Child Christopher and Goldilind the Fair | Page 4

to name Christopher.
Thereafter the Marshal summoned all them that were due thereto to
come and give homage to the new king, and even so did they, though
he were but a babe, yea, and who had but just now been a king lying in
his mother's womb. But when the homage was done, then the Marshal
called together the wise men, and told them how the King that was had
given him in charge his son as then unborn, and the ruling of the realm
till the said son were come to man's estate: but he bade them seek one
worthier if they had heart to gainsay the word of their dying lord. Then
all they said that he was worthy and mighty and the choice of their dear
lord, and that they would have none but he.
So then was the great folk-mote called, and the same matter was laid
before all the people, and none said aught against it, whereas no man
was ready to name another to that charge and rule, even had it been his
own self.
Now then by law was the Marshal, who hight Rolf, lord and earl of the
land of Oakenrealm. He ruled well and strongly, and was a fell warrior:
he was well befriended by many of the great; and the rest of them
feared him and his friends: as for the commonalty, they saw that he
held the realm in peace; and for the rest, they knew little and saw less
of him, and they paid to his bailiffs and sheriffs as little as they could,
and more than they would. But whereas that left them somewhat to
grind their teeth on, and they were not harried, they were not so ill
content. So the Marshal throve, and lacked nothing of a king's place
save the bare name.

CHAPTER II.
OF THE KING'S SON.

As for the King's son, to whom the folk had of late done homage as
king, he was at first seen about a corner of the High House with his
nurses; and then in a while it was said, and the tale noted, but not much,
that he must needs go for his health's sake, and because he was puny, to
some stead amongst the fields, and folk heard say that he was gone to
the strong house of a knight somewhat stricken in years, who was
called Lord Richard the Lean. The said house was some twelve miles
from Oakenham, not far from the northern edge of the wild-wood. But
in a while, scarce more than a year, Lord Richard brake up house at the
said castle, and went southward through the forest. Of this departure
was little said, for he was not a man amongst the foremost. As for the
King's little son, if any remembered that he was in the hands of the said
Lord Richard, none said aught about it; for if any thought of the little
babe at all, they said to themselves, Never will he come to be king.
Now as for Lord Richard the Lean, he went far through the wood, and
until he was come to another house of his, that stood in a clearing
somewhat near to where Oakenrealm marched on another country,
which hight Meadham; though the said wild-wood ended not where
Oakenrealm ended, but stretched a good way into Meadham; and
betwixt one and the other much rough country there was.
It is to be said that amongst those who went to this stronghold of the
woods was the little King Christopher, no longer puny, but a stout babe
enough: so he was borne amongst the serving men and thralls to the
castle of the Outer March; and he was in no wise treated as a great
man's son; but there was more than one woman who was kind to him,
and as he waxed in strength and beauty month by month, both carle and
quean fell to noting him, and, for as little as he was, he began to be
well-beloved.
As to the stead where he was nourished, though it were far away
amongst the woods, it was no such lonely or savage place: besides the
castle and the houses of it, there was a merry thorpe in the clearing, the
houses whereof were set down by the side of a clear and pleasant little
stream. Moreover the goodmen and swains of the said township were
no ill folk, but bold of heart, free of speech, and goodly of favour; and

the women of them fair, kind, and trusty. Whiles came folk journeying
in to Oakenrealm or out to Meadham, and of these some were minstrels,
who had with them tidings of what was astir whereas folk were thicker
in the world, and