diff options
Diffstat (limited to '1631.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 1631.txt | 10617 |
1 files changed, 10617 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/1631.txt b/1631.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0d8a754 --- /dev/null +++ b/1631.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10617 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Monk of Fife, by Andrew Lang + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: A Monk of Fife + Being the chronicle written by Norman Leslie of Pitcullo, concerning + marvellous deeds that befell in the realm of France, in the years of + our redemption, MCCCCXXIX-XXXI. Now first done into English out of + the French + + +Author: Andrew Lang + +Release Date: April 7, 2005 [eBook #1631] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A MONK OF FIFE*** + + + + + +Transcribed from the 1896 Longmans Green and Company edition by David +Price, email ccx074@coventry.ac.uk + + + + + +A MONK OF FIFE +Being the Chronicle written by Norman Leslie of Pitcullo, concerning +marvellous deeds that befell in the realm of France, in the years of our +redemption, MCCCCXXIX-XXXI. Now first done into English out of the +French by Andrew Lang. + + +TO HENRIETTA LANG + +My Dear Aunt,--To you, who read to me stories from the History of France, +before I could read them for myself, this Chronicle is affectionately +dedicated. + +Yours ever, + +ANDREW LANG. + + + + +PREFACE + + +Norman Leslie of Pitcullo, whose narrative the reader has in his hands, +refers more than once to his unfinished Latin Chronicle. That work, +usually known as "The Book of Pluscarden," has been edited by Mr. Felix +Skene, in the series of "Historians of Scotland" (vol. vii.). To Mr. +Skene's introduction and notes the curious are referred. Here it may +suffice to say that the original MS. of the Latin Chronicle is lost; that +of six known manuscript copies none is older than 1480; that two of these +copies contain a Prologue; and that the Prologue tells us all that has +hitherto been known about the author. + +The date of the lost Latin original is 1461, as the author himself avers. +He also, in his Prologue, states the purpose of his work. At the bidding +of an unnamed Abbot of Dunfermline, who must have been Richard Bothwell, +he is to abbreviate "The Great Chronicle," and "bring it up to date," as +we now say. He is to recount the events of his own time, "with certain +other miraculous deeds, which I who write have had cognisance of, seen, +and heard, beyond the bounds of this realm. Also, lastly, concerning a +certain marvellous Maiden, who recovered the kingdom of France out of the +hands of the tyrant, Henry, King of England. The aforesaid Maiden I saw, +was conversant with, and was in her company in her said recovery of +France, and till her life's end I was ever present." After "I was ever +present" the copies add "etc.," perhaps a sign of omission. The monkish +author probably said more about the heroine of his youth, and this the +copyists have chosen to leave out. + +The author never fulfilled this promise of telling, in Latin, the history +of the Maid as her career was seen by a Scottish ally and friend. Nor +did he ever explain how a Scot, and a foe of England, succeeded in being +present at the Maiden's martyrdom in Rouen. At least he never fulfilled +his promise, as far as any of the six Latin MSS. of his Chronicle are +concerned. Every one of these MSS.--doubtless following their incomplete +original--breaks off short in the middle of the second sentence of +Chapter xxxii. Book xii. Here is the brief fragment which that chapter +contains:-- + +"In those days the Lord stirred up the spirit of a certain marvellous +Maiden, born on the borders of France, in the duchy of Lorraine, and the +see of Toul, towards the Imperial territories. This Maiden her father +and mother employed in tending sheep; daily, too, did she handle the +distaff; man's love she knew not; no sin, as it is said, was found in +her, to her innocence the neighbours bore witness . . . " + +Here the Latin narrative of the one man who followed Jeanne d'Arc through +good and evil to her life's end breaks off abruptly. The author does not +give his name; even the name of the Abbot at whose command he wrote "is +left blank, as if it had been erased in the original" (Mr. Felix Skene, +"Liber Pluscardensis," in the "Historians of Scotland," vii. p. 18). It +might be guessed that the original fell into English hands between 1461 +and 1489, and that they blotted out the name of the author, and destroyed +a most valuable record of their conqueror and their victim, Jeanne d'Arc. + +Against this theory we have to set the explanation here offered by Norman +Leslie, our author, in the Ratisbon Scots College's French MS., of which +this work is a translation. Leslie never finished his Latin Chronicle, +but he wrote, in French, the narrative which follows, decorating it with +the designs which Mr. Selwyn Image has carefully copied in black and +white. + +Possessing this information, we need not examine Mr. W. F. Skene's +learned but unconvincing theory that the author of the fragmentary Latin +work was one Maurice Drummond, out of the Lennox. The hypothesis is that +of Mr. W. F. Skene, and Mr. Felix Skene points out the difficulties which +beset the opinion of his distinguished kinsman. Our Monk is a man of +Fife. + +As to the veracity of the following narrative, the translator finds it +minutely corroborated, wherever corroboration could be expected, in the +large mass of documents which fill the five volumes of M. Quicherat's +"Proces de Jeanne d'Arc," in contemporary chronicles, and in MSS. more +recently discovered in French local or national archives. Thus Charlotte +Boucher, Barthelemy Barrette, Noiroufle, the Scottish painter, and his +daughter Elliot, Capdorat, ay, even Thomas Scott, the King's Messenger, +were all real living people, traces of whose existence, with some of +their adventures, survive faintly in brown old manuscripts. Louis de +Coutes, the pretty page of the Maid, a boy of fourteen, may have been +hardly judged by Norman Leslie, but he certainly abandoned Jeanne d'Arc +at her first failure. + +So, after explaining the true position and character of our monkish +author and artist, we leave his book to the judgment which it has tarried +for so long. + + + + +CHAPTER I--HOW THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN, AND HOW NORMAN LESLIE FLED OUT OF +FIFE + + +It is not of my own will, nor for my own glory, that I, Norman Leslie, +sometime of Pitcullo, and in religion called Brother Norman, of the Order +of Benedictines, of Dunfermline, indite this book. But on my coming out +of France, in the year of our Lord One thousand four hundred and fifty- +nine, it was laid on me by my Superior, Richard, Abbot in Dunfermline, +that I should abbreviate the Great Chronicle of Scotland, and continue +the same down to our own time. {1} He bade me tell, moreover, all that I +knew of the glorious Maid of France, called Jeanne la Pucelle, in whose +company I was, from her beginning even till her end. + +Obedient, therefore, to my Superior, I wrote, in this our cell of +Pluscarden, a Latin book containing the histories of times past, but when +I came to tell of matters wherein, as Maro says, "pars magna fui," I grew +weary of such rude, barbarous Latin as alone I am skilled to indite, for +of the manner Ciceronian, as it is now practised by clerks of Italy, I am +not master: my book, therefore, I left unfinished, breaking off in the +middle of a sentence. Yet, considering the command laid on me, in the +end I am come to this resolve, namely, to write the history of the wars +in France, and the history of the blessed Maid (so far at least as I was +an eyewitness and partaker thereof), in the French language, being the +most commonly understood of all men, and the most delectable. It is not +my intent to tell all the story of the Maid, and all her deeds and +sayings, for the world would scarcely contain the books that should be +written. But what I myself beheld, that I shall relate, especially +concerning certain accidents not known to the general, by reason of which +ignorance the whole truth can scarce be understood. For, if Heaven +visibly sided with France and the Maid, no less did Hell most manifestly +take part with our old enemy of England. And often in this life, if we +look not the more closely, and with the eyes of faith, Sathanas shall +seem to have the upper hand in the battle, with whose very imp and minion +I myself was conversant, to my sorrow, as shall be shown. + +First, concerning myself I must say some few words, to the end that what +follows may be the more readily understood. + +I was born in the kingdom of Fife, being, by some five years, the younger +of two sons of Archibald Leslie, of Pitcullo, near St. Andrews, a cadet +of the great House of Rothes. My mother was an Englishwoman of the +Debatable Land, a Storey of Netherby, and of me, in our country speech, +it used to be said that I was "a mother's bairn." For I had ever my +greatest joy in her, whom I lost ere I was sixteen years of age, and she +in me: not that she favoured me unduly, for she was very just, but that, +within ourselves, we each knew who was nearest to her heart. She was, +indeed, a saintly woman, yet of a merry wit, and she had great pleasure +in reading of books, and in romances. Being always, when I might, in her +company, I became a clerk insensibly, and without labour I could early +read and write, wherefore my father was minded to bring me up for a +churchman. For this cause, I was some deal despised by others of my age, +and, yet more, because from my mother I had caught the Southron trick of +the tongue. They called me "English Norman," and many a battle I have +fought on that quarrel, for I am as true a Scot as any, and I hated the +English (my own mother's people though they were) for taking and holding +captive our King, James I. of worthy memory. My fancy, like that of most +boys, was all for the wars, and full of dreams concerning knights and +ladies, dragons and enchanters, about which the other lads were fain +enough to hear me tell what I had read in romances, though they mocked at +me for reading. Yet they oft came ill speed with their jests, for my +brother had taught me to use my hands: and to hold a sword I was +instructed by our smith, who had been prentice to Harry Gow, the Burn-the- +Wind of Perth, and the best man at his weapon in broad Scotland. From +him I got many a trick of fence that served my turn later. + +But now the evil time came when my dear mother sickened and died, leaving +to me her memory and her great chain of gold. A bitter sorrow is her +death to me still; but anon my father took to him another wife of the +Bethunes of Blebo. I blame myself, rather than this lady, that we dwelt +not happily in the same house. My father therefore, still minded to make +me a churchman, sent me to Robert of Montrose's new college that stands +in the South Street of St. Andrews, a city not far from our house of +Pitcullo. But there, like a wayward boy, I took more pleasure in the +battles of the "nations"--as of Fife against Galloway and the Lennox; or +in games of catch-pull, football, wrestling, hurling the bar, archery, +and golf--than in divine learning--as of logic, and Aristotle his +analytics. + +Yet I loved to be in the scriptorium of the Abbey, and to see the good +Father Peter limning the blessed saints in blue, and red, and gold, of +which art he taught me a little. Often I would help him to grind his +colours, and he instructed me in the laying of them on paper or vellum, +with white of egg, and in fixing and burnishing the gold, and in drawing +flowers, and figures, and strange beasts and devils, such as we see +grinning from the walls of the cathedral. In the French language, too, +he learned me, for he had been taught at the great University of Paris; +and in Avignon had seen the Pope himself, Benedict XIII., of uncertain +memory. + +Much I loved to be with Father Peter, whose lessons did not irk me, but +jumped with my own desire to read romances in the French tongue, whereof +there are many. But never could I have dreamed that, in days to come, +this art of painting would win me my bread for a while, and that a Leslie +of Pitcullo should be driven by hunger to so base and contemned a +handiwork, unworthy, when practised for gain, of my blood. + +Yet it would have been well for me to follow even this craft more, and my +sports and pastimes less: Dickon Melville had then escaped a broken head, +and I, perchance, a broken heart. But youth is given over to vanities +that war against the soul, and, among others, to that wicked game of the +Golf, now justly cried down by our laws, {2} as the mother of cursing and +idleness, mischief and wastery, of which game, as I verily believe, the +devil himself is the father. + +It chanced, on an October day of the year of grace Fourteen hundred and +twenty-eight, that I was playing myself at this accursed sport with one +Richard Melville, a student of like age with myself. We were evenly +matched, though Dickon was tall and weighty, being great of growth for +his age, whereas I was of but scant inches, slim, and, as men said, of a +girlish countenance. Yet I was well skilled in the game of the Golf, and +have driven a Holland ball the length of an arrow-flight, there or +thereby. But wherefore should my sinful soul be now in mind of these old +vanities, repented of, I trust, long ago? + +As we twain, Dickon and I, were known for fell champions at this unholy +sport, many of the other scholars followed us, laying wagers on our +heads. They were but a wild set of lads, for, as then, there was not, as +now there is, a house appointed for scholars to dwell in together under +authority. We wore coloured clothes, and our hair long; gold chains, and +whingers {3} in our belts, all of which things are now most righteously +forbidden. But I carried no whinger on the links, as considering that it +hampered a man in his play. So the game went on, now Dickon leading "by +a hole," as they say, and now myself, and great wagers were laid on us. + +Now, at the hole that is set high above the Eden, whence you see far over +the country, and the river-mouth, and the shipping, it chanced that my +ball lay between Dickon's and the hole, so that he could in no manner win +past it. + +"You laid me that stimy of set purpose," cried Dickon, throwing down his +club in a rage; "and this is the third time you have done it in this +game." + +"It is clean against common luck," quoth one of his party, "and the game +and the money laid on it should be ours." + +"By the blessed bones of the Apostle," I said, "no luck is more common. +To-day to me, to-morrow to thee! Lay it of purpose, I could not if I +would." + +"You lie!" he shouted in a rage, and gripped to his whinger. + +It was ever my father's counsel that I must take the lie from none. +Therefore, as his steel was out, and I carried none, I made no more ado, +and the word of shame had scarce left his lips when I felled him with the +iron club that we use in sand. + +"He is dead!" cried they of his party, while the lads of my own looked +askance on me, and had manifestly no mind to be partakers in my deed. + +Now, Melville came of a great house, and, partly in fear of their feud, +partly like one amazed and without any counsel, I ran and leaped into a +boat that chanced to lie convenient on the sand, and pulled out into the +Eden. Thence I saw them raise up Melville, and bear him towards the +town, his friends lifting their hands against me, with threats and +malisons. His legs trailed and his head wagged like the legs and the +head of a dead man, and I was without hope in the world. + +At first it was my thought to row up the river-mouth, land, and make +across the marshes and fields to our house at Pitcullo. But I bethought +me that my father was an austere man, whom I had vexed beyond bearing +with my late wicked follies, into which, since the death of my mother, I +had fallen. And now I was bringing him no college prize, but a blood- +feud, which he was like to find an ill heritage enough, even without an +evil and thankless son. My stepmother, too, who loved me little, would +inflame his anger against me. Many daughters he had, and of gear and +goods no more than enough. Robin, my elder brother, he had let pass to +France, where he served among the men of John Kirkmichael, Bishop of +Orleans--he that smote the Duke of Clarence in fair fight at Bauge. + +Thinking of my father, and of my stepmother's ill welcome, and of Robin, +abroad in the wars against our old enemy of England, it may be that I +fell into a kind of half dream, the boat lulling me by its movement on +the waters. Suddenly I felt a crashing blow on my head. It was as if +the powder used for artillery had exploded in my mouth, with flash of +light and fiery taste, and I knew nothing. Then, how long after I could +not tell, there was water on my face, the blue sky and the blue tide were +spinning round--they spun swiftly, then slowly, then stood still. There +was a fierce pain stounding in my head, and a voice said-- + +"That good oar-stroke will learn you to steal boats!" + +I knew the voice; it was that of a merchant sailor-man with whom, on the +day before, I had quarrelled in the market-place. Now I was lying at the +bottom of a boat which four seamen, who had rowed up to me and had broken +my head as I meditated, were pulling towards a merchant-vessel, or +carrick, in the Eden-mouth. Her sails were being set; the boat wherein I +lay was towing that into which I had leaped after striking down Melville. +For two of the ship's men, being on shore, had hailed their fellows in +the carrick, and they had taken vengeance upon me. + +"You scholar lads must be taught better than your masters learn you," +said my enemy. + +And therewith they carried me on board the vessel, the "St. Margaret," of +Berwick, laden with a cargo of dried salmon from Eden-mouth. They meant +me no kindness, for there was an old feud between the scholars and the +sailors; but it seemed to me, in my foolishness, that now I was in luck's +way. I need not go back, with blood on my hands, to Pitcullo and my +father. I had money in my pouch, my mother's gold chain about my neck, a +ship's deck under my foot, and the seas before me. It was not hard for +me to bargain with the shipmaster for a passage to Berwick, whence I +might put myself aboard a vessel that traded to Bordeaux for wine from +that country. The sailors I made my friends at no great cost, for indeed +they were the conquerors, and could afford to show clemency, and hold me +to slight ransom as a prisoner of war. + +So we lifted anchor, and sailed out of Eden-mouth, none of those on shore +knowing how I was aboard the carrick that slipped by the bishop's castle, +and so under the great towers of the minster and St. Rule's, forth to the +Northern Sea. Despite my broken head--which put it comfortably into my +mind that maybe Dickon's was no worse--I could have laughed to think how +clean I had vanished away from St. Andrews, as if the fairies had taken +me. Now having time to reason of it quietly, I picked up hope for +Dickon's life, remembering his head to be of the thickest. Then came +into my mind the many romances of chivalry which I had read, wherein the +young squire has to flee his country for a chance blow, as did Messire +Patroclus, in the Romance of Troy, who slew a man in anger over the game +of the chess, and many another knight, in the tales of Charlemagne and +his paladins. For ever it is thus the story opens, and my story, +methought, was beginning to-day like the rest. + +Now, not to prove more wearisome than need be, and so vex those who read +this chronicle with much talk about myself, and such accidents of travel +as beset all voyagers, and chiefly in time of war, I found a trading ship +at Berwick, and reached Bordeaux safe, after much sickness on the sea. +And in Bordeaux, with a very sore heart, I changed the links of my +mother's chain that were left to me--all but four, that still I keep--for +money of that country; and so, with a lighter pack than spirit, I set +forth towards Orleans and to my brother Robin. + +On this journey I had good cause to bless Father Peter of the Abbey for +his teaching me the French tongue, that was of more service to me than +all my Latin. Yet my Latin, too, the little I knew, stood me in good +stead at the monasteries, where often I found bed and board, and no small +kindness; I little deeming that, in time to come, I also should be in +religion, an old man and weary, glad to speak with travellers concerning +the news of the world, from which I am now these ten years retired. Yet +I love even better to call back memories of these days, when I took my +part in the fray. If this be a sin, may God and the Saints forgive me, +for if I have fought, it was in a rightful cause, which Heaven at last +has prospered, and in no private quarrel. And methinks I have one among +the Saints to pray for me, as a friend for a friend not unfaithful. But +on this matter I submit me to the judgment of the Church, as in all +questions of the faith. + + + + +CHAPTER II--HOW NORMAN LESLIE MET NOIROUFLE THE CORDELIER, CALLED BROTHER +THOMAS IN RELIGION: AND OF MIRACLES WROUGHT BY BROTHER THOMAS + + +The ways were rude and long from Bordeaux town to Orleans, whither I had +set my face, not knowing, when I left my own country, that the city was +beleaguered by the English. For who could guess that lords and knights +of the Christian faith, holding captive the gentle Duke of Orleans, would +besiege his own city?--a thing unheard of among the very Saracens, and a +deed that God punished. Yet the news of this great villainy, namely, the +leaguer of Orleans, then newly begun, reached my ears on my landing at +Bordeaux, and made me greatly fear that I might never meet my brother +Robin alive. And this my doubt proved but too true, for he soon after +this time fell, with many other Scottish gentlemen and archers, deserted +shamefully by the French and by Charles de Bourbon, Comte de Clermont, at +the Battle of the Herrings. But of this I knew nothing--as, indeed, the +battle was not yet fought--and only pushed on for France, thinking to +take service with the Dauphin against the English. My journey was +through a country ruinous enough, for, though the English were on the +further bank of the Loire, the partisans of the Dauphin had made a ruin +round themselves and their holds, and, not being paid, they lived upon +the country. + +The further north I held, by ways broken and ruined with rains and suns, +the more bare and rugged grew the whole land. Once, stopping hard by a +hamlet, I had sat down to munch such food as I carried, and was sharing +my meal with a little brown herd-boy, who told me that he was dinnerless. +A few sheep and lean kine plucked at such scant grasses as grew among +rocks, and herbs useless but sweet-scented, when suddenly a horn was +blown from the tower of the little church. The first note of that blast +had not died away, when every cow and sheep was scampering towards the +hamlet and a kind of "barmkyn" {4} they had builded there for protection, +and the boy after them, running with his bare legs for dear life. For +me, I was too amazed to run in time, so lay skulking in the thick sweet- +smelling herbs, whence I saw certain men-at-arms gallop to the crest of a +cliff hard by, and ride on with curses, for they were not of strength to +take the barmkyn. + +Such was the face of France in many counties. The fields lay weedy and +untilled; the starving peasant-folk took to the highway, every man +preying on his neighbour. Woods had grown up, and broken in upon the +roads. Howbeit, though robbers harboured therein, none of them held to +ransom a wandering poor Scots scholar. + +Slowly I trudged, being often delayed, and I was now nearing Poictiers, +and thought myself well on my road to Chinon, where, as I heard, the +Dauphin lay, when I came to a place where the road should have crossed a +stream--not wide, but strong, smooth, and very deep. The stream ran +through a glen; and above the road I had long noted the towers of a +castle. But as I drew closer, I saw first that the walls were black with +fire and roofless, and that carrion birds were hovering over them, some +enemy having fallen upon the place: and next, behold, the bridge was +broken, and there was neither ford nor ferry! All the ruin was fresh, +the castle still smouldering, the kites flocking and yelling above the +trees, the planks of the bridge showing that the destruction was but of +yesterday. + +This matter of the broken bridge cost me little thought, for I could swim +like an otter. But there was another traveller down by the stream who +seemed more nearly concerned. When I came close to him, I found him +standing up to his waist in the water, taking soundings with a long and +heavy staff. His cordelier's frock was tucked up into his belt, his long +brown legs, with black hairs thick on them, were naked. He was a huge, +dark man, and when he turned and stared at me, I thought that, among all +men of the Church and in religion whom I had ever beheld, he was the +foulest and most fierce to look upon. He had an ugly, murderous visage, +fell eyes and keen, and a right long nose, hooked like a falcon's. The +eyes in his head shone like swords, and of all eyes of man I ever saw, +his were the most piercing and most terrible. On his back he carried, as +I noticed at the first, what I never saw on a cordelier's back before, or +on any but his since--an arbalest, and he had bolts enough in his bag, +the feathers showing above. + +"Pax vobiscum," he cried, in a loud, grating voice, as he saw me, and +scrambled out to shore. + +"Et cum anima tua," I answered. + +"Nom de Dieu!" he said, "you have bottomed my Latin already, that is +scarce so deep as the river here. My malison on them that broke the +bridge!" Then he looked me over fiercely. + +"Burgundy or Armagnac?" he asked. + +I thought the question strange, as a traveller would scarce care to +pronounce for Burgundy in that country. But this was a man who would +dare anything, so I deemed it better to answer that I was a Scot, and, so +far, of neither party. + +"Tug-mutton, wine-sack!" he said, these being two of many ill names which +the French gave our countrymen; for, of all men, the French are least +grateful to us, who, under Heaven and the Maid, have set their King on +his throne again. + +The English knew this, if the French did not; and their great King, Harry +the Fifth, when he fell ill of St. Fiacre's sickness, after plundering +that Scots saint's shrine of certain horse-shoes, silver-gilt, said well +that, "go where he would, he was bearded by Scots, dead or alive." But +the French are not a thankful people. + +I had no answer very ready to my tongue, so stepped down silent to the +water-edge, and was about taking off my doublet and hose, meaning to +carry them on my head and swim across. But he barred the way with his +staff, and, for me, I gripped to my whinger, and watched my chance to run +in under his guard. For this cordelier was not to be respected, I +deemed, like others of the Order of St. Francis, and all men of Holy +Church. + +"Answer a civil question," he said, "before it comes to worse: Armagnac +or Burgundy?" + +"Armagnac," I answered, "or anything else that is not English. Clear the +causeway, mad friar!" + +At that he threw down his staff. + +"I go north also," he said, "to Orleans, if I may, for the foul 'manants' +and peasant dogs of this country have burned the castle of Alfonse +Rodigo, a good knight that held them in right good order this year past. +He was worthy, indeed, to ride with that excellent captain, Don Rodrigo +de Villandradas. King's captain or village labourer, all was fish that +came to his net, and but two days ago I was his honourable chaplain. But +he made the people mad, and a great carouse that we kept gave them their +opportunity. They have roasted the good knight Alfonse, and would have +done as much for me, his almoner, frock and all, if wine had any mastery +over me. But I gave them the slip. Heaven helps its own! Natheless, I +would that this river were between me and their vengeance, and, for once, +I dread the smell of roast meat that is still in my nostrils--pah!" + +And here he spat on the ground. + +"But one door closes," he went on, "and another opens, and to Orleans am +I now bound, in the service of my holy calling." + +"There is, indeed, cause enough for the shriving of souls of sinners, +Father, in that country, as I hear, and a holy man like you will be right +welcome to many." + +"They need little shriving that are opposite my culverin," said this +strange priest. "Though now I carry but an arbalest, the gun is my +mistress, and my patron is the gunner's saint, St. Barbara. And even +with this toy, methinks I have the lives of a score of goddams in my bolt- +pouch." + +I knew that in these wild days many clerics were careless as to that +which the Church enjoins concerning the effusion of blood--nay, I have +named John Kirkmichael, Bishop of Orleans, as having himself broken a +spear on the body of the Duke of Clarence. The Abbe of Cerquenceaux, +also, was a valiant man in religion, and a good captain, and, all over +France, clerics were gripping to sword and spear. But such a priest as +this I did not expect to see. + +"Your name?" he asked suddenly, the words coming out with a sound like +the first grating of a saw on stone. + +"They call me Norman Leslie de Pitcullo," I answered. "And yours?" + +"My name," he said, "is Noiroufle"--and I thought that never had I seen a +man so well fitted with a name;--"in religion, Brother Thomas, a poor +brother of the Order of the mad St. Francis of Assisi." + +"Then, Brother Thomas, how do you mean to cross this water which lies +between you and the exercise of your holy calling? Do you swim?" + +"Like a stone cannon-ball, and, for all that I can find, the cursed water +has no bottom. Cross!" he snarled. "Let me see you swim." + +I was glad enough to be quit of him so soon, but I noticed that, as I +stripped and packed my clothes to carry in a bundle on my head, the holy +man set his foot in the stirrup of his weapon, and was winding up his +arbalest with a windlass, a bolt in his mouth, watching at the same time +a heron that rose from a marsh on the further side of the stream. On +this bird, I deemed, he meant to try his skill with the arbalest. + +"Adieu, Brother Thomas," I said, as I took the water; and in a few +strokes I was across and running up and down on the bank to get myself +dry. "Back!" came his grating voice--"back! and without your clothes, +you wine-sack of Scotland, or I shoot!" and his arbalest was levelled on +me. + +I have often asked myself since what I should have done, and what was the +part of a brave man. Perchance I might have dived, and swum down-stream +under water, but then I had bestowed my bundle of clothes some little way +off, and Brother Thomas commanded it from his side of the stream. He +would have waited there in ambush till I came shivering back for hose and +doublet, and I should be in no better case than I was now. Meanwhile his +weapon was levelled at me, and I could see the bolt-point set straight +for my breast, and glittering in a pale blink of the sun. The bravest +course is ever the best. I should have thrown myself on the earth, no +doubt, and so crawled to cover, taking my chance of death rather than the +shame of obeying under threat and force. But I was young, and had never +looked death in the face, so, being afraid and astonished, I made what +seemed the best of an ill business, and, though my face reddens yet at +the thought of it, I leaped in and swam back like a dog to heel. + +"Behold me," I said, making as brave a countenance as I might in face of +necessity. + +"Well done, Norman Leslie de Pitcullo," he snarled, baring his yellow +teeth. "This is the obedience which the young owe to the Church. Now, +ferry me over; you are my boat." + +"You will drown, man," I said. "Not while you swim." + +Then, unbuckling his frock, he packed it as he had seen me do, bade me +put it on my head, and so stepped out into the water, holding forth his +arm to put about my neck. I was for teaching him how to lay it on my +shoulder, and was bidding him keep still as a plank of wood, but he +snarled-- + +"I have sailed on a boat of flesh before to-day." + +To do him justice, he kept still as a log of wood, and so, yielding +partly to the stream, I landed him somewhat further down than the place +where my own clothes were lying. To them he walked, and very quietly +picking up my whinger and my raiment that he gathered under his arm, he +concealed himself in a thick bush, albeit it was leafless, where no man +could have been aware of him. This amazed me not a little, for modesty +did not seem any part of his nature. + +"Now," says he, "fetch over my arbalest. Lying where I am you have no +advantage to shoot me, as, nom de Dieu! I would have shot you had you not +obeyed. And hark ye, by the way, unwind the arbalest before you cross; +it is ever well to be on the safe side. And be sure you wet not the +string." He pushed his face through the bush, and held in his mouth my +naked whinger, that shone between his shining eyes. + +Now again I say it, I have thought over this matter many a time, and have +even laughed aloud and bitterly, when I was alone, at the figure of me +shivering there, on a cold February day, and at my helpless estate. For +a naked man is no match for a man with a whinger, and he was sitting on +my clothes. So this friar, unworthy as he was of his holy calling, had +me at an avail on every side, nor do I yet see what I could do but obey +him, as I did. And when I landed from this fifth voyage, he laughed and +gave me his blessing, and, what I needed more, some fiery spirits from a +water-gourd, in which Father Thomas carried no water. + +"Well done, my son," he said, "and now we are comrades. My life was not +over safe on yonder side, seeing that the 'manants' hate me, and respect +not my hood, and two are better company than one, where we are going." + +This encounter was the beginning of many evils, and often now the picture +shines upon my eyes, and I see the grey water, and hear the cold wind +whistle in the dry reeds of the river-bank whereon we sat. + +The man was my master, Heaven help me! as surely as Sathanas was his. And +though, at last, I slipped his clutches, as you shall hear (more readily +than, I trow, he will scape his lord in the end, for he still lives), yet +it was an ill day that we met--an ill day for me and for France. Howbeit +we jogged on, he merrily enough singing a sculdudery song, I something +surly, under a grey February sky, with a keen wind searching out the +threadbare places in our raiment. My comrade, as he called himself, told +me what passages he chose in the history of his life: how he came to be +frocked (but 'cucullus non facit monachum'), and how, in the troubles of +these times, he had discovered in himself a great aptitude for the +gunner's trade, of which he boasted not a little. He had been in one and +another of these armed companies that took service with either side, for +hire, being better warriors and more skilled than the noblesse, but a +curse to France: for, in peace or war, friend or foe, they plundered all, +and held all to ransom. With Rodrigo de Villandradas, that blood-hound +of Spain, he had been high in favour, but when Rodrigo went to harry +south and east, he had tarried at Ruffec, with another thief of that +nation, Alfonse Rodigo. All his talk, as we went, was of slaying men in +fight; whom he slew he cared not much, but chiefly he hated the English +and them of Burgundy. To him, war was what hunting and shooting game is +to others; a cruel and bloody pastime, when Christians are the quarry! + +"John the Lorrainer, and I, there are no others to be named with us at +the culverin," he would brag. "We two against an army, give us good +cover, and powder and leaden balls enough. Hey! Master John and I must +shoot a match yet, against English targets, and of them there are plenty +under Orleans. But if I make not the better speed, the town will have +fallen, or yielded, rescue or no rescue, and of rescue there is no hope +at all. The devil fights for the English, who will soon be swarming over +the Loire, and that King of Bourges of ours will have to flee, and gnaw +horse's fodder, oats and barley, with your friends in Scotland." + +This was one of the many ungenerous taunts which the French made often +against us Scots, that have been their ancient and leal brethren in arms +since the days of King Achaius and Charlemagne. + +"The Dauphin," he went on, "for King he is none, and crowned he will +never be, should be in Orleans, leading his men; and lo! he is tied to +the belt of fat La Tremouille, and is dancing of ballets at Chinon--a +murrain on him, and on them that make his music!" Then he fell to +cursing his King, a thing terrible to hear, and so to asking me questions +about myself. I told him that I had fled my own country for a +man-slaying, hoping, may Heaven forgive me! to make him think the higher +of me for the deed. + +"So we all begin," said he; "a shrewd blow, or a fair wench; a death, or +a birth unlawful, 'tis all one forth we are driven to the world and the +wars. Yet you have started well,--well enough, and better than I gave +your girl's face credit for. Bar steel and rope, you may carry some +French gold back to stinking Scotland yet." + +He gave me so much credit as this for a deed that deserved none, but +rather called for rebuke from him, who, however unworthy, was in +religion, and wore the garb of the Blessed Francis. But very far from +fortifying me in virtuous courses, as was his bounden duty, there was no +wickedness that he did not try to teach me, till partly I hated him, and +partly, I fear, I admired one so skilled in evil. The truth is, as I +said, that this man, for that time, was my master. He was learned in all +the arts by which poor and wandering folk can keep their bellies full +wandering by the way. With women, ugly and terrible of aspect as he was, +he had a great power: a pious saying for the old; a way with the young +which has ever been a mystery to me, unless, as some of the learned +think, all women are naturally lovers of wickedness, if strength and +courage go with it. What by wheedling, what by bullying, what by tales +of pilgrimages to holy shrines (he was coming from Jerusalem by way of +Rome, so he told all we met), he ever won a welcome. + +Other more devilish cantrips he played, one of them at the peasant's +house where we rested on the first night of our common travel. The +Lenten supper which they gave us, with no little kindness, was ended, and +we were sitting in the firelight, Brother Thomas discoursing largely of +his pilgrimages, and of his favour among the high clergy. Thus, at I +know not what convent of the Clarisses, {5} in Italy, the holy Sisters +had pressed on him a relic of Monsieur St. Aignan, the patron of the good +town of Orleans. To see this relic, the farmer, his wife, and his sons +and daughters crowded eagerly; it was but a little blackened finger bone, +yet they were fain to touch it, as is the custom. But this he would not +yet allow. + +"Perchance some of you," he said, "are already corrupt, not knowing it, +with the poisonous breath of that damnable Hussite heresy, which is +blowing from the east like wind of the pestilence, and ye may have doubts +concerning the verity of this most holy and miraculous relic?" + +They all crossed themselves, protesting that no such wicked whisper of +Sathanas had ever come into their minds, nor had they so much as heard of +Huss and his blasphemies. + +"Nay," said Brother Thomas, "I could scarcely blame you if it were partly +as I said. For in this latter time of the world, when I have myself met +Jews flocking to Babylon expecting the birth of Antichrist, there be many +false brethren, who carry about feigned relics, to deceive the simple. We +should believe no man, if he be, as I am, a stranger, unless he shows us +a sign, such as now I will show you. Give me, of your grace, a kerchief, +or a napkin." The goodwife gave him a clean white napkin from her +aumbry, and he tore it up before their eyes, she not daring to stay his +hand. + +"Now note this holy relic and its wonderful power," he said, holding the +blackened bone high in his left hand, and all our eyes were fixed on it. +"Now mark," he said again, passing it over the napkin; and lo! there was +a clean white napkin in his hands, and of the torn shreds not a trace! + +We were still gaping, and crossing ourselves with blessings on this happy +day and our unworthy eyes that beheld a miracle, when he did a thing yet +more marvellous, if that might be, which I scarce expect any man will +believe. Going to the table, and catching up a glass vessel on which the +goodwife set great store, he threw it against the wall, and we all +plainly heard it shiver into tinkling pieces. Then, crossing the room +into the corner, that was dusky enough, he faced us, again holding the +blessed relic, whereon we stared, in holy fear. Then he rose, and in his +hand was the goodwife's glass vessel, without crack or flaw! {6} + +"Such," he said, "are the properties of this miraculous relic; there is +nothing broken but it will mend, ay, a broken limb, as I can prove on my +own sinful body,"--thrusting out his great brown leg, whereon, assuredly, +were signs of a fracture; "ay, a broken leg, or, my dear daughters, a +broken heart." At this, of course, they were all eager to touch the +blessed relic with their poor rings of base metal, such as they wear who +are not rich. Nay, but first, he said, they must give their mites for a +convent of the Clarisses, that was building at Castres, by the care of +the holy Colette, whom he might call his patroness, unworthy as he was. + +Then he showed us a safe-conduct, signed with that blessed woman's own +hand, such as she was wont to give to the religious of the Order of St. +Francis. By virtue of this, he said (and, by miracle, for once he said +truly, as I had but too good cause to learn), he could go freely in and +out among the camps of French, English, and Burgundians. + +You may conceive how joyous they were in that poor cottage, on a night so +blessed, and how Brother Thomas told us of the holy Colette, that famous +nun and Mother in Christ, as he that had often been in her company. He +had seen her body lifted in the air while she remained in a pious +ecstasy, her mind soaring aloft and her fleshly body following it some +way. + +He had often watched that snow-white beast which followed her, such a +creature as is known in no country of the sinful world, but is a thing of +Paradise. And he had tried to caress this wondrous creature of God, but +vainly, for none but the holy sister Colette may handle it. Concerning +her miracles of healing, too, he told us, all of which we already knew +for very truth, and still know on better warranty than his. + +Ye may believe that, late and at last, Brother Thomas had his choice of +the warmest place to sleep in--by the "four," as is the wont of pilgrims, +for in his humility this holy man would not suffer the farmer's wife and +the farmer to give him their bed, as they desired. I, too, was very +kindly entreated by the young lads, but I could scarcely sleep for +marvelling at these miracles done by one so unworthy; and great, indeed, +I deemed, must be the virtue of that relic which wrought such signs in +the hands of an evil man. But I have since held that he feigned all by +art magic and very sorcery, for, as we wended next morning on our road, +he plainly told me, truly or falsely, that he had picked up the blackened +finger-bone out of the loathly ashes of the dead in the burned castle +near Ruffec. + +Wherefore I consider that when Brother Thomas sold the grace of his +relic, by the touching of rings, he dealt in a devilish black simony, +vending to simple Christians no grace but that of his master, Sathanas. +Thus he was not only evil (if I guess aright, which I submit to the +judgment of my ecclesiastical superiors, and of the Church), but he had +even found out a new kind of wickedness, such as I never read of in any +books of theology wherein is much to be learned. I have spoken with +some, however, knights and men of this world, who deemed that he did but +beguile our eyes by craft and sleight-of-hand. + +This other hellish art he had, by direct inspiration, as I hold, of his +master Behemoth, that he could throw his voice whither he would, so that, +in all seeming, it came from above, or from below, or from a corner of a +room, fashioning it to resemble the voice of whom he would, yet none +might see his lips move. With this craft he would affray the peasants +about the fire in the little inns where we sometimes rested, when he +would be telling tales of bogles and eldritch fantasies, and of fiends +that rout and rap, and make the tables and firkins dance. Such art of +speech, I am advised, is spoken of by St. Jerome, in his comment on the +holy prophet the saint Isaiah, and they that use it he calls +"ventriloqui," in the Latin, or "belly-speakers," and he takes an +unfavourable sense of them and their doings. So much I have from the +learned William de Boyis, Prior of Pluscarden, where now I write; with +whom I have conversed of these matters privately, and he thinks this art +a thing that men may learn by practice, without dealing in nigromancy and +the black magic. This question I am content to leave, as is fitting, to +the judgment of my superiors. And indeed, as at that time, Brother +Thomas spake not in his belly except to make sport and affray the simple +people, soon turning their fears to mirth. Certainly the country folk +never misdoubted him, the women for a holy man, the men for a good +fellow; though all they of his own cloth shrank from him, and I have seen +them cross themselves in his presence, but to no avail. He would say a +word or two in their ears, and they straightway left the place where he +might be. None the less, with his tales and arts, Brother Thomas +commonly so wrought that we seldom slept "a la belle etoile" in that +bitter spring weather, but we ordinarily had leave to lie by the hearth, +and got a supper and a breakfast. The good peasants would find their hen- +roosts the poorer often, for all that he could snap up was to him fortune +of war. + +I loved these manners little, but leave him I could not. His eye was +ever on me; if I stirred in the night he was awake and watching me, and +by day he never let me out of a bolt's flight. To cut the string of his +wicked weapon was a thought often in my mind, but he was too vigilant. My +face was his passport, he said; my face, indeed, being innocent enough, +as was no shame to me, but an endless cause of mirth and mockery to him. +Yet, by reason of the serviceableness of the man in that perilous +country, and my constant surprise and wonder at what he did and said, and +might do next (which no man could guess beforehand), and a kind of +foolish pride in his very wickedness, so much beyond what I had ever +dreamed of, and for pure fear of him also, I found myself following with +him day by day, ever thinking to escape, and never escaping. + +I have since deemed that, just as his wickedness was to a boy (for I was +little more), a kind of charm, made up of a sort of admiring hate and +fear, so my guilelessness (as it seemed to him) also wrought on him +strangely. For in part it made sport for him to see my open mouth and +staring eyes at the spectacle of his devilries, and in part he really +hated me, and hated my very virtue of simplicity, which it was his desire +and delight to surprise and corrupt. + +On these strange terms, then, now drawn each to other, and now forced +apart, we wended by Poictiers towards Chinon, where the Dauphin and his +Court then lay. So we fared northwards, through Poitou, where we found +evil news enough. For, walking into a village, we saw men, women, and +children, all gathered, gaping about one that stood beside a horse nearly +foundered, its legs thrust wide, its nostrils all foam and blood. The +man, who seemed as weary as his horse, held a paper in his hands, which +the priest of that parish took from him and read aloud to us. The rider +was a royal messenger, one Thomas Scott of Easter Buccleuch, in Rankel +Burn, whom I knew later, and his tidings were evil. The Dauphin bade his +good towns know that, on the 12th of February, Sir John Stewart, +constable of the Scottish forces in France, had fallen in battle at +Rouvray, with very many of his company, and some Frenchmen. They had +beset a convoy under Sir John Fastolf, that was bringing meat to the +English leaguered about Orleans. But Fastolf had wholly routed them (by +treachery, as we later learned of the Comte de Clermont), and Sir John +Stewart, with his brother Sir William, were slain. Wherefore the Dauphin +bade the good towns send him money and men, or all was lost. + +Such were the evil tidings, which put me in sore fear for my brother +Robin, one that, in such an onfall, would go far, as beseemed his blood. +But as touching his fortunes, Thomas Scott could tell me neither good nor +bad, though he knew Robin, and gave him a good name for a stout man-at- +arms. It was of some comfort to me to hear a Scots tongue; but, for the +rest, I travelled on with a heavier heart, deeming that Orleans must +indeed fall ere I could seek my brother in that town. + + + + +CHAPTER III--WHAT BEFELL OUTSIDE OF CHINON TOWN + + +My old nurse, when I was a child, used to tell me a long story of a +prince who, wandering through the world, made friends with many strange +companions. One she called Lynx-eye, that could see through a mountain; +one was Swift-foot, that could outrun the wind; one was Fine-ear, that +could hear the grass growing; and there was Greedy-gut, that could +swallow a river. All these were very serviceable to this gracious +prince, of I know not what country, in his adventures; and they were +often brought into my mind by the companions whom we picked up on the +grass-grown roads. + +These wanderers were as strange as the friends of the prince, and were as +variously, but scarce as honourably, gifted. There was the one-armed +soldier, who showed his stump very piteously when it was a question of +begging from a burgess, but was as well furnished with limbs as other men +when no burgess was in sight. There was a wretched woman violer, with +her jackanapes, and with her husband, a hang-dog ruffian, she bearing the +mark of his fist on her eye, and commonly trailing far behind him with +her brat on her back. There was a blind man, with his staff, who might +well enough answer to Keen-eye, that is, when no strangers were in sight. +There was a layman, wearing cope and stole and selling indulgences, but +our captain, Brother Thomas, soon banished him from our company, for that +he divided the trade. Others there were, each one of them a Greedy-gut, +a crew of broken men, who marched with us on the roads; but we never +entered a town or a house with these discreditable attendants. + +Now, it may seem strange, but the nearer we drew to Chinon and the Court, +the poorer grew the country, for the Court and the men-at-arms had +stripped it bare, like a flight of locusts. For this reason the Dauphin +could seldom abide long at one place, for he was so much better known +than trusted that the very cordwainer would not let him march off in a +new pair of boots without seeing his money, and, as the song said, he +even greased his old clouted shoon, and made them last as long as he +might. For head-gear he was as ill provided, seeing that he had pawned +the fleurons of his crown. There were days when his treasurer at Tours +(as I myself have heard him say) did not reckon three ducats in his +coffers, and the heir of France borrowed money from his very cook. So +the people told us, and I have often marvelled how, despite this poverty, +kings and nobles, when I have seen them, go always in cloth of gold, with +rich jewels. But, as you may guess, near the Court of a beggar Dauphin +the country-folk too were sour and beggarly. + +We had to tighten our belts before we came to the wood wherein +cross-roads meet, from north, south, and east, within five miles of the +town of Chinon. There was not a white coin among us; night was falling, +and it seemed as if we must lie out under the stars, and be fed, like the +wolves we heard howling, on wind. By the roadside, at the crossways, but +not in view of the road, a council of our ragged regiment was held in a +deep ditch. It would be late ere we reached the town, gates would scarce +open for us, we could not fee the warders, houses would be shut and dark; +the King's archers were apt to bear them unfriendly to wandering men with +the devil dancing in their pouches. Resource we saw none; if there was a +cottage, dogs, like wolves for hunger and fierceness, were baying round +it. As for Brother Thomas, an evil bruit had gone before us concerning a +cordelier that the fowls and geese were fain to follow, as wilder things, +they say, follow the blessed St. Francis. So there sat Brother Thomas at +the cross-roads, footsore, hungry, and sullen, in the midst of us, who +dared not speak, he twanging at the string of his arbalest. He called +himself our Moses, in his blasphemous way, and the blind man having +girded at him for not leading us into the land of plenty, he had struck +the man till he bled, and now stood stanching his wound. + +Suddenly Brother Thomas ceased from his twanging, and holding up his hand +for silence, leaned his ear to the ground. The night was still, though a +cold wind came very stealthily from the east. + +"Horses!" he said. + +"It is but the noise of the brook by the way," said the blind man, +sullenly. + +Brother Thomas listened again. + +"No, it is horses," he whispered. "My men, they that ride horses can +spare somewhat out of their abundance to feed the poor." And with that +he began winding up his arbalest hastily. "Aymeric," he said to one of +our afflicted company, "you draw a good bow for a blind man; hide +yourself in the opposite ditch, and be ready when I give the word 'Pax +vobiscum.' You, Giles," he spoke to the one-armed soldier, "go with him, +and, do you hear, aim low, at the third man's horse. From the sound +there are not more than five or six of them. We can but fail, at worst, +and the wood is thick behind us, where none may pursue. You, Norman de +Pitcullo, have your whinger ready, and fasten this rope tightly to yonder +birch-tree stem, and then cross and give it a turn or two about that oak +sapling on the other side of the way. That trap will bring down a horse +or twain. Be quick, you Scotch wine-bag!" + +I had seen many ill things done, and, to my shame, had held my peace. But +a Leslie of Pitcullo does not take purses on the high-road. Therefore my +heart rose in sudden anger, I having all day hated him more and more for +his bitter tongue, and I was opening my mouth to cry "A secours!"