e no means of obtaining
suitable armour and horses." Then Bellabre, a brave young fellow some years
older than himself, exclaimed: "Why do you trouble about that, my
companion? Have you not your uncle, that fat Abbe of Ainay? I vow that we
must go to him, and if he will not give you money we must take his cross
and mitre! But I believe that when he sees your courage he will willingly
help you."

Bayard at once went and touched the shield, whereupon Mountjoy, King-at-arms,
who was there to write down the names, began to reason with him. "How is
this, Picquet, my friend; you will not be growing your beard for the next
three years, and yet you think of fighting against Messire Claude, who is
one of the most valiant knights of all France?" But the youth replied
modestly: "Mountjoy, my friend, what I am doing is not from pride or
conceit, but my only desire is to learn how to fight from those who can
teach me. And if God pleases He will grant that I may do something to
please the ladies." Whereupon Mountjoy broke out into a hearty laugh,
which showed how much he enjoyed it.

The news soon spread through Lyons that Picquet had touched the shield of
Messire Claude, and it came to the ears of the Sire de Ligny, who would not
have missed it for ten thousand crowns. He went at once to tell the King,
who was greatly delighted and said: "Upon my faith! Cousin de Ligny, your
training will do you honour again, if my heart tells me true." "We shall
see how it will turn out," was the grave reply; "for the lad is still very
young to stand the attack of a man like Messire Claude."

But that was not what troubled young Bayard; it was the question how to
find money for suitable horses and accoutrements. So he went to his
companion, Bellabre, and asked for his help. "My friend, I beg of you to
come with me to persuade my uncle, the Abbe of Ainay, to give me money. I
know that my uncle, the Bishop of Grenoble, would let me want for nothing
if he were here, but he is away at his Abbey of St. Sernin at Toulouse,
which is so far off that there would be no time for a man to go there and
back." "Do not trouble," said his friend, "you and I will go to Ainay, and
I trust we shall manage it." This was some comfort, but the young warrior
had no sleep that night. He and Bellabre, who shared the same bed, rose
very early and took one of the little boats from Lyons to Ainay. On their
arrival, the first person they met in the meadow was the Abbe himself