They saluted each other, and conversed awhile on the topics of the season. Sir William found his auditor credulous to every tale, till, when he had told one of wondrous improbability, the governor demanded his authority. "Sir," replied the knight of Graville, "a cavalier of Flanders wrote this to me on the pledge of his honour, and sent with the letter the goodliest chess-men I ever saw." The governor dropped all care for the story at the mention of chess-men, and he anxiously desired to see them. "I will send for them," said Sir William, "on condition that you will play a game with me for the wine." The governor assented, and Sir William desired his squire to fetch the chess-men and bring them to the gate. The two knights then passed through two wickets into the castle yard; and while the stranger was viewing the edifice, his faithful squire ran at speed to the burgesses' houses, and summoned them to arms. They soon donned their harness and repaired with him to the castle gate, where, agreeably to a concerted scheme, he sounded a horn. When Sir William heard it, he said to the governor, "Let us go out of the second gate, for the chess-men are arrived." Sir William passed the wicket, and remained without. In following him the governor stooped and put out his head. Sir William drew a small battle-axe from under his cloak, and therewith smote to death his defenceless foe. He then opened the first gate, the burgesses entered in numerous and gallant array, and incontinently the castle was taken.[184] * * * * * [Sidenote: Minstrelsy.] The minstrel's lay, the poetry of the troubadour, the romance of the learned clerk, all spoke of war and love, of the duties and sports of chivalry. Every baronial knight had his gay troop of minstrels that accompanied him to the field, and afterwards chaunted in his hall, whether in their own or another's verse, the martial deeds which had renowned his house. A branch of the minstrelsy art consisted of reciting tales; and such persons as practised it were called jesters. "I warn you first at the beginning, That I will make no vain carping Of deeds of arms nor of amours As do minstrelles and jestours, That make carping in many a place Of Octoviane and Isembrase, And of many other jestes, And namely when they come to festes; Nor of the life of Bevis of Hampton, That was a knight of great renown; Nor of Sir Guy of Warwick, All if it might some men like."[185] Minstrels played on various musical instruments during dinner, and chaunted or recited their verses and tales afterwards both in the hall, and in the chamber to which the barons and knights retired for amusement.