ommandment of the right high, mighty and virtuous
Princess, my redoubted Lady, Isabella of Portugal, by the grace of God
Duchess of Burgundy and Lotharingia, of Brabant and Limbourg, of
Luxembourg and of Gueldres, Countess of Flanders, of Artois, and of
Burgundy, Palatine of Hainault, of Holland, of Zealand and of Namur,
Marquesse of the Holy Empire, and Lady of Frisia, of Salins and of
Mechlin; whom I beseech Almighty God less to increase than to continue
in her virtuous disposition in this world, and after our poor fleet
existence to receive eternally. Amen."_

Contents

CHAP.

PRECAUTIONAL
THE PROLOGUE
I. THE STORY OF THE SESTINA
II. THE STORY OF THE TENSON
III. THE STORY OF THE RAT-TRAP
IV. THE STORY OF THE CHOICES
V. THE STORY OF THE HOUSEWIFE
VI. THE STORY OF THE SATRAPS
VII. THE STORY OF THE HERITAGE
VIII. THE STORY OF THE SCABBARD
IX. THE STORY OF THE NAVARRESE
X. THE STORY OF THE FOX-BRUSH
THE EPILOGUE

Illustrations

"'I SING OF DEATH'" . . . . . . . . . _Frontispiece_

"THEY WERE OVERTAKEN BY FALMOUTH HIMSELF"

"IN AN INSTANT THE PLACE RESOUNDED LIKE A SMITHY"

"SHE HAD VIEWED THE GREAT CONQUEROR"

"'MY PRISONER!' SHE SAID"

"'DO YOU FORSAKE SIRE EDWARD, CATHERINE?'"

"'HAIL YE THAT ARE MY KINSMEN!'"

"IN THE LIKENESS OF A FAIR WOMAN"

"'YOU DESIGN MURDER?' RICHARD ASKED"

"'TAKE NOW YOUR PETTY VENGEANCE!'"

"SO FOR A HEART-BEAT SHE SAW HIM"

"NICOLAS: A SON LIVRET"

The Prologue

"_Afin que les entreprises honorables et les nobles aventures
et faicts d'armes soyent noblement enregistres et conserves,
je vais traiter et raconter et inventer ung galimatias._"

THE DIZAIN OF QUEENS OF THAT NOBLE MAKER IN THE
FRENCH TONGUE, MESSIRE NICOLAS DE CAEN, DEDICATED
TO THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS ISABELLA OF PORTUGAL, OF
THE HOUSE OF THE INDOMITABLE ALFONSO HENRIQUES,
AND DUCHESS DOWAGER OF BURGUNDY. HERE BEGINS
IN AUSPICIOUS WISE THE PROLOGUE.

Chivalry

The Prologue

_A sa Dame_

Inasmuch as it was by your command, illustrious and exalted lady, that
I have gathered together these stories to form the present little book,
you should the less readily suppose I have presumed to dedicate to your
Serenity this trivial offering because of my esteeming it to be not
undeserving of your acceptance. The truth is otherwise; and your
postulant now approaches as one not spurred towar