y to serve as a guard to the great
inclosure that was being made of canvas stretched on the masts of ships
to mark out the space for a great banquet and dance.

The weather broke however just as Henry, his wife and his sister,
entered Gravelines; it rained pertinaciously, a tempestuous wind blew
down the erection, and as there was no time to set it up again, the
sports necessarily took place in the castle and town hall. There was no
occasion for the exercise of the armourer's craft, and as Charles had
forbidden the concourse of all save invited guests, everything was
comparatively quiet and dull, though the entertainment was on the most
liberal scale. Lodgings were provided in the city at the Emperor's
expense, and wherever an Englishman was quartered each night, the
imperial officers brought a cast of fine manchet bread, two great silver
pots with wine, a pound of sugar, white and yellow candles, and a torch.
As Randall said, "Charles gave solid pudding where Francis gave empty
praise!"

Smallbones and the two youths had very little to do, save to consume
these provisions and accept the hospitality freely offered to them at
the camp of the Badgers, where Smallbones and the Ancient of the troop
sat fraternising over big flagons of Flemish ale, which did not visibly
intoxicate the honest smith, but kept him in the dull and drowsy state,
which was his idea of the _dolce far niente_ of a holiday. Meanwhile
the two youths were made much of by the warriors, Stephen's dexterity
with the bow and back-sword were shown off and lauded, Giles's strength
was praised, and all manner of new feats were taught them, all manner of
stories told them; and the shrinking of well-trained young citizens from
these lawless men, "full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,"
and some very truculent-looking, had given way to judicious flattery,
and to the attractions of adventure and of a free life, where wealth and
honour awaited the bold.

Stephen was told that the gentleman in him was visible, that he ought to
disdain the flat cap and blue gown, that here was his opportunity, and
that among the Badgers he would soon be so rich, as to wonder that he
had ever tolerated the greasy mechanical life of a base burgher.
Respect to his oaths to his master--Sir John laughed the scruple to
scorn; nay, if he were so tender, he could buy his absolution the first
time he had his pouch full of gold.

"What shall I do?" was the cry of Stephen's he