all suspended their
work to listen in concern.

"Ay marry, hath he! The two took it into their royal noddles to try a
fall, and wrestled together on the grass, when by some ill hap, this
same Francis tripped up our Harry, so that he was on the sward for a
moment. He was up again forthwith, and in full heart for another round,
when all the Frenchmen burst in gabbling; and, though their King was
willing to play the match out fairly, they wouldn't let him, and my Lord
Cardinal said something about making ill blood, whereat our King laughed
and was content to leave it. As I told him, we have given the French
falls enough to let them make much of this one."

"I hope he will yet give the mounseer a good shaking," muttered
Smallbones.

"How now, Will! Who's that at the door? We are on his grace's work and
can touch none other man's were it the King of France himself, or his
Constable, who is finer still."

By way of expressing, "No admittance except on business," Smallbones
kept Will Wherry in charge of the door of his little territory, which
having a mud wall on two sides, and a broad brook with quaking banks on
a third, had been easily fenced on the fourth, so as to protect tent,
waggon, horses, and work from the incursions of idlers. Will however
answered, "The gentleman saith he hath kindred here."

"Ay!" and there pushed in, past the lad a tall, lean form, with a gay
but soiled short cloak over one shoulder, a suit of worn buff, a cap
garnished with a dilapidated black and yellow feather, and a pair of
gilt spurs. "If this be as they told me, where Armourer Headley's folk
lodge--I have here a sort of a cousin. Yea, yonder's the brave lad who
had no qualms at the flash of a good Toledo in a knight's fist. How
now, my nevvy! Is not my daughter's nevvy--mine?"

"Save your knighthood!" said Smallbones. "Who would have looked to see
you here, Sir John? Methought you were in the Emperor's service!"

"A stout man-at-arms is of all services," returned Fulford. "I'm here
with half Flanders to see this mighty show, and pick up a few more lusty
Badgers at this encounter of old comrades. Is old Headley here?"

"Nay, he is safe at home, where I would I were," sighed Kit.

"And you are my young master his nephew, who knew where to purvey me of
good steel," added Fulford, shaking Giles's hand. "You are fain,
doubtless, you youngsters, to be forth without the old man. Ha! and
you've no lack of merry company."