saint george for england- 第17部分

〃Not　a　whit；〃　Ralph　replied　cheerfully；　〃and　I　shall　be　all　right　again　before　the　week　is　out；　but　the　leech　made　as　much　fuss　over　me　as　if　I　had　been　a　girl；　just　as　though　one　was　not　accustomed　to　hard　knocks　in　a　smithy。　Those　I　got　yesterday　were　not　half　so　hard　as　that　which　you　gave　me　the　day　before。　My　head　rings　yet　with　the　thought　of　it。　　But　I　have　not　come　to　talk　about　myself。　Is　the　story　true　which　they　tell　of　you；　Master　Walter；　that　you　are　not　the　son　of　Giles　the　bowyer；　but　of　a　great　noble？〃

〃Not　of　a　great　noble；　Ralph；　but　of　a　gallant　knight；　which　is　just　as　good。　My　father　was　killed　when　I　was　three　years　old；　and　my　mother　brought　me　to　Bertha；　the　wife　of　Giles　the　bowyer；　who　had　been　her　nurse　in　childhood。　I　had　forgotten　all　that　had　passed；　and　deemed　myself　the　son　of　the　good　citizen；　but　since　I　have　heard　the　truth　my　memory　has　awakened　somewhat；　and　I　have　a　dim　recollection　of　a　lordly　castle　and　of　my　father　and　mother。〃

〃And　they　say；　Walter；　that　you　are　going　with　Sir　Walter　Manny；　with　the　force　which　is　just　sailing　to　the　assistance　of　Lady　De　Montford。〃

〃That　is　so；　Ralph；　and　the　good　knight　has　taken　me　among　his　esquires；　young　as　I　am；　although　I　might　well　have　looked　for　nothing　better　than　to　commence；　for　two　years　at　least；　as　a　page；　seeing　that　I　am　but　eighteen　now。　　Now　I　shall　ride　with　him　into　the　battles　and　shall　have　as　good　a　chance　as　the　others　of　gaining　honour　and　winning　my　spurs。〃

〃I　have　made　up　my　mind　that　I　will　go　with　you；　Master　Walter；　if　you　will　take　me；　each　squire　has　a　man…at…arms　who　serves　him；　and　I　will　give　you　good　and　faithful　service　if　you　will　take　me　with　you。　I　spoke　to　the　smith；　my　master；　last　night　when　I　heard　the　news；　and　as　my　apprenticeship　is　out　next　week　he　was　willing　enough　to　give　me　the　few　days　which　remain。　Once　out　of　my　apprenticeship　I　may　count　to　be　a　man；　and　seeing　that　I　am　nineteen；　and　as　I　may　say　well　grown　of　my　years；　methinks　I　am　fit　for　service　as　a　man…at…arms；　and　I　would　rather　fight　behind　you　than　labour　all　my　life　in　the　smithy。〃

〃I　shall　be　glad　indeed；　Ralph；　to　have　you　with　me　if　such　be　really　your　wish；　and　I　do　not　think　that　Sir　Walter　Manny　will　say　nay；　for　they　have　been　beating　up　for　recruits　through　the　kingdom；　and　we　proved　yesterday　that　you　have　courage　as　well　as　strength。　If　he　will　consent　I　should　be　glad　indeed　to　have　so　brave　a　comrade　with　me；　so　we　may　consider　that　settled；　and　if　you　will　come　down　to　Westminster；　to　Sir　Walter　Manny's　lodging；　this　afternoon；　I　will　tell　you　what　he　says　touching　the　matter。　You　will；　of　course；　need　arms　and　armour。〃

〃I　can　provide　that；〃　Ralph　replied；　〃seeing　that　his　worshipful　the　lord…mayor　bestowed　upon　me　yesterday　five　gold　pieces　as　the　second　in　command　in　the　sports。　I　have　already　a　steel　cap　and　breast　and　back　pieces；　which　I　have　made　for　myself　in　hours　of　leisure；　and　warrant　will　stand　as　hard　a　knock　as　the　Frenchmen　can　give　them。〃

