Masters of the Guild   By: Louise Lamprey (1869-1951)

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.