Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-20
CHAPTER XIV.
How the fellow Cog Sailed Forth From
Lepe.

How the fellow Cog Sailed Forth From
Lepe.
That night the company slept at st. Leon
ards, In the great monastic barns and spi-
carium-ground well known both to Alleyne
and to John. for they were almost within
sight Of the Abbey of Beaulieu. strange
thrill 1t gave to the young squire to see the
well-remembered white dress once more and
to hear the measured tolling Of the deep
vespers bell At early dawn they passed
across the broad, sluggish, reed-girt stream
men. horses and baggage in the fat ferry
barges-and SO journeyed on through the
fresh morning air past Exbury to Lepe.
Topping the healthy down, they came OF a
sudden full in sight of the old seaport-a
cluster of houses, a trail of blue smoke
and a bristle of masts. To right and left
the long blue curve Of the Solent Tapped
In fringe of foam upon the yellow beach.
Some way out from the town a line of pes
soners. creyers and other small craft were
rolling lazily on the gentle swell Further
out still lay great merchant ship. high
ried, deep waisted, painted of canary
NV, and towering above the fishing
boats like swan among ducklings.
by ST. Pauf!' said the knight, "our good
merchant Of Southampton hath not played
US false. for methinks I can see our ship
down yonder. He said that she would be
of great size and of a yellow shade.
by my hilt. yes! muttered Aylward.
'She is yellow as kites claw, and would
carry as many men as there are pips in a
pomegranate."
1T is as WE'LL" remarked Terlake, 'for
methinks, my fair lord, that we are not the
only ones who are waiting g passage to
Gascony. Mine eye catches at times flash
and sparkle among yonder houses which as
suredly never came from shipman's jacket
or the gaberdine of a burgher."
Il can also it," said Alleyne, shading
his eyes with his hand. And 1 can see
men-at-arms in yonder boats which ply
betwixt the vessel and the shore. But me-
thinks that we are very welcome here, for
already they come forth to meet U.S."
A tumultuous crowd of fishermen, citizens
anG women had indeed swarmed out from
the northern gate, approached them up the
side of the moor, waving their hands and
dancing with joy, as though great fear
had been rolled back from their minds. AT
their head rode a very large and solemn
man with a long chin and a dropping lip.
He wore a fur tippet round his neck and a
heavy gold chain over it, with a medallion
which dangled in front of him.
Welcome, most puissant and noble lordr'
he cried, dotfing his bonnet to Black Simon.
Il have heard of your lordship's valiant
deeds, and in sooth they might be expected
from your lordship's face and bearing. Is
there any small matter in which L may
oblige your"
arms, Il would take it kindly if you could
spare link or two of the chain which
hangs round your neck"
What the corporation chain!" cried the
other, in horror. The ancient chain of
the township of Lepe! This is but a sorry
jest, Sir Nigel"
What the plague did you ask me for,
them" said Simon. But if it is Sir Nigel
Loring with whom you would speak, that is
he upon the black horse"
The mayor of Lepe gazed with amazement
on the mild face and slender frame of the
famous warrior.
Your pardon, my gracious lord!'' he
cried. You see in me the mayor and chief
magistrate of the ancient and powerful
town of Lepe. l bid you very heartily well
come, and the more so you are come at
a moment when we are sore put to it for
means of defense"
Hal" cried Sir Mil, pricking up his
ears.
Yes my lord, for the town being very
ancient and the walls as old as the town,
1t follows that they are very ancient, too.
But there is a certain villainous and blood
thirsty Norman pirate hight Tete-noire,
who, with Genoan called Tito, Caracci,
commonly known as Spadebeard, hath been
a mighty scourge upon these coasts. In
deed. my lord, they are very cruel and
black-hearted men; graceless and ruthless,
and If they should come to the ancient and
powerful town of Lepe then"
Then goodbye to the ancient and pow
erfm town of Lepe," quoth Ford, whose
lghtness of tongue could at times rise above
his awe of Sir Nigel.
The knight however. was too much in
tent upon the matter in hand to give heed
to the fippancy of his squire.
Have you, then, cause" he asked, ito
think that these men are about to venture
an attempt upon your
They have come in two great galIeys,"
with
oars on either side and great store of en-
gines of war and of men-at-arms. AT Wey
mouth and at Portland they have murdered
and ravished. Yesterday morning they
were at Cowes, and we saw the smoke
from the burning crofts. Today they lie
al their ease near Freshwater, and we fear
much lest they come upon us and do US
mischief"
I'VE cannot larry" said Sir Nigel, riding
toward the town, with the mayor upon his
left side; THE prince awaits us at Bor-
deauX, and We may not be behind the gen.
eral muster. Yet / will promise you that
FreShWater and to prevail upon these rovers
to leave you in peace"
1--WE much beholden to your cried
the mayor. But / cannot see. my lord,
how without warship, you may venture
against these men. With your archers
however, you might well hold the town and
do them great scath If they attempt to
land"
said Sir Nigel 't would be very strange
thing If any ship were not a warship when
1t had such men as these upon her decks
Certes we shall do as L say, and that no
later than this very day"
MY lord" said a rough haired, dark
faced man, who walked by the knight 8
other strrup, with his head slopad to catch
all that he was saying. by your leave,
1 have no doubt that you are skilled in land
fighting and the marshaling of lances, but,
by my SOUL you will find 1t another thing
upon the sea. / am the master shipman of
this yellow cog, and my name is Goodwin
Hawtayne. i have sailed since I was as
high as this STAFF, and l have fought
against these Normans and against the
Genoese, as well as the Scotch the Bretons,
the Spanish and the Moors. / tell you, sir,
that my ship is overnight and overfrail for
such work, and 1t will but end In our hav-
ing our throats cut. or being sold as slaves
to the Barbary heathen."
81 also have experienced one or two gen.
tie and honorable ventures upon the sea-
quoth Sir Nigel, land / am right blithe to
have so fair a task before us. l think,
good master shipman. that you and l may
win great honor in this matter, and 1 can
see very readily that you are a brave and
stout man"
IT like 1t not" said the other, sturdily.
I'm Gods name, / like IL not And vet