the people, till the child were of age to be king: and the
Marshal swore, and all the lords who stood around bare
witness to his swearing. Thereafter the priest houselled
the King, and he received his Creator, and a little while
after his soul departed.

But the Marshal followed up the fleeing foe, and two battles
more he fought before he beat them flat to earth; and then
they craved for peace, and he went back to the city in
mickle honour.

But in the King's city of Oakenham he found but little joy;
for both the King was bemoaned, whereas he had been no hard
man to his folk; and also, when the tidings and the King's
corpse came back to Oakenrealm, his Lady and Queen took sick
for sorrow and fear, and fell into labour of her child, and
in childing of a man-bairn she died, but the lad lived, and
was like to do well.

So there was one funeral for the slain King and for her whom
his slaying had slain: and when that was done, the little
king was borne to the font, and at his christening he gat to
name Christopher.

Thereafter the Marshal summoned all them that were due
thereto to come and give homage to the new king, and even so
did they, though he were but a babe, yea, and who had but
just now been a king lying in his mother's womb. But when
the homage was done, then the Marshal called together the
wise men, and told them how the King that was had given him