"Majesty," said the Earl, "I have taken this chance to bring tothy merciful consideration one who hath most wofully and unjustlysuffered from thine anger. Yonder stands the young knight of whomwe spake; this is his father, Gilbert Reginald, whilom LordFalworth, who craves mercy and justice at thy hands.""Falworth," said the King, placing his hand to his head. "Thename is not strange to mine ears, but I cannot place it. My headhath troubled me sorely to-day, and I cannot remember."At this point the Earl of Alban came quietly and deliberatelyforward. "Sire," said he, "pardon my boldness in so venturing toaddress you, but haply I may bring the name more clearly to yourmind. He is, as my Lord of Mackworth said, the whilom BaronFalworth, the outlawed, attainted traitor; so declared for theharboring of Sir John Dale, who was one of those who sought yourMajesty's life at Windsor eleven years ago. Sire, he is mineenemy as well, and is brought hither by my proclaimed enemies.
Should aught occur to my harm, I rest my case in your gracioushands."The dusty red flamed into the King's pale, sickly face in answer,and he rose hastily from his seat.
"Aye," said he, "I remember me now--I remember me the man and thename! Who hath dared bring him here before us?" All the dullheaviness of sickness was gone for the moment, and King Henry wasthe King Henry of ten years ago as he rolled his eyes balefullyfrom one to another of the courtiers who stood silently around.
The Earl of Mackworth shot a covert glance at the Bishop ofWinchester, who came forward in answer.
"Your Majesty," said he, "here am I, your brother, who beseechyou as your brother not to judge over-hastily in this matter. Itis true that this man has been adjudged a traitor, but he hasbeen so adjudged without a hearing. I beseech thee to listenpatiently to whatsoever he may have to say.
The King fixed the Bishop with a look of the bitterest, deepestanger, holding his nether lip tightly under his teeth--a trick hehad when strongly moved with anger--and the Bishop's eyes fellunder the look. Meantime the Earl of Alban stood calm and silent.
No doubt he saw that the King's anger was likely to befriend himmore than any words that he himself could say, and he perilledhis case with no more speech which could only prove superfluous.
At last the King turned a face red and swollen with anger to theblind Lord, who still kneeled before him.
"What hast thou to say?" he said, in a deep and sullen voice.
"Gracious and merciful Lord," said the blind nobleman, "I come tothee, the fountain-head of justice, craving justice. Sire, I donow and here deny my treason, which denial I could not beforemake, being blind and helpless, and mine enemies strong andmalignant. But now, sire, Heaven hath sent me help, and thereforeI do acclaim before thee that my accuser, William BushyBrookhurst, Earl of Alban, is a foul and an attainted liar in allthat he hath accused me of. To uphold which allegation, and todefend me, who am blinded by his unknightliness, I do offer achampion to prove all that I say with his body in combat."The Earl of Mackworth darted a quick look at Myles, who cameforward the moment his father had ended, and kneeled beside him.
The King offered no interruption to his speech, but he bent alook heavy with anger upon the young man.
"My gracious Lord and King," said Myles, "I, the son of theaccused, do offer myself as his champion in this cause,beseeching thee of thy grace leave to prove the truth of thesame, being a belted knight by thy grace and of thy creation andthe peer of any who weareth spurs." Thereupon, rising, he drewhis iron gauntlet from his girdle, and flung it clashing downupon the floor, and with his heart swelling within him with angerand indignation and pity of his blind father, he cried, in a loudvoice, "I do accuse thee, William of Alban, that thou liestvilely as aforesaid, and here cast down my gage, daring thee totake it up.
The Earl of Alban made as though he would accept the challenge,but the King stopped him hastily.
"Stop!" he cried, harshly. "Touch not the gage! Let it lie--letit lie, I tell thee, my Lord! Now then," said he, turning to theothers, "tell me what meaneth all this coil? Who brought this manhither?"He looked from one to another of those who stood silently around,but no one answered.
"I see," said he, "ye all have had to do with it. It is as myLord of Alban sayeth; ye are his enemies, and ye are my enemiesas well. In this I do smell a vile plot. I cannot undo what Ihave done, and since I have made this young man a knight withmine own hands, I cannot deny that he is fit to challenge my Lordof Alban. Ne'theless, the High Court of Chivalry shall adjudgethis case. Meantime," said he, turning to the Earl Marshal, whowas present, "I give thee this attainted Lord in charge. Conveyhim presently to the Tower, and let him abide our pleasure there.
Also, thou mayst take up yon gage, and keep it till it isredeemed according to our pleasure."He stood thoughtfully for a moment, and then raising his eyes,looked fixedly at the Earl of Mackworth. "I know," he said, "thatI be a right sick man, and there be some who are already plottingto overthrow those who have held up my hand with their ownstrength for all these years." Then speaking more directly: "MyLord Earl of Mackworth, I see your hand in this before allothers. It was thou who so played upon me as to get me to knightthis young man, and thus make him worthy to challenge my Lord ofAlban. It was thy doings that brought him here to-day, backed bymine own sons and my brother and by these noblemen." Then turningsuddenly to the Earl of Alban: "Come, my Lord," said he; "I amaweary with all this coil. Lend me thine arm to leave thisplace." So it was that he left the room, leaning upon the Earl ofAlban's arm, and followed by the two or three of the Albanfaction who were present.
"Your Royal Highness," said the Earl Marshal, "I must e'en do theKing's bidding, and take this gentleman into arrest.""Do thy duty," said the Prince. "We knew it must come to this.
Meanwhile he is to be a prisoner of honor, and see that he bewell lodged and cared for. Thou wilt find my barge at the stairsto convey him down the river, and I myself will come thisafternoon to visit him."
