Page 91 - A Knight of the White Cross

"Sir John Boswell, with Ralph Harcourt and Gervaise Tresham; went in a
boat to the rendezvous we had arranged, and reached it after an adventure,

which I will leave Sir John to tell himself. I may say that the two young
knights named had in our encounter both obtained very high credit amongst

us all for the valour with which they fought. No one bore himself more
stoutly, and I am glad to take this early opportunity of bringing their
conduct before your notice. As you will learn from Sir John, Gervaise

Tresham afterwards showed a quickness of wit that was the means of
saving the lives of those with him, and I may say also of all with me, for

had they failed to reach the rendezvous we should have fallen easy victims
to the five ships Hassan Ali brought against us."

Sending for Sir John Boswell, the grand prior heard from him the details of
his adventure in the boat.

"I am right glad to hear you speak so warmly of Tresham, Sir John, for I
regard him as my special protege, and am pleased indeed to find that at this

outset of his career he has proved himself not only a brave knight, but full
of resource, and quick at invention. I think, Sir John, that these two young

knights have shown themselves well worthy of receiving the honour of
secular knighthood."

"Assuredly they have," Sir John agreed.

"Then, Sir John, will you bestow it upon them? The Order, as an Order,
does not bestow the honour, but its members do not forfeit their right as
knights to bestow it individually, and none among us are more worthy of

admitting them to your rank than yourself."

"I would gladly do it, Sir Peter; but the honour would come far better from
yourself, and would not only be more highly prized by them, but would be
of greater value in the eyes of others. I am but a simple knight commander

of the Order, and my name would scarce be known beyond its ranks. But to
be knighted by one whose name is known and honoured throughout Europe

would give them a standing wherever they went, and place them on a level
with the best."