sir nigel-第50章

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have　not　seen　him　in　so　merry　a　mind　since　the　night　when　we　took
the　Frenchmen　and　he　laid　his　pearl　chaplet　upon　the　head　of　de
Ribeaumont。　　See　how　he　laughs；　and　the　Prince　also。　　That　laugh
bodes　some　one　little　good；　or　I　am　the　more　mistaken。　　Have　a
care！　　Sir　John's　plate　is　empty。〃

It　was　Nigel's　turn　to　dart　away；　but　ever　in　the　intervals　he
returned　to　the　corner　whence　he　could　look　down　the　hall　and
listen　to　the　words　of　the　older　Squire。　　Delves　was　a　short；
thick…set　man　past　middle　age；　weather…beaten　and　scarred；　with　a
rough　manner　and　bearing　which　showed　that　he　was　more　at　his　ease
in　a　tent　than　a　hall。　　But　ten　years　of　service　had　taught　him
much；　and　Nigel　listened　eagerly　to　his　talk。

〃Indeed　the　King　hath　some　good　tidings；〃　he　continued。　　〃See　now；
he　has　whispered　it　to　Chandos　and　to　Manny。　　Manny　spreads　it　on
to　Sir　Reginald　Cobham；　and　he　to　Robert　Knolles；　each　smiling
like　the　Devil　over　a　friar。〃

〃Which　is　Sir　Robert　Knolles？〃　asked　Nigel　with　interest。　　〃I　have
heard　much　of　him　and　his　deeds。〃

〃He　is　the　tall　hard…faced　man　in　yellow　silk；　he　with　the
hairless　cheeks　and　the　split　lip。　　He　is　little　older　than
yourself；　and　his　father　was　a　cobbler　in　Chester；　yet　he　has
already　won　the　golden　spurs。　　See　how　he　dabs　his　great　hand　in
the　dish　and　hands　forth　the　gobbets。　　He　is　more　used　to　a
camp…kettle　than　a　silver　plate。　　The　big　man　with　the　black　beard
is　Sir　Bartholomew　Berghersh；　whose　brother　is　the　Abbot　of
Beaulieu。　　Haste；　haste！　for　the　boar's　head　is　come　and　the
plate's　to　be　cleaned。〃

The　table　manners　of　our　ancestors　at　this　period　would　have
furnished　to　the　modern　eye　the　strangest　mixture　of　luxury　and　of
barbarism。　　Forks　were　still　unknown；　and　the　courtesy　fingers；
the　index　and　the　middle　of　the　left　hand；　took　their　place。　　To
use　any　others　was　accounted　the　worst　of　manners。　　A　crowd　of
dogs　lay　among　the　rushes　growling　at　each　other　and　quarreling
over　the　gnawed　bones　which　were　thrown　to　them　by　the　feasters。
A　slice　of　coarse　bread　served　usually　as　a　plate；　but　the　King's
own　high　table　was　provided　with　silver　platters；　which　were　wiped
by　the　Squire　or　page　after　each　course。　　On　the　other　hand　the
table…linen　was　costly；　and　the　courses；　served　with　a　pomp　and
dignity　now　unknown；　comprised　such　a　variety　of　dishes　and　such
complex　marvels　of　cookery　as　no　modern　banquet　could　show。
Besides　all　our　domestic　animals　and　every　kind　of　game；　such
strange　delicacies　as　hedgehogs；　bustards；　porpoises；　squirrels；
bitterns　and　cranes　lent　variety　to　the　feast。

Each　new　course；　heralded　by　a　flourish　of　silver　trumpets；　was
borne　in　by　liveried　servants　walking　two　and　two；　with　rubicund
marshals　strutting　in　front　and　behind；　bearing　white　wands　in
their　hands；　not　only　as　badges　of　their　office；　but　also　as
weapons　with　which　to　repel　any　impertinent　inroad　upon　the　dishes
in　the　journey　from　the　kitchen　to　the　hall。　　Boar's　heads；
enarmed　and　endored　with　gilt　tusks　and　flaming　mouths；　were
followed　by　wondrous　pasties　molded　to　the　shape　of　ships；　castles
and　other　devices　with　sugar　seamen　or　soldiers　who　lost　their　own
bodies　in　their　fruitless　defense　against　the　hungry　attack。
Finally　came　the　great　nef；　a　silver　vessel　upon　wheels　laden　with
fruit　and　sweetmeats　which　rolled　with　its　luscious　cargo　down　the
line　of　guests。　　Flagons　of　Gascony；　of　Rhine　wine；　of　Canary　and
of　Rochelle　were　held　in　readiness　by　the　attendants；　but　the　age；
though　luxurious；　was　not　drunken；　and　the　sober　habits　of　the
Norman　had　happily　prevailed　over　the　license　of　those　Saxon
banquets　where　no　guest　might　walk　from　the　table　without　a　slur
upon　his　host。　　Honor　and　hardihood　go　ill　with　a　shaking　hand　or
a　blurred　eye。

Whilst　wine；　fruit　and　spices　were　handed　round　the　high　tables
the　squires　had　been　served　in　turn　at　the　farther　end　of　the
hall。　　Meanwhile　round　the　King　there　had　gathered　a　group　of
statesmen　and　soldiers；　talking　eagerly　among　themselves。　　The
Earl　of　Stafford；　the　Earl　of　Warwick；　the　Earl　of　Arundel；　Lord
Beauchamp　and　Lord　Neville　were　assembled　at　the　back　of　his
chair；　with　Lord　Percy　and　Lord　Mowbray　at　either　side。　　The
little　group　blazed　with　golden　chains　and　jeweled　chaplets；　flame
colored　paltocks　and　purple　tunics。

