e hand played with the jeweled dagger in
his belt.

"By the splendor of God!" said he in a loud clear voice, "I have little
doubt that you will rejoice with me this night, for such tidings have
come to my ears as may well bring joy to everyone of you. You know well
that our ships have suffered great scathe from the Spaniards, who for
many years have slain without grace or ruth all of my people who have
fallen into their cruel hands. Of late they have sent their ships into
Flanders, and thirty great cogs and galleys lie now at Sluys well-filled
with archers and men-at-arms and ready in all ways for battle. I have
it to-day from a sure hand that, having taken their merchandise aboard,
these ships will sail upon the next Sunday and will make their way
through our Narrow Sea. We have for a great time been long-suffering to
these people, for which they have done us many contraries and despites,
growing ever more arrogant as we grow more patient. It is in my mind
therefore that we hie us to-morrow to Winchelsea, where we have twenty
ships, and make ready to sally out upon them as they pass. May God and
Saint George defend the right!"

A second shout, far louder and fiercer than the first, came like a
thunderclap after the King's words. It was the bay of a fierce pack to
their trusted huntsman.

Edward laughed again as he looked round at the gleaming eyes, the waving
arms and the flushed joyful faces of his liegemen. "Who hath fought
against these Spaniards?" he asked. "Is there anyone here who can tell
us what manner of men they be?"

A dozen hands went up into the air; but the King turned to the Earl of
Suffolk at his elbow.

"You have fought them, Thomas?" said he.

"Yes, sire, I was in the great sea-fight eight years ago at the Island
of Guernsey, when Lord Lewis of Spain held the sea against the Earl of
Pembroke."

"How found you them, Thomas?"

"Very excellent people, sire, and no man could ask for better. On every
ship they have a hundred crossbowmen of Genoa, the best in the world,
and their spearmen also are very hardy men. They would throw great
cantles of iron from the tops of the masts, and many of our people met
their death through it. If we can bar their way in the Narrow Sea, then
there will be much hope of honor for all of us."

"Your words are very welcome, Thomas," said the King, "and I make
no doubt that they will show themselves to be very worthy of what we
prepare for them. To you I give a ship