l haste you each to his own quarters, and you will make swiftly such
preparations as are needful, for, as God is my aid, I will sail with you
to Winchelsea to-morrow!"

Beckoning to Chandos, Manny and a few of his chosen leaders, the King
led them away to an inner chamber, where they might discuss the plans
for the future. At the same time the assembly broke up, the knights in
silence and dignity, the squires in mirth and noise, but all joyful at
heart for the thought of the great days which lay before them.

XVII. THE SPANIARDS ON THE SEA

Day had not yet dawned when Nigel was in the chamber of Chandos
preparing him for his departure and listening to the last cheery words
of advice and direction from his noble master. That same morning, before
the sun was half-way up the heaven, the King's great nef Philippa,
bearing within it the most of those present at his banquet the night
before, set its huge sail, adorned with the lions and the lilies, and
turned its brazen beak for England. Behind it went five smaller cogs
crammed with squires, archers and men-at-arms.

Nigel and his companions lined the ramparts of the castle and waved
their caps as the bluff, burly vessels, with drums beating and trumpets
clanging, a hundred knightly pennons streaming from their decks and the
red cross of England over all, rolled slowly out to the open sea. Then
when they had watched them until they were hull down they turned, with
hearts heavy at being left behind, to make ready for their own more
distant venture.

It took them four days of hard work ere their preparations were
complete, for many were the needs of a small force sailing to a strange
country. Three ships had been left to them, the cog Thomas of Romney,
the Grace Dieu of Hythe, and the Basilisk of Southampton, into each of
which one hundred men were stowed, besides the thirty seamen who formed
the crew. In the hold were forty horses, amongst them Pommers, much
wearied by his long idleness, and homesick for the slopes of Surrey
where his great limbs might find the work he craved. Then the food and
the water, the bow-staves and the sheaves of arrows, the horseshoes, the
nails, the hammers, the knives, the axes, the ropes, the vats of hay,
the green fodder and a score of other things were packed aboard. Always
by the side of the ships stood the stern young knight Sir Robert,
checking, testing, watching and controlling, saying little, for he was a
man of few words, but