Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-30
THE WHITE COMPANY
BY A. CONAN DOYLE.
CHAPTER XIII.
How England Held the Lists at Bor-
doa,1x

CHAPTER XIII.
How England Held the Lists at Bor-
deaux.
So used were the good burghers OF Bor-
deaux to martial display and knightly sport
that an ordinary toust or tournament was
an everyday matter with them. The fame
and brilliancy Of the princes court had
drawn the knights errant and pursuivants-
of-arms from every part OF Europe. In the
long lists by the Garonne on the landward
side of the northern gate there had been
many a strange combat, wlen me Ieutcnic
knight. fresh from the conquest OF the frus-
sian heather. ran course asaihs. tnS
knight OF Calatrava, hardened by continual
struggle against the Moors. or cavaliers
from Portugal broke lance with Scanoi-
navian warriors from the further shore o,
the great northern ocean, here nuttereu
many an outland pennon. bearing symDoi
and blaZonry from the banks or the Ian
ube, the wiids of Lithuania. ana the noun
tain strongholds of Hungary; for chfvairy
was Of no cline and of no race, nor was
any land so wild that thesfame and name
of the prince had not sounded through II
from border to border.
Great. however, was the excitement
through town and district when It was
learned that on tne third Wednesday In Ad-
vent there would be held passage-at-
arms in which Ave knights OF England
would hold the lists against all corners Inc
soldiers, the national character OF the con,
test, and the fact that this was last trla4
Of arms before what promised to De an
arduous and bloody war. all united 10 MAKE
the event one Of the most notable ana Drill
liant that Bordeaux had ever seen: On the
eve of the contest the peasants hooked IN
from the wNole district OF the Medoc. ana
the fields beyond the walls were Whltenea
warmer lodging. From the distant camp
of OAK too, and from BlASe. Bourg, Ii
bourne. St. Euliiion. Casthlon. 81. Ma
caire, Cardillac, Ryons and all the cluster
of f1ourishing towns which look upon Bor-
deaux as their mother, there thronged an
unceasing stream OF horsemen and OF foot-
men, all converging upon the great CITY.
BY the morning of the day on whch tne
courses were to be run not less than
eighty people had assembled round the lists
and along the low grassy ridge which looks
down upon the scene of the encounter
1t was. as may well be imagined. no easy
matter among so many noted cavaliers 10
choose out five on either side who should
have precedence over their fellows. score
OF secondary combats had nearly arisen
from the rlvalries and bad blood created by
the selection, and 1t was only the influence
of the prince and the efforts of the older
barons which kept the peace among SO many
eager and fiery soldiers. Not TIL the DAY
before the courses were the shlelos many
hung out for the inspection OF the ladies
and the heralds, so that all men might know
the names OF the champions and have the
opportunity to prefer any charge against
them. should there be stain upon tnem
which should disqualify them from taking
part In so noble and honorable ceremony.
Sir Hugh Calverley and Sir Robert knolles
had not yet returned from their raid into
the marches of the Navarro, so that the
English party were deprived Of two OF their
most famous lances. Yet there remained
SO many good names that Chandos and Eel
ton to whom the selection had been re-
ferred, had many an earnest consultation,
toy, faat ~ q
success Of each candidate was weighed and
balanced against the rival claims OF his COM
panions. Lord Audley of Cheshire, the hero
of Poictiers, and Loring of Hampshire, who
was held to be the second lance in the army,
were easily fixed upon Then, OF the
younger men, Sir Thomas Percy of North
cumberland, Sir Thomas Wake OF Yorkshire
and Sir William Beauchamp of Gloucester
shire were finally selected to uphold the
honor of England. On the other side were
the veteran CAPITAL de Buch and the brawny
Olivier de Gibson. with the free companion
Sir Perducas d'Albert, the valiant Lord OF
Mucident, and Sigismond Won Altenstadt Of
the Teutonic Order. The older soldiers
among the English shook their heads as
they looked upon the escutcheons OF these
famous warriors, for they were all men
VINO had spent their lives upon the saddle,
and bravery and strength can avail little
against experience and wisdom of war.
by my faith! Sir john" said the prince,
as he rode through the winding streets on
his way to the lists. Il should have been
glad to have splintered lance today. You
have seen me hold a spear since L mad
strength to lift one. and should know best
whether 1 do not merit a place among this
honorable company
There Is no better seat and no truer
lance, sire" said Chandos; but. IL I may
say so without fear of offense, 1t were not
fitting that you should join in this debate"
And why, Sir John?"
Because. sire, 1t Is not for you to take
part with Gascons against English. or with
are lord of both. We are not too well
loved by the Gascons now, and 1t Is but
the golden link of your princely coronet
which holds US together. If that be snap
ped l know not what would follow.
Snapped. Sir john cried the prince.
with an angry sparkle in his dark eyes.
What manner of talk is this? You speak
as though the allegiance of our people were
thing which might be thrown on or on
like q falcons jessei.
with a sorry hack one uses whip and
spur. sire said Chandos; but with horse
of blood and spirit good cavalier Is gen
tie and soothing, coaxing rather than fore
ing These folk are strange people. and
YOU must hold their love. even as you have
It now for you will get from their Kindness
what all the pennons in your army could
not wiring from them
You are overgrave today. JOHN the
prince answered. We may keep such aues-
tions for council chamber But how
now. my brothers o. Spain. and of Majorca.
what think you of this challenger.
II look to see some handsome jousttng.
said Don Pedro who rode with the King OF
Majorca upon the right OF the prince. while
Chandos was on the left. eBy sly. James OF
Compostella! but these burghers would bear
some taxing See the broadcloth and velvet
that the rogues bear upon their backs By
my troth! II they were my subjects, they
would be glad enough to wear fading and
leather ere had done WA them But may
hap 1t is best to let the wool grow long
ere you clip IT."
TT is our pride" the prince answered,
coldiy. that we rule over freemen and not
slaves" AsD aH&4 z.v4=-,-s-e
Every man to his own humor." said
Pedro carelessly. 'Carajo! there IL a sweet
face at yonder window! Don Fernando. I
pray you to mark the house. and to have
the maid brought to US at the abbey"
May. brother. nayf' cried the, prince. I'M
patiently. II have had occasion to tell you
more than once that things are not ordered
in this way in Aqu1taine."
"A thousands pardons. dear friend" the
Spaniard answered, quickly, for a. flush Of
anger had sprung to the dark cheek OF. the
English prince. You make my exile 50 like
a home that forget at times that am
not. in very truth. back In Castillo Every
land hath indeed its ways and manners: but
promise you, Edward. that when you are
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