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Men　of　Iron

by　Ernie　Howard　Pyle




INTRODUCTION

The　year　1400　opened　with　more　than　usual　peacefulness　in　England。　Only　a　few　months　before；　Richard　IIweak；　wicked；　and　treacherous　had　been　dethroned；　and　Henry　IV　declared　King　in　his　stead。　But　it　was　only　a　seeming　peacefulness；　lasting　but　for　a　little　while；　for　though　King　Henry　proved　himself　a　just　and　a　merciful　manas　justice　and　mercy　went　with　the　men　of　iron　of　those　daysand　though　he　did　not　care　to　shed　blood　needlessly；　there　were　many　noble　families　who　had　been　benefited　by　King　Richard　during　his　reign；　and　who　had　lost　somewhat　of　their　power　and　prestige　from　the　coming　in　of　the　new　King。

Among　these　were　a　number　of　great　lordsthe　Dukes　of　Albemarle；　Surrey；　and　Exeter；　the　Marquis　of　Dorset；　the　Earl　of　Gloucester；　and　otherswho　had　been　degraded　to　their　former　titles　and　estates；　from　which　King　Richard　had　lifted　them。　These　and　others　brewed　a　secret　plot　to　take　King　Henry's　life；　which　plot　might　have　succeeded　had　not　one　of　their　own　number　betrayed　them。

Their　plan　had　been　to　fall　upon　the　King　and　his　adherents；　and　to　massacre　them　during　a　great　tournament；　to　be　held　at　Oxford。　But　Henry　did　not　appear　at　the　lists；　whereupon；　knowing　that　he　had　been　lodging　at　Windsor　with　only　a　few　attendants；　the　conspirators　marched　thither　against　him。　In　the　mean　time　the　King　had　been　warned　of　the　plot；　so　that；　instead　of　finding　him　in　the　royal　castle；　they　discovered　through　their　scouts　that　he　had　hurried　to　London；　whence　he　was　even　then　marching　against　them　at　the　head　of　a　considerable　army。　So　nothing　was　left　them　but　flight。　Some　betook　themselves　one　way；　some　another；　some　sought　sanctuary　here；　some　there；　but　one　and　another；　they　were　all　of　them　caught　and　killed。

The　Earl　of　Kentone　time　Duke　of　Surrey　and　the　Earl　of　Salisbury　were　beheaded　in　the　market…place　at　Cirencester；　Lord　Le　Despencer　once　the　Earl　of　Gloucesterand　Lord　Lumley　met　the　same　fate　at　Bristol；　the　Earl　of　Huntingdon　was　taken　in　the　Essex　fens；　carried　to　the　castle　of　the　Duke　of　Gloucester；　whom　he　had　betrayed　to　his　death　in　King　Richard's　time；　and　was　there　killed　by　the　castle　people。　Those　few　who　found　friends　faithful　and　bold　enough　to　afford　them　shelter；　dragged　those　friends　down　in　their　own　ruin。

Just　such　a　case　was　that　of　the　father　of　the　boy　hero　of　this　story；　the　blind　Lord　Gilbert　Reginald　Falworth；　Baron　of　Falworth　and　Easterbridge；　who；　though　having　no　part　in　the　plot；　suffered　through　it　ruin；　utter　and　complete。

He　had　been　a　faithful　counsellor　and　adviser　to　King　Richard；　and　perhaps　it　was　this；　as　much　and　more　than　his　roundabout　connection　with　the　plot；　that　brought　upon　him　the　punishment　he　suffered。



CHAPTER　I

Myles　Falworth　was　but　eight　years　of　age　at　that　time；　and　it　was　only　afterwards；　and　when　he　grew　old　enough　to　know　more　of　the　ins　and　outs　of　the　matter；　that　he　could　remember　by　bits　and　pieces　the　things　that　afterwards　happened；　how　one　evening　a　knight　came　clattering　into　the　court…yard　upon　a　horse；　red…nostrilled　and　smeared　with　the　sweat　and　foam　of　a　desperate　rideSir　John　Dale；　a　dear　friend　of　the　blind　Lord。

Even　though　so　young；　Myles　knew　that　something　very　serious　had　happened　to　make　Sir　John　so　pale　and　haggard；　and　he　dimly　remembered　leaning　against　the　knight's　iron…covered　knees；　looking　up　into　his　gloomy　face；　and　asking　him　if　he　was　sick　to　look　so　strange。　Thereupon　those　who　had　been　too　troubled　before　to　notice　him；　bethought　themselves　of　him；　and　sent　him　to　bed；　rebellious　at　having　to　go　so　early。

He　remembered　how　the　next　morning；　looking　out　of　a　window　high　up　under　the　eaves；　he　saw　a　great　troop　of　horsemen　come　riding　into　the　courtyard　beneath；　where　a　powdering　of　snow　had　whitened　everything；　and　of　how　the　leader；　a　knight　clad　in　black　armor；　dismounted　and　entered　the　great　hall　door…way　below；　followed　by　several　of　the　band。

He　remembered　how　some　of　the　castle　women　were　standing　in　a　frightened　group　upon　the　landing　of　the　stairs；　talking　together　in　low　voices　about　a　matter　he　did　not　understand；　excepting　that　the　armed　men　who　had　ridden　into　the　courtyard　had　come　for　Sir　John　Dale。　None　of　the　women　paid　any　attention　to　him；　so；　shunning　their　notice；　he　ran　off　down　the　winding　stairs；　expecting　every　moment　to　be　called　back　again　by　some　one　of　them。

A　crowd　of　castle　people；　all　very　serious　and　quiet；　were　gathered　in　the　hall；　where　a　number　of　strange　men…at…arms　lounged　upon　the　benches；　while　two　billmen　in　steel　caps　and　leathern　jacks　stood　guarding　the　great　door；　the　butts　of　their　weapons　resting　upon　the　ground；　and　the　staves　crossed；　barring　the　door…way。

