Child Christopher and Goldilind the Fair | Page 5

some chapmen, who chaffered with the
thorpe-dwellers, and took of them the woodland spoil for such outland
goods as those woodmen needed.
So wore the years, and in Oakenham King Christopher was well nigh
forgotten, and in the wild-wood had never been known clearly for
King's son. At first, by command of Rolf the Marshal, a messenger
came every year from Lord Richard with a letter that told of how the
lad Christopher did. But when five years were worn, the Marshal bade
send him tidings thereof every three years; and by then it was come to
the twelfth year, and still the tidings were that the lad throve ever, and
meanwhile the Marshal sat fast in his seat with none to gainsay, the
word went to Lord Richard that he should send no more, for that he, the
Marshal, had heard enough of the boy; and if he throve it were well,
and if not, it was no worse. So wore the days and the years.

CHAPTER III.
OF THE KING OF MEADHAM AND HIS DAUGHTER.
Tells the tale that in the country which lay south of Oakenrealm, and
was called Meadham, there was in these days a king whose wife was
dead, but had left him a fair daughter, who was born some four years
after King Christopher. A good man was this King Roland, mild,
bounteous, and no regarder of persons in his justice; and well-beloved
he was of his folk: yet could not their love keep him alive; for, whenas
his daughter was of the age of twelve years, he sickened unto death;
and so, when he knew that his end drew near, he sent for the wisest of
his wise men, and they came unto him sorrowing in the High House of
his chiefest city, which hight Meadhamstead. So he bade them sit down
nigh unto his bed, and took up the word and spake:
"Masters, and my good lords, ye may see clearly that a sundering is at

hand, and that I must needs make a long journey, whence I shall come
back never; now I would, and am verily of duty bound thereto, that I
leave behind me some good order in the land. Furthermore, I would
that my daughter, when she is of age thereto, should be Queen in
Meadham, and rule the land; neither will it be many years before she
shall be of ripe age for ruling, if ever she may be; and I deem not that
there shall be any lack in her, whereas her mother could all courtesy,
and was as wise as a woman may be. But how say ye, my masters?"
So they all with one consent said Yea, and they would ask for no better
king than their lady his daughter. Then said the King:
"Hearken carefully, for my time is short: Yet is she young and a maiden,
though she be wise. Now therefore do I need some man well looked to
of the folk, who shall rule the land in her name till she be of eighteen
winters, and who shall be her good friend and counsellor into all
wisdom thereafter. Which of you, my masters, is meet for this matter?"
Then they all looked one on the other, and spake not. And the King said:
"Speak, some one of you, without fear; this is no time for tarrying."
Thereon spake an elder, the oldest of them, and said: "Lord, this is the
very truth, that none of us here present are meet for this office: whereas,
among other matters, we be all unmeet for battle; some of us have
never been warriors, and other some are past the age for leading an host.
To say the sooth, King, there is but one man in Meadham who may do
what thou wilt, and not fail; both for his wisdom, and his might afield,
and the account which is had of him amongst the people; and that man
is Earl Geoffrey, of the Southern Marches."
"Ye say sooth," quoth the King; "but is he down in the South, or nigher
to hand?"
Said the elder: "He is as now in Meadhamstead, and may be in this
chamber in scant half an hour." So the King bade send for him, and
there was silence in the chamber till he came in, clad in a scarlet kirtle
and a white cloak, and with his sword by his side. He was a tall man,
bigly made; somewhat pale of face, black and curly of hair; blue-eyed,

thin-lipped, and hook-nosed as an eagle; a man warrior-like, and
somewhat fierce of aspect. He knelt down by the King's bedside, and
asked him in a sorrowful voice what he would, and the King said: "I
ask a great matter of thee,