A Knight of the White Cross_ A

price for her jewels. After the payment for the numerous dresses required for the service as a page to the grand master, the grand prior handed the balance of the money Dame Tresham had brought

paid by their families. Nevertheless, the post was considered so honourable, and of such g

ation as novices at the grand priory. With these Gervaise was already acquainted, as they had lived, studied, and performed their military exercises together. The three eldest of these Gervaise liked much, but the youngest of the party, Robert Rivers, a relation of the queen, had always shown a very diffe

tion whether he should be received as a professed knight at the termination of his year of novitiate. Thus, while the other lads treated Gervaise kindly, and indeed made rather a pet of him, Robert Rivers ignored him as much as possible, and if obliged to speak to him did so with a pointed rudeness that mor

age gained for him a great advantage over his companions, and enabled him to be of much use to Sir Guy. They had fine weather during t

tendence; and it is even more essential to us to know how to fight on sea than on land. There is, too, you see, a rivalry among ourselves, for each langue has its duties, and each strives to perform more gallant deeds and to bring in more rich prizes than the others. We of England are among the smallest of the langues, and yet methinks we do a fair portion of t

in ravaging a large district, carrying off much booty. Since then, however, the defences of Rhodes have been greatly strengthened. Zacosta, our last grand master, laboured diligently to increase the fortifications, and, specially, built on one side of the entrance to the harbour a strong tower, called Fort St. Nichola

an vessels, in which they were travelling, several Egyptian merchants with a great store of goods. The Venetians protested that as the ships were theirs we had no right to interfere with our enemies who were travelling in them, and, without giving time for the question to be discussed,

ened us both from the Turks at Constantinople and the Venetians, and that it was madness at such a time to engage in war with a Christian power, the grand master persuaded the council to accede to their request. There has never be

ened by projecting bastions, and the fortifications of the ports. Of these there were two, with separate entrances, divided from each other by a narrow tongue of land. At its extremity stood Fort St. Nicholas, which was connected by a strong wall running along the promontory to the town. The inner port, as it was called, was

l them to send down slaves to fetch up our baggage; then I will take

nd numbers of them had been pirates; but he could not help pitying their condition as they worked in the full heat of the sun under the vigilant eyes of numbers of overseers, who carried heavy whips, in addition to their arms. Their progress to t

together to demand their fair share of dignities. The grand master's authority was considerable, but it was checked by the council, which was composed of the bailiffs and knights of the highest order, known as Grand Crosses. Each langue had its bailiff elected by itself: these resided constantly at Rhodes. Each of these bailiffs held a high office; thus the Bailiff of Provence was always the grand commander of the Order. He controlled the expenditure, superintended the stores, a

n had become of very secondary importance although there was still a guest house and infirmary at Rhodes, where strangers and the sick were carefully attended by the knights. No longer did these ride out to battle on their war horses. It was on the sea that the foe was to be met, and the knights were now sailors rather than soldiers. They dwelt at the h

ely pile than that of the English langue, but the arrangements were similar in all these buildings. In the English house Gervaise had not felt strange, as he had the companionship of his fellow voya

knight was seated at his table, examining some plans. The room was furnished with monastic simpl

ng arms and valiant spirits we have no lack; but men of judgment and discretion, who can be trusted to look at matters calmly and not to be carried away by passion, are welco

oice at the prospect of stirring times again. This lad is young Tresham, who has come out in my

ave way. You see, I am placed in a position of some little difficulty. The grand master is so enfeebled and crippled that he leaves matters almost entirely in my hands, and it would be an abuse of my position, and would excite no little jealousy, were I to use the power I possess to nominate friends of my own to appointments. It is only by the most rigid impartiality, and by dividing as fairly as possible all offices between the eight langues, that all continue to give me thei

hare of the fighting with the infidels. I would fain, sir, offer to you my deep and humble thanks fo

did it not for you, but for the dear friend who wrote to me on your behalf. H

ught to you," Sir Guy said. "He commended the lad to me

ring that bound the missive

rmly," he said, as he la

igence during the five months he was in the House, and displayed such skill and strength for his age, as to surpr

and in this packet are some sixty gold crowns, which are the last remains of his patrimony,

lacked nothing, but was provided with all necessaries for his position. I will in the future take care that