--a +warning to them who were approaching, when, quick as lightning, Brother +Thomas caught me behind the knee-joints, and I was on the ground with his +weight above me. One cry I had uttered, when his hand was on my mouth. + +"Give him the steel in his guts!" whispered the blind man. + +"Slit his weasand, the Scotch pig!" said the one-armed soldier. + +They were all on me now. + +"No, I keep him for better sport," snarled Brother Thomas. "He shall +learn the Scots for 'ecorcheurs' (flayers of men) "when we have filled +our pouches." + +With that he crammed a great napkin in my mouth, so that I could not cry, +made it fast with a piece of cord, trussed me with the rope which he had +bidden me tie across the path to trip the horses, and with a kick sent me +flying to the bottom of the ditch, my face being turned from the road. + +I could hear Giles and Aymeric steal across the way, and the rustling of +boughs as they settled on the opposite side. I could hear the trampling +hoofs of horses coming slowly and wearily from the east. At this moment +chanced a thing that has ever seemed strange to me: I felt the hand of +the violer woman laid lightly and kindly on my hair. I had ever pitied +her, and, as I might, had been kind to her and her bairn; and now, as it +appears, she pitied me. But there could be no help in her, nor did she +dare to raise her voice and give an alarm. So I could but gnaw at my +gag, trying to find scope for my tongue to cry, for now it was not only +the travellers that I would save, but my own life, and my escape from a +death of torment lay on my success. But my mouth was as dry as a kiln, +my tongue was doubled back till I thought that I should have choked. The +night was now deadly still, and the ring of the weary hoofs drew nearer +and nearer. I heard a stumble, and the scramble of a tired horse as he +recovered himself; for the rest, all was silent, though the beating of my +own heart sounded heavy and husky in my ears. + +Closer and closer the travellers drew, and soon it was plain that they +rode not carelessly, nor as men who deemed themselves secure, for the +tramp of one horse singled itself out in front of the others, and this, +doubtless, was ridden by an "eclaireur," sent forward to see that the way +ahead was safe. Now I heard a low growl of a curse from Brother Thomas, +and my heart took some comfort. They might be warned, if the Brother +shot at the foremost man; or, at worst, if he was permitted to pass, the +man would bear swift tidings to Chinon, and we might be avenged, the +travellers and I, for I now felt that they and I were in the same peril. + +The single rider drew near, and passed, and there came no cry of "Pax +vobiscum" from the friar. But the foremost rider had, perchance, the +best horse, and the least wearied, for there was even too great a gap +between him and the rest of his company. + +And now their voices might be heard, as they talked by the way, yet not +so loud that, straining my ears as I did, I could hear any words. But +the sounds waxed louder, with words spoken, ring of hoofs, and rattle of +scabbard on stirrup, and so I knew, at least, that they who rode so late +were men armed. Brother Thomas, too, knew it, and cursed again very low. + +Nearer, nearer they came, then almost opposite, and now, as I listened to +hear the traitorous signal of murder--"Pax vobiscum"--and the twang of +bow-strings, on the night there rang a voice, a woman's voice, soft but +wondrous clear, such as never I knew from any lips but hers who then +spoke; that voice I heard in its last word, "Jesus!" and still it is +sounding in my ears. + +That voice said-- + +"Nous voila presqu'arrives, grace a mes Freres de Paradis." + +Instantly, I knew not how, at the sound of that blessed voice, and the +courage in it, I felt my fear slip from me, as when we awaken from a +dreadful dream, and in its place came happiness and peace. Scarce +otherwise might he feel who dies in fear and wakes in Paradise. + +On the forest boughs above me, my face being turned from the road, +somewhat passed, or seemed to pass, like a soft golden light, such as in +the Scots tongue we call a "boyn," that ofttimes, men say, travels with +the blessed saints. Yet some may deem it but a glancing in my own eyes, +from the blood flying to my head; howsoever it be, I had never seen the +like before, nor have I seen it since, and, assuredly, the black branches +and wild weeds were lit up bare and clear. + +The tramp of the horses passed, there was no cry of "Pax vobiscum," no +twang of bows, and slowly the ring of hoofs died away on the road to +Chinon. Then came a rustling of the boughs on the further side of the +way, and a noise of footsteps stealthily crossing the road, and now I +heard a low sound of weeping from the violer woman, that was crouching +hard by where I lay. Her man struck her across the mouth, and she was +still. + +"You saw it? Saints be with us! You saw them?" he whispered to Brother +Thomas. + +"Fool, had I not seen, would I not have given the word? Get you gone, +all the sort of you, there is a fey man in this company, be he who he +will. Wander your own ways, and if ever one of you dogs speak to me +again, in field, or street, or market, or ever mention this night . . . +ye shall have my news of it. Begone! Off!" + +"Nay, but, Brother Thomas, saw'st thou what we saw? What sight saw'st +thou?" + +"What saw I? Fools, what should I have seen, but an outrider, and he a +King's messenger, sent forward to warn the rest by his fall, if he fell, +or to raise the country on us, if he passed, and if afterward they passed +us not. They were men wary in war, and travelling on the Dauphin's +business. Verily there was no profit in them." + +"And that was all? We saw other things." + +"What I saw was enough for me, or for any good clerk of St. Nicholas, and +of questions there has been more than enough. Begone! scatter to the +winds, and be silent." + +"And may we not put the steel in that Scotch dog who delayed us? Saints +or sorcerers, their horses must have come down but for him." + +Brother Thomas caught me up, as if I had been a child, in his arms, and +tossed me over the ditch-bank into the wood, where I crashed on my face +through the boughs. + +"Only one horse would have fallen, and that had brought the others on us. +The Scot is safe enough, his mouth is well shut. I will have no blood to- +night; leave him to the wolves. And now, begone with you: to Fierbois, +if you will; I go my own road--alone." + +They wandered each his own way, sullen and murmuring, starved and weary. +What they had seen or fancied, and whether, if the rest saw aught +strange, Brother Thomas saw nought, I knew not then, and know not till +this hour. But the tale of this ambush, and of how they that lay in +hiding held their hands, and fled--having come, none might say whence, +and gone, whither none might tell--is true, and was soon widely spoken of +in the realm of France. + +The woods fell still again, save for the babble of the brook, and there I +lay, bound, and heard only the stream in the silence of the night. + +There I lay, quaking, when all the caitiffs had departed, and the black, +chill night received me into itself. At first my mind was benumbed, like +my body; but the pain of my face, smarting with switch and scratch of the +boughs through which I had fallen, awoke me to thought and fear. I +turned over to lie on my back, and look up for any light of hope in the +sky, but nothing fell on me from heaven save a cold rain, that the +leafless boughs did little to ward off. Scant hope or comfort had I; my +whole body ached and shuddered, only I did not thirst, for the rain +soaked through the accursed napkin on my mouth, while the dank earth, +with its graveyard smell, seemed to draw me down into itself, as it drags +a rotting leaf. I was buried before death, as it were, even if the +wolves found me not and gave me other sepulture; and now and again I +heard their long hunting cry, and at every patter of a beast's foot, or +shivering of the branches, I thought my hour was come--and I unconfessed! +The road was still as death, no man passing by it. This night to me was +like the night of a man laid living in the tomb. By no twisting and +turning could I loosen the rope that Brother Thomas had bound me in, with +a hand well taught by cruel practice. At last the rain in my face grew +like a water-torture, always dropping, and I half turned my face and +pressed it to the ground. + +Whether I slept by whiles, or waked all night, I know not, but certainly +I dreamed, seeing with shut eyes faces that came and went, shifting from +beauty such as I had never yet beheld, to visages more and more hideous +and sinful, ending at last in the worst--the fell countenance of +Noiroufle. Then I woke wholly to myself, in terror, to find that he was +not there, and now came to me some of that ease which had been born of +the strange, sweet voice, and the strange words, "Mes Freres de Paradis." + +"My brethren of Paradise"; who could she be that rode so late in company +of armed men, and yet spoke of such great kinsfolk? That it might be the +holy Colette, then, as now, so famous in France for her miracles, and +good deeds, and her austerities, was a thought that arose in me. But the +holy Sister, as I had heard, never mounted a horse in her many +wanderings, she being a villein's daughter, but was carried in a litter, +or fared in a chariot; nor did she go in company with armed men, for who +would dare to lay hands on her? Moreover, the voice that I had heard was +that of a very young girl, and the holy Sister Colette was now entered +into the vale of years. So my questioning found no answer. + +And now I heard light feet, as of some beast stirring and scratching in +the trees overhead, and there with a light jingling noise. Was it a +squirrel? Whatever it was, it raced about the tree, coming nearer and +going further away, till it fell with a weight on my breast, and, +shivering with cold, all strained like a harp-string as I was, I could +have screamed, but for the gag in my mouth. The thing crawled up my +body, and I saw two red eyes fixed on mine, and deemed it had been a wild +cat, such as lives in our corries of the north--a fell beast if brought +to bay, but otherwise not hurtful to man. + +There the red eyes looked on me, and I on them, till I grew giddy with +gazing, and half turned my head with a stifled sob. Then there came a +sharp cry which I knew well enough, and the beast leaped up and nestled +under my breast, for this so dreadful thing was no worse than the violer +woman's jackanapes, that had slipped its chain, or, rather, had drawn it +out of her hand, for now I plainly heard the light chain jingle. This +put me on wondering whether they had really departed; the man, verily, +thirsted for my life, but he would have slain me ere this hour, I +thought, if that had been his purpose. The poor beast a little helped to +warm me with the heat of his body, and he was a friendly creature, making +me feel less alone in the night. Yet, in my own misery, I could not help +but sorrow for the poor woman when she found her jackanapes gone, that +was great part of her living: and I knew what she would have to bear for +its loss from the man that was her master. + +As this was in my mind, the first grey stole into the sky so that I could +see the black branches overhead; and now there awoke the cries of birds, +and soon the wood was full of their sweet jargoning. This put some hope +into my heart; but the morning hours were long, and colder than the +night, to one wet to the bone with the rains. Now, too, I comforted +myself with believing that, arrive what might, I was wholly quit of +Brother Thomas, whereat I rejoiced, like the man in the tale who had sold +his soul to the Enemy, and yet, in the end, escaped his clutches by the +aid of Holy Church. Death was better to me than life with Brother +Thomas, who must assuredly have dragged me with him to the death that +cannot die. Morning must bring travellers, and my groaning might lead +them to my aid. And, indeed, foot-farers did come, and I did groan as +well as I could, but, like the Levite in Scripture, they passed by on the +other side of the way, fearing to meddle with one wounded perchance to +the death, lest they might be charged with his slaying, if he died, or +might anger his enemies, if he lived. + +The light was now fully come, and some rays of the blessed sun fell upon +me, whereon I said orisons within myself, commanding my case to the +saints. Devoutly I prayed, that, if I escaped with life, I might be +delivered from the fear of man, and namely of Brother Thomas. It were +better for me to have died by his weapon at first, beside the broken +bridge, than to have lived his slave, going in dread of him, with a +slave's hatred in my heart. So now I prayed for spirit enough to defend +my honour and that of my country, which I had borne to hear reviled +without striking a blow for it. Never again might I dree this extreme +shame and dishonour. On this head I addressed myself, as was fitting, to +the holy Apostle St. Andrew, our patron, to whom is especially dear the +honour of Scotland. + +Then, as if he and the other saints had listened to me, I heard sounds of +horses' hoofs, coming up the road from Chinon way, and also voices. +These, like the others of the night before, came nearer, and I heard a +woman's voice gaily singing. And then awoke such joy in my heart as +never was there before, and this was far the gladdest voice that ever yet +I heard, for, behold, it was the speech of my own country, and the tune I +knew and the words. + + "O, we maun part this love, Willie, + That has been lang between; + There's a French lord coming over sea + To wed me wi' a ring; + There's a French lord coming o'er the sea + To wed and take me hame!" + +"And who shall the French lord be, Elliot?" came another voice, a man's +this time, "though he need not cross the sea for you, the worse the luck. +Is it young Pothon de Xaintrailles? Faith, he comes often enough to see +how his new penoncel fares in my hands, and seems right curious in +painting." + +It may be deemed strange that, even in this hour, I conceived in my heart +a great mislike of this young French lord, how unjustly I soon well +understood. + + "O, nae French lord for me, father, + O, nae French lord for me, + But I'll ware my heart on a true-born Scot, + And wi' him I'll cross the sea." + +"Oh, father, lo you, I can make as well as sing, for that is no word of +the old ballant, but just came on to my tongue!" + +They were now right close to me, and, half in fear, half in hope, I began +to stir and rustle in the grass, for of my stifled groaning had hitherto +come no profit. Then I heard the horses stop. + +"What stirring is that in the wood, father? I am afraid," came the +girl's voice. + +"Belike a fox shifting his lair. Push on, Maid Elliot." The horses +advanced, when, by the blessing of the saints, the jackanapes woke in my +breast. + +The creature was used to run questing with a little wooden bowl he +carried for largesse, to beg of horsemen for his mistress. This trick of +his he did now, hearing the horses' tramp. He leaped the ditch, and I +suppose he ran in front of the steeds, shaking his little bowl, as was +his wont. + +"Oh, father," sounded the girl's voice, "see the little jackanapes! Some +travelling body has lost him. Let me jump down and catch him. Look, he +has a little coat on, made like a herald's tabard, and wears the colours +of France. Here, hold my reins." + +"No, lass. Who can tell where, or who, his owner is? Take you my reins, +and I will bring you the beast." + +I heard him heavily dismount. + +"It will not let itself be caught by a lame man," he said; and he +scrambled up the ditch bank, while the jackanapes fled to me, and then +ran forward again, back and forth. + +"Nom Dieu, whom have we here?" cried the man, in French. + +I turned, and made such a sound with my mouth as I might, while the +jackanapes nestled to my breast. + +"Why do ye not speak, man?" he said again; and I turned my eyes on him, +looking as pitifully as might be out of my blood-bedabbled face. + +He was a burly man, great of growth, with fresh red cheeks, blue eyes, +reddish hair, and a red beard, such as are many in the Border marches of +my own country, the saints bless them for true men! Withal he dragged +his leg in walking, which he did with difficulty and much carefulness. He +"hirpled," as we say, towards me very warily; then, seeing the rope bound +about me, and the cloth in my mouth, he drew his dagger, but not to cut +my bonds. He was over canny for that, but he slit the string that kept +the cursed gag in my mouth, and picked it out with his dagger point; and, +oh the blessed taste of that first long draught of air, I cannot set it +down in words! "What, in the name of all the saints, make you here, in +this guise?" he asked in French, but with a rude Border accent. + +"I am a kindly Scot," I said in our own tongue, "of your own country. +Give me water." And then a dwawm, as we call it, or fainting-fit, came +over me. + +When I knew myself again, I was lying with my head in a maiden's lap, and +well I could have believed that the fairies had carried me to their own +land, as has befallen many, whereof some have returned to earth with the +tale, and some go yet in that unearthly company. + +"Gentle demoiselle, are you the gracious Queen of Faerie?" I asked, as +one half-wakened, not knowing what I said. Indeed this lady was clad all +in the fairy green, and her eyes were as blue as the sky above her head, +and the long yellow locks on her shoulders were shining like the sun. + +"Father, he is not dead," she said, laughing as sweet as all the singing- +birds in March--"he is not dead, but sorely wandering in his mind when he +takes Elliot Hume for the Fairy Queen." + +"Faith, he might have made a worse guess," cried the man. "But now, sir, +now that your bonds are cut, I see nothing better for you than a well- +washed face, for, indeed, you are by ordinary 'kenspeckle,' and no +company for maids." + +With that he brought some water from the burn by the road, and therewith +he wiped my face, first giving me to drink. When I had drunk, the maid +whom he called Elliot got up, her face very rosy, and they set my back +against a tree, which I was right sorry for, as indeed I was now clean +out of fairyland and back in this troublesome world. The horses stood by +us, tethered to trees, and browsed on the budding branches. + +"And now, maybe," he said, speaking in the kindly Scots, that was like +music in my ear--"now, maybe, you will tell us who you are, and how you +came into this jeopardy." + +I told him, shortly, that I was a Scot of Fife; whereto he answered that +my speech was strangely English. On this matter I satisfied him with the +truth, namely, that my mother was of England. I gave my name but not +that of our lands, and showed him how I had been wandering north, to take +service with the Dauphin, when I was set upon, and robbed and bound by +thieves, for I had no clearness as to telling him all my tale, and no +desire to claim acquaintance with Brother Thomas. + +"And the jackanapes?" he asked, whereto I had no better answer than that +I had seen the beast with a wandering violer on the day before, and that +she having lost it, as I supposed, it had come to me in the night. + +The girl was standing with the creature in her arms, feeding it with +pieces of comfits from a pouch fastened at her girdle. + +"The little beast is not mine to give," I went on, seeing how she had an +affection to the ape, "but till the owner claims it, it is all the ransom +I have to pay for my life, and I would fain see it wear the colours of +this gentle maid who saved me. It has many pretty tricks, but though to- +day I be a beggar, I trow she will not let it practise that ill trick of +begging." + +"Sooner would I beg myself, fair sir," she said, with such a courtly +reverence as surprised me; for though they seemed folks well to see in +the world, they were not, methought, of noble blood, nor had they with +them any company of palfreniers or archers. + +"Elliot, you feed the jackanapes and let our countryman hunger," said the +man; and, blushing again, she made haste to give me some of the provision +she had made for her journey. + +So I ate and drank, she waiting on me very gently; but now, being weary +of painful writing, and hearing the call to the refectory, and the +brethren trampling thither, I must break off, for, if I be late, they +will sconce me of my ale. Alas! it is to these little cares of creature +comforts that I am come, who have seen the face of so many a war, and +lived and fought on rat's flesh at Compiegne. + + + + +CHAPTER IV--IN WHAT COMPANY NORMAN LESLIE ENTERED CHINON; AND HOW HE +DEMEANED HIMSELF TO TAKE SERVICE + + +Not seemly, was it, that I should expect these kind people, even though +they were of my own country, to do more for me than they had already +done. So, when I had eaten and drunk, I made my obeisance as if I would +be trudging towards Chinon, adding many thanks, as well I might. + +"Nay, countryman," said the man, "for all that I can see, you may as well +bide a while with us; for, indeed, with leave of my graceless maid, I +think we may even end our wild-goose chase here and get us back to the +town." + +Seeing me marvel, perhaps, that any should have ridden some four miles or +five, and yet speak of returning, he looked at the girl, who was playing +with the jackanapes, and who smiled at him as he spoke. "You must know," +said he, "that though I am the father of your Fairy Queen, I am also one +of the gracious Princess's obedient subjects. No mother has she, poor +wench," he added, in a lower voice; "and faith, we men must always obey +some woman--as it seems now that the King himself must soon do and all +his captains." + +"You speak," I said, "of the gracious Queen of Sicily and Jerusalem?"--a +lady who was thought to be of much avail, as was but right, in the +counsels of her son-in-law, the Dauphin, he having married her gentle +daughter. + +"Ay; Queen Yolande is far ben {7} with the King--would he had no worse +counsellors!" said he, smiling; "but I speak of a far more potent +sovereign, if all that she tells of herself be true. You have heard, or +belike you have not heard, of the famed Pucelle--so she calls herself, I +hope not without a warranty--the Lorrainer peasant lass, who is to drive +the English into the sea, so she gives us all fair warning?" + +"Never a word have I heard, or never marked so senseless a bruit if I +heard it; she must be some moon-struck wench, and in her wits wandering." + +"Moon-struck, or sun-struck, or saint-struck, she will strike down our +ancient enemy of England, and show you men how it is not wine and +wickedness that make good soldiers!" cried the girl whom he called +Elliot, her face rose-red with anger; and from her eyes two blue rays of +light shot straight to mine, so that I believe my face waxed wan, the +blood flying to my heart. + +"Listen to her! look at her!" said her father, jestingly. "Elliot, if +your renowned maid can fright the English as you have affrayed a good +Scot, the battle is won and Orleans is delivered." + +But she had turned her back on us pettishly, and was talking in a low +voice to her jackanapes. As for me, if my face had been pale before, it +now grew red enough for shame that I had angered her, who was so fair, +though how I had sinned I knew not. But often I have seen that women, +and these the best, will be all afire at a light word, wherein the +touchiest man-at-arms who ever fought on the turn of a straw could pick +no honourable quarrel. + +"How have I been so unhappy as to offend mademoiselle?" I asked, in a +whisper, of her father, giving her a high title, in very confusion. + +"Oh, she will hear no bourde nor jest on this Pucelle that all the +countryside is clashing of, and that is bewitching my maid, methinks, +even from afar. My maid Elliot (so I call her from my mother's kin, but +her true name is Marion, and the French dub her Heliote) hath set all her +heart and her hope on one that is a young lass like herself, and she is +full of old soothsayings about a virgin that is to come out of an oak- +wood and deliver France--no less! For me, I misdoubt that Merlin, the +Welsh prophet on whom they set store, and the rest of the soothsayers, +are all in one tale with old Thomas Rhymer, of Ercildoune, whose +prophecies our own folk crack about by the ingle on winter nights at +home. But be it as it may, this wench of Lorraine has, these +three-quarters of a year, been about the Sieur Robert de Baudricourt, now +commanding for the King at Vaucouleurs, away in the east, praying him to +send her to the Court. She has visions, and hears voices--so she says; +and she gives Baudricourt no peace till he carries her to the King. The +story goes that, on the ill day of the Battle of the Herrings, she, being +at Vaucouleurs--a hundred leagues away and more,--saw that fight plainly, +and our countrymen fallen, manlike, around the Constable, and the French +flying like hares before a little pack of English talbots. When the evil +news came, and was approved true, Baudricourt could hold her in no +longer, and now she is on the way with half a dozen esquires and archers +of his command. The second-sight she may have--it is common enough, if +you believe the red-shanked Highlanders; but if maiden she set forth from +Vaucouleurs, great miracle it is if maiden she comes to Chinon." He +whispered this in a manner that we call "pauky," being a free man with +his tongue. + +"This is a strange tale enough," I said; "the saints grant that the Maid +speaks truly!" + +"But yesterday came a letter of her sending to the King," he went on, +"but never of her writing, for they say that she knows not 'A' from 'B,' +if she meets them in her voyaging. Now, nothing would serve my wilful +daughter Elliot (she being possessed, as I said, with love for this +female mystery), but that we must ride forth and be the first to meet the +Maid on her way, and offer her shelter at my poor house, if she does but +seem honest, though methinks a hostelry is good enough for one that has +ridden so far, with men for all her company. And I, being but a subject +of my daughter's, as I said, and this a Saint's Day, when a man may rest +from his paints and brushes, I even let saddle the steeds, and came forth +to see what ferlies Heaven would send us." + +"Oh, a lucky day for me, fair sir," I answered him, marvelling to hear +him speak of paint and brushes, and even as I spoke a thought came into +my mind. "If you will listen to me, sir," I said, "and if the gentle +maid, your daughter, will pardon me for staying you so long from the +road, I will tell you that, to my thinking, you have come over late, for +that yesterday the Maiden you speak of rode, after nightfall, into +Chinon." + +Now the girl turned round on me, and, in faith, I asked no more than to +see her face, kind or angry. "You tell us, sir, that you never heard +speak of the Maid till this hour, and now you say that you know of her +comings and goings. Unriddle your riddle, sir, if it pleases you, and +say how you saw and knew one that you never heard speech of." + +She was still very wroth, and I knew not whether I might not anger her +yet more, so I louted lowly, cap in hand, and said-- + +"It is but a guess that comes into my mind, and I pray you be not angry +with me, who am ready and willing to believe in this Maid, or in any that +will help France, for, if I be not wrong, last night her coming saved my +life, and that of her own company." + +"How may that be, if thieves robbed and bound you?" + +"I told you not all my tale," I said, "for, indeed, few would have +believed the thing that had not seen it. But, upon my faith as a +gentleman, and by the arm-bone of the holy Apostle Andrew, which these +sinful eyes have seen, in the church of the Apostle in his own town, +somewhat holy passed this way last night; and if this Maid be indeed sent +from heaven, that holy thing was she, and none other." + +"Nom Dieu! saints are not common wayfarers on our roads at night. There +is no 'wale' of saints in this country," said the father of Elliot; "and +as this Pucelle of Lorraine must needs pass by us here, if she is still +on the way, even tell us all your tale." + +With that I told them how the "brigands" (for so they now began to call +such reivers as Brother Thomas) were, to my shame, and maugre my head, +for a time of my own company. And I told them of the bushment that they +laid to trap travellers, and how I had striven to give a warning, and how +they bound me and gagged me, and of the strange girl's voice that spoke +through the night of "mes Freres de Paradis," and of that golden "boyn" +faring in the dark, that I thought I saw, and of the words spoken by the +blind man and the soldier, concerning some vision which affrayed them, I +know not what. + +At this tale the girl Elliot, crossing herself very devoutly, cried +aloud-- + +"O father, did I not tell you so? This holy thing can have been no other +but that blessed Maiden, guarded by the dear saints in form visible, whom +this gentleman, for the sin of keeping evil company, was not given the +grace to see. Oh, come, let us mount and ride to Chinon, for already she +is within the walls; had we not ridden forth so early, we must have heard +tell of it." + +It seemed something hard to me that I was to have no grace to behold what +others, and they assuredly much more sinful men than myself, had been +permitted to look upon, if this damsel was right in that she said. And +how could any man, were he himself a saint, see what was passing by, when +his head was turned the other way? Howbeit, she called me a gentleman, +as indeed I had professed myself to be, and this I saw, that her passion +of anger against me was spent, as then, and gone by, like a shower of +April. + +"Gentleman you call yourself, sir," said her father; "may I ask of what +house?" + +"We are cadets of the house of Rothes," I answered. "My father, Leslie +of Pitcullo, is the fourth son of the third son of the last laird of +Rothes but one; and, for me, I was of late a clerk studying in St. +Andrews." + +"I will not ask why you left your lore," he said; "I have been young +myself, and, faith, the story of one lad varies not much from the story +of another. If we have any spirit, it drives us out to fight the foreign +loons in their own country, if we have no feud at home. But you are a +clerk, I hear you say, and have skill enough to read and write?" + +"Yea, and, if need were, can paint, in my degree, and do fair lettering +on holy books, for this art was my pleasure, and I learned it from a +worthy monk in the abbey." + +"O day of miracles!" he cried. "Listen, Elliot, and mark how finely I +have fallen in luck's way! Lo you, sir, I also am a gentleman in my +degree, simple as you see me, being one of the Humes of Polwarth; but by +reason of my maimed leg, that came to me with scars many, from certain +shrewd blows got at Verneuil fight, I am disabled from war. A murrain on +the English bill that dealt the stroke! To make up my ransom (for I was +taken prisoner there, where so few got quarter) cost me every crown I +could gather, so I even fell back on the skill I learned, like you, when +I was a lad, from a priest in the Abbey of Melrose. Ashamed of my craft +I am none, for it is better to paint banners and missals than to beg; and +now, for these five years, I am advanced to be Court painter to the King +himself, thanks to John Kirkmichael, Bishop of Orleans, who is of my far- +away kin. A sore fall it is, for a Hume of Polwarth; and strangely +enough do the French scribes write my name--'Hauves Poulvoir,' and +otherwise, so please you; but that is ever their wont with the best names +in all broad Scotland. Lo you, even now there is much ado with banner- +painting for the companies that march to help Orleans, ever and again." + +"When the Maiden marches, father, you shall have banner-painting," said +the girl. + +"Ay, lass, when the Maid marches, and when the lift falls and smoors the +laverocks we shall catch them in plenty. {8} But, Maid or no Maid, saving +your presence, sir, I need what we craftsmen (I pray you again to pardon +me) call an apprentice, and I offer you, if you are skilled as you say, +this honourable post, till you find a better." + +My face grew red again with anger at the word "apprentice," and I know +not how I should have answered an offer so unworthy of my blood, when the +girl broke in-- + +"Till this gentleman marches with the flower of France against our old +enemy of England, you should say, father, and helps to show them another +Bannockburn on Loire-side." + +"Ay, well, till then, if it likes you," he said, smiling. "Till then +there is bed, and meat, and the penny fee for him, till that great day." + +"That is coming soon!" she cried, her eyes raised to heaven, and so fair +she looked, that, being a young man and of my complexion amorous, I could +not bear to be out of her company when I might be in it, so stooped my +pride to agree with him. + +"Sir," I said, "I thank you heartily for your offer. You come of as good +a house as mine, and yours is the brag of the Border, as mine is of the +kingdom of Fife. If you can put your pride in your pouch, faith, so can +I; the rather that there is nothing else therein, and so room enough and +to spare. But, as touching what this gentle demoiselle has said, I may +march also, may I not, when the Maid rides to Orleans?" + +"Ay, verify, with my goodwill, then you may," he cried, laughing, while +the lass frowned. + +Then we clapped hands on it, for a bargain, and he did not insult me by +the offer of any arles, or luck penny. + +The girl was helped to horse, setting her foot on my hand, that dirled as +her little shoe sole touched it; and the jackanapes rode on her saddle- +bow very proudly. For me, I ran as well as I might, but stiffly enough, +being cold to the marrow, holding by the father's stirrup-leather and +watching the lass's yellow hair that danced on her shoulders as she rode +foremost. In this company, then, so much better than that I had left, we +entered Chinon town, and came to their booth, and their house on the +water-side. Then, of their kindness, I must to bed, which comfort I +sorely needed, and there I slept, in fragrant linen sheets, till compline +rang. + + + + +CHAPTER V--OF THE FRAY ON THE DRAWBRIDGE AT CHINON CASTLE + + +During supper, to which they called me, my master showed me the best +countenance that might be, and it was great joy to me to eat off clean +platters once again, on white linen strewn with spring flowers. As the +time was Lent, we had fare that they called meagre: fish from the Vienne +water, below the town, and eggs cooked in divers fashions, all to the +point of excellence, for the wine and fare of Chinon are famous in +France. As my duty was, I waited on my master and on the maid Elliot, +who was never silent, but babbled of all that she had heard since she +came into the town; as to where the Pucelle had lighted off her horse (on +the edge-stone of a well, so it seemed), and where and with what goodwife +she lodged, and how as yet no message had come to her from the castle and +the King; and great joy it was to watch and to hear her. But her father +mocked, though in a loving manner; and once she wept at his bourdes, and +shone out again, when he fell on his knees, offering her a knife and +baring his breast to the stroke, for I have never seen more love between +father and child, my own experience being contrary. Yet to my sisters my +father was ever debonnair; for, as I have often marked, the mothers love +the sons best and the sons the mothers, and between father and daughters +it is the same. But of my mother I have spoken in the beginning of this +history. + +When supper was ended, and all things made orderly, I had no great mind +for my bed, having slept my fill for that time. But the maid Elliot left +us early, which was as if the light had been taken out of the room. + +Beside the fire, my master fell to devising about the state of the +country, as burgesses love to do. And I said that, if I were the +Dauphin, Chinon Castle should not hold me long, for my "spur would be in +my horse's side, and the bridle on his mane," {9} as the old song of the +Battle of Harlaw runs, and I on the way to Orleans. Thereto he answered, +that he well wished it were so, and, mocking, wished that I were the +Dauphin. + +"Not that our Dauphin is a coward, the blood of Saint Louis has not +fallen so low, but he is wholly under the Sieur de La Tremouille, who was +thrust on him while he was young, and still is his master, or, as we say, +his governor. Now, this lord is one that would fain run with the hare +and hunt with the hounds, and this side of him is Burgundian and that is +Armagnac, and on which of the sides his heart is, none knows. At +Azincour, as I have heard, he played the man reasonably well. But he +waxes very fat for a man-at-arms, and is fond of women, and wine, and of +his ease. Now, if once the King ranges up with the Bastard of Orleans, +and Xaintrailles, and the other captains, who hate La Tremouille, then +his power, and the power of the Chancellor, the Archbishop of Rheims, is +gone and ended. So these two work ever to patch up a peace with +Burgundy, but, seeing that the duke has his father's death to avenge on +our King, they may patch and better patch, but no peace will come of it. +And the captains cry 'Forward!' and the archbishop and La Tremouille cry +'Back!' and in the meantime Orleans will fall, and the Dauphin may fly +whither he will, for France is lost. But, for myself, I would to the +saints that I and my lass were home again, beneath the old thorn-tree at +Polwarth on the green, where I have been merry lang syne." + +With that word he fell silent, thinking, I doubt not, of his home, as I +did of mine, and of the house of Pitcullo and the ash-tree at the door, +and the sea beyond the ploughed land of the plain. So, after some space +of silence, he went to his bed, and I to mine, where for long I lay +wakeful, painting on the dark the face of Elliot, and her blue eyes, and +remembering her merry, changeful ways. + +Betimes in the morning I was awakened by the sound of her moving about +through the house, and having dressed and gone forth from my little +chamber, I found her in the house-place, she having come from early Mass. +She took little heed of me, giving me some bread and wine, the same as +she and her father took; and she was altogether less gay and wilful than +she had been, and there seemed to be something that lay heavy on her +mind. When her father asked her if the gossips at the church door had +given her any more tidings of the Maid, she did but frown, and soon left +the chamber, whence my master led me forth into his booth, and bade me +show him my hand in writing. This pleased him not ill, and next I must +grind colours to his liking; and again he went about his business, while +I must mind the booth, and be cap in hand to every saucy page that came +from the castle with an order from his lord. + +Full many a time my hand was on my whinger, and yet more often I wished +myself on the free road again, so that I were out of ill company, and +assuredly the Lorrainer Maid, whatever she might be, was scarcely longing +more than I for the day when she should unfurl her banner and march, with +me at her back, to Orleans. For so irksome was my servitude, and the +laying of colours on the ground of banners for my master to paint, and +the copying of books of Hours and Missals, and the insolence of customers +worse born than myself, that I could have drowned myself in the Vienne +water but for the sight of Elliot. Yet she was become staid enough, and +betimes sad; as it seemed that there was no good news of her dear Maid, +for the King would not see her, and all men (it appeared), save those who +had ridden with her, mocked the Pucelle for a bold ramp, with a bee in +her bonnet. But the two gentlemen that had been her escort were staunch. +Their names were Jean de Metz and Bertrand de Poulengy, good esquires. + +Of me Elliot made ofttimes not much more account than of her jackanapes, +which was now in very high favour, and waxing fat, so that, when none but +her father could hear her, she would jest and call him La Tremouille. + +Yet I, as young men will, was forward in all ways to serve her, and to +win her grace and favour. She was fain to hear of Scotland, her own +country, which she had never seen, and I was as fain to tell her. And +betimes I would say how fair were the maidens of our own country, and how +any man that saw her would know her to be a Scot, though from her tongue, +in French, none might guess it. And, knowing that she loved wildflowers, +I would search for them and bring them to her, and would lead her to +speak of romances which she loved, no less than I, and of pages who had +loved queens, and all such matters as young men and maids are wont to +devise of; and now she would listen, and at other seasons would seem +proud, and as if her mind were otherwhere. Young knights many came to +our booth, and looked ill-pleased when I served them, and their eyes were +ever on the inner door, watching for Elliot, whom they seldom had sight +of. + +So here was I, in a double service, who, before I met Brother Thomas, had +been free of heart and hand. But, if my master's service irked me, in +that other I found comfort, when I could devise with Elliot, as +concerning our country and her hopes for the Maid. But my own hopes were +not high, nor could I mark any sign that she favoured me more than +another, though I had the joy to be often in her company. And, indeed, +what hope could I have, being so young, and poor, and in visible station +no more than any 'prentice lad? My heart was much tormented in these +fears, and mainly because we heard no tidings that the Maid was accepted +by the Dauphin, and that the day of her marching, and of my deliverance +from my base craft of painting, was at hand. + +It so fell out, how I knew not, whether I had shown me too presumptuous +for an apprentice, or because of any other reason, that Elliot had much +forborne my company, and was more often in church at her prayers than in +the house, or, when in the house, was busy in divers ways, and I scarce +ever could get word of her. Finding her in this mood, I also withdrew +within myself, and was both proud and sorely unhappy, longing more than +ever to take my own part in the world as a man-at-arms. Now, one day +right early, I being alone in the chamber, copying a psalter, Elliot came +in, looking for her father. I rose at her coming, doffing my cap, and +told her, in few words, that my master had gone forth. Thereon she +flitted about the chamber, looking at this and that, while I stood +silent, deeming that she used me in a sort scarce becoming my blood and +lineage. + +Suddenly she said, without turning round, for she was standing by a table +gazing at the pictures in a Book of Hours-- + +"I have seen her!" + +"The Pucelle?--do you speak of her, gentle maid?" + +"I saw her and spoke to her, and heard her voice"; and here her own +broke, and I guessed that she was near to weeping. "I went up within the +castle precinct, to the tower Coudraye," she said, "for I knew that she +lodged hard by, with a good woman who dwells there. I passed into the +chapel of St. Martin on the cliff, and there heard the voice of one +praying before the image of Our Lady. The voice was even as you said +that day--the sweetest of voices. I knelt beside her, and prayed aloud +for her and for France. She rested her hand on my hair--her hair is +black, and cut 'en ronde' like a man's. It is true that they say, she +dresses in man's garb. We came forth together, and I put my hand into +hers, and said, 'I believe in you; if none other believes, yet do I +believe.' Then she wept, and she kissed me; she is to visit me here to- +morrow, la fille de Dieu--" + +She drew a long sob, and struck her hand hard on the table; then, keeping +her back ever towards me, she fled swiftly from the room. I was +amazed--so light of heart as she commonly seemed, and of late +disdainful--to find her in this passion. Yet it was to me that she had +spoken--to me that she had opened her heart. Now I guessed that, if I +was ever to win her, it must be through this Pucelle, on whom her mind +was so strangely bent. So I prayed that, if it might be God's will, He +would prosper the Maid, and let me be her loyal servitor, and at last +bring me to my desire. + +Something also I dreamed, as young men will who have read many romances, +of myself made a knight for great feats of arms, and wearing in my salade +my lady's favour, and breaking a spear on Talbot, or Fastolf, or +Glasdale, in some last great victory for France. + +Then shone on my eyesight, as it were, the picture of these two children, +for they were little more, Elliot and the Maid, kneeling together in the +chapel of St. Martin, the gold hair and the black blended; and what were +they two alone against this world and the prince of this world? Alas, +how much, and again how little, doth prayer avail us! These thoughts +were in my mind all day, while serving and answering customers, and +carrying my master's wares about the town, and up to the castle on the +cliff, where the soldiers and sentries now knew me well enough, and the +Scots archers treated me kindly. But as for Elliot, she was like her +first self again, and merrier than common with her father, to whom, as +far as my knowledge went, she said not a word about the meeting in the +crypt of St. Martin's chapel, though to me she had spoken so freely. This +gave me some hope; but when I would have tried to ask her a question, she +only gazed at me in a manner that abashed me, and turned off to toy with +her jackanapes. Whereby I went to my bed perplexed, and with a heavy +heart, as one that was not yet conversant with the ways of women--nay, +nor ever, in my secular life, have I understood what they would be at. +Happier had it been for my temporal life if I had been wiser in woman's +ways. But commonly, when we have learned a lesson, the lore comes too +late. + +Next day my master had business at the castle with a certain lord, and +took me thither to help in carrying his wares. This castle was a place +that I loved well, it is so old, having first been builded when the +Romans were lords of the land; and is so great and strong that our +bishop's castle of St. Andrews seems but a cottage compared to it. From +the hill-top there is a wide prospect over the tower and the valley of +the Vienne, which I liked to gaze upon. My master, then, went in by the +drawbridge, high above the moat, which is so deep that, I trow, no foeman +could fill it up and cross it to assail the walls. My master, in limping +up the hill, had wearied himself, but soon passed into the castle through +the gateway of the bell-tower, as they call it, while I waited for him on +the further end of the bridge, idly dropping morsels of bread to the +swans that swam in the moat below. + +On the drawbridge, standing sentinel, was a French man-at-arms, a young +man of my own age, armed with a long fauchard, which we call a bill or +halberd, a weapon not unlike the Lochaber axes of the Highlandmen. Other +soldiers, French, Scottish, Spaniards, Germans, a mixed company, were +idling and dicing just within the gate. + +I was throwing my last piece of crust to a swan, my mind empty of +thought, when I started out of my dream, hearing that rare woman's voice +which once I had heard before. Then turning quickly, I saw, walking +between two gentlemen, even those who had ridden with her from +Vaucouleurs, one whom no man could deem to be other than that much-talked- +of Maid of Lorraine. She was clad very simply, like the varlet of some +lord of no great estate, in a black cap with a little silver brooch, a +grey doublet, and black and grey hose, trussed up with many points; a +sword of small price hung by her side. {10} In stature she was something +above the common height of women, her face brown with sun and wind, her +eyes great, grey, and beautiful, beneath black brows, her lips red and +smiling. In figure she seemed strong and shapely, but so slim--she being +but seventeen years of age--that, were it not for her sweet girl's voice, +and for the beauty of her grey eyes, she might well have passed for a +page, her black hair being cut "en ronde," as was and is the fashion +among men-at-arms. Thus much have I written concerning her bodily +aspect, because many have asked me what manner of woman was the blessed +Maid, and whether she was beautiful. I gazed at her like one +moon-struck, then, remembering my courtesy, I doffed my cap, and louted +low; and she bowed, smiling graciously like a great lady, but with such +an air as if her mind was far away. + +She passed, with her two gentlemen, but the French sentinel barred the +way, holding his fauchard thwartwise. + +"On what business come you, and by what right?" he cried, in a rude +voice. + +"By the Dauphin's gracious command, to see the Dauphin," said one of the +gentlemen right courteously. "Here is his own letter, and you may know +the seal, bidding La Pucelle to come before him at this hour." + +The fellow looked at the seal, and could not but acknowledge the arms of +France thereon. He dropped his fauchard over his shoulder, and stood +aside, staring impudently at the Maiden, and muttering foul words. + +"So this is the renowned Pucelle," he cried; "by God's name" . . . and +here he spoke words such as I may not set down in writing, blaspheming +God and the Maid. + +She turned and looked at him, but as if she saw him not; and then, a +light of joy and love transfiguring her face, she knelt down on the +drawbridge, folding her hands, her face bowed, and so abode while one +might count twenty, we that beheld her being amazed. Then she rose and +bent as if in salutation to one we saw not; next, addressing herself to +the sentinel, she said, very gently-- + +"Sir, how canst thou take in vain the name of God, thou that art in this +very hour to die?" + +So speaking, she with her gentlemen went within the gate, while the +soldier stood gazing after her like a man turned to stone. + +The Maid passed from our sight, and then the sentinel, coming to himself, +turned in great wrath on me, who stood hard by. + +"What make you gaping here, you lousy wine-sack of Scotland?" he cried; +and at the word, my prayer which I had made to St. Andrew in my bonds +came into my mind, namely, that I should not endure to hear my country +defamed. + +I stopped not to think of words, wherein I never had a ready wit, but his +were still in his mouth when I had leaped within his guard, so that he +might not swing out his long halberd. + +"Blasphemer and liar!" I cried, gripping his neck with my left hand, +while with two up-cuts of my right I sent his lies down his throat in +company, as I deem, with certain of his teeth. + +He dropped his halberd against the wooden fence of the bridge, and felt +for his dagger. I caught at his right hand with mine; cries were in my +ears--St. Denis for France! St. Andrew for Scotland!--as the other men +on guard came running forth to see the sport. + +We gripped and swayed for a moment, then the staff of his fauchard coming +between his legs, he tripped and fell, I above him; our weight soused +against the low pales of the bridge side, that were crazy and old; there +was a crash, and I felt myself in mid-air, failing to the moat far below +us. Down and down I whirled, and then the deep water closed over me. + + + + +CHAPTER VI--HOW NORMAN LESLIE ESCAPED OUT OF CHINON CASTLE + + +Down and down I sank, the water surging up into my nostrils and sounding +in my ears; but, being in water, I was safe if it were but deep enough. +Presently I struck out, and, with a stroke or two, came to the surface. +But no sooner did my head show above, and I draw a deep breath or twain, +looking for my enemy, than an arbalest bolt cleft the water with a +clipping sound, missing me but narrowly. I had but time to see that +there was a tumult on the bridge, and swords out (the Scots, as I +afterwards heard, knocking up the arbalests that the French soldiers +levelled at me). Then I dived again, and swam under water, making +towards the right and the castle rock, which ran sheer down to the moat. +This course I chose because I had often noted, from the drawbridge, a +jutting buttress of rock, behind which, at least, I should be out of +arrow-shot. My craft was to give myself all the semblance of a drowning +man, throwing up my arms, when I rose to see whereabout I was and to take +breath, as men toss their limbs who cannot swim. On the second time of +rising thus, I saw myself close to the jut of rock. My next dive took me +behind it, and I let down my feet, close under the side of this natural +buttress, to look around, being myself now concealed from the sight of +those who were on the bridge. + +To my surprise I touched bottom, for I had deemed that the water was very +deep thereby. Next I found that I was standing on a step of hewn stone, +and that a concealed staircase, cut in the rock, goes down, in that +place, to the very bottom of the moat; for what purpose I know not, but +so it is. {11} I climbed up the steps, shook myself, and wrung the water +out of my hair, looking about the while for any sign of my enemy, who had +blasphemed against my country and the Maiden. But there was nothing to +see on the water save my own cloth cap floating. On the other side of +the fosse, howbeit, men were launching a pleasure-boat, which lay by a +stair at the foot of the further wall of the fosse. The sight of them +made me glad to creep further up the steps that rounded a sharp corner, +till I came as far as an iron wicket-gate, which seemed to cut off my +retreat. There I stopped, deeming that the wicket must be locked. The +men were now rowing the boat into the middle of the water, so, without +expecting to find the gate open, I tried the handle. It turned, to my no +little amazement; the gate swang lightly aside, as if its hinges had been +newly oiled, and I followed the staircase, creeping up the slimy steps in +the half-dark. Up and round I went, till I was wellnigh giddy, and then +I tripped and reeled so that my body struck against a heavy ironed door. +Under my weight it yielded gently, and I stumbled across the threshold of +a room that smelled strangely sweet and was very warm, being full of the +sun, and the heat of a great fire. + +"Is that you, Robin of my heart?" said a girl's voice in French; and, +before I could move, a pair of arms were round my neck. Back she leaped, +finding me all wet, and not the man she looked for; and there we both +stood, in a surprise that prevented either of us from speaking. + +She was a pretty lass, with brown hair and bright red cheeks, and was +dressed all in white, being, indeed, one of the laundresses of the +castle; and this warm room, fragrant with lavender, whereinto I had +stumbled, was part of the castle laundry. A mighty fire was burning, and +all the tables were covered with piles and flat baskets of white linen, +sweet with scented herbs. + +Back the maid stepped towards the door, keeping her eyes on mine; and, as +she did not scream, I deemed that none were within hearing: wherein I was +wrong, and she had another reason for holding her peace. + +"Save me, gentle maid, if you may," I cried at last, falling on my knees, +just where I stood: "I am a luckless man, and stand in much peril of my +life." + +"In sooth you do," she said, "if Robert Lindsay of the Scottish Archers +finds you here. He loves not that another should take his place at a +tryst." + +"Maiden," I said, beginning to understand why the gate was unlocked, and +wherefore it went so smooth on its hinges, "I fear I have slain a man, +one of the King's archers. We wrestled together on the drawbridge, and +the palisade breaking, we fell into the moat, whence I clomb by the +hidden stairs." + +"One of the archers!" cried she, as pale as a lily, and catching at her +side with her hand. "Was he a Scot?" + +"No, maid, but I am; and I pray you hide me, or show me how to escape +from this castle with my life, and that speedily." + +"Come hither!" she said, drawing me through a door into a small, square, +empty room that jutted out above the moat. "The other maids are at their +dinner," she went on, "and I all alone--the season being Lent, and I +under penance, and thinking of no danger." + +For which reason, I doubt not, namely that the others had gone forth, she +had made her tryst at this hour with Robin Lindsay. But he, if he was, +as she said, one of the Scottish archers that guarded the gate, was busy +enough belike with the tumult on the bridge, or in seeking for the body +of mine enemy. + +"How to get you forth I know not," she said, "seeing that from yonder +room you pass into the kitchen and thence into the guard-room, and thence +again by a passage in the wall behind the great hall, and so forth to the +court, and through the gate, and thereby there is no escape: for see you +the soldiers must, and will avenge their comrade." + +Hearing this speech, I seemed to behold myself swinging by a tow from a +tree branch, a death not beseeming one of gentle blood. Up and down I +looked, in vain, and then I turned to the window, thinking that, as +better was not to be, I might dive thence into the moat, and take my +chance of escape by the stairs on the further side. But the window was +heavily barred. Yet again, if I went forth by the door, and lurked on +the postern stair, there was Robin Lindsay's dirk to reckon with, when he +came, a laggard, to his love-tryst. + +"Stop! I have it," said the girl; and flying into the laundry, she +returned with a great bundle of white women's gear and a gown of linen, +and a woman's white coif, such as she herself wore. + +In less time than a man would deem possible, she had my wet hair, that I +wore about my shoulders, as our student's manner was, tucked up under the +cap, and the clean white smock over my wet clothes, and belted neatly +about my middle. + +"A pretty wench you make, I swear by St. Valentine," cried she, falling +back to look at me, and then coming forward to pin up something about my +coif, with her white fingers. + +I reckoned it no harm to offer her a sisterly kiss. + +"'Tis lucky Robin Lindsay is late," cried she, laughing, "though even +were he here, he could scarce find fault that one maid should kiss +another. Now," she said, snatching up a flat crate full of linen, "carry +these, the King's shirts, and sorely patched they are, on your head; +march straight through the kitchen, then through the guard-room, and then +by the door on the left into the long passage, and so into the court, and +begone; they will but take you for a newly come blanchisseuse. Only +speak as little as may be, for your speech may betray you." She kissed +me very kindly on both cheeks, for she was as frank a lass as ever I met, +and a merry. Then, leading me to the door of the inner room, she pushed +it open, the savoury reek of the kitchen pouring in. + +"Make good speed, Margot!" she cried aloud after me, so that all could +hear; and I walked straight up the King's kitchen, full as it was of men +and boys, breaking salads, spitting fowls, basting meat (though it was +Lent, but doubtless the King had a dispensation for his health's sake), +watching pots, tasting dishes, and all in a great bustle and clamour. The +basket of linen shading my face, I felt the more emboldened, though my +legs, verily, trembled under me as I walked. Through the room I went, +none regarding me, and so into the guard-room, but truly this was another +matter. Some soldiers were dicing at a table, some drinking, some +brawling over the matter of the late tumult, but all stopped and looked +at me. + +"A new face, and, by St. Andrew, a fair one!" said a voice in the accent +of my own country. + +"But she has mighty big feet; belike she is a countrywoman of thine," +quoth a French archer; and my heart sank within me as the other cast a +tankard at his head. + +"Come, my lass," cried another, a Scot, with a dice-box in his hand, +catching at my robe as I passed, "kiss me and give me luck," and, +striking up my basket of linen, so that the wares were all scattered on +the floor, he drew me on to his knee, and gave me a smack that reeked +sorely of garlic. Never came man nearer getting a sore buffet, yet I +held my hand. Then, making his cast with the dice, he swore roundly, +when he saw that he had thrown deuces. + +"Lucky in love, unlucky in gaming. Lug out your losings," said his +adversary with a laugh; and the man left hold of my waist and began +fumbling in his pouch. Straightway, being free, I cast myself on the +floor to pick up the linen, and hide my face, which so burned that it +must have seemed as red as the most modest maid might have deemed seemly. + +"Leave the wench alone; she is new come, I warrant, and has no liking for +your wantonness," said a kind voice; and, glancing up, I saw that he who +spoke was one of the gentlemen who had ridden with the Maiden from +Vaucouleurs. Bertrand de Poulengy was his name; belike he was waiting +while the King and the nobles devised with the Maiden privately in the +great hall. + +He stooped and helped me to pick up my linen, as courteously as if I had +been a princess of the blood; and, because he was a gentleman, I suppose, +and a stranger, the archers did not meddle with him, save to break +certain soldiers' jests, making me glad that I was other than I appeared. + +"Come," he said, "my lass, I will be your escort; it seems that Fortune +has chosen me for a champion of dames." + +With these words he led the way forth, and through a long passage lit +from above, which came out into the court at the stairs of the great +hall. + +Down these stairs the Maiden herself was going, her face held high and a +glad look in her eyes, her conference with the King being ended. Poulengy +joined her; they said some words which I did not hear, for I deemed that +it became me to walk forward after thanking him by a look, and bending my +head, for I dared not trust my foreign tongue. + +Before I reached the gateway they had joined me, which I was glad of, +fearing more insolence from the soldiers. But these men held their +peace, looking grave, and even affrighted, being of them who had heard +the prophecy of the Maiden and seen its fulfilment. + +"Have ye found the body of that man?" said Poulengy to a +sergeant-at-arms. + +"Nay, sir, we deem that his armour weighed him down, for he never rose +once, though that Scot's head was seen thrice and no more. Belike they +are good, peaceful friends at the bottom of the fosse together." + +"Of what man speak you?" asked the Maiden of Poulengy. + +"Of him that blasphemed as we went by an hour ago. Wrestling with a Scot +on some quarrel, they broke the palisade, and--lo! there are joiners +already mending it. 