Men of Iron

Myles finds himself face-to-face with Lady Anne, the Earl of Mackworth’s 20-year-old daughter, and her cousin, 15-year-old Lady Alice. Lady Anne demands to know who Myles is and what he is doing in their garden. However, she and Lady Alice are amused by the innocence of Myles’s intention, and their indignation dissipates; they admire his courage despite the documented danger of climbing the garden wall. The women are not permitted much interaction with young men, and are eager to hear about the exciting exploits of a squire’s life. Myles describes his adventures as they listen attentively. He expresses his desire to return to the garden to visit with them again. Lady Anne states that if he is brave enough to do so, they, too, would be delighted to see him again. Teasingly, Lady Anne suggests that perhaps Myles could be Lady Alice’s “true knight,” as spoken of in Chaucer and romantic tales of chivalry.

Myles drives spikes into the wall of the garden so he can spend afternoons with Lady Anne and Lady Alice. So enchanted is he with their company that he writes to his mother to tell her of their friendship.

While Myles visits Lady Anne and Lady Alice, the Earl of Mackworth appears, furious. He dismisses his daughter and niece; Lady Anne begs her father not to punish Myles harshly, as he was invited. The Earl questions Myles, who says his first visit was accidental but that his daughter had spoken the truth about his subsequent visits. The Earl asks if Myles knows what punishments could await him, including having his ears cut off, or being berated in front of the entire household. Myles replies with confidence, which shocks the Earl. He acknowledges that the Earl has the right to kill him, but he himself is of noble birth and the Earl’s equal—therefore the Earl has no right to humiliate him. Furthermore, Myles says he would rather be in his father’s position than the Earl’s, because though his father is outlawed, the Earl is worse, a coward for disowning a friend to remain in the King’s favor. The Earl is astonished by Myles’s insolence; he counters Myles’s assertion by forgiving Myles out of love for his father. The Earl dismisses Myles from the garden and orders him not to return.

Myles decides to write to Lady Alice. Gascoyne urges Myles not to test the Earl’s patience any further, but, ever loyal, delivers the message while performing his duties in the household. Myles is summoned to the chambers of the Earl of Mackworth, who informs him that he is aware of the letter. He does not object to the content, but explains that receiving letters from a young man could compromise the reputation of a young, unmarried woman of status. Myles claims that since he considers himself Lady Alice’s true knight, he should have the right to serve her. The Earl is amused; as a squire of only 17, Myles cannot be a true knight to anyone. The Earl repeats what Myles learned from Sir James—that the enemy of his father continues to present a significant threat, so it is best not to draw attention. It is therefore a complicated matter with respect to Lady Alice, who is to inherit a considerable sum of money and property. Myles has never considered his actions in so serious a context, and leaves the Earl’s chambers humbled.

Myles is summoned to the office of Sir James. The Earl of Mackworth has decided it is time for Myles to begin individualized training toward knighthood—which includes learning advanced weaponry, horsemanship, and jousting. Myles will receive his own suit of armor, crafted to his exact specifications. He is elated to learn that he is also being given his own horse, one specifically bred for knights. Sir James insists that Myles not tell any of the other squires that the Earl himself initiated his training. Myles asks how long the Earl knew about him spending time in the private garden; he is shocked when Sir James reveals it was Myles’s parents who told the Earl to put a stop to his meetings. Myles brings Gascoyne to the Eyry, where he shares the exciting news. Gascoyne is happy for Myles, but worries they might grow apart.

The next three years of Myles’s life are monopolized by a training regimen developed for him and overseen by Sir James. Myles imagined that the sudden restructuring of his life would change his perspective, but the transition toward manhood is a gradual one. Though his daily sessions of training are exceptionally demanding, Myles’s life is not without happiness. When he rises to the rank of Chief Bachelor and Head Squire once occupied by Walter Blunt, Myles leads with kindness and fairness. Still excluded from service to the household, a rare exception for one distinguished enough to become Head Squire, the Earl instead assigns Myles the role of personal attendant to his brother, Lord George.

