dy。　　King　Edward　had　crossed　over　into　Belgium；　and　after　vast　delays　in　consequence　of　the　slowness　of　the　German　allies；　at　last　prepared　to　enter　France　at　the　end　of　September；　1339。　Such；　my　lad；　is　the　story；　as　far　as　I　know；　of　the　beginning　of　that　war　with　France　which　is　now　raging；　and　whose　events　you　know　as　well　as　I　do；　seeing　that　they　are　all　of　late　occurrence。　So　far；　although　the　English　have　had　the　best　of　it；　and　have　sorely　mauled　the　French　both　in　the　north　and　south；　we　have　not　gained　any　such　advantages　as　would　lead　to　a　belief　that　there　is　any　likelihood　of　an　early　termination；　or　that　King　Edward　will　succeed　for　a　long　time　in　winning　back　his　inheritance　of　the　throne　of　France。〃
  〃There　is　no　doubt　that　the　war　weighs　heavily　upon　the　people　at　large。　The　taxes　are　doubled；　and　the　drain　of　men　is　heavy。　We　armourers；　of　course；　have　a　busy　time　of　it；　and　all　trades　which　have　to　do　with　the　furnishing　of　an　army　flourish　exceedingly。　Moreover；　men　of　mettle　and　valour　have　an　opportunity　of　showing　what　they　are　composed　of；　and　England　rings　with　the　tales　of　martial　deeds。　There　are　some；　Walter；　who　think　that　peace　is　the　greatest　of　blessings；　and　in　some　ways；　lad；　they　are　no　doubt　right；　but　there　are　many　compensations　in　war。　It　brings　out　the　noble　qualities；　it　raises　men　to　think　that　valour　and　fortitude　and　endurance　and　honour　are　qualities　which　are　something　above　the　mere　huckstering　desire　for　getting　money；　and　for　ignoble　ease　and　comfort。　Some　day　it　may　be　that　the　world　will　change；　and　that　war　may　become　a　thing　of　the　past；　but　to　my　mind；　boy；　I　doubt　whether　men　will　be　any　happier　or　better　for　it。　The　priests；　no　doubt；　would　tell　you　otherwise；　but　then　you　see　I　am　an　armourer；　and　so　perhaps　am　hardly　a　fair　judge　on　the　matter；　seeing　that　without　wars　my　craft　would　come　to　an　end。〃
  Walter　remained　in　thought　for　some　time。　〃It　seems　to　me；　Master　Geoffrey；　that　while　wars　may　suit　strong　and　courageous　men；　women　would　rejoice　were　such　things　to　be　at　an　end。〃
  〃Women　suffer　most　from　wars；　no　doubt；〃　Geoffrey　said；　〃and　yet　do　you　mark　that　they　are　more　stirred　by　deeds　of　valour　and　chivalry　than　are　we　men；　that　they　are　ever　ready　to　bestow　their　love　upon　those　who　have　won　honour　and　glory　in　war；　even　although　the　next　battle　may　leave　them　widows。　This　has　been　always　somewhat　of　a　marvel　to　me；　but　I　suppose　that　it　is　human　nature；　and　that　admiration　for　deeds　of　valour　and　bravery　is　ingrained　in　the　heart　of　man；　and　will　continue　until　such　times　come　that　the　desire　for　wealth；　which　is　ever　on　the　increase；　has　so　seized　all　men　that　they　will　look　with　distaste　upon　everything　which　can　interfere　with　the　making　of　money；　and　will　regard　the　man　who　amasses　gold　by　trading　as　a　higher　type　than　he　who　does　valiant　deeds　in　battle。〃
  〃Surely　that　can　never　be；〃　Walter　said　indignantly。
  〃There　is　no　saying；〃　the　armourer　answered；　〃at　any　rate；　Walter；　it　will　matter　little　to　you　or　to　me；　for　many　generations　must　pass　before　such　a　state　of　things　can　come　about。〃
  Two　days　later　Walter；　who　had　been　across　into　the　city；　returned　in　a　state　of　excitement。
  〃What　do　you　think；　Geoffrey？　The　king；　with　the　Prince　of　Wales　and　all　his　court；　are　coming　to　the　games　next　month。　They　say　that　the　king　himself　will　adjudge　the　prizes；　and　there　is　to　be　a　grand　assault…at…arms　between　ten　of　the　'prentices　with　a　captain；　and　an　equal　number　of　sons　of　nobles　and　knights。〃
  〃That　will　be　rare；〃　Geoffrey　Ward　exclaimed；　〃but　there　will　be　some　broken　limbs；　and　maybe　worse。　These　assaults…at…arms　seldom　end　without　two　or　three　being　killed。　　However；　you　youngsters　will　not　hit　as　hard　as　trained　knights；　and　if　the　armour　be　good；　no　great　damage　should　be　done。〃
  〃Do　you　think　that　I　shall　be　one　of　the　ten？〃　Walter　asked　anxiously。
  〃Just　as　if　you　did　not　know　you　would；〃　Geoffrey　replied；　laughing。　〃Did　you　not　win　the　prize　for　swordplay　last　year？　　And　twelve　months　have　added　much　to　the　strength　of　your　arm；　to　say　nothing　of　your　skill　with　weapons。　If　you　win　this　year　again　…　and　it　will　be　strange　if　you　do　not　…　you　are　like　enough　to　be　chosen　captain。　You　will　have　tough　fighting；　I　can　tell　you；　for　all　these　young　aspirants　to　knighthood　will　do　their　best　to　show　themselves　off　before　the　king　and　queen。　The　fight　is　not　to　take　place　on　horseback；　I　hope；　for　if　so；　it　will　be　settled　as　soon　as　it　begins。〃
  〃No；　it　is　to　be　on　foot；　and　the　king　himself　is　to　give　orders　as　to　the　fighting。〃
