said he.

"Hold! your velvet mask there is tied within a hair's-breadth distance of the rosette of a visor-the knot touches the ear-very well-presto! away!"

And as he spoke, he struck aside the battle-axe from the stranger's hand-by a dexterous twist inserted the pointed handle or tusk of his own into the knot-and in a moment jerked off the velvet mask from the stranger's face. Both Spalatro and dame Madeline instantly recognised the acquiline nose, blue eyes, and other marked but not handsome features of Philip "the good." The old woman clasped her hands together and shook with sudden terror. Spalatro glowed with silent triumph. The duke's attendant clapped his hand on his sword, and stepped with a menacing attitude towards the Italian. But Philip interfered and exclaimed,

"Tis well, 'tis well! I am satisfied."

The familiar, as all close attendants of the great were then called, pushed back his rapier into its sheath, picked up the mask, and muttering something unheard by the others, prepared to collect the various weapons.

"It is well, Spalatro, you have earned your purse, and proved your skill-yet I doubt me if I could serve Duke Humphrey's helmet such a turn as you showed my mask. But we shall have another bout ere long, and try you at other arms. Let me see you at the tilt-yard to-morrow morning at seven--you shall be fitly cared for: Joos Wooters here, my trusty armourer, will do you honour with true Flemish hospitality, and show you some pieces of rare device and workmanship. Good woman, look up and be happy. Take this coin for the use of your chamber and an earnest of my protection, and show yourself in the buttery at the castle. You shall find welcome and wherewithal to add to your store. No reply, Signor Balthazar ! Not a word, good dame! I have had my frolic out--but every one knows I brook no comment. When my foot is across the threshold, and my back turned, let the events of this visit be forgotten-good evening!"

"Forgotten!" said Dame Madeline, as the duke and his attendant glided away, wrapped in their cloaks as before,-"Forgotten! Holy Mary forbid that ever it should be forgotten that my poor dwelling was honoured by the footing of the good duke! Oh! Signor Spalatro, didn't I

tell you great luck was coming on us? Great glory is yours, and much honour have you brought me!"

"An hour gone, it was 'Master Balthazar,' reproach and abuse," said Spalatro, "and thus the world wags in Artoise as in Italy! Ah, Dame Madeline, you little

guessed how an Italian master of-arms could manage his fence with fortune. But all is now well. Go to Master Merlet, the taverner's, with this gold mouton, redeem my crimson velvet suit and silver tissue breeches—but you needn't tell how tarnished they are!—replenish the cask of vernage, get a double flask of Gascoigny, and let me have a supper fit for the playmate of Duke Philip !”

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE following morning the master-of-arms was punctu al to the duke's hour of appointment. He took his way to the castle, gaudily equipped in the crimson suit which the good dame had taken out of pledge; his bonnet to match, with plume and tassel hanging on one side his head; and his cut and thrust rapier held under his arm, when no one was near, or trailing ostentatiously on the ground, as soon as any one was in sight. He soon passed the gate of the town, traversed the suburb, crossed the bridge over the little river Canche, and approached the precincts of the celebrated castle, where Duke Philip held at that epoch one of the most brilliant courts in Europe.

Spalatro had not an architectural or antiquarian eye, or he might have stopped to examine the antique edifice, which was built in the eleventh century, by Baldwin, Count of Artois, on the site of the ancient fort erected seven centuries previous to even that remote date, by a Roman Governor of Gaul. Our Italian passed by with equal indifference the original body of the building and the im

mense additions made by successive sovereigns; and scarcely noticed even the magnificent park, gardens, and pleasure-grounds that extended on all sides; his only object of inquiry being the tilt-yard. To this place he was directed with great courtesy, by the various porters and pursuivants who did duty at the several barriers, for he found that his name acted as a sufficient passport in every quarter, and his self-importance did not lose any thing in consequence. The tilt-yard was a vast square enclosed with walls at a considerable distance from the castle, and in the midst of offices for the due accommodation of horses, hounds, hawks, and all the sporting appurtenances of the princely establishment. The Italian was received at the entrance by his gruff acquaintance of the preceding evening; and on inquiring for his highness, on whose invitation he had come, the Fleming pointed to a rising ground not far off, where. Spalatro soon distinguished the duke, breasting a rapid hill, which he ascended at the rate of men who run for a wager. He was, in fact, at his usual task of training for his daily exercises, which he never by any chance omitted, being as it seemed determined that every advantage of physical condition should be added to the moral courage which urged him to the combat with Humphrey of Glocester.