Going　across　into　the　city　with　Geoffrey；　Walter　purchased；　with　the　contents　of　the　purse　which　the　king　had　given　him；　the　garments　suited　for　his　new　position。　　He　was　fortunate　in　obtaining　some　which　fitted　him　exactly。　　These　had　been　made　for　a　young　esquire　of　the　Earl　of　Salisbury；　but　the　tailor；　when　he　heard　from　Geoffrey　for　whom　they　were　required；　and　the　need　for　instant　despatch；　parted　with　them　to　Walter；　saying　that　he　for　whom　they　were　made　could　well　wait　a　few　days；　and　that　he　would　set　his　journeymen　to　work　at　once　to　make　some　more　of　similar　fit　and　fashion。

Walter　felt　strange　in　his　new　attire；　and　by　no　means　relished　the　tightness　of　the　garments；　which　was　strictly　demanded　by　the　fashion　of　the　day。　His　long　hose；　one　of　which　was　of　a　deep　maroon；　the　other　a　bright　yellow；　came　far　up　above　the　knee；　then　came　a　short　pair　of　trunks　of　similar　colours　divided　in　the　middle。　The　tight…fitting　doublet　was　short　and　circled　at　the　waist　by　a　buff　belt　mounted　in　silver；　and　was　of　the　same　colours　as　the　hose　and　trunks。　　On　his　head　was　a　cap；　peaked　in　front；　this　was　of　maroon；　with　a　short　erect　feather　of　yellow。　The　long…pointed　shoes　matched　the　rest　of　the　costume。　There　were　three　other　suits　similar　in　fashion；　but　different　in　colour；　two　like　the　first　were　of　cloth；　the　third　was　of　white　and　blue　silk；　to　be　worn　on　grand　occasions。


〃You　look　a　very　pretty　figure；　Walter；〃　Geoffrey　said；　〃and　will　be　able　to　hold　your　own　among　the　young　gallants　of　the　court。　If　you　lack　somewhat　of　courtly　manners　it　will　matter　not　at　all；　since　you　are　leaving　so　soon　for　the　wars。

The　dress　sets　off　your　figure；　which　is　fully　two　years　in　advance　of　your　age；　seeing　that　hard　work　has　widened　you　out　and　thickened　your　muscles。　I　need　not　tell　you；　lad；　not　to　be　quarrelsome；　for　that　was　never　your　way；　but　just　at　first　your　companions　may　try　some　jests　with　you；　as　is　always　the　manner　of　young　men　with　newcomers；　but　take　them　in　a　good　spirit　and　be　sure　that；　seeing　the　strength　of　arm　and　skill　which　you　showed　yesterday　and　the　day　before；　none　will　care　to　push　matters　with　you　unduly。〃

One　of　the　journeymen　accompanied　Walter　to　Westminster　to　carry　up　from　the　boat　the　valise　with　his　clothes　and　the　armour　which　he　had　worn　in　the　sports。　　Sir　Walter　received　the　lad　with　much　kindness　and　introduced　him　to　his　future　companions。　They　were　five　in　number；　the　eldest　was　a　man　of　some　thirty　years　old；　a　Hainaulter；　who　had　accompanied　Sir　Walter　Manny　to　England　at　the　time　when　the　latter　first　came　over　as　a　young　squire　in　the　suite　of　the　Princess　Philippa。　He　was　devotedly　attached　to　the　knight；　his　master；　and　although　he　might　several　times　have　received　the　rank　of　knighthood　for　his　bravery　in　the　field；　he　preferred　remaining　in　his　position　as　esquire　and　faithful　friend　of　his　master。

The　other　four　were　between　the　ages　of　nineteen　and　twenty…one；　and　all　belonged　to　the　families　of　the　highest　nobility　of　England；　it　being　deemed　a　distinguished　honour　to　be　received　as　a　squire　by　the　most　gallant　knight　at　the　court　of　England。　Their　duties　were；　as　Walter　soon　learned；　almost　nominal；　these　being　discharged　almost　exclusively　by　John　Mervaux。　Two　of　the　young　esquires；　Richard　Coningsby　and　Edward　Clifford；　had　fought　in　the　melee；　having　been　among　the　ten　leaders　under　Clarence　Aylmer。　　They　bore　no　malice　for　the　defeat；　but　received　Walter　with　cordiality　and　kindness；　as　did　the　other　young　men。　Walter　on　his　arrival　acquainted　the　knight　with　Ralph's　wish　to　follow　him；　and　requested　permission　for　him　to　do　so。　This　was　readily　granted；　Sir　Walter　Manny　telling　the　lad　that　although　esquires　were　supposed　to　wait　entirely　upon　themselves；　to　groom　their　horses；　and　keep　their　armour　and　arms　bright　and　in　good　order；　yet；　in　point　of　fact；　young　men　of　good　families　had　the　greater　part　of　these　duties　performed　for　them　by　a　retainer　who　rode　in　the　ranks　of　their　master's　following　as　a　man…at…arms。

