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found on duty at the gate。
〃Then it is a fool's errand；〃 said the captain； 〃seeing that his Grace
rode yesterday to his castle at Windsor to hunt and revel； and will be
gone eight days at the least。〃
〃Then to Windsor I must follow；〃 answered Hugh。
CHAPTER V
GREY DICK SHOWS HIS ARCHERY
So sorely did the horses need rest； that Hugh and his people could not
ride from London till the following morning； and evening was closing
in before they found themselves drawing near the gate of Windsor
Castle。 In the market…place of the little town they pulled rein； while
one of them went to search for a good inn at which they might lie； for
the place seemed to be very full of people。 Suddenly； as they stood
there； wondering at the mighty； new…built keep which towered above
them； a trumpet was blown and from round a corner appeared a gay
procession of noble…looking men； and with them some ladies； who
carried hawk on wrist； all mounted on splendid horses。
Now； the people who had gathered to study the strangers or tout for
their custom； took off their bonnets and bent low； saying： 〃The King！
The King！ God save him！〃
〃Which is his Grace？〃 asked Hugh of one of them； whereon the man
pointed to a royal…eyed and bearded knight； still in early middle
life； who rode toward him； talking to a gallant youth at his side。
Now a thought came into Hugh's mind that the present time is always
the best time to strike。 Leaping from his horse； he advanced bowing；
and stood in the pathway of the King。 Seeing this； two of the fine
Court lords spurred their horses and rode straight at him； thinking to
drive him back。 But he held his ground； for their insolence made him
angry； and； catching the bridle of one of the horses； threw it on its
haunches so sharply that the knight who rode it rolled from his saddle
into the mire； whereupon every one laughed。 In a moment he was on his
feet again； and shouting：
〃Out of the road； jackanapes； dressed in your grandfather's mail；
unless you would stop there in the stocks。 Do you know whose path you
block？〃
〃That of his Grace；〃 answered Hugh； 〃for whom I have a message that he
will be glad to hear； and； popinjay； this for yourself； were it not
for his presence it is you who should stop upon the road till you were
carried thence。〃
Now； noting this disturbance； the King spoke to the youth at his side；
who came forward and said； in a pleasant； courteous voice； addressing
Hugh：
〃Sir； why do you make trouble in these streets； and tumble the good
Sir Ambrose Lacey from his horse with such scant ceremony？〃
〃Sir；〃 answered Hugh； 〃because the good Sir Ambrose tried to ride his
horse over me for no offence save that I would deliver a message to
his Grace； which he will wish to hear。〃
〃This is scarcely a time for the giving of messages；〃 replied the
young man； 〃but what is your name； and who sends the message？ I am the
Prince Edward；〃 he added modestly； 〃so you may speak to me without
fear。〃
〃My name is Hugh de Cressi； your Highness； and I am sent by the
Reverend Father Sir Andrew Arnold； of Dunwich； and have followed his
Grace from Westminster； whither I and my men rode first。〃
Now； the Prince went to the King and spoke to him； and； returning
presently； said：
〃My father says that he knows both the names you give well enough and
holds them dear。 He bids that you and your people should follow him to
the castle； where you will be entertained； with your horses。 Sir
Ambrose；〃 he added； 〃the King desires that you should forget your
choler； since he saw what passed； and deems that this young stranger
did well to check your horse。 Follow on； Hugh de Cressi； the officers
will show you where you and your men may lodge。〃
So Hugh obeyed； and rode with the rest of the train and his folks
through the gates of Windsor Castle。 Nor did they do so unobserved；
since many of the Court had no love for Sir Ambrose； and were glad to
see him tumbled in the mire。
After they had stabled their beasts； as Hugh； followed by Grey Dick；
was advancing toward a hall which he was told that he might enter； an
officer came up。
〃His Grace desires your presence before you sup；〃 he said。
Pointing to Grey Dick； at whom the officer looked doubtfully； Hugh
asked that he might accompany him； as he had much to do with the
message。 After some argument they were led through various passages to
a chamber； at the door of which the officer wished to take away Dick's
bow。 But he would not give it up。
〃The bow and I do not part；〃 he said； in his croaking voice； 〃for we