In 1411, King Henry IV, traveling through the countryside to seek the military aid of his nobles (who are obliged to provide soldiers at his summoning) pays a visit to Devlen Castle. With the King is the Compte de Vermoise, attaché to the Dauphin of France, who is embroiled in conflict with the Duke of Burgundy. At Sir James’s recommendation, Myles is chosen to accompany Lord George, as he and the Earl of Mackworth ride out to meet the King. Myles is humbled by this great honor, and performs his ceremonial duties with chivalry during their presentation to Henry IV.

Myles is summoned by Sir James, the Earl of Mackworth, and Lord George. The Earl reminds Myles that his training has been in anticipation of him standing against his father’s enemy. The Earl has decided it is time to test Myles’s progress. He asks if Myles would consent to a joust against the Sieur de la Montagne, considered one of the best knights in France, who is currently traveling with the King. Myles is baffled, as he does not think himself fit for the challenge. Lord George offers encouragement, saying “Thinkest thou we would undertake to set against him, an we did not think that thou couldst hold own fairly well?” (146). With the men’s faith in his ability bolstering his courage, Myles agrees. The King himself has agreed to knight Myles, making him eligible to participate in the tournament.

Myles expresses his fears to Gascoyne, who wholeheartedly believes Myles will emerge victorious. The former declares that the only people he loves more than Gascoyne are his parents. Gascoyne asks for the honor of being Myles’s squire. Myles objects, confident that Gascoyne will one day become a knight himself. However, Gascoyne prefers the idea of being Myles’s squire to achieving his own knighthood, so Myles embraces him as his squire. Together, they proceed to the chambers of Lord George, where Myles is dressed in garments befitting the King’s presence. Lord George reminds Myles not to make any references to his father. The King is impressed with Myles, and exclaims he resembles Sir Galahad of King Arthur’s court. Myles and Gascoyne return to their bunks, where they spend the night in the squires’ dormitory for the last time.

In recognition of a squire’s heroism in battle, a more sacred ceremony for conferring knighthood can be held, during which they are made a “Knight of the Bath” (as bathing, a symbol of purity, was often part of the knighting process). Myles is knighted in this manner, made more significant by the participation of the King. Sir James, Lord George, the Sieur, and the Compte de Vermoise all participate in the solemn process of preparing Myles, and blessing him. Myles spends the night in the chapel, awake in prayer and contemplation. Before an impressive assembly in the great hall, an armored Myles (with Gascoyne by his side) is presented to the King. One of Lady Anne’s ladies notes Myles’s resemblance to Sir Galahad of King Arthur’s court—echoing the King’s own words in Chapter 24. The Earl of Mackworth and the Compte de Vermoise each fasten one of the two spurs signifying Myles’s status as a knight. Myles’s sword belt is buckled on by King Henry IV himself, who declares “Be thou a good knight!” (160).

To avoid needless interaction between Myles and the King, during which the latter might deduce Myles’s familial connections, the Earl of Mackworth foregoes the feasting that generally follows a knighting ceremony. The Earl distracts the King with a meeting to discuss the troops he will provide for the King’s support of the Dauphin. Myles and Gascoyne watch the construction of the lists for the joust from their new apartments in Lord George’s quarters.

The Earl of Mackworth summons Myles and reveals Lord Falworth’s enemy is the Earl of Alban. It was Alban who stormed into Falworth Castle and killed Sir John Dale years ago, precipitating the exile of the Falworths from their ancestral seat; it was Alban who blinded Myles’s father at a tournament in York, riding over him when he was defenseless on the ground. Alban hoped to marry Myles’s mother, and declared vengeance against her future husband; he hates the Earl of Mackworth because he helped Lord Falworth during the couple’s courtship. Although Lord Falworth did not participate in the plot to kill Henry IV, Alban capitalized on his fall from favor. Alban continues to seek Lord Falworth’s whereabouts, vowing to see him beheaded. By orchestrating Myles’s knighthood, the Earl of Mackworth has prepared him to challenge Alban. But for now, the Earl is sending Myles to France with Lord George to fight for the Dauphin. Myles asks that he be allowed to bring Gascoyne as his squire and request a token from Lady Alice for luck. His requests granted, Myles waits for Lady Alice in the corridor. She does not respond to his request, so he prattles on, hoping he has not offended her. Lady Alice promises her token, moved that the man standing before her, no longer the boy who fell into the garden, has remembered her with such affection.