'Tis old and frail. The gentle Dauphin is over poor +to keep the furnishings of his castle as a king should do." + +The Maiden grew wan as sun-dried grass in summer when she heard this +story told. Crossing herself, she said-- + +"Alas! I warned him, but he died unconfessed. I will do what I may to +have Masses said for the repose of his soul, poor man: and he so young!" + +With that she wept, for she wept readily, even for a less thing than such +a death as was that archer's. + +We had now crossed the drawbridge, whereat my heart beat more lightly, +and the Maiden told Poulengy that she would go to the house where she +lodged, near the castle. + +"And thence," she said, "I must fare into the town, for I have promised +to visit a damsel of my friends, one Heliote Poulvoir, if I may find my +way thither. Know you, gentle damsel," she said to me, "where she +abides? Or perchance you can lead me thither, if it lies on your way." + +"I was even going thither, Pucelle," I said, mincing in my speech; +whereat she laughed, for of her nature she was merry. + +"Scots are Heliote and her father, and a Scot are not you also, damsel? +your speech betrays you," she said; "you all cling close together, you +Scots, as beseems you well, being strangers in this sweet land of +France"; and her face lighted up as she spoke the name she loved, and my +heart worshipped her with reverence. + +"Farewell," she cried to Poulengy, smiling graciously, and bowing with +such a courtesy as a queen might show, for I noted it myself, as did all +men, that this peasant girl had the manners of the Court, being schooled, +as I deem, by the greatest of ladies, her friends St. Margaret and St. +Catherine. + +Then, with an archer, who had ridden beside her from Vaucouleurs, +following after her as he ever did, the Maiden and I began to go down the +steep way that led to the town. Little she spoke, and all my thought was +to enter the house before Elliot could spy me in my strange disguise. + + + + +CHAPTER VII--CONCERNING THE WRATH OF ELLIOT, AND THE JEOPARDY OF NORMAN +LESLIE + + +The while we went down into the city of Chinon, a man attired as a maid, +a maiden clad as a man--strange companions!--we held but little converse. +Her mind, belike, was on fire with a great light of hope, of which +afterwards I learned, and the end of the days of trouble and of men's +disbelief seemed to her to be drawing near. We may not know what visions +of victory and of auxiliary angels, of her King crowned, and fair France +redeemed and at peace, were passing through her fancy. Therefore she was +not fain to talk, being at all times a woman of few words; and in this, +as in so many other matters, unlike most of her sex. + +On my side I had more than enough to think of, for my case and present +jeopardy were enough to amaze older and wiser heads than mine. For, +imprimis, I had slain one of the King's guards; and, moreover, had struck +the first blow, though my adversary, indeed, had given me uttermost +provocation. But even if my enemies allowed me to speak in my own +defence, which might scarcely be save by miracle, it was scantly possible +for me to prove that the other had insulted me and my country. Some +little hope I had that Sir Patrick Ogilvie, now constable of the Scottish +men-at-arms in France, or Sir Hugh Kennedy, or some other of our knights, +might take up my quarrel, for the sake of our common blood and country, +we Scots always backing each the other when abroad. Yet, on the other +hand, it was more probable that I might be swinging, with a flock of +crows pecking at my face, before any of my countrymen could speak a word +for me with the King. + +It is true that they who would most eagerly have sought my life deemed me +already dead, drowned in the fosse, and so would make no search for me. +Yet, as soon as I went about my master's affairs, as needs I must, I +would be known and taken; and, as we say in our country proverb, "my +craig would ken the weight of my hurdies." {12} None the less, seeing +that the soldiers deemed me dead, I might readily escape at once from +Chinon, and take to the roads again, if but I could reach my master's +house unseen, and get rid of this foolish feminine gear of cap and +petticoat which now I wore to my great shame and discomfort. + +But on this hand lay little hope; for, once on the road, I should be in a +worse jeopardy than ever before, as an apprentice fled from my master, +and, moreover, with blood on my hands. Moreover, I could ill brook the +thought of leaving Elliot, to whom my heart went forth in love, and of +missing my chance to strike a blow in the wars for the Maiden, and +against the English; of which reward I had the promise from my master. +Fortune, and fame, and love, if I were to gain what every young man most +desires, were only to be won by remaining at Chinon; but there, too, the +face of death was close to mine--as, indeed, death, or at least shame and +poverty, lay ambushed for me on all sides. + +Here I sadly remembered how, with a light heart, I had left St. Andrews, +deeming that the story of my life was now about to begin, as it did for +many young esquires of Greece and other lands, concerning whom I had read +in romances. Verily in the tale of my adventures hitherto there had been +more cuffs than crowns, more shame than honour; and, as to winning my +spurs, I was more in point to win a hempen rope, and in my end disgrace +my blood. + +Now, as if these perils were not enough to put a man beside himself, +there was another risk which, even more than these, took up my thoughts. +Among all my dangers and manifold distresses, this raised its head +highest in my fancy, namely, the fear that my love should see me in my +outlandish guise, clad in woman's weeds, and carrying on my head a +woman's burden. It was not so much that she must needs laugh and hold me +in little account. Elliot laughed often, so that now it was not her +mirth, to which she was ever ready, but her wrath (whereto she was ready +also) that I held in awful regard. For her heart and faith, in a +marvellous manner passing the love of women, were wholly set on this +maid, in whose company I now fared. And, if the Maid went in men's +attire (as needs she must, for modesty's sake, who was about men's +business, in men's company), here was I attending her in woman's gear, as +if to make a mock of her, though in my mind I deemed her no less than a +sister of the saints. And Elliot was sure to believe that I carried +myself thus in mockery and to make laughter; for, at that time, there +were many in France who mocked, as did that soldier whose death I had +seen and caused. Thus I stood in no more danger of death, great as was +that risk, than in jeopardy of my mistress's favour, which, indeed, of +late I had been in some scant hope at last to win. Thus, on all hands, I +seemed to myself as sore bestead as ever man was, and on no side saw any +hope of succour. + +I mused so long and deep on these things, that the thought which might +have helped me came to me too late, namely, to tell all my tale to the +Maiden herself, and throw me on her mercy. Nay, even when at last and +late this light shone on my mind, I had shame to speak to her, +considering the marvellous thing which I had just beheld of her, in the +fulfilment of her prophecy. But now my master's house was in sight, at +the turning from the steep stairs and the wynd, and there stood Elliot on +the doorstep, watching and waiting for the Maid, as a girl may wait for +her lover coming from the wars. + +There was no time given me to slink back and skulk in the shadow of the +corner of the wynd; for, like a greyhound in speed, Elliot had flown to +us and was kneeling to the Maid, who, with a deep blush and some anger in +her face--for she loved no such obeisances--bade her rise, and so kissed +and embraced her, as young girls use among themselves when they are +friends and fain of each other. I had turned myself to go apart into the +shadow of the corner, as secretly as I might, when I ran straight into +the arms of the archer that followed close behind us. On this encounter +he gave a great laugh, and, I believe, would have kissed me; but, the +Maiden looking round, he stood erect and grave as a soldier on guard, for +the Maiden would suffer no light loves and daffing. + +"Whither make you, damsel, in such haste?" she cried to me. "Come, let +me present you to this damsel, my friend--and one of your own country- +women. Elliot, ma mie," she said to my mistress, "here is this kind +lass, a Scot like yourself, who has guided me all the way from the castle +hither, and, faith, the way is hard to find. Do you thank her for me, +and let her sit down in your house: she must be weary with the weight of +her basket and her linen"--for these, when she spoke to me, I had laid on +the ground. With this she led me up to Elliot by the hand, who began to +show me very gracious countenance, and to thank me, my face burning all +the while with confusion and fear of her anger. + +Suddenly a new look, such as I had never seen before on her face in her +light angers, came into her eyes, which grew hard and cold, her mouth +also showing stiff; and so she stood, pale, gazing sternly, and as one +unable to speak. Then-- + +"Go out of my sight," she said, very low, "and from my father's house! +Forth with you for a mocker and a gangrel loon!"--speaking in our common +Scots,--"and herd with the base thieves from whom you came, coward and +mocking malapert!" + +The storm had fallen on my head, even as I feared it must, and I stood as +one bereft of speech and reason. + +The Maid knew no word of our speech, and this passion of Elliot's, and so +sudden a change from kindness to wrath, were what she might not +understand. + +"Elliot, ma mie," she said, very sweetly, "what mean you by this anger? +The damsel has treated me with no little favour. Tell me, I pray, in +what she has offended." + +But Elliot, not looking at her, said to me again, and this time tears +leaped up in her eyes--"Forth with you! begone, ere I call that archer to +drag you before the judges of the good town." + +I was now desperate, for, clad as I was, the archer had me at an avail, +and, if I were taken before the men of the law, all would be known, and +my shrift would be short. + +"Gracious Pucelle," I said, in French, turning to the Maiden, "my life, +and the fortune of one who would gladly fight to the death by your side, +are in your hands. For the love of the blessed saints, your sisters, and +of Him who sends you on your holy mission, pray this demoiselle to let me +enter the house with you, and tell my tale to you and her. If I satisfy +you not of my honour and good intent, I am ready, in this hour, to go +before the men of law, and deliver myself up to their justice. For +though my life is in jeopardy, I dread death less than the anger of this +honourable demoiselle. And verily this is a matter of instant life or +death." + +So saying, I clasped my hands in the manner of one in prayer, setting all +my soul into my speech, as a man desperate. + +The Maiden had listened very gravely, and sweetly she smiled when my +prayer was ended. + +"Verily," she said to me, "here is deeper water than I can fathom. +Elliot, ma mie, you hear how gently, and in what distress, this fair lass +beseeches us." + +"Fair lass!" cried Elliot: and then broke off between a sob and a laugh, +her hand catching at her side. + +"If you love me," said the Maid, looking on her astonished, and not +without anger--"if you love me, as you have said, you that are the first +of my comforters, and, till this day, my only friend in your strange +town, let the lass come in and tell us her tale. For, even if she be +distraught, and beside herself, as I well deem, I am sent to be a friend +of all them that suffer. Moreover, ma mie, I have glad tidings for you, +which I am longing to speak, but speak it I will never, while the lass +goes thus in terror and fear of death or shame." + +In saying these last words, the fashion of her countenance was changed to +a sweet entreaty and command, such as few could have beheld and denied +her what she craved, and she laid her hand lightly on Elliot's shoulder. + +"Come," said Elliot, "be it as you will; come in with me; and +you"--turning to myself--"do you follow us." + +They passed into the house, I coming after, and the archer waiting at the +door. + +"Let none enter," said the Maiden to her archer, "unless any come to me +from the King, or unless it be the master of the house." + +We passed into the chamber where my master was wont to paint his missals +and psalters when he would be alone. Then Elliot very graciously bade +the Maiden be seated, but herself stood up, facing me. + +"Gracious Maiden, and messenger of the holy saints," she said, "this +lass, as you deem her, is no woman, but a man, my father's apprentice, +who has clad himself thus to make of you a mockery and a laughing-stock, +because that you, being a maid, go attired as a man, by the will of Them +who sent you to save France. Have I said enough, and do I well to be +angry?" and her eyes shone as she spoke. + +The Maiden's brows met in wrath; she gazed upon me steadfastly, and I +looked--sinful man that I am!--to see her hand go to the hilt of the +sword that she wore. But, making no motion, she only said-- + +"And thou, wherefore hast thou mocked at one who did thee no evil, and at +this damsel, thy master's daughter?" + +"Gentle Maiden," I said, "listen to me for but a little moment. It may +be, when thou hast heard all, that thou wilt still be wroth with me, +though not for mockery, which was never in my mind. But the gentle +damsel, thy friend, will assuredly pardon me, who have already put my +life in peril for thy sake, and for the sake of our dear country of +Scotland and her good name." + +"Thy life in peril for me! How mean you? I stood in no danger, and I +never saw your face before." + +"Yet hast thou saved my life," I said; "but of that we may devise +hereafter. I am, indeed, though a gentleman by blood and birth, the +apprentice of the father of this damsel, thy friend, who is himself a +gentleman and of a good house, but poverty drives men to strange shifts. +This day I went with my master to the castle, and I was on the drawbridge +when thou, with the gentlemen thy esquires, passed over it to see the +King. On that bridge a man-at-arms spoke to thee shameful words, +blaspheming the holy name of God. No sooner hadst thou gone by than he +turned on me, reviling my native country of Scotland. Then I, not +deeming that to endure such taunts became my birth and breeding, struck +him on his lying mouth. Then, as we wrestled on the bridge, we both +struck against the barrier, which was low, frail, and old, so that it +gave way under our weight, and we both fell into the moat. When I rose +he was not in sight, otherwise I would have saved him by swimming, for I +desire to have the life of no man on my hands in private quarrel. But +the archers shot at me from the drawbridge, so that I had to take thought +for myself. By swimming under the water I escaped, behind a jutting +rock, to a secret stair, whence I pushed my way into a chamber of the +castle. Therein was a damsel, busy with the linen, who, of her goodwill, +clad me in this wretched apparel above my own garb, and so, for that +time, saved my life, and I passed forth unknown; but yet hath caused me +to lose what I prize more highly than life--that is, the gracious +countenance of this gentle lady, thy friend and my master's daughter, +whom it is my honour and duty in all things to please and serve. Tell +me, then, do I merit your wrath as a jester and a mock-maker, or does +this gentle lady well to be angry with her servitor?" + +The Maiden crossed herself, and murmured a prayer for the soul of him who +had died in the moat. But Elliot instantly flew to me, and, dragging off +my woman's cap, tore with her fair hands at the white linen smock about +my neck and waist, so that it was rent asunder and fell on the floor, +leaving me clad in my wet doublet and hose. + +At this sight, without word spoken, she broke out into the merriest +laughter that ever I heard, and the most welcome; and the Maid too, +catching the malady of her mirth, laughed low and graciously, so that to +see and hear her was marvel. + +"Begone!" cried Elliot--"begone, and shift thy dripping gear"; and, as I +fled swiftly to my chamber, I heard her laughter yet, though there came a +sob into it; but for the Maid, she had already stinted in her mirth ere I +left the room. + +In this strange and unseemly fashion did I first come into the knowledge +of this admirable Maid--whom, alas! I was to see more often sad than +merry, and weeping rather than laughing, though, even in her utmost need, +her heart could be light and her mirth free: a manner that is uncommon +even among brave men, but, in women, never known by me save in her. For +it is the way of women to be very busy and seriously concerned about the +smallest things, whereat a man only smiles. But she, with her life at +stake, could pluck gaiety forth of danger, if the peril threatened none +but herself. These manners of hers I learned to know and marvel at in +the later days that came too soon; but now in my chamber, I shifted my +wet raiment for dry with a heart wondrous light. My craig {13} was in +peril, as we say, neither less nor more than half an hour agone, but I +had escaped the anger of Elliot; and even, as I deemed, had won more of +her good countenance, seeing that I had struck a blow for Scotland and +for her friend. This thought made me great cheer in my heart; as I +heard, from the room below, the voices of the two girls devising together +very seriously for nigh the space of an hour. But, knowing that they +might have matters secret between themselves to tell of, for the Maiden +had said that she brought good tidings, I kept coy and to myself in my +little upper chamber. To leave the house, indeed, was more than my life +was worth. Now to fly and hide was what I could not bring myself to +venture; here I would stay where my heart was, and take what fortune the +saints might send. So I endured to wait, and not gladden myself with the +sight of Elliot, and the knowledge of how I now stood with her. To me +this was great penance, but at last the voices ceased, and, looking +secretly from the window, I saw the Maiden depart, her archer following +her. + +Now I could no longer bridle in my desire to be with Elliot, and learn +whether I was indeed forgiven, and how I stood in her favour. So, +passing down the stair that led from my cubicle, I stood at the door of +the room wherein she was and knocked twice. But none answered, and, +venturing to enter, I heard the sound of a stifled sob. She had thrown +herself on a settle, her face turned to the wall, and the afternoon sun +was shining on her yellow hair, which lay loose upon her shoulders. + +I dared to say no word, and she only made a motion of her hand towards +me, that I should begone, without showing me the light of her +countenance. On this I went forth stealthily, my heart again very heavy, +for the Maiden had spoken of learning good tidings; and wherefore should +my mistress weep, who, an hour agone, had been so merry? Difficult are +the ways of women, a language hard to be understood, wherefore "love," as +the Roman says, "is full of anxious fears." + +Much misdoubting how I fared in Elliot's heart, and devising within +myself what this new sorrow of Elliot's might signify, I half forgot my +own danger, yet not so much as to fare forth of the doors, or even into +the booth, where customers might come, and I be known. Therefore I +passed into a room behind the booth, where my master was wont to instruct +me in my painting; and there, since better might not be, I set about +grinding and mixing such colours as I knew that he required. + +I had not been long about this task, when I heard him enter the booth +from without, whence he walked straight into my workroom. I looked up +from my colours, whereat his face, which was ruddy, grew wan, he +staggered back, and, being lame, reeled against the wall. There he +brought up, crossing himself, and making the sign of the cross at me. + +"Avaunt!" he said, "in the name of this holy sign, whether thou art a +wandering spirit, or a devil in a dead man's semblance." + +"Master," I said, "I am neither spirit nor devil. Was it ever yet heard +that brownie or bogle mixed colours for a painter? Nay, touch me, and +see whether I am not of sinful Scots flesh and blood"; and thereon I +laughed aloud, knowing what caused his fear, and merry at the sight of +it, for he had ever held tales of "diablerie," and of wraiths and freits +and fetches, in high scorn. + +He sat him down on a chair and gaped upon me, while I could not contain +myself from laughing. + +"For God's sake," said he, "bring me a cup of red wine, for my wits are +wandering. Deil's buckie," he said in the Scots, "will water not drown +you? Faith, then, it is to hemp that you were born, as shall shortly be +seen." + +I drew him some wine from a cask that stood in the corner, on draught. He +drank it at one venture, and held out the cup for more, the colour coming +back into his face. + +"Did the archers tell me false, then, when they said that you had fired +up at a chance word, and flung yourself and the sentinel into the moat? +And where have you been wasting your time, and why went you from the +bridge ere I came back, if the archers took another prentice lad for +Norman Leslie?" + +"They told you truth," I said. + +"Then, in the name of Antichrist--that I should say so!--how scaped you +drowning, and how came you here?" + +I told him the story, as briefly as might be. + +"Ill luck go with yon second-sighted wench that has bewitched Elliot, and +you too, for all that I can see. Never did I think to be frayed with a +bogle, {14} and, as might have been deemed, the bogle but a prentice +loon, when all was done. To my thinking all this fairy work is no more +true than that you are a dead man's wraith. But they are all wild about +it, at the castle, where I was kept long, doing no trade, and listening +to their mad clatter." + +He took out of his pouch a parcel heedfully wrapped in soft folds of +silk. + +"Here is this Book of Hours," he said, "that I have spent my eyesight, +and gold, purple, and carmine, and cobalt upon, these three years past; a +jewel it is, though I say so. And I had good hope to sell it to Hugh +Kennedy, for he has of late had luck in taking two English knights +prisoners at Orleans--the only profitable trade that men now can +drive,--and the good knight dearly loves a painted book of devotion; +especially if, like this of mine, it be adorned with the loves of +Jupiter, and the Swan, and Danae, and other heathen pliskies. We were +chaffering over the price, and getting near a bargain, when in comes +Patrick Ogilvie with a tale of this second-sighted Maid, and how she had +been called to see the King, and of what befell. First, it seems, she +boded the death of that luckless limb of a sentinel, and then you took it +upon you to fulfil her saying, and so you and he were drowned, and I left +prenticeless. Little comfort to me it was to hear Kennedy and Ogilvie +praise you for a good Scot and true, and say that it was great pity of +your death." + +At this hearing my heart leaped for joy, first, at my own praise from +such good knights, and next, because I saw a blink of hope, having +friends at Court. My master went on-- + +"Next, Ogilvie told how he had been in hall, with the Dauphin, the +Chancellor Tremouille, and some scores of knights and nobles, a great +throng. They were all waiting on this Lorrainer wench, for the Dauphin +had been told, at last, that she brought a letter from Baudricourt, but +before he would not see her. This letter had been kept from him, I guess +by whom, and there was other clash of marvels wrought by her, I know not +what. So their wisdom was set on putting her to a kind of trial, foolish +enough! A young knight was dressed in jewels and a coronet of the +King's, and the King was clad right soberly, and held himself far back in +the throng, while the other stood in front, looking big. So the wench +comes in, and, walking straight through the press of knights, with her +head high, kneels to the King, where he stood retired, and calls him +'gentle Dauphin'! + +"'Nay, ma mie,' says he, ''tis not I who am the Dauphin, but his Highness +yonder,'--pointing to the young knight, who showed all his plumage like a +muircock in spring. + +"Nay, gentle Dauphin," she answers, so Ogilvie said, "it is to thee that +I am sent, and no other, and I am come to save the good town of Orleans, +and to lead thee to thy sacring at Rheims." + +"Here they were all struck amazed, and the King not least, who then had +some words apart with the girl. And he has given her rooms in the Tour +Coudraye within the castle; and the clergy and the doctors are to examine +her straitly, whether she be from a good airt, {15} or an ill, and all +because she knew the King, she who had never seen him before. Why should +she never have seen him--who warrants me of it?--she dwelling these last +days nigh the castle! Freits are folly, to my thinking, and fools they +that follow them. Lad, you gave me a gliff; pass me another stoup of +wine! Freits, forsooth!" + +I served him, and he sat and chuckled in his chair, being pleasured by +the thought of his own wisdom. "Not a word of this to Elliot, though," +he said suddenly; "when there is a woman in a house--blessings on her!--it +is anything for a quiet life! But, 'nom Dieu!' what with the fright you +gave me, sitting there, whereas I deemed you were meat for eels and carp, +and what with thy tale--ha, ha!--and my tale, and the wine, maybe, I +forgot your own peril, my lad. Faith, your neck is like to be longer, if +we be not better advised." + +Hearing him talk of that marvellous thing, wrought through inspiration by +the Maid--whereat, as his manner was, he mocked, I had clean forgotten my +own jeopardy. Now this was instant, for who knew how much the archer +might have guessed, that followed with the Maid and me, and men-at-arms +might anon be at our door. + +"It may be," said I, "that Sir Patrick Ogilvie and Sir Hugh Kennedy would +say a word for me in the King's ear." + +"Faith, that is our one chance, and, luckily for you, the lad you +drowned, though in the King's service, came hither in the following of a +poor knight, who might take blood-ransom for his man. Had he been La +Tremouille's man, you must assuredly have fled the country." + +He took up his Book of Hours, with a sigh, and wrapped it again in its +silken parcel. + +"This must be your price with Kennedy," he said, "if better may not be. +It is like parting with the apple of my eye, but, I know not well how, I +love you, my lad, and blood is thicker than water. Give me my staff; I +must hirple up that weary hill again, and you, come hither." + +He led me to his own chamber, where I had never been before, and showed +me how, in the chimney-neuk, was a way into a certain black hole of +little ease, wherein, if any came in search for me, I might lie hidden. +And, fetching me a cold fish (Lenten cheer), a loaf, and a stoup of wine, +whereof I was glad enough, he left me, groaning the while at his +ill-fortune, but laden with such thanks as I might give for all his great +kindness. + +There then, I sat, when I had eaten, my ears pricked to listen for the +tramp of armed men below and the thunder of their summons at the door. +But they came not, and presently my thought stole back to Elliot, who, +indeed, was never out of my mind then--nay, nor now is. But whether that +memory be sinful in a man of religion or not, I leave to the saints and +to good confession. Much I perplexed myself with marvelling why she did +so weep; above all, since I knew what hopeful tidings she had gotten of +her friend and her enterprise. But no light came to me in my +meditations. I did not know then that whereas young men, and many lasses +too, are like the Roman lad who went with his bosom bare, crying "Aura +veni," and sighing for the breeze of Love to come, other maidens are +wroth with Love when he creeps into their hearts, and would fain cast him +out--being in a manner mad with anger against Love, and against him whom +they desire, and against themselves. This mood, as was later seen, was +Elliot's, for her heart was like a wild bird trapped, that turns with +bill and claw on him who comes to set it free. Moreover, I have since +deemed that her passion of faith in the Maid made war on her love for me; +one breast being scantly great enough to contain these two affections, +and her pride taking, against the natural love, the part of the love +which was divine. + +But all these were later thoughts, that came to me in musing on the +sorrows of my days; and, like most wisdom, this knowledge arrived too +late, and I, as then, was holden in perplexity. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII--OF CERTAIN QUARRELS THAT CAME ON THE HANDS OF NORMAN LESLIE + + +Belike I had dropped asleep, outwearied with what had befallen me, mind +and body, but I started up suddenly at the sound of a dagger-hilt smitten +against the main door of the house, and a voice crying, "Open, in the +name of the Dauphin." They had come in quest of me, and when I heard +them, it was as if a hand had given my heart a squeeze, and for a moment +my breath seemed to be stopped. This past, I heard the old serving-woman +fumbling with the bolts, and peering from behind the curtain of my +casement, I saw that the ways were dark, and the narrow street was lit up +with flaring torches, the lights wavering in the wind. I stepped to the +wide ingle, thinking to creep into the secret hiding-hole. But to what +avail? It might have served my turn if my escape alive from the moat had +only been guessed, but now my master must have told all the story, and +the men-at-arms must be assured that I was within. Thinking thus, I +stood at pause, when a whisper came, as if from within the ingle-- + +"Unbar the door, and hide not." + +It must be Elliot's voice, speaking through some tube contrived in the +ingle of the dwelling-room below or otherwise. Glad at heart to think +that she took thought of me, I unbarred the door, and threw myself into a +chair before the fire, trying to look like one unconcerned. The bolts +were now drawn below; I heard voices, rather Scots than French, to my +sense. Then the step of one man climbed up the stair, heavily, and with +the tap of a staff keeping tune to it. It was my master. His face was +pale, and falling into a chair, he wiped the sweat from his brow. +"Unhappy man that I am!" he said, "I have lost my apprentice." + +I gulped something down in my throat ere I could say, "Then it is death?" + +"Nay," he said, and smiled. "But gliff for gliff, {16} you put a fear on +me this day, and now we are even." + +"Yet I scarce need a cup of wine for my recovery, master," I said, +filling him a beaker from the flagon on the table, which he drained +gladly, being sore wearied, so steep was the way to the castle, and hard +for a lame man. My heart was as light as a leaf on a tree, and the +bitterness of shameful death seemed gone by. + +"I have lost my prentice another way," he said, setting down the cup on +the table. "I had much a do to see Kennedy, for he was at the dice with +other lords. At length, deeming there was no time to waste, I sent in +the bonny Book of Hours, praying him to hear me for a moment on a weighty +matter. That brought him to my side; he leaped at the book like a trout +at a fly, and took me to his own chamber. There I told him your story. +When it came to the wench in the King's laundry, and Robin Lindsay, and +you clad in girl's gear, and kissed in the guard-room, he struck hand on +thigh and laughed aloud. + +"Then I deemed your cause as good as three parts won, and he could not +hold in, but led me to a chamber where were many lords, dicing and +drinking: Tremouille, Ogilvie, the Bishop of Orleans--that holy man, who +has come to ask for aid from the King,--La Hire, Xaintrailles, and I know +not whom. There I must tell all the chronicle again; and some said this, +and some that, and Tremouille mocks, that the Maid uttered her prophecy +to no other end but to make you fulfil it, and slay her enemy for the +sake of her 'beaux yeux.' The others would hear nothing of this, and, +indeed, though I am no gull, I wot that Tremouille is wrong here, and +over cunning; he trusts neither man nor woman. Howsoever it be, he went +with the story to the King, who is keen to hear any new thing. And, to +be short, the end of it is this: that you have your free pardon, on these +terms, namely, that you have two score of masses said for the dead man, +and yourself take service under Sir Hugh Kennedy, that the King may not +lose a man-at-arms." + +Never, sure, came gladder tidings to any man than these to me. An hour +ago the rope seemed tight about my neck; one day past, and I was but a +prentice to the mean craft of painting and limning, arts good for a monk, +or a manant, but, save for pleasure, not to be melled or meddled with by +a man of gentle blood. And now I was to wear arms, and that in the best +of causes, under the best of captains, one of my own country--a lord in +Ayrshire. + +"Ay, even so," my master said, marking the joy in my face, "you are right +glad to leave us--a lass and a lameter. {17} Well, well, such is youth, +and eld is soon forgotten." + +I fell on my knees at his feet, and kissed his hands, and I believe that +I wept. + +"Sir," I said, "you have been to me as a father, and more than it has +been my fortune to find my own father. Never would I leave you with my +will, and for the gentle demoiselle, your daughter--" But here I +stinted, since in sooth I knew not well what words to say. + +"Ay, we shall both miss you betimes; but courage, man! After all, this +new life beseems you best, and, mark me, a lass thinks none the worse of +a lad because he wears not the prentice's hodden grey, but a Scots +archer's green, white, and red, and Charles for badge on breast and +sleeve, and a sword by his side. And as for the bonny Book of +Hours--'Master,' I said with shame, 'was that my ransom?' + +"Kennedy would have come near my price, and strove to make me take the +gold. But what is bred in the bone will out; I am a gentleman born, not +a huckster, and the book I gave him freely. May it profit the good +knight in his devotions! But now, come, they are weary waiting for us; +the hour waxes late, and Elliot, I trow, is long abed. You must begone +to the castle." + +In the stairs, and about the door, some ten of Sir Hugh's men were +waiting, all countrymen of my own, and the noise they made and their +speech were pleasant to me. They gave me welcome with shouts and +laughter, and clasped my hands: "for him that called us wine-sacks, you +have given him water to his wine, and the frog for his butler," they +said, making a jest of life and death. But my own heart for the nonce +was heavy enough again, I longing to take farewell of Elliot, which might +not be, nor might she face that wild company. Howbeit, thinking it good +to have a friend at court, I made occasion to put in the hand of the old +serving-woman all of such small coins as I had won in my life servile, +deeming myself well quit of such ill-gotten gear. And thereafter, with +great mirth and noise, they set forth to climb the hill towards the +castle, where I was led, through many a windy passage, to the chamber of +Sir Hugh Kennedy. There were torches lit, and the knight, a +broad-shouldered, fair-haired man, with a stern, flushed face, was +turning over and gazing at his new Book of Hours, like a child busy with +a fresh toy. He laid the book down when we entered, and the senior of +the two archers who accompanied me told him that I was he who had been +summoned. + +"Your name?" he asked; and I gave it. + +"You are of gentle blood?" And I answering "Yes," he replied, "Then see +that you are ready to shed it for the King. Your life that was justly +forfeit, is now, by his Royal mercy, returned to you, to be spent in his +service. Rutherford and Douglas, go take him to quarters, and see that +to-morrow he is clad as beseems a man of my command. Now good night to +you--but stay! You, Norman Leslie, you will have quarrels on your hand. +Wait not for them, but go to meet them, if they are with the French men- +at-arms, and in quarrel see that you be swift and deadly. For the +townsfolk, no brawling, marauding, or haling about of honest wenches. +Here we are strangers, and my men must be respected." + +He bowed his head: his words had been curt, no grace or kindness had he +shown me of countenance. I felt in my heart that to him I was but a pawn +in the game of battle. Now I seemed as far off as ever I was from my +foolish dream of winning my spurs; nay, perchance never had I sunk lower +in my own conceit. Till this hour I had been, as it were, the hinge on +which my share of the world turned, and now I was no more than a wheel in +the carriage of a couleuvrine, an unconsidered cog in the machine of war. +I was to be lost in a multitude, every one as good as myself, or better; +and when I had thought of taking service, I had not foreseen the manner +of it and the nature of the soldier's trade. My head, that I had carried +high, somewhat drooped, as I saluted, imitating my companions, and we +wheeled forth of the room. + +"Hugh has taken the pride out of you, lad, or my name is not Randal +Rutherford," said the Border man who had guided me. "Faith, he has a +keen tongue and a short way with him, but there are worse commanders. And +now you must to your quarters, for the hour is late and the guard-room +shut." + +He led me to our common sleeping-place, where, among many snoring men-at- +arms in a great bare hall, a pallet was laid for me, and my flesh crept +as I remembered how this was the couch of him whom I had slain. Howbeit, +being well weary, despite the strangeness of the place, after brief +orisons I slept sound till a trumpet called us in the morning. + +Concerning the strangeness of this waking, to me who had been gently +nurtured, and the rough life, and profane words which I must hear (not, +indeed, that they had been wholly banished from our wild days at St. +Andrews), it is needless that I should tell. Seeing that I was come +among rude neighbours, I even made shift to fall back, in semblance, on +such manners as I had used among the students before I left Scotland, +though many perils, and the fear wherein I stood of Brother Thomas, and +the company of the maid Elliot, had caused me half to forget my +swaggering ways. So, may God forgive me! I swore roundly; I made as if I +deemed lightly of that Frenchman's death, and, in brief, I so bore me +that, ere noon (when I behoved to go into Chinon with Randal Rutherford, +and there provide me with the rich apparel of our company), I had three +good quarrels on my hand. + +First, there was the man-at-arms who had kissed me in the guard-room. He, +in a "bourde" and mockery, making pretence that he would repeat his +insult, got that which was owing him, and with interest, for indeed he +could see out of neither of his squint eyes when I had dealt with him. +And for this cause perforce, if he needed more proof of my manhood than +the weight of my fist, he must tarry for the demonstration which he +desired. + +Then there was Robin Lindsay, and at his wrath I make no marvel, for the +tale of how he came late to tryst, and at second-hand (with many such +rude and wanton additions as soldiers use to make), was noised abroad all +over the castle. His quarrel was no matter for fisticuffs; so, being +attired in helmet, vambrace rere-brace, gauntlets, and greaves out of the +armoury, where many such suits were stored, I met him in a certain quiet +court behind the castle, where quarrels were usually voided. And now my +practice of the sword at home and the lessons of our smith came handily +to my need. After much clashing of steel and smiting out of sparks, I +chanced, by an art known to me, to strike his sword out of his hand. +Then, having him at an avail, I threw down my own blade, and so plainly +told him the plain truth, and how to his mistress I owed my life, which I +would rather lose now at his hand than hear her honour blamed, that he +forgave me, and we embraced as friends. Neither was this jest anew cast +up against either of us, men fearing to laugh, as we say, with the wrong +side of their mouths. + +After this friendly bout at point and edge, Robin and Randal Rutherford, +being off duty, must needs carry me to the Tennis Court, where Tremouille +and the King were playing two young lords, and that for such a stake as +would have helped to arm a hundred men for the aid of Orleans. It was +pretty to see the ball fly about basted from the walls, and the players +bounding and striking; and, little as I understood the game, so eager was +I over the sport, that a gentleman within the "dedans" touched me twice +on the shoulder before I was aware of him. + +"I would have a word with you, sir, if your grace can spare me the +leisure." + +"May it not be spoken here?" I asked, for I was sorry to lose the +spectacle of the tennis, which was new to me, and is a pastime wherein +France beats the world. Pity it is that many players should so curse and +blaspheme God and His saints! + +"My business," replied the stranger, "is of a kind that will hardly +endure waiting." + +With that I rose and followed him out into the open courtyard, much +marvelling what might be toward. + +"You are that young gentleman," said my man, "for a gentleman I take you +to be, from your aspect and common report, who yesterday were the death +of Gilles de Puiseux?" + +"Sir, to my sorrow, and not by my will, I am he, and but now I was going +forth to have certain masses said for his soul's welfare": which was +true, Randal Rutherford having filled my purse against pay-day. + +"I thank you, sir, for your courtesy, and perchance may have occasion to +do the like gentle service for you. Gilles de Puiseux was of my blood +and kin; he has none other to take up his feud for him in this place, and +now your quickness of comprehension will tell you that the business +wherewith I permit myself to break your leisure will brook no tarrying. +Let me say that I take it not upon me to defend the words of my cousin, +who insulted a woman, and, as I believe, a messenger from the blessed +Saints that love France." + +I looked at him in some amazement. He was a young man of about my own +years, delicately and richly clad in furs, silks, and velvets, a great +gold chain hanging in loops about his neck, a gold brooch with an ancient +Roman medal in his cap. But the most notable thing in him was his thick +golden hair, whence La Hire had named him "Capdorat," because he was so +blond, and right keen in war, and hardy beyond others. And here he was +challenging me, who stood before him in a prentice's hodden grey! + +"Sir," I said, "I could wish you a better quarrel, but not more courtesy. +Many a gentleman seeing me such as I am, would bid me send, ere he +crossed swords with me, to my own country for my bor-brief, {18} which I +came away in too great haste to carry with me. Nay, I was but now to set +forth and buy me a sword and other accoutrements; natheless, from the +armoury here they may equip me with sword and body armour." + +"Of body-armour take no thought," he answered, "for this quarrel is of a +kind that must needs be voided in our smocks"; he meaning that it was "a +outrance," till one of us fell. + +Verily, now I saw that this was not to be a matter of striking sparks +from steel, as Robin and I had done, but of life and death. + +"I shall be the more speedily at your service," I made answer; and as I +spoke Randal and Robin came forth from the "dedans," the sport being +over. They joined me, and I told them in few words my new business, my +adversary tarrying, cap in hand, till I had spoken, and then proclaiming +himself Aymar de Puiseux, a gentleman of Dauphine, as indeed my friends +knew. + +"I shall wait on you, with your leave, at the isle in the river, where it +is of custom, opposite the booths of the gold-workers," quoth he, "about +the hour of noon"; and so, saluting us, he went, as he said, to provide +himself with friends. + +"Blood of Judas!" quoth Robin, who swore terribly in his speech, "you +have your hands full, young Norman. He is but now crept out of the rank +of pages, but when the French and English pages fought a valliance of +late, under Orleans, none won more praise than he, who was captain of the +French party." + +"He played a good sword?" I asked. + +"He threw a good stone! Man, it was a stone bicker, and they had lids of +baskets for targes." + +"And he challenges me to the field," I said hotly, "By St. Andrew! I +will cuff his ears and send him back to the other boys." + +"Norman, my lad, when were you in a stone bicker last?" quoth Randal; and +I hung my head, for it was not yet six months gone since the sailors and +we students were stoning each other in North Street. + +"Yet he does play a very good sword, and is cunning of fence, for your +comfort," said Randal. So I hummed the old lilt of the Leslies, whence, +they say, comes our name-- + + Between the less lea and the mair, + He slew the knight and left him there;-- + +for I deemed it well to show a good face. Moreover, I had some conceit +of myself as a swordsman, and Randal was laughing like a foolbody at my +countenance. + +"Faith, you will make a spoon or spoil a horn, and--let me have my laugh +out--you bid well for an archer," said Randal; and Robin counselling me +to play the same prank on the French lad's sword as late I had done on +his own, they took each of them an arm of mine, and so we swaggered down +the steep ways into Chinon. + +First I would go to the tailor and the cordwainer, and be fitted for my +new splendours as an archer of the guard. + +They both laughed at me again, for, said they very cheerfully, "You may +never live to wear these fine feathers." + +But Randal making the reflection that, if I fell, there would be none to +pay the shopmaster, they both shouted with delight in the street, so that +passers-by turned and marvelled at them. Clearly I saw that to go to +fight a duel is one thing, and to go and look on is another, and much +more gay, for my heart had no desire of all this merriment. Rather would +I have recommended my case to the saints, and chiefly to St. Andrew, for +whose cause and honour I was about to put my life in jeopardy. But +shame, and the fear of seeming fearful, drove me to jest with the +others--such risks of dying unconfessed are run by sinful men! + +Howbeit, they helped me to choose cloth of the best colour and fashion, +laughing the more because I, being short of stature and slim, the tailor, +if I fell, might well find none among the archers to purchase that for +which, belike, I should have no need. + +"We must even enlist the Pucelle in our guard, for she might wear this +apparel," quoth Randal. + +Thus boisterously they bore themselves, but more gravely at the +swordsmith's, where we picked out a good cut-and-thrust blade, well +balanced, that came readily to my hand. Then, I with sword at side, like +a gentleman, we made to the river, passing my master's booth, where I +looked wistfully at the windows for a blink of Elliot, but saw none that +I knew, only, from an open casement, the little jackanapes mopped and +mowed at me in friendly fashion. Hard by the booth was a little pier, +and we took boat, and so landed on the island, where were waiting for us +my adversary and two other gentlemen. Having saluted each other, we +passed to a smooth grassy spot, surrounded on all sides by tall poplar +trees. Here in places daffodils were dancing in the wind; but otherwhere +the sward was much trampled down, and in two or three spots were black +patches that wellnigh turned my courage, for I was not yet used to the +sight of men's blood, here often shed for little cause. + +The friends of us twain adversaries, for enemies we could scarce be +called, chose out a smooth spot with a fair light, the sun being veiled, +and when we had stripped to our smocks, we drew and fell to work. He was +very quick and light in his movements, bounding nimbly to this side or +that, but I, using a hanging guard, in our common Scots manner, did +somewhat perplex him, to whom the fashion was new. One or two scratches +we dealt each other, but, for all that, I could see we were well matched, +and neither closed, as men rarely do in such a combat, till they are +wroth with hurts and their blood warm. Now I gashed his thigh, but not +deeply, and with that, as I deemed, his temper fired, for he made a full +sweep at my leg above the knee. This I have always reckoned a fool's +stroke, as leaving the upper part of the body unguarded, and avoiding +with my right leg, I drove down with all my force at his head. But, even +as I struck, came a flash and the sudden deadness of a deep wound, for he +had but feinted, and then, avoiding me so that I touched him not, he +drove his point into my breast. Between the force of my own blow and +this stab I fell forward on my face, and thence rolled over on my back, +catching at my breast with my hands, as though to stop the blood, but, in +sooth, not well knowing what I did. + +He had thrown down his sword, and now was kneeling by my side. + +"I take you to witness," he said, "that this has befallen to my great +sorrow, and had I been where this gentleman was yesterday, and heard my +cousin blaspheme, I would myself have drawn on him, but--" And here, as +I later heard, he fainted from loss of blood, my sword having cut a great +vein; and I likewise lost sense and knowledge. Nor did I know more till +they lifted me and laid me on a litter of poplar boughs, having stanched +my wound as best they might. In the boat, as they ferried us across the +river, I believe that I fainted again; and so, "between home and hell," +as the saying is, I lay on my litter and was carried along the street +beside the water. Folk gathered around us as we went. I heard their +voices as in a dream, when lo! there sounded a voice that I knew right +well, for Elliot was asking of the people "who was hurt?" At this +hearing I hove myself up on my elbow, beckoning with my other hand; and I +opened my mouth to speak, but, in place of words, came only a wave of +blood that sickened me, and I seemed to be dreaming, in my bed, of Elliot +and her jackanapes; and then feet were trampling, and at length I was +laid down, and so seemed to fall most blessedly asleep, with a little +hand in mine, and rarely peaceful and happy in my heart, though wherefore +I knew not. After many days of tossing on the waves of the world, it was +as if I had been brought into the haven where I would be. Of what was +passing I knew or I remember nothing. Later I heard that a good priest +had been brought to my bedside, and perchance there was made some such +confession as the Church, in her mercy, accepts from sinful men in such +case as mine. But I had no thought of life or death, purgatory or +paradise; only, if paradise be rest among those we love, such rest for an +unknown while, and such sense of blissful companionship, were mine. But +whether it was well to pass through and beyond this scarce sensible joy, +or whether that peace will ever again be mine and unending, I leave with +humility to them in whose hands are Christian souls. + + + + +CHAPTER IX--OF THE WINNING OF ELLIOT + + +The days of fever and of dreams went by and passed, leaving me very weak, +but not ignorant of where I was, and of what had come and gone. My +master had often been by my bedside, and Elliot now and again; the old +housewife also watched me by night, and gave me drink when I thirsted. +Most of the while I deemed I was at home, in the house of Pitcullo; yet I +felt there was something strange, and that there was pain somewhere in +the room. But at length, as was said, I came to knowledge of things, and +could see Elliot and remember her, when she knelt praying by my bed, as +oft she did, whiles I lay between life and death. I have heard speak of +men who, being inflamed with love, as I had been, fell into a fever of +the body, and when that passed, lo! their passion had passed with it, and +their longing. And so it seemed to be with me. For some days I was not +permitted to utter a word, and later, I was as glad in Elliot's company +as you may have seen a little lad and lass, not near come to full age, +who go playing together with flowers and such toys. So we were merry +together, the jackanapes keeping us company, and making much game and +sport. + +Perchance these were my most blessed days, as of one who had returned to +the sinless years, when we are happier than we know, and not yet +acquainted with desire. Now and again Rutherford and Lindsay would come +to visit me, seeming strangely still and gentle, speaking little, but +looking at me with kind eyes, and vowing that my tailor should yet be +paid for his labour. Capdorat also came, for he had but suffered a flesh +wound with much loss of blood, and we showed each other the best +countenance. So time went by, while I grew stronger daily; and now it +was ordained by the leech, a skilful man, that I might leave my bed, and +be clothed, and go about through the house, and eat stronger food, +whereof I had the greatest desire, and would ever be eating like a +howlet. {19} Now, when I was to rise, I looked that they should bring me +my old prentice's gabardine and hose, but on the morning of that day +Elliot came, bearing in her arms a parcel of raiment very gay and costly. + +"Here is your fine clothing new come from the tailor's booth," she cried +merrily. "See, you shall be as bright as spring, in green, and white, +and red!" + +There was the bonnet, with its three coloured plumes, and the doublet, +with Charles wrought in silver on the arm and breast, and all other +things seemly--a joy to mine eyes. + +She held them up before me, her face shining like the return of life, +with a happy