[Illustration: “SHE SCANNED THE SEA FOR A SAIL”] A LADDER OF SWORDS A TALE OF LOVE, LAUGHTER AND TEARS BY GILBERT PARKER “_On every height there lies repose, and so must we still be climbing, but alas! I have been climbing a ladder of swords these many years_” (From a woman’s letter) ILLUSTRATED BY THE KINNEYS HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS NEW YORK AND LONDON 1904 Copyright, 1904, by _Gilbert Parker_. _All rights reserved._ Published September, 1904. To The Countess of Darnley Whose Home Contains Many Relics and Memories of the Spacious Times of Queen Elizabeth, the Friend of Michel and Angèle A Note There will be found a few anachronisms in this tale, but none so important as to give a wrong impression of the events of Queen Elizabeth’s reign. Illustrations “SHE SCANNED THE SEA FOR A SAIL” _Frontispiece_ ISLAND OF JERSEY _Facing p._ 1 “‘LET US KNEEL AND PRAY FOR TWO DYING MEN’” 28 “BUONESPOIR LOOKED TO THE PRIMING OF HIS PISTOLS” 70 “SHE WAS IN CURIOUS CONTRAST TO THE QUEEN” 128 “‘HANG FAST TO YOUR HONORS BY THE SKIN OF YOUR TEETH, MY LOR 162 “IT WAS THE QUEEN’S FOOL” 220 “THEY SAW, SMILING AND APPLAUSIVE, THE DUKE’S DAUGHTER AND ANGÈLE” 266 “‘AND WHAT MATTER WHICH IT IS WE WIELD’” 276 [Illustration: _J Hort Scalp_] A Ladder of Swords I If you go to Southampton and search the register of the Walloon church there, you will find that in the summer of 157- “_Madame Vefue de Montgomery with all her family and servants were admitted to the Communion_”--“_Tous ceux ci furent Reçus là à Cêne du 157-, comme passans, sans avoir Rendu Raison de la foi, mes sur la tesmognage de Mons. Forest, Ministre de Madame, qui certifia qui ne cognoisoit Rien en tout ceux la pó quoy Il ne leur deust administré la Cêne s’il estoit en lieu pó la ferre._” There is another striking record, which says that in August of the same year Demoiselle Angèle Claude Aubert, daughter of Monsieur de la Haie Aubert, Councillor of the Parliament of Rouen, was married to Michel de la Forêt, of the most noble Flemish family of that name. * * * * *