"Pardon me, my liege; but trusting to the known quality of your royal clemency, which finds excuses for our faults, even when we ourselves can discover none, I made bold to bring to your grace's presence this famous knight, Sir Osborne Maurice, who, being himself renowned in many courts in feats of arms, has conceived a great desire to witness the deeds of our most mighty sovereign, whose prowess and skill, whether at the tourney or in the just, at the barriers or with the battle-axe, is so noised over Europe, that none who are themselves skilful can refrain from coveting a sight of his royal daring. Allow me to present him to your grace."
Sir Osborne advanced, and kneeling gracefully before the king, bent his head over the hand that Henry extended towards him; while, pleased with his appearance and demeanour, the monarch addressed him with a smile: "Think not we are churlish, sir knight, or that we do not welcome you freely to our court; but, by St. Mary! such young gallants as these must be held in check, or they outrun their proper bounds. But judge not of our poor doings by Darby's commendation: he has of a sudden grown eloquent."
"On such a theme who might not be an orator?" said Sir Osborne, rising. "Were I to doubt Lord Darby, I must think that Fame herself is your grace's courtier, acting as your herald in every court, and challenging a world to equal you."
"Fie, fie! I must not hear you," cried the king. "Darby, come hither: I would speak with you. Come hither, I say!"
Sir Osborne drew a step back, and the king, taking the young earl into the recess of a window, spoke to him for a moment in a low tone, but still sufficiently loud for a great part of what he said to be audible to the knight, especially towards the conclusion.
"A powerful man," said the king; "and, if he be but as dexterous and valiant as he is strong, will prove a knight indeed. Think you he would?"
"Most assuredly, my liege," replied the earl. "He is your grace's born subject; only, his father having fallen into some unhappy error in the reign of our last royal king, Sir Osborne has had his training at the court of Burgundy, and received his knighthood from the sword of Maximilian, the late emperor."
"Good, good!" said Henry: "I remember hearing of his father; 'twas either Simnel, or Perkyn Warbeck, or some such treasonous cause he espoused. But all that is past. Sir knight," he continued, turning to Sir Osborne, "what if in my armoury we could find a harness that would fit you? are you minded to break a lance as consort with the king?--ha! This very morning--ay, this very hour? What say you?--ha!"
"That I should hold an honour never to be forgot, my liege," replied the knight. "And for the arms, my own are here in Greenwich. They might be brought in a moment."
"Quick, quick, then!" cried the king. "But we must be secret. Stop, stop! You go, Lord Darby. Send for the arms quick. Is your horse here, sir knight? By St. Mary, 'tis happy you came! Darby, bid them take the knight's horse into the small court, and shut the gates. Quick with his armour! Bid them put no bards on the horses, and be secret. I'll go arm. You arm here, sir knight. Snell! stand firm at that door; let no one pass but Lord Darby and the knight's armourer. Be quick, sir knight! I charge you be quick: and, above all, let us be secret. Remember, we will never raise our visors. These knights think of no such encounter, but fancy they have it all amongst themselves. They have kept their just mighty secret; but we will break their lances for them--ha!"