Produced by Al Haines [Illustration: Cover art] [Frontispiece: Knox Magee] WITH RING OF SHIELD "_On he came, and, to my great surprise and pleasure, struck he my shield with the sharp point of his lance_. "_Ah! my brave sons, ye all do know the pleasure 'tis when, with ring of shield, ye are informed an enemy hath come to do ye battle_." BY KNOX MAGEE _Illustrated by_ F. A. CARTER GEORGE J. McLEOD _PUBLISHER ---- TORONTO_ COPYRIGHT, 1900 BY R. F. FENNO & COMPANY CONTENTS I. Sir Frederick Harleston II. The Maidens III. A First Brush with the Enemy IV. The Taking of Berwick V. From Berwick to Windsor VI. The King's Gifts VII. The Ball at the Castle VIII. The Duel IX. The King's Death X. I am Sent to Ludlow XI. Some Happenings at Windsor XII. Gloucester Shows his Hand XIII. The Flight from the Palace XIV. I Reach Westminster XV. Michael and Catesby XVI. My Dangerous Position XVII. At the Sanctuary XVIII. Richard Triumphs XIX. A Message is Sent to Richmond XX. Before the Tournament XXI. The Tournament XXII. A Midnight Adventure XXIII. The Arrest XXIV. In the Tower XXV. Michael and I XXVI. The House with the Flag XXVII. The Field of Bosworth XXVIII. Conclusion Illustrations Knox Magee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ "Both our lances flew into a thousand pieces." "The signal was then given." "I am to blame, and I alone should suffer." "Always remember thy mother and this, her advice." "Ha, thou blond varmint." "I climbed wearily to the top." "Come on, ye pack of cowards." With Ring of Shield CHAPTER I SIR FREDERICK HARLESTON In these days, when the air is filled with the irritating, peevish sounds of chattering gossips, which tell of naught but the scandals of a court, where Queens are as faithless as are their lives brief, methinks it will not be amiss for me to tell a story of more martial days, when gossips told of armies marching and great battles fought, with pointed lance, and with the bright swords' flash, and with the lusty ring of shield.