chop off the head of the Duke of York, and bring mother back to
England."

"You will be a valiant champion no doubt, my boy," the prior said,
laughing. "But that is just what your father does not want. Chop
off the heads of as many infidels as you will, but leave Englishmen
alone, be they dukes or commoners. It is a far more glorious
career to be aiding to defend Europe against the Moslem than to be
engaged in wars with your own countrymen. If the great lords will
fight, let them fight it out themselves without our aid; but I
hope that long before you become a man even they will be tired of
these perpetual broils, and that some agreement may be arrived
at, and peace reign in this unhappy land."

"Besides, Gervaise," his father added, "you must bear in mind always
that my earnest wish and hope is that you will become a champion
of the Cross. I took a solemn vow before you were born that if a
son were granted to me I would dedicate him to the service of the
Cross, and if I am taken from you, you must still try to carry
that oath into effect. I trust that, at any rate for some years
after you attain manhood, you will expend your whole strength and
powers in the defence of Christianity, and as a worthy knight of
the Order of St. John. Too many of the knights, after serving for
three years against the infidels, return to their native countries
and pass the rest of their lives in slothful ease at their
commanderies, save perhaps when at any great crisis they go out
for a while and join in the struggle. Such is not the life I should
wish you to lead. At the death of your mother and myself, you will
have no family ties in England -- nothing to recall you here. If
the House of York succeeds in establishing itself firmly on the