A March on London: Being a Story of Wat Tyler's Insurrection Read online

  CHAPTER IV

  IN LONDON

  "I am glad indeed to see you, my young swordsman," Sir Ralph, who waswaiting at the door to receive them, said to Edgar after he had greetedhis wife and children. "This affair at Dartford threatens to be moreserious than I expected. I was on the point of starting for home when Iheard of the trouble, and should have done so had not the king asked meto remain here, seeing that at present his uncles and many other noblesare absent, and that, as he was pleased to say, my advice and swordmight be useful to him should the trouble grow serious. When,therefore, we received news that all that part of Kent was in a blaze,I sent out a messenger to you, dame, to come hither to me. What is thelatest news?"

  "Master Ormskirk can best tell you, Sir Ralph, seeing that he washimself yesterday in Dartford and learned something of theirintentions."

  Edgar then recounted what he had seen and heard in the streets ofDartford.

  "Your account tallies with the news that came here but an hour since,namely, that a crowd of men were marching towards Rochester; a panicprevails in that town, and the wise heads have sent off this messenger,as if, forsooth, an army could be got together and sent down to theiraid before these rioters reach the place."

  "I am glad to come up, husband," Lady De Courcy said. "'Tis some timesince I was in town, and I would fain see what people are wearing, forthe fashions change so rapidly that if one is away from town six monthsone finds that everyone stares, as if one had come from a barbarouscountry."

  "I was afraid of that when I wrote to you," Sir Ralph laughed, "andfelt that your coming up would cause me to open my purse widely; but,indeed, in this case you are not far wrong, for there has been a greatchange in the fashions both of men and women in the last year. Theyoung king is fond of brave attire, and loves to see those around himbrightly arrayed, and indeed it seems to me that money is spentover-lavishly, and that it were cheaper for a man to build him a newcastle than to buy him suits of new raiment for himself and his wife.The men at Court all dress in such tightly fitting garments, that, formy part, I wonder how they get into them."

  "And the women, husband?"

  "Oh, as to that I say nothing; you must use your own eyes in thatmatter. However, just at present men's thoughts are too much occupiedby these troubles in Essex and Kent to think much of feasting andentertainments, and it will be well to wait to see what comes of itbefore deciding on making new purchases."

  "Is there any chance of trouble in the city, father?" Albert asked.

  "I know not, lad. The better class of citizens are assuredly opposed tothose who make these troubles, although they have often shown that theycan make troubles themselves when they think that their privileges areassailed; still, as they know that their booths are likely to beransacked, were bands of rioters to obtain possession of the town, theywill doubtless give us any aid in their power. But the matter does notdepend upon them; there are ever in great towns a majority composed ofthe craftsmen, the butchers, and others, together with all the lowerrabble, who are ready to join in tumults and seditions; and likeenough, if the rioters come here, they will take part with them, whilethe burgesses will be only too glad to put up their shutters and do orsay naught that would give the mob an excuse for breaking into theirmagazines.

  "Would that Lancaster were here with a thousand or so of men-at-arms,"he went on, gloomily; "there is no one at the Court who can takecommand. The king this morning asked me if I would undertake thedefence of the palace; but I said to him: 'I am but a simple knight,your Majesty, and neither the young lords of the Court nor the citizenswould pay any heed to my orders; moreover, I am not one of those whosehead is good to plan matters. I would die in your Majesty's service,and would warrant that many of your enemies would go down before I did.I could set a host in battle array, were there a host here; but as towhat course to follow, or how it were best to behave at such a pinch,are matters beyond me. As to these, it were best that your Majesty tookcounsel with those whom the Duke of Lancaster has appointed, and towhom such business appertains.

  "'If you will give me orders I will carry them out, even if I am badeto defend London Bridge with but half a dozen men-at-arms, and at suchwork I might do as well as another; but as to counsel I have none togive, save that were I in your place I would issue a proclamation tothese knaves saying that you would hold no parley with men having armsin their hands, but that if they would peacefully disperse you wouldorder that a commission be appointed to examine into their complaints,and that any ills that proved to be justified should be righted, butthat if forced you will give nothing, and that if they advance againstLondon their blood must be on their own heads.

