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dispute。 And the Princess Edith's glove lying on the floor of the
Abbey hall was her assertion that she had spoken the truth and
was willing to risk her life in proof of her innocence。
Edgar the Atheling； peace…lover； though he was； would gladly have
accepted the post of champion for his niece； but； as one also
involved in the charge of treason； such action was denied him。
For the moment； the Red King's former admiration for this brave
young princess caused him to waver； but those were days when
suspicion and jealousy rose above all nobler traits。 His face
grew stern again。
〃Ordgar of Oxford；〃 he said； 〃take up the glove！〃 and Edith knew
who was her accuser。 Then the King asked： 〃Who standeth as
champion for Edgar the Atheling and this maid； his niece？〃
Almost before the words were spoken young Robert Fitz Godwine had
sprung to Edith's side。
〃That would I； lord king； if a young squire might appear against
a belted knight！〃
〃Ordgar of Oxford fights not with boys！〃 said the accuser
contemptuously。
The king's savage humor broke out again。
〃Face him with your own page； Sir Ordgar；〃 he said； with a grim
laugh。 〃Boy against boy would be a fitting wager for a young
maid's life。〃 But the Saxon knight was in no mood for sport。
〃Nay； beausire； this is no child's play；〃 he said。 〃I care naught
for this girl。 I stand as champion for the king against yon
traitor Atheling； and if the maiden's cause is his； why then
against her too。 This is a man's quarrel。〃
Young Robert would have spoken yet again as his face flushed hot
with anger at the knight's contemptuous words。 But a firm hand
was laid upon his shoulder； and a strong voice said：
〃Then is it mine； Sir Ordgar。 If between man and man； then will
I； with the gracious permission of our lord the king； stand as
champion for this maiden here and for my good lord； the noble
Atheling； whose liegeman and whose man am I； next to you； lord
king。〃 And； taking the mate to the glove which the Princess Edith
had flung down in defiance； he thrust it into the guard of his
cappe。 line； or iron skull…cap； in token that he； Godwine of
Winchester； the father of the boy Robert； was the young girl's
champion。
Three days after； in the tilt…yard of Gloucester Castle； the
wager of battle was fought。 It was no gay tournament show with
streaming banners； gorgeous lists； gayly dressed ladies；
flower…bedecked balconies； and all the splendid display of a
tourney of the knights； of which you read in the stories of
romance and chivalry。 It was a solemn and sombre gathering in
which all the arrangements suggested only death and gloom； while
the accused waited in suspense； knowing that halter and fagot
were prepared for them should their champion fall。 In quaint and
crabbed Latin the old chronicler； John of Fordun； tells the story
of the fight； for which there is neither need nor space here。 The
glove of each contestant was flung into the lists by the judge；
and the dispute committed for settlement to the power of God and
their own good swords。 It is a stirring picture of those days of
daring and of might； when force took the place of justice； and
the deadliest blows were the only convincing arguments。 But；
though supported by the favor of the king and the display of
splendid armor； Ordgar's treachery had its just reward。 Virtue
triumphed； and vice was punished。 Even while treacherously
endeavoring （after being once disarmed） to stab the brave Godwine
with a knife which he had concealed in his boot； the false Sir
Ordgar was overcome； confessed the falsehood of his charge
against Edgar the Atheling and Edith his niece； and； as the
quaint old record has it； 〃The strength of his grief and the
multitude of his wounds drove out his impious soul。〃
So young Edith was saved； and； as is usually the case with men of
his character； the Red King's humor changed completely。 The
victorious Godwine received the arms and lands of the dead
Ordgar； Edgar the Atheling was raised high in trust and honor；
the throne of Scotland； wrested from the Red Donald； was placed
once more in the family of King Malcolm； and King William Rufus
himself became the guardian and protector of the Princess Edith。
And when； one fatal August day； the Red King was found pierced by
an arrow under the trees of the New Forest； his younger brother；
Duke Henry； whom men called Beauclerc； 〃the good scholar；〃 for
