the saints cried is indeed not to be set aside but this is a devil s vow and simple clerk as i i am yet the of the true church when i say that it were mortal sin td fight on such a quarrel what shall two grown men carry malice for years and fly like at each other s throats f no my young clerk no malice black i have not a bitter drop in heart for mine old comrade but the quarrel as he hath told you is still open and unsettled fall not whilst i can stand between cried springing before the it is shame and sin to see two christian englishmen turn swords against each other like the and what is more said john suddenly appearing out of the with the huge board upon which the was rolled if either raise sword i shall him like tide by the black i i shall drive him into the earth like a nail into a door rather than see you do to each other fore god this is a strange way of preaching peace cried black you may find the yourself my friend if you raise your great to me i had as have the castle drop upon my tell me said earnestly with hands outstretched to keep the pair asunder what is the cause of quarrel that we may see whether honorable settlement may not be arrived at the looked down at his feet and then up at the moon he cried the cause of quarrel why mon it was years ago in and how can i bear in mind what was the cause of it there hath it at the end of his tongue not i in replied the other i have had other things to think of there was some sort of over or wine or was it a woman i but you have it cried it was indeed about a woman and the quarrel must go forward for i am still of the same mind as before what of the woman then asked may the strike me if i can call to mind aught about her it was la rose maid at the sign of the at bless her pretty heart i why mon i loved her so did a many i call her to mind now on the very day that we fought over the little she went off with ap a long legged they have a of their own now somewhere on the banks of where the landlord drinks so of the liquor that there is little left for the so ends our then said his sword a v faith c and the more so when she had a jolly and a man at arms to f rom true old lad and it is as well that we can compose our differences for sir had been out at the first dash of steel and he hath sworn that if there be quarrelling in the garrison he would the right hand from the you know him of old and that he is like to be as good as his word yes but there are ale and wine in the and the steward a merry rogue who will not over a or two mon for it is not every day that two old friends come together the old soldiers and john strode off together in all good fellowship had turned to follow them when he felt a touch upon his shoulder and found a young page by his side the lord commands said the boy that you will follow me to the great chamber and await him there but my comrades commands were for you alone followed the messenger to the east end of the where a broad flight of steps led up to the doorway of the main hall the outer wall of which is washed by the waters of the as designed at first no dwelling had been allotted to the lord of the castle and his family but the dark and dismal story of the keep a more civilized or more generation however had refused to be pent up in such a cellar and the hall with its neighboring chambers had been added for their accommodation up the broad steps went still following his boyish guide until at the folding oak doom the latter paused and ushered him into the i ain hall of the castle on the th looked round but seeing no one he to stand his cap in his hand with the greatest interest a chamber which was so different to any to which he was thb days had bj when a nobleman s hall was a barn like l the and eating room of of the castle the had brought back with them experiences of domestic of carpets and of which made them impatient of the hideous and want df privacy which they found in their still however had been the influence of the french war for however well matched the nations might be in martial exercises there be no question but that our neighbors were infinitely superior to us in the arts of peace a stream of returning knights of wounded and of had for a quarter of a continually pouring into england every one of whom exerted an influence in the direction of greater domestic refinement while of french furniture from and other towns had supplied our own with models on which to shape their work hence in most english castles and in castle among the rest chambers were id be found which would to be not wanting either in beauty or in in the great stone fireplace a log fire was and throwing out a ruddy glare which with the four lamps stood at each corner of the room gave a bright and air to the whole above was a wreath work of extending up to the carved and roof while on either side 