welcome; and my heart beat to see and hear her as of old it +was wont to do. + +"And wherefore should not I go to the wars," she cried, "and fight beside +the Maid? I am as tall as she, if scantly so strong, and brave--oh, I am +very brave Glacidas, I bid you beware!" she said, putting the archer's +bonnet gallantly cocked on her beautiful head, and drawing forth the +sword from his scabbard, as one in act to fight, but in innocent +unwarlike wise. + +There she stood before me in the sunlight, like the Angel of Victory, all +glad and fair, and two blue rays from her eyes shot into my heart, and +lo! I was no more a child, but a man again and a lover. + +"O Elliot," I said, ere ever I wist what I was saying, and I caught her +left hand into mine--"O Elliot, I love you! Give me but your love, and I +shall come back from the wars a knight, and claim my love to be my lady." + +She snatched her hand suddenly, as if angered, out of mine, and +therewith, being very weak, I gave a cry, my wound fiercely paining me. +Then her face changed from rose-red to lily-white, she dropped on her +knees by my bed, and her arms were about my neck, and all over my face +her soft, sweet-scented hair and her tears. + +"Oh, I have slain you, I have slain you, my love!" she sobbed, making a +low, sweet moan, as a cushat in the wild wood, for I lay deadly still, +being overcome with pain and joy. And there I was, my love comforting me +as a mother comforts her child. + +I moved my hand, to take hers in mine--her little hand; and so, for a +space, there was silence between us, save for her kind moaning, and in my +heart was such gladness as comes but once to men, and may not be spoken +in words of this world. + +There was silence between us; then she rose very gently and tossed back +her hair, showing her face wet with tears, but rosy-red with happiness +and sweet shame. Had it not been for that chance hurt, how long might I +have wooed ere I won her? But her heart was molten by my anguish. + +"Hath the pain passed?" she whispered. + +"Sweet was the pain, my love, and sweetly hast thou healed it with thy +magic." + +Then she kissed me, and so fled from the room, as one abashed, and came +not back that day, when, indeed, I did not rise, nor for two days more, +being weaker than we had deemed. But happiness is the greatest leech on +earth, and does the rarest miracles of healing; so in three days' space I +won strength to leave my bed and my room, and could sit by the door, at +noon, in the sun of spring, that is warmer in France than in our own +country. + +Now it could not be but that Elliot and I must meet, when her father was +in town about his affairs, or busy in the painting-room, and much work he +had then on his hands. But Elliot was right coy, hiding herself from me, +who watched warily, till one day, when my master was abroad, I had the +fortune to find her alone in the chamber, putting spring flowers in a +very fair vessel of glass. I made no more ado, but coming in stealthily, +I caught her boldly about the body, saying-- + +"Yield you, rescue or no rescue, and strive not against me, lest you slay +a wounded man-at-arms." + +For very fear, as I believe, lest she might stir my wound again, she was +still as a bird that lies in your hands when once you have caught it. And +all that passes of kiss and kind word between happy lovers passed between +us, till I prayed of her grace, that I might tell her father how things +stood, for well I had seen by his words and deeds that he cherished me as +a son. So she granted this, and we fell to devising as to what was to be +in days to come. Lackland was I, and penniless, save for my pay, if I +got it; but we looked to the common fortune of young men-at-arms, namely, +spoil of war and the ransom of prisoners of England or Burgundy. For I +had set up my resolve either to die gloriously, or to win great wealth +and honour, which, to a young man and a lover, seem things easily come +by. Nor could my master look for a great fortune in marriage, seeing +that, despite his gentle birth, he lived but as a burgess, and by the +work of his hands. + +As we thus devised, she told me how matters now were in the country, of +which, indeed, I still knew but little, for, to a man sick and nigh upon +death, nothing imports greatly that betides beyond the walls of his +chamber. What I heard was this: namely, that, about Orleans, the English +ever pressed the good town more closely, building new bastilles and other +great works, so as to close the way from Blois against any that came +thence of our party with victual and men-at-arms. And daily there was +fighting without the walls, wherein now one side had the better, now the +other; but food was scant in Orleans, and many were slain by +cannon-shots. Yet much was spoken of a new cannonier, lately come to aid +the men of Orleans, and how he and John of Lorraine slew many of the +hardiest of the English with their couleuvrines. + +At this telling I bethought me of Brother Thomas, but spoke no word +concerning him, for my mistress began very gladly to devise of her dear +Maid, concerning whom, indeed, she could never long be silent. "Faithless +heart and fickle," I said in a jest, "I believe you love that Maid more +than you love me, and as she wears sword at side, like a man, I must even +challenge her to fight in the island." + +Here she stayed my speech in the best manner and the most gracious, +laughing low, so that, verily, I was clean besotted with love, and +marvelled that any could be so fair as she, and how I could have won such +a lady. + +"Beware how you challenge my Maid," said she at last, "for she fights but +on horseback, with lance and sperthe, {20} and the Duc d'Alencon has seen +her tilt at the ring, and has given her the best steed in his stables, +whereon she shall soon lead her army to Orleans." + +"Then I must lay by my quarrel, for who am I to challenge my captain? +But, tell me, hath she heard any word of thee and me?" + +Elliot waxed rosy, and whispered-- + +"We had spoken together about thee, ere she went to Poictiers to be +examined and questioned by the doctors of law and learning, after thou +wert wounded." Concerning this journey to Poictiers I knew nothing, but +I was more concerned to hear what the Maid had said about Elliot and me. +For seeing that the Maid herself was vowed (as men deemed) to virginity, +it passed into my mind that she might think holy matrimony but a low +estate, and might try to set my mistress's heart on following her own +example. And then, I thought, but foolishly, Elliot's love for me might +be weaker than her love for the Maid. + +"Yes," my lady went on, "I could not but open my heart about thee and me, +to one who is of my own age, and so wise, unlike other girls. Moreover, +I scarce knew well whether your heart was like disposed with my heart. +Therefore I devised with her more than once or twice." + +Hiding her face on my breast, she spoke very low; and as my fancy had +once seen the children, the dark head and the golden, bowed together in +prayer for France and the Dauphin, so now I saw them again, held close +together in converse, and that strange Maid and Prophetess listening, +like any girl, to a girl's tale of the secrets of her heart. + +"And what counsel gave the Maid?" I said; "or had she any prophecy of our +fortune?" + +"Nay, on such matters she knows no more than you or I, or knows but +seldom, nor seeks to learn from her counsel. Only she is bidden that she +must rescue Orleans, and lead the Dauphin to his sacring at Rheims. But +she wished me well, and comforted me that your heart was even as my own, +as she saw on that day when you wore woman's gear and slew him that +blasphemed her. And of you she spoke the best words, for that you, who +knew her not, took her part against her enemy. And for your wound she +sorrowed much, not knowing, more than I who am simple, whether it would +turn to life or death. And if to life, then, if she could but persuade +the doctor and clergy and the King's counsellors to let her go, she said +that you should follow with her to the wars, and she, if so the saints +pleased, would be the making of your fortune, you and I being her first +friends." + +"The saints fight for her!" I said, "for we have done our part thus far, +and I would that I may be well ere she raises her standard." + +But here Elliot turned right pale, at the thought of my going to the +wars, she holding my face off and gazing steadily upon me with wistful +eyes. + +"O God, send that the Maid go speedily!" she cried, "for as now you are +not fit to bear arms." + +"Thou wouldst not have me lag behind, when the Maid's banner is on the +wind?" + +"Nay," she said, but slowly, "thee and all that I have would I give for +her and for her cause, and for the saints. But now thou must not +go,"--and her eyes yearned upon me--"now that I could overthrow thee if +we came to war." + +So here she laughed again, being like the weather without--a changeful +thing of shower and shine. + +Thus we continued devising, and she told me that, some days after my +wounding, the Maid had held converse apart with the King, and then gave +him to wit of certain marvellous matters, that none might know save by +heavenly inspiration. But what these matters might be none could tell, +save the King and the Maiden only. + +That this was sooth I can affirm, having myself been present in later +years, when one that affected to be the very Pucelle, never slain, or re- +arisen by miracle, came before the King, and truly she had beguiled many. +Then the King said, "Welcome Pucelle, ma mie, thou art welcome if thou +hast memory of that secret thing which is between thee and me." Whereon +this false woman, as one confounded, fell on her knees and confessed her +treason. + +This that Elliot told me, therefore, while the sun shone into the chamber +through the bare vine-tendrils, was sooth, and by this miracle, it seems, +the Maid had at last won the ear of the King. So he bade carry her to +Poictiers, where the doctors and the learned were but now examining into +her holy life, and her knowledge of religion, being amazed by the wisdom +of her answers. The noble ladies about her, too, and these mendicant +friars that were sent to hold inquisition concerning her at Domremy, had +found in her nothing but simplicity and holy maidenhood, pity and piety. +But, as for a sign of her sending, and a marvel to convince all men's +hearts, that, she said, she would only work at Orleans. So now she was +being accepted, and was to raise her standard, as we had cause to +believe. + +"But," said Elliot, "the weeks go by, and much is said, and men and +victual are to be gathered, and still they tarry, doing no great deed. +Oh, would that to-day her standard were on the wind! for to-day, and for +these many days, I must have you here, and tend you till you be fit to +bear arms." + +Therewith she made me much good cheer; then, very tenderly taking her +arms from about me, lest I should be hurt again, she cried-- + +"But we speak idly, and thou hast not seen the standard, and the banner, +and the pennon of the Maid that my father is painting." + +Then I must lean on her shoulder, as, indeed, I still had cause to do, +and so, right heedfully, she brought me into the painting-chamber. There, +upon great easels, were stretched three sheets of "bougran," {21} very +white and glistering--a mighty long sheet for the standard, a smaller +one, square, for the banner, and the pennon smaller yet, in form of a +triangle, as is customary. + +The great standard, in the Maiden's wars, was to be used for the rallying +of all her host; the pennon was a signal to those who fought around her, +as guards of her body; and about the banner afterwards gathered, for +prayer and praise, those men, confessed and clean of conscience, whom she +had called and chosen. + +These cloths were now but half painted, the figures being drawn, by my +master's hands, and the ground-colours laid; but some portions were quite +finished, very bright and beautiful. On the standard was figured God the +Father, having the globe in His hand; two angels knelt by Him, one +holding for His blessing the lily of France. The field was to be sown +with fleurs-de-lys, and to bear the holy names: Jhesu--Maria. On the +banner was our Lord crucified between the Holy Virgin and St. John. And +on the pennon was wrought the Annunciation, the angel with a lily +kneeling to the Blessed Virgin. On the standard, my master, later, +fashioned the chosen blazon of the Maid--a dove argent, on a field azure. +But the blazon of the sword supporting the crown, between two lilies, +that was later given to her and her house, she did not use, as her +enemies said she did, out of pride and vainglory, mixing her arms with +holy things, even at Rheims at the sacring. For when she was at Rheims, +no armorial bearings had yet been given to her. Herein, then, as always, +they lied in their cruel throats; for, as the Psalmist says, "Quare +fremuerunt gentes?" + +All these evil tongues, and all thought of evil days, were far from us as +we stood looking at the work, and praising it, as well we might, for +never had my master wrought so well. Now, as I studied on the paintings, +I well saw that my master had drawn the angel of the pennon in the +likeness of his own daughter Elliot. Wonderful it was to see her fair +face and blue eyes, holy and humble, with the gold halo round her head. + +"Ah, love," I said, "that banner I could follow far, pursuing fame and +the face of my lady!" + +With that we fell into such dalliance and kind speech as lovers use, +wholly rapt from the world in our happiness. + +Even then, before we so much as heard his step at the door, my master +entered, and there stood we, my arm about her neck and hers about my +body, embracing me. + +He stood with eyes wide open, and gave one long whistle. + +"Faith!" he cried, "our surgery hath wrought miracles! You are whole +beyond what I looked for; but surely you are deaf, for my step is heavy +enough, yet, me thinks, you heard me not." + +Elliot spoke no word, but drawing me very heedfully to a settle that was +by the side of the room, she fled without looking behind her. + +"Sir," I said, as soon as she was gone, "I need make no long story--" + +"Faith, no!" he answered, standing back from the banner and holding his +hands at each side of his eyes, regarding his work as limners do. "You +twain, I doubt not, were smitten senseless by these great masterpieces, +and the thought of the holy use to which they were made." + +"That might well have been, sir, but what we had covenanted to tell you +this day we have told unwittingly, methinks, already. I could not be in +your daughter's company, and have the grace of her gentle ministerings--" + +"But you must stand senseless before her father's paintings? Faith, you +are a very grateful lad! But so it is, and I am not one of those blind +folk who see not what is under their eyes. And now, what now? Well, I +can tell you. You are to be healed, and follow these flags to war, and +win your spurs, and much wealth by ransoms, and so make my lass your +lady. Is it not so?" + +I was abashed by his "bourdes," and could say nought, for, being still +very weak, the tears came into my eyes. Then he drew near me, limping, +and put his hand on my shoulder, but very gently, saying-- + +"Even so be it, my son, as better may not be. 'Tis no great match, but I +looked, in this country, for nothing nobler or more wealthy. That my +lass should be happy, and have one to fend for her, there is my affair, +and I am not one of those fathers who think to make their daughters glad +by taking from them their heart's desire. So cheer up! What, a man-at- +arms weeping! Strange times, when maids lead men-at-arms and men-at-arms +weep at home!" + +With these words he comforted me, and made me welcome, for indeed he was +a kind man and a wise; so many there are that cause shrewd sorrow when +there should be joy in their houses! This was never his way, and wise do +I call him, for all that has come and gone. + +In a little time, when I had thanked him, and shown him, I trow, how he +stood in my love, he bade me go to my chamber and be at rest, saying that +he must take thought as to how matters stood. + +"For you are not yet fit to bear arms, nor will be for these many days. +Nor is it seemly, nor our country's custom, that my maid should dwell +here in the house with you, as things are between you, and I must +consider of how I may bestow her till you march with your troop, if +marching there is to be." + +This I dared not gainsay, and so I went to my chamber with a heart full +of grief and joy, for these hours that are all of gladness come rarely to +lovers, and to me were scantly measured. Perchance it was for my soul's +welfare, to win me from the ways of the world. + +But to Elliot and me that night bore no joy, but sorrow, albeit passing. +At supper we met, indeed, but she stayed with us not long after supper, +when my master, with a serious countenance, told me how he had taken +counsel with a very holy woman, of his own kin, widow of an archer, and +how she was going on pilgrimage to our Lady of Puy en Velay, by reason of +the jubilee, for this year Good Friday and the Annunciation fell on the +same day. + +"To-morrow she sets forth, and whatsoever prayer can do for France and +the King shall be done. Always, after this day of jubilee, they say that +strange and great matters come to pass. That there will be strange +matters I make no doubt, for when before, save under holy Deborah in +Scripture, did men follow a woman to war? May good come of it! However +it fall out, Elliot is willing to go on pilgrimage, for she is very +devout. Moreover, she tells me that it had been in her mind before, for +the mother of that Maid is to be at Puy, praying for her daughter, as, +certes, she hath great need, if ever woman had. And Elliot is fain to +meet her and devise with her about the Maid. And for you, you still need +our nursing, and the sooner you win strength, the nearer you are to that +which you would win. Still, I am sorry, lad, for I remember my courting +days and the lass's mother, blessings on her!" + +To all this I could make no answer but that his will was mine; and so the +day ended in a mingling of gladness and sorrow. + + + + +CHAPTER X--HOW NORMAN LESLIE WAS OUT OF ALL COMFORT + + +My brethren the good Benedictine Fathers here in Pluscarden Priory, are +wont betimes to be merry over my penitents, for all the young lads and +lasses in the glen say they are fain to be shriven by old Father Norman +and by no other. + +This that my brethren report may well be true, and yet I take no shame in +the bruit or "fama." For as in my hot youth I suffered sorrows many from +love, so now I may say, like that Carthaginian queen in Maro, "miseris +succurrere disco." The years of the youth of most women and men are like +a tourney, or jousts courteous, and many fall in the lists of love, and +many carry sorer wounds away from Love's spears, than they wot of who do +but look on from the safe seats and secure pavilions of age. Though all +may seem but a gentle and joyous passage of arms, and the weapons that +they use but arms of courtesy, yet are shrewd blows dealt and wounds +taken which bleed inwardly, perchance through a whole life long. To +medicine these wounds with kind words is, it may be, part of my poor +skill as a healer of souls in my degree, and therefore do the young +resort to Father Norman. + +Some confessors there be who laugh within their hearts at these sorrows +of lovers, as if they were mere "nugae" and featherweights: others there +are who wax impatient, holding all love for sin in some degree, and +forgetting that Monseigneur St. Peter himself was a married man, and +doubtless had his own share of trouble and amorous annoy when he was +winning the lady his wife, even as other men. But if I be of any avail +(as they deem) in the healing of hearts, I owe my skill of that surgery +to remembrance of the days of my youth, when I found none to give me +comfort, save what I won from a book that my master had in hand to copy +and adorn, namely, "The Book of One Hundred Ballades, containing Counsel +to a Knight, that he should love loyally"; this counsel offered by +Messire Lyonnet de Coismes, Messire Jehan de Mailly, the Sieur d'Yvry, +and many other good knights that were true lovers. Verily, in sermons of +preachers and lives of holy men I found no such comfort. + +Almost the sorest time of my sorrowing was for very grief of heart when +Elliot set forth on pilgrimage to Puy en Velay, for we were but newly +come together; "twain we were with one heart," as a maker sang whom once +I met in France ere I came back to Scotland; sweetly could he make, but +was a young clerk of no godly counsel, and had to name Maitre Francoys +Villon. Our heart was one, the heart of Elliot and mine own, and lo! +here, in a day, it was torn asunder and we were set apart by the wisdom +of men. + +I remember me how I lay wakeful on the night before the day when Elliot +should depart. Tossing and turning, I lay till the small fowls brake +forth with their songs, and my own thought seemed to come and go, and +come again in my head, like the "ritournelle" of the birds. At last I +might not endure, but rose and attired myself very early, and so went +down into the chamber. Thither presently came Elliot, feigning wonder to +find me arisen, and making pretence that she was about her housewiferies, +but well I wot that she might sleep no more than I. The old housewife +coming and going through the room, there we devised, comforting each +other with hopes and prayers; indeed we sorely wanted comfort, because +never till we were wed, if ever that should be, might we have such solace +of each other's presence as we desired. Then I brought from the workshop +a sheet of vellum and colours, and the painting tools, and so fashioned a +little picture of her, to wear within the breast of my doublet. A rude +thing it was and is, for what gold, however finely handled, could match +with her golden hair, whereof, at my desire, she gave me a lock; and of +all worldly gear from my secular life, these and the four links of my +mother's chain alone are still mine, and where my heart is there is my +treasure. And she, too, must clip a long curl of my hair, for as yet it +was not cut "en ronde," as archers use to wear it, but when she came +again, she said she would find me shrewdly shaven, and then would love me +no longer. Then she laughed and kissed me, and fell to comforting me for +that she would not be long away. + +"And in three months or four," she said, "the King will be sacred at +Rheims, and the Maid will give you red wine to drink in Paris town, and +the English will be swept into the sea, and then we shall have peace and +abundance." + +"And then shall we be wedded, and never part," I cried; whereat she +blushed, bidding me not be over bold, for her heart might yet change, and +so laughed again; and thus we fleeted the time, till her father came and +sent her about disposing such things as she must take with her. Among +these she was set on carrying her jackanapes, to make her merry on the +road, though here I was of another counsel. For in so great a gathering +there must be many gangrel folk, and among them, peradventure, the violer +woman, who would desire to have the creature given back to her. But, if +it were so, Elliot said she would purchase the jackanapes, "for I am no +lifter of other men's cattle, as all you Scots are, and I am fain to own +my jackanapes honestly." + +So she carried him with her, the light chain about her wrist, and he +riding on her saddle-bow, for presently, with many banners waving and +with singing of hymns, came the troop who wended together on pilgrimage. +Many townsfolk well armed were there to guard their women; the flags of +all the crafts were on the wind; the priests carried blessed banners; so +with this goodly company, and her confessor, and her father's old +kinswoman, Elliot rode away. The jackanapes was screeching on her saddle- +bow, her yellow hair was lifted on her shoulder with the light breeze; +her father rode the first two stages with them. Merry enough they seemed +that went, and the bells were chiming, but I was left alone, my heart +empty, or only full of useless longings. I betook myself, therefore, to +a chapel hard by, and there made my orisons for their safety and for good +speed to the Maid and her holy enterprise. + +Thereafter there was no similitude for me and my unhappy estate, save +that of a dog who has lost his master in a strange place, and goes +questing everywhere, and comfortless. Then Randal Rutherford, coming to +visit me, found me such a lackmirth, he said, and my wits so distraught, +that a love-sick wench were better company for a man-at-arms. + +"Cheer up, man," he said. "Look at me, did I not leave my heart at +Branxholme Mains with Mally Grieve, and so in every town where I have +been in garrison, and do you see me cast down? Off with this green +sickness, or never will you have strength to march with the Maid, where +there is wealth to be won, and golden coronets, and gaudy stones, such as +Saunders Macausland took off the Duke of Clarence at Bauge. Faith, +between the wound Capdorat gave you and this arrow of Dan Cupid's in your +heart, I believe you will not be of strength to carry arms till there is +not a pockpudding left in broad France. Come forth, and drain a pot or +two of wine, or, if the leech forbids it, come, I will play you for all +that is owing between you and me." + +With that he lugged out his dice and fetched a tablier, but presently +vowed that it was plain robbery, for I could keep no count of the game. +Therewith he left me, laughing and mocking, and saying that I had been +bolder with Robin Lindsay's lass. + +Being alone and out of all comfort, I fell to wandering in the workroom, +and there lit, to my solace, on that blessed book of the hundred +ballades, which my master was adorning with pictures, and with scarlet, +blue, and gold. It set forth how a young knight, in sorrow of love, was +riding between Pont de Ce and Angiers, and how other knights met him and +gave him counsel. These lines I read, and getting them by rote, took +them for my device, for they bid the lover thrust himself foremost in the +press, and in breach, mine, and escalade. + + S'en assault viens, devant te lance, + En mine, en eschielle, en tous lieux + Ou proesce les bons avance, + Ta Dame t'en aimera mieux. + +But reading soon grew a weariness to me, as my life was, and my master +coming home, bade me be of better cheer. + +"By St. Andrew," quoth he, "this is no new malady of thine, but well +known to leeches from of old, and never yet was it mortal! Remede there +is none, save to make ballades and rondels, and forget sorrow in hunting +rhymes, if thou art a maker. Thou art none? Nay, nor ever was I, lad; +but I have had this disease, and yet you see me whole and well. Come, +lend me a hand at painting in these lilies; it passes not thy skill." + +So I wrought some work whereof I have reason to be proud, for these +lilies were carried wheresoever blows and honour were to be won, ay, and +where few might follow them. Meanwhile, my master devised with me about +such sights as he had seen on the way, and how great a concourse was on +pilgrimage to Puy, and how, if prayers availed, the cause of France was +won; "and yet, in England too, wives are praying for their lords, and +lasses for their lads in France. But ours is the better quarrel." + +So that weary day went by, one of the longest that I have known, and +other days, till now the leech said that I might go back to the castle, +though that I might march to the wars he much misdoubted. Among the +archers I had the best of greetings, and all quarrels were laid by, for, +as was said, we were to set forth to Orleans, where would be blows enough +to stay the greediest stomach. For now the Maid had won all hearts, +taking some with her piety, and others with her wit and knowledge, that +confounded the doctors, how she, a simple wench, was so subtle in +doctrine, which might not be but by inspiration. Others, again, were +moved by her mirth and good-fellowship, for she would strike a man-at- +arms on the shoulder like a comrade, and her horsemanship and deftness +with sword and lance bewitched others, she seeming as valiant and fair as +these lady crusaders of whom old romances tell. And others, again, she +gained by bourdes and jests; others by her manners, the fairest and most +courtly that might be, for she, a manant's daughter, bore herself as an +equal before the blood of France, and was right dear to the young bride +of the fair Duc d'Alencon. Yet was there about her such a grace of +purity, as of one descended from the skies, that no man of them all was +so hardy as to speak to her of love, or even so much as to think thereof +in the secret of his heart. + +So all reported of her, and she had let write a letter to the English at +Orleans, bidding them yield to God and the Maid, and begone to their own +country, lest a worse thing befall them. At this letter they mocked, +swearing that they would burn her heralds who carried the message. But +the King had named her chief of war, and given her a household, with a +good esquire, Jean d'Aulon, to govern it, and all that beseems noble or +royal blood. New armour had been made for her, all of steel and silver, +and there was talk of a sword that she had come by in no common way, but +through revelation of the saints. For she being in Tours had it revealed +to her that a certain ancient sword, with five crosses on the blade, lay +buried behind the altar of St. Catherine of Fierbois. An armourer of +Tours was therefore sent thither, and after much labour and search they +of St. Catherine's Church found that sword, very ancient, and much +bestained with rust. Howbeit, they cleaned it and made for it a sheath +of cloth of gold. Nevertheless, the Maid wore it in a leathern scabbard. + + + + +CHAPTER XI--HOW MADAME CATHERINE OF FIERBOIS WROUGHT A MIRACLE FOR A +SCOT, AND HOW NORMAN RODE TO THE WARS + + +Now, in this place I cannot withhold me from telling of an adventure +which at this very time befell, though it scarce belongs to my present +chronicle. But it may be that, in time to come, faith will wax cold, and +the very saints be misdoubted of men. It therefore behoves me not to +hold back the truth which I know, and which this tale makes plain and +undeniable even by Hussites, Lollards, and other miscreants. For he who +reads must be constrained to own that there is no strait so terrible but +the saints can bring safely forth therefrom such men as call upon them. + +There came at this season to Chinon from Fierbois (where the Maid's sword +was found by miracle) a Scottish archer, not aforetime of our company, +though now he took service with us. He was named Michael Hamilton, and +was a tall man and strong, grim of face, sudden in anger, heavy of hand, +walked a little lame, and lacked one ear. That which follows he himself +told to us and to our chaplain, Father Urquhart, and I myself have read +it in the Book of the Miracles of Madame St. Catherine of Fierbois. {22} + +You must know that Brittany, as at this time, held for the English, and +Michael Hamilton had gone thither reiving and pillaging the country with +a company of Scots men-at-arms. Hard by a place called Clisson they had +seized a deserted tower and held it for some days. It so fell out that +they took a burgess of the country, who was playing the spy on their +quarters; him they put to the torture, and so learned that the English +were coming against them with a great company of men-at-arms and of the +country folk, on that very night. They therefore delayed no longer than +to hang the spy from a sufficient bough of a tree, this Michael doing +what was needful, and so were hurrying to horse, when, lo! the English +were upon them. Not having opportunity to reach the stables and mount, +Michael Hamilton fled on foot, with what speed he might, but sorely +impeded by the weight of his armour. The country folk, therefore, being +light of foot, easily overtook him, and after slaying one and wounding +more, he was caught in a noose of rope thrown over him from behind. Now, +even as he felt the noose tighten about his arms, he (though not commonly +pious beyond the wont of men-at-arms) vowed in his heart to make a +pilgrimage to Fierbois, and to the shrine of Madame St. Catherine, if she +would but aid him. And, indeed, he was ever a worshipper of St. +Catherine, she being the patroness of his own parish kirk, near Bothwell. +None the less, he was overcome and bound, whereon he that had thrown the +noose, and was son of the spy whom Michael had hanged, vowed that he +would, with his own hands, hang Michael. No ransom would this manant +take, nor would he suffer Michael, as a gentleman of blood and birth, to +die by the sword. So hanged Michael was; doubt not but it was done in +the best manner, and there he was left hanging. + +Now, that night of Maundy Thursday the cure of Clisson was in his chamber +and was about to go to bed. But as he made ready for bed he heard, from +a corner of the chamber, a clear voice saying, "Go forth and cut down the +Scots man-at-arms who was hanged, for he yet lives." + +The cure, thinking that he must be half asleep and dreaming, paid no +manner of regard to these commands. Thereon the voice, twice and thrice, +spoke aloud, none save the cure being present, and said, "Go forth and +cut down the Scots man-at-arms who was hanged, for he yet lives." + +It often so chances that men in religion are more hard of heart to +believe than laymen and the simple. The cure, therefore, having made all +due search, and found none living who could have uttered that voice, went +not forth himself, but at noon of Good Friday, his service being done, he +sent his sexton, as one used not to fear the sight and company of dead +men. The sexton set out, whistling for joy of the slaying of the Scot, +but when he came back he was running as fast as he might, and scarce +could speak for very fear. At the last they won from him that he had +gone to the tree where the dead Scot was hanging, and first had heard a +faint rustle of the boughs. Not affrighted, the sexton drew out a knife +and slit one of Michael's bare toes, for they had stripped him before +they hanged him. At the touch of the knife the blood came, and the foot +gave a kick, whereon the sexton hastened back with these tidings to the +cure. The holy man, therefore, sending for such clergy as he could +muster, went at their head, in all his robes canonical, to the wild wood, +where they cut Michael down and rubbed his body and poured wine into his +throat, so that, at the end of half an hour, he sat up and said, "Pay +Waiter Hay the two testers that I owe him." + +Thereon most ran and hid themselves, as if from a spirit of the dead, but +the manant, he whose father Michael had hanged, made at him with a sword, +and dealt him a great blow, cutting off his ear. But others who had not +fled, and chiefly the cure, held the manant till his hands were bound, +that he might not slay one so favoured of Madame St. Catherine. Not that +they knew of Michael's vow, but it was plain to the cure that the man was +under the protection of Heaven. Michael then, being kindly nursed in a +house of a certain Abbess, was wellnigh recovered, and his vow wholly +forgotten, when lo! he being alone, one invisible smote his cheek, so +that the room rang with the buffet, and a voice said to him, "Wilt thou +never remember thy pilgrimage?" Moved, therefore, to repentance, he +stole the cure's horse, and so, journeying by night till he reached +France, he accomplished his vows, and was now returned to Chinon. This +Michael Hamilton was hanged, not very long afterwards, by command of the +Duc d'Alencon, for plundering a church at Jargeau. + +The story I have thought it behoved me to tell in this place, because it +shows how good and mild is Madame St. Catherine of Fierbois, also lest +memory of it be lost in Scotland, where it cannot but be of great comfort +to all gentlemen of Michael's kin and of the name and house of Hamilton. +Again, I tell it because I heard it at this very season of my waiting to +be recovered of my wound. Moreover, it is a tale of much edification to +men-at-arms, as proving how ready are the saints to befriend us, even by +speaking as it were with human voices to sinful men. Of this I myself, +later, had good proof, as shall be told, wherefore I praise and thank the +glorious virgin, Madame St. Catherine of Fierbois. + +This tale was the common talk in Chinon, which I heard very gladly, +taking pleasure in the strangeness of it. And in the good fortune of the +Maid I was yet more joyful, both for her own sake and for Elliot's, to +whom she was so dear. But, for my own part, the leeches gave me little +comfort, saying that I might in no manner set forth with the rest, for +that I could not endure to march on foot, but must die by the way. + +Poor comfort was this for me, who must linger in garrison while the +fortune of France was on the cast of the dice, and my own fortune was to +be made now or never. So it chanced that one day I was loitering in the +gateway, watching the soldiers, who were burnishing armour, sharpening +swords, and all as merry and busy as bees in spring. Then to me comes my +master, with a glad countenance, and glad was I, for these eight days or +nine I had no tidings of him, and knew not if Elliot had returned from +pilgrimage. I rose to greet him, and he took my hand, bidding me be of +good cheer, for that he had good tidings. But what his news might be he +would not tell me; I must come with him, he said, to his house. + +All about his door there was much concourse of people, and among them two +archers led a great black charger, fairly caparisoned, and covered with a +rich silk hucque of colour cramoisie, adorned with lilies of silver. As +I marvelled who the rider might be, conceiving that he was some great +lord, the door of my master's house opened, and there, within, and plain +to view, was Elliot embracing a young knight; and over his silver armour +fell her yellow hair, covering gorget and rere-brace. Then my heart +stood still, my lips opened but gave no cry, when, lo! the knight kissed +her and came forth, all in shining armour, but unhelmeted. Then I saw +that this was no knight, but the Maid herself, boden in effeir of war, +{23} and so changed from what she had been that she seemed a thing +divine. If St. Michael had stepped down from a church window, leaving +the dragon slain, he would have looked no otherwise than she, all +gleaming with steel, and with grey eyes full of promise of victory: the +holy sword girdled about her, and a little battle-axe hanging from her +saddle-girth. She sprang on her steed, from the mounting-stone beside +the door, and so, waving her hand, she cried farewell to Elliot, that +stood gazing after her with shining eyes. The people went after the Maid +some way, shouting Noel! and striving to kiss her stirrup, the archers +laughing, meanwhile, and bidding them yield way. And so we came, humbly +enough, into the house, where, her father being present and laughing and +the door shut, Elliot threw her arms about me and wept and smiled on my +breast. + +"Ah, now I must lose you again," she said; whereat I was half glad that +she prized me so; half sorry, for that I knew I might not go forth with +the host. This ill news I gave them both, we now sitting quietly in the +great chamber. + +"Nay, thou shalt go," said Elliot. "Is it not so, father? For the Maid +gave her promise ere she went to Poictiers, and now she is fulfilling it. +For the gentle King has given her a household--pages, and a maitre +d'hotel, a good esquire, and these two gentlemen who rode with her from +Vaucouleurs, and an almoner, Brother Jean Pasquerel, an Augustine, that +the Maid's mother sent with us from Puy, for we found her there. And the +Maid has appointed you to go with her, for that you took her part when +men reviled her. And money she has craved from the King; and Messire +Aymar de Puiseux, that was your adversary, is to give you a good horse, +for that you may not walk. And, above all, the Maid has declared to me +that she will bring you back to us unscathed of sword, but, for herself, +she shall be wounded by an arrow under Orleans, yet shall she not die, +but be healed of that wound, and shall lead the King to his sacring at +Rheims. So now, verily, for you I have no fear, but my heart is sore for +the Maid's sake, and her wound." + +None the less, she made as if she would dance for joy, and I could have +done as much, not, indeed, that as then I put my faith in prophecies, but +for gladness that I was to take my fortune in the wars. So the hours +passed in great mirth and good cheer. Many things we spoke of, as +concerning the mother of the Maid--how wise she was, yet in a kind of +amazement, and not free from fear, wherefore she prayed constantly for +her child. + +Moreover Elliot told me that the jackanapes was now hers of right, for +that the woman, its owner, had been at Puy, but without her man, and had +sold it to her, as to a good mistress, yet with tears at parting. This +news was none of the gladdest to me, for still I feared that tidings of +us might come to Brother Thomas. Howbeit, at last, with a light heart, +though I was leaving Elliot, I went back to the castle. There Aymar de +Puiseux, meeting me, made me the best countenance, and gave me a right +good horse, that I named Capdorat after him, by his good will. And for +my armour, which must needs be light, they gave me a maillet--a coat of +slender mail, which did not gall my old wound. So accoutred, I departed +next day, in good company, to Blois, whence the Maid was to set forth to +Orleans. Marvel it was to find the road so full of bestial--oxen, cows, +sheep, and swine--all gathered, as if to some great market, for the +victualling of Orleans. But how they were to be got through the English +lines into the city men knew not. For the English, by this time, had +girdled the city all about with great bastilles, each joined to other by +sunken ways dug in the earth, wherein were streets, and marts, and +chambers with fires and chimneys, as I have written in my Latin +chronicle. {24} There false Frenchmen came, as to a fair, selling and +buying, with store of food, wine, arms, and things of price, buying and +selling in safety, for the cannon and couleuvrines in the town could not +touch them. But a word ran through the host how the Maid knew, by +inspiration of the saints, that no man should sally forth from among the +English, but that we should all pass unharmed. + +Meantime the town of Blois was in great turmoil--the cattle lowing in the +streets, the churches full to the doors of men-at-arms, waiting their +turn to be shrived, for the Maid had ordained that all who followed her +must go clean of sin. And there was great wailing of light o' loves, and +leaguer lasses that had followed the army, as is custom, for this custom +the Maid did away, and drove these women forth, and whither they wandered +I know not. Moreover, she made proclamation that all dice, and tabliers, +and instruments of gambling must be burned, and myself saw the great pile +yet smoking in the public place, for this was to be a holy war. So we +lodged at Blois, where the Maid showed me the best countenance, speaking +favourable words of Elliot and me, and bidding me keep near her banner in +battle, which I needed no telling to make me resolve to do. So there, +for that night, we rested. + + + + +CHAPTER XII--HOW THE MAID CAME TO ORLEANS, AND OF THE DOLOROUS STROKE +THAT FIRST SHE STRUCK IN WAR + + +Concerning the ways of the saints, and their holy counsel, it is not for +sinful men to debate, but verify their ways are not as our ways, as shall +presently be shown, in the matter of the Maid's march to Orleans. + +For the town of Blois, where now we lay, is, as all men know, on the +right bank of the water of Loire, a great river, wider and deeper and +stronger by far than our Tay or Tweed, and the town of Orleans, whither +we were bound, is also on the same side, namely, the right side of the +river. Now, Orleans was beleaguered in this manner: The great stone +bridge had been guarded, on the left, or further side of the stream, +first by a boulevard, or strong keep on the land, whence by a drawbridge +men crossed to a yet stronger keep, called "Les Tourelles," builded on +the last arches of the bridge. But early in the siege the English had +taken from them of Orleans the boulevard and Les Tourelles, and an arch +of the bridge had been broken, so that in nowise might men-at-arms of the +party of France enter into Orleans by way of that bridge from the left +bank through the country called Sologne. + +Yet that keep, Les Tourelles, had not been a lucky prize to our enemies +of England. For their great captain, the Lord Salisbury, had a custom to +watch them of Orleans and their artillery from a window in that tower, +and, to guard him from arrow-shots, he had a golden shield pierced with +little holes to look through, that he held before his face. One day he +came into this turret when they who worked the guns in Orleans were all +at their meat. But it so chanced that two boys, playing truant from +school, went into a niche of the wall, where was a cannon loaded and +aimed at Les Tourelles. They, seeing the gleam of the golden shield at +the window of the turret, set match to the touch-hole of the cannon, and, +as Heaven would have it, the ball struck a splinter of stone from the +side of the window, which, breaking through the golden shield, slew my +Lord of Salisbury, a good knight. Thus plainly that tower was to be of +little comfort to the English. + +None the less, as they held Les Tourelles and the outer landward +boulevard thereof, the English built but few works on the left side of +the river, namely, Champ St. Prive, that guarded the road by the left +bank from Blois; Les Augustins, that was a little inland from the +boulevard of Les Tourelles, so that no enemy might pass between these two +holds; and St. Jean le Blanc, that was higher up the river, and a hold of +no great strength. On the Orleans side, to guard the road from Burgundy, +the English had but one fort, St. Loup, for Burgundy and the north were +of their part, and by this way they expected no enemy. But all about +Orleans, on the right bank of the river, to keep the path from Blois on +that hand, the English had builded many great bastilles, and had joined +them by hollow ways, wherein, as I said, they lived at ease, as men in a +secure city underground. And the skill of it was to stop convoys of +food, and starve them of Orleans, for to take the town by open force the +English might in nowise avail, they being but some four thousand men-at- +arms. + +Thus Matters stood, and it was the Maid's mind to march her men and all +the cattle clean through and past the English bastilles on the right side +of the river, and by inspiration she well knew that no man would come +forth against us. Moreover, she saw not how, by the other way, and the +left bank, the cattle might be ferried across, and the great company of +men-at-arms, into Orleans town, under the artillery of the English. For +the English held the pass of the broken bridge, as I said, and therefore +all crossing of the water must be by boat. + +Now, herein it was shown, as often again, that the ways of the saints are +not as our ways. For the captains, namely, the Sieur de Rais (who +afterwards came to the worst end a man might), and La Hire, and Ambroise +de Lore, and De Gaucourt, in concert with the Bastard of Orleans, then +commanding for the King in that town, gave the simple Maid to understand +that Orleans was on the left bank of the river. This they did, because +they were faithless and slow of belief, and feared that so great a +company as ours might in nowise pass Meun and Beaugency, towns of the +English, and convey so many cattle through the bastilles on the right +bank. Therefore, with many priests going before, singing the Veni +Creator, with holy banners as on a pilgrimage; with men-at-arms, archers, +pages, and trains of carts; and with bullocks rowting beneath the goad, +and swine that are very hard to drive, and slow-footed sheep, we all +crossed the bridge of Blois on the morning of April 25th. + +Now, had the holy saints deemed it wise and for our good to act as men +do, verily they would have spoken to the Maid, telling her that we were +all going clean contrary to her counsel. Nevertheless, the saints held +their peace, and let us march on. Belike they designed that this should +turn to the greater glory of the Maid and to the confusion of them that +disbelieved, which presently befell, as I shall relate. + +All one day of spring we rode, and slept beneath the stars, the Maid +lying in her armour, so that as one later told me who knew, namely, +Elliot, her body was sorely bruised with her harness. Early in the +morning we mounted again, and so rode north, fetching a compass inland; +after noontide we came to a height, and lo! beneath us lay the English +bastilles and holds on the left bank, and, beyond the glittering river +and the broken bridge, the towers and walls of Orleans. Then I saw the +Maid in anger, for well she knew that she had been deceived by them who +should have guided her. Between us and the town of Orleans lay the wide +river, the broken bridge, and the camps of the English. On the further +shore we beheld the people swarming on the walls and quays, labouring to +launch boats with sails, and so purposing to ascend the river against the +stream and meet us two leagues beyond the English lines. But this they +might not do, for a strong wind was blowing down stream, and all their +vessels were in disarray. + +The Maid spurred to the front, where were De Rais, Lore, Kennedy, and La +Hire. We could see her pointing with her staff, and hear speech high and +angry, but the words we could not hear. The captains looked downcast, as +children caught in a fault, and well they might, for we were now as far +off victualling Orleans as ever we had been. The Maid pointed to the +English keep at St. Jean le Blanc, on our side of the water, and, as it +seems, was fain to attack it; but the English had drawn off their men to +the stronger places on the bridge, and to hold St. Jean le Blanc against +them, if we took it, we had no strength. So we even wended, from the +height of Olivet, for six long miles, till we reached the stream opposite +Checy, where was an island. A rowing-boat, with a knight in glittering +arms, was pulled across the stream, and the Maid, in her eagerness, +spurred her steed deep into the water to meet him. He was a young man, +brown of visage, hardy and fierce, and on his shield bore the lilies of +Orleans, crossed with a baton sinister. He bowed low to the Maid, who +cried-- + +"Are you the Bastard of Orleans?" + +"I am," he said, "and right glad of your coming." + +"Was it you who gave counsel that I should come by this bank, and not by +the other side, and so straight against Talbot and the English?" + +She spoke as a master to a faulty groom, fierce and high, and to hear her +was marvel. + +"I, and wiser men than I, gave that counsel," said he, "deeming this +course the surer." + +"Nom Dieu!" she cried. "The council of Messire is safer and wiser than +yours." She pointed to the rude stream, running rough and strong, a +great gale following with it, so that no sailing-boats might come from +the town. "You thought to beguile me, and are yourselves beguiled, for I +bring you better succour than ever came to knight or town--the help of +the King of Heaven." + +Then, even as she spoke, and as by miracle, that fierce wind went right +about, and blew straight up the stream, and the sails of the vessels +filled. + +"This is the work of our Lord," said the Bastard of Orleans, crossing +himself: and the anger passed from the eyes of the Maid. + +Then he and Nicole de Giresme prayed her to pass the stream with them, +and to let her host march back to Blois and so come to Orleans, crossing +by the bridge of Blois. To this she said nay, that she could not leave +her men out of her sight, lest they fell to sin again, and all her pains +were lost. But, with many prayers, her confessor Pasquerel joining in +them, she was brought to consent. So the host, with priests and banners, +must set forth again to Blois, while the Maid, and we that were of her +company, crossed the river in boats, and so rode towards the town. On +this way (the same is a road of the old Romans) the English held a strong +fort, called St. Loup, and well might they have sallied forth against us. +But the people of Orleans, who ever bore themselves more hardily than any +townsfolk whom I have known, made an onfall against St. Loup, that the +English within might not sally out against us, where was fierce fighting, +and they took a standard from the English. + +So, at nightfall, the Maid, with the Bastard and other captains at her +side, rode into the town, all the people welcoming her with torches in +hand, shouting Noel! as to a king, throwing flowers before her horse's +feet, and pressing to touch her, or even the harness of her horse, which +leaped and plunged, for the fire of a torch caught the fringe of her +banner. Lightly she spurred and turned him, and lightly she caught at +the flame with her hand and quenched it, while all men marvelled at her +grace and goodly bearing. + +Never saw I more joy of heart, for whereas all had feared to fall into +the hands of the English, now there was such courage in them, as if +Monseigneur St. Michael himself, or Monseigneur St Aignan, had come down +from heaven to help his good town. If they were hardy before, as indeed +they were, now plainly they were full of such might and fury that man +might not stand against them. And soon it was plain that no less fear +had fallen on the English. But the Maid, with us who followed her, was +led right through the great street of Orleans, from the Burgundy gate to +the gate Regnart, whereby the fighting was ever most fell, and there we +lodged in the house of the Treasurer of the Duke of Orleans, Jacquet +Boucher. Never was sleep sweeter to me, after the two weary marches, and +the sounds of music and revelry in the street did not hum a moment in my +ears, before I had passed into that blessed world of slumber without a +dream. + +But my waking next day brought instantly the thought of my brother Robin, +concerning whom I had ever feared that he fell with the flower of +Scotland, when the Comte de Clermont deserted us so shamefully on the day +of the Battle of the Herrings. No sooner did this doubt come into my +mind, than I leaped from my bed, attired myself, and went forth to the +quarters of the Scots under Sir Christian Chambers. Little need I had to +tell my errand, for they that met me guessed who I was, because, indeed, +Robin and I favoured each other greatly in face and bodily presence. + +It was even as I had deemed: my dear brother and friend and tutor of old +days had died, charging back upon the English who pursued us, and +fighting by the side of Pothon de Xaintrailles. All that day, and in the +week which followed, my thought was ever upon him; a look in a stranger's +face, a word on another's lips, by some magic of the mind would bring my +brother almost visibly before me, ay, among the noise of swords on mail, +and the screaming of arrows, and of great cannon-balls. + +If I heard ill news, it was no more than I looked for; but better news, +as it seemed, I also heard, though, in my sorrow, I marked it little. For +the soldiers were lamenting the loss of their famed gunner, not John the +Lorrainer, but one who had come to them, they said, now some weeks agone, +in the guise of a cordelier, though he did not fight in that garb, but in +common attire, and ever wore his vizor down, which men deemed strange. +Whither he had gone, or how disappeared, they knew not, for he had not +been with those who yesterday attacked St. Loup. + +"He could never thole the thought of the Blessed Maid," said Allan +Rutherford, "but would tell all that listened how she was a brain-sick +wench, or a witch, and under her standard he would never fight. He even +avowed to us that she had been a chamber-wench of an inn in Neufchateau, +and there had learned to back a horse, and many a worse trick," which was +a lie devised by the English and them of Burgundy. But, go where he +would, or how he would, I deemed it well that Brother Thomas and I (for +of a surety it was Brother Thomas) were not to meet in Orleans. + +Concerning the English in this wonderful adventure of the siege, I have +never comprehended, nor do I now know, wherefore they bore them as they +did. That they sallied not out on the trains which the Maid led and +brought into the town, a man might set down to mere cowardice and faint +heart--they fearing to fight against a witch, as they deemed her. In +later battles, when she had won so many a victory, they may well have +feared her. But, as now, they showed no dread where honour was to be +won, but rather pride and disdain. On this very Saturday, the morrow of +our arrival, La Hire, with Florent d'Illiers and many other knights, +pushed forth a matter of two bowshots from the city walls, and took a +keep that they thought to have burned. They were very hardy men, and +being