This preliminary being finished, Philip mounted a horse, which was held ready saddled by a groom, and after taking several gallops in a ring specially devoted to such exercise, he rode towards the tilt-yard. He was now accompanied by a group of princes and nobles, with their and his own personal attendants, for almost all his guests followed his example, and either from courtesy or for pleasure took part in his pursuits. The Duke of Britanny, his brother, Arthur of Richemont, Philip Count of St. Pol, brother to John of Brabant, Anthony, bastard of Burgundy, James de Lalain, Peton de Saintrailles, and numerous others of note, were of the party. But the Duke of Bedford, the chief of Philip's guests, was never present at these morning exercises, which were avowedly undertaken from hostility and hatred to his brother.

As Philip entered the tilt-yard, his keen eye soon caught the figure of the Italian master-of-arms, and he accosted him with that frank and ready condescension, which had

contributed so much to gain him the surname that should be bestowed only for deeds, not manners. Spalatro felt doubly proud in this distinction, and in the cunning management by which he had first acquired the notice of the duke; for all his reserve as to giving lessons in the town of Hesdin, and his apparent candour in avowing himself a partizan of the house of Orleans, were merely assumed for the purpose of exciting Philip's curiosity, which he knew well was more than ever alive to every subject and person connected with the feats of arms. He had speculated well; for his reputation for skill, and his refusal to teach, were soon bruited in town and castle, and Philip, as the Italian calculated, was unable to resist the desire to judge for himself. Several of the household had been for some days previous sounding Spalatro, and when the sovereign visiter himself at length came, the Italian knew him from the first moment, and timed his conversation accordingly. Philip now accosted him with all the eagerness inspired by his last night's proof of address; and he soon put it farther to the test by various trials with sword and lance, which amply bore out the Italian's previous specimens of knowledge in his art.

While all this was going on, the various nobles and knights taking part in the exercises, riding at the quintin, practising with arbalettes, pitching quoits, or slinging the bar, a considerable uproar was heard approaching from the town; and several official personages, from the gate-keeper up to the chamberlain, came in due succession of grades to inform the duke of the cause of the disturbance. It appeared that an inhabitant of the suburbs having just then killed another man, as he and his friends asserted, in fair fight, he came with a posse of the town's-people, according to the privilege of their charter, to claim from the duke in person the right of freedom for the successful combatant. As this was an event of rare occurrence, almost the whole population of Hesdin had poured forth, glad of an opportunity to lay claim to even the smallest portion of corporate rights, of which cities have naturally been at all times so tenacious. The duke and his friends, with their followers, were on their parts equally anxious to see this exhibition; and Philip, mounting his horse, took post in the centre of the tilt-yard, surrounded by the officers of his household,

JACQUELINE OF HOLLAND,

175

e of most unceremonious disorder. The word ben for the entrance of the crowd, a rush of men, and children took place, bearing the newly-claimed before them, high lifted on the shoulders of the'. besmeared with blood, and looking aghast and ken, from the memory of his recent exploit and ent at his present honours.

live Nicholas Mavot, free burgher of Hesdin !" he crowd, and it was some time before their boisumph subsided sufficiently to allow their official n, the provost of the town, to take his place in I address his formal demand to the duke for the ned ragamuffin's admission to the rights and pricitizenship. Philip, assuming all possible grapreventing, by his example, any outburst of or signs of mockery on the part of his numerous ed if the fact on which these claims were made ubstantiated by proof?

it please your highness," answered the provost, remember, that by article or item seventy-seven rter of our honourable Bourg of Hesdin, or Hesanted by the puissant Count Robert of Artois in confirmed by his noble, potent, and princely brouccessor Othon, in 1330, of which article or item mess, our liege lord and sovereign, has of course

Cance

hurry of the moment, I cannot say that I quite, absolutely recollect the particular clause," said

I will cite it for your highness's satisfaction," = provost, proceeding to unfold a huge heap of parchments; "or if it seems well to your becan read the whole charter from beginning to

, no!" exclaimed the duke, hastily. "Pray, ■y provost, spare yourself that trouble. Far be for my own gratification, to impose such a task urable a functionary, or to inflict on our much highly-cherished people of Hesdin, a causeless e accordance of their rights! Cite the clause, ase you, but don't read it-I take it on your