freely laid upon the result. According to custom the two champions had laid
aside their leathern shirts and had donned mail armour, for it was
considered that the crowning contest between the two picked young swordsmen
of the city would be a severe one, and greater protection to the limbs was
needed.

Before taking their places they were led up to the royal pavilion, where
they were closely inspected by the king and his nobles.

"You are sure that this man is still an apprentice?" the king asked the
Lord Mayor, who was seated next to him; "he has the appearance of a
man-at-arms, and a stout one too; the other is a likely stripling, and is,
as I have seen, marvellously dexterous with his sword, but he is but a boy
while the other is a grown man.

"He is an apprentice, my liege, although his time will be up in a few days,
while the other has yet three years to serve, but he works for an armourer,
and is famed through the city, boy as he is, for his skill with weapons."

After a few words to each, exhorting them to do their best in the sight of
the queen and her ladies, the king dismissed them.

"I know the young one now!" the Prince of Wales said, clapping his hands as
the apprentices turned away to take their places. "My Lord Talbot, I will
wager a gold chain with you upon the smaller of the two."

"I will take your wager," the noble answered; "but I am by no means sure
that I shall win it, for I have watched your champion closely, and the
downright blows which he struck would seem to show that he has the muscle
and strength of a man though still but a boy."