saint george for england-第16章
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The interest in the struggle had increased with each round； and wagers were freely laid upon the result。 According to custom the two champions had laid aside their leathern shirts and had donned mail armour； for it was considered that the crowning contest between the two picked young swordsmen of the city would be a severe one； and greater protection to the limbs was needed。
Before taking their places they were led up to the royal pavilion； where they were closely inspected by the king and his nobles。
〃You are sure that this man is still an apprentice？〃 the king asked the Lord Mayor； who was seated next to him； 〃he has the appearance of a man…at…arms； and a stout one too； the other is a likely stripling； and is； as I have seen； marvellously dexterous with his sword； but he is but a boy while the other is a grown man。
〃He is an apprentice； my liege； although his time will be up in a few days； while the other has yet three years to serve； but he works for an armourer； and is famed through the city； boy as he is； for his skill with weapons。〃
After a few words to each； exhorting them to do their best in the sight of the queen and her ladies； the king dismissed them。
〃I know the young one now！〃 the Prince of Wales said； clapping his hands as the apprentices turned away to take their places。 〃My Lord Talbot； I will wager a gold chain with you upon the smaller of the two。〃
〃I will take your wager；〃 the noble answered； 〃but I am by no means sure that I shall win it； for I have watched your champion closely； and the downright blows which he struck would seem to show that he has the muscle and strength of a man though still but a boy。〃
The event justified the Prince of Wales's confidence； at the commencement of the struggle Ralph Smith tried to beat down his opponent by sheer strength as he had done his prior opponents； but to his surprise he found that all his efforts could not break down his opponent's guard。 Walter indeed did not appear to take advantage of his superior lightness and activity； but to prefer to prove that in strength as well as skill he was equal to his antagonist。 In the latter respect there was no comparison； for as soon as the smith began to relax his rain of blows Walter took the offensive and with a sweeping blow given with all his strength broke down his opponent's guard and smote him with such force upon his steel cap that； blunted as the sword was； it clove through the iron； and stretched the smith senseless on the ground。 A loud shout broke from the assemblage。 The marshal came up to Walter； and removing his helmet； led him to the royal pavilion； while Ralph was carried to a tent near； where a leech attended his wound。
CHAPTER VI： THE MELEE
You have won your prize stoutly and well； sir 'prentice；〃 the king said。 〃I should not have deemed it possible that one of your age could have smitten such a blow； and right glad should I be of a few hundred lads of your mettle to follow me against the French。 What is your calling？〃
〃I am an armourer； my liege；〃 Walter answered。
〃And you are as good at mending armour as you are at marring it；〃 the king said； 〃you will be a rare craftsman one of these days。 'Tis a rare pity so promising a swordsman should be lost to our army。 Wouldst like to change your calling； boy； and take to that of arms？〃
〃It is my hope to do so； sir；〃 Walter answered modestly； 〃and his grace the Prince of Wales has already promised me that I shall some day ride behind him to the wars。〃
〃Ah！ Edward；〃 the king ejaculated； 〃how is this？ Have you been already enlisting a troop for the wars？〃
〃No； sir；〃 the young prince replied； 〃but one day； now some four years since； when I was riding with my Lord Talbot and others in the fields near the Tower I did see this lad lead his play…fellows to the assault of an earthen castle held by others； and he fought so well and gallantly that assuredly no knight could have done better； until he was at last stricken senseless； and when he recovered I told him that should he choose to be a man…at…arms I would enlist him in my following to the wars。〃
The king laughed。
〃I deemed not that the lads of the city indulged in such rough sports； but I wonder not； seeing that the contingent which my good city of London furnishes me is ever one of the best in my army。 We shall see the lad at work again tomorrow and will then talk more of it。 Now let us bestow upon him the prize that he has so well earned。〃
Walter bent on one knee； and the queen handed to him a sword of the best Spanish steel； which was the prize given by the city to the victor。 The king handed him a heavy purse of gold pieces； saying：
〃This may aid in purchasing your freedom。〃
Walter bowed deeply and murmured some words of thanks； and was then led off by the marshal。 After this many of the young nobles of the court jousted on horseback； ran at the ring； and performed other feats of knightly exercise to the great pleasure of the multitude。 The marshal on leading Walter away said to him； 〃You will be captain of the city band tomorrow； and I must therefore tell you what the king purports。 He has prepared a surprise for the citizens； and the present show will be different to anything ever before seen in London。 Both to show them somewhat of the sieges which are taking place on the borders of France and the Low Countries； in which Sir Walter Manny and many other gallant knights have so greatly distinguished themselves； and as an exercise for the young nobles； he has determined that there shall be a castle erected。 It will be built of wood； with battlements and towers； with a moat outside。 As soon as the lists are over a large number of workmen will commence its erection； the pieces are all sawn and prepared。 There will be machines； ladders； and other appliances。 The ten champions on either side will fight as knights； you will have a hundred apprentices as men…at…arms； and the court party will have an equal number of young esquires。 You； as winner of today's tourney； will have the choice of defence or attack。 I should advise you to take the defence； since it is easier and requires less knowledge of war； and many of the other party have accompanied their fathers and masters in the field and have seen real sieges carried out。〃
〃Can you show me a plan of the castle；〃 Walter said； 〃if it be not contrary to the rules； in order that I may think over tonight the plan of fighting tomorrow？〃
〃Here it is；〃 the marshal said。 〃You see that the walls are 200 feet long； they are 12 feet in height； with a tower at the end and one over the gateway in the centre six feet high。 There is a drawbridge defended by an outwork of palisades six feet high。 The moat will be a dry one； seeing that we have no means of filling it with water； but it will be supposed to be full； and must be crossed on planks or bridges。 Two small towers on wheels will be provided； which may be run up to the edge of the moat； and will be as high as the top of the towers。
〃Surely they cannot make all this before morning？〃 Walter said。
〃They will do so；〃 the marshal replied。 〃The castle has been put together in the king's courtyard； and the pieces are all numbered。 Two hundred carpenters will labour all night at it； besides a party of labourers for the digging of the moat。 It will be a rare show； and will delight both the citizens and the ladies of the court； for such a thing has never before been attempted。 But the king grudges not the expense which it will cost him； seeing that spectacles of this kind do much to arouse the warlike spirit of the people。 Here is a list of the various implements which will be provided； only it is understood that the mangonels and arblasts will not be provided with missiles； seeing that many would assuredly be killed by them。 They will be employed； however； to show the nature of the work； and parties of men…at…arms will be told off to serve them。 Crossbows and arrows will be used； but the weapons will be blunted。 You will see that there are ladders； planks for making bridges； long hooks for hauling men down from the wall； beams for battering down the gate； axes for cutting down the palisades； and all other weapons。 The ten who will serve under you as knights have alr
