prior handed the balance of the money Dame Tresham had brought
with her, and that obtained by the sale of her jewels, to one of
the knights under whose charge Gervaise was to travel, to be given
by him to D'Aubusson for the necessities of Gervaise as a page.
During their term of service the pages received no remuneration,
all their expenses being paid by their families. Nevertheless, the
post was considered so honourable, and of such great advantage
to those entering the Order, that the appointments were eagerly
sought after.

The head of the party was Sir Guy Redcar, who had been a commander
in England, but who was now relinquishing that post in order to
take a high office in the convent at the Island. With him were four
lads between seventeen and twenty who were going out as professed
knights, having served their year of probation as novices at the
grand priory. With these Gervaise was already acquainted, as they
had lived, studied, and performed their military exercises together.
The three eldest of these Gervaise liked much, but the youngest
of the party, Robert Rivers, a relation of the queen, had always
shown a very different spirit from the others. He was jealous
that a member of one of the defeated and disinherited Lancastrian
families should obtain a post of such honour and advantage as that
of page to the grand master, and that thus, although five years
younger, Gervaise should enter the Order on an equality with him.

In point of strength and stature he was, of course, greatly superior
to Gervaise; but he had been spoilt from his childhood, was averse
to exercise, and dull at learning, and while Gervaise was frequently
commended by his instructors, he himself was constantly reproved,
and it had been more than once a question whether he should be