  "'Should they still come on I would shut myself up in the Tower, whichhas a good garrison, and where you may well hold out against all therascaldom of the country until your barons can raise their levies andcome to your assistance. Still, it may well be, your Majesty, thatthese fellows will think better of it, and may, after all, disperseagain to their homes. I pray you, take no heed of my words, but referthe matter to those accustomed to deal with affairs of state. The nobleprince, your father, knew that he could lay his orders on me, and thatI would carry them out to the utmost of my strength. If he said to me,"Lead a party, Sir Ralph, to attack that bridge," I gave no thought asto whether the defences were too strong to be carried or not; or if heentrusted the command of a post to me, and said, "Defend it against allodds until I come to your assistance," he knew that it would be done,but more than that I never pretended to; and I deem not that, as I havegrown older, I know more of such matters than I did when I was in theprime of my strength.'"

  "And what said his Majesty, Sir Ralph?"

  "He laughed and said that I was the first he had known who was notready to give him advice, and that he would that all were as chary ofso doing as I was. When I told him this morning that I had sent for youand my son and daughter, as I misliked leaving you in the centre ofthese troubles, he offered apartments in the Tower, but I said that,with his permission, I would remain lodged here, for that, seeing hislady mother was away, I thought that you would prefer this lodging, asthere is here a fair garden where you and Aline can walk undisturbed,to the Tower, which is full of armed men, young gallants, and others."

  "It will indeed be more pleasant, Sir Ralph, for in the Tower Alinecould never venture from my side, and there would be neither peace norquietness."

  The city had already stretched beyond the walls, and on the risingground between it and the Tower, and on the rise behind the latter,extending to some distance east, many houses had been built. Some ofthese were the property of nobles and officials of the Court, whileothers had been built by citizens who let them to persons of degree,who only came occasionally to Court on business or pleasure. The housein which Sir Ralph had taken up his lodging was the property of atrader who, when the house was not let to one needing it all, residedthere himself as a protection to the property it contained againstrobbers or ill-doers, often letting one or more rooms to those whoneeded not the whole house. Thus Sir Ralph was enabled to obtain goodaccommodation for his family.

  "The first thing to be done," he went on, "is to take the lads to atailor's to obtain clothes more suitable than those they wear."

  "I was going to ask you if you would be good enough to do so, SirRalph," Edgar said. "My father has furnished me with money for thepurpose."

  "That is well," the knight said, "though indeed it would have matterednot if he had not done so, for I had intended that you and Albertshould have garments of similar fashion at my cost, seeing how much Iowe to you."

  "Indeed, Sir Ralph, such obligation as there is, is far more thandischarged by your kindness in speaking of me to the king and offeringto present me to him; indeed, I am ashamed that what was a pleasure tome, and was done from the love I bear your son, should be regarded asworthy of thanks, much less as an obligation."

  "Cannot we come with you also?" Lady De Courcy said. "From what you saywe must need garments to the full as much as the boys; besi
des, this isAline's first visit to town. We saw but little as we rode through, andwe would fain look at the shops and see the finery before I make mychoice."

  "So be it, wife; indeed, I had not intended that you should staybehind."

  It was but a quarter of a mile's walk to Aldersgate, and as theyreached East Chepe, the young people found infinite amusement in gazingat the goods in the traders' booths, and in watching the throng in thestreet. It was late in the afternoon now, and many of the citizens'wives and daughters were abroad. These were dressed for the most partin costly materials of sober hues, and Dame Matilda noted that a greatchange had taken place since she had last been in London, not only inthe fashion, but in the costliness of the material; for with the deathof the old king and the accession of a young one fond of gaiety andrich dresses, the spirit of extravagance had spread rapidly among allclasses. With these were citizens, of whom the elder ones clung to theolder fashions, while even the young men still displayed a sobriety intheir costumes that contrasted strongly with the brilliancy of severalgroups of young courtiers. These sauntered along the streets, passingremarks upon all who passed, and casting looks of admiration at some ofthe pretty daughters of the citizens.

  Among all these moved craftsmen and apprentices, the former taking totheir employers work they had finished at home, the latter carryingmessages, hurrying nimbly through the crowd, or exchanging saucyremarks with each other, for which they were sometimes sharply rebukedby their elders. From East Chepe the party passed on through Chepe toSt. Paul's, and then having chosen the shop at which they could maketheir purchases the ladies entered a trader's booth, while Sir Ralphwent in with the two lads to another hard by.

  "What can I serve you with, sir knight?"