comforted by the Maid's coming, were full of courage and goodwill; +yet the English rallied and drove them back, with much firing of guns, +and now first I heard the din of war and saw the great stone balls fly, +scattering, as they fell, into splinters that screamed in the air, with a +very terrible sound. Truly the English had the better of that fray, and +were no whit adread, for at sunset the Maid sent them two heralds, +bidding them begone; yet they answered only that they would burn her for +a witch, and called her a ribaulde, or loose wench, and bade her go back +and keep her kine. + +I was with her when this message came, and her brows met and her eyes +flashed with anger. Telling us of her company to follow, she went to the +Fair Cross on the bridge, where now her image stands, fashioned in +bronze, kneeling before the Cross, with the King kneeling opposite. There +she stood and cried aloud to the English, who were in the fort on the +other side of the bridge that is called Les Tourelles, and her voice rang +across the water like a trumpet, so that it was marvel. Then came out on +to the bridge a great knight and a tall, Sir William Glasdale; no bigger +man have I seen, and I bethought me of Goliath in Holy Scripture. He +spoke in a loud, north-country voice, and, whereas she addressed him +courteously, as she did all men, he called her by the worst of names, +mocking at her for a ribaulde. She made answer that he lied, and that he +should die in four days' time or five, without stroke of sword; and so, +waving her hand haughtily, turned and went back. But I, who walked close +by her, noted that she wept like any girl at his evil and lying +accusations. + +Next day was Sunday, and no stroke was struck, but the Bastard of Orleans +set forth to bring back the army from Blois. And on Monday the Maid rode +out and under the very walls of the English keeps, the townsfolk running +by her rein, as if secure in her company; yet no man came forth against +them, which was marvel. And on the Wednesday, the Maid, with many +knights, rode forth two leagues, and met the Bastard of Orleans and all +the array from Blois, and all the flocks and herds that were sent to +Orleans by the good towns. Right beneath the forts of the English they +rode and marched, with chanting of hymns, priests leading the way, but +none dared meddle with them. Yet a child might have seen that now or +never was the chance: howbeit Talbot and Glasdale and Scales, men well +learned in war, let fire not even a single cannon. It may be that they +feared an attack of the Orleans folk on their bastilles, if they drew out +their men. For, to tell the plain truth, the English had not men-at-arms +enough for the task they took in hand; but they oft achieve much with but +little force, and so presume the more, sometimes to their undoing. And, +till the Maid came, ten of them could chase a hundred of the French. + +So the Maid returned, leading the army, and then, being very weary, she +went into her chamber, and lay down on a couch to sleep, her esquire, +D'Aulon, also resting in the room, where were the lady and a daughter of +the house, one Charlotte Boucher. There was I, devising idly with her +page, Louis de Coutes, a boy half Scots by birth, and good-brother to +Messire Florent d'Illiers, who had married his sister. But alas! he was +more French than Scots, and later he left the Maid. But then we were +playing ourselves at the door of the house, and all was still, the men-at- +arms reposing, as we deemed, after their march. Then suddenly the Maid +ran forth to us, her face white and her eyes shining, and cried to Louis +de Coutes, in great anger-- + +"Wretched boy, the blood of France is being shed, and you told me no word +of it!" + +"Demoiselle," said he, trembling, "I wotted not of it. What mean you?" + +And I also stood in amaze, for we had heard no sound of arms. + +"Go, fetch my horse," she said, and was gone. + +I went with him, and we saddled and bridled a fresh courser speedily; but +when we reached the door, she stood there already armed, and sprang on +the horse, crying for her banner, that De Coutes gave her out of the +upper window. Then her spurs were in her horse's side, and the sparks +flying from beneath his hoofs, as she galloped towards St. Loup, the +English fort on the Burgundy road. Thither we followed her, with what +speed we might, yet over tardily; and when we came through crowds of +people, many bearing the wounded on litters, there was she, under the +wall of that fort, in a rain of arrows, holding up her banner, and crying +on the French and Scots to the charge. They answered with a cry, and +went on, De Coutes and I pressing forward to be with them; but ere ever +we could gain the fosse, the English had been overwhelmed, and, for the +more part, slain. For, as we found, the French captains had commanded an +attack on St. Loup, and had told the Maid no word of it, whether as +desiring to win honour without her, or to spare her from the peril of the +onslaught, I know not. But their men were giving ground, when by the +monition of the saints, as I have shown, she came to them and turned the +fray. + +Of the English, as I said, most were slain, natheless certain men in +priests' raiment came forth from the Church of St. Loup, and very humbly +begged their lives of the Maid, who, turning to D'Aulon, her esquire, +bade him, with De Coutes and me, and such men as we could gather, to have +charge of them and be answerable for them. + +So, while the French were plundering, we mustered these priests orderly +together, they trembling and telling their beads, and we stood before +them for their guard. False priests, I doubt, many of them were, +Englishmen who had hastily done on such holy robes as they found in the +church of St Loup. Now Louis de Coutes, being but a boy, and of a mad +humour, cried-- + +"'Cucullus non facit monachum!' Good sirs, let us see your reverend +tonsures." + +With that he twitched the hood from the head of a tall cordelier, who, +without more ado, felled him to the earth with his fist. + +The hood was off but for a flash of time, yet I saw well the shining +wolf's eyes and the long dark face of Brother Thomas. So, in the +pictures of the romance of Renard Fox, have I seen Isengrim the wolf in +the friar's hood. + +"Felon and traitor!" I cried, and drawing my sword, was about to run him +through the body, when my hand was stunned by a stroke, and the sword +dropped from it. I turned, in great anger, and saw the Maid, her sword +in her hand, wherewith she had smitten me flatlings, and not with the +edge. + +"Knave of a Scot," she cried, "wouldst thou strike a holy man and my +prisoner? Verily they say well that the Scots are all savages. Begone +home, till I speak with the captains about thy case! And for these holy +men," she said to D'Aulon, in a soft voice, "see that they are safely +housed and ministered to in the Church of Monseigneur St. Aignan." + +With that I shrank back like a beaten hound, and saw the Maid no more +that night, as fearing her wrath. So was I adread and out of all +comfort. But, when first I might, I sought D'Aulon and told him all the +tale of Brother Thomas, and all the evil I knew of him, as well as I +could, and I showed him wherefore I had sought to slay the man, as +forsworn and a traitor, who had manifestly fled to the English, being by +his doggish nature the enemy of the Maid. I so wrought with him, though +he was weary, and would scarce listen to my tale, that he promised to +speak for me to the Maid, without whom I was a man lost. Moreover, he +swore that, as early as might be, he would visit the Church of St. +Aignan, and there examine into the matter of this cordelier, whom some +knew, and could testify against, if he was my man. + +No more could I do that night, but next morning D'Aulon awoke me a little +after dawn. + +"It is a true tale," he said, "and worse than I deemed, for your bird has +flown! Last night he so spoke with me in the church when I lodged him +there, that I reckoned him a simple man and a pious. But he has vanished +from among his brethren, none knows how or whither." + +"The devil, his master, knows," I said. "Faith, he has a shrewd care of +his own. But this, I misdoubt me, is the beginning of evil to us and to +the Maid." + +"A knave more or less is of little count in the world," said he; "but now +I must make your peace with the Maid, for she speaks of no less than +sending you forth from her household." + +His promise he kept so well--for he was a very honourable man, as any in +France--that the Maid sent for me and showed me the best countenance, +even begging my pardon with all sweetness, and in so fair a manner that I +could have wept. + +"It was my first blow in war," she said, smiling kindly, as was her +manner, "and I hope to strike no more as with my own hand, wherefore I +carry my banner to avoid the slaying of men. But verily I deemed that +you were about stabbing my prisoner, and him a priest. Belike we shall +hear no more of him, and I misdoubt that he is no true son of Holy +Church. To-day let me see you bear yourself as boldly against armed men, +that I may report well of you to your lady and my friend." + +Therewith she held out her hands and took mine, as frankly as does one +brother in arms with another. And I kissed her hand, and kept my tears +in my own heart. But no deadlier blow for France and for herself was +ever dealt than when the Maid struck down my sword, that was thirsting +for the blood of Brother Thomas, and was within an inch of his throat. +Often have I marvelled how the saints, who, as then, guarded her, gave +her no warning, as they did of the onslaught on St. Loup; but it might +not be, or it was not their will, to which we must humbly submit +ourselves. And now I think I see that wolf's face, under the hood, with +anger and fear in the ominous eyes. In the Church of St. Loup we found +him, and he was a wolf of the holy places. None the less, the words of +the Maid brought more keenly to my mind the thought of Elliot, whom in +these crowded hours, between my sorrow and anger, and fear of the Maid's +wrath, I had to some degree forgotten. They were now ordering an +onslaught on a post of the English beyond the river, and there came into +my heart that verse of the "Book of a Hundred Ballades": how a lover must +press into breach, and mine, and escalade to win advancement and his +lady's favour; and I swore within myself that to-day I would be among the +foremost. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII--OF THE FIGHTING AT LES AUGUSTINS AND THE PROPHECY OF THE +MAID + + +Just above the broken bridge of Orleans there is a broad island, lying +very near the opposite shore, with a narrow, swift passage of water +between bank and island. Some two furlongs higher up the river, and on +the further bank, the English had built a small fort, named St. Jean le +Blanc, to guard the road, and thither they sent men from Les Augustins. +The plan of our captains was to cross by boats on to the island, and +thence by a bridge of planks laid on boats to win over the narrow +channel, and so make an onslaught on St. Jean le Blanc. For this +onslaught the Maid had now been armed by her women, and with all her +company, and many knights, was making ready to cross. But before she, or +we with her, could attain the shore, horses being ill beasts in a boat +ferry, the light-armed townsfolk had crossed over against St. Jean le +Blanc to spy on it, and had found the keep empty, for the English had +drawn back their men to the Bastille of Les Augustins. + +Thus there was no more to do, for the captains deemed not that we were of +any avail to attack Les Augustins. They were retreating then to the +bridge of boats, and Messires de Gaucourt, De Villars, and other good +knights were guarding the retreat, all orderly, lest the English might +sally out from Les Augustins, and, taking us in the rear, might slay many +in the confusion of crossing the boat-bridge, when the Maid and La Hire, +by great dint of toil, passed their horses in a ferry-boat on to the +further bank. At this moment the English sallied forth, with loud cries, +from Les Augustins, and were falling on our men, who, fearing to be cut +off, began to flee disorderly, while the English called out ill words, as +"cowards" and "ribaulds," and were blaspheming God that He should damn +all Frenchmen. + +Hereon the Maid, with her banner, and La Hire, with lance in rest, they +two alone, spurred into the press, and now her banner was tossing like +the flag of a ship in the breakers, and methought there was great +jeopardy lest they should be taken. But the other French and Scots, +perceiving the banner in such a peril, turned again from their flight, +and men who once turn back to blows again are ill to deal with. Striking, +then, and crying, Montjoie! St. Denis! and St. Andrew for Scotland! they +made the English give ground, till they were within the palisade of Les +Augustins, where they deemed them safe enough. Now I had struggled +through the throng on the island, some flying, some advancing, as each +man's heart bade him, till I leaped into the water up to my waist and won +the land. There I was running to the front of the fight when D'Aulon +would have stopped me, for he had a command to hold a certain narrow way, +lest the English should drive us to the water again. + +All this was rightly done, but I, hearing the cry of St. Andrew, was as +one possessed, and paying no heed to D'Aulon, was for thrusting me +forward, when a certain Spaniard, Alphonse de Partada, caught me by the +arm, and told me, with an oath, that I might well bide where better men +than I were content to be. At this I made answer that my place was with +the Maid, and, as for better men, bigger he might well be, but I, for +one, was not content to look on idly where blows were being dealt. He +answered in such terms that I bade him follow me, and see which of us +would fare furthest into the press. + +"And for that you may be swifter of foot than I, as you have longer +legs," I cried, "clasp hands on this bargain, and let us reach the +palisades with the same step." + +To this he agreed, and D'Aulon not refusing permission (for he loved to +look on a vaillance), we, clasping hands, ran together swiftly, and +struck our swords in the same moment against the wooden fence. A little +opening there was, not yet closed, or he that kept it deemed he might win +more honour by holding it with his body. He was a great knight and tall, +well armed, the red cross of St. George on his breast, and he fought with +a mighty sword. Together, then, we made at him, two to one, as needs +must be, for this was no gentle passage of arms, but open battle. One +sweep of his sword I made shift to avoid, but the next lighting on my +salade, drove me staggering back for more yards than two or three, and I +reeled and fell on my hands. When I rose, Alphonse de Partada was +falling beneath a sword-stroke, and I was for running forward again; but +lo! the great English knight leaped in the air, and so, turning, fell on +his face, his hands grasping at the ground and his feet kicking. + +Later I heard from D'Aulon that he had bidden John the Lorrainer mark the +man with his couleuvrine, for that he did overmuch mischief. But, +thinking of nought save to be foremost in the breach, I ran in, stumbling +over the dead man's body, and shouldered at the same time by Alphonse, +who warded off a stab of a pike that was dealt at me. Then it was a fair +mellay, our men pressing after us through the gap, and driving us forward +by mere weight of onset, they coming with all speed against our enemies +that ran together from all parts of the keep, and so left bare the +further wall. It was body to body, weight against weight, short strokes +at close quarters, and, over our heads, bills striking and foining at the +English. Each man smote where he could; we wavered and swayed, now off +our feet in the press, now making some yard of ground, and evil was the +smell and thick the dust that arose. Meanwhile came the sound of the +riving of planks from the other side of the palisade; above the steel +points and the dust I saw the Maid's pennon advancing with the face of my +lady painted thereon, and I pressed towards it, crying "St. Andrew" with +such breath as was in me. Then rang out the Maid's voice, like a +clarion, "St. Denis!" and so, stroke echoing stroke, and daggers going at +close quarters, beaten on and blinded, deaf and breathless, now up, now +down, we staggered forward, till I and the Maid stood side by side, and +the English broke, some falling, some flying to the out-gate. + +And, when all was done, there was I, knowing little enough of what had +come and gone, dazed, with my sword bloody and bent, my head humming, and +my foot on the breast of an English knight, one Robert Heron. Him I took +to prisoner, rescue or no rescue, and so sat we down, very weary, in the +midst of blood and broken arms, for many had been slain and a few taken, +though the more part had fled into the boulevard of Les Tourelles. And +here, with a joyous face, and the vizor of her helm raised, stood the +Maid, her sword sheathed, waving her banner in the sight of the English +that were on the bridge fort. + +Natheless, her joy was but for a moment, and soon was she seated lowly on +the ground, holding in her arms the head of an English knight, sore +wounded, for whom her confessor, Father Pasquerel, was doing the offices +of religion. Tears were running down her cheeks, even as if he had been +one of her own people; and so, comforting and helping the wounded as she +might, she abode till the darkness came, and the captains had made shift +to repair the fortress and had set guards all orderly. And all the river +was dark with boats coming and going, their lanterns glittering on the +stream, and they were laden with food and munitions of war. In one of +these boats did the Maid cross the river, taking with her us of her +company, and speaking to me, above others, in the most gracious manner, +for that I had been the first, with that Spanish gentleman, to pass +within the English palisade. And now my heart was light, though my flesh +was very weary, for that I had done my devoir, and taken the firstfruits +of Elliot's wedding portion. No heavy ransom I put on that knight, Sir +Robert Heron, and it was honourably paid in no long time, though he ill +liked yielding him to one that had not gained his spurs. But it was +fortune of war. So, half in a dream, we reached our house, and there was +the greatest concourse of townsfolk clamouring in the praise of the Maid, +who showed herself to them from the window, and promised that to-morrow +they should take Les Tourelles. That night was Friday, yet, so worn were +we all that the Maid bade us sup, and herself took some meat and a little +wine in her water, though commonly she fasted on Friday. And now we were +about to boun us for bed, and the Maid had risen, and was standing with +her arms passed about the neck of the daughter of the house, a fair lass +and merry, called Charlotte Boucher, who always lay with her (for she had +great joy to be with girls of her own age), when there came the sound of +a dagger-hilt beating at the door. We opened, and there stood a tall +knight, who louted low to the Maid, cap in hand, and she bade him drink +to the taking of Les Tourelles that should be to-morrow. + +But he, with the flagon full in his hands, and withal a thirsty look upon +his face, shook his head. + +"To another pledge, Maiden, I will gladly drink, namely, to the bravest +damsel under the sky." + +And therewith he drank deep. + +"But now I am sent from Gaucourt, and the Bastard, for all the captains +are in counsel again. And they bid me tell you that enough hath been +done, and they are right well content. But we are few against so great a +host, in a place so strong that men may not avail to master it by main +force. The city is now well seen in all manner of victual; moreover, we +can now come and go by Sologne and the left bank. The skill is therefore +to hold the city till the English wax weary and depart, or till we have +succour anew from the King. Therefore to-morrow the men-at-arms shall +take rest, having great need thereof; and therefore, gentle Maid, pardon +me that I drank not to the pledge which a lady called." + +Then he drained the flagon. + +The Maid, holding the girl Charlotte yet closer to her, smote her right +hand on the table, so that it dirled, and the cups and dishes leaped. + +"You have been with your counsel," she cried, "and I have been with mine! +The counsel of Messire will stand fast and prevail, and yours shall +perish, for it is of men. Go back, and bear my words to the captains," +quoth she; and then, turning to us, who looked on her in amazement, she +said-- + +"Do ye all rise right early, and more than ye have done to-day shall ye +do. Keep ever close by me in the mellay, for to-morrow I shall have much +to do, and more than ever yet I did. And to-morrow shall my blood leap +from my body, above my breast, for an arrow shall smite here!" and she +struck the place with her hand. + +Thereon the knight, seeing that she was not to be moved, made his +obeisance, and went back to them that sent him, and all we lay down to +sleep while we might. + +These words of the Maid I, Norman Leslie, heard, and bear record that +they are true. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV--OF THE FIGHTING AT THE BRIDGE, AND OF THE PRIZE WON BY +NORMAN LESLIE FROM THE RIVER + + +On that night I slept soft, and woke oft, being utterly foredone. In the +grey dawn I awoke, and gave a little cough, when, lo! there came a hot +sweet gush into my mouth, and going to the window, I saw that I was +spitting of blood, belike from my old wound. It is a strange thing that, +therewith, a sickness came over me, and a cold fit as of fear, though +fear I had felt none where men met in heat of arms. None the less, +seeing that to-day, or never, I was to be made or marred, I spoke of the +matter neither to man nor woman, but drinking a long draught of very cold +water, I spat some deal more, and then it stanched, and I armed me and +sat down on my bed. + +My thoughts, as I waited for the first stir in the house, were not glad. +Birds were singing in the garden trees; all else was quiet, as if men +were not waking to slay each other and pass unconfessed to their account. +There came on me a great sickness of war. Yesterday the boulevard of Les +Augustins, when the fight was over, had been a shambles; white bodies +that had been stripped of their armour lay here and there like sheep on a +hillside, and were now smirched with dust, a thing unseemly. I put it to +myself that I was engaged, if ever man was, in a righteous quarrel, +fighting against cruel oppression; and I was under the protection of one +sent, as I verily believed, by Heaven. + +But blood runs tardy in the cold dawn; my thoughts were chilled, and I +deemed, to speak sooth, that I carried my death within me, from my old +wound, and, even if unhurt, could scarce escape out of that day's labour +and live. I said farewell to life and the sun, in my own mind, and to +Elliot, thinking of whom, with what tenderness she had nursed me, and of +her mirth and pitiful heart, I could scarce forbear from weeping. Of my +brother also I thought, and in death it seemed to me that we could +scarcely be divided. Then my thought went back to old days of childhood +at Pitcullo, old wanderings by Eden banks, old kindness and old quarrels, +and I seemed to see a vision of a great tree, growing alone out of a +little mound, by my father's door, where Robin and I would play "Willie +Wastle in his castle," for that was our first manner of holding a siege. +A man-at-arms has little to make with such fancies, and well I wot that +Randal Rutherford troubled himself therewith in no manner. But now there +came an iron footstep on the stairs, and the Maid's voice rang clear, and +presently there arose the sound of hammers on rivets, and all the din of +men saddling horses and sharpening swords, so I went forth to join my +company. + +Stiff and sore was I, and felt as if I could scarce raise my sword-arm; +but the sight of the Maid, all gleaming in her harness, and clear of +voice, and swift of deed, like St. Michael when he marshalled his angels +against the enemies of heaven, drove my brooding thoughts clean out of +mind. The sun shone yellow and slanting down the streets; out of the +shadow of the minster came the bells, ringing for war. The armed +townsfolk thronged the ways, and one man, old and ill-clad, brought to +the Maid a great fish which he had caught overnight in the Loire. Our +host prayed her to wait till it should be cooked, that she might +breakfast well, for she had much to do. Yet she, who scarce seemed to +live by earthly meat, but by the will of God, took only a sop of bread +dipped in wine, and gaily leaping to her selle and gathering the reins, +as a lady bound for a hunting where no fear was, she cried, "Keep the +fish for supper, when I will bring back a goddon {25} prisoner to eat his +part. And to-night, gentle sir, my host, I will return by the +bridge!"--which, as we deemed, might in no manner be, for an arch of the +bridge was broken. Thereon we all mounted, and rode down to the Burgundy +gate, the women watching us, and casting flowers before the Maiden. But +when we won the gate, behold, it was locked, and two ranks of +men-at-arms, with lances levelled, wearing the colours of the Sieur de +Gaucourt, were drawn up before it. That lord himself, in harness, but +bareheaded, stood before his men, and cried, "Hereby is no passage. To- +day the captains give command that no force stir from the town." + +"To-day," quoth the Maid, "shall we take Les Tourelles, and to-morrow not +a goddon, save prisoners and slain men, shall be within three leagues of +Orleans. Gentle sir, bid open the gate, for to-day have I work to do." + +Thereat Gaucourt shook his head, and from the multitude of townsfolk rose +one great angry shout. They would burn the gate, they cried; they would +fire the town, but they would follow the Maid and the guidance of the +saints. + +Thereon stones began to fly, and arbalests were bended, till the Maid +turned, and, facing the throng, her banner lifted as in anger-- + +"Back, my good friends and people of Orleans," she said, "back and open +the postern door in the great tower on the river wall. By one way or +another shall I meet the English this day, nor shall might of man prevent +me." + +Then many ran back, and soon came the cry that the postern was opened, +and thither streamed the throng. Therefore Gaucourt saw well that an +onslaught would verily be made; moreover, as a man wise in war, he knew +that the townsfolk, that day, would be hard to hold, and would go far. So +he even yielded, not ungraciously, and sending a messenger to the Bastard +and the captains, he rode forth from the Burgundy Gate by the side of the +Maid. He was, indeed, little minded to miss his part of the honour; nor +were the other captains more backward, for scarce had we taken boat and +reached the farther bank, when we saw the banners of the Bastard and La +Hire, Florent d'Illiers and Xaintrailles, Chambers and Kennedy, above the +heads of the armed men who streamed forth by the gate of Burgundy. Less +orderly was no fight ever begun, but the saints were of our party. It +was the wise manner of the Maid to strike swift, blow upon blow, each +stroke finding less resistance among the enemy, that had been used to a +laggard war, for then it was the manner of captains to dally for weeks or +months round a town, castle, or other keep, and the skill was to starve +the enemy. But the manner of the Maid was ever to send cloud upon cloud +of men to make escalade by ladders, their comrades aiding them from under +cover with fire of couleuvrines and bows. Even so fought that famed +Knight of Brittany, Sir Bertrand du Guesclin. But he was long dead, and +whether the Maid (who honoured his memory greatly) fought as she did +through his example, or by direct teaching of the saints, I know not. + +If disorderly we began, the fault was soon amended; they who had +beleaguered the boulevard all night were set in the rear, to rest out of +shot; the fresh men were arrayed under their banners, in vineyards and +under the walls of fields, so that if one company was driven back another +was ready to come on, that the English might have no repose from battle. + +Now, the manner of the boulevard was this: first, there was a strong +palisade, and many men mustered within it; then came a wide, deep, dry +fosse; then a strong wall of earth, bound in with withes and palisaded, +and within it the gate of the boulevard. When that was won, and the +boulevard taken, men defending it might flee across a drawbridge, over a +stream, narrow and deep and swift, into Les Tourelles itself. Here they +were safe from them on the side of Orleans, by reason of the broken arch +of the bridge. So strong was this tower, that Monseigneur the Duc +d'Alencon, visiting it later, said he could have staked his duchy on his +skill to hold it for a week at least, with but few men, against all the +forces in France. The captain of the English was that Glasdale who had +reviled the Maid, and concerning whom she had prophesied that he should +die without stroke of sword. There was no fiercer squire in England, and +his men were like himself, being picked and chosen for that post; +moreover their backs were at the wall, for the French and Scots once +within the boulevard, it was in nowise easy for Talbot to bring the +English a rescue, as was seen. + +The battle began with shooting of couleuvrines at the palisade, to weaken +it, and it was marvel to see how the Maid herself laid the guns, as +cunningly as her own countryman, the famed Lorrainer. Now, when there +was a breach in the palisade, Xaintrailles led on his company, splendid +in armour, for he was a very brave young knight. We saw the pales fall +with a crash, and the men go in, and heard the cry of battle; but slowly, +one by one, they staggered back, some falling, some reeling wounded, and +rolling their bodies out of arrow-shot. And there, in the breach, shone +the back-plate of Xaintrailles, his axe falling and rising, and not one +foot he budged, till the men of La Hire, with a cry, broke in to back +him, and after a little space, swords fell and rose no more, but we saw +the banners waving of Xaintrailles and La Hire. Soon the side of the +palisade towards us was all down, as if one had swept it flat with his +hand, but there stood the earthen wall of the boulevard, beyond the +fosse. Then, all orderly, marched forth a band of men in the colours of +Florent d'Illiers, bearing scaling-ladders, and so began the escalade, +their friends backing them by shooting of arbalests from behind the +remnant of the palisade. A ladder would be set against the wall, and we +could see men with shields, or doors, or squares of wood on their heads +to fend off stones, swarm up it, and axes flashing on the crest of the +wall, and arrows flying, and smoke of guns: but the smoke cleared, and +lo! the ladder was gone, and the three libbards grinned on the flag of +England. So went the war, company after company staggering thinned from +the fosse, and re-forming behind the cover of the vineyards; company +after company marching forth, fresh and glorious, to fare as their +friends had fared. And ever, with each company, went the Maid at their +head, and D'Aulon, she crying that the place was theirs and now was the +hour! But the day went by, till the sun turned in heaven towards +evening, and no more was done. The English, in sooth, showed no fear nor +faint heart; with axe, and sword, and mace, and with their very hands +they smote and grappled with the climbers, and I saw a tall man, his +sword being broken, strike down a French knight with his mailed fist, and +drag another from a ladder and take him captive. Boldly they showed +themselves on the crest, running all risk of our arrows, as our men did +of theirs. + +Now came the Scots, under Kennedy. A gallant sight it was to see them +advance, shoulder to shoulder--Scots of the Marches and the Lennox, Fife, +Argyll, and the Isles, all gentlemen born. + +"Come on!" cried Randal Rutherford. "Come on, men of the Marches, Scots +of the Forest, Elliots, Rutherfords, Armstrongs, and deem that, +wheresoever a Southron slinks behind a stone, there is Carlisle wall!" + +The Rough Clan roared "Bellenden!" the Buchanans cried "Clare Innis," a +rag of a hairy Highlander from the Lennox blew a wild skirl on the war- +pipes, and hearing the Border slogan shouted in a strange country, nom +Dieu! my blood burned, as that of any Scotsman would. Contrary to the +Maid's desire, for she had noted that I was wan and weary, and had +commanded me to bide in cover, I cried "A Leslie! a Leslie!" and went +forward with my own folk, sword in hand and buckler lifted. + +Beside good Randal Rutherford I ran, and we both leaped together into the +ditch. There was a forest of ladders set against the wall, and I had my +foot on a rung, when the Maid ran up and cried, "Nom Dieu! what make you +here? Let me lead my Scots"; and so, pennon and axe in her left hand, +she lightly leaped on the ladder, and arrows ringing on her mail, and a +great stone glancing harmless from her salade, she so climbed that my +lady's face on the pennon above her looked down into the English keep. + +But, even then, I saw a face at an archere, an ill face and fell, the +wolf's eyes of Brother Thomas glancing along the stock of an arbalest. + +"Gardez-vous, Pucelle, gardez-vous!" I cried in her ear, for I was next +her on the ladder; but a bolt whistled and smote her full, and reeling, +she fell into my arms. + +I turned my back to guard her, and felt a bolt strike my back-piece; then +we were in the fosse, and all the Scots that might be were between her +and harm. Swiftly they bore her out of the fray, into a little green +vineyard, where was a soft grassy ditch. But the English so cried their +hurrah, that it was marvel, and our men gave back in fear; and had not +the Bastard come up with a fresh company, verify we might well have been +swept into the Loire. + +Some while I remained with Rutherford, Kennedy, and many others, for what +could we avail to help the Maid? and to run has an ill look, and gives +great heart to an enemy. Moreover, that saying of the Maid came into my +mind, that she should be smitten of a bolt, but not unto death. So I +even abode by the fosse, and having found an arbalest, my desire was to +win a chance of slaying Brother Thomas, wherefore I kept my eyes on that +archere whence he had shot. But no arbalest was pointed thence, and the +fight flagged. On both sides men were weary, and they took some meat as +they might, no ladders being now set on the wall. + +Then I deemed it no harm to slip back to the vineyard where the Maid lay, +and there I met the good Father Pasquerel, that was her confessor. He +told me that now she was quiet, either praying or asleep, for he had left +her as still as a babe in its cradle, her page watching her. The bolt +had sped by a rivet of her breast-piece, clean through her breast hard +below the shoulder, and it stood a hand-breadth out beyond. Then she had +wept and trembled, seeing her own blood; but presently, with such might +and courage as was marvel, she had dragged out the bolt with her own +hands. Then they had laid on the wound cotton steeped with olive oil, +for she would not abide that they should steep the bolt with weapon salve +and charm the hurt with a song, as the soldiers desired. Then she had +confessed herself to Pasquerel, and so had lain down among the grass and +the flowers. But it was Pasquerel's desire to let ferry her across +secretly to Orleans. This was an ill hearing for me, yet it was put +about in the army that the Maid had but taken a slight scratch, and again +would lead us on, a thing which I well deemed to be impossible. So the +day waxed late, and few onslaughts were made, and these with no great +heart, the English standing on the walls and openly mocking us. + +They asked how it went with the Maid, and whether she would not fain be +at home among her kine, or in the greasy kitchen? We would cry back, and +for my own part I bade them seek the kitchen as pock-puddings and belly- +gods, and that I cried in their own tongue, while they, to my great +amaze, called me "prentice boy" and "jackanapes." Herein I saw the craft +and devilish enmity of Brother Thomas, and well I guessed that he had +gotten sight of me; but his face I saw not. + +Ill names break no bones, and arrows from under cover wrought slight +scathe; so one last charge the Bastard commanded, and led himself, and a +sore tussle there was that time on the wall-crest, one or two of our men +leaping into the fort, whence they came back no more. + +Now it was eight hours of the evening, the sky grey, the men out-worn and +out of all heart, and the captains were gathered in council. Of this I +conceived the worst hope, for after a counsel men seldom fight. So I +watched the fort right sullenly, and the town of Orleans looking black +against a red, lowering sky in the west. Some concourse of townsfolk I +saw on the bridge, beside the broken arch, and by the Boulevard Belle +Croix; but I deemed that they had only come to see the fray as near as +might be. Others were busy under the river wall with a great black boat, +belike to ferry over the horses from our side. + +All seemed ended, and I misdoubted that we would scarce charge again so +briskly in the morning, nay, we might well have to guard our own gates. + +As I sat thus, pondering by the vineyard ditch, the Maid stood by me +suddenly. Her helmet was off, her face deadly white, her eyes like two +stars. + +"Bring me my horse," she said, so sternly that I crushed the answer on my +lips, and the prayer that she would risk herself no more. + +Her horse, that had been cropping the grass near him happily enough, I +found, and brought to her, and so, with some ado, she mounted and rode at +a foot's pace to the little crowd of captains. + +"Maiden, ma mie," said the Bastard. "Glad I am to see you able to mount. +We have taken counsel to withdraw for this night. Martin," he said to +his trumpeter, "sound the recall." + +"I pray you, sir," she said very humbly, "grant me but a little while"; +and so saying, she withdrew alone from the throng of men into the +vineyard. + +What passed therein I know not and no man knows; but in a quarter of an +hour's space she came forth, like another woman, her face bright and +smiling, her cheeks like the dawn, and so beautiful that we marvelled on +her with reverence, as if we had seen an angel. + +"The place is ours!" she cried again, and spurred towards the fosse. +Thence her banner had never gone back, for D'Aulon held it there, to be a +terror to the English. Even at that moment he had given it to a certain +Basque, a very brave man, for he himself was out-worn with its weight. +And he had challenged the Basque to do a vaillance, or boastful deed of +arms, as yesterday I and the Spaniard had done. So D'Aulon leaped into +the fosse, his shield up, defying the English; but the Basque did not +follow, for the Maid, seeing her banner in the hands of a man whom she +knew not, laid hold of it, crying, "Ha, mon estandart! mon estandart!" + +There, as they struggled for it, the Basque being minded to follow +D'Aulon to the wall foot, the banner wildly waved, and all men saw it, +and rallied, and flocked amain to the rescue. + +"Charge!" cried the Maid. "Forward, French and Scots; the place is +yours, when once my banner fringe touches the wall!" + +With that word the wind blew out the banner fringe, and so suddenly that, +though I saw the matter, I scarce knew how it was done, the whole host +swarmed up and on, ladders, lifted, and so furiously went they, that they +won the wall crest and leaped within the fort. Then the more part of the +English, adread, as I think, at the sight of the Maid whom they had +deemed slain, fled madly over the drawbridge into Les Tourelles. + +Then standing on the wall crest, whither I had climbed, I beheld strange +sights. First, through the dimness of the dusk, I saw a man armed, +walking as does a rope-dancer, balancing himself with his spear, across +the empty air, for so it seemed, above the broken arch of the bridge. +This appeared, in very sooth, to be a miracle; but, gazing longer, I saw +that a great beam had been laid by them of Orleans to span the gap, and +now other beams were being set, and many men, bearing torches, were +following that good knight, Nicole Giresme, who first showed the way over +such a bridge of dread. So now were the English in Les Tourelles between +two fires. + +Another strange sight I saw, for in that swift and narrow stream which +the drawbridge spanned whereby the English fled was moored a great black +barge, its stem and stern showing on either side of the bridge. Boats +were being swiftly pulled forth from it into the stream, and as I gazed, +there leaped up through the dark one long tongue of fire. Then I saw the +skill of it, namely, to burn down the drawbridge, and so cut the English +off from all succour. Fed with pitch and pine the flame soared lustily, +and now it shone between the planks of the drawbridge. On the stone +platform of the boulevard, wherein the drawbridge was laid, stood a few +English, and above them shone the axe of a tall squire, Glasdale, as it +fell on shield and helm of the French. Others held us at bay with long +lances, and never saw I any knight do his devoir more fiercely than he +who had reviled the Maid. For on his head lay all the blame of the +taking of the boulevard. To rear of him rang the shouts of them of +Orleans, who had crossed the broken arch by the beam; but he never turned +about, and our men reeled back before him. Then there shone behind him +the flames from the blazing barge; and so, black against that blaze, he +smote and slew, not knowing that the drawbridge began to burn. + +On this the Maid ran forth, and cried to him-- + +"Rends-toi, rends-toi! Yield thee, Glacidas; yield thee, for I stand in +much sorrow for thy soul's sake." + +Then, falling on her knees, her face shining transfigured in that fierce +light, she prayed him thus-- + +"Ah! Glacidas, thou didst call me ribaulde, but I have sorrow for thy +soul. Ah! yield thee, yield thee to ransom"; and the tears ran down her +cheeks, as if a saint were praying for a soul in peril. + +Not one word spoke Glasdale: he neither saw nor heard. But the levelled +spears at his side flew up, a flame caught his crest, making a plume of +fire, and with a curse he cast his axe among the throng, and the man who +stood in front of it got his death. Glasdale turned about as he threw; +he leaped upon the burning drawbridge, where the last of his men were +huddled in flight, and lo! beneath his feet it crashed; down he plunged +through smoke and flame, and the stream below surged up as bridge and +flying men went under in one ruin. + +The Maid gave a cry that rang above the roar of fire and water. + +"Saints! will no man save him?" she shrieked, looking all around her on +the faces of the French. + +A mad thought leaped up in my mind. + +"Unharness me!" I cried; and one who stood by me undid the clasps of my +light jaseran. I saw a head unhelmeted, I saw a hand that clutched at a +floating beam. I thought of the Maid's desire, and of the ransom of so +great a squire as Glasdale, and then I threw my hands up to dive, and +leaped head foremost into the water. + +Deep down I plunged, and swam far under water, to avoid a stroke from +floating timber, and then I rose and glanced up-stream. All the air was +fiercely lit with the blaze of the burning barge; a hand and arm would +rise, and fall ere I could seize it. A hand was thrown up before me, the +glinting fingers gripping at empty air. I caught the hand, swimming +strongly with the current, for so the man could not clutch at me, and if +a drowning man can be held apart, it is no great skill to save him. In +this art I was not unlearned, and once had even saved two men from a +wrecked barque in the long surf of St. Andrews Bay. Save for a blow from +some great floating timber, I deemed that I had little to fear; nay, now +I felt sure of the Maid's praise and of a rich ransom. + +A horn of bank with alder bushes ran out into the stream, a smooth eddy +or backwater curling within. I caught a bough of alder, and, though nigh +carried down by the drowning man's weight, I found bottom, yet hardly, +and drew my man within the backwater. He lay like a log, his face in the +stream. Pushing him before me, I rounded the horn, and, with much ado, +dragged him up to a sloping gravelly beach, where I got his head on dry +land, his legs being still in the water. I turned him over and looked +eagerly. Lo! it was no Glasdale, but the drowned face of Brother Thomas! + +Then something seemed to break in my breast; blood gushed from my mouth, +and I fell on the sand and gravel. Footsteps I heard of men running to +us. I lifted my hand faintly and waved it, and then I felt a hand on my +face. + + + + +CHAPTER XV--HOW NORMAN LESLIE WAS ABSOLVED BY BROTHER THOMAS + + +Certain Scots that found me, weak and bleeding, by the riverside, were +sent by the Maid, in hopes that I had saved Glasdale, whereas it was the +accursed cordelier I had won from the water. What they did with him I +knew not then, but me they laid on a litter, and so bore me to a boat, +wherein they were ferrying our wounded men across to Orleans. The Maid +herself, as she had foretold, returned by way of the bridge, that was all +bright with moving torches, as our groaning company were rowed across the +black water to a quay. Thence I was carried in a litter to our lodgings, +and so got to bed, a physician doing what he might for me. A noisy night +we passed, for I verily believe that no man slept, but all, after service +held in the Church of St. Aignan, went revelling and drinking from house +to house, and singing through the streets, as folk saved from utter +destruction. + +With daybreak fell a short silence; short or long, it seemed brief to me, +who was now asleep at last, and I was rueful enough when a sound aroused +me, and I found the Maid herself standing by my bedside, with one in the +shadow behind her. The chamber was all darkling, lit only by a thread of +light that came through the closed shutters of wood, and fell on her pale +face. She was clad in a light jaseran of mail, because of her wound, and +was plainly eager to be gone and about her business, that is, to meet the +English in open field. + +"Leslie, my friend," she said, in her sweet voice, "there were many brave +men in the fight yesterday, but, in God's name, none did a braver deed +than thou! Nay, speak not," she said, as I opened my lips to thank her, +"for the leech that tended thee last night forbids it, on peril of thy +very life. So I have brought thee here a sheet of fair paper, and a pen +and horn of ink, that thou, being a clerk, mayst write what thou hast to +say. Alas! such converse is not for me, who know not A from his brother +B. But the saints who helped thee have rewarded thee beyond all +expectation. Thou didst not save that unhappy Glacidas, whom God in His +mercy forgive! but thou hast taken a goodlier prize--this holy man, that +had been prisoner in the hands of the English." + +Here she stood a little aside, and the thread of light shone on the fell +face of Brother Thomas, lowering beneath his hood. + +Then I would have spoken, leech or no leech, to denounce him, for the +Maid had no memory of his face, and knew him not for the false friar +taken at St. Loup. But she laid her mailed finger gently on my lips. + +"Silence! Thou art my man-at-arms and must obey thy captain. This +worthy friar hath been long in the holy company of the blessed Colette, +and hath promised to bring me acquainted with that daughter of God. Ay, +and he hath given to me, unworthy as I am, a kerchief which has touched +her wonder-working hands. Almost I believe that it will heal thee by +miracle, if the saints are pleased to grant it." + +Herewith she drew a kerchief across my lips, and I began, being most +eager to instruct her innocence as to this accursed man-- + +"Lady--" but alas! no miracle was wrought for a sinner like me. Howbeit +I am inclined to believe that the kerchief was no saintly thing, and had +never come near the body of the blessed Colette, but rather was a gift +from one of the cordelier's light-o'-loves. Assuredly it was stained red +with blood from my lungs ere I could utter two words. + +The Maid stanched the blood, saying-- + +"Did I not bid thee to be silent? The saints forgive my lack of faith, +whereby this blessed thing has failed to heal thee! And now I must be +gone, to face the English in the field, if they dare to meet us, which, +methinks, they will not do, but rather withdraw as speedily as they may. +So now I leave thee with this holy man to be thy nurse-tender, and thou +canst write to him concerning thy needs, for doubtless he is a clerk. +Farewell!" + +With that she was gone, and this was the last I saw of her for many a +day. + +Never have I known such a horror of fear as fell on me now, helpless and +dumb, a sheep given over to the slaughter, in that dark chamber, which +was wondrous lown, {26} alone with my deadly foe. + +Never had any man more cause for dread, for I was weak, and to resist him +was death. I was speechless, and could utter no voice that the people in +the house might hear. As for mine enemy, he had always loathed and +scorned me; he had a long account of vengeance to settle with me; and +if--which was not to be thought of--he was minded to spare one that had +saved his life, yet, for his own safety, he dared not. He had beguiled +the Maid with his false tongue, and his face, not seen by her in the +taking of St. Loup, she knew not. But he knew that I would disclose all +the truth so soon as the Maid returned, wherefore he was bound to destroy +me, which he would assuredly do with every mockery, cruelty, and torture +of body and mind. Merely to think of him when he was absent was wont to +make my flesh creep, so entirely evil beyond the nature of sinful mankind +was this monster, and so set on working all kinds of mischief with +greediness. Whether he had suffered some grievous wrong in his youth, +which he spent his life in avenging on all folk, or whether, as I deem +likely, he was the actual emissary of Satan, as the Maid was of the +saints, I know not, and, as I lay there, had no wits left to consider of +it. Only I knew that no more unavailing victim than I was ever so +utterly in the power of a foe so deadly and terrible. + +The Maid had gone, and all hope had gone with her. For a time that +seemed unending mine enemy neither spoke nor moved, standing still in the +chink of light, a devil where an angel had been. + +There was silence, and I heard the Maid's iron tread pass down the +creaking wooden stairs, and soon I heard the sound of singing birds, for +my window looked out on the garden. + +The steps ceased, and then there was a low grating laughter in the dark +room, as if the devil laughed. + +Brother Thomas moved stealthily to the door, and thrust in the wooden +bolt. Then he sat him heavily down on my bed, and put his fiend's face +close to mine, his eyes stabbing into my eyes. But I bit my lip, and +stared right back into his yellow wolf's eyes, that shone like flames of +the pit with evil and cruel thoughts. + +So I lay, with that yellow light on me; and strength came strangely to +me, and I prayed that, since die I must, I might at least gladden him +with no sign of fear. When he found that he could not daunton me, he +laughed again. + +"Our chick of Pitcullo has picked up a spirit in the wars," he said; and +turning his back on me, he leaned his face on his hand, and so sat +thinking. + +The birds of May sang in the garden; there was a faint shining of silver +and green, from the apple-boughs and buds without, in the little chamber; +and the hooded back of the cordelier was before me on my bed, like the +shape of Death beside the Sick Man, in a picture. Now I did not even +pray, I waited. + +Doubtless he knew that no cruel thing which the devil could devise was +more cruel than this suspense. + +Then he turned about and faced me, grinning like a dog. + +"These are good words," said he, "in that foolish old book they read to +the faithful in the churches, 'Vengeance is Mine, saith the Lord.' Ay, +it is even too sweet a morsel for us poor Christian men, such as the +lowly Brother Thomas of the Order of St. Francis. Nevertheless, I am +minded to put my teeth in it"; and he bared his yellow dog's fangs at me, +smiling like a hungry hound. "My sick brother," he went on, "both as one +that has some science of leech-craft and as thy ghostly counsellor, it is +my duty to warn thee that thou art now very near thine end. Nay, let me +feel thy pulse"; and seizing my left wrist, he grasped it lightly in his +iron fingers. "Now, ere I administer to thee thy due, as a Christian +man, let me hear thy parting confession. But, alas! as the blessed Maid +too truly warned thee, thou must not open thy poor lips in speech. There +is death in a word! Write, then, write the story of thy sinful life, +that I may give thee absolution." + +So saying, he opened the shutter, and carefully set the paper and inkhorn +before me, putting the pen in my fingers. + +"Now, write what I shall tell thee"; and here he so pressed and wrung my +wrist that his fingers entered into my living flesh with a fiery pang. I +writhed, but I did not cry. + +"Write--" + +"I, Norman Leslie of Pitcullo--" and, to escape that agony, I wrote as he +bade me. + +"--being now in the article of death--" + +And I wrote. + +"--do attest on my hope of salvation--" And I wrote. + +"--and do especially desire Madame Jeanne, La Pucelle, and all Frenchmen +and Scots loyal to our Sovereign Lord the Dauphin, to accept my witness, +that Brother Thomas, of the Order of St. Francis, called Noiroufle while +of the world, has been most falsely and treacherously accused by me--" + +I wrote, but I wrote not his false words, putting my own in their +place--"has been most truly and righteously accused by me--" + +"--of divers deeds of black treason, and dealing with our enemies of +England, against our Lord the Dauphin, and the Maid, the Sister of the +Saints, and of this I heartily repent me,--" + +But I wrote, "All which I maintain--" + +"--as may God pardon my sins, on the faith of a sinful and dying man." + +"Now sign thy name, and that of thy worshipful cabbage-garden and +dunghill in filthy Scotland." So I signed, "Norman Leslie, the younger, +of Pitcullo," and added the place, Orleans, with the date of day and year +of our Lord, namely, May the eighth, fourteen hundred and twenty-nine. + +"A very laudable confession," quoth Brother Thomas; "would that all the +sinners whom I have absolved, as I am about to absolve thee, had cleansed +and purged their sinful souls as freely. And now, my brother, read aloud +to me this scroll; nay, methinks it is ill for thy health to speak or +read. A sad matter is this, for, in faith, I have forgotten my clergy +myself, and thou mayst have beguiled me by inditing other matter than I +have put into thy lying mouth. Still, where the safety of a soul is +concerned, a few hours more or less of this vain, perishable life weigh +but as dust in the balance." + +Here he took from about his hairy neck a heavy Italian crucifix of black +wood, whereon was a figure of our Lord, wrought in white enamel, with +golden nails, and a golden crown of thorns. + +"Now read," he whispered, heaving up the crucifix above me. And as he +lifted it, a bright blade, strong, narrow, and sharp, leaped out from +beneath the feet of our Lord, and glittered within an inch of my throat. +An emblem of this false friar it was, the outside of whom was as that of +a holy man, while within he was a murdering sword. + +"Read!" he whispered again, pricking my throat with the dagger's point. + +Then I read aloud, and as I read I was half choked with my blood, and now +and then was stopped; but still he cried-- + +"Read, and if one word is wrong, thine absolution shall come all the +swifter." + +So I read, and, may I be forgiven if I sinned in deceiving one so vile! I +uttered not what I had written, but what he had bidden me to write. + +"I, Norman Leslie of Pitcullo, being now in the article of death, do +attest on my hope of salvation, and do especially desire Madame Jeanne, +La Pucelle, and all Frenchmen and Scots loyal to our Sovereign Lord the +Dauphin, to accept my witness that Brother Thomas, of the Order of St. +Francis, called Noiroufle while of the world, has been most falsely and +treacherously accused by me of divers deeds of black treason, and dealing +with our enemies of England, against our Lord the Dauphin, and the Maid, +the Sister of the Saints, and of this I heartily repent me, as may God +pardon my sins, on the faith of a sinful and dying man. Signed, at +Orleans, Norman Leslie, the younger, of Pitcullo, this eighth of May, in +the year of our Lord fourteen hundred and twenty-nine." + +When I had ended, he took away his blasphemous dagger-point from my +throat. + +"Very clerkly read," he spake, "and all runs smooth; methinks myself had +been no poor scribe, were I but a clerk. Hadst thou written