In　the　anteroom　was　the　knight　in　black　armor　whom　Myles　had　seen　from　the　window。　He　was　sitting　at　the　table；　his　great　helmet　lying　upon　the　bench　beside　him；　and　a　quart　beaker　of　spiced　wine　at　his　elbow。　A　clerk　sat　at　the　other　end　of　the　same　table；　with　inkhorn　in　one　hand　and　pen　in　the　other；　and　a　parchment　spread　in　front　of　him。

Master　Robert；　the　castle　steward；　stood　before　the　knight；　who　every　now　and　then　put　to　him　a　question；　which　the　other　would　answer；　and　the　clerk　write　the　answer　down　upon　the　parchment。

His　father　stood　with　his　back　to　the　fireplace；　looking　down　upon　the　floor　with　his　blind　eyes；　his　brows　drawn　moodily　together；　and　the　scar　of　the　great　wound　that　he　had　received　at　the　tournament　at　Yorkthe　wound　that　had　made　him　blindshowing　red　across　his　forehead；　as　it　always　did　when　he　was　angered　or　troubled。

There　was　something　about　it　all　that　frightened　Myles；　who　crept　to　his　father's　side；　and　slid　his　little　hand　into　the　palm　that　hung　limp　and　inert。　In　answer　to　the　touch；　his　father　grasped　the　hand　tightly；　but　did　not　seem　otherwise　to　notice　that　he　was　there。　Neither　did　the　black　knight　pay　any　attention　to　him；　but　continued　putting　his　questions　to　Master　Robert。

Then；　suddenly；　there　was　a　commotion　in　the　hall　without；　loud　voices；　and　a　hurrying　here　and　there。　The　black　knight　half　arose；　grasping　a　heavy　iron　mace　that　lay　upon　the　bench　beside　him；　and　the　next　moment　Sir　John　Dale　himself；　as　pale　as　death；　walked　into　the　antechamber。　He　stopped　in　the　very　middle　of　the　room。　〃I　yield　me　to　my　Lord's　grace　and　mercy；〃　said　he　to　the　black　knight；　and　they　were　the　last　words　he　ever　uttered　in　this　world。

The　black　knight　shouted　out　some　words　of　command；　and　swinging　up　the　iron　mace　in　his　hand；　strode　forward　clanking　towards　Sir　John；　who　raised　his　arm　as　though　to　shield　himself　from　the　blow。　Two　or　three　of　those　who　stood　in　the　hall　without　came　running　into　the　room　with　drawn　swords　and　bills；　and　little　Myles；　crying　out　with　terror；　hid　his　face　in　his　father's　long　gown。

The　next　instant　came　the　sound　of　a　heavy　blow　and　of　a　groan；　then　another　blow　and　the　sound　of　one　falling　upon　the　ground。　Then　the　clashing　of　steel；　and　in　the　midst　Lord　Falworth　crying；　in　a　dreadful　voice；　〃Thou　traitor！　thou　coward！　thou　murderer！〃

Master　Robert　snatched　Myles　away　from　his　father；　and　bore　him　out　of　the　room　in　spite　of　his　screams　and　struggles；　and　he　remembered　just　one　instant's　sight　of　Sir　John　lying　still　and　silent　upon　his　face；　and　of　the　black　knight　standing　above　him；　with　the　terrible　mace　in　his　hand　stained　a　dreadful　red。

It　was　the　next　day　that　Lord　and　Lady　Falworth　and　little　Myles；　together　with　three　of　the　more　faithful　of　their　people；　left　the　castle。

His　memory　of　past　things　held　a　picture　for　Myles　of　old　Diccon　Bowman　standing　over　him　in　the　silence　of　midnight　with　a　lighted　lamp　in　his　hand；　and　with　it　a　recollection　of　being　bidden　to　hush　when　he　would　have　spoken；　and　of　being　dressed　by　Diccon　and　one　of　the　women；　bewildered　with　sleep；　shuddering　and　chattering　with　cold。

He　remembered　being　wrapped　in　the　sheepskin　that　lay　at　the　foot　of　his　bed；　and　of　being　carried　in　Diccon　Bowman's　arms　down　the　silent　darkness　of　the　winding　stair…way；　with　the　great　black　giant　shadows　swaying　and　flickering　upon　the　stone　wall　as　the　dull　flame　of　the　lamp　swayed　and　flickered　in　the　cold　breathing　of　the　night　air。

Below　were　his　father　and　mother　and　two　or　three　others。　A　stranger　stood　warming　his　hands　at　a　newly…made　fire；　and　little　Myles；　as　he　peeped　from　out　the　warm　sheepskin；　saw　that　he　was　in　riding…boots　and　was　covered　with　mud。　He　did　not　know　till　long　years　afterwards　that　the　stranger　was　a　messenger　sent　by　a　friend　at　the　King's　court；　bidding　his　father　fly　for　safety。

They　who　stood　there　by　the　red　blaze　of　the　fire　were　all　very　still；　talking　in　whispers　and　walking　on　tiptoes；　and　Myles's　mother　hugged　him　in　her　arms；　sheepskin　and　all；　kissing　him；　with　the　tears　streaming　down　her　cheeks；　and　whispering　to　him；　as　though　he　could　understand　their　trouble；　that　they　were　about　to　leave　their　home　forever。

Then　Diccon　Bowman　carried　him　out　into　the　strangeness　of　the　winter　midnight。

Outside；　beyond　the　frozen　moat；　where　the　osiers；　stood　stark　and　stiff　in　their　winter　nakedness；　was　a　group　of　dark　figures　waiting　for　them　with　horses。　In　the　pallid