are husband and wife； and live and sleep together as the married
should。〃
As Dick spoke the door was opened； and Prince Edward appeared。
〃And do you eat together also； good fellow？〃 he asked； having
overheard the talk。
〃Ay； sir； we feed full together；〃 replied Dick grimly； 〃or so thought
some on Blythburgh Marsh a few days gone。〃
〃I should like to hear that tale；〃 said the Prince。 〃Meanwhile； since
both my father and I love archers； let him pass with his bow。 Only
keep his arrows lest it should happen to grow hungry here。〃
Then they entered the chamber； led by the Prince。 It was a fine place；
with a vaulted stone roof and windows of coloured glass； that looked
like the chancel of a church。 Only at the head of it； where the altar
should have been； was a kind of dais。 On this dais were set some high…
backed oaken chairs with many lanterns behind them in which burned
tapers that； together with a great wood fire； gave light to the
chamber。
In one of these chairs sat a gracious lady； who was embroidering
something silken in a frame。 This was Queen Philippa； and talking to
her stood the tall King； clad in a velvet robe lined with fur。 Behind；
seated at a little table on which lay parchments； was a man in a
priest's robe； writing。 There was no one else in the room。
Hugh and Dick advanced to the foot of the dais； and stood there
bowing。
〃Who are these？〃 asked the King of the Prince。 〃Oh； I remember； the
man who overthrew Sir Ambrose and said he had a message！〃
〃Ay； Sire；〃 answered the Prince； 〃and this dust…coloured fellow is his
servant； who will not part with his bow； which he calls his wife and
says he sleeps with。〃
〃I would all Englishmen did the same；〃 broke in the King。 〃Say； man；
can you shoot straight？〃
〃I know not； Sire；〃 replied Grey Dick； 〃but perhaps straighter than
most； for God； Who withheld all else from me； gave me this gift。 At
least； if I be not made drunk overnight； I'll match myself against any
man at this Court； noble or simple； and stake twenty angels on it。〃
〃Twenty angels！ Have you so much； fellow？〃
〃Nay； Sire； nor more than one； but as I know I shall win； what does
that matter？〃
〃Son；〃 said the King； 〃see that this man is kept sober to…night； and
to…morrow we will have a shooting match。 But； sirrah； if you prove
yourself to be a boaster you shall be whipped round the walls； for I
love not tall words and small deeds。 And now； young Master de Cressi；
what is this message of yours？〃
Hugh thrust his hand into his bosom； and produced a sealed packet
which was addressed to 〃His Grace King Edward of England； sent from
Andrew Arnold； priest； by the hand of Hugh de Cressi。〃
〃Can you read？〃 the King asked of Hugh when he had spelt out this
superscription。
〃Ay； Sire； at least if the writing be that of Sir Andrew Arnold； for
he was my master。〃
〃A learned one and a brave； Hugh de Cressi。 Well； break seal； we
listen。〃
Hugh obeyed； and read as follows：
〃Your Grace：
〃Mayhap； Sire； you will remember me； Andrew Arnold； late master of
the Templars in this town of Dunwich； in whose house； by your
warrant for certain services rendered to your grandsire； your
sire； and to yourself； I still dwell on as a priest ordained。
Sire； the bearer of this； Hugh de Cressi； my godchild； is the son
of Geoffrey de Cressi； of this town； the great wool…merchant； with
whom your Highness has had dealings〃
〃In truth I have！〃 interrupted the King； with a laugh。 〃Also I think
the account is still openagainst myself。 Well； it shall be paid some
day； when I have conquered France。 Forward！〃
〃Sire； this Hugh is enamoured of Eve Clavering； daughter of Sir
John Clavering of Blythburgh； a cousin of his House； a very
beauteous maiden； commonly known as Red Eve； and she in turn is
enamoured of and betrothed to him〃
Here Queen Philippa suddenly became interested。
〃Why is the lady called Red Eve； sir？〃 she asked in her soft voice。
〃Because her cheeks are red？〃
〃No； Madam；〃 answered Hugh； blushing； 〃because she always loves to
wear red garments。〃
〃Ah； then she is dark！〃
〃That is so； Madam； her eyes and hair are black as ash…buds。〃
〃God's truth！ Lady；〃 interrupted King Edward； 〃is this young man's
message of the colour of the eyes of his mistress； which； without
doubt； being in love； he describes falsely？ On with the letter！〃
〃Out of this matter；〃 continued Hugh； 〃rose a feud yesterday；
during which Hugh de Cressi killed his cousin John； fighting /？
outrance/； and his servant； Richard the Archer； who accompanies
him； commonly known as Grey