occasion of his royal, burp, birthday."
"Er, which one is?"
"Now then, one knows it’s not, burp, easy to orchestrate proceedings of such splendour. If the price were right, do you think one might be tempted to travel to, burp, England to stage an aerial spectacular for Harold’s birthday?"
"Err, which one might what?"
"Come my dear fellow, don't play hard to get. The royal purse will pay you handsomely in gold to repeat this display for the King of England."
"Well why didn't you say so. I'd be delighted to show your King Harold my aerial displays. Would you like me to paint a shield for him as well?"
"Don't be ridiculous, burp. Do bring William with his oranges though, we English like a good laugh."
Sir Hugh was flattered to receive an invitation to show his aerial display to the king of England and planned the most spectacular show ever performed. As well as his usual repertoire he decided to use paint to make the performance more colourful.
William asked all the French Knights to wear their most splendid armour for the occasion, and Hugh was ordered to provide each with a painted shield so that the English would be most impressed with French fashion.
Hugh asked Bridget to help design his shield.
"Hmm," she pondered, "your ancestors came from across the sea, so the background must be blue. The pictures on the front should represent your ancestor’s achievements."
"What about the stories great grandpa Norris used to tell of the Vikings. We'll have the six kings, represented by six flattened chickens, my favourite food."
"Good idea Hugh," said Bridget.
"Thank you dear. The chickens will be placed on two gold bars, one to represent your royal French blood and one for my royal Viking blood."
"Lovely dear."
The day came for the show, Hugh had all the deckchairs lined up across the top of the beach at Hastings, some equipment was placed between them and the sea. There was a bank of sand dunes behind the seating area where Hugh hid the catapults, bows of various sizes and those men taking part in the display, all out of sight behind the sand dunes. When all the English Knights were gathered for the party, they were ready to celebrate King Harold's official birthday and after a few speeches Hugh’s display got underway.
The show was going well, Harold was half drunk and laughing at everything and the English knights were most impressed with French fashion.
It was time for the special event.
"And now my Kings, Dukes, Lords, Knights, Gentlemen and Serfs, the first highlight of the show," announced Hugh. "No fewer than seven brave serfs, dressed as pigeons, will be catapulted into bowls of trifle, each bowl placed ten yards further than the last. Then just as the last serf lands in the trifle, three salvos of arrows will be fired. The first salvo of blue arrows with blue ribbons attached will land between the second and third bowls of trifle. The next salvo, coloured white, will land between
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