Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-08
CHAPTER vI-Continued.

We'll sung, by my hiltp' shouted the
archer, in high delight. MANY night
have I heard that song, both in the old
wartime and after, in the days of the
White Company, when Black Simon of
Norwich would lead the stave, and four
hundred of the best bowmen that ever
drew string would come roaring in upon
the chorus. l have seen old John Hawk
wood, the same who has led half the COM
pany into Italy, stand laughing in his beard
as he heard 1t, until his plates ratified
again. But to get the full smack of it we
must yourselves be English bowmen, and
be far off upon outland SOIL"
While the song had been singing Dame
Eliza and the maid had placed a board
across two trestles, and had laid upon 1t
the knife, the spoon, the SALT the tranchoir
or bread, and finally the smoking dish
which held the savory supper. The archer
settled himself to it like one who had
known what-ft was to find good food
scarce; but his tongue still went as merrily
as his teeth.
1T passes me-" he cried,-"how all YOU
iusty fellows can bide scratching your
backs at home when there are such doings
over the seas. Look at me-what have to
do? It is but the eye to the cord, the cord
to the shaft. and the shaft to the mark
There is the whole song of 1t. 1t is but
what you do yourselves for pleasure upon
a Sunday evening at the parish village
butts"
And the wage?" asked laborer.
You see what the wage brings, he an
swered. II eat of the best, and / drink
deep. treat my friend, and I ask no
friend to treat me- clap silk gown on
my girls back. Never knights lady shall
be better betrimmed and betrinketed, How
of all that. mon garcon? And how of the
heap of trifles that you can see for your
selves in yonder corner? They are from
the south French. every one. upon whom
have been making war. BY my hilt, CANA
rades. think that I may let my plumber
speak for itself. -
'It seems. indeed to be a goodly serv-
ice," said the toothdrawer.
Tete bleui yes. indeed. Then there Is
the. chance of ransom. Why, look you,
in the affair at originals, some four years
back, when the companies slew James of
Bourbon, and put his army to the sword.
there was scarce man of ours who had
not count. baron or knight. Peter KarsdaIe
who was but common country lout newly
brought over, with the English fieas still
hopping under his doubet, laid his great
hands upon the Sieur Amaury de Chaton-
vile. who owns half Picardy, and had five
thousand crowns out of him, with his horse
and harness. Ills true that French wench
took it all off Peter as quick as the French
man paid 1t; but what then? By the twang
of string! it would be bad thing if money
was not made to be spent: and how better
than on woman--eh, ma BELIEF
sit would indeed be bad thing IL we
and kindly customs into the country
quoth Dame Eliza, on whom the soldiers
free and open ways had made deep inn
preston.
"A tot. ma cherie." said he. with his hand
over his heart. '.HoIa! there Is la petite
peeping from behind the door. A tot. aussi.
ma petite. Mon Dieu! but the lass has a
good coIori"
There is one thing, fair SIR said the
Cambridge student, in his piping voice.
which would fam that you would make
more clear. AS I understand 1t, there was
six years back between our most gracious
monarch and the King of the French. This
being so, 1t seems most passing strange
that you should talk so loudly of war and
OF companies when there is no quarrel be-
tween the French and u.s.
Meaning that LEI, said the archer, lay
Ing down his knife.
MAY heaven forfendl" cried the student.
hastily Magma est yeritas sed rara,
which means in the Latin tongue that
archers are all honorable men. I come to
you seeking knowledge. for 1t is my trade
to learn"
II fear that you are yet a prentice to
is no child over the water but could an
swer what you ask. Know, then, that
though there may be peace between our
own provinces and the French, yet
within the marches of France there
is always war. for the country is
more harried by bands of fiayers skinners,
Brabacons. tardvenus and the rest OF them.
When every mans grip is on his nefghbor's
throat. and every fve-sous piece of baron
Is marching with tuck of drum to fight
whom he will. 1t would be a strange thing
not pick up q living. Now that Sir John
Hardwood hath gone with the East An9-