Masters of the Guild

Masters of the Guild, by L. Lamprey

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Title: Masters of the Guild
Author: L. Lamprey
Release Date: May, 2004 [EBook #5702] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on August 12, 2002]
Edition: 10
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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MASTERS OF THE GUILD
By
L. LAMPREY Author of "In the Days of the Guild"
Illustrated by Florence Choate and Elizabeth Curtis
New York
1920

CONTENTS
To Dorothy
I
PEIROL OF THE PIGEONS
Bellerophon
II
A TOURNAMENT IN THE CLOUDS
The Jesters
III
THE PUPPET PLAYERS
The Abbot's Lesson
IV
PADRAIG OF THE SCRIPTORIUM
Cap O' Rushes
V
THE TAPESTRY CHAMBER
The Castle
VI
THE FAIRIES' WELL
Lullaby of the Pict Mother
VII
THE WOLVES OF OSSORY
St. Hugh and the Birds
VIII
THE ROAD OF THE WILD SWAN
The Lances
IX
THE SWORD OF DAMASCUS
Awakening
X
FOOL'S GOLD
To Josian from Prison
XI
ARCHIATER'S DAUGHTER
New Altars
XII
COLD HARBOR
Galley Song
XIII
THE WISDOM OF THE GALLEYS
Harbor Song
XIV
SOLOMON'S SEAL
The Leprechaun
XV
BLACK MAGIC IN THE TEMPLE
The Ebbing Tide
XVI
THE END OF A PILGRIMAGE
The Crusaders
NOTES

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
"The boy gave a low call and a soft rush of wings was heard" Frontispiece
"'You have your choice--to remain here quietly, alive, or to remain permanently, dead'"
"'How now, Master Stephen! What foolery is this?'"
"It was the first time Padraig had seen anyone write"
"'Every inch of this linen will be covered with embroidery'" (in colors)
"''Tis the brat of a scatter-brained woman'"
"Directly in front sounded the unmistakable snarl of a wolf"
"An immense boar stumbled out and charged at Eleanor's horse"
"'Belike he got it where he's been--in the Holy Land'" (in colors)
"'I know all about your search for treasure'"
"'He called me his mouse and if I kept still I had cheese for my dinner'"
"Nothing would do but that they all should go immediately to see what had come to light"
"Andrea was at work upon the carving of the doorway"
"A siffle of indrawn breath was heard in the crowd as he carried it to the fire" (in colors)
"There was shouting and laughter in the courtyard"

DEDICATION
TO DOROTHY
O little girl who used to be, Come down the Old World road with me, And watch the galleons leaping home Deep-laden, through the rainbow foam, And the far-glimmering lances reel Where clashes battle-axe on steel, When the long shouts of triumph ring Around the banner of the King!
To elfin harps those minstrels rime Who live in Once-upon-a-Time!
In that far land of Used-to-Be, Strange folk were known to you and me,-- Mowgh and Puck, and all their kin, Launcelot, and Huckleberry Finn, Wise Talleyrand, brave Ivanhoe, Juliet, and Lear, and Prospero, Alleyne and his White Company, And trooping folk of Faerie!
People of every race and clime Are found in Once-upon-a-Time!
And in those days that used to be The gypsy wind that raced the sea Came singing of enchanted lands, Of sapphire waves on golden sands, Of wind-borne fleets that race the swallow, Of Squirrel-fairy in her hollow, Of brooklets full of scattered stars, And odorous herbs by pasture-bars
Where to the cow-bells' tinkling chime Come dreams of Once-upon-a-Time!
O little girl who used to be, The days are long in Faerie,-- Their garnered sunshine's wealth of gold No royal treasure-vault may hold. And now, as if our earth possessed Alchemy's fabled Alkahest, Our harbors blaze with jewelled light, Our air-ships wing their circling flight,
And we ourselves are in the rime That sings of Once-upon-a-Time!

I
PEIROL OF THE PIGEONS
It was a great day in Count Thibaut's castle. Every one knew that, down to the newest smallest scullery-maid. The Count had come home from England with Lady Philippa, his daughter, and there would be feasting and song and laughter for days and days and days.
Ranulph the troubadour, who had arrived in their company, was glad of a quiet hour in the garden before supper was served. He knew that he would have to sing that evening, and he wished to go over the melodies he had in mind, for he might on the spur of the moment compose new words to them. In fact a song in honor of his hostess was