Deauville to co

ad about a year older than Gervaise appeared, and, bowing deeply t

is English, but he speaks French as well as you do, having lived in France for some years. Take him to your apartment

o the two knights, and

a pageship at the grand master's. You begin to count your time at once, while we do not begin to count ours until we are seventeen. Still, good luck ma

are ther

d master's present pages; but as there are five vacancies on an avera

the grand master?" Gerv

are easy enough, as only two are generally emp

other English b

ur room and this is De Lille. De Lille, this is the grand master's new page, Master Gervaise Tresham, and our lord says we are to treat hi

be there?" De Lil

eat friend of our Queen Margaret of Anjou, and t

" De Lille said. "You seem to be

is any love lost between Louis of France and the Du

talk a great deal about fighting, it is

o pallets, which served as seats by day, and two

as interrupted by th

hen the meal is over we will bring a pasty or something else good, and a measure of wine, and have our supper together up

Every one would be strange to me, and hav

he excitement of the day, lay down on the bed which a servant brought up a

" he said, starting up when

t down and eat after the knights have done, but this is much better, as you are here." They sat down on the beds, carved the pasty

he castle looking down upon the s

the mouth of the outer port, and the guns of St. Nicholas, and t

or it lies altogether outside the town

which would be cleared of all the merchant craft, as these would hamper the defence; they would, therefore, be sent round into the

building, and formed a citadel that could be defended after the lower town and the re

posted. England takes the wall between the Spanish tower and that of St. Mary. You defend only the lower storey of that tower, the upper part being held by Aragon, whose charge extends up to the gate of St. John. Thence to the tower of Italy-behind which lies the Jews' quarter-Provence is in charge, while the sea front

d me who defends

composed of equal numbers of p

from the foot of the walls. Every yard of ground was cultivated, and was covered with brilliant vegetation. Groves and orchards occurred thickly, while t

d beautiful cou

s and orchards would conceal their approaches, the walls and buildings would give them shelter, and our cannon would be of little use until they

non on the hills they would do u

lied, "and they would but waste their powder and ball

at cutting that the stones for the construction of the walls, towers, and buildings of the town had been taken, the work having been going on ever since the knights established themselves at Rhodes, and being performed by a host of captives taken in war, together with labour hired from neighbori

stone, with flat roofs, after the manner of most Eastern cities. The streets were very narrow, and were crossed at frequent intervals by broad stone arches. These had the effect, not only of giving shelter from an enemy's fire, but of affording means by which tro

gazing long upon the beautiful country outside the walls, he turned

n it is almost overhead that it shines down into the narrow streets. As you can see by the number of the people on the roofs, they use them as a resort in the evening. Then carpets are spread, and they receive visitors, and can talk to their neighbour

pon the stone terraces; the sound of lutes and other musical instruments came up softly on the still air, with the hum of talk and laughter. The sea

ty that was to be his future home, Gervaise returne

to the official who was in charge of the pages. That officer took him down to the courtyard, where four young knights were engaged in superintending the military exercises of the pages. The scene was exactly the same as that to which Gervaise ha

, a member of the English langue. Be good comrades to him. By the

ce confirmed their anticipation. His fair complexion and nut brown hair tinged with gold, cut somewhat short, but with a natural wave, contrasted with their darker locks and faces bronzed by the sun. There was an honest and frank look in his grey

ir exercises. In that way you wil

pt two or three of the oldest-both in strength and in knowledge of arms. He could climb the rope with any of them, could vault on to the wooden horse with a heavy cuirass and backpiece on him, and held his own in a bout with swords against Conrad von Berghoff, who was considered the be

ooms discipline was at an end, and they were free to amuse themselves as they liked. There were many questions to be asked and answered, but his disp

of them performed the duties of taster. If he returned to the palace after dark, six others lined the staircase with torches. On occasions of state ceremony, and at the numerous religious festivals, all were in attendance. By this time Gervaise's trunks had be

garments are handsome, and I think it looks a good deal better than when we are dressed alike; though no doubt in religious processions that is more appropriate. De Ribaumont, our governor, will give orders for the supp

ctise with the lance; for although it is at sea we fight the Moslems, we are expected to become finished knights in all matters. These eight horses are kept for our service, and such as choose may at other times ride them. On Saturdays we ar