  "I require two suits for my son and this gentleman, his friend," SirRalph said. "I desire clothes befitting a presentation to the king, andwish them to be of the fashion, but not extravagantly so."

  At the trader's orders his apprentices showed numerous samples, most ofthem light and bright in colour.

  "I want something more sober in hue," the knight said. "These are wellenough for men with long purses, and who can afford ample provision ofgarments, but they would show every spot and stain, and would soon bepast wearing; besides, although doubtless such as are mostly used atCourt, they would be useful for that only, for in the country theywould be far too conspicuous for wear."

  Other goods were brought down, and Edgar's eye at once fixed upon arich maroon. Sir Ralph took longer before he made his choice forAlbert, but finally fixed upon a somewhat light blue, which well suitedthe lad's fair complexion and light golden hair. While they werechoosing, the mercer had sent into his neighbour, a tailor, who nowmeasured them. The goods were of satin, and both suits were to be madein precisely similar fashion, namely, a close-fitting tunic reachingdown only to the hips. They had loose hanging sleeves, lined with whitesilk, which was turned over and scolloped; the hose, which were of thesame colour as the doublets, were tight fitting.

  The caps were to match the dresses in colour. They were turned up atthe brim, resembling in shape those still worn in Spain. As the matterwas pressing, the tailor promised that both suits should be ready bythe following evening.

  It took the ladies longer to make their purchases, and it was some timebefore they issued out from the mantua makers, when the dame informedher husband that she had chosen white satin for Aline's bodice, whichwas to be tight fitting, in the fashion, and trimmed round the bottomand neck with white fur, while the skirt was of lilac and of the samematerial. For herself, she had chosen a purple robe reaching below theknees, with white skirt, both being of satin. The caps, which wereclosely fitting to the head, were of the same material, and of lightyellow for herself and lilac for Aline.

  "We shall have to economize, my lady," Sir Ralph laughed. "'Tis wellthat I am too old for foppery."

  "That is all very well, Sir Ralph, but you must remember that you had anew suit the last time you were in London, and have not worn it fromthen till now, and I will warrant me that it cost well-nigh as much asAline's garments or mine."

  While waiting for the ladies, two sword-belts had been bought for thelads, Edgar's being embroidered with gold thread, Albert's with silver.

  "Now, boys, I think that you will do," Sir Ralph said. "You may not beable to compete with some of those young peacocks of the Court, but youwill make a sufficiently brave show, and need not feel envious of thebest of them."

  When the shopping was completed they returned to their lodgings. Herethey partook of a meal, after which Sir Ralph went to the Tower, whilehis wife and daughter, fatigued by their day's journey, speedily betookthemselves to their beds. The lads sat talking for some time over theevents of the day.

  "I fear, Edgar," Albert said, presently, "that from my father choosingfor me so light a coloured suit, instead of a graver hue like thatwhich you selected, he has hopes that I shall not go into the Churchafter all."

  "Well, why should you, Albert? You are gaining in strength, and I doubtnot that you will yet grow into a strong man. Of course as long as youwere weak and delicate, and, as it seemed, would never be able to bearthe weight of armour, it was but natural that he should regard a lifein the Church as one that was best fitted for you, and that youyourself would be perfectly willing to follow that profession, but nowit is wholly different; besides, even if at present you may not wish,as I do, to be a soldier, you may well become a wise councillor, andhold high position at Court. There are few young nobles, indeed, whohave so much education as you, and surely such a life would be betterthan burying yourself in a cloister."

  Albert was silent for some time. "Do you really think, Edgar," he said,at last, "that I shall be ever able to bear arms with credit? To becomea councillor, one must needs be a courtier, and I am sure that a lifeat Court would suit me no better than it would suit you, therefore thatthought I must put aside. My tastes are all for a quiet life in thecountry, and you know I could be very happy living at home as I havedone from my childhood. But if I am to be in the world I must bear mypart, and if needs be follow the king to battle, and unless I could domy duty manfully I would rather follow out the life I thought must bemine, and enter the Church. I should like, most of all, to be able tobe always with you, Edgar, and to fight by your side. We have long beenlike brothers. I know that you will win rank and fame, and though Ihave no ambition for myself I should glory in your success, and be wellcontent with your friendship as my share in it."

