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flare of them they saw Edward of England embracing and blessing his
son； the Black Prince； who； unhelmeted； bowed low before him in his
bloodstained mail。
〃Who were they besides； Sir Robert Fitzsimmon and Richard de Beaumont
who helped you when you were down； my son？〃 asked the King。
The Prince looked about him。
〃I know not； Sire。 Many； but here is one of them；〃 and he pointed to
Hugh； who just then appeared within the circle of the firelight。 〃I
think that he slew the Count Louis of Flanders。〃
〃Ah！〃 said the King； 〃our young merchant of Dunwicha gallant man。
Kneel you down； merchant of Dunwich。〃
Hugh knelt； and the King； taking the red sword from his hand； struck
him with it on the shoulder； saying：
〃Rise； Sir Hugh de Cressi； for now I give you that boon which your
deathfaced servant asked before the battle。 You have served us； or
rather England well； both of you。 But whose armour is that the archer
carries； Sir Hugh？〃
〃Sir Edmund Acour's； lord de Noyon； Sire； only； alack！ another man was
within the armour。〃
〃Your meaning？〃 said the King briefly； and in few words Hugh told the
tale。
〃A strange story； Sir Hugh。 It would seem that God fought against you
in this matter。 Also I am wroth； my orders were that none of my men
should sally out； though I fear me that you are not the only one who
has broken them； and for your great deeds I forgive you。〃
〃Sire；〃 said Hugh； dropping to his knee again； 〃a boon。 This de Noyon；
your enemy and mine； has cheated and mocked me。 Grant to me and my
servant； Richard the archer； permission to follow after him and be
avenged upon him。〃
〃What is this you ask； Sir Hugh？ That you and your brave henchman
should wander off into the depths of France； there to perish in a
dungeon or be hanged like felons？ Nay； nay； we need good men and have
none to spare for private quarrels。 As for this traitor； de Noyon； and
his plot； that egg is broken ere it was hatched； and we fear him no
more。 You follow me； Sir Hugh； and your servant with you； whom we make
a captain of our archers。 Until Calais is taken； leave not our person
for any cause； and ask no more such boons lest you lose our favour。
Nay； we have no more words for you since many others seek them。 Stand
back； Sir Hugh！ What say you； my lord of Warwick？ Ay； it is a gruesome
task； but let the Welshmen out； those wounded will be well rid of
their pain； and Christ have mercy on their souls。 Forget not when it
is finished to gather all men that they may give thanks to God for His
great mercies。〃
Well nigh a year had gone； for once again the sun shone in the brazen
August heavens。 Calais had fallen at last。 Only that day six of her
noblest citizens had come forth； bearing the keys of the fortress；
clad in white shirts； with ropes about their necks； and been rescued
from instant death at the hands of the headsman by the prayer of Queen
Philippa。
In his tent sat Hugh de Cressi； who； after so much war and hardship；
looked older than his years； perhaps because of a red scar across the
forehead； which he had come by during the siege。 With him was his
father； Master de Cressi； who had sailed across from Dunwich with a
cargo of provisions； whereof； if the truth were known； he had made no
small profit。 For they were sold； every pound of them； before they
left the ship's hold； though it is true the money remained to be
collected。
〃You say that Eve is well； my father？〃
〃Aye； well enough； son。 Never saw I woman better or more beautiful；
though she wears but a sad face。 I asked her if she would not sail
with me and visit you。 But she answered： 'Nay； how can I who am
another man's wife？ Sir Hugh； your son； should have killed the wolf
and let the poor swan go。 When the wolf is dead； then； perchance； I
will visit him。 But； meanwhile； say to him that Red Eve's heart is
where it always was； and that； like all Dunwich； she joys greatly in
his fame and is honoured in his honour。' Moreover； to Grey Dick here；
she sends many messages； and a present of wines and spiced foods for
his stomach and of six score arrows made after his own pattern for his
quiver。〃
〃But for me no gift； father？〃 said Hugh。
〃Nothing； son； save her love； which she said was enough。 Also； in all
this press of business and in my joy at finding you safe I had almost
forgotten it； there is a letter from the holy Father； Sir Andrew。 I
have it somewhere in my pouch amid the bills of exchange；〃 and he