  〃You　had　best　get　out　that　helmet　and　coat　of　mail　of　yours；〃　Geoffrey　said；　〃I　warrant　me　that　there　will　be　none　of　finer　make　or　of　truer　metal　in　the　tourney；　seeing　that　I　made　them　specially　for　you。　They　are　light；　and　yet　strong　enough　to　withstand　a　blow　from　the　strongest　arm。　I　tried　them　hard；　and　will　warrant　them　proof；　but　you　had　best　see　to　the　rivets　and　fastenings。　They　had　a　rough　handling　last　year；　and　you　have　not　worn　them　since。　There　are　some　other　pieces　that　I　must　put　in　hand　at　once；　seeing　that　in　such　a　melee　you　must　be　covered　from　head　to　foot。〃
  For　the　next　week　nothing　was　talked　of　in　London　but　the　approaching　sports；　and　the　workmen　were　already　engaged　in　the　erection　of　the　lists　and　pavilions　in　the　fields　between　the　walls　and　Westminster。　It　was　reported　that　the　king　would　add　valuable　prizes　to　those　given　to　the　winners　by　the　city；　that　there　would　be　jousting　on　horseback　by　the　sons　of　the　court　nobles；　and　that　the　young　Prince　of　Wales　would　himself　ride。
  The　king　had　once　before　taken　part　in　the　city　sports；　and　with　ten　of　the　citizens　had　held　his　own　against　an　equal　number　of　knights。　This　was　at　the　commencement　of　his　reign；　but　the　accident　to　the　queen's　stand　had　so　angered　him　that　he　had　not　again　been　present　at　the　sports；　and　his　reappearance　now　was　considered　to　be　an　act　of　approval　of　the　efforts　which　the　city　had　made　to　aid　him　in　the　war；　and　as　an　introduction　of　the　young　prince　to　the　citizens。
  When　the　day　arrived　there　was　a　general　flocking　out　of　the　citizens　to　the　lists。　The　scene　was　a　picturesque　one；　the　weather　was　bright　and　warm；　the　fields　were　green；　and　Westminster；　as　well　as　London；　sent　out　large　numbers　to　the　scene。　The　citizens　were　all　in　their　best；　their　garments　were　for　the　most　part　of　somber　colours　…　russet；　murrey；　brown；　and　gray。　Some；　indeed；　of　the　younger　and　wealthier　merchants　adopted　somewhat　of　the　fashion　of　the　court；　wearing　their　shoes　long　and　pointed；　and　their　garments　parti…coloured。　The　line　of　division　was　down　the　centre　of　the　body；　one　leg；　arm；　and　half　the　body　would　be　blue；　the　other　half　russet　or　brown。　The　ladies'　dresses　were　similarly　divided。　Mingling　with　the　citizens；　as　they　strolled　to　and　fro　upon　the　sward；　were　the　courtiers。　These　wore　the　brightest　colours；　and　their　shoes　were　so　long　that　the　points　were　looped　up　to　the　knees　with　little　gold　chains　to　enable　them　to　walk。　The　ladies　wore　headdresses　of　prodigious　height；　culminating　in　two　points；　and　from　these　fell；　sweeping　to　the　ground；　streamers　of　silk　or　lighter　material。　　Cloths　of　gold　and　silver；　rich　furs；　silks；　and　velvets；　were　worn　both　by　men　and　women。
  None　who　saw　the　nobles　of　the　court　walking　in　garments　so　tight　that　they　could　scarce　move；　with　their　long　parti…coloured　hose；　their　silk　hoods　buttoned　under　the　chin；　their　hair　braided　down　their　back；　would　have　thought　that　these　were　the　most　warlike　and　courageous　of　knights；　men　whose　personal　prowess　and　gallantry　were　the　admiration　of　Europe。　Their　hair　was　generally　cut　close　upon　the　forehead；　and　the　beard　was　suffered　to　grow；　but　was　kept　trimmed　a　moderate　length。　Many　of　the　ladies　had　the　coat…of…arms　of　their　family　embroidered　upon　their　dresses；　giving　them　the　appearance　of　heralds'　tabards。　　Almost　all　wore　gold　or　silver　girdles；　with　embroidered　pouches；　and　small　daggers。
  Thus　the　appearance　of　the　crowd　who　moved　about　among　the　fields　near　the　lists　was　varied　and　brilliant　indeed。　　Their　demeanour　was　quiet；　for　the　London　merchants　deemed　a　grave　demeanour　to　belong　to　their　calling；　and　the　younger　men　and　apprentices　restrained　their　spirits　in　the　presence　of　their　superiors。　　For　their　special　amusement；　and　in　order；　perhaps；　to　keep　them　from　jostling　too　freely　against　the　court　gallants　and　ladies；　the　city　authorities　had　appointed　popular　sports　such　as　pleased　the　rougher　classes；　and　bull　baiting；　cock…fighting；　wrestling　for　a　ram；　pitching　the　bar；　and　hand　ball；　were　held　in　a　field　some　distance　away。　Here　a　large　portion　of　the　artisans　and　apprentices　amused　themselves　until　the　hour　when　the　king　and　queen　were　to　arrive　at　their　pavilion；　and　the　contests　were　to　commence。
  Presently　a　sound　of　trumpets　was　heard；　and　the　royal　procession　was　seen　moving　up　from　Westminster。　Then　the　minor　sports　were　abandoned；　the　crowd　gathered　round　the　large　fenced…in　space；　and　those　who；　by　virtue　of　rank　or　position　in　the　city；　had　places　in　the　various　stands；　took　their　places　there。
  There　was　a　flourish　of　trumpets　as　the　king　and　queen　appeared　in　front　of　the　pavilion；　ac