Page 35 - A Knight of the White Cross

It fortunately happened that a party of knights were starting for Rhodes a
few days after the admission of Gervaise to the Hospital, and the letter to

Sir Peter D'Aubusson was committed to their charge. They were to proceed
to Bordeaux by ship, then to journey by land to Marseilles, and thence,

being joined by some French knights, to sail direct to Rhodes. Two months
later an answer was received. D'Aubusson wrote to the grand prior saying
that he would gladly carry out the last wishes of his dead friend, and that he

had already obtained from the grand master the appointment of Gervaise
Tresham as one of his pages, and begged that he might be sent out with the

next party of knights leaving England. It was three months before such an
opportunity occurred. During that time Gervaise remained at the house of
St. John's studying diligently, and continuing his military exercises. These

were severe; for the scions of noble houses, who hoped some day to
distinguish themselves as knights, were put through many gymnastic

exercises -- were taught to spring on to a horse when clad in full armour, to
wield heavy battleaxes, to run and climb, and to prepare themselves for all
the possibilities of the mode of fighting of the day.

Gervaise gained the encomiums, not only of his special preceptor, but of

the various knights in the house, and of the grand prior himself, both for his
strength and activity, and for the earnestness with which he worked. When
the time approached for his leaving England, the grand prior ordered for

him the outfit which would be necessary in his position as a page of the
grand master. The dresses were numerous and rich, for although the knights

of St. John wore over their armour the simple mantle of their order, which
was a sleeveless garment of black relieved only by a white cross on the
chest, they indulged in the finest and most costly armour, and in rich

garments beneath their black mantles when not in armour.

"I am well pleased with you, Gervaise," the grand prior said, on the evening
before he was to leave, "and I see in you the making of a valiant knight of
the Order. Maintain the same spirit you have shown here; be obedient and

reverent to your superiors; give your whole mind to your duties; strive
earnestly during the three or four years that your pagedom will last, to

perfect yourself in military exercises, that when the time comes for you to
buckle on armour you will be able to bear yourself worthily. Remember