按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
chamberlain。 But Devlen； like some other of the princely castles of the
greatest nobles； was more like a military post or a fortress than an ordinary
household。 Only comparatively few of the esquires could be used in
personal attendance upon the Earl； the others were trained more strictly in
arms； and served rather in the capacity of a sort of body…guard than as
ordinary squires。 For； as the Earl rose in power and influence； and as it so
became well worth while for the lower nobility and gentry to enter their
sons in his family； the body of squires became almost cumbersomely large。
Accordingly； that part which comprised the squires proper； as separate
from the younger pages； was divided into three classes first； squires of
the body； who were those just past pagehood； and who waited upon the
Earl in personal service； second； squires of the household； who； having
regular hours assigned for exercise in the manual of arms； were relieved
20
… Page 21…
MEN OF IRON
from personal service excepting upon especial occasions； and thirdly and
lastly； at the head of the whole body of lads； a class called bachelors
young men ranging from eighteen to twenty years of age。 This class was
supposed to exercise a sort of government over the other and younger
squiresto keep them in order as much as possible； to marshal them upon
occasions of importance； to see that their arms and equipments were kept
in good order； to call the roll for chapel in the morning； and to see that
those not upon duty in the house were present at the daily exercise at arms。
Orders to the squires were generally transmitted through the bachelors；
and the head of that body was expected to make weekly reports of affairs
in their quarters to the chief captain of the body。
From this overlordship of the bachelors there had gradually risen a
system of fagging； such as is or was practised in the great English public
schoolsenforced services exacted from the younger ladswhich at the
time Myles came to Devlen had； in the five or six years it had been in
practice； grown to be an absolute though unwritten law of the bodya law
supported by all the prestige of long…continued usage。 At that time the
bachelors numbered but thirteen； yet they exercised over the rest of the
sixty…four squires and pages a rule of iron； and were taskmasters； hard；
exacting； and oftentimes cruel。
The whole company of squires and pages was under the supreme
command of a certain one…eyed knight； by name Sir James Lee； a soldier
seasoned by the fire of a dozen battles； bearing a score of wounds won in
fight and tourney； and withered by hardship and labor to a leather…like
toughness。 He had fought upon the King's side in all the late wars； and had
at Shrewsbury received a wound that unfitted him for active service； so
that now he was fallen to the post of Captain of Esquires at Devlen Castle…
…a man disappointed in life； and with a temper imbittered by that failure as
well as by cankering pain。
Yet Perhaps no one could have been better fitted for the place he held
than Sir James Lee。 The lads under his charge were a rude； rough； unruly
set； quick； like their elders； to quarrel； and to quarrel fiercely； even to the
drawing of sword or dagger。 But there was a cold； iron sternness about the
21
… Page 22…
MEN OF IRON
grim old man that quelled them； as the trainer with a lash of steel might
quell a den of young wolves。 The apartments in which he was lodged； with
his clerk； were next in the dormitory of the lads； and even in the midst of
the most excited brawlings the distant sound of his harsh voice； 〃Silence；
messieurs！〃 would bring an instant hush to the loudest uproar。
It was into his grim presence that Myles was introduced by Gascoyne。
Sir James was in his office； a room bare of ornament or adornment or
superfluous comfort of any sortwithout even so much as a mat of rushes
upon the cold stone pavement to make it less cheerless。 The old one… eyed
knight sat gnawing his bristling mustaches。 To anyone who knew him it
would have been apparent that； as the castle phrase went； 〃the devil sat
astride of his neck；〃 which meant that some one of his blind wounds was
aching more sorely than usual。
His clerk sat beside him； with account…books and parchment spread
upon the table； and the head squire； Walter Blunt； a lad some three or four
years older than Myles； and half a head taller； black…browed； powerfully
built； and with cheek and chin darkened by the soft budding of his
adolescent beard； stood making his report。
Sir James listened in grim silence while Gascoyne told his errand。
〃So； then； pardee； I am bid to take another one of ye； am I？〃 he snarled。
〃As though ye caused me not trouble enow； and this one a cub； looking a
very boor in carriage and breeding。 Mayhap the Earl thinketh I am to train
boys to his dilly…dally household service as well as to use of arms。〃
〃Sir；〃 said Gascoyne； timidly； 〃my Lord sayeth he would have this one
entered direct as a squire of the body； so that he need not serve in the
household。〃
〃Sayest so？〃 cried Sir James； harshly。 〃Then take thou my message
back again to thy Lord。 Not for Mackworthno； nor a better man than he
will I make any changes in my government。 An I be set to rule a pack of
boys； I will rule them as I list； and not according to any man's bidding。 Tell
him； sirrah； that I will enter no lad as squire of the body without first
testing an he be fit at arms to hold that place。〃 He sat for a while
glowering at Myles and gnawing his mustaches； and for the time no one
22
… Page 23…
MEN OF IRON
dared to break the grim silence。 〃What is thy name？〃 said he； suddenly。
And then； almost before Myles could answer； he asked the head squire
whether he could find a place to lodge him。
〃There is Gillis Whitlock's cot empty；〃 said Blunt。 〃He is in the
infirmary； and belike goeth home again when he cometh thence。 The fever
hath gotten into his bones； a