other +matter, to betray my innocence, thou couldst not remember what I said, +even word for word," he added gleefully. "Now I might strangle thee +slowly"; and he set his fingers about my throat, I being too weak to do +more than clutch at his hand, with a grasp like a babe's. "But that +leaves black finger-marks, another kind of witness than thine in my +favour. Or I might give thee the blade of this blessed crucifix; yet +dagger wounds are like lips and have a voice, and blood cries from the +ground, says Holy Writ. Pardon my tardiness, my poor brother, but this +demands deep thought, and holy offices must not be hurried unseemly." He +sat now with his back to me, his hand still on my throat, so deep in +thought that he heard not, as did my sharpened ears, a door shut softly, +and foot-falls echoing in the house below. If I could only cry aloud! +but he would stifle me ere the cry reached my throat! + +"This will serve," he said. "Thou wilt have died of thy malady, and I +will go softly forth, and with hushed voice will tell how the brave young +Scot passed quietly to the saints. Yet, after all, I know not. Thou +hast been sent by Heaven to my aid; clearly thou art an instrument of God +to succour the unworthy Brother Thomas. Once and twice thou hast been a +boat to carry me on my way, and to save my useful life. A third time +thou mightst well be serviceable, not by thy will, alas! but by God's, my +poor brother"; and he mockingly caressed my face with his abhorred hand. +"Still, this must even serve, though I would fain find for thee a more +bitter way to death"; and he gently and carefully drew the pillow from +beneath my head. "This leaves no marks and tells no tales, and permits +no dying cry." + +He was looking at me, the pillow in his hands, his gesture that of a +tender nurse, when a light tap sounded on the door. He paused, then came +a louder knock, one pushed, and knocked again. + +"Open, in the name of the Dauphin!" came a voice I knew well, the voice +of D'Aulon. + +"The rope of Judas strangle thee!" said Brother Thomas, dropping the +pillow and turning to the casement. But it was heavily barred with +stanchions of iron, as the manner is, and thereby he might not flee. + +Then came fiercer knocking with a dagger hilt, and the cry, "Open, in the +name of the Dauphin, or we burst the door!" + +Brother Thomas hastily closed the wooden shutter, to darken the chamber +as much as might be. "Gently, gently," he said. "Disturb not my +penitent, who is newly shrived, and about to pass"; and so speaking, he +withdrew the bolt. + +D'Aulon strode in, dagger in hand, followed by the physician. + +"What make you here with doors barred, false priest?" he said, laying his +hand on the frock of Noiroufle. + +"And what make you here, fair squire, with arms in a sick man's chamber, +and loud words to disturb the dying? And wherefore callest thou me +'false priest'? But an hour agone, the blessed Maid herself brought me +hither, to comfort and absolve her follower, to tend him, if he lived +and, if he must die, to give him his dues as a Christian man. And the +door was bolted that the penitent might be private with his confessor, +for he has a heavy weight to unburden his sinful soul withal." + +"Ay, the Maid sent thee, not knowing who thou wert, the traitor friar +taken at St. Loup, and thou hast a tongue that beguiled her simplicity. +But one that knew thee saw thy wolfs face in her company, and told me, +and I told the Maid, who sent me straightway back from the gate, that +justice might be done on thee. Thou art he whom this Scot charged with +treason, and would have slain for a spy, some nights agone." + +Brother Thomas cast up his eyes to heaven. + +"Forgive us our trespasses," said he, "as we forgive them that trespass +against us. Verily and indeed I am that poor friar who tends the +wounded, and verify I am he against whom this young Scot, as, I fear, is +the manner of all his benighted people, brought a slanderous accusation +falsely. All the more reason was there that I should hear his last +confession, and forgive him freely, as may I also be forgiven." + +"Thou liest in thy throat," said D'Aulon. "This is a brave man-at-arms, +and a loyal." + +"Would that thou wert not beguiled, fair sir, for I have no pleasure in +the sin of any man. But, if thou wilt believe him rather than me, even +keep thy belief, and read this written confession of his falsehood. Of +free will, with his own hand, my penitent hereby absolves me from all his +slanders. As Holy Church enjoins, in the grace of repentance he also +makes restitution of what he had stolen, namely, all my wealth in this +world, the good name of a poor and lowly follower of the blessed Francis. +Here is the scroll." + +With these words, uttered in a voice of sorrowing and humble honesty, the +friar stretched out the written sheet of paper to D'Aulon. + +"Had I been a false traitor," he said, "would not her brethren of heaven +have warned the blessed Maid against me? And I have also a written safe- +conduct from the holy sister Colette." + +Then I knew that he had fallen into my trap, and, weak as I was, I could +have laughed to think of his face, when the words I had written came out +in place of the words he had bidden me write. For a clerk hath great +power beyond the simple and unlettered of the world, be they as cunning +even as Brother Thomas. + +"Nom Dieu! this is another story," said D'Aulon, turning the paper about +in his hands and looking doubtfully at me. But I smiled upon him, +whereby he was the more perplexed. "The ink is hardly dry, and in some +places has run and puddled, so that, poor clerk as I am, I can make +little of it"; and he pored on it in a perplexed sort. "Tush, it is +beyond my clerkhood," he said at last. "You, Messire +Saint-Mesmin,"--turning to the physician--"must interpret this." + +"Willingly, fair sir," said the physician, moving round to the shutter, +which he opened, while the cordelier's eyes glittered, for now there was +one man less between him and the half-open door. I nodded to D'Aulon +that he should shut it, but he marked me not, being wholly in amaze at +the written scroll of my confession. + +The physician himself was no great clerk, and he read the paper slowly, +stumbling over the words, as it were, while Brother Thomas, clasping his +crucifix to his breast, listened in triumph as he heard what he himself +had bidden me write. + +"I, Norman Leslie, of--of Peet--What name is this? Peet--I cannot utter +it." + +"Passez outre," quoth D'Aulon. + +"I, Norman Leslie, being now in the article of death"--here the leech +glanced at me, shaking his head mournfully--"do attest on my hope of +salvation, and do especially desire Madame Jeanne La Pucelle, and all +Frenchmen and Scots loyal to our Sovereign Lord the Dauphin, to accept my +witness that Brother Thomas, of the Order of St. Francis, called +Noiroufle while of the world, has been most truly and righteously accused +by me of divers deeds of black treason." + +At these words the cordelier's hand leaped up from his breast, his +crucifix dagger glittered bright, he tore his frock from D'Aulon's grip, +leaving a rag of it in his hand, and smote, aiming at the squire where +the gorget joins the vambrace. Though he missed by an inch, yet so +terrible was the blow that D'Aulon reeled against the wall, while the +broken blade jingled on the stone floor. Then the frock of the friar +whisked through the open door of the chamber; we heard the stairs cleared +in two leaps, and D'Aulon, recovering his feet, rushed after the false +priest. But he was in heavy armour, the cordelier's bare legs were +doubtless the nimbler, and the physician, crossing himself, could only +gape and stare on the paper in his hand. As he gazed with his mouth open +his eyes fell on me, white as my sheets, that were dabbled with the blood +from my mouth. + +"Nom Dieu!" he stammered, "Nom Dieu! here is business more to my mind and +my trade than chasing after mad cordeliers that stab with crucifixes!" + +Then, coming to my side, he brought water, bathed my face, and did what +his art might do for a man in such deadly extremity as was mine. In +which care he was still busy when D'Aulon returned, panting, having sent +a dozen of townsfolk to hunt the friar, who had made good his flight over +garden walls, and was now skulking none knew where. D'Aulon would fain +have asked me concerning the mystery of the confession in which Brother +Thomas had placed his hope so unhappily, but the physician forbade him to +inquire, or me to answer, saying that it was more than my life was worth. +But on D'Aulon's battered armour there was no deeper dint than that dealt +by the murderous crucifix. + +Thus this second time did Brother Thomas make his way out of our hands, +the devil aiding him, as always; for it seemed that ropes could not bind +or water drown him. + +But, for my part, I lay long in another bout of sore fever, sick here at +Orleans, where I was very kindly entreated by the people of the house, +and notably by the daughter thereof, a fair maid and gentle. To her care +the Maid had commanded me when she left Orleans, the English refusing +battle, as later I heard, and withdrawing to Jargeau and Paris. But of +the rejoicings in Orleans I knew little or nothing, and had no great +desire for news, or meat, or drink, but only for sleep and peace, as is +the wont of sick men. Now as touches sickness and fever, I have written +more than sufficient, as Heaven knows I have had cause enow. A luckless +life was mine, save for the love of Elliot; danger and wounds, and malady +and escape, where hope seemed lost, were and were yet to be my portion, +since I sailed forth out of Eden-mouth. And so hard pressed of sickness +was I, that not even my outwitting of Brother Thomas was a cause of +comfort to me, though to this day I cannot think of it without some +mirthful triumph. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI--HOW SORROW CAME ON NORMAN LESLIE, AND JOY THEREAFTER + + +It little concerns any man to know how I slowly recovered my health after +certain failings back into the shadow of death. Therefore I need not +tell how I was physicked, and bled, and how I drew on from a diet of milk +to one of fish, and so to a meal of chicken's flesh, till at last I could +sit, wrapped up in many cloaks, on a seat in the garden, below a great +mulberry tree. In all this weary time I knew little, and for long cared +less, as to what went on in the world and the wars. But so soon as I +could speak it was of Elliot that I devised, with my kind nurse, +Charlotte Boucher, the young daughter of Jacques Boucher, the Duke's +treasurer, in whose house I lay. She was a fair lass, and merry of mood, +and greatly hove up my heart to fight with my disease. It chanced that, +as she tended me, when I was at my worst, she marked, hanging on a silken +string about my neck, a little case of silver artfully wrought, wherein +was that portrait of my mistress, painted by me before I left Chinon. +Being curious, like all girls, and deeming that the case held some relic, +she opened it, I knowing nothing then of what she did. But when I was +well enough to lie abed and devise with her, it chanced that I was +playing idly with my fingers about the silver case. + +"Belike," said Charlotte, "that is some holy relic, to which, maybe, you +owe your present recovery. Surely, when you are whole again, you have +vowed a pilgrimage to the shrine of the saint, your friend?" Here she +smiled at me gaily, for she was a right merry damsel, and a goodly. + +"Nay," she said, "I have done more for you than your physician, seeing +that I, or the saint you serve, have now brought the red colour into +these wan cheeks of yours. Is she a Scottish saint, then? perchance St. +Margaret, of whom I have read? Will you not let me look at the sacred +thing?" + +"Nay," said I. "Methinks, from your smiling, that you have taken +opportunity to see my treasure before to-day, being a daughter of our +mother Eve." + +"She is very beautiful," said Charlotte; "nay, show her to me again!" + +With that I pressed the spring and opened the case, for there is no lover +but longs to hear his lady commended, and to converse about her. Yet I +had spoken no word, for my part, about her beauty, having heard say that +he who would be well with one woman does ill to praise another in her +presence. + +"Beautiful, indeed, she is," said Charlotte. "Never have I seen such +eyes, and hair like gold, and a look so gracious! And for thy pilgrimage +to the shrine of this fair saint, where does she dwell?" + +I told her at Chinon, or at Tours, or commonly wheresoever the Court +might be, for that her father was the King's painter. + +"And you love her very dearly?" + +"More than my life," I said. "And may the saints send you, demoiselle, +as faithful a lover, to as fair a lady." + +"Nay," she said, reddening. "This is high treason, and well you wot that +you hold no lady half so fair as your own. Are you Scots so +smooth-spoken? You have not that repute. Now, what would you give to +see that lady?" + +"All that I have, which is little but my service and goodwill. But she +knows not where I am, nor know I how she fares, which irks me more than +all my misfortunes. Would that I could send a letter to her father, and +tell him how I do, and ask of their tidings." + +"The Dauphin is at Tours," she said, "and there is much coming and going +between Tours and this town. For the Maid is instant with the Dauphin to +ride forthwith to Reims, and there be sacred and crowned; but now he +listens and believes, and anon his counsellors tell him that this is +foolhardy, and a thing impossible." + +"O they of little faith!" I said, sighing. + +"None the less, word has come that the Maid has been in her oratory at +prayers, and a Voice from heaven has called to her, saying, 'Fille de +Dieu, va, va, va! Je serai en ton aide. Va!' {27} The Dauphin is much +confirmed in his faith by this sign, and has vowed that he will indeed +march with the Maid to Reims, though his enemies hold all that country +which lies between. But first she must take the towns which the English +hold on Loire side, such as Jargeau. Now on Jargeau, while you lay +knowing nothing, the Bastard of Orleans, and Xaintrailles, and other good +knights, made an onslaught, and won nothing but loss for their pains, +though they slew Messire Henry Bisset, the captain of the town. But if +the Maid takes Jargeau, the Dauphin will indeed believe in her and follow +her." + +"He is hard of heart to believe, and would that I were where he should +be--under her holy pennon, for thereon, at least, I should see the face +painted of my lady. But how does all this bring me nearer the hope of +hearing about her, and how she fares?" + +"There are many messengers coming and going to Tours, for the Dauphin is +gathering force under the Maid, and has set the fair Duc d'Alencon to be +her lieutenant, with the Bastard, and La Hire, and Messire Florent +d'Illiers. And all are to be here in Orleans within few days; wherefore +now write to the father of thy lady, and I will myself write to her." +With that she gave me paper and pen, and I indited a letter to my master, +telling him how I had lain near to death of my old wound, in Orleans, and +that I prayed him of his goodness to let me know how he did, and to lay +me at the feet of my lady. Then Charlotte showed me her letter, wherein +she bade Elliot know that I had hardly recovered, after winning much fame +(for so she said) and a ransom of gold from an English prisoner, which +now lay in the hands of her father, the Duke's treasurer. Then she said +that a word from Elliot, not to say the sight of her face, the fairest in +the world (a thing beyond hope), would be of more avail for my healing +than all the Pharaoh powders of the apothecaries. These, in truth, I had +never taken, but put them away secretly, as doubting whether such +medicaments, the very dust of the persecuting Egyptian and idolatrous +race, were fit for a Christian to swallow, with any hope of a blessing. +Thus my kind nurse ended, calling herself my lady's sister in the love of +France and of the Maid, and bidding my lady be mindful of so true a +lover, who lay sick for a token at her hands. These letters she sealed, +and intrusted to Colet de Vienne, the royal messenger, the same who rode +from Vaucouleurs to Chinon, in the beginning of the Maid's mission, and +who, as then, was faring to Tours with letters from Orleans. + +Meanwhile all the town was full of joy, in early June, because the Maid +was to visit the city, with D'Alencon and the Bastard, on her way to +besiege Jargeau. It was June the ninth, in the year of our Lord fourteen +hundred and twenty-nine, the sun shining warm in a clear blue sky, and +all the bells of Orleans a-ringing, to welcome back the Maiden. I myself +sat in the window, over the doorway, alone with Charlotte sitting by my +side, for her father had gone to the Hotel de Ville, with her mother, to +welcome the captains. Below us were hangings of rich carpets, to make +the house look gay, for every house was adorned in the best manner, and +flags floated in the long street, and flowers strewed the road, to do +honour to our deliverer. Thus we waited, and presently the sound of +music filled the air, with fragrance of incense, for the priests were +walking in front, swinging censers and chanting the Te Deum laudamus. And +then came a company of girls strewing flowers, and fair boys blowing on +trumpets, and next, on a black horse, in white armour, with a hucque of +scarlet broidered with gold, the blessed Maid herself, unhelmeted, +glancing every way with her happy eyes, while the women ran to touch her +armour with their rings, as to a saint, and the men kissed her mailed +feet. + +To be alive, and to feel my life returning in a flood of strength and joy +in that sweet air, with the gladness of the multitude pulsing through it +as a man's heart beats in his body, seemed to me like Paradise. But out +of Paradise our first parents were driven long ago, as anon I was to be +from mine. For, as the Maid passed, I doffed my cap and waved it, since +to shout "Noel" with the rest, I dared not, because of my infirmity. Now, +it so fell that, glancing around, she saw and knew me, and bowed to me, +with a gesture of her hand, as queenly as if she, a manant's child, had +been a daughter of France. At that moment, noting the Maid's courtesy +towards me, Charlotte stood up from beside me, with a handful of red +roses, which she threw towards her. As it chanced, belike because she +was proud to be with one whom the Maid honoured, or to steady herself as +she threw, she laid her left hand about my neck, and so standing, cast +her flowers, and then looked laughing back into my eyes, with a happy +face. The roses missed the Maid, whose horse caracoled at that moment as +she went by, but they lit in the lap of a damsel that rode at her rein, +on a lyart {28} palfrey, and she looking up, I saw the face of Elliot, +and Elliot saw me, and saw Charlotte leaning on me and laughing. Then +Elliot's face grew deadly pale, her lower lip stiff, as when she was +angered with me at Chinon, and so, wrying her neck suddenly to the left, +she rode on her way, nor ever looked towards us again. + +"Who may that proud damsel be, and what ails her at my roses?" quoth +Charlotte, sitting herself down again and still following them with her +eyes. "Methinks I have seen her face before; and what ails you?" she +asked, looking earnestly on me, "for you are as white as the last snow +ere it melts in spring." + +I had good reason to be pale, for I very well guessed that Elliot, having +ridden in the Maiden's company to see me, and to surprise me with the +unlooked-for gladness of her coming, had marked Charlotte as she so +innocently leaned on me and laughed to me, and had conceived anger +against us both, for of a truth Charlotte was very fair and of a joyous +aspect. Yet, taken so suddenly as I was, between the extreme of delight +in looking on my lady beyond hope, and the very deep of sorrow that she +had so bitterly slighted me, I was yet wary of betraying myself. For the +girl beside me had, in all honest and maidenly service that woman may do +for man, been kinder to me than a sister, and no thought or word of +earthly love had ever passed between us. That she should wot of Elliot's +anger, and of its cause, and so hold my lady lightly, ay, and triumph +over her in her heart (as is the nature of a woman, her ministry being +thus churlishly repaid), was more than I could endure. So, may the +saints forgive me! I lied, and it is a strange thing, but true, that +howsoever a gentleman may hate the very thought of a lie, yet often he +finds it hard to tell the truth to a woman. + +"Do I look white?" I said. "Then it is because I have a sudden pang of +sorrow. For one moment I deemed that proud damsel was the lady of my +love, whom, in verity, she most strangely favours, so that you might +think them sisters. But alas! she is but the daughter of a good Scots +knight at Chinon, whom I have seen there before to-day, and marvelled how +much she and my lady favour each other. Therefore am I pale, because +that hope of mine is broken. And you know her face, belike, from my poor +picture of my lady." + +Charlotte looked at me steadily, and flushed red; but even then, one who +rode by among the men-at-arms noted me, and, waving his arm towards me, +cried in a loud voice-- + +"Hail, fair son, soon will I be with thee!" and so, turning in his saddle +to watch me, he laughed a loud laugh and rode onwards. He was my master, +and as my eyes followed him, Charlotte spoke. + +"And who is that great Scot, with his Scots twang of the tongue, who +called you 'son'? By the Mass, she was your lady, and yonder wight is +her father, of whom you have spoken to me more than once"; for, indeed, I +had told her all the story of my loves. + +Then I was confused, for I could no longer deny the truth, and not having +one word to say, I sighed from my heart. + +"O faint-spirited man-at-arms!" cried Charlotte, blushing, and laughing +as if some exquisite jest were abroad. "Do you so terribly dread your +mistress's anger? Nay, be of good cheer! Me she will never forgive +while the world stands; for have I not been your nurse, and won you back +to life and to her service? And has she not seen us twain together in +one place, and happy, because of the coming of the Maid? She will pardon +me never, because, also for my sake, she has been wroth with you, and +shown you her wrath, and all without a cause. Therefore she will be +ashamed, and all the more cruel. Nay, nor would I forgive her, in the +same case, if it befell me, for we women are all alike, hearts of wolves +when we love! Hast thou never marked a cat that had kittens, or a +brachet that had whelps, how they will fly at man or horse that draws +near their brood, even unwittingly. And so, when we love, are we all, +and the best of us are then the worst. Verily the friendship of you and +me is over and done; but for your part be glad, not sorry, for with all +her heart and soul she loves you. Else she had not been angered." + +"You must not speak, nor I hear, such words of my lady," I said; "it is +not seemly." + +"Such words of your lady, and of Aymeric's lady, and of Giles's lady, and +of myself were I any man's lady, as I am no man's lady, I will think and +speak," said Charlotte, "for my words are true, and we maids are, at +best, pretty fools, and God willed us to be so for a while, and then to +be wiser than the rest of you. For, were we not pretty, would you wed +us? and were we not fools, would we wed you? and where would God's world +be then? But now you have heard enough of my wisdom: for I love no man, +being very wise; or you have heard enough of my folly that my mirth bids +me speak, as you shall deem it. And now, we must consider how this great +feud may be closed, and the foes set at one again." + +"Shall I find out her lodgings, and be carried thither straightway in a +litter? Her heart may be softened when she sees that I cannot walk or +mount a horse?" + +"Now, let me think what I should deem, if I had ridden by, unlooked for, +and spied my lover with a maid, not unfriendly, or perchance uncomely, +sitting smiling in a gallant balcony. Would I be appeased when he came +straight to seek me, borne in a litter? Would I--?" And she mused, her +finger at her mouth, and her brow puckered, but with a smile on her lips +and in her eyes. + +Then I, seeing her so fair, yet by me so undesired; and beholding her so +merry, while my heart was amazed with the worst sorrow, and considering, +too, that but for her all this would never have been, but I sitting happy +by my lady's side,--thinking on all this, I say, I turned from her +angrily, as if I would leave the balcony. + +"Nay, wait," she cried, "for I must see all the show out, and here come +the Scots Guard, thy friends, and I need time to take counsel with my +wisdom on this weighty matter. See, they know you"; and, indeed, many a +man in that gallant array waved his hand to me merrily, as they filed +past under their banners--the Douglas's bloody heart, the Crescent moon +of Harden, the Napier's sheaf of spears, the blazons of Lindsays and +Leslies, Homes, and Hepburns, and Stuarts. It was a sight to put life +into the dying breast of a Scot in a strange country, and all were strong +men and young, ruddy and brown of cheek, high of heart and heavy of hand. +And most beckoned to me, and pointed onwards to that way whither they +were bound, in chase of fame and fortune. All this might have made a +sick man whole, but my spirit was dead within me, so that I could scarce +beckon back to them, or even remember their faces. + +"Would I forgive you," said Charlotte, after she had thrown the remnant +of her roses to her friends among the Scots, "if you hurried to me, pale, +and borne in a litter? Nay, methinks not, or not for long; and then I +should lay it on you never to see her face again;--she is I, you know, +for the nonce. But if you waited and did not come, then my pride might +yield at length, and I send for you. But then, if so, methinks I would +hate her (that is, me) more than ever. Oh, it is a hard case when maids +are angry!" + +"You speak of yourself, how you would do this or that; but my lady is +other than you, and pitiful. Did she not come all these leagues at a +word from me, hearing that I was sick?" + +"At a word from you, good youth! Nay, at a word from me! Did you speak +of me in your letter to her father?" + +"Nay!" said I. + +"You did well. And therefore it was that I wrote, for I knew she would +move heaven and earth and the Maid or she would come when she heard of +another lass being in your company. Nay, trust me, we women understand +each other, and she would ask the Maid, who lodged here with us, what +manner of lass I was to look upon, and the Maid's answer would bring +her." + +"You have been kind," I said. "And to you and the saints I owe it that I +yet live to carry a sore heart and be tormented with your ill tongue." + +"And had you heard that a fair young knight, and renowned in arms, lay +sick at your lady's house, she nursing him, would you not have cast about +for ways of coming to her?" + +To this I answered nothing, but, with a very sour countenance, was rising +to go, when my name was called in the street. + +Looking down, I saw my master, who doffed his cap to the daughter of the +house, and begging leave to come up, fastened his horse's bridle to the +ring in the wall, by the door. + +Up he came, whom Charlotte welcomed very demurely, and so left us, saying +that she must go about her household business; but as she departed she +cast a look back at me, making a "moue," as the French say, with her red +lips. + +"Well, my son," cried my master, taking my hand, "why so pale? Sure thou +hast had a sore bout, but thou art mending." + +I could but stammer my lady's name-- + +"Elliot--shall I see her soon?" + +He scratched his rough head and pulled his russet beard, and so laughed +shamefacedly. + +"Why, lad, to that very end she came, and now--St. Anthony's fire take me +if I well know why--she will none of it. The Maid brought us in her +company, for, as you know, she will ever have young lasses with her when +she may, and as far as Orleans the roads are safe. And who so glad as +Elliot when the Maid put this command on her, after we got thy letter? I +myself was most eager to ride, not only for your sake, but to see how +Orleans stood after the long pounding. But when we had come to our +lodging, and I was now starting off to greet you, Elliot made no motion +of rising. Nay, when I bade her make haste, she said that haste there +was none; and when I, marvelling, asked, 'Wherefore?' answered that she +was loth to spoil good company, and had seen you, as I did myself, happy +enough with the lass who nursed you, and who had written to her." + +"And wherefore, in Heaven's name, should we not be happy on such a day as +this was an hour agone? But now the sun is out of the sky." + +"I see him plainer than ever I did in the Merse," said my master, looking +up where the sun was bright in the west. "But what would you? Women +have been thus since Eve had a daughter, for our father Adam, I trow, had +no trouble with other ladies than his wife--and that was trouble enough." + +"But how am I to make my peace, and win my pardon, being innocent as I +am?" + +"Faith, I know not!" said he, and laughed again, which angered me some +deal, for what was there to laugh at? + +"May I let bring a litter, for I cannot yet walk, and so go back with you +to her?" + +"Indeed, I doubt if it were wise," said he; and so we stood gazing at +each other, while I could have wept for very helpless anger. "I have it, +I think," said he at last. "The Maid is right busy, as needs must be, +gathering guns and food for her siege of Jargeau. But it is not fitting +that she should visit Orleans without seeing you, nor would she wish to +be so negligent. Yet if she were, I would put it in her mind, and then, +when you are with her, which Elliot shall not know, I will see that +Elliot comes into the chamber, and so leave all to you, and to her, and +to the Maid. For she hath great power with that silly wench of mine, who +has no other desire, I trow, than a good excuse to be rid of her sudden +anger. If she loved you less, she would be never so fiery." + +I myself could see no better hope or comfort. + +Then he began to devise with me on other matters, and got from me the +story of my great peril at the hands of Brother Thomas. He laughed at +the manner of my outwitting that miscreant, who had never been taken, but +was fled none knew whither, and my master promised to tell the tale to +the Maid, and warn her against this enemy. And so bidding me be of good +cheer, he departed; but for my part, I went into my chamber, drew the +bolt, and cast myself on the bed, refusing meat or drink, or to see the +face of man or woman. + +I was devoured by a bitter anger, considering how my lady had used me, +and what was most sore of all, reflecting that I could no longer hold her +for a thing all perfect, and almost without touch of mortal infirmity. +Nay, she was a woman like another, and unjust, and to deem thus of her +was to me the most cruel torment. We could never forgive each the other, +so it seemed to me, nor be again as we had been. And all the next day no +message came for me, and I kept myself quiet, apart in my chamber. Lest +they who read mock at me in their hearts, and at my lady, let them +remember how young we both were, and how innocent of other experience in +love. For the Roman says that "the angers of lovers are love's renewal," +as the brief tempests of April bring in the gladness of May. But in my +heart it was all white sleet, and wind, and snow unseasonable, and so I +lay, out of all comfort, tossing on my bed. + +I heard the watchmen call the hours through the night, and very early, +having at length fallen on sleep, I was wakened by a messenger from the +Maid. It was her page, Louis de Coutes, most richly attired, but still +half asleep, grumbling, and rubbing his eyes. + +"My mistress bids you come with me instantly," he said, when we had +saluted each other, "and I have brought a litter and men to carry it. +Faith, if I lay in it, I should be asleep ere ever they had borne me ten +paces. What a life it is that I lead! Late to bed and up by prime, so +busy is my mistress; and she lives as it were without sleep, and feeds on +air." + +Here he threw himself down in a great chair, and verily, by the time I +had washed and attired myself, I had to shake him by the shoulder to +arouse him. Thus I was carried to the Maid's lodging, my heart beating +like a hammer with hopes and fears. + +We found her already armed, for that day she was to ride to Jargeau, and +none was with her but her confessor. She gave me the best of greetings, +and bade me eat bread and drink wine. "And soon," she said, "if you +recover the quicker, I trust to give you wine to drink in Paris." + +She herself dipped a crust in wine and water, and presently, bidding her +confessor, Pasquerel, wait for her in the little oratory, she asked me +how I did, and told me what fear she had been in for me, as touching +Brother Thomas, when she learned who he was, yet herself could not return +from the field to help me. + +"But now," said she, smiling with a ravishing sweetness, "I hear you are +in far greater peril from a foe much harder and more cruel--ma mie +Elliot. Ah! how you lovers put yourselves in jeopardy, and take me from +my trade of war to play the peacemaker! Surely I have chosen the safer +path in open breach and battle, though would that my war was ended, and I +sitting spinning again beside my dear mother." Hereon her face grew more +tender and sad than ever I had seen it, and there came over me +forgetfulness of my private grief, as of a little thing, and longing to +ride at the Maiden's rein, where glory was to be won. + +"Would that even now I could march with you," I said; and she, smiling, +made answer-- + +"That shall yet be; yea, verily," and here the fashion of her countenance +altered wondrously, "I know, and know not how I know, that thou shalt be +with me when all have forsaken me and fled." + +Then she fell silent, and I also, marvelling on her face and on the words +which she spoke. There came a light tap at the door, and she awoke as it +were from a trance which possessed her. She drew her hands over her +face, with a long sigh; she knelt down swiftly, and crossed herself, +making an obeisance, for I deem that her saints had been with her, +wherefore I also crossed myself and prayed. Then she rose and cried +"Enter!" and ere I could speak she had passed into the oratory, and I was +alone with Elliot. + +Elliot gave one low cry, and cast her arms about my neck, hiding her face +on my breast, and sobbing as if her heart would break. + +"I have been mad, I have been bad!" she moaned. "Oh! say hard words to +me, and punish me, my love." + +But I had no word to say, only I fell back into a great chair for very +weakness, holding my lady in my arms. + +And thus, with words few enough, but great delight, the minutes went +past, till she lifted her wet face and her fragrant hair; and between +laughing and crying, studied on my face and caressed me, touching my thin +cheek, and wept and laughed again. "I was mad," she whispered; "it +seemed as if a devil entered into me. But She spoke to me and cast him +out, and she bade me repent." + +"And do penance," I said, kissing her till she laughed again, saying that +I was a hard confessor, and that the Maid had spoken no word of penances. + +"Yet one I must do and suffer," she said, "and it is more difficult to me +than these austerities of thine." + +Here her face grew very red, and she hid it with her hands. + +"What mean you?" I asked, wondering. + +"I must see her, and thank her for all her kindness to thee." + +"The Maid?" I asked. + +"Nay, that other, thy--fair nurse. Nay, forbid me not, I have sworn it +to myself, and I must go. And the Maiden told me, when I spoke of it, +that it was no more than right." Then she threw her arms about me again, +in the closest embrace, and hid her head. Now, this resolve of hers gave +me no little cause of apprehension, as not knowing well how things might +pass in such an encounter of two ladies. But even then one touched me on +the shoulder from behind, and the Maid herself stood beside us. + +"O joy!" she said, "my peacemaking has been blessed! Go, you foolish +folk, and sin no more, and peace and happiness be with you, long years, +and glad children at your knees. Yet hereof I know nothing from my +counsel. And now I must go forth about the Dauphin's business, and to do +that for which I was sent. They that brought thee in the litter will +carry thee back again; so farewell." + +Thus saying, she stooped and kissed Elliot, who leaped up and caught the +Maid in her arms, and they embraced, and parted for that time, Elliot +weeping to lose her, and at the thought of the dangers of war. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII--HOW ELLIOT LOST HER JACKANAPES + + +The Maid's confessor, Pasquerel, stood in the chamber where we had met, +with his eyes bent on the ground, so that Elliot and I had no more free +speech at that time. Therefore I said farewell, not daring to ask of her +when her mind was to visit my hosts, and, indeed, my trust was that she +might leave this undone, lest new cause of sorrow should arise. Thus we +parted, with very courtly leave-taking, the priest regarding us in his +manner, and I was carried in the litter through the streets, that had +been so quiet when I came forth in the morning, but now they were full of +men and of noise. Herds of cattle were being driven for the food of the +army marching against Jargeau; there were trains of carts full of +victual, and the citizens having lent the Maid their great pieces of +ordnance, the bombard called "The Shepherdess," and the gun "Montargis," +these were being dragged along by clamorous companies of apprentices, and +there were waggons charged with powder, and stone balls, and boxes of +arrows, spades and picks for trenching, and all manner of munition of +war. By reason of the troops of horses and of marching men, they that +bore me were often compelled to stop. Therefore, lest any who knew me +should speak with me, I drew the curtains of the litter, for I had much +matter to think on, and was fain to be private. But this was to be of no +avail, for I heard loud voices in my own tongue. + +"What fair lady is this who travels so secretly?" and, with this, one +drew the curtains, and there was the face of Randal Rutherford, with +others behind him. Then he uttered a great cry-- + +"Faith, it is our lady of the linen-basket, and no other"; and leaning +within, he gave me a rough embrace and a kiss of his bearded lips. "Why +so early astir, our sick man?" he cried. "Get yourself healed anon, and +be with us when we take Paris town, Norman, for there is booty enough to +furnish all Scotland. Shalt thou be with us yet?" + +"If my strength backs my will, Randal; and truly your face is a sight for +sair eyne, and does me more good than all the powers of the apothecary." + +"Then here is to our next merry meeting," he cried, "under Paris walls!" + +With that the Scots gave a shout, and, some of them crowding round to +press my hand, they bade me be of good cheer, and all went onward, +singing in the tune of "Hey, tuttie tattie," which the pipers played when +we broke the English at Bannockburn. + +So I was borne back to the house of Jacques Boucher, and, in the sunny +courtyard, there stood Charlotte, looking gay and fair, yet warlike, as I +deemed. She was clad in a long garment of red over a white robe, and had +sleeves of green, so that she wore the spring's own colours, and she was +singing a French ditty concerning a lady who has a lover, and vows that +she will never be a nun. + + Seray-je nonnette, oui ou non, + Serray-je nonnette, je croy que non! + +Seeing me, she stinted in her singing, and in feeding a falcon that was +perched on her wrist. + +"You are early astir for a sick man," she said. "Have you been on +pilgrimage, or whither have you been faring?" + +"The Maid sent for me right early, for to-day she rides to Jargeau, and +to you she sends a message of her love,"--as indeed she had done, "but, +for the great press of affairs she might not visit you." + +"And Mistress Elliot Hume, has she forgiven her lover yet? nay, I see by +your face that you are forgiven! And you go south, this very day, is it +not so?" + +"Indeed," I said, "if it is your will that we part, part we must, though +I sorrow for it; but none has given me the word to march, save you, my +fair nurse and hostess." + +"Nay, it is not I who shall speed you; nevertheless the Maid is not the +only prophetess in this realm of France, and something tells me that we +part this day. But you are weary; will you get you to your chamber, or +sit in the garden under the mulberry-tree, and I shall bring you out a +cup of white wine." + +Weary I was indeed, and the seat in the garden among the flowers seemed a +haven most desirable. So thither I went, leaning on her shoulder, and +she returned to bring the wine, but was some while absent, and I sat deep +in thought. I was marvelling, not only as to what my mistress would next +do, and when I should see her again (though that was uppermost in my +mind), but also concerning the strange words of the Maid, that I alone +should be with her when all forsook her and fled. How might this be, and +was she not to be ever victorious, and drive the English forth of France? +To my thinking the Maid dwelt ever in two worlds, with her brethren of +Paradise, and again with sinful men. And I have often considered that +she did not always remember, in this common life, what had befallen her, +and what she knew when, as the Apostle says, she "was out of the body." +For I have heard her say, more than once, that she "would last but one +year, or little more," and, again, she would make plans for three years +to come, or four, which is a mystery. + +So I was pondering, when I looked up, and saw Charlotte standing in the +entrance between the court and garden, looking at me and smiling, as she +shaded her eyes with her hand from the sun, and then she ran to me +lightly as a lapwing. + +"They are coming down the street, looking every way for our house, your +lady and her father," she said, putting the wine-cup into my hand. "Now +is it war or peace?" and she fled back again within the house. + +My heart stood still, for now everything was on the fall of the dice. +Would this mad girl be mocking or meek? Would she anger my lady to my +ruin with her sharp tongue? For Charlotte was of a high temper, and wont +to rule all the house by reason of her beauty and kind wild ways. Nor +was Elliot the meekest of women, as well I knew, and a word, nay a smile, +or a glance of mockery, might lightly turn her heart from me again for +ever. Oh! the lot of a lover is hard, at least if he has set all his +heart on the cast, as I had done, and verily, as our Scots saw runs, +"women are kittle cattle." It is a strange thing that one who has +learned not to blench from a bare blade, or in bursting of cannon-balls +and flight of arrows, should so easily be daunted where a weak girl is +concerned; yet so it was in my case. I know not if I feared more than +now when Brother Thomas had me in the still chamber, alone at his mercy. + +So the minutes went by, the sun and shade flickering through the boughs +of the mulberry-tree, and the time seemed long. Perchance, I thought, +there had been war, as Charlotte had said, and my lady had departed in +anger with her father, and I was all undone. Yet I dared not go to seek +them in the house, not knowing how matters were passing, and whether I +should do good or harm. So I waited, and at length Charlotte came forth +alone. Now she walked slowly, her eyes bent on the ground, and, as she +drew near, I saw that they were red, and I guessed that she had been +weeping. So I gave up all for lost, and my heart turned to water within +me. + +"I am sent to bid you come in," she said gravely. + +"What has passed?" I cried. "For the saints' sake, tell me all!" + +"This has passed, that I have seen such a lady as I never dreamed I +should see, and she has made me weep--foolish that I am!" + +"Why, what did she? Did she speak unkindly then, to my kind nurse?" + +For this I could in no manner have endured, nor have abased myself to +love one that was unjust, how dear soever; and none could be dearer than +Elliot. Yet unjust she might have been; and this thought to me was the +greatest torment. + +"Speak unkind words? Oh, I remember my foolish talk, how I said that she +would never forgive me while the world stands. Nay, while her father was +with mine and with my mother, thanking them for what they did for you, +she led me apart to devise with me, and I took her to my chamber, and +there, with tears in her eyes, and in the sweetest manner, she prayed me +to pardon her for that she had been mad for a moment; and so, looking +meek as an angel, she awaited my word. And I could not but weep, though +to weep is never my way, and we embraced each the other, and I told her +how all your converse had ever been of her, even when you were beside +yourself, in your fever, and how never was so faithful a lover. Nay, I +bid you be glad, for I never deemed that any woman living on earth would +so repent and so confess herself to another, where she herself had first +been wroth, but would blame all the world rather, and herself--never. So +we women are not all alike, as I thought; for I would hardly have +forgiven, if I know myself; and yet I am no worse than another. Truly, +she has been much with the Maid, and has caught from her this, to be like +her, who is alone among women, and of the greatest heart." + +Here she ceased to speak very gravely, as she had till now done, and +breaking out into a sweet laughter, she cried-- + +"Nevertheless I am not wholly a false prophetess, for to-day you go with +them southward, to Tours, to change the air, as the physician counsels, +and so now we part. O false Scot!" she said, laughing again, "how have +you the ill courtesy to look so joyous? Nay, I shall change your cheer"; +and with that she stooped and kissed my cheek, saying, "Go, and joy go +with you, as joy abides with me, to see my sick man look so strong again. +Come, they are waiting for us, and you know we must not tarry." + +Then, giving me her arm, she led me in, and if one of us twain had a +shamefaced guise, verify it was not Charlotte Boucher. + +"I yield you back your esquire, fair lady," she said merrily, making +obeisance to Elliot, who stood up, very pale, to receive us. + +"He has got no ill in the bower of the enchantress," said my master; +whereat, Elliot seeming some deal confused, and blushing, Charlotte +bustled about, bringing wine and meat, and waiting upon all of us, and on +her father and mother at table. A merry dinner it was among the elder +folk, but Elliot and I were somewhat silent, and a great joy it was to +me, and a heavy weight off my heart, I do confess, when, dinner being +ended, and all courtesies done and said, my raiment was encased in +wallets, and we all went through the garden, to Loire side; and so, with +many farewells, took boat and sailed down the river, under the Bridge of +Orleans, towards Blois. But Charlotte I never saw again, nor did I ever +speak of her to Elliot, nor Elliot of her to me, from that day forth. + +But within short space came tidings, how that Charlotte was wedding a +young burgess of Orleans, with whom, as I hear, she dwelt happily, and +still, for all I know, dwells in peace. As I deem, she kept her lord in +a merry life, yet in great order and obedience. So now there is no more +to tell of her, save that her picture comes back before me--a tall, brown +girl, with black hair and eyes like the hue of hazel boughs glassed in +running water, clad in white and green and red, standing smiling beneath +the red-and-white blossoms of an apple-tree, in the green garden of +Jacques Boucher. + +Elliot was silent enough, and sat telling her beads, in the beginning of +our journey down the water-way, that is the smoothest and the easiest +voyaging for a sick man. She was in the stern of the boat, her fingers, +when her beads were told, trailing in the smooth water, that was green +with the shade of leaves. But her father stood by me, asking many +questions concerning the siege, and gaping at the half-mended arch of the +bridge, where through we sailed, and at the blackened walls of Les +Tourelles, and all the ruin that war had wrought. But now masons and +carpenters were very busy rebuilding all, and the air was full of the +tinkling of trowels and hammers. Presently we passed the place where I +had drawn Brother Thomas from the water; but thereof I said no word, for +indeed my dreams were haunted by his hooded face, like that of the snake +which, as travellers tell, wears a hood in Prester John's country, and is +the most venomous of beasts serpentine. So concerning Brother Thomas I +held my peace, and the barque, swinging round a corner of the bank, soon +brought us into a country with no sign of war on it, and here the poplar- +trees had not been felled for planks to make bulwarks, but whispered by +the riverside. + +The wide stream carried many a boat, and shone with sails, white, and +crimson, and brown; the boat-men sang, or hailed each other from afar. +There was much traffic, stores being carried from Blois to the army. Some +mile or twain above Beaugency we were forced to land, and, I being borne +in a litter, we took a cross-path away from the stream, joining it again +two miles below Beaugency, because the English held that town, though not +for long. The sun had set, yet left all his gold shining on the water +when we entered Blois, and there rested at a hostel for the night. Next +day--one of the goodliest of my life, so soft and clear and warm it was, +yet with a cool wind on the water--we voyaged to Tours; and now Elliot +was glad enough, making all manner of mirth. + +Her desire, she said, was to meet a friend that she had left at their +house in Tours, one that she had known as long as she knew me, my friend +he was too, yet I had never spoken of him, or asked how he did. Now I, +being wrapped up wholly in her, and in my joy to see her kind again, and +so beautiful, had no memory of any such friend, wherefore she mocked me, +and rebuked me for a hard heart and ungrateful. "This friend of mine," +she said, "was the first that made us known each to other. Yea, but for +him, the birds might have pecked out your eyne, and the ants eaten your +bones bare, yet"--with a sudden anger, and tears in her eyes at the words +she spoke--"you have clean forgotten him!" + +"Ah, you mean the jackanapes. And how is the little champion?" + +"Like the lads of Wamfray, aye for ill, and never for good," said my +master; but she frowned on him, and said-- + +"Now you ask, because I forced you on it; but, sir, I take it very ill +that you have so short a memory for a friend. Now, tell me, in all the +time since you left us at Chinon, how often have you thought of him?" + +"Nigh as often as I thought of you," I answered. "For when you came into +my mind (and that was every minute), as in a picture, thither too came +your playfellow, climbing and chattering, and holding out his little bowl +for a comfit." + +"Nay, then you thought of me seldom, or you would have asked how he +does." + +Here she turned her face from me, half in mock anger. But, just as it is +with children, so it was with Elliot, for indeed my dear was ever much of +a child, wherefore her memory is now to me so tender. And as children +make pretence to be in this humour or that for sport, and will affect to +be frighted till they really fear and weep, so Elliot scarce knew how +deep her own humour went, and whether she was acting like a player in a +Mystery, or was in good earnest. And if she knew not rightly what her +humour was, far less could I know, so that she was ever a puzzle to me, +and kept me in a hundred pretty doubts and dreads every day. Alas! how +sorely, through all these years, have I longed to hear her rebuke me in +mirth, and put me adread, and laugh at me again I for she was, as it +were, wife and child to me, at once, and I a child with her, and as happy +as a child. + +Thus, nothing would now jump with her humour but to be speaking of her +jackanapes, and how he would come louting and leaping to welcome her, and +forsake her old kinswoman, who had followed with them to Tours. And she +had much to report concerning his new tricks: how he would leap over a +rod for the Dauphin or the Maid, but not if adjured in the name of the +English King, or the Duke of Burgundy. Also, if you held him, he would +make pretence to bite any that you called Englishman or false Frenchman. +Moreover, he had now been taught to fetch and carry, and would climb into +Elliot's window, from the garden, and bring her little basket of silks, +or whatsoever she desired, or carry it thither, as he was commanded. + +"And he wrung the cat's neck," quoth my master; but Elliot bade him hold +his peace. + +In such sport the hours passed, till we were safely come to Tours, and so +to their house in a street running off the great place, where the +cathedral stands. It was a goodly dwelling, with fair carved-work on the +beams, and in the doorway stood the old Scots kinswoman, smiling wide and +toothless, to welcome us. Elliot kissed her quickly, and she fondled +Elliot, and held a hand out over her shoulder to greet me. + +"But where is my jackanapes, that should have been here to salute his +mistress?" Elliot cried. + +"Out and alas!" said the old wife in our country tongue--"out and alas! +for I have ill news. The poor beast is missing these three days past, +and we fear he is stolen away by some gangrel bodies, for the town is +full of them. There came two to our door, three days agone, and one was +a blind man, and the other a one-armed soldier, maimed in the wars, and I +gave them bite and sup, as a Christian should do. Now, they had not been +gone but a few minutes, and I was in the spence, putting away the dishes, +when I heard a whistle in the street, and anon another. I thought little +of it, and so was about my business for an hour, when I missed the +jackanapes. And then there was a hue and cry, and all the house was +searched, and the neighbours were called on, but since that day there has +been no word of the jackanapes. But, for the blind man and the armless +soldier, the town guard saw them leaving by the North Gate, with a violer +woman and her husband, an ill-looking loon, in their company." Elliot +sat her down and wept sore. "They have stolen my little friend," she +cried, "and now he that was so fat I called him Tremouille will go hungry +and lean, and be whipped to make him do his tricks, and I shall never see +him more." + +Then she ran out of the chamber, to weep alone, as I guessed, for she was +pitiful and of very tender affection, and dumb things came near about her +heart, as is the manner of many women. + +But I made no doubt in my mind that the husband of the ape's old mistress +had stolen him, and I, too, sorrowed for the poor beast that my mistress +loved, and that, in very deed, had been the saving of my own life. Then +I spoke to my master, and said that we must strive to buy her a new ape, +or a little messan dog, to be her playfellow. + +But he shook his head. "Say nothing more of the beast," he muttered, +"unless she speaks of him first, and that, methinks, will be never. For +it is not her wont to speak of what lies very deep in her heart, and if +you talk of the beast it will please her little." + +And, indeed, I heard no word more of the jackanapes from Elliot, save +that, coming back from the minster next day, she whispered, "I have +prayed for him," and so fled to her own chamber. + +As then I deemed it a strange thing, and scarcely to be approved by Holy +Church, that my lady should pray for a dumb beast who had no soul to be +saved. But a faithful, loving prayer is not unavailing or unheard of Him +who made the beasts, as well as He made us; for whose sin, or the sin of +our father Adam, they now suffer, silently. And the answer to this +prayer was to be known in the end. + +As the week went on, tidings came that made Elliot glad again, if before +she had been sad enough. For this was that great week of wonders which +shall never be forgotten while France is France, and the lilies bloom. + +On June the thirteenth the Maid took Jargeau, whence the famed Bastard of +Orleans had been driven some weeks agone; and the Earl of Suffolk yielded +him her prisoner, saying that she was "the most valiant woman in the +world." Scarce had tidings of this great victory come, when messengers +followed, declaring that the Maid had seized the Bridge of Meun and +driven the English into the Castle. + +Next she marched against Beaugency, and, at midnight of June the +seventeenth, the English made terms, that they might go forth with their +lives, but without baggage or arms, and with but one mark of silver +apiece. Next morning came Talbot, the best knight then on ground, and +Fastolf, the wariest of captains, with a great army of English. First +they made for Jargeau, but they came too late, and then they rode to +Meun, and would have assailed the French in the bridge-fort, but, even +then, they heard how Beaugency had yielded to La Pucelle, and how the +garrison was departed into Normandy, like pilgrims, without swords, and +staff in hand. Thus all the Loire and the water-way was in the power of +France, wherefore the English marched off through the country called La +Beauce, which then lay desert and overgrown with wild wood, by reason of +the war. And there, in a place named Coynce, near Patay, the Maid +overtook the English, having with her La Hire and Xaintrailles, and she +charged them so rudely, that ere the English could array them in order of +battle, they were already flying for their lives. There were Talbot and +Warwick taken and held to ransom, but Fastolf fled as fast as his horse +could carry him. + +Thus in one week, between June the eleventh and June the eighteenth, the +Maid had delivered three strong towns from the English, and had utterly +routed them in fair field. Then, at Orleans, on June the nineteenth, the +army went to the churches, thanking God, and the Blessed Virgin, and all +the saints, for such great signs and marvels wrought through the Maid +only. + +Sorrow it is to me to write of such things by report, and not to have +seen them done. But, as Talbot said to the Duc d'Alencon, when they took +him at Patay, "it is fortune of war." + +But, as day by day messengers came, their horses red with spurring, to +the cross in the market-place of Tours, and as we that gathered round +heard of some fresh victory, you may consider whether we rejoiced, +feasted, filled the churches with our thanksgivings, and deemed that, in +a few weeks, there would be no living Englishman on French soil. And of +all that were glad my lady was the happiest, for she had believed in the +Maid from the very beginning, when her father mocked. And a hard life +she now led him with her sallies, day by day, as more and ever more glad +tidings were brought, and we could hear Elliot singing through the house. + +Yea, I found her once dancing in the garden all alone, a beautiful sight +to look upon, as the sun fell on her and the shadow, she footing it as if +to music, but the music was made by her own heart. Leaning against an +apple-tree, I watched her, who waved her hand to me, and still danced on; +this was after we had heard the news of Beaugency. As she so swayed and +moved, dancing daintily, came a blast of a trumpet and a gay peal from +the minster bells. Then forth rushed Elliot, and through the house, and +down the street into the market-place, nor did I know where I was, till I +found myself beside her, and heard the Maire read a letter to all the +folk, telling how the English were routed at Pathay in open field. +Thereon the whole multitude fell a-dancing, and I, for all my malady, was +fain to dance with them; but Elliot led me home, her head high, and blue +rays darting from her eyes. From that day my life seemed to come back to +me, and I was no longer the sick man. So the weeks went by, in all +delight, my master working hard, and I helping him in my degree, for new +banners would be wanted when the Dauphin went for his sacring to his good +town of Reims. As we all deemed, this could no longer be delayed; and +thereafter our armies would fall on Paris, and so strong grew I, that I +was in hopes to be with them, where, at last, fortune was to be won. But +of this my hope I said little to Elliot, waiting till I could wear +armour, and exercising myself thereat privately in the garden, before +folk had risen in the mornings. