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the ways of chivalry； the model of the younger cavaliers；
handsome in person； noble in bearing； the surest lance in the
tilting…yard； and the stoutest arm in the foray。
Like 〃Jephtha； Judge of Israel；〃 of whom the mock…mad Hamlet sang
to Polonius； Count William had
〃One fair daughter； and no more；
The which he loved passing well〃；
and； truth to tell； this fair young Jacqueline； the little 〃Lady
of Holland；〃 as men called her；but whom Count William； because
of her fearless antics and boyish ways； called 〃Dame
Jacob；〃＇1＇loved her knightly father with equal fervor。
＇1＇ Jaqueline is the French rendering of the Dutch Jakobinethe
feminine of Jakob； or James。
As she sat； that day； in the great Hall of the Knights in the
massive castle at The Hague； she could see； among all the knights
and nobles who came from far and near to join in the festivities
at Count William's court； not one that approached her father in
nobility of bearing or manly strengthnot even her husband。
Her husband？ Yes。 For this little maid of thirteen had been for
eight years the wife of the Dauphin of France； the young Prince
John of Touraine； to whom she had been married when she was
scarce five years old and he barely nine。 Surrounded by all the
pomp of an age of glitter and display； these royal children lived
in their beautiful castle of Quesnoy； in Flanders；＇1＇ when they
were not； as at the time of our story； residents at the court of
the powerful Count William of Holland。
＇1＇ Now Northeastern France。
Other young people were there； too；nobles and pages and little
ladies…in…waiting； and there was much of the stately ceremonial
and flowery talk that in those days of knighthood clothed alike
the fears of cowards and the desires of heroes。 For there have
always been heroes and cowards in the world。
And so； between all these young folk； there was much boastful
talk and much harmless gossip how the little Lady of Courtrai had
used the wrong corner of the towel yesterday； how the fat Duchess
of Enkhuysen had violated the laws of all etiquette by placing
the wrong number of finger…bowls upon her table on St。 Jacob's
Day； and how the stout young Hubert of Malsen had scattered the
rascal merchants of Dort at their Shrovetide fair。
Then uprose the young Lord of Arkell。
〃Hold； there！〃 he cried hotly。 〃This Hubert of Malsen is but a
craven； sirs； if he doth say the merchants of Dort are rascal
cowards。 Had they been fairly mated； he had no more dared to put
his nose within the gates of Dort than dare one of you here to go
down yonder amid Count William's lions！〃
〃Have a care； friend Otto；〃 said the little Lady of Holland； with
warning finger； 〃there is one here； at least； who dareth to go
amid the lionsmy father； sir。〃
〃I said nothing of him； madam；〃 replied Count Otto。 〃I did mean
these young red hats here； who do no more dare to bait your
father's lions than to face the Cods of Dort in fair and equal
fight。〃
At this bold speech there was instant commotion。 For the nobles
and merchants of Holland； four centuries and a half ago； were at
open strife with one another。 The nobles saw in the increasing
prosperity of the merchants the end of their own feudal power and
tyranny。 The merchants recognized in the arrogant nobles the only
bar to the growth of Holland's commercial enterprise。 So each
faction had its leaders； its partisans； its badges； and its
followers。 Many and bloody were the feuds and fights that raged
through all those low…lying lands of Holland； as the nobles； or
〃Hooks；〃 as they were calleddistinguishable by their big red
hats；and the merchants； or 〃Cods；〃 with their slouch hats of
quiet gray； struggled for the lead in the state。 And how they DID
hate one another！
Certain of the younger nobles； however； who were opposed to the
reigning house of Holland； of which Count William； young
Jacqueline's father； was the head； had espoused the cause of the
merchants； seeing in their success greater prosperity and wealth
for Holland。 Among these had been the young Lord of Arkell； now a
sort of half prisoner at Count William's court because of certain
bold attempts to favor the Cods in his own castle of Arkell。 His
defiant words therefore raised a storm of protests。
〃Nay； then； Lord of Arkell；〃 said the Dauphin John； 〃you； who
prate so loudly； would better prove your words by some sign of
your own valor。 You may have dared fight your lady mother； who so
roundly punished you therefor； but a lion hath not the tender
ways of a woman。 Face YOU the lions； lord count； and I will
warrant me they will not prove as forbearing as did she。〃
It was common talk at Count William's court that the brave Lady
of Arkell； mother of the Count Otto； had made her way； disguised；
into we castle of her son； had herself lowered the drawbridge；
admitted her armed retainers； overpowered and driven out her
rebellious son； and that then； relenting； she had appealed to
Count William to pardon the lad and to receive him at court as
hostage for his own fealty。 So this fling of the Dauphin's cut
deep。
But before the young Otto could return an angry answer；
Jacqueline had interfered。
〃Nay； nay； my lord；〃 she said to her husband； the Dauphin； 〃 't
is not a knightly act thus to impeach the honor of a noble
guest。〃
But now the Lord of Arkell had found his tongue。
〃My lord prince；〃 he said； bowing low with stately courtesy； 〃if；
as my lady mother and good Count William would force me； I am to
be loyal vassal to you； my lieges here； I should but follow where
you dare to lead。 Go YOU into the lions' den； lord prince； and I
will follow you； though it were into old Hercules' very teeth。〃
It was a shrewd reply； and covered as good a 〃double…dare〃 as
ever one boy made to another。 Some of the manlier of the young
courtiers indeed even dared to applaud。 But the Dauphin John was
stronger in tongue than in heart。
〃Peste！〃 he cried contemptuously。 〃 'T is a fool's answer and a
fool's will。 And well shall we see now how you will sneak out of
it all。 See； Lord of Arkell； you who can prate so loudly of Cods
and lions： here before all； I dare you to face Count William's
lions yourself！〃
The young Lord of Arkell was in his rich court suita
tight…fitting； great…sleeved silk jacket； rich； violet chausses；
or tights； and pointed shoes。 But without a word； with scarce a
look toward his challenger； he turned to his nearest neighbor； a
brave Zealand lad； afterward noted in Dutch historyFrancis von
Borselen。
〃Lend me your gabardine； friend Franz； will you not？〃 he said。
The young von Borselen took from the back of the settle； over
which it was flung； his gabardinethe long； loose gray cloak
that was a sort of overcoat in those days of queer costume。
〃It is here； my Otto；〃 he said。
The Lord of Arkell drew the loose gray cloak over his rich silk
suit；