as a brave soldier might be proud to follow; and as the king will be sure
to give him plenty of opportunities of distinguishing himself, those who
ride with him may be certain of a chance of doing valorous deeds. I will go
across the bridge tomorrow, and will have a talk with Master Fletcher. The
sooner you are apprenticed, the sooner you will be out of your time; and
since Madge married eight years since I have been lonely in the house and
shall be glad to have you with me."

Geoffrey Ward found his friend more ready to accede to his request, that
Walter should be apprenticed to him, than he had expected. The bowyer,
indeed, was a quiet man, and the high spirits and somewhat turbulent
disposition of his young charge gave him so much uneasiness, that he was
not sorry the responsibility of keeping him in order should be undertaken
by Geoffrey. Moreover, he could not but agree with the argument, that the
promise of the Prince of Wales offered a more favourable opportunity for
Walter to enter upon the career of arms and so, perhaps, someday to win his
way back to rank and honours than could have been looked for. Therefore, on
the following week Walter was indentured to the armourer, and, as was usual
at the time, left his abode in Aldgate and took up his residence with his
master. He threw himself with his whole heart into the work, and by the
time he was fifteen was on the way to become a skilful craftsman. His frame
and muscles developed with labour, and he was now able to swing all save
the very heaviest hammers in the shop. He had never abated in his practice
at arms, and every day when work was over, he and his master had a long
bout together with cudgel or quarterstaff, sword or axe; Walter of course
used light weapons, but so quick was he with them that Geoffrey Ward
acknowledged that he needed to put out all his skill to hold his own with
his pupil. But it was not alone with Geoffrey that Walter had an
opportunity of learning the use of arms. Whenever a soldier, returned from
the wars, came to have a weapon repaired by the armourer, he would be sure