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII--HOW ELLIOT'S JACKANAPES WAS SEEN AT THE KING'S CROWNING + + +"The hearts of kings are in His hand," says Holy Scripture, and it is of +necessity to be believed that the hearts of kings, in an especial sense, +are wisely governed. Yet, the blindness of our sinful souls, we often +may not see, nor by deep consideration find out, the causes wherefore +kings often act otherwise, and, as we might deem, less worthily than +common men. For it is a truth and must be told, that neither before he +was anointed with the blessed oil from the holy vessel, or ampulla, which +the angel brought to St. Remigius, nor even after that anointing (which +is more strange), did Charles VII., King of France, bear him kingly as +regards the Maiden. Nay, I have many a time thought with sorrow that if +Xaintrailles, or La Hire, ay, or any the meanest esquire in all our army, +had been born Dauphin, in three months after the Maid's victories in June +Paris would have been ours, and not an Englishman left to breathe the air +of France. For it needed but that the King should obey the Maid, ride +straight to Reims, and thence on Paris town, and every city would have +opened its gates to him, as the walls of Jericho fell at the mere sound +of the trumpets of Israel. + +This is no foolish fancy of an old man dreaming in a cloister about what +might have been. For the Regent of the English, brother of their King +Harry the Fifth, and himself a wise man, and brave, if cruel, was of this +same mind. First, he left Paris and shut himself up in the strong castle +of Vincennes, dreading an uproar among the people; and next, he wholly +withdrew himself to Rouen, for he had now no force of men to guard the +walls of Paris. Our Dauphin had but to mount and ride, and all would +have been his at one blow, ay, or without a blow. The Maid, as we daily +heard, kept praying him, even with tears, to do no more than this; and +from every side came in men free and noble, ready to serve at their own +charges. The poorest gentlemen who had lost all in the troubles, and +might not even keep a horse to ride, were of goodwill to march as common +foot-soldiers. + +But, while all France called on her King, he was dwelling at Sully, in +the castle of La Tremouille, a man who had a foot in either camp, so that +neither English nor Burgundians had ever raided on his rich lands, when +these lay in their power. So, what with the self-seeking, and sloth, and +jealousy of La Tremouille; what with the worldly policy of the Archbishop +of Reims, crying Peace, where there was no peace, the Maid and the +captains were not listened to, or, if they were heard, their plans were +wrought out with a faint heart, so that, at last, if it is lawful to say +so, the will of men prevailed over the will of Heaven. + +Never, I pray, may any prince of my own country be so bestead, and so ill- +served, that, when he has won battles and gained cities two or three, and +needs but to ride forward and win all his kingdom, he shall be turned +back by the little faith of his counsellors! Never may such a thing +befall a prince of Scotland! Concerning these matters of State, as may +be believed, we devised much at Tours, while messengers were coming and +going, and long, weary councils were being held at Sully and at Gien. +D'Alencon, we got news, was all for striking a blow yet more bold than +the march to Reims, and would have attacked the English where they were +strongest, and nearest their own shores, namely, at Rouen. The +counsellors of the peaceful sort were inclined to waste time in besieging +La Charite, and other little towns on Loire-side. But her Voices had +bidden the Maid, from the first, to carry the Dauphin to Reims, that +there he might be anointed, and known to France for the very King. So at +last, finding that time was sorely wasted, whereas all hope lay in a +swift stroke, ere the English could muster men, and bring over the army +lately raised by the Cardinal of Winchester to go crusading against the +miscreants of Bohemia--the Maid rode out of Gien, with her own company, +on June the twenty-seventh, and lodged in the fields, some four leagues +away, on the road to Auxerre. And next day the King and the Court +followed her perforce, with a great army of twelve thousand men. +Thenceforth there came news to us every day in Tours, and all the news +was good. Town after town opened its gates at the summons of the Maid, +and notably Troyes and Chalons, in despite of the English garrisons. + +We were all right glad, and could scarce sleep for joy, above all when a +messenger rode in, one Thomas Scott, whom I had encountered before, as I +have written, bidding my master come straightway to Reims, to join the +King, and exercise his craft in designing a great picture of the +coronation. So with much ado he bestowed his canvases, brushes, paints, +and all other gear of his trade in wallets, and, commending his daughter +to his old kinswoman, to obey her in all things, he set off on horseback +with Thomas Scott. But for myself, I was to lodge, while he was at +Reims, with a worthy woman of Tours, for the avoiding of evil tongues, +and very tardily the time passed with me, for that I might not be, as +before, always in the company of Elliot. + +As for my lady, she was, during most of these days, on her knees at the +altar in the great minster, praying to the saints for the Dauphin, and +the Maid, and for her father, that he might come and go safely on his +journey. Nor did she pray in vain, for, no more than two days after the +first tidings had arrived that the sacring was done, and that all had +gone well, my master rode to his own door, weary, but glad at heart, and +hobbled into his house. One was sent running to bring me this good news, +and I myself ran, for now I was able, and found him seated at his meat, +as well as he could eat it for Elliot, that often stopped his mouth with +kisses. + +He held forth his hand to me, saying, "All is as well as heart could +desire, and the Maid bids you follow her, if you may, to the taking of +Paris, for there she says will be your one chance to win your spurs. And +now let me eat and drink, for the heat is great, the ways dusty, and I +half famished. Thereafter ask me what you will, and you, Elliot, come +not between a hungry man and his meat." + +So he spoke, sitting at his table with his tankard in his hand, and his +wallets lying about him on the floor. Elliot was therefore fain not to +be embracing him, but rather to carve for him, and serve in the best +manner, that he might sup the quicker and tell us all his tale. This he +did at last, Elliot sitting on his knee, with her arm about his neck. +But, as touches the sacring, how it was done, though many of the peers of +France were not there to see, and how noble were the manners of the King +and the Maid, who stood there with her banner, and of the only reward +which she would take, namely, that her townsfolk should live free of tax +and corvee, all this is known and written of in Chronicles. Nor did I +see it myself, so I pass by. But, next to actual beholding of that +glorious rite, the best thing was to hear my master tell of it, taking +out his books, wherein he had drawn the King, and the Maid in her +harness, and many of the great lords. From these pictures a tapestry was +afterwards wrought, and hung in Reims Cathedral, where it is to this day: +the Maid on horseback beckoning the King onward, the Scots archers beside +him in the most honourable place, as was their lawful due, and, behind +all, the father of the Maid entering Reims by another road. By great +good fortune, and by virtue of being a fellow-traveller with Thomas +Scott, the rider of the King's stable, my master found lodgings easily +enough. So crowded was the town that, the weather being warm, in mid +July, many lay in tabernacles of boughs, in the great place of Reims, and +there was more singing that night than sleeping. But my master had lain +at the hostelry called L'Asne Roye, in the parvise, opposite to the +cathedral, where also lay Jean d'Arc, the father of the Maid. Thither +she herself came to visit him, and she gave gifts to such of the people +of her own countryside as were gathered at Reims. + +"And, Jeannot, do you fear nothing?" one of them asked her, who had known +her from a child. + +"I fear nothing but treason," my master heard her reply, a word that we +had afterwards too good cause to remember. + +"And is she proud now that she is so great?" asked Elliot. + +"She proud! No pride has she, but sat at meat, and spoke friendly with +all these manants, and it was 'tu' and 'toy,' and 'How is this one? and +that one?' till verily, I think, she had asked for every man, woman, +child, and dog in Domremy. And that puts me in mind--" + +"In mind of what?" + +"Of nought. Faith, I remember not what I was going to say, for I am well +weary." + +"But Paris?" I asked. "When march we on Paris?" My master's face +clouded. "They should have set forth for Paris the very day after the +sacring, which was the seventeenth of July. But envoys had come in from +the Duke of Burgundy, and there were parleys with them as touching peace. +Now, peace will never be won save at the point of the lance. But a truce +of a fortnight has been made with Burgundy, and then he is to give up +Paris to the King. Yet, ere a fortnight has passed, the new troops from +England will have come over to fight us, and not against the heretics of +Bohemia, though they have taken the cross and the vow. And the King has +gone to Saint Marcoul, forsooth, seeing that, unless he goes there to do +his devotions, he may not touch the sick and heal the crewels. {29} +Faith, they that have the crewels might even wait till the King has come +to his own again; they have waited long enough to learn patience while he +was Dauphin. It should be Paris first, and Saint Marcoul and the crewels +afterwards, but anything to waste time and keep out of the brunt of the +battle." Here he struck his hand on the table so that the vessels +leaped. "I fear what may come of it," he said. "For every day that +passes is great loss to us and much gain to our enemies of England, who +will anon garrison Paris." + +"Faint-heart," cried Elliot, plucking his beard. "You will never believe +in the Maid, who has never yet failed to help us, by the aid of the +saints." + +"The saints help them that help themselves," he answered. "And Paris +town has walls so strong, that once the fresh English are entered in, +even the saints may find it a hard bargain. But you, Elliot, run up and +see if my chamber be ready, for I am well weary." She ran forth, and my +master, turning to me, said in a low voice, "I have something for your +own ear, but I feared to grieve her. In a booth at Reims I saw her +jackanapes doing his tricks, and when he came round questing with his +bowl the little beast knew me and jumped up into my arms, and wailed as +if he had been a Christian. Then I was for keeping him, but I was set on +by three or four stout knaves, and, I being alone, and the crowd taking +their part, I thought it not well to draw sword, and so break the King's +peace that had just then begun to be King. But my heart was sore for the +poor creature, and, in very truth, I bring back no light heart, save to +see you twain again, for I fear me that the worst of the darg {30} is +still to do. But here comes Elliot, so no word of the jackanapes." + +Therewith he went off to his chamber, and I to mine, with less pleasure +than I had looked for. Still, the thought came into my heart that, the +longer the delay of the onslaught on Paris, the better chance I had to +take part therein; and the harder the work, the greater the glory. + +The boding words of my master proved over true. The King was sacred on +July the sixteenth, and Paris then stood empty of English soldiers, being +garrisoned by Burgundians only. But, so soon as he was anointed, the +King began to parley with Burgundy, and thus they spun out the time, +till, on July the twenty-fifth, a strong army of Englishmen had entered +Paris. Whether their hearts were high may not be known, but on their +banner they had hung a distaff, and had painted the flag with the words-- + + "Ores viegne la Belle," + +meaning, "Let the fair Maid come, and we shall give her wool to spin." +Next we heard, and were loth to believe it, that a new truce of fifteen +days more had been made with Burgundy. The Maid, indeed, said openly +that she loved not the truce, and that she kept it only for the honour of +the King, which was dearer to her than her life, as she proved in the +end. + +Then came marchings, this way and that, all about the Isle of France, +Bedford leaving Paris to fight the King, and then refusing battle, though +the Maid rode up to the English palisades, and smote them with her sword, +defying the English to come out, if they were men. So the English betook +them back to Paris, after certain light skirmishes only. Meanwhile some +of his good towns that had been in the hands of the English yielded to +the King, or rather to the Maid. Among these the most notable was +Compiegne, a city as great as Orleans. Many a time it had been taken and +retaken in the wars, but now the burgesses swore that they would rather +all die, with their wives and children, than open their gates again to +the English. And this oath they kept well, as shall be seen in the end. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX--HOW NORMAN LESLIE RODE AGAIN TO THE WARS + + +Tidings of these parleys, and marches, and surrenders of cities came to +us at Tours, the King sending letters to his good towns by messengers. +One of these, the very Thomas Scott of whom I have before spoken, a man +out of Rankelburn, in Ettrick Forest, brought a letter for me, which was +from Randal Rutherford. + +"Mess-John Urquhart writes for me, that am no clerk," said Randal, "and, +to spare his pains, as he writes for the most of us, I say no more than +this: come now, or come never, for the Maid will ride to see Paris in +three days, or four, let the King follow or not as he will." + +There was no more but a cross marked opposite the name of Randal +Rutherford, and the date of place and day, August the nineteenth, at +Compiegne. + +My face fired, for I felt it, when I had read this, and I made no more +ado, but, covenanting with Thomas Scott to be with him when he rode forth +at dawn, I went home, put my harness in order, and hired a horse from him +that kept the hostelry of the "Hanging Sword," whither also I sent my +harness, for that I would sleep there. This was all done in the late +evening, secretly, and, after supper, I broke the matter to my master and +Elliot. Her face changed to a dead white, and she sat silent, while my +master took the word, saying, in our country speech, that "he who will to +Cupar, maun to Cupar," and therewith he turned, and walked out and about +in the garden. + +We were alone, and now was the hardest of my work to do, to comfort +Elliot, when, in faith, I sorely needed comfort myself. But honour at +once and necessity called me to ride, being now fit to bear harness, and +foreseeing no other chance to gain booty, or even, perchance, my spurs. +Nor could I endure to be a malingerer. She sat there, very white, her +lip quivering, but her eyes brave and steadfast. + +I kneeled beside her, and in my hands I took her little hand, that was +cold as ice. + +"It is for the Maid, and for you, Elliot," I whispered; and she only bent +her head on my shoulder, but her cold hand gripped mine firmly. + +"She did say that you should come back unharmed of sword," whispered +Elliot, looking for what comfort she might. "But, O my dear! you may be +taken, and when shall I see you again? Oh! this life is the hardest +thing for women, who must sit and tremble and pray at home. Sure no +danger of war is so terrible! Ah, must you really go?" + +Then she clung so closely about me, that it seemed as if I could never +escape out of her arms, and I felt as if my heart must break in twain. + +"How could I look men in the face, and how could I ever see the Maid +again, if I go not?" I said; and, loosening her grasp, she laid her hands +on my shoulders, and so gazed on me steadfastly, as if my picture could +be fixed on the tablets of her brain. + +"On your chin is coming a little down, at last," she said, smiling +faintly, and then gave a sob, and her lips met mine, and our very souls +met; but, even then, we heard my master's steps hobbling to the door, and +she gave a cry, and fled to her chamber. And this was our +leave-taking--brief, but I would not have had it long. + +"It is ill work parting, Heaven help us," said my master. "Faith, I +remember, as if it were to-day, how I set forth for Verneuil; a long time +I was gone, and came back a maimed man. But it is fortune of war! The +saints have you in their keeping, my son, and chiefly St. Andrew. Come +back soon, and whole, and rich, for, meseems, if I lose one of you, I am +to lose both." + +Therewith he embraced me, and I set forth to the hostel where I was to +lie that night. + +Now, see how far lighter is life to men than to women, for, though I left +the house with the heaviest heart of any man in Tours, often looking back +at the candleshine in my lady's casement, yet, when I reached the +"Hanging Sword," I found Thomas Scott sitting at his wine, and my heart +and courage revived within me. He lacked nothing but one to listen, and +soon was telling tales of the war, and of the road, and of how this one +had taken a rich prisoner, and that one had got an arrow in his thigh, +and of what chances there were to win Paris by an onslaught. + +"For in no other can we take it," said he, "save, indeed, by miracle. For +they are richly provisioned, and our hope is that, if we can make a +breach, there may be a stir of the common folk, who are well weary of the +English and the Burgundians." + +Now, with his talk of adventures, and with high hopes, I was so heartened +up, that, to my shame, my grief fell from me, and I went to my bed to +dream of trenches and escalades, glory and gain. But Elliot, I fear me, +passed a weary night, and a sorry, whereas I had scarce laid my head on +my pillow, as it seemed, when I heard Thomas shouting to the grooms, and +clatter of our horses' hoofs in the courtyard. So I leaped up, though it +was scarce daylight, and we rode northwards before the full coming of the +dawn. + +Here I must needs write of a shameful thing, which I knew not then, or I +would have ridden with a heavier heart, but I was told concerning the +matter many years after, by Messire Enguerrand de Monstrelet, a very +learned knight, and deep in the counsels of the Duke of Burgundy. + +"You were all sold," he said to me, at Dijon, in the year of our Lord +fourteen hundred and forty-seven--"you were all sold when you marched +against Paris town. For the Maid, with D'Alencon, rode from Compiegne +towards Paris, on the twenty-third of August, if I remember well"; and +here he turned about certain written parchments that lay by him. "Yea, +on the twenty-third she left Compiegne, but on the twenty-eighth of that +month the Archbishop of Reims entered the town, and there he met the +ambassadors of the Good Duke of Burgundy. There he and they made a +compact between them, binding your King and the Duke, that their truce +should last till Noel, but that the duke might use his men in the defence +of Paris against all that might make onfall. Now, the Archbishop and the +King knew well that the Maid was, in that hour, marching on Paris. To +what purpose make a truce, and leave out of the peace the very point +where war should be? Manifestly the French King never meant to put forth +the strength of his army in helping the Maid. There was to be truce +between France and Burgundy, but none between England and the Maid." + +So Messire Enguerrand told me, a learned knight and a grave, and thus was +the counsel of the saints defeated by the very King whom they sought to +aid. But of this shameful treaty we men-at-arms knew nothing, and so +hazarded our lives against loaded dice. + + + + +CHAPTER XX--CONCERNING THE MAID AND THE BIRDS + + +We rode northwards, first through lands that I had travelled in before to +Orleans, and so into a country then strange to me, passing by way of +Lagny, with intent to go to Senlis, where we deemed the King lay. The +whole region being near Paris, and close under the English power, was +rich and peaceful of aspect, the corn being already reaped, and standing +in sheaves about the fields, whether to feed Englishmen or Frenchmen, +none could tell. For the land was in a kind of hush, in expectancy and +fear, no man knowing how things should fall out at Paris. Natheless the +Prior of Lagny, within that very week wherein we came, had gone to St. +Denis, and yielded his good town into the hands of the Duc d'Alencon for +the King. And the fair Duke had sent thither Messire Ambrose de Lore, a +very good knight, with Messire Jehan Foucault, and many men-at-arms. + +To Messire Ambrose we were brought, that we might give and take his news. +I remember well that I dropped out of the saddle at the door of his +lodgings, and could scarce stand on my legs, so weary was I with the long +and swift riding. Never had I ridden so far, and so fast, fresh horses +standing saddled and bridled for Thomas Scott and me at every stage, but +the beast which I had hired I sent back from the first stage to mine host +of the "Hanging Sword." Not without labour I climbed the stairs to the +chamber of Messire Ambrose, who bade us sit down, and called for wine to +be given us, whereof Thomas Scott drank well, but I dared take none, lest +my legs should wholly refuse their office. + +When Thomas had told how all the country lay at the King's peace, and how +our purpose was to ride to the King at Senlis, the knight bade us rather +make what haste we might to St. Denis. "For there, by to-morrow or next +day, the King is like to be, and the assault will be delivered on Paris, +come of it what will." + +With this he bade us good speed, but, to guess from his countenance, was +in no high hopes. And, at supper, whereto we had the company of certain +of his men-at-arms, I could well perceive that they were not in the best +heart. For now we heard how the Maid, being sorrowful for the long +delays, had bidden the Duc d'Alencon ride forth with her from Compiegne +"to see Paris closer than yet she had seen it." The Duc d'Alencon, who +in late days has so strangely forgotten the loyalty of his youth, was +then fain to march with her, for they two were the closest friends that +might be. Therefore they had passed by way of Senlis, where they were +joined by some force of men-at-arms, and so, on the third day's march, +they came to St. Denis, where they were now lying. Here it is that the +kings of France have been buried for these eight hundred years, in the +great Abbey. + +"Nom Dieu!" said one of those who spoke with us. "You might deem that +our King is nowise pressed to see the place where his forefathers lie. +For D'Alencon is riding, now and again, to Senlis, to rouse the King, and +make him march to St. Denis, with the army, that the assault may be +given. But if they were bidding him to his own funeral, instead of to a +gentle passage of arms, he could not make more excuses. There are +skirmishes under Paris walls, and at the gates, day by day, and the Maid +rides here and there, considering of the best place for the onslaught. +But the King tarries, and without him and the army they can venture on no +great valiance. Nevertheless, come he must, if they bring him bound in a +cart. Wherefore, if you want your part in what is toward, you do well to +make no long tarrying here." + +I was of the same mind, and as the King was shortly to be looked for at +St. Denis, we rode thither early next morning, with what speed we might. +On our left, like a cloud, was the smoke of Paris, making me understand +what a great city it was, much greater than Orleans. Before us, far +away, were the tall towers of the chapel of St. Denis, to be our guide! +We heard, also, the noise of ordnance being fired, and therefore made the +greater haste, and we so rode that, about six hours after noon, on the +Eve of the Nativity of our Blessed Lady, we reached the gates of the +town. Here we found great press of folk, men coming and going, some +carrying the wounded, for there had been a skirmish that day, at one of +the Paris gates, whence came the sound of cannon and culverins, and we +had won little advantage. + +At the gates of St. Denis we asked where the quarters of the Scots men-at- +arms might be, and were told in the chapel, whither we needed no guide. +But, as we went up the street, we saw women leaning forth from the +windows, laughing with the men-at-arms, and beckoning to them, and by the +tavern doors many were sitting drinking, with girls beside them, and +others were playing dice, and many an oath we heard, and foul words, as +is customary in a camp. Verily I saw well that this was not the army of +men clean confessed and of holy life who had followed the Maid from Blois +to Orleans. In place of priests, here were harlots, and, for hymns, +ribald songs, for men had flocked in from every quarter; soldiers of the +robber companies, Bretons, Germans, Italians, Spaniards, all talking in +their own speech, rude, foul, and disorderly. So we took our way, as +best we knight, through the press, hearing oaths enough if our horses +trod over near any man, and seeing daggers drawn. + +It was a pleasure to come out on the great parvise, where the red, white, +and green of our Scots were the commonest colours, and where the air was +less foul and noisome than in the narrow wynds. High above us the great +towers of the abbey shone red and golden in the light of the sinking sun, +while beneath all was brown, dusk, and dim with smoke. On these towers I +could gladly have looked long, and not wearied. For they are all carven +with the holy company of the martyrs and saints, like the Angels whom +Jacob saw ascending by the ladder into heaven; even so that blessed +company seemed to scale upwards from the filth of the street, and the +darkness, and the din, right on towards the golden heights of the City of +God. And beneath them lie the sacred bones of all the kings of France, +from the days of St. Dagobert even to our own time, all laid there to +rest where no man shall disturb them, till the Angels' Trumpet calls, and +the Day of Judgment is at hand. Verily it is a solemn place for a +Christian man to think on, and I was gazing thereupon, as in a dream, +when one plucked my sleeve, and turning, I saw Randal Rutherford, all his +teeth showing in a grin. + +"Welcome," he cried. "You have made good speed, and the beginning of a +fray is better than the end of a feast. And, by St. Boswell, to-morrow +we shall have it, lad! The King came in to-day--late is better than +never--and to-morrow we go with the Maid, to give these pock-puddings a +taste of Scottish steel." + +"And the Maid, where is she, Randal?" + +"She lodges beyond the Paris gate, at the windmill, wherefrom she drove +the English some days agone." + +"Wherefore not in the town?" I asked. + +"Mayhap because she likes to be near her work, and would that all were of +her mind. And mayhap she loves not the sight of the wenches whom she was +wont to drive from the camp, above all now that she has broken the Holy +Sword of Fierbois, smiting a lass with the flat of the blade." + +"I like not the omen," said I. + +"Freits follow them that freits fear," said Randal, in our country +speech. "And the Maid is none of these. 'Well it was,' said she, 'that +I trusted not my life to a blade that breaks so easily,' and, in the next +skirmish, she took a Burgundian with her own hands, and now wears his +sword, which is a good cut and thrust piece. But come," he cried, "if +needs you must see the Maid, you have but to walk to the Paris gate, and +so to the windmill hard by. And your horse I will stable with our own, +and for quarters, we living Scots men-at-arms fare as well as the dead +kings of France, for to-night we lie in the chapel." + +I dismounted, and he gave me an embrace, and, holding me at arms'-length, +laughed-- + +"You never were a tall man, Norman, but you look sound, and whole, and +tough for your inches, like a Highlandman's dirk. Now be off on your +errand, and when it is done, look for me yonder at the sign of 'The +Crane,'" pointing across the parvise to a tavern, "for I keep a word to +tell in your lug that few wot of, and that it will joy you to hear. To- +morrow, lad, we go in foremost." + +And so, smiling, he took my horse and went his way, whistling, "Hey, +tuttie, tattie!" + +Verily his was the gladdest face I had seen, and his words put some heart +into me, whereas, of the rest save our own Scots, I liked neither what I +saw, nor what I heard. + +I had but to walk down the street, through elbowing throngs of grooms, +pages, men-at-arms, and archers, till I found the Paris Gate, whence the +windmill was plain to behold. It was such an old place as we see in +Northern France, plain, strong, with red walls which the yellow mosses +stain, and with high grey roofs. The Maid's banner, with the Holy Dove, +and the Sacred Name, drooped above the gateway, and beside the door, on +the mounting-stone, sat the boy, Louis des Coutes, her page. He was a +lad of fifteen years, merry enough of his nature, and always went gaily +clad, and wearing his yellow hair long. But now he sat thoughtful on the +mounting-stone, cutting at a bit of wood with his dagger. + +"So you have come to take your part," he said, when we had saluted each +the other. "Faith, I hope you bring good luck with you, and more joy to +my mistress, for we need all that you can bring." + +"Why, what ails all of you?" I asked. "I have seen never a hopeful face, +save that of one of my own countrymen. You are not afraid of a crack on +your curly pate, are you?" + +"Curly or not, my head knows better than to knock itself against Paris +walls. They are thick, and high, and the windows of every house on the +wall are piled with stones, to drop upon us. And I know not well why, +but things go ill with us. I never saw Her," and he nodded towards the +open gateway, "so out of comfort. When there is fighting toward, she is +like herself, and she is the first to rise and the last to lie down. But, +in all our waiting here, she has passed many an hour praying in the +chapel, where the dead kings lie, yet her face is not glad when she comes +forth. It was wont to shine strangely, when she had been praying, at the +chapel in Couldray, while we were at Chinon. But now it is otherwise. +Moreover, we saw Paris very close to-day, and there were over many red +crosses of St. George upon the walls. And to-morrow is the Feast of the +Blessed Virgin, no day for bloodshed." + +"Faint heart!" said I (and, indeed, after the assault on Paris, Louis des +Coutes went back, and rode no more with the maid). "The better the day, +the better the deed! May I go within?" + +"I will go with you," he said, "for she said that you would come, and +bade me bring you to her." + +We entered the gateway together, and before us lay the square of the +farm, strewn with litter, and from within the byre we heard the milk ring +in the pails, for the women were milking the cows. And there we both +stood astonished, for we saw the Maid as never yet I had seen her. She +was bareheaded, but wore the rest of her harness, holding in her hand a +measure of corn. All the fowls of the air seemed to be about her, +expecting their meat. But she was not throwing the grain among them, for +she stood as still as a graven image, and, wonderful to tell, a dove was +perched on her shoulder, and a mavis was nestling in her breast, while +many birds flew round her, chiefly doves with burnished plumage, flitting +as it were lovingly, and softly brushing her now and again with their +wings. Many a time had I heard it said that, while she was yet a child, +the wild birds would come and nestle in the bosom of the Maid, but I had +never believed the tale. Yet now I saw this thing with mine own eyes, a +fair sight and a marvellous, so beautiful she looked, with head +unhelmeted, and the wild fowl and tame flitting about her and above her, +the doves crooning sweetly in their soft voices. Then her lips moved, +and she spoke-- + +"Tres doulx Dieu, en l'onneur de vostre saincte passion, je vous requier, +se vous me aimes, que vous me revelez ce que je doy faire demain pour +vostre gloire!" + +So she fell silent again, and to me it seemed that I must not any longer +look upon that holy mystery, so, crossing myself, I laid my hand on the +shoulder of the page, and we went silently from the place. + +"Have you ever seen it in this manner?" I whispered, when we were again +without the farmyard. + +"Never," said he, trembling, "though once I saw a stranger thing." + +"And what may that have been?" + +"Nay, I spoke of it to her, and she made me swear that I never would +reveal it to living soul, save in confession. But she is not as other +women." + +What he had in his mind I know not, but I bade him good even, and went +back into the town, where lights were beginning to show in the casements. +In the space within the gates were many carts gathered, full of faggots +wherewith to choke up the fosse under Paris, and tables to throw above +the faggots, and so cross over to the assault. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI--HOW A HUNDRED SCOTS SET FORTH TO TAKE PARIS TOWN + + +Entering the tavern of "The Crane," I found the doorways crowded with +archers of our Guard, among whom was Randal Rutherford. + +When I had come, they walked into a chamber on the ground floor, calling +for wine, and bidding certain French burgesses go forth, who needed no +second telling. The door was shut, two sentinels of ours were posted +outside, and then Randal very carefully sounded all the panels of the +room, looking heedfully lest there should be any hole whereby what passed +among us might be heard in another part of the house, but he found +nothing of the kind. + +The room being full, some sitting and some standing, as we could, Randal +bade Father Urquhart, our chaplain, tell us to what end we had been +called together. + +The good father thereupon stood up, and spoke in a low voice, but so that +all could hear, for we were all hushed to listen. + +"There is," he said, "within Paris, a certain Carmelite, a Frenchman, and +a friend of Brother Richard, the Preacher, whom, as you know, the English +drove from the town." + +"I saw him at Troyes," said one, "where he kneeled before the Maid, and +they seemed very loving." + +"That is the man, that is Brother Richard. Now, as I was busy tending +the wounded, in the skirmish three days agone, this Carmelite was about +the same duty for those of his party. He put into my hand a slip of +paper, wherein Brother Richard commended him to any Scot or Frenchman of +the King's party, as an honest man, and a friend of the King's. When I +had read this, the Carmelite spoke with me in Latin, and in a low voice. +His matter was this: In Paris, he said, there is a strong party of +Armagnacs, who have, as we all know, a long score to settle with them of +Burgundy. They are of the common folk and labourers, but among them are +many rich burgesses. They have banded themselves together by an oath to +take our part, within the town, if once we win a gate. Here is a cedule +signed by them with their names or marks, and this he gave me as a proof +of good faith." + +Here he handed a long slip of parchment, all covered with writing, to +Randal, and it went round among us, but few there were clerks, save +myself. I looked on it, and the names, many of them attested by seals +with coat armour, were plain to be read. + +"Their counsel is to muster in arms secretly, and to convey themselves, +one by one, into certain houses hard by the Port St. Denis, where certain +of their party dwell. Now, very early to-morrow morning, before dawn, +the purpose of the English is to send forth a company of a hundred men-at- +arms, who will make a sudden onset on the windmill, where the Maid lies +to-night, and so will take her, if they may." + +"By St. Bride of Douglas," said one of us, "they will get their kail +through the reek, for our guard is to lie in arms about the windmill, and +be first in the field to-morrow." + +"The craft is, then," Father Urquhart went on, "that we shall destroy +this English company with sword or arrow, but with no alarm of culverins +or cannon. Meanwhile, some five score of you will put on to-night the +red cross of St. George, with plain armour, so that the English shall +mistake you for their own men returning from the sally, and some few men +in our own colours and coats you will hale with you as prisoners. And, +if one of you can but attire himself in some gear of the Maid's, with a +hucque of hers, scarlet, and dight with the Lilies of France, the English +gate-wards will open to you all the more eagerly." + +"By the bones of St. Boswell!" cried Randal in his loud voice, but the +good Father put a hand on his mouth. + +"Quiet, man!" he said. + +"By the blessed bones of St. Boswell," Randal said again, as near a +whisper as he could attain to, "the lady of the linen-basket shall come +as the Maid. We have no man so maidenly." + +They all shouted, laughing, and beating the tables with hands and +tankards. + +"Silence!" cried Robin Lindsay. + +"Nay, the louder we laugh, the less will any suspect what is forward," +said Randal Rutherford. + +"Norman, will you play this part in the mumming?" + +I was ashamed to say no, though I liked it not over well, and I nodded +with my head. + +"How maidenly he blushes!" cried one, and there was another clamour, till +the walls rang. + +"So be it then," says Father Urquhart, "and now you know all. The honest +Armagnacs will rise so soon as you are well within the gate. They +command both sides of the street that leads to the Port St. Denis, and +faith, if the English want to take it, when a hundred Scots are within, +they will have to sally forth by another gate, and come from the outside. +And you are to run up the banner of Scotland over the Port, when once you +hold it, so the French attack will be thereby." + +"We played the same game before Verneuil fight, and won it," said one; +"will the English have forgotten the trick?" + +"By St. Bride, when once they see us haling the Maid along, they will +forget old stratagems of war. This is a new device! Oh to see their +faces when we cry 'St. Andrew,' and set on!" + +"I am not so old as you all in the wars," I began. + +"No, Mademoiselle la Lavandiere, but you are of the right spirit, with +your wench's face." + +"But," I said, "how if the English that are to attack the windmill in the +first grey of the morning come not to hand-strokes, or take to their +heels when they find us awake, and win back to Paris before us? Our +craft, methinks, is to hold them in an ambush, but what if we catch them +not? Let but one runaway be swift of foot, and we are undone." + +"There is this to be said," quoth Father Urquhart, "that the English +company is to sally forth by the Port St. Denis, and it is the Port St. +Denis that our Armagnacs will be guarding. Now I speak as a man of +peace, for that is my calling. But how would it be if your hundred men +and Norman set forth in the dark, and lay hid not very far from the St. +Denis Gate? Then some while after the lighting of the bale-fires from +the windmill, to be lit when the English set on, make straight for the +gate, and cry, 'St. George for England!' If you see not the bale-fires +ere daylight, you will come back with what speed you may; but if you do +see them, then--" + +"Father, you have not lived long on the Highland line for nothing," quoth +Robin Lindsay. + +"A very proper stratagem indeed," I said, "but now, gentlemen, there is +one little matter; how will Sir Hugh Kennedy take this device of ours? If +we try it and fail, without his privity, we had better never return, but +die under Paris wall. And, even if we hold the gate, and Paris town is +taken, faith I would rather affront the fire of John the Lorrainer than +the face of Sir Hugh." + +No man spoke, there were not two minds on this matter, so, after some +chaffer of words, it was agreed to send Father Urquhart with Randal to +show the whole scheme to Sir Hugh, while the rest of us should await +their coming back with an answer. In no long time they were with us, the +father very red and shamefaced. + +"He gave the good father the rough side of his tongue," quoth Randal, +"for speaking first to me, and not to him. Happily we were over cunning +to say aught of our gathering here. But when he had let his bile flow, +he swore, and said that he could spare a hundred dyvour loons of his +command, on the cast of the dice, and, now silence all! not a word or a +cry," here he held up his hand, "we are to take 'fortune of war'!" + +Every man grinned gladly on his neighbour, in dead stillness. + +"Now," said Randal, "slip out by threes and fours, quietly, and to +quarters; but you, Norman, wait with me." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII--HOW NORMAN LESLIE FARED IN PARIS TOWN + + +"Norman, my lad, all our fortunes are made," said Randal to me when we +were left alone. "There will be gilt spurs and gold for every one of us, +and the pick of the plunder." + +"I like it not," I answered; whereon he caught me rudely by both +shoulders, looking close into my face, so that the fume of the wine he +had been drinking reached my nostrils. + +"Is a Leslie turning recreant?" he asked in a low voice. "A pretty tale +to tell in the kingdom of Fife!" + +I stood still, my heart very hot with anger, and said no word, while his +grip closed on me. + +"Leave hold," I cried at last, and I swore an oath, may the Saints +forgive me,--"I will not go!" + +He loosed his grasp on me, and struck one hand hard into the other. + +"That I should see this, and have to tell it!" he said, and stepping to +the table, he drank like one thirsty, and then fell to pacing the +chamber. He seemed to be thinking slowly, as he wiped and plucked at his +beard. + +"What is it that ails you?" he asked. "Look you, this onfall and +stratagem of war may not miscarry. Perdition take the fool, it is safe!" + +"Have I been seeking safety since you knew me?" I asked. + +"Verily no, and therefore I wonder at you the more; but you have been +long sick, and men's minds are changeful. Consider the thing, nom Dieu! +If there be no two lights shown from the mill, we step back silently, and +all is as it was; the English have thought worse of their night onfall, +or the Carmelite's message was ruse de guerre. But if we see the two +lights, then the hundred English are attempting the taking of the mill; +the St. Denis Gate is open for their return, and we are looked for by our +Armagnacs within Paris. We risk but a short tussle with some drowsy pock- +puddings, and then the town is ours. The Gate is as strong to hold +against an enemy from within as from without. Why, man, run to Louis de +Coutes, and beg a cast suit of the Maid's; she has plenty, for she is a +woman in this, that dearly she loves rich attire." + +"Randal," I said, "I will go with you, and the gladdest lad in France to +be going, but I will go in my own proper guise as a man-at-arms. To wear +the raiment of the Blessed Maid, a man and a sinner like me, I will in +nowise consent; it is neither seemly nor honourable. Take your own way, +put me under arrest if you will, and spoil my fortunes, and make me a man +disgraced, but I will not wear her holy raiment. It is not the deed of a +gentleman, or of a Christian." + +He plucked at his beard. "I am partly with you," he said. "And yet it +were a great bourde to play off on the English, and most like to take +them and to be told of in ballad and chronicle, like one of Wallace's +onfalls. For, seeing the Pucelle, as they will deem, in our hands, they +will think all safe, and welcome us open armed. O Norman, can we do +nothing? Stop, will you wear another woman's short kirtle over your +cuisses and taslet? She shall be no saint, I warrant you, but, for a +sinner, a bonny lass and a merry. As a gentleman I deem this fair +stratagem of war. If I were your own brother,--the Saints have his soul +in their keeping,--I would still be of this counsel. Will you, my lad?" + +He looked so sad, and yet withal so comical, that I held out my hand to +him, laughing. + +"Disguise me as you will," I said, "I have gone mumming as Maid Marion +before now, in the Robin Hood play, at St. Andrews"; and as I spoke, I +saw the tall thatched roofs of South Street, and the Priory Gates open, +the budding elms above the garden wall of St. Leonard's, and all the May- +day revel of a year agone pouring out into the good town. + +"You speak like yourself now, bless your beardless face! Come forth," he +said, taking a long pull at a tankard,--"that nothing might be +wasted,"--and so we went to quarters, and Randal trudged off, soon coming +back, laughing, with the red kirtle. Our men had been very busy +furbishing up the red cross of St. George on their breasts, and stripping +themselves of any sign of our own colours. As for my busking, never had +maid such rough tire-women; but by one way or another, the apparel was +accommodated, and they all said that, at a little distance of ground, the +English would be finely fooled, and must deem that the Maid herself was +being led to them captive. + +It was now in the small hours of morning, dark, save for the glimmer of +stars, here and there in a cloudy sky. Father Urquhart himself went up +to the roof of the mill, to say his orisons, having with him certain +faggots of pitch-wood, for lighting the beacon-fires if need were; and, +as it chanced, braziers to this end stood ready on the roof, as is custom +on our own Border keeps. + +We Scots, a hundred in all, in English colours, with three or four as +prisoners, in our own badges, fared cautiously, and with no word spoken, +through dewy woods, or lurking along in dry ditches where best we might, +towards the St. Denis Gate of Paris. I had never been on a night +surprise or bushment before, and I marvelled how orderly the others kept, +as men used to such work, whereas I went stumbling and blindlings. At +length, within sight of the twinkling lights of Paris, and a hundred +yards or thereby off the common way, we were halted in a little wood, and +bidden to lie down; no man was so much as to whisper. Some slept, I +know, for I heard their snoring, but for my part, I never was less in +love with sleep. When the sky first grew grey, so that we could dimly +see shapes of things, we heard a light noise of marching men on the road. + +"The English!" whispered he that lay next me. "Hush!" breathed Randal, +and so the footsteps went by, none of us daring to stir, for fear of the +rustle in the leaves. + +The sound soon ceased; belike they had struck off into these very fields +wherethrough we had just marched. + +"Now, Robin Lindsay, climb into yonder ash-tree, and keep your eyes on +the mill and the beacon-fires," said Randal. + +Robin scrambled up, not easily, because of his armour, and we waited, as +it seemed, for an endless time. + +"What is that sound," whispered one, "so heavy and so hoarse?" + +It was my own heart beating, as if it would burst my side, but I said +nought, and even then Robin slid from the tree, as lightly as he might. +He held up two fingers, without a word, for a sign that the beacons were +lighted, and nodded. + +"Down all," whispered Randal. + +"Give them time, give them time." + +So there we lay, as we must, but that was the hardest part of the +waiting, and no sound but of the fowls and wild things arousing, and the +cry of sentinels from Paris walls, came to our ears. + +At length Randal said, "Up all, and onwards!" + +We arose, loosened our swords in their sheaths, and so crossed to the +road. We could now see Paris plainly, and were close by the farm of the +Mathurins, while beyond was the level land they call "Les Porcherons," +with slopes above it, and many trees. + +"Now, Norman," said Randal, "when we come within clear sight of the gate, +two of us shall seize you by the arms as prisoner; then we all cry 'St. +George!' and set off running towards Paris. The quicker, the less time +for discovery." + +So, having marched orderly and speedily, while the banks of the roadway +hid us, we set off to run, Randal and Robin gripping me when we were full +in sight of the moat, of the drawbridge (which was down), and the gate. + +Then our men all cried, "St. George for England! The witch is taken!" +And so running disorderly and fast we made for the Port, while English +men-at-arms might be plainly seen and heard, gazing, waving their hands, +and shouting from the battlements of the two gate-towers. Down the road +we ran, past certain small houses of peasants, and past a gibbet with a +marauder hanging from it, just over the dry ditch. + +Our feet, we three leading, with some twenty in a clump hard behind us, +rang loud on the drawbridge over the dry fosse. The bridge planks +quivered strangely; we were now within the gateway, when down fell the +portcullis behind us, the drawbridge, creaking, flew up, a crowd of angry +faces and red crosses were pressing on us, and a blow fell on my salade, +making me reel. I was held in strong arms, swords shone out above me, I +stumbled on a body--it was Robin Lindsay's--I heard Randal give a curse +as his blade broke on a helmet, and cry, "I yield me, rescue or no +rescue." Then burst forth a blast of shouts, and words of command and +yells, and English curses. Cannon-shot roared overhead, and my mouth was +full of sulphur smoke and dust. They were firing on those of our men who +had not set foot on the drawbridge when it flew up. Soon the portcullis +rose again, and the bridge fell, to let in a band of English archers, +through whom our Scots were cutting their way back towards St. Denis. + +Of all this I got glimpses, rather than clear sight, as the throng within +the gateway reeled and shifted, crushing me sorely. Presently the +English from without trooped in, laughing and cursing, welcomed by their +fellows, and every man of them prying into my face, and gibing. It had +been a settled plan: we were betrayed, it was over clear, and now a harsh +voice behind making me turn, I saw the wolf's face of Father Thomas under +his hood, and his yellow fangs. + +"Ha! fair clerk, they that be no clerks themselves may yet hire clerks to +work for them. How like you my brother, the Carmelite?" + +Then I knew too well how this stratagem had all been laid by that devil, +and my heart turned to water within me. + +Randal was led away, but round me the crowd gathered in the open space, +for I was haled into the greater gate tower beyond the wet fosse, and +from all quarters ran soldiers, and men, women, and children of the town +to mock me. + +"Behold her," cried Father Thomas, climbing on a mounting-stone, as one +who would preach to the people, while the soldiers that held me laughed. + +"Behold this wonderful wonder of all wonders, the miraculous Maid of the +Armagnacs! She boasted that, by help of the Saints, she would be the +first within the city, and lo! she is the first, but she has come without +her army. She is every way a miracle, mark you, for she hath a down on +her chin, such as no common maidens wear; and if she would but speak a +few words of counsel, methinks her tongue would sound strangely Scottish +for a Lorrainer." + +"Speak, speak!" shouted the throng. + +"Dogs," I cried, in French, "dogs and cowards! You shall see the Maid +closer before nightfall, and fly from her as you have fled before." + +"Said I not so?" asked Brother Thomas. + +"A miracle, a miracle, the Maid hath a Scots tongue in her head." + +Therewith stones began to fall, but the father, holding up his hand, bade +the multitude refrain. + +"Harm her not, good brethren, for to-morrow this Maid shall be tried by +the ordeal of fire if that be the will of our governors. Then shall we +see if she can work miracles or not," and so he went on gibing, while +they grinned horribly upon me. Never saw I so many vile faces of the +basest people come together, from their filthy dens in Paris. But as my +eyes ran over them with loathing, I beheld a face I knew; the face of +that violer woman who had been in our company before we came to Chinon, +and lo! perched on her shoulder, chained with a chain fastened round her +wrist, was Elliot's jackanapes! To see the poor beast that my lady loved +in such ill company, seemed as if it would break my heart, and my head +fell on my breast. + +"Ye mark, brethren and sisters, she likes not the name of the ordeal by +fire," cried Brother Thomas, whereon I lifted my face again to defy him, +and I saw the violer woman bend her brows, and place her finger, as it +were by peradventure, on her lips; wherefore I was silent, only gazing on +that devil, but then rang out a trumpet-note, blowing the call to arms, +and from afar came an answering call, from the quarter of St. Denis. + +"Carry him, or her, or whatever the spy is, into the outer gate tower," +said a Captain; "put him in fetters and manacles; lock the door and leave +him; and then to quarters. And you, friar, hold your gibing tongue; lad +or lass, he has borne him bravely." + +Six men-at-arms he chose out to do his bidding; and while the gates were +cleared of the throng, and trumpets were sounding, and church bells were +rung backwards, for an alarm, I was dragged, with many a kick and blow, +over the drawbridge, up the stairs of the tower, and so was thrown into a +strong room beneath the battlements. There they put me in bonds, gave me +of their courtesy a jug of water and a loaf of black bread by me, and +then, taking my dagger, my sword, and all that was in my pouch, they left +me with curses. + +"You