  "That, you may be sure, you will always have, Albert, and as to yourplan, I see not why you should not carry it out. In war time you and Icould ride together, and in peace you could live at the castle, whichis so close to St. Alwyth that we can ride over and visit each otherdaily when I am there, which mayhap would not be very often, for whenEngland and France are at peace, and there is no trouble between us andScotland, I may join some noble leader of free-lances in the service ofan Italian or German prince. Such, when there is peace at home, is thebest avenue for fame and distinction."

  "I cannot say yet what I may feel as I gain strength and skill in arms,but it may be that even there I may be your companion should strengthand health permit it."

  "That indeed would be good--so good that I can scarce yet believe thatit can be so, although there is no reason to the contrary. It has foryears been a grief to me to know that our paths lay so far apart, andthat the time must soon be coming when we should be separated, and forever. It was with some faint hope that exercise might bring more colourto your cheeks, and that with strength and skill in arms might comethoughts of another life than that of the cloister, that I first urgedyou to let me teach you the use of arms. That hope has grown graduallysince I found how much you benefited by the exercise, and acquired astrength of arm that I had hardly hoped for.

  "Moreover, Albert, you cannot but be proud of the name your father andthose before him have won by their gallant deeds, but if you went intothe Church it would no longer appear in the roll of the knights ofEngland. It would be il
l indeed that a line of knights, who have sowell played their part on every battle-field since your ancestor cameover with the Conqueror, should become extinct."

  "I had never thought of that before, Edgar," Albert said, after a longpause. "You see, for years I have looked forward to entering the Churchas a matter settled for me by nature. I had no enthusiasm for it, butit seemed there was no other place for me. Of late, since I have gainedhealth and strength, I have seen that possibly it might be otherwise.At first I struggled against the idea and deemed it the suggestion ofthe Evil One, but it has grown in spite of me, although I never allowedmyself fully to entertain it, until I saw the joy with which my fatherperceived that I was not altogether the weakling that he had deemed me.

  "Since then I have thought of it incessantly, but until now have beenunable to come to any decision. On the one hand I should please myfather, and at the same time satisfy the desire that has of late sprungup for a more stirring life than that of the Church, and should be ableto remain your comrade. On the other hand, I have always regarded theChurch as my vocation, and did not like to go back from it, andmoreover, although stronger than of old, I thought that I might neverattain such health and strength as might render me a worthy knight, andfeared that when tried I should be found wanting. Thus I have wavered,and knew not which way my inclinations drew me most strongly, but Inever thought of what you have just said, that if I were to enter theChurch our line would come to an end. However, there is no occasiondefinitely to settle for another year yet, but I will tell my fatherto-morrow that if at the end of that time he deems that I have so farcontinued to gain in strength that he may consider me not unworthy torepresent our name in the field, I shall be ready to submit myself tohis wishes, while, upon the other hand, should he think me, as before,better fitted for the Church. I will enter it at once."

  "I am glad, indeed, to hear you say so, Albert. I think that there isno reason to doubt that you will continue to gain strength, and willprove worthy of your name."

  Accordingly, the next morning Albert asked his father to accompany himinto the garden, and there detailed to him the conversation that he hadhad with Edgar, and its result.

  "Glad indeed am I, Albert, that this should have come about," theknight said, laying his hand on the lad's shoulder. "What your friendsaid to you has often been in my mind. It was a sore thought, my son.There have ever been De Courcys on the battle-roll of England since ourancestor fought at Hastings; and I might well feel grieved at thethought that it might possibly appear there no more, and the pleasurethat you have given me is more than I can express. I will not allowmyself to fear that, now you have made so fair a start, you will failto gather fresh strength and vigour, and I will wager that you willbear our banner as forward in the fight as those who have gone beforeyou.

  "I blame myself deeply that I have misjudged you so long. Had Iencouraged, instead of slighting, you, you might long since have begunto gain strength, and might early have commenced the exercises that areso essential to form a good knight. In future, I will do all I can tomake up for lost time. As far as swordsmanship goes, you can have nobetter instructor than your friend. I myself will train you in knightlyexercises on horseback--to vault into the saddle and to throw yourselfoff when a horse is going at full speed, to use your lance and carryoff a ring; but I will take care not to press you beyond your strength,and not to weary you with over-long work. My effort will be to increaseyour store of strength and not to draw unduly upon it; and I willwarrant me that if you improve as rapidly under my tuition as you haveunder that of Master Edgar, before a year is up I shall be able toplace you in the train of some noble knight without a fear that youwill prove yourself inferior to others of your own age."

