saidtheKing，laughingwithabitterexpression，whilehesubmittedtothestrengthwhichhewasunabletoresist；
methinksacoifwouldbecomethyloweringfeaturesaswellasachild’sbigginwouldbeseemmine。Weshouldbeababeandnursetofrightengirlswith。’’
Wehavefrightenedmeninourtime，myliege，’’saidDeVaux；and，Itrust，maylivetofrightenthemagain。Whatisafever-fit，thatweshouldnotendureitpatiently，inordertogetridofiteasily？’’
Fever-fit！’’exclaimedRichard，impetuously；thoumayestthink，andjustly，thatitisafever-fitwithme；butwhatisitwithalltheotherChristianprinces-withPhilipofFrance-
withthatdullAustrian-withhimofMontserrat-withtheHospitallers-withtheTemplars-whatisitwithallthem？-
Iwilltellthee-itisacoldpalsy-adeadlethargy-adiseasethatdeprivesthemofspeechandaction-acankerthathaseatenintotheheartofallthatisnoble，andchivalrous，andvirtuousamongthem-thathasmadethemfalsetothenoblestvoweverknightswereswornto-hasmadethemindifferenttotheirfame，andforgetfuloftheirGod！’’
FortheloveofHeaven，myliege，’’saidDeVaux，takeitlessviolently-youwillbeheardwithoutdoors，wheresuchspeechesarebuttoocurrentalreadyamongthecommonsoldiery，andengenderdiscordandcontentionintheChristianhost。Bethinkyouthatyourillnessmarsthemainspringoftheirenterprise:amangonelwillworkwithoutscrewandleverbetterthantheChristianhostwithoutKingRichard。’’
Thouflatterestme，DeVaux，’’saidRichard；and，notinsensibletothepowerofpraise，hereclinedhisheadonthepillow，withamoredeliberateattempttoreposethanhehadyetexhibited。
ButThomasdeVauxwasnocourtier；thephrasewhichhadofferedhadrisenspontaneouslytohislips；andheknewnothowtopursuethepleasingtheme，soastosootheandprolongtheveinwhichhehadexcited。Hewassilent，therefore，until，relapsingintohismoodycontemplations，theKingdemandedofhimsharply，Despardieux！Thisissmoothlysaidtosootheasickman；butdoesaleagueofmonarchs，anassemblageofnobles，aconvocationofallthechivalryofEurope，droopwiththesicknessofoneman，thoughhechancestobeKingofEngland？WhyshouldRichard’sillness，orRichard’sdeath，checkthemarchofthirtythousandmen，asbraveashimself？Whenthemasterstagisstruckdown，theherddonotdisperseuponhisfall-whenthefalconstrikestheleadingcrane，anothertakestheguidanceofthephalanx-Whydonotthepowersassembleandchoosesomeone，towhomtheymayintrusttheguidanceofthehost？’’
Forsooth，andifitpleaseyourMajesty，’’saidDeVaux，I
hearconsultationshavebeenheldamongtheroyalleadersforsomesuchpurpose。’’
Ha！’’exclaimedRichard，hisjealousyawakened，givinghismentalirritationanotherdirection-AmIforgotbymyalliesereIhavetakenthelastsacrament？-dotheyholdmedeadalready？-Butno，no-theyareright-andwhomdotheyselectasleaderoftheChristianhost？’’
Rankanddignity，’’saidDeVaux，pointtotheKingofFrance。’’
Oh，ay，’’answeredtheEnglishmonarch，PhilipofFranceandNavarre-DennisMountjoie-hisMostChristianMajesty！
mouth-fillingwordsthese！Thereisbutonerisk-thathemightmistakethewords_Enarrire_for_Enavant，_andleadusbacktoParis，insteadofmarchingtoJerusalem。Hispoliticheadhaslearnedbythistime，thatthereismoretobegottenbyoppressinghisfeudatories，andpillaginghisallies，thanfightingwiththeTurksfortheHolySepulchre。’’
TheymightchoosetheArchdukeofAustria，’’saidDeVaux。
What！becauseheisbigandburlylikethyself，Thomas-
nearlyasthick-headed，butwithoutthyindifferencetodanger，andcarelessnessofoffence？ItelltheethatAustriahasinallthatmassoffleshnobolderanimation，thanisaffordedbythepeevishnessofawasp，andthecourageofawren。Outuponhim！-_he_aleaderofchivalrytodeedsofglory！-GivehimaflagonofRhenishtodrinkwithhisbesmirchedbaaren-hautersandlanceknechts。’’
ThereistheGrandMasteroftheTemplars，’’continuedthebaron，notsorrytokeephismaster’sattentionengagedonothertopicsthanhisownillness，thoughattheexpenseofthecharactersofprinceandpotentate-ThereisthegrandMasteroftheTemplars，’’hecontinued，undaunted，skilful，braveinbattle，andsageincouncil，havingnoseparatekingdomsofhisowntodiverthisexertionsfromtherecoveryoftheHolyLand-whatthinksyourMajestyoftheMasterasageneralleaderoftheChristianhost？’’
