horseback, ran at the ring, and performed other feats of
knightly exercise to the great pleasure of the multitude. The marshal on
leading Walter away said to him, "You will be captain of the city band
tomorrow, and I must therefore tell you what the king purports. He
has prepared a surprise for the citizens, and the present show will
be different to anything ever before seen in London. Both to show them
somewhat of the sieges which are taking place on the borders of France
and the Low Countries, in which Sir Walter Manny and many other gallant
knights have so greatly distinguished themselves, and as an exercise
for the young nobles, he has determined that there shall be a castle
erected. It will be built of wood, with battlements and towers, with a
moat outside. As soon as the lists are over a large number of workmen
will commence its erection; the pieces are all sawn and prepared. There
will be machines, ladders, and other appliances. The ten champions on
either side will fight as knights; you will have a hundred apprentices
as men-at-arms, and the court party will have an equal number of young
esquires. You, as winner of today's tourney, will have the choice of
defence or attack. I should advise you to take the defence, since it is
easier and requires less knowledge of war, and many of the other party
have accompanied their fathers and masters in the field and have seen
real sieges carried out."

"Can you show me a plan of the castle," Walter said, "if it be not
contrary to the rules, in order that I may think over tonight the plan
of fighting tomorrow?"

"Here it is," the marshal said. "You see that the walls are 200 feet
long, they are 12 feet in height, with a tower at the end and one over
the gateway in the centre six feet high. There is a drawbridge defended
by an outwork of palisades six feet high. The moat will be a dry one,
seeing that we have no means of filling it with water, but it will be
supposed to be full, and must be crossed on planks or bridges. Two small
towers on wheels will be provided, which may be run up to the edge of
the moat, and will be as high as the top of the towers.

"Surely they cannot make all this before morning?" Walter said.

"They will do so," the marshal replied. "The castle has been put
together in the king's courtyard, and the pieces are all numbered.
Two hundred carpenters will labour all night at it, besides a party of
labourers for the digging of the moat. It will be a rare