〃The　other　esquires　have　each　one　of　their　father's　retainers　with　them；　and　I　am　glad　that　you　should　be　in　the　same　position。　After　you　have　taken　your　midday　meal　you　had　best　go　across　to　the　Earl　of　Talbot's　and　inquire　for　the　Lady　Vernon；　who　is　still　staying　with　him。　She　told　me　at　the　king's　ball　last　night　that　she　wished　to　have　speech　with　you；　and　I　promised　to　acquaint　you　with　her　desire。　By　the　way；　dost　know　aught　of　riding？〃

〃I　have　learnt　to　sit　on　a　horse；　Sir　Walter；〃　the　lad　answered。　〃My　good　friend　Geoffrey；　the　armourer；　advised　that　I　should　learn；　and　frequently　hired　from　the　horse…dealer　an　animal　for　my　use。　I　have　often　backed　half…broken　horses　which　were　brought　up　by　graziers　from　Kent　and　Sussex　for　use　in　the　wars。　Many　of　them　abode　at　the　hostels　at　Southwark；　and　willingly　enough　granted　me　permission　to　ride　their　horses　until　they　were　sold。　Thus　I　have　had　a　good　deal　of　practice；　and　that　of　a　rough　kind；　and　seeing　that　latterly　the　horses　have；　for　the　most　part；　found　it　difficult　to　fling　me　when　sitting　barebacked　across　them；　I　think　I　could　keep　my　seat　in　the　high…peaked　saddles　on　the　most　vicious；　but　I　have　had　no　practice　at　tilting；　or　at　the　ring；　or　other　knightly　exercises。〃

〃That　matters　not　at　all；〃　the　knight　said。　〃All　these　knightly　exercises　which　you　speak　of　are　good　in　time　of　peace；　for　they　give　proficiency　and　steadiness；　but　in　time　of　war　he　who　can　sit　firmly　in　his　saddle　and　wield　sword　and　battle…axe　lustily　and　skillfully　is　equal　to　the　best；　but　never　fear；　when　this　expedition　is　over；　and　we　have　time　for　such　things；　I　will　see　that　you　are　instructed　in　them。　One　who　has　achieved　so　much　martial　skill　as　you　have　done　at　so　early　an　age　will　have　little　difficulty　in　acquiring　what　may　be　termed　the　pastime　of　chivalry。〃

Ralph　arrived　just　as　Walter　was　setting　out。　The　latter　presented　him　to　the　knight；　who　spoke　with　praise　of　the　gallantry　which　he　had　displayed　on　the　previous　day；　and　then　handed　him　over　to　John　Mervaux；　with　instructions　to　enroll　him　as　a　man…at…arms　among　his　followers；　to　inform　him　of　his　duties；　and　to　place　him　with　those　who　attended　upon　the　other　esquires。

After　seeing　Ralph　disposed　of；　Walter　went　across　to　the　Earl　of　Talbot　and　was　again　conducted　to　the　presence　of　Dame　Vernon。

〃You　have　changed　since　we　met　last；　young　sir；〃　she　said　with　a　smile；　〃though　it　is　but　a　month　since。　Then　you　were　a　'prentice　boy；　now　you　are　an　esquire　of　Sir　Walter　Manny；　and　on　the　highway　to　distinction。　That　you　will　win　it　I　am　well　assured；　since　one　who　risked　his　life　to　rescue　a　woman　and　child　whose　very　names　were　unknown　to　him　is　sure　to　turn　out　a　noble　and　valiant　knight。　I　little　thought　when　my　daughter　called　you　her　knight；　that　in　so　short　a　time　you　might　become　an　aspirant　to　that　honour。　I　hope　that　you　do　not　look　askance　at　us；　now　that　you　know　I　am　in　possession　of　the　lands　of　your　parents。　Such　changes　of　land；　you　know；　often　occur；　but　now　I　know　who　you　are；　I　would　that　the　estates　bestowed　upon　Sir　Jasper　had　belonged　to　some　other　than　you；　however；　I　trust　that　you　will　hold　no　grudge　against　us；　and　that　you　may　win　as