.” FollowingSirNigel'scounsel,theypressedonuponfootuntiltheywereclosetotheprince'ssecretary,whowasinhighdebatewithayoungandfoppishknight,whowasbentuponmakinghiswaypasthim. “Mackworth!”saidtheking-at-arms.“Itisinmymind,youngsir,thatyouhavenotbeenpresentedbefore.” “Nay,itisbutadaysinceIsetfootinBordeaux,butIfearedlesttheprinceshouldthinkitstrangethatIhadnotwaiteduponhim.” “Theprincehathotherthingstothinkupon,”quothSirWilliamdePakington“butifyoubeaMackworthyoumustbeaMackworthofNormanton,andindeedIseenowthatyourcoatissableandermine.” “IamaMackworthofNormanton,”theotheranswered,withsomeuneasinessofmanner. “ThenyoumustbeSirStephenMackworth,forIlearnthatwhenoldSirGuydiedhecameinforthearmsandthename,thewar-cryandtheprofit.” “SirStephenismyelderbrother,andIamArthur,thesecondson,”saidtheyouth. “Insoothandinsooth!”criedtheking-at-armswithscornfuleyes.“Andpray,sirsecondson,whereisthecadencymarkwhichshouldmarkyourrank.Dareyoutowearyourbrother'scoatwithoutthecrescentwhichshouldstampyouashiscadet.Awaytoyourlodgings,andcomenotnightheprinceuntilthearmorerhathplacedthetruechargeuponyourshield.”Astheyouthwithdrewinconfusion,SirWilliam'skeeneyesingledoutthefiveredrosesfromamidtheoverlappingshieldsandcloudofpennonswhichfacedhim. “Ha!”hecried,“therearechargesherewhichareabovecounterfeit.TherosesofLoringandtheboar'sheadofButtesthornmaystandbackinpeace,butbymyfaith!theyarenottobeheldbackinwar.Welcome,SirOliver,SirNigel!Chandoswillbegladtohisveryheart-rootswhenheseesyou.Thisway,myfairsirs.Yoursquiresaredoubtlessworthythefameoftheirmasters.Downthispassage,SirOliver!Edricson!Ha!oneoftheoldstrainofHampshireEdricsons,Idoubtnot.AndFord,theyareofasouthSaxonstock,andofgoodrepute.ThereareNorburysinCheshireandinWiltshire,andalso,asIhaveheard,upontheborders.So,myfairsirs,andIshallseethatyouareshortlyadmitted.” Hehadfinishedhisprofessionalcommentarybyflingingopenafoldingdoor,andusheringthepartyintoabroadhall,whichwasfilledwithagreatnumberofpeoplewhowerewaiting,likethemselves,foranaudience.Theroomwasveryspacious,lightedononesidebythreearchedandmullionedwindows,whi