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Rh oldest vernage, and see that you do not shake it. Hast heard the news?'

'Nay,' cried both the squires.

'That we are to have a brave tourney.'

'A tourney?'

'Ay, lads. For the Captal de Buch hath sworn that he will find five knights from this side of the water who will ride over any five Englishmen who ever threw leg over saddle; and Chandos hath taken up the challenge, and the prince hath promised a golden vase for the man who carries himself best, and all the court is in a buzz over it.'

'Why should the knights have all the sport?' growled Hordle John. 'Could they not set up five archers for the honour of Aquitaine and of Gascony?'

'Or five men-at-arms,' said Black Simon.

'But who are the English knights?' asked Hawtayne.

'There are three hundred and forty one in the town,' said Aylward, 'and I hear that three hundred and forty cartels and defiances have already been sent in, the only one missing being Sir John Ravensholme, who is in his bed with the sweating sickness, and cannot set foot to ground.'

'I have heard of it from one of the archers of the guard,' cried a bowman from among the straw; 'I hear that the prince wished to break a lance, but that Chandos would not hear of it, for the game is likely to be a rough one.'

'Then there is Chandos.'

'Nay, the prince would not permit it. He is to be marshal of the lists, with Sir William Felton and the Duc d'Armagnac. The English will be the Lord Audley, Sir Thomas Percy, Sir Thomas Wake, Sir William Beauchamp, and our own very good lord and leader.'

'Hurrah for him, and God be with him!' cried several. 'It is honour to draw string in his service.'

'So you may well say,' said Aylward. 'By my ten finger-bones! if you march behind the pennon of the five roses you are like to see all that a good bowman would wish to see. Ha! yes, mes garcons, you laugh, but, by my hilt! you may