  Going into the house again when the morning meal was served, Sir Ralphsaid:

  "There is bad news as to the rioters in Kent, lads. Last night I heardthat a message had arrived, saying that they had entered Rochester,broken open the jail, and released not only those held there fornon-payment of taxes, but malefactors; that they had been joined by therabble of the town, had slain several notaries and lawyers, and torn upall parchments, deeds, and registers; had maltreated some of theclergy, broken open cellars and drunk the wine, and that from thencethey intended to march to Maidstone and then to Canterbury, raising thecountry as they went."

  "This should at least give us time for preparations, Sir Ralph."

  "So I pointed out last night," the knight replied; "but who is to makethe preparations? A proclamation was drawn up by the council, warningall to return to their homes on pain of punishment, and promising aninquiry into grievances. It is to be scattered broadcast through Kentand Essex, but it is likely to have no effect. The men know well enoughthat they have rendered themselves liable to punishment, and as theywere ready to run that risk when they first took up arms, it is notlikely that they will be frightened at the threat now when they findnone to oppose them, and that their numbers grow from day to day.Seeing that time is likely to do little for us, I would rather they hadmarched straight on to London; they would then have arrived here inmore sober mood; but now that they have begun to slay and to drink,they will get fiercer and more lawless every day, and as their numbersincrease so will their demands."

  Day by day more and more serious news came in. Canterbury was occupiedby the rebels, and they declared their intention of slaying thearchbishop, but he had left before they had arrived. There theycommitted many excesses, executed three rich citizens, opened theprisons, killed all lawyers, and burned all deeds and registers as theyhad done at Rochester, and kept the whole place in a state of terrorwhile they remained, which they did while the stores of wine remainedunexhausted.

  "Why should they be so bitter against lawyers, and why should theydestroy deeds and registers, father?" Albert asked.

  "It can be but for one reason, Albert. The great part of them havesmall plots of land, an acre or two, or perhaps more, on terms ofvilleinage, paying so much in kind or money, and their desire is todestroy all deeds and documents in order that they may henceforth payno rent, claiming the land for themselves, and defying those from whomthey hold it to show their titles as lords of the soil. There must besome shrewd knaves among them. This Wat the Tyler and the men of thetowns can care naught for such matters; but they suffer those who havean interest in the matter to do as they choose. They know that theirdeeds have so far committed them that they will not dare to draw back,and must follow Wat's leadership implicitly. You will see erelong thatfrom murdering lawyers they will take to murdering lords."

  "If the council here is taking no steps to summon the knights of theshire and the feudal lords to hasten hither with their levies andretainers, how do they think to arrest the course of the ill-doers?"Edgar asked.

  "Their opinion is that the king has but to ride out and meet therebels, and that they will all, on seeing him, fall on their knees andcrave pardon, whereupon he will promise to redress their grievances,and they will disperse to their homes. I have no such hope. Is itlikely that they will quietly go home, having once worked themselves upto fight for what they call their rights, and with the thought oftaking vengeance on those they consider their enemies, and of unlimiteddrinking and feasting, and, on the part of some, of rich plunder inLondon, when they see that there is no one to prevent their taking thissatisfaction? Nothing but force will avail, and though something mightbe done that way, it is more difficult than it looks.

  "The knights of the shire could hardly raise their levies, for most ofthose who would be called out are already with the mob, and of theothers few would venture to answer to the summons. When they returnedthey might find their houses burned and their families slain. You seewe know not how far this fire may spread. We hear that both in Suffolkand Hertfordshire men are assembling and parties marching away to jointhose of Essex. In truth, lads, the thing is far more formidable than Ideemed it at first, for they say that two hundred thousand men willmarch on London."

  "But in the French Jacquerie there were as many as that,
Sir Ralph, andyet they were put down."

  "They were so, but only after they had done vast damage. Besides, lad,your English villein differs from your French serf. An Englishman, ofwhatever rank, holds by what he considers his rights, and is ready tofight for them. Our archers have proved that the commonalty are asbrave as the knights, and though badly armed, this rascaldom may fightsturdily. The French peasant has no rights, and is a chattel, that hislord may dispose of as he chooses. As long as they met with noopposition all who fell into their hands were destroyed, and thecastles ravaged and plundered, the peasants behaving like a pack of madwolves. Our fellows are of sterner stuff, and they will have a mind tofight, if it be but to show that they can fight as well as theirbetters. Plunder is certainly not their first object, and it isprobable that whatever may be done that way will be the work of thescum of the towns, who will join them solely with that object.