Ha，Beau-Seant！’’answeredtheKing。Oh，noexceptioncanbetakentoBrotherGilesAmaury-heunderstandstheorderingofabattle，andthefightinginfrontwhenitbegins。
But，SirThomas，wereitfairtotaketheHolyLandfromtheheathenSaladin，sofullofallthevirtueswhichmaydistinguishunchristenedman，andgiveittoGilesAmaury，aworsePaganthanhimself-anidolater-adevil-worshipper-anecromancer-whopractisescrimesthemostdarkandunnatural，inthevaultsandsecretplacesofabominationanddarkness？’’
TheGrandMasteroftheHospitallersofSt。JohnofJerusalemisnottaintedbyfame，eitherwithheresyormagic，’’saidThomasdeVaux。
Butishenotasordidmiser？’’saidRichard，hastily；hashenotbeensuspected-ay，morethansuspected-ofsellingtotheinfidelsthoseadvantageswhichtheywouldneverhavewonbyfairforce？Tush，man，bettergivethearmytobemademerchandiseofbyVenetianskippersandLombardypedlars，thantrustittotheGrandMasterofSt。John。’’
Well，then，Iwillventurebutanotherguess，’’saidtheBarondeVaux-WhatsayyoutothegallantMarquisofMontserrat，sowise，soelegant，suchagoodman-at-arms？’’
Wise？cunning，youwouldsay，’’repliedRichard；elegantinalady’schamber，ifyouwill。Oh，ay，ConradeofMontserrat，-whoknowsnotthepopinjay？Politicandversatile，hewillchangeyouhispurposesasoftenasthetrimmingsofhisdoublet，andyoushallneverbeabletoguessthehueofhisinmostvestmentsfromtheiroutwardcolours。Aman-at-arms？
ay，afinefigureonhorseback，andcanbearhimwellinthetilt-yard，andatthebarriers，whenswordsarebluntedatpointandedge，andspearsaretippedwithtrenchersofwood，insteadofsteel-pikes。Wertthounotwithme，whenI
saidtothatsamegayMarquis，`Herewebe，threegoodChristians，andonyonderplaintherepricksabandofsomethreescoreSaracens；whatsayyoutochargethembriskly？Therearebuttwentyunbelievingmiscreantstoeachtrueknight。’
IrecollecttheMarquisreplied，’’saidDeVaux，thathislimbswereofflesh，notofiron，andthathewouldratherbeartheheartofamanthanofabeast，thoughthatbeastwerethelion。ButIseehowitis-weshallendwherewebegan，withouthopeofprayingattheSepulchre，untilHeavenshallrestoreKingRichardtohealth。’’
Atthisgraveremark，Richardburstoutintoaheartyfitoflaughter，thefirstwhichhehadforsometimeindulgedin。
Why，whatathingisconscience，’’hesaid，thatthroughitsmeansevensuchathick-wittednorthernlordasthoucanstbringthysovereigntoconfesshisfolly！Itistrue，that，didtheynotproposethemselvesasfittoholdmyleading-staff，littleshouldIcareforpluckingthesilkentrappingsoffthepuppetsthouhastshownmeinsuccession-Whatconcernsitmewhatfinetinselrobestheyswaggerin，unlesswhentheyarenamedasrivalsinthegloriousenterprisetowhichIhavevowedmyself？Yes，DeVaux，Iconfessmyweakness，andthewilfulnessofmyambition。TheChristiancampcontains，doubtless，manyabetterknightthanRichardofEngland，anditwouldbewiseandworthytoassigntothebestofthemtheleadingofthehost-but，’’continuedthewarlikemonarch，raisinghimselfinhisbed，andshakingthecoverfromhishead，whilehiseyessparkledastheywerewonttodoontheeveofbattle，weresuchaknighttoplantthebanneroftheCrossontheTempleofJerusalem，whileIwasunabletobearmyshareinthenobletask，heshould，sosoonasIwasfittolaylanceinrest，undergomychallengetomortalcombat，forhavingdiminishedmyfame，andpressedinbeforetotheobjectofmyenterprise-Buthark，whattrumpetsarethoseatadistance？’’
ThoseofKingPhilip，asIguess，myliege，’’saidthestoutEnglishman。
Thouartdullofear，Thomas，’’saidtheKing，endeavouringtostartup-hearestthounotthatclashandclang？ByHeaven，theTurksareinthecamp-Iheartheirlelies。’’
*Thewar-criesoftheMoslemah。
Heagainendeavouredtogetoutofbed，andDeVauxwasobligedtoexercisehisowngreatstrength，andalsotosummontheassistanceofthechamberlainsfromtheinnertent，torestrainhim。
Thouartafalsetraitor，DeVaux，’’saidtheincensedmonarch，when，breathlessandexhaustedwithstrugglinghewascompelledtosubmittosuperiorstrength，andtoreposeinquietonhiscouch。IwouldIwere-IwouldIwerebutstrongenoughtodashthybrainsoutwithmybattle-axe！’’