Of　a　sudden　the　King　said　something　over　his　shoulder　to　Sir
William　de　Pakyngton　the　herald；　who　advanced　and　stood　by　the
royal　chair。　　He　was　a　tall　and　noble…featured　man；　with　long
grizzled　beard　which　rippled　down　to　the　gold…linked　belt　girdling
his　many…colored　tabard。　　On　his　head　he　had　placed　the　heraldic
barret…cap　which　bespoke　his　dignity；　and　he　slowly　raised　his
white　wand　high　in　the　air；　while　a　great　hush　fell　upon　the　hall。

〃My　lords　of　England；〃　said　he；　〃knight　bannerets；　knights；
squires；　and　all　others　here　present　of　gentle　birth　and
coat…armor；　know　that　your　dread　and　sovereign　lord；　Edward；　King
of　England　and　of　France；　bids　me　give　you　greeting　and　commands
you　to　come　hither　that　he　may　have　speech　with　you。〃

In　an　instant　the　tables　were　deserted　and　the　whole　company　had
clustered　in　front　of　the　King's　chair。　　Those　who　had　sat　on
either　side　of　him　crowded　inward　so　that　his　tall　dark　figure
upreared　itself　amid　the　dense　circle　of　his　guests。

With　a　flush　upon　his　olive　cheeks　and　with　pride　smoldering　in
his　dark　eyes；　he　looked　round　him　at　the　eager　faces　of　the　men
who　had　been　his　comrades　from　Sluys　and　Cadsand　to　Crecy　and
Calais。　　They　caught　fire　from　that　warlike　gleam　in　his　masterful
gaze；　and　a　sudden　wild；　fierce　shout　pealed　up　to　the　vaulted
ceiling；　a　soldierly　thanks　for　what　was　passed　and　a　promise　for
what　was　to　come。　　The　King's　teeth　gleamed　in　a　quick　smile；　and
his　large　white　hand　played　with　the　jeweled　dagger　in　his　belt。

〃By　the　splendor　of　God！〃　said　he　in　a　loud　clear　voice；　〃I　have
little　doubt　that　you　will　rejoice　with　me　this　night；　for　such
tidings　have　come　to　my　ears　as　may　well　bring　joy　to　everyone　of
you。　　You　know　well　that　our　ships　have　suffered　great　scathe　from
the　Spaniards；　who　for　many　years　have　slain　without　grace　or　ruth
all　of　my　people　who　have　fallen　into　their　cruel　hands。　　Of　late
they　have　sent　their　ships　into　Flanders；　and　thirty　great　cogs
and　galleys　lie　now　at　Sluys　well…filled　with　archers　and
men…at…arms　and　ready　in　all　ways　for　battle。　　I　have　it　to…day
from　a　sure　hand　that；　having　taken　their　merchandise　aboard；
these　ships　will　sail　upon　the　next　Sunday　and　will　make　their　way
through　our　Narrow　Sea。　　We　have　for　a　great　time　been
long…suffering　to　these　people；　for　which　they　have　done　us　many
contraries　and　despites；　growing　ever　more　arrogant　as　we　grow
more　patient。　　It　is　in　my　mind　therefore　that　we　hie　us　to…morrow
to　Winchelsea；　where　we　have　twenty　ships；　and　make　ready　to　sally
out　upon　them　as　they　pass。　　May　God　and　Saint　George　defend　the
right！〃

A　second　shout；　far　louder　and　fiercer　than　the　first；　came　like　a
thunderclap　after　the　King's　words。　　It　was　the　bay　of　a　fierce
pack　to　their　trusted　huntsman。

Edward　laughed　again　as　he　looked　round　at　the　gleaming　eyes；　the
waving　arms　and　the　flushed　joyful　faces　of　his　liegemen。　　〃Who
hath　fought　against　these　Spaniards？〃　he　asked。　　〃　Is　there　anyone
here　who　can　tell　us　what　manner　of　men　they　be？〃

A　dozen　hands　went　up　into　the　air；　but　the　King　turned　to　the
Earl　of　Suffolk　at　his　elbow。

〃You　have　fought　them；　Thomas？〃　said　he。

〃Yes；　sire；　I　was　in　the　great　sea…fight　eight　years　ago　at　the
Island　of　Guernsey；　when　Lord　Lewis　of　Spain　held　the　sea　against
the　Earl　of　Pembroke。〃

〃How　found　you　them；　Thomas？〃

〃Very　excellent　people；　sire；　and　no　man　could　ask　for　better。　　On
every　ship　they　have　a　hundred　crossbowmen　of　Genoa；　the　best　in
the　world；　and　their　spearmen　also　are　very　hardy　men。　　They　would
throw　great　cantles　of　iron　from　the　tops　of　the　masts；　and　many
of　our　people　met　their　death　through　it。　　If　we　can　bar　their　way
in　the　Narrow　Sea；　then　there　will　be　much　hope　of　honor　for　all
of　us。〃

〃Your　words　are　very　welcome；　Thomas；〃　said　the　King；　〃and　I　make
no　doubt　that　they