men of iron-第43章
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rtheless； the days came and went； as all days do； bringing with them； at last； the fateful 3d of September。
Early in the morning； while the sun was still level and red； the Prince himself； unattended； came to Myles's apartment； in the outer room of which Gascoyne was bustling busily about arranging the armor piece by piece； renewing straps and thongs； but not whistling over his work as he usually did。 The Prince nodded to him； and then passed silently through to the inner chamber。 Myles was upon his knees； and Father Ambrose； the Prince's chaplain； was beside him。 The Prince stood silently at the door； until Myles； having told his last bead； rose and turned towards him。
〃My dear Lord；〃 said the young knight； 〃I give you gramercy for the great honor you do me in coming so early for to visit me。〃
〃Nay； Myles； give me no thanks；〃 said the Prince； frankly reaching him his hand； which Myles took and set to his lips。 〃I lay bethinking me of thee this morning； while yet in bed； and so； as I could not sleep any more； I was moved to come hither to see thee。〃
Quite a number of the Prince's faction were at the breakfast at Scotland Yard that morning； among others； the Earl of Mackworth。 All were more or less oppressed with anxiety； for nearly all of them had staked much upon the coming battle。 If Alban conquered； he would be more powerful to harm them and to revenge himself upon them than ever； and Myles was a very young champion upon whom to depend。 Myles himself； perhaps； showed as little anxiety as any； he certainly ate more heartily of his breakfast that morning than many of the others。
After the meal was ended； the Prince rose。 〃The boat is ready at the stairs；〃 said he； 〃if thou wouldst go to the Tower to visit thy father； Myles； before hearing mass； I and Cholmondeley and Vere and Poins will go with thee； if ye； Lords and gentlemen； will grant me your pardon for leaving you。 Are there any others that thou wouldst have accompany thee？〃
〃I would have Sir James Lee and my squire； Master Gascoyne； if thou art so pleased to give them leave to go；〃 answered Myles。
〃So be it；〃 said the Prince。 〃We will stop at Mackworth stairs for the knight。〃
The barge landed at the west stairs of the Tower wharf； and the whole party were received with more than usual civilities by the Governor； who conducted them at once to the Tower where Lord Falworth was lodged。 Lady Falworth met them at the head of the stairs； her eyes were very red and her face pale； and as Myles raised her hand and set a long kiss upon it； her lips trembled； and she turned her face quickly away； pressing her handkerchief for one moment to her eyes。 Poor lady！ What agony of anxiety and dread did she not suffer for her boy's sake that day！ Myles had not hidden both from her and his father that he must either win or die。
As Myles turned from his mother； Prior Edward came out from the inner chamber； and was greeted warmly by him。 The old priest had arrived in London only the day before； having come down from Crosbey Priory to be with his friend's family during this their time of terrible anxiety。
After a little while of general talk； the Prince and his attendants retired； leaving the family together； only Sir James Lee and Gascoyne remaining behind。
Many matters that had been discussed before were now finally settled； the chief of which was the disposition of Lady Falworth in case the battle should go against them。 Then Myles took his leave； kissing his mother； who began crying； and comforting her with brave assurances。 Prior Edward accompanied him as far as the head of the Tower stairs； where Myles kneeled upon the stone steps； while the good priest blessed him and signed the cross upon his forehead。 The Prince was waiting in the walled garden adjoining； and as they rowed back again up the river to Scotland Yard； all were thoughtful and serious； even Poins' and Vere's merry tongues being stilled from their usual quips and jesting。
It was。 about the quarter of the hour before eleven o'clock when Myles； with Gascoyne； set forth for the lists。 The Prince of Wales； together with most of his court； had already gone on to Smithfield； leaving behind him six young knights of his household to act as escort to the young champion。 Then at last the order to horse was given； the great gate swung open； and out they rode； clattering and jingling； the sunlight gleaming and flaming and flashing upon their polished armor。 They drew rein to the right； and so rode in a little cloud of dust along the Strand Street towards London town； with the breeze blowing merrily； and the sunlight shining as sweetly and blithesomely as though they were riding to a wedding rather than to a grim and dreadful ordeal that meant either victory or death。
CHAPTER 32
In the days of King Edward III a code of laws relating to trial by battle had been compiled for one of his sons； Thomas of Woodstock。 In this work each and every detail； to the most minute； had been arranged and fixed； and from that time judicial combats had been regulated in accordance with its mandates。
It was in obedience to this code that Myles Falworth appeared at the east gate of the lists （the east gate being assigned by law to the challenger）； clad in full armor of proof； attended by Gascoyne； and accompanied by two of the young knights who had acted as his escort from Scotland Yard。
At the barriers he was met by the attorney Willingwood； the chief lawyer who had conducted the Falworth case before the High Court of Chivalry； and who was to attend him during the administration of the oaths before the King。
As Myles presented himself at the gate he was met by the Constable； the Marshal； and their immediate attendants。 The Constable； laying his hand upon the bridle…rein； said； in a loud voice： 〃Stand； Sir Knight； and tell me why thou art come thus armed to the gates of the lists。 What is thy name？ Wherefore art thou come？〃
Myles answered； 〃I am Myles Falworth； a Knight of the Bath by grace of his Majesty King Henry IV and by his creation； and do come hither to defend my challenge upon the body of William Bushy Brookhurst； Earl of Alban； proclaiming him an unknightly knight and a false and perjured liar； in that he hath accused Gilbert Reginald； Lord Falworth； of treason against our beloved Lord； his Majesty the King； and may God defend the right！〃
As he ended speaking； the Constable advanced close to his side； and formally raising the umbril of the helmet； looked him in the face。 Thereupon； having approved his identity； he ordered the gates to be opened； and bade Myles enter the lists with his squire and his friends。
At the south side of the lists a raised scaffolding had been built for the King and those who looked on。 It was not unlike that which had been erected at Devlen Castle when Myles had first jousted as belted knighthere were the same raised seat for the King； the tapestries； the hangings； the fluttering pennons； and the royal standard floating above； only here were no fair…faced ladies looking down upon him； but instead； stern…browed Lords and knights in armor and squires； and here were no merry laughing and buzz of talk and flutter of fans and kerchiefs； but all was very quiet and serious。
Myles riding upon his horse； with Gascoyne holding the bridle…rein； and his attorney walking beside him with his hand upon the stirrups； followed the Constable across the lists to an open space in front of the seat where the King sat。 Then； having reached his appointed station； he stopped； and the Constable； advancing to the foot of the stair…way that led to the dais above； announced in a loud voice that the challenger had entered the lists。
〃Then called the defendant straightway；〃 said the King； 〃for noon draweth nigh。〃
The day was very warm； and the sun； bright and unclouded； shone fiercely down upon the open lists。 Perhaps few men nowadays could bear the scorching heat of iron plates such as Myles wore； from which the body was only protected by a leathern jacket and hose。 But men's bodies in those days were tougher and more seasoned to hardships of weather than they are in these our times。 Myles thought no more of the burning iron plates that incased him than a modern soldier thinks of his dre