his love of learning and of books； ascended the throne of England
as King Henry I。 And the very year of his accession； on the 11th
of November； 1100； he married； in the Abbey of Westminster； the
Princess Edith of Scotland； then a fair young lady of scarce
twenty…one。 At the request of her husband she took； upon her
coronation day； the Norman name of Matilda； or Maud； and by this
name she is known in history and among the queens of England。
So scarce four and thirty years after the Norman conquest； a
Saxon princess sat upon the throne of Norman England； the loving
wife of the son of the very man by whom Saxon England was
conquered。
〃Never； since the battle of Hastings；〃 says Sir Francis Palgrave；
the historian； 〃had there been such a joyous day as when Queen
Maud was crowned。〃 Victors and vanquished； Normans and Saxons；
were united at last； and the name of 〃Good Queen Maud〃 was long
an honored memory among the people of England。
And she was a good queen。 In a time of bitter tyranny； when the
common people were but the serfs and slaves of the haughty and
cruel barons； this young queen labored to bring in kindlier
manners and more gentle ways。 Beautiful in face； she was still
more lovely in heart and life。 Her influence upon her husband；
Henry the scholar； was seen in the wise laws he made； and the
〃Charter of King Henry〃 is said to have been gained by her
intercession。 This important paper was the first step toward
popular liberty。 It led the way to Magna Charta； and finally to
our own Declaration of Independence。 The boys and girls of
America； therefore； in common with those of England； can look
back with interest and affection upon the romantic story of 〃Good
Queen Maud；〃 the brave…hearted girl who showed herself wise and
fearless both in the perilous mist at Edinburgh； and； later
still； in the yet greater dangers of 〃the black lists of
Gloucester。〃
JACQUELINE OF HOLLAND：
THE GIRL OF THE LAND OF FOGS； A。D。 1414。
Count William of Hainault； of Zealand and Friesland； Duke of
Bavaria and Sovereign Lord of Holland； held his court in the
great； straggling castle which he called his 〃hunting lodge；〃
near to the German Ocean； and since known by the name of 〃The
Hague。〃＇1＇
＇1＇ 〃The Hague〃 is a contraction of the Dutch's Gravenhagethe
haag； or 〃hunting lodge；〃 of the Graf； or count。
Count William was a gallant and courtly knight； learned in all
the ways of chivalry； the model of the younger cavaliers；
handsome in person； noble in bearing； the surest lance in the
tilting…yard； and the stoutest arm in the foray。
Like 〃Jephtha； Judge of Israel；〃 of whom the mock…mad Hamlet sang
to Polonius； Count William had
〃One fair daughter； and no more；
The which he loved passing well〃；
and； truth to tell； this fair young Jacqueline； the little 〃Lady
of Holland；〃 as men called her；but whom Count William； because
of her fearless antics and boyish ways； called 〃Dame
Jacob；〃＇1＇loved her knightly father with equal fervor。
＇1＇ Jaqueline is the French rendering of the Dutch Jakobinethe
feminine of Jakob； or James。
As she sat； that day； in the great Hall of the Knights in the
massive castle at The Hague； she could see； among all the knights
and nobles who came from far and near to join in the festivities
at Count William's court； not one that approached her father in
nobility of bearing or manly strengthnot even her husband。
Her husband？ Yes。 For this little maid of thirteen had been for
eight years the wife of the Dauphin of France； the young Prince
John of Touraine； to whom she had been married when she was
scarce five years old and he barely nine。 Surrounded by all the
pomp of an age of glitter and display； these royal children lived
in their beautiful castle of Quesnoy； in Flanders；＇1＇ when they
were not； as at the time of our story； residents at the court of
the powerful Count William of Holland。
＇1＇ Now Northeastern France。
Other young people were there； too；nobles and pages and little
ladies…in…waiting； and there was much of the stately ceremonial
and flowery talk that in those days of knighthood clothed alike
the fears of cowards and the desires of heroes。 For there have
always been heroes and cowards in the world。
And so； between all these young folk； there was much boastful
talk and much harmless gossip how the little Lady of Courtrai had
used the wrong corner of the towel yesterday； how the