Iwouldyouhadthestrength，myliege，’’saidDeVaux，andwouldeventaketheriskofitsbeingsoemployed。TheoddswouldbegreatinfavourofChristendom，wereThomasMultondead，andCurdeLionhimselfagain。’’
Minehonestfaithfulservant，’’saidRichard，extendinghishand，whichthebaronreverentiallysaluted，forgivethymaster’simpatienceofmood。Itisthisburningfeverwhichchidesthee，andnotthykindmaster，RichardofEngland。
Butgo，Iprithee，andbringmewordwhatstrangersareinthecamp，forthesesoundsarenotofChristendom。’’
DeVauxleftthepavilionontheerrandassigned，and，inhisabsence，whichhehadresolvedshouldbebrief，hechargedthechamberlains，pages，andattendants，toredoubletheirattentionontheirsovereign，withthreatsofholdingthemtoresponsibility，whichratheraddedtothandiminishedtheirtimidanxietyinthedischargeoftheirduty；fornextperhapstotheireofthemonarchhimself，theydreadedthatofthesternandinexorableLordof
ThereneverwasatimeontheMarchpartsyet，WhenScottishwithEnglishmet，ButitwasmarveliftheredbloodrannotAstheraindoesinthestreet。
BattleofOtterbourn。
AconsiderablebandofScottishwarriorshadjoinedtheCrusaders，andhadnaturallyplacedthemselvesunderthecommandoftheEnglishmonarch，being，likehisnativetroops，mostofthemofSaxonandNormandescent，speakingthesamelanguages，possessed，someofthem，ofEnglishaswellasScottishdemesnes，andallied，insomecases，bybloodandintermarriage。
TheperiodalsoprecededthatwhenthegraspingambitionofEdwardI。gaveadeadlyandenvenomedcharactertothewarsbetwixtthetwonations；theEnglishfightingforthesubjugationofScotland，andtheScotch，withallthesterndeterminationandobstinacywhichhasevercharacterisedtheirnation，forthedefenceoftheirindependence，bythemostviolentmeans，underthemostdisadvantageouscircumstances，andatthemostextremehazard。Asyet，warsbetwixtthetwonations，thoughfierceandfrequent，hadbeenconductedonprinciplesoffairhostility，andadmittedofthosesofteningshadesbywhichcourtesy，andtherespectforopenandgenerousfoemen，qualifyandmitigatethehorrorsofwar。Intimeofpeace，therefore，andespeciallywhenboth，asatpresent，wereengagedinwar，wagedinbehalfofacommoncause，andrendereddeartothembytheirideasofreligion，theadventurersofbothcountriesfrequentlyfoughtsidebyside，theirnationalemulationservingonlytostimulatethemtoexceleachotherintheireffortsagainstthecommonenemy。
ThefrankandmartialcharacterofRichard，whomadenodistinctionbetwixthisownsubjectsandthoseofWilliamofScotland，exceptingastheyborethemselvesinthefieldofbattle，tendedmuchtoconciliatethetroopsofbothnations。
Butuponhisillness，andthedisadvantageouscircumstancesinwhichtheCrusaderswereplaced，thenationaldisunionbetweenthevariousbandsunitedintheCrusadebegantodisplayitself，justasoldwoundsbreakoutafreshinthehumanbody，whenundertheinfluenceofdiseaseordebility。
TheScotchandEnglish，equallyjealousandhigh-spirited，andapttotakeoffence，-theformerthemoreso，becausethepoorerandtheweakernation，-begantofillup，byinternaldissension，theperiodwhenthetruceforbadethemtowreaktheirunitedvengeanceontheSaracens。LikethecontendingRomanchiefsofold，theScotchwouldadmitnosuperiority，andtheirsouthernneighbourswouldbrooknoequality。Therewerechargesandrecriminations，andboththecommonsoldiery，andtheirleadersandcommanders，whohadbeengoodcomradesintimeofvictory，loweredoneachotherintheperiodofadversity，asiftheirunionhadnotbeenthenmoreessentialthanever，notonlytothesuccessoftheircommoncause，buttotheirjointsafety。ThesamedisunionhadbeguntoshowitselfbetwixttheFrenchandEnglish，theItaliansandtheGermans，andevenbetweentheDanesandSwedes；butitisonlythatwhichdividedthetwonationswhomoneislandbred，andwhoseemedmoreanimatedagainsteachotherfortheveryreason，thatournarrativeisprincipallyconcernedwith。
OfalltheEnglishnobleswhohadfollowedtheirKingtoPalestine，DeVauxwasmostprejudicedagainsttheScotch；