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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 will show themselves to be very worthy of what
we prepare for them。 To you I give a ship； that you may have the
handling of it。 You also； my dear son； shall have a ship； that
evermore honor may be thine。〃
〃I thank you； my fair and sweet father；〃 said the Prince； with joy
flushing his handsome boyish face。
〃The leading ship shall be mine。 But you shall have one； Walter
Manny； and you； Stafford； and you； Arundel； and you； Audley； and
you； Sir Thomas Holland； and you； Brocas； and you； Berkeley； and
you； Reginald。 The rest shall be awarded at Winchelsea； whither
we sail to…morrow。 Nay； John； why do you pluck so at my sleeve？〃
Chandos was leaning forward； with an anxious face。 〃Surely； my
honored lord； I have not served you so long and so faithfully that
you should forget me now。 Is there then no ship for me？〃
The King smiled； but shook his head。 〃Nay； John； have I not given
you two hundred archers and a hundred men…at…arms to take with you
into Brittany？ I trust that your ships will be lying in Saint
Malo Bay ere the Spaniards are abreast of Winchelsea。 What more
would you have； old war…dog？ Wouldst be in two battles at once？〃
〃I would be at your side； my liege； when the lion banner is in the
wind once more。 I have ever been there。 Why should you cast me
now？ I ask little； dear lord … a galley； a balinger； even a
pinnace； so that I may only be there。〃
〃Nay； John； you shall come。 I cannot find it in my heart to say
you nay。 I will find you place in my own ship； that you may
indeed be by my side。〃
Chandos stooped and kissed the King's hand。 〃My Squire？〃 he
asked。
The King's brows knotted into a frown。 〃Nay； let him go to
Brittany with the others；〃 said he harshly。 〃I wonder； John； that
you should bring back to my memory this youth whose pertness is
too fresh that I should forget it。 But some one must go to
Brittany in your stead； for the matter presses and our people are
hard put to it to hold their own。〃 He cast his eyes over the
assembly； and they rested upon the stern features of Sir Robert
Knolles。
〃Sir Robert；〃 he said； 〃though you are young in years you are
already old in war； and I have heard that you are as prudent in
council as you are valiant in the field。 To you I commit the
charge of this venture to Brittany in place of Sir John Chandos；
who will follow thither when our work has been done upon the
waters。 Three ships lie in Calais port and three hundred men are
ready to your hand。 Sir John will tell you what our mind is in
the matter。 And now； my friends and good comrades； you will haste
you each to his own quarters； and you will make swiftly such
preparations as are needful； for； as God is my aid； I will sail
with you to Winchelsea to…morrow！〃
Beckoning to Chandos； Manny and a few of his chosen leaders； the
King led them away to an inner chamber； where they might discuss
the plans for the future。 At the same time the assembly broke up；
the knights in silence and dignity； the squires in mirth and
noise； but all joyful at heart for the thought of the great days
which lay before them。
XVII。 THE SPANIARDS ON THE SEA
Day had not yet dawned when Nigel was in the chamber of Chandos
preparing him for his departure and listening to the last cheery
words of advice and direction from his noble master。 That same
morning； before the sun was half…way up the heaven； the King's
great nef Philippa； bearing within it the most of those present at
his banquet the night before； set its huge sail； adorned with the
lions and the lilies； and turned its brazen beak for England。
Behind it went five smaller cogs crammed with squires； archers and
men…at…arms。
Nigel and his companions lined the ramparts of the castle and
waved their caps as the bluff； burly vessels； with drums beating
and trumpets clanging； a hundred knightly pennons streaming from
their decks and the red cross of England over all； rolled slowly
out to the open sea。 Then when they had watched them until they
were hull down they turned； with hearts heavy at being left
behind； to make ready for their own more distant venture。
It took them four days of hard work ere their preparations were
complete； for many were the needs of a small force sailing to a
strange country。 Three ships had been left to them； the cog
Thomas of Romney； the Grace Dieu of Hythe； and the Basilisk of
Southampton； into each of which one hundred men were stowed；
besides the thirty seamen who formed the crew。 In the hold were
forty horses； amongst them Pommers； much wearied by his long
idleness； and homesick for the slopes of Surrey where his great
limbs might find the work he craved。 Then the food and the water；
the bow…staves and the sheaves of arrows； the horseshoes； the
nails； the hammers； the knives； the axes； the ropes； the vats of
hay； the green fodder and a score of other things were packed
aboard。 Always by the side of the ships stood the stern young
knight Sir Robert； checking； testing； watching and controlling；
saying little； for he was a man of few words； but with his eyes；
his hands； and if need be