began to hunt through the parchments which he carried in a bag within
his robe。
At length the letter was found。 It ran thus：
To Sir Hugh de Cressi； knight； my beloved godson：
With what rejoicings I and another have heard of your knightly
deeds through the letters that you have sent to us and from the
mouths of wounded soldiers returned from the war； your honoured
father will tell you。 I thank God for them； and pray Him that this
may find you unhurt and growing ever in glory。
My son； I have no good news for you。 The Pope at Avignon； having
studied the matter； （if indeed it ever reached his own ears）
writes by one of his secretaries to say that he will not dissolve
the alleged marriage between the Count of Noyon and the lady Eve
of Clavering until the parties have appeared before him and set
out their cause to his face。 Therefore Eve cannot come to you； nor
must you come to her while de Noyon lives； unless the mind of his
Holiness can be changed。 Should France become more quiet； so that
English folk can travel there in safety； perchance Eve and I will
journey to Avignon to lay her plaint before the Holy Father。 But
as yet this seems scarcely possible。 Moreover； I trust that the
traitor； Acour； may meet his end in this way or in that； and so
save us the necessity。 For； as you know； such cases take long to
try； and the cost of them is great。 Moreover； at the Court of
Avignon the cause of one of our country must indeed be good just
now when the other party to it is of the blood of France。
Soon I hope to write to you again； who at present have no more to
say； save that notwithstanding my years I am well and strong； and
would that I sat with you before the walls of Calais。 God's
blessing and mine be on you； and to Richard the archer； greetings。
Dunwich has heard how he shot the foul…tongued Frenchman before
the great battle closed； and the townsfolk lit a bonfire on the
walls and feasted all the archers in his honour。
Andrew Arnold。
〃I have found another letter；〃 said Master de Cressi； when Hugh had
finished reading； 〃which I remember Sir Andrew charged me to give to
you also；〃 and he handed him a paper addressed in a large； childish
hand。
Hugh broke its silk eagerly； for he knew that writing。
〃Hugh；〃 it began simply； 〃Clement the Pope will not void my false
marriage unless I appear before him； and this as yet I cannot do
because of the French wars。 Moreover； he sets the curse of the
Church upon me and any man with whom I shall dare to re…marry
until this be done。 For myself I would defy the Church； but not
for you or for children that might come to us。 Moreover； the holy
father； Sir Andrew； forbids it； saying that God will right all in
His season and that we must not make Him wroth。 Therefore； Hugh；
lover you are； but husband you may not be while de Noyon lives or
until the Pope gives his dispensation of divorce； which latter may
be long in winning； for the knave de Noyon has been whispering in
his ear。 Hugh； this is my counsel： Get you to the King again and
crave his leave to follow de Noyon； for if once you twain can come
face to face I know well how the fray will end。 Then； when he is
dead； return to one who waits for you through this world and the
next。
〃Hugh； I am proud of your great deeds。 No longer can they mock you
as 'the merchant's son；' Sir Hugh。 God be with you； as are my
prayers and love。
〃Eve Clavering。〃
〃I forgot to tell you that Sir Andrew is disturbed in heart。 He
looks into a crystal which he says he brought with him from the
East； and swears he sees strange sights there； pictures of woe
such as have not been since the beginning of the world。 Of this
woe he preaches to the folk of Dunwich； warning them of judgment
to come； and they listen affrighted because they know him to be a
holy man who has a gift from God。 Yet he says that you and I； Eve；
need fear nothing。 May it be so； Hugh。E。〃
Now when he had thought awhile and hidden up Eve's letter； Hugh turned
to his father and asked him what were these sermons that Sir Andrew
preached。
〃I heard but one of them； son；〃 answered Master de Cressi； 〃though
there have been three。 By the Holy Mother！ it frightened me so much
that I needed no more of that medicine。 Nor； to tell truth； when I got
home again could I remember all he said； save that it was of some
frightful ill which comes upon the world from the East and will leave
it desolate。〃
〃And what think folk of such talk； father？〃
〃Indeed； son； they know not what to think。 Most say that he is mad；
others say