  "I doubt whether less than five thousand men-at-arms and archers wouldbe able to show face to such an array as is said to be approaching,especially as there will be many archers among them who, although notto compare with those who fought at Poictiers, are yet capable of usingtheir weapons with effect. I see no prospect of gathering such a force,and the matter is all the worse, as the rascaldom of London will bewith them, and we shall have these to keep in order, as well as copewith those in the field. Besides, one must remember that in a matterlike this we cannot fully depend on any force that we may gather. Thearchers and men-at-arms would be drawn largely from the same class asthe better portion of these rioters, and would be slack in fightingagainst them. Certainly, those of the home counties could not bedepended upon, and possibly even in the garrison of the Tower itselfthere may be many who cannot be trusted. The place, if well held,should stand out for months, but I am by no means sure that it will doso when the time comes. I shall certainly raise my voice against theking abiding here. He with his friends could ride away withoutdifficulty, if he leaves before the place is beleaguered."

  "I suppose you will take my mother and sister into the Tower, father,should the mob come hither?"

  "That I know not, nor can I say until I see the temper of the garrisonwhen these rioters approach."

  On the day after the new clothes arrived, Sir Ralph took his son andEdgar to the castle and presented them to the king.

  "This is my son, your Majesty, of whom I spoke to you. I am happy tosay that I think he will some day be able to follow you to battle as Ifollowed the noble prince your father; for he has now resolved, shouldhis health remain good, to take up the profession of arms."

  "I am glad to hear it," the young king said, "for indeed 'tis moresuited to the son of a valiant knight like yourself, Sir Ralph, thanthat of the Church, excellent though that may be for those who haveinclinations for it. He seems to me a fair young gentleman, and onewhom it would please me to see often at Court."

  "This, your Majesty, is Master Edgar Ormskirk, a young gentleman ofgood family, but his father has not, although holding more than aknight's feu, taken up that rank, his tastes being wholly turnedtowards learning, he being a distinguished scholar, having passedthrough our own university at Oxford, and those of Padua and Pisa. Heis one of my most esteemed friends. Master Edgar, as I told you, isgreatly skilled for his years in the use of the sword, to which he haslong devoted himself with great ardour. It is to him my son is indebtedfor having gained health and strength, together with more skill in thesword than I had ever looked for from him. I beg to recommend himhighly to your Majesty's favour, and can answer for his worth, as wellas for his strength and skill."

  "You could have no better recommendation, Master Ormskirk," the youngking said, pleasantly, "and I trust that although your father cares notfor knighthood, you will have an opportunity of gaining that honour foryourself."

  "I should value it, if won fairly, your Majesty, as the greatest honourI could gain. It is not that my father holds the honour more lightlythan I do, but I know that 'tis his opinion that if given merely forpossession of land 'tis but an accident of birth, but that if thereward of bravery, 'tis an honour that is of the highest, and one that,were it not that his thoughts are wholly turned towards scholarship andto discovering the secrets of nature, he himself would gladly haveattained."

  "Methinks that he is right," the king said. "In the time when everylandowner held his feu on condition of knightly service renderedwhenever called upon, it was well that he should be called a knight,such being the term of military command; but now that many are allowedto provide substitutes, methinks that it is an error to give the titleto stay-at-homes. I shall be glad, young sir, to see you also at Court,though, methinks," he added, with a smile, "that you have inheritedsome of your father's sobriety of nature, and will hold our pleasuresat small price."

  "I thank your Majesty for your kindness," Edgar said, bowing; "butindeed I should not presume to judge amusements as frivolous because Imyself might be unused to them; but in truth two years ago I studied atthe convent of St. Alwyth, and my spare time then and most of my timesince has been so occupied by my exercises in arms that I have had butsmall opportunity for learning the ways of Courts, but I hope to do so,seeing that a good knight should bear himself as well at Court as inthe field."

  "You will have small opportunity now," the king said, rather dolefully."Our royal mother is absent, and our talk is all of riots and troubles,and none seem even to think of pleasure."

  After leaving the king Sir Ralph presented his son and Edgar to SirMichael de la Pole, who held high office; Robert de Vere, one of theking's special favourites; and several other young nobles, who allreceived them kindly for the sake of Sir Ralph.