down from Crosbey Priory to be
with his friend's family during this their time of terrible anxiety.

After a little while of general talk, the Prince and his attendants
retired, leaving the family together, only Sir James Lee and Gascoyne
remaining behind.

Many matters that had been discussed before were now finally settled,
the chief of which was the disposition of Lady Falworth in case the
battle should go against them. Then Myles took his leave, kissing his
mother, who began crying, and comforting her with brave assurances.
Prior Edward accompanied him as far as the head of the Tower stairs,
where Myles kneeled upon the stone steps, while the good priest blessed
him and signed the cross upon his forehead. The Prince was waiting in
the walled garden adjoining, and as they rowed back again up the river
to Scotland Yard, all were thoughtful and serious, even Poins' and
Vere's merry tongues being stilled from their usual quips and jesting.

It was about the quarter of the hour before eleven o'clock when Myles,
with Gascoyne, set forth for the lists. The Prince of Wales, together
with most of his court, had already gone on to Smithfield, leaving
behind him six young knights of his household to act as escort to the
young champion. Then at last the order to horse was given; the great
gate swung open, and out they rode, clattering and jingling, the
sunlight gleaming and flaming and flashing upon their polished armor.
They drew rein to the right, and so rode in a little cloud of dust along
the Strand Street towards London town, with the breeze blowing merrily,
and the sunlight shining as sweetly and blithesomely as though they were
riding to a wedding rather than to a grim and dreadful ordeal that meant
either victory or death.

CHAPTER 32

In the days of King Edward III a code of laws relating to trial by
battle had been compiled for one of his sons, Thomas of Woodstock. In
this work each and every detail, to the most minute, had been arranged
and fixed, and from that time judicial combats had been regulated in
accordance with its mandates.

It was in obedience to this code that Myles Falworth appeared at the
east gate of the lists (the east gate being assigned by law to the
challenger), clad in full armor of proof, attended by Gascoyne, and
accompanied by two of the young knights who had acted as his escort from
Scotland Yard.

At the barriers he was met by the attorney Willingwood, the chief lawyer
who had c