CHAPTER XXII. HOW THE BOWMEN HELD WASSAIL AT THE “ROSE DE GUIENNE.”

rineoftheoldestvernage,andseethatyoudonotshakeit.Hastheardthenews?” “Nay,”criedboththesquires. “Thatwearetohaveabravetourney.” “Atourney?” “Aye,lads.FortheCaptalduBuchhathswornthathewillfindfiveknightsfromthissideofthewaterwhowillrideoveranyfiveEnglishmenwhoeverthrewlegoversaddleandChandoshathtakenupthechallenge,andtheprincehathpromisedagoldenvaseforthemanwhocarrieshimselfbest,andallthecourtisinabuzzoverit.” “Whyshouldtheknightshaveallthesport?”growledHordleJohn.“CouldtheynotsetupfivearchersforthehonorofAquitaineandofGascony?” “Orfivemen-at-arms,”saidBlackSimon. “ButwhoaretheEnglishknights?”askedHawtayne. “Therearethreehundredandforty-oneinthetown,”saidAylward,“andIhearthatthreehundredandfortycartelsanddefianceshavealreadybeensentin,theonlyonemissingbeingSirJohnRavensholme,whoisinhisbedwiththesweatingsickness,andcannotsetfoottoground.” “Ihaveheardofitfromoneofthearchersoftheguard,”criedabowmanfromamongthestraw“Ihearthattheprincewishedtobreakalance,butthatChandoswouldnothearofit,forthegameislikelytobearoughone.” “ThenthereisChandos.” “Nay,theprincewouldnotpermitit.Heistobemarshalofthelists,withSirWilliamFeltonandtheDucd'Armagnac.TheEnglishwillbetheLordAudley,SirThomasPercy,SirThomasWake,SirWilliamBeauchamp,andourownverygoodlordandleader.” “Hurrahforhim,andGodbewithhim!”criedseveral.“Itishonortodrawstringinhisservice.” “Soyoumaywellsay,”saidAylward.“Bymytenfinger-bones!ifyoumarchbehindthepennonofthefiverosesyouareliketoseeallthatagoodbowmanwouldwishtosee.Ha!yes,mesgarcons,youlaugh,but,bymyhilt!youmaynotlaughwhenyoufindyourselveswherehewilltakeyou,foryoucannevertellwhatstrangevowhemaynothaveswornto.Iseethathehasapatchoverhiseye,evenashehadatPoictiers.Therewillcomebloodshedofthatpatch,orIamthemoremistaken.” “HowchanceditatPoictiers,goodMasterAylward?”askedoneoftheyoungarchers,leaninguponhiselbows,withhiseyesfixedrespectfullyupontheoldbowman'sruggedface. “Aye,Aylward,tellusofit,”criedHordleJohn. “HereistooldSamkinAylward!”shoutedseveralatthefurtherendoftheroom,wavingtheirblackjacksintheair. “Askhim!”saidAylwardmodestly,noddingtowardsBlackSimon.“HesawmorethanIdid.Andyet,bytheholynails!therewasnotverymuchthatIdidnotseeeither.” “Ah,yes,”saidSimon,shakinghishead,“itwasagreatday.Ineverhopetoseesuchanother.Thereweresomefinearcherswhodrewtheirlastshaftthatday.Weshallnevers