the part of the conquerors; but this will not account for the great naval
victory over the Spanish fleet off the coast of Sussex, a victory even more
surprising and won against greater odds than was that gained in the same
waters centuries later over the Spanish Armada. The historical facts of the
story are all drawn from Froissart and other contemporary historians, as
collated and compared by Mr. James in his carefully written history. They
may therefore be relied upon as accurate in every important particular.

Yours sincerely,

G. A. HENTY.



CHAPTER I: A WAYFARER


It was a bitterly cold night in the month of November, 1330. The rain was
pouring heavily, when a woman, with child in her arms, entered the little
village of Southwark. She had evidently come from a distance, for her
dress was travel-stained and muddy. She tottered rather than walked, and
when, upon her arrival at the gateway on the southern side of London
Bridge, she found that the hour was past and the gates closed for the
night, she leant against the wall with a faint groan of exhaustion and
disappointment.

After remaining, as if in doubt, for some time, she feebly made her way
into the village. Here were many houses of entertainment, for travelers
like herself often arrived too late to enter the gates, and had to abide
outside for the night. Moreover, house rent was dear within the walls of