Excerpt from the book...HOW PETER MET THE SPANIARDIt was a spring afternoon in the sixth year of the reign of King HenryVII. of England. There had been a great show in London, for that day hisGrace opened the newly convened Parliament, and announced to hisfaithful people--who received the news with much cheering, since war isever popular at first--his intention of invading France, and of leadingthe English armies in person. In Parliament itself, it is true, thegeneral enthusiasm was somewhat dashed when allusion was made to thefinding of the needful funds; but the crowds without, formed for themost part of persons who would not be called upon to pay the money, didnot suffer that side of the question to trouble them. So when theirgracious liege appeared, surrounded by his glittering escort of noblesand men-at-arms, they threw their caps into the air, and shoutedthemselves hoarse.