shall hear how the onfall goes, belike," they said, "and to-morrow +shall be your judgment." + +With that the door grated and rang, the key was turned in the lock, and +their iron tread sounded on the stone stairs, going upwards. The room +was high, narrow, and lit by a barred and stanchioned window, far above +my reach, even if I had been unbound. I shame to say it, but I rolled +over on my face and wept. This was the end of my hopes and proud heart. +That they would burn me, despite their threats I scarce believed, for I +had in nowise offended Holy Church, or in matters of the Faith, and only +for such heretics, or wicked dealers in art-magic, is lawfully ordained +the death by fire. But here was I prisoner, all that I had won at +Orleans would do little more than pay my own ransom; from the end of my +risk and travail I was now further away than ever. + +So I mused, weeping for very rage, but then came a heavy rolling sound +overhead, as of moving wheeled pieces of ordnance. Thereon (so near is +Hope to us in our despair) I plucked up some heart. Ere nightfall, Paris +might be in the hands of the King, and all might be well. The roar and +rebound of cannon overhead told me that the fighting had begun, and now I +prayed with all my heart, that the Maid, as ever, might again be +victorious. So I lay there, listening, and heard the great artillery +bellow, and the roar of guns in answer, the shouting of men, and clang of +church bells. Now and again the walls of the tower rang with the shock +of a cannon-ball, once an arrow flew through the casement and shattered +itself on the wall above my head. I scarce know why, but I dragged me to +the place where it fell, and, put the arrow-point in my bosom. Smoke of +wood and pitch darkened the light; they had come, then, to close +quarters. But once more rang the rattle of guns; the whizzing rush of +stones, the smiting with axe or sword on wooden barrier and steel +harness, the cries of war, "Mont joye St. Denis!" "St. George for +England!" and slogans too, I heard, as "Bellenden," "A Home! a Home!" and +then I knew the Scots were there, fighting in the front. But alas, how +different was the day when first I heard our own battle-cries under +Orleans walls! Then I had my life and my sword in my hands, to spend and +to strike; but now I lay a lonely prisoner, helpless and all but +hopeless; yet even so I clashed my chains and shouted, when I heard the +slogan. + +Thus with noise and smoke, and trumpets blowing the charge or the recall, +and our pipes shrieking the pibroch high above the din, with dust +floating and plaster dropping from the walls of my cell till I was +wellnigh stifled, the day wore on, nor could I tell, in anywise, how the +battle went. The main onslaught, I knew, was not on the gate behind the +tower in which I lay, though that tower also was smitten of cannon-balls. + +At length, well past mid-day, as I deemed by the light, came a hush, and +then a thicker smoke, and taste of burning pitch-wood, and a roar as if +all Paris had been blown into mid-air, so that my tower shook, while +heavy beams fell crashing to earth. + +Again came a hush, and then one voice, clear as a clarion call, even the +voice of the Maid, "Tirez en avant, en avant!" How my blood thrilled at +the sound of it! + +It must be now, I thought, or never, but the guns only roared the louder, +the din grew fierce and fiercer, till I heard a mighty roar, the English +shouting aloud as one man for joy, for so their manner is. Thrice they +shouted, and my heart sank within me. Had they slain the Maid? I knew +not, but for torment of soul there is scarce any greater than so to lie, +bound and alone, seeing nought, but guessing at what is befalling. + +After these shouts it was easy to know that the fighting waned, and was +less fierce. The day, moreover, turned to thunder, and waxed lowering +and of a stifling heat. Yet my worst fears were ended, for I heard, now +and again, the clear voice of the Maid, bidding her men "fight on, for +all was theirs." But the voice was weaker now, and other than it had +been. So the day darkened, only once and again a shot was fired, and in +the dusk the shouts of the English told me over clearly that for to-day +our chance and hope were lost. Then the darkness grew deeper, and a star +shone through my casement, and feet went up and down upon the stairs, but +no man came near me. Below there was some faint cackle of mirth and +laughter, and at last the silence fell. + +Once more came a swift step on the stairs, as of one stumbling up in +haste. The key rattled in the wards, a yellow light shone in, a man-at- +arms entered; he held a torch to my face, looked to my bonds, and then +gave me a kick, while one cried from below, "Come on, Dickon, your meat +is cooling!" So he turned and went out, the door clanging behind him, +and the key rattling in the wards. + +In pain and fierce wrath I gnawed my black bread, drank some of the +water, and at last I bethought me of that which should have been first in +the thoughts of a Christian man, and I prayed. + +Remembering the story of Michael Hamilton, which I have already told, and +other noble and virtuous miracles of Madame St. Catherine of Fierbois, I +commanded me to her, that, by God's grace, she would be pleased to +release me from bonds and prison. And I promised that, if she would so +favour me, I would go on pilgrimage to her chapel of Fierbois. I looked +that my chains should now fall from my limbs, but, finding no such +matter, and being very weary (for all the last night I had slept none), I +fell on slumber and forgot my sorrow. + +Belike I had not lain long in that blessed land where trouble seldom +comes when I was wakened, as it were, by a tugging at my clothes. I sat +up, but the room was dark, save for a faint light in the casement, high +overhead, and I thought I had dreamed. Howbeit, as I lay down again, +heavy at heart, my clothes were again twitched, and now I remembered what +I had heard, but never believed, concerning "lutins" or "brownies," as we +call them, which, being spirits invisible, and reckoned to have no part +in our salvation, are wont in certain houses to sport with men. Curious +rather than affrighted, I sat up once more, and looked around, when I saw +two bright spots of light in the dark. Then deeming that, for some +reason unknown to me, the prison door had been opened while I slept, and +a cat let in, I stretched out my hands towards the lights, thence came a +sharp, faint cry, and something soft and furry leaped on to my breast, +stroking me with little hands. + +It was Elliot's jackanapes, very meagre, as I could feel, and all his +ribs standing out, but he made much of me, fondling me after his manner; +and indeed, for my lady's sake, I kissed him, wondering much how he came +there. Then he put something into my hands, almost as if he had been a +Christian, for it was a wise beast and a kind. Even then there shone +into my memory the thought of how my lady had prayed for her little +friend when he was stolen (which I had thought strange, and scarcely +warranted by our Faith), and with that, hope wakened within me. My eyes +being now more accustomed to the darkness, I saw that the thing which the +jackanapes gave me was a little wallet, for he had been taught to fetch +and carry, and never was such a marvel at climbing. But as I was +caressing him, I found a string about his neck, to which there seemed to +be no end. Now, at length, I comprehended what was toward, and pulling +gently at the string, I found, after some time, that it was attached to +something heavy, on the outside of the casement. Therefore I set about +drawing in string from above, and more string, and more, and then +appeared a knot and a splice, and the end of a thick rope. So I drew and +drew, till it stopped, and I could see a stout bar across the stanchions +of the casement. Thereon I ceased drawing, and opening the little +wallet, I found two files, one very fine, the other of sturdier fashion. + +Verily then I blessed the violer woman, who at great peril of her own +life, and by such witty device as doubtless Madame St. Catherine put into +her heart, had sent the jackanapes up from below, and put me in the way +of safety. I wasted no time, but began filing, not at the thick circlet +on my wrist, but at a link of the chain whereto it was made fast. And +such was the temper of the file, that soon I got the stouter weapon into +the cut, and snapped the link; and so with the others, working long +hours, and often looking fearfully for the first glimmer of dawn. This +had not come in, when I was now free of bonds, but there was yet the +casement to be scaled. With all my strength I dragged and jerked at the +rope, whereby I meant to climb, lest the stanchions should be rusted +through, and unable to bear my weight, but they stood the strain bravely. +Then I cast off my woman's kirtle, and took from my pouch the +arrow-point, and therewith scratched hastily on the plastered wall, in +great letters: "Norman Leslie of Pitcullo leaves his malison on the +English." + +Next I bound the jackanapes within the bosom of my doublet, with a piece +of the cord whereto the rope had been knotted, for I could not leave the +little beast to die the death of a traitor, and bring suspicion, +moreover, on the poor violer woman. Then, commanding myself to the +Saints, and especially thanking Madame St. Catherine, I began to climb, +hauling myself up by the rope, whereon I had made knots to this end; nor +was the climbing more difficult than to scale a branchless beech trunk +for a bird's nest, which, like other boys, I had often done. So behold +me, at last, with my legs hanging in free air, seated on the sill of the +casement. Happily, of the three iron stanchions, though together they +bore my weight, one was loose in the lower socket, for lack of lead, and +this one I displaced easily enough, and so passed through. Then I put +the wooden bar at the rope's end, within the room, behind the two other +stanchions, considering that they, by themselves, would bear my weight, +but if not, rather choosing to trust my soul to the Saints than my body +to the English. + +The deep below me was very terrible to look upon, and the casement being +above the dry ditch, I had no water to break my fall, if fall I must. +Howbeit, I hardened my heart, and turning my face to the wall, holding +first the wooden bar, and then shifting my grasp to the rope, I let +myself down, clinging to the rope with my legs, and at first not a little +helped by the knots I had made to climb to the casement. When I had +passed these, methought my hands were on fire; nevertheless, I slid down +slowly and with caution, till my feet touched ground. + +I was now in the dry ditch, above my head creaked and swung the dead body +of the hanged marauder, but he did no whit affray me. I ran, stooping, +along the bed of the dry ditch, for many yards, stumbling over the bodies +of men slain in yesterday's fight, and then, creeping out, I found a +hollow way between two slopes, and thence crawled into a wood, where I +lay some little space hidden by the boughs. The smell of trees and grass +and the keen air were like wine to me; I cooled my bleeding hands in the +deep dew; and presently, in the dawn, I was stealing towards St. Denis, +taking such cover of ditches and hedges as we had sought in our unhappy +march of yesterday. And I so sped, by favour of the Saints, that I fell +in with no marauders; but reaching the windmill right early, at first +trumpet-call, I was hailed by our sentinels for the only man that had won +in and out of Paris, and had carried off, moreover, a prisoner, the +jackanapes. To see me, scarred, with manacles on my wrists and gyves on +my ankles, weaponless, with an ape on my shoulder, was such a sight as +the Scots Guard had never beheld before, and carrying me to the smith's, +they first knocked off my irons, and gave me wine, ere they either asked +me for my tale, or told me their own, which was a heartbreak to bear. + +For no man could unfold the manner of that which had come to pass, if, at +least, there were not strong treason at the root of all. For our part of +the onfall, the English had made but a feigned attack on the mill, +wherefore the bale-fires were lit, to our undoing. This was the ruse de +guerre of the accursed cordelier, Brother Thomas. For the rest, the Maid +had led on a band to attack the gate St. Honore, with Gaucourt in her +company, a knight that had no great love either of her or of a desperate +onslaught. But D'Alencon, whom she loved as a brother, was commanded to +take another band, and wait behind a butte or knowe, out of danger of +arrow-shot. The Maid had stormed all day at her gate, had taken the +boulevard without, and burst open and burned the outer port, and crossed +the dry ditch. But when she had led up her men, now few, over the slope +and to the edge of the wet fosse, behold no faggots and bundles of wood +were brought up, whereby, as is manner of war, to fill up the fosse, and +so cross over. As she then stood under the wall, shouting for faggots +and scaling-ladders, her standard-bearer was shot to death, and she was +sorely wounded by an arbalest bolt. Natheless she lay by the wall, still +crying on her men, but nought was ready that should have been, many were +slain by shafts and cannon-shot, and in the dusk, she weeping and crying +still that the place was theirs to take, D'Alencon carried her off by +main force, set her on her horse, and so brought her back to St. Denis. + +Now, my mind was, and is to this day, that there was treason here, and a +black stain on the chivalry of France, to let a girl go so far, and not +to follow her. But of us Scots many were slain, and more wounded, while +Robin Lindsay died in Paris gate, and Randal Rutherford lay a prisoner in +English hands. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII--HOW ELLIOT'S JACKANAPES CAME HOME + + +Of our Blessed Lord Himself it is said in the Gospel of St. Matthew, "et +non fecit ibi virtutes multas propter incredulitatem illorum." These +words I willingly leave in the Roman tongue; for by the wisdom of Holy +Church it is deemed that many mysteries should not be published abroad in +the vulgar speech, lest the unlearned hear to their own confusion. But +if even He, doubtless by the wisdom of His own will, did not many great +works "propter incredulitatem," it is the less to be marvelled at that +His Saints, through the person of the Blessed Maid, were of no avail +where men utterly disbelieved. And that, where infidelity was, even she +must labour in vain was shown anon, even on this very day of my escape +out of Paris town. For I had scarce taken some food, and washed and +armed myself, when the Maid's trumpets sounded, and she herself, armed +and on horseback, despite her wound, rode into St. Denis, to devise with +the gentle Duc d'Alencon. Together they came forth from the gate, and I, +being in their company, heard her cry-- + +"By my baton, I will never go back till I take that city." {31} + +These words Percival de Cagny also heard, a good knight, and maitre +d'hotel of the house of Alencon. Thereon arose some dispute, D'Alencon +being eager, as indeed he always was, to follow where the Maiden led, and +some others holding back. + +Now, as they were devising together, some for, some against, for men-at- +arms not a few had fallen in the onfall, there came the sound of horses' +hoofs, and lo! Messire de Montmorency, who had been of the party of the +English, and with them in Paris, rode up, leading a company of fifty or +sixty gentlemen of his house, to join the Maid. Thereat was great joy +and new courage in all men of goodwill, seeing that, within Paris itself, +so many gentlemen deemed ours the better cause and the more hopeful. + +Thus there was an end of all dispute, our companies were fairly arrayed, +and we were marching to revenge ourselves for the losses of yesterday, +when two knights came spurring after us from St. Denis. They were the +Duc de Bar, and that unhappy Charles de Bourbon, Comte de Clermont, by +whose folly, or ill-will, or cowardice, the Scots were betrayed and +deserted at the Battle of the Herrings, where my own brother fell, as I +have already told. This second time Charles de Bourbon brought evil +fortune, for he came on the King's part, straitly forbidding D'Alencon +and the Maid to march forward another lance's length. Whereat D'Alencon +swore profane, and the Maiden, weeping, rebuked him. So, with heavy +hearts, we turned, all the host of us, and went back to quarters, the +Maid to pray in the chapel, and the men-at-arms to drink and speak ill of +the King. + +All this was on the ninth of September, a weary day to all of us, though +in the evening word came that we were to march early next morning and +attack Paris in another quarter, crossing the river by a bridge of boats +which the Duc d'Alencon had let build to that end. After two wakeful +nights I was well weary, and early laid me down to sleep, rising at dawn +with high hopes. And so through the grey light we marched silently to +the place appointed, but bridge there was none; for the King, having +heard of the Maid's intent, had caused men to work all night long, +destroying that which the gentle Duke had builded. Had the King but +heard the shouts and curses of our company when they found nought but the +bare piles standing, the grey water flowing, and the boats and planks +vanished, he might have taken shame to himself of his lack of faith. +Therefore I say it boldly, it was because of men's unbelief that the Maid +at Paris wrought no great works, save that she put her body in such +hazard of war as never did woman, nay, nor man, since the making of the +world. + +I have no heart to speak more of this shameful matter, nor of these days +of anger and blasphemy. It was said and believed that her voices bade +the Maid abide at St. Denis till she should take Paris town, but the +King, and Charles de Bourbon, and the Archbishop of Reims refused to +hearken to her. On the thirteenth day of September, after dinner, the +King, with all his counsellors, rode away from St. Denis, towards Gien on +the Loire. The Maiden, for her part, hung up all her harness that she +had worn, save the sword of St. Catherine of Fierbois, in front of the +altar of Our Lady, and the blessed relics of St. Denis in the chapel. +Thereafter she rode, as needs she must, and we of her company with her, +to join the King, for so he commanded. + +And now was the will of the Maid and of the Duc d'Alencon broken, and +broken was all that great army, whereof some were free lances out of many +lands, but more were nobles of France with their men, who had served +without price or pay, for love of France and of the Maid. Never again +were they mustered; nay when, after some weeks passed, the gentle Duc +d'Alencon prayed that he might have the Maiden with him, and burst into +Normandy, where the English were strongest, by the Marches of Maine, even +this grace was refused to him, by the malengin and ill-will of La +Tremouille and the Archbishop of Reims. And these two fair friends met +never more again, neither at fray nor feast. May she, among the Saints, +so work by her prayers that the late sin and treason of the gentle Duke +may be washed out and made clean, for while she lived there was no man +more dear to her, nor any that followed her more stoutly in every onfall. + +Now concerning the times that came after this shameful treason at Paris, +I have no joy to write. The King's counsellors, as their manner was, +ever hankered after a peace with Burgundy, and they stretched the false +truce that was to have ended at Christmas to Easter Day, "pacem clamantes +quo non fuit pax." For there was no truce with the English, who took St. +Denis again, and made booty of the arms which the Maid had dedicated to +Our Lady. On our part La Hire and Xaintrailles plundered, for their own +hand, the lands of the Duke of Burgundy, and indeed on every side there +was no fair fighting, such as the Maid loved, but a war of wastry, the +peasants pillaged, and the poor held to ransom. For her part, she spent +her days in prayer for the poor and the oppressed, whom she had come to +deliver, and who now were in worse case than before, the English harrying +certain of the good towns that had yielded to King Charles. + +Now her voices ever bade the Maid go back to the Isle of France, and +assail Paris, where lay no English garrison, and the Armagnacs were +stirring as much as they might. But Paris, being at this time under the +government of the Duke of Burgundy, was forsooth within the truce. The +King's counsellors, therefore, setting their wisdom against that of the +Saints, bade the Maid go against the towns of St. Pierre le Moustier and +La Charite, then held by the English on the Loire. This was in November, +when days were short, and the weather bitter cold. The Council was held +at Mehun sur Yevre, and forthwith the Maid, glad to be doing, rode to +Bourges, where she mustered her men, and so marched to St. Pierre le +Moustier, a small town, but a strong, with fosses, towers, and high +walls. + +There we lay some two days or three, plying the town with our artillery, +and freezing in the winter nights. At length, having made somewhat of a +breach, the Maid gave the word for the assault, and herself leading, with +her banner in hand, we went at it with what force we might. But twice +and thrice we were driven back from the fosse, and to be plain, our men +were fled under cover, and only the Maid stood within arrow-shot of the +wall, with a few of her household, of whom I was one, for I could not go +back while she held her ground. The arrows and bolts from the town +rained and whistled about us, and in faith I wished myself other where. +Yet she stood, waving her banner, and crying, "Tirez en avant, ils sont a +nous," as was her way in every onfall. Seeing her thus in jeopardy, her +maitre d'hotel, D'Aulon, though himself wounded in the heel so that he +might not set foot to ground, mounted a horse, and riding up, asked her +"why she abode there alone, and did not give ground like the others?" + +At this the Maid lifted her helmet from her head, and so, uncovered, her +face like marble for whiteness, and her eyes shining like steel, made +answer-- + +"I am not alone; with me there are of mine fifty thousand! Hence I will +not give back one step till I have taken the town." + +Then I wotted well that, sinful man as I am, I was in the company of the +hosts of Heaven, though I saw them not. Great heart this knowledge gave +me and others, and the Maid crying, in a loud voice, "Aux fagots, tout le +monde!" the very runaways heard her and came back with planks and +faggots, and so, filling up the fosse and passing over, we ran into the +breach, smiting and slaying, and the town was taken. + +For my own part, I was so favoured that two knights yielded them my +prisoners (I being the only man of gentle birth among those who beset +them in a narrow wynd), and with their ransoms I deemed myself wealthy +enough, as well I might. So now I could look to win my heart's desire, +if no ill fortune befell. But little good fortune came in our way. From +La Charite, which was beset in the last days of November, we had perforce +to give back, for the King sent us no munitions of war, and for lack of +more powder and ball we might not make any breach in the walls of that +town. And so, by reason of the hard winter, and the slackness of the +King, and the false truce, we fought no more, at that season, but went, +trailing after the Court, from castle to castle. + +Many feasts were held, and much honour was done to the Maid, as by gifts +of coat armour, and the ennobling of all her kith and kin, but these +things she regarded not, nor did she ever bear on her shield the sword +supporting the crown, between the lilies of France. + +If these were ill days for the Maid, I shame to confess that they were +merry days with me. There are worse places than a king's court, when a +man is young, and light of heart, full of hope, and with money in his +purse. I looked that we should take the field again in the spring; and +having gained some gold, and even some good words, as one not backward +where sword-strokes were going, I know not what dreams I had of high +renown, ay, and the Constable's staff to end withal. For many a poor +Scot has come to great place in France and Germany, who began with no +better fortune than a mind to put his body in peril. Moreover, the +winning of Elliot herself for my wife seemed now a thing almost within my +reach. Therefore, as I say, I kept a merry Yule at Jargeau, going +bravely clad, and dancing all night long with the merriest. Only the wan +face of the Maid (that in time of war had been so gallant and glad) came +between me and my pleasures. Not that she was wilfully and wantonly sad, +yet now and again we could mark in her face the great and loving pity +that possessed her for France. Now I would be half angered with her, but +again far more wroth with myself, who could thus lightly think of that +passion of hers. But when she might she was ever at her prayers, or in +company of children, or seeking out such as were poor and needy, to whom +she was abundantly lavish of her gifts, so that, wheresoever the Court +went, the people blessed her. + +In these months I had tidings of Elliot now and again; and as occasion +served I wrote to her, with messages of my love, and with a gift, as of a +ring or a jewel. But concerning the manner of my escape from Paris I had +told Elliot nothing for this cause. My desire was, when soonest I had an +occasion, to surprise her with the gift of her jackanapes anew, knowing +well that nothing could make her greater joy, save my own coming, or a +victory of the Maid. The little creature had been my comrade wheresoever +we went, as at Sully, Gien, and Bourges, only I took him not to the +leaguers of St. Pierre le Moustier and La Charite, but left him with a +fair lady of the Court. He had waxed fat again, for as meagre as he was +when he came to me in prison, and he was full of new tricks, warming +himself at the great fire in hall, like a man. + +Now in the middle of the month of January, in the year of Grace fourteen +hundred and thirty, the Maid told us of her household that she would +journey to Orleans, to abide for some space with certain ladies of her +friends, namely, Madame de St. Mesmin and Madame de Mouchy, who loved her +dearly. To the most of us she gave holiday, to see our own friends. The +Maid knew surely that in France my friends were few, and well she guessed +whither I was bound. Therefore she sent for me, and bidding me carry her +love to Elliot, she put into my hands a gift to her friend. It was a +ring of silver-gilt, fashioned like that which her own father and mother +had given her. At this ring she had a custom of looking often, so that +the English conceived it to be an unholy talisman, though it bore the +Name that is above all names. That ring I now wear in my bosom. So, +saying farewell, with many kind words on her part, I rode towards Tours, +where Elliot and her father as then dwelt, in that same house where I had +been with them to be healed of my malady, after the leaguer of Orleans. +To Tours I rode, telling them not of my coming, and carrying the +jackanapes well wrapped up in furs of the best. The weather was frosty, +and folk were sliding on the ice of the flooded fields near Tours when I +came within sight of the great Minster. The roads rang hard; on the +smooth ice the low sun was making paths of gold, and I sang as I rode. +Putting up my horse at the sign of the "Hanging Sword," I took the ape +under my great furred surcoat, and stole like a thief through the alleys, +towards my master's house. The night was falling, and all the casement +of the great chamber was glowing with the colour and light of a leaping +fire within. There came a sound of music too, as one touched the +virginals to a tune of my own country. My heart was beating for joy, as +it had beaten in the bushment outside Paris town. + +I opened the outer door secretly, for I knew the trick of it, and I saw +from the thin thread of light on the wall of the passage that the chamber +door was a little ajar. The jackanapes was now fretting and struggling +within my surcoat, so, opening the coat, I put him down by the chamber +door. He gave a little scratch, as was his custom, for he was a very +mannerly little beast, and the sound of the virginals ceased. Then, +pushing the door with his little hands, he ran in, with a kind of cry of +joy. + +"In Our Lady's name, what is this?" came the voice of Elliot. "My dear, +dear little friend, what make you here?" + +Then I could withhold myself no longer, but entered, and my lady ran to +me, the jackanapes clinging about her neck with his arms. But mine were +round her too, and what words we said, and what cheer we made each the +other, I may not write, commending me to all true lovers, whose hearts +shall tell them that whereof I am silent. Much was I rebuked for that I +did not write to warn them of my coming, which was yet the more joyful +that they were not warned. And then the good woman, Elliot's kinswoman, +must be called (though in sooth not at the very first), and then a great +fire must be lit in my old chamber; and next my master came in, from a +tavern where he had been devising with some Scots of his friends; and all +the while the jackanapes kept such a merry coil, and played so many of +his tricks, and got so many kisses from his mistress, that it was marvel. +But of all that had befallen me in the wars, and of how the Maiden did +(concerning which Elliot had questioned me first of all), I would tell +them little till supper was brought. + +And then, indeed, out came all my tale, and they heard of what had been +my fortune in Paris, and how the jackanapes had delivered me from +durance, whereon never, surely, was any beast of his kind so caressed +since our father Adam gave all the creatures their names. But as +touching the Maid, I told how she had borne herself at St. Pierre le +Moustier, and of all the honours that had been granted to her, and I bade +them be of good heart and hope, for that her banner would be on the wind +in spring, after Easter Day. All the good news that might be truly told +I did tell, as how La Hire had taken Louviers town, and harried the +English up to the very gates of Rouen. And I gave to Elliot the ring +which the Maid had sent to her, fashioned like that she herself wore, but +of silver gilt, whereas the Maid's was of base metal, and it bore the +Holy Names MARI. IHS. Thereon Elliot kissed it humbly, and avowed +herself to be, that night, the gladdest damsel in all France. + +"For I have gotten you, mon ami, and my little friend that I had lost, +beyond all hope, and I have a kind word and a token from Her, la fille de +Dieu," whereat her speech faltered, and her eyes swam in tears. But some +trick of her jackanapes brought back her mirth, and so the hours passed, +as happy as any in my life. Truly the memory of these things tells me +how glad this world might be, wherein God has placed us, were it not +troubled by the inordinate desires of men. In my master's house of +Tours, then, my days of holiday went merrily by, save for one matter, and +that of the utmost moment. For my master would in no manner permit me to +wed his daughter while this war endured; and Elliot herself, blushing +like any rose, told me that, while the Maid had need of me, with the Maid +I must abide at my duty, and that she herself had no mind for happiness +while her friend was yet labouring in the cause of France. Howbeit, I +delivered me of my vow, by pilgrimage to the chapel in Fierbois. {32} + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV--HOW THE MAID HEARD ILL TIDINGS FROM HER VOICES, AND OF THE +SILENCE OF THE BIRDS + + +Eastertide came at last, and that early, Easter Day falling on March the +twenty-seventh. Our King kept his Paques at Sully with great festival, +but his deadly foe, the Duke of Burgundy, lay at the town of Peronne. So +soon as Eastertide was over, the Duke drew all the force he had to +Montdidier, a town which lies some eight leagues to the north and west of +Compiegne. Hence he so wrought that he made a pact with the captain of +the French in Gournay, a town some four leagues north and west of +Compiegne, whereby the garrison there promised to lie idle, and make no +onslaught against them of Burgundy, unless the King brought them a +rescue. Therefore the Duke went back to Noyon on the Oise, some eight +leagues north and east of Compiegne, while his captain, Jean de +Luxembourg, led half his army west, towards Beauvais. There he took the +castle of Provenlieu, an old castle, and ruinous, that the English had +repaired and held. And there he hanged certain English, who were used to +pillage all the country about Montdidier. Thence Jean de Luxembourg came +back to the Duke, at Noyon, and took and razed Choisy, which was held for +France. + +Now all these marchings, and takings of towns, were designed to one end, +namely, that the Duke might have free passage over the river Oise, so +that his men and his victual might safely come and go from the east. For, +manifestly, it was his purpose to besiege and take the good town of +Compiegne, which lies on the river Oise some fifteen leagues north and +east of Paris. This town had come in, and yielded to the Maid, some +weeks before the onfall of Paris, and it was especially dear to her, for +the people had sworn that they would all die, and see their wives and +children dead, rather than yield to England or Burgundy. Moreover, +whosoever held Compiegne was like, in no long time, to be master of +Paris. But as now Guillaume de Flavy commanded in Compiegne for the +King, a very good knight and skilled captain, but a man who robbed and +ravished wheresoever he had power. His brother, Louis de Flavy, also +joined him after Choisy fell, as I have told. + +All this I have written that men may clearly know how the Maid came by +her end. For, so soon as Eastertide was over, and the truce ended, she +made no tarrying, nor even said farewell to the King, who might have held +her back, but drew out all her company, and rode northward, whither she +knew that battle was to be. Her mind was to take some strong place on +the Oise, as Pont l'Eveque, near Noyon, that she might cut off them of +Burgundy from all the country eastward of Oise, and so put them out of +the power to besiege Compiegne, and might destroy all their host at +Montdidier and in the Beauvais country. For the Maid was not only the +first of captains in leading a desperate onslaught, but also (by miracle, +for otherwise it might not be) she best knew how to devise deep schemes +and subtle stratagem of war. + +Setting forth, therefore, early in April, on the fifteenth day of the +month she came to Melun, a town some seven leagues south of Paris, that +had lately yielded to the King. Bidding me walk with her, she went afoot +about the walls, considering what they lacked of strength, and how they +might best be repaired, and bidding me write down all in a little book. +Now we two, and no other, were walking by the dry fosse of Melun, the day +being very fair and warm for that season, the flowers blossoming, and the +birds singing so sweet and loud as never I heard them before or since +that day. + +The Maid stood still to listen, holding up her hand to me for silence, +when, lo! in one moment, in the midst of merry music, the birds hushed +suddenly. + +As I marvelled, for there was not a cloud in the sky, nor a breath of +cold wind, I beheld the Maid standing as I had seen her stand in the +farmyard of the mill by St. Denis. Her head was bare, and her face was +white as snow. So she stood while one might count a hundred, and if ever +any could say that he had seen the Maid under fear, it was now. As I +watched and wondered, she fell on her knees, like one in prayer, and with +her eyes set and straining, and with clasped hands, she said these +words--"Tell me of that day, and that hour, or grant me, of your grace, +that in the same hour I may die." + +Then she was silent for short space, and then, having drawn herself upon +her knees for three paces or four, she very reverently bowed down, and +kissed the ground. + +Thereafter she arose, and beholding me wan, I doubt not, she gently laid +her hand upon my shoulder, and, smiling most sweetly, she said-- + +"I know not what thou hast seen or heard, but promise, on thine honour, +that thou wilt speak no word to any man, save in confession only, while I +bear arms for France." + +Then humbly, and with tears, I vowed as she had bidden me, whereto she +only said-- + +"Come, we loiter, and I have much to do, for the day is short." + +But whether the birds sang again, or stinted, I know not, for I marked it +not. + +But she set herself, as before, to consider the walls and the fosses, +bidding me write down in my little book what things were needful. Nor +was her countenance altered in any fashion, nor was her wit less clear; +but when we had seen all that was to be looked to, she bade me call the +chief men of the town to her house, after vespers, and herself went into +the Church of St. Michael to pray. + +Though I pondered much on this strange matter, which I laid up in my +heart, I never knew what, belike, the import was, till nigh a year +thereafter, at Rouen. + +But there one told me how the Maid, before her judges, had said that, at +Melun, by the fosse, her Saints had told her how she should be made +prisoner before the feast of St. John. And she had prayed them to warn +her of that hour, or in that hour might she die, but they bade her endure +all things patiently, and with a willing mind. At that coming, then, of +the Saints, I was present, though, being a sinful man, I knew not that +the Holy Ones were there. But the birds knew, and stinted in their +singing. + +Now that the Maid, knowing by inspiration her hour to be even at the +doors, and wotting well what the end of her captivity was like to be, yet +had the heart to put herself in jeopardy day by day, this I deem the most +valiant deed ever done by man or woman since the making of the world. For +scarce even Wallace wight would have stood to his standard had he known, +by teaching of them who cannot lie, what end awaited him beyond all hope. +Nay, he would have betaken him to France, as once he did in time of less +danger. + +Now, I pray you, consider who she was that showed this courage and high +heart. She was but the daughter of a manant, a girl of eighteen years of +age. Remember, then, what manner of creature such a girl is of her +nature; how weak and fearful; how she is discomfited and abashed by the +company of even one gentleman or lady of noble birth; how ignorant she is +of war; how fond to sport and play with wenches of her own degree; how +easily set on fire of love; and how eager to be in the society of young +men amorous. Pondering all these things in your hearts, judge ye whether +this Maid, the bravest leader in breach, the wisest captain, having +foreknowledge of things hidden and of things to come, the most courteous +lady who ever with knights sat in hall, not knowing carnal love, nor +bodily fear, was aught but a thing miraculous, and a sister of the +Saints. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV--OF THE ONFALL AT PONT L'EVEQUE, AND HOW NORMAN LESLIE WAS +HURT + + +I have now shown wherefore the fighting, in this spring, was to be up and +down the water of Oise, whence the villagers had withdrawn themselves, of +necessity, into the good towns. For the desire of the Duke of Burgundy +was to hold the Oise, and so take Compiegne, the better to hold Paris. +And on our side the skill was to cut his army in two, so that from east +of the water of Oise neither men nor victual might come to him. + +Having this subtle device of war in her mind, the Maid rode north from +Melun, by the King's good towns, till she came to Compiegne, that was not +yet beleaguered. There they did her all the honour that might be, and +thither came to her standard Messire Jacques de Chabennes, Messire +Rigault de Fontaines, Messire Poton de Xaintrailles, the best knight then +on ground, and many other gentlemen, some four hundred lances in all. +{33} With these lances the Maid consorted to attack Pont l'Eveque by a +night onfall. This is a small but very strong hold, on the Oise, some +six leagues from Compiegne, as you go up the river, and it lies near the +town of Noyon, which was held by the English. In Pont l'Eveque there was +a garrison of a hundred lances of the English, and our skill was to break +on them in the grey of dawn, when men least fear a surprise, and are most +easily taken. By this very device La Hire had seized Compiegne but six +years agone, wherefore our hope was the higher. About five of the clock +on an April day we rode out of Compiegne, a great company,--too great, +perchance, for that we had to do. For our army was nigh a league in +length as it went on the way, nor could we move swiftly, for there were +waggons with us and carts, drawing guns and couleuvrines and powder, +fascines wherewith to fill the fosses, and ladders and double ladders for +scaling the walls. So the captains ordered it to be, for ever since that +day by Melun fosse, when the Saints foretold her captivity, the Maid +submitted herself in all things to the captains, which was never her +manner before. + +As we rode slowly, she was now at the head of the line, now in the midst, +now at the rear, wherever was need; and as I rode at her rein, I took +heart to say-- + +"Madame, it is not thus that we have taken great keeps and holds, in my +country, from our enemies of England." + +"Nay," said she, checking her horse to a walk, and smiling on me in the +dusk with her kind eyes. "Then tell me how you order it in your +country." + +"Madame," I said, "it was with a little force, and lightly moving, that +Messire Thomas Randolph scaled the Castle rock and took Edinburgh Castle +out of the hands of the English, a keep so strong, and set on a cliff so +perilous, that no man might deem to win it by sudden onfall. And in like +manner the good Messire James Douglas took his own castle, more than once +or twice, by crafty stratagem of war, so that the English named it Castle +Perilous. But in every such onfall few men fought for us, of such as +could move secretly and swiftly, not with long trains of waggons that +cover a league of road, and by their noise and number give warning to an +enemy." + +"My mind is yours," she said, with a sigh, "and so I would have made this +onslaught. But I submitted me to the will of the captains." + +Through the night we pushed our way slowly, for in such a march none may +go swifter than the slowest, namely, the carts and the waggons. Thus it +befell that the Maid and the captains were in more thoughts than one to +draw back to Compiegne, for the night was clear, and the dawn would be +bright. And, indeed, after stumbling and wandering long, and doubting of +the way, we did, at last, see the church towers and walls of Pont +l'Eveque stand out against the clear sky of morning, a light mist +girdling the basement of the walls. Had we been a smaller and swifter +company, we should have arrived an hour before the first greyness shows +the shapes of things. But now, alas! we no sooner saw the town than we +heard the bells and trumpets calling the townsfolk and men-at-arms to be +on their ward. The great guns of the keep roared at us so soon as we +were in reach of shot; nevertheless, Pothon and the Maid set companies to +carry the double ladders, for the walls were high, and others were told +off to bring up the fascines, and so, leaving our main battle to wait out +of shot, and come on as they were needed, the Maid and Pothon ran up the +first rampart, she waving her standard and crying that all was ours. As +we ran, for I must needs be by her side, the din of bells and guns was +worse than I had heard at Orleans, and on the top of the church towers +were men-at-arms waving flags, as if for a signal. Howbeit, we sprang +into the fosse, under shield, wary of stones cast from above, and +presently three ladders were set against the wall, and we went up, the +Maid leading the way. + +Now of what befell I know but little, save that I had so climbed that I +looked down over the wall, when the ladder whereon I stood was wholly +overthrown by two great English knights, and one of them, by his coat +armour, was Messire de Montgomery himself, who commanded in Pont +l'Eveque. Of all that came after I remember no more than a flight +through air, and the dead stroke of a fall on earth with a stone above +me. For such is the fortune of war, whereof a man knows but his own +share for the most part, and even that dimly. The eyes are often blinded +with swift running to be at the wall, and, what with a helm that rings to +sword-blows, and what with smoke, and dust, and crying, and clamour, and +roar of guns, it is but little that many a man-at-arms can tell +concerning the frays wherein, may be, he has borne himself not unmanly. + +This was my lot at Pont l'Eveque, and I knew but little of what passed +till I found myself in very great anguish. For I had been laid in one of +the carts, and so was borne along the way we had come, and at every turn +of the wheels a new pang ran through me. For my life I could not choose +but groan, as others groaned that were in the same cart with me. For my +right leg was broken, also my right arm, and my head was stounding as if +it would burst. It was late and nigh sunset or ever we won the gates of +Compiegne, having lost, indeed, but thirty men slain, but having wholly +failed in our onfall. For I heard in the monastery whither I was borne +that, when the Maid and Xaintrailles and their men had won their way +within the walls, and had slain certain of the English, and were pushing +the others hard, behold our main battle was fallen upon in the rear by +the English from Noyon, some two miles distant from Pont l'Eveque. +Therefore there was no help for it but retreat we must, driving back the +English to Noyon, while our wounded and all our munitions of war were +carried orderly away. + +As to the pains I bore in that monastery of the Jacobins, when my broken +bones were set by a very good surgeon, there is no need that I should +write. My fortune in war was like that of most men-at-arms, or better +than that of many who are slain outright in their first skirmish. Some +good fortune I had, as at St. Pierre, and again, bad fortune, of which +this was the worst, that I could not be with the Maid: nay, never again +did I ride under her banner. + +She, for her part, was not idle, but, after tarrying certain days in +Compiegne with Guillaume de Flavy, she rode to Lagny, "for there," she +said, "were men that warred well against the English," namely, a company +of our Scots. And among them, as later I heard in my bed, was Randal +Rutherford, who had ransomed himself out of the hands of the French in +Paris, whereat I was right glad. At Lagny, with her own men and the +Scots, the Maid fought and took one Franquet d'Arras, a Burgundian +"routier," or knight of the road, who plundered that country without +mercy. Him the Maid would have exchanged for an Armagnac of Paris, the +host of the Bear Inn, then held in duresse by the English, for his share +in a plot to yield Paris to the King. But this burgess died in the hands +of the English, and the echevins {34} of Lagny, claiming Franquet d'Arras +as a common thief, traitor, and murderer, tried him, and, on his +confession, put him to death. This was counted a crime in the Maid by +the English and Burgundian robbers, nay, even by French and Scots. "For," +said they, "if a gentleman is to be judged like a manant, or a fat +burgess by burgesses, there is no more profit or glory in war." Nay, I +have heard gentlemen of France cry out that, as the Maid gave up Franquet +to such judges as would surely condemn him, so she was rightly punished +when Jean de Luxembourg sold her into the hands of unjust judges. But I +answer that the Maid did not sell Franquet d'Arras, as I say De +Luxembourg sold her: not a livre did she take from the folk of Lagny. And +as for the slaying of robbers, this very Jean de Luxembourg had but just +slain many English of his own party, for that they burned and pillaged in +the Beauvais country. + +Yet men murmured against the Maid not only in their hearts, but openly, +and many men-at-arms ceased to love her cause, both for the slaying of +Franquet d'Arras, and because she was for putting away the +leaguer-lasses, and, when she might, would suffer no plundering. Whether +she was right or wrong, it behoves me not to judge, but this I know, that +the King's men fought best when she was best obeyed. And, like Him who +sent her, she was ever of the part of the poor and the oppressed, against +strong knights who rob and ravish and burn and torture, and hold to +ransom. Therefore the Archbishop of Reims, who was never a friend of the +Maid, said openly in a letter to the Reims folk that "she did her own +will, rather than obeyed the commandments of God." But that God commands +knights and gentlemen to rob the poor and needy (though indeed He has set +a great gulf between a manant and a gentleman born) I can in nowise +believe. For my part, when I have been where gentlemen and captains +lamented the slaying of Franquet d'Arras, and justified the dealings of +the English with the Maid, I have seemed to hear the clamour of the cruel +Jews: "Tolle hunc, et dimitte nobis Barabbam." {35} For Barabbas was a +robber. Howbeit on this matter, as on all, I humbly submit me to the +judgment of my superiors and to Holy Church. + +Meantime the Maid rode from Lagny, now to Soissons, now to Senlis, now to +Crepy-en-Valois, and in Crepy she was when that befell which I am about +to relate. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI--HOW, AND BY WHOSE DEVICE, THE MAID WAS TAKEN AT COMPIEGNE + + +"Verily and indeed the Maid is of wonderful excellence," quoth Father +Francois to me, in my chamber at the Jacobins, where I was healing of my +hurts. + +"Any man may know that, who is in your company," the father went on +speaking. + +"And how, good father?" I asked him; "sure I have caught none of her +saintliness." + +"A saint I do not call you, but I scarce call you a Scot. For you are a +clerk." + +"The Maid taught me none of my clergy, father, nor have I taught her any +of mine." + +"She needs it not. But you are peaceful and gentle; you brawl not, nor +drink, nor curse . . . " + +"Nay, father, with whom am I to brawl, or how should I curse in your good +company? Find you Scots so froward?" + +"But now, pretending to be our friends, a band of them is harrying the +Sologne country . . . " + +"They will be Johnstons and Jardines, and wild wood folk of Galloway," I +said. "These we scarce reckon Scots, but rather Picts, and half heathen. +And the Johnstons and Jardines are here belike, because they have made +Scotland over hot to hold them. We are a poor folk, but honest, let by +the clans of the Land Debatable and of Ettrick Forest, and the Border +freebooters, and the Galloway Picts, and Maxwells, and Glendinnings, and +the red-shanked, jabbering Highlanders and Islesmen, and some certain of +the Angus folk, and, maybe, a wild crew in Strathclyde." + +"Yours, then, is a very large country?" + +"About the bigness of France, or, may be, not so big. And the main part +of it, and the most lawful and learned, is by itself, in a sort, a +separate kingdom, namely Fife, whence I come myself. The Lothians, too, +and the shire of Ayr, if you except Carrick, are well known for the lands +of peaceful and sober men." + +"Whence comes your great captain, Sir Hugh Kennedy?" + +"There you name an honourable man-at-arms," I said, "the glory of +Scotland; and to show you I was right, he is none of your marchmen, or +Highlanders, but has lands in Ayrshire, and comes of a very honourable +house." + +"It is Sir Hugh that hath just held to ransom the King's good town of +Tours, where is that gracious lady the mother of the King's wife, the +Queen of Sicily." + +Hereat I waxed red as fire. + +"He will be in arrears of his pay, no doubt," I made answer. + +"It is very like," said Father Francois: "but considering all that you +tell me, I crave your pardon if I still think that the Blessed Maid has +won you from the common ways of your countrymen." + +To which, in faith, I had no answer to make, but that my fortune was like +to be the happier in this world and the next. + +"Much need have all men of her goodness, and we of her valour," said the +father, and he sighed. "This is now the fourth siege of Compiegne I have +seen, and twice have the leads from our roofs and the metal of our bells +been made into munition of war. Absit omen Domine! And now they say the +Duke of Burgundy has sworn to slay all, and spare neither woman nor +child." + +"A vaunt of war, father. Call they not him the Good Duke? When we lay +before Paris, the English put about a like lying tale concerning us, as +if we should sack and slay all." + +"I pray that you speak sooth," said Father Francois. + +On the next day, being May the twentieth, he came to me again, with a wan +face. + +"Burgundians are in Claroix," said he, "across the river, and yet others, +with Jean de Luxembourg, at Margny, scarce a mile away, at the end of the +causeway through the water meadows, beyond the bridge. And the Duke is +at Coudun, a league off to the right of Claroix, and I have clomb the +tower-top, and thence seen the English at Venette, on the left hand of +the causeway. All is undone." + +"Nay, father, be of better cheer. Our fort at the bridge end is stronger +than Les Tourelles were at Orleans. The English shot can scarce cross +the river. Bridge the enemy has none, and northward and eastward all is +open. Be of better heart, Heaven helps France." + +"We have sent to summon the Maid," said he, "from Crepy-en-Valois. In +her is all my hope; but you speak lightly, for you are young, and war is +your trade." + +"And praying is yours, father, wherefore you should be bolder than I." + +But he shook his head. + +So two days passed, and nothing great befell, but in the grey dawn of May +the twenty-third I was held awake by clatter of horsemen riding down the +street under the window of my chamber. And after matins came Father +Francois, his face very joyful, with the tidings that the Maid, and a +company of some three hundred lances of hers, had ridden in from Crepy-en- +Valois, she making her profit of the darkness to avoid the Burgundians. + +Then I deemed that the enemy would soon have news of her, and all that +day I heard the bells ring merry peals, and the trumpets sounding. About +three hours after noonday Father Francois came again, and told me that +the Maid would make a sally, and cut the Burgundians in twain; and now +nothing would serve me but I must be borne in a litter to the walls, and +see her banner once more on the wind. + +So, by the goodwill of Father Francois, some lay brethren bore me forth +from the convent, which is but a stone's-throw from the bridge. They +carried me across the Oise to a mill hard by the boulevard of the Bridge +fort, whence, from a window, I beheld all that chanced. No man sitting +in the gallery of a knight's hall to see jongleurs play and sing could +have had a better stance, or have seen more clearly all the mischief that +befell. + +The town of Compiegne lies on the river Oise, as Orleans on the Loire, +but on the left, not the right hand of the water. The bridge is strongly +guarded, as is custom, by a tower at the further end, and, in front of +that tower, a boulevard. All the water was gay to look on, being covered +with boats, as if for a holiday, but these were manned by archers, whom +Guillaume de Flavy had set to shoot at the enemy, if they drove us back, +and to rescue such of our men as might give ground, if they could not win +into the boulevard at the bridge end. + +Beyond the boulevard, forth to the open country, lay a wide plain, and +behind it, closing it in, a long, low wall of steep hills. On the left, +a mile and a half away, Father Francois showed me the church tower of +Venette, where the English camped; to the right, a league off, was the +tower of Clairoix; and at the end of a long raised causeway that ran from +the bridge across the plain, because of the winter floods, I saw the +tower and the village of Margny. All these towns and spires looked +peaceful, but all were held by the Burgundians. Men-at-arms were thick +on the crest of our boulevard, and on the gate-keep, all looking across +the river towards the town, whence the Maid should sally by way of the +bridge. So there I lay on a couch in the window and waited, having no +fear, but great joy. + +Nay, never have I felt my spirit lighter within me, so that I laughed and +chattered like a fey man. The fresh air, after my long lying in a +chamber, stirred me like wine. The May sun shone warm, yet cooled with a +sweet wind of the west. The room was full of women and maids, all +waiting to throw flowers before the Maid, whom they dearly loved. +Everything had a look of holiday, and all was to end in joy and great +victory. So I laughed with the girls, and listened to a strange tale, +how the Maid had but of late brought back to life a dead child at Lagny, +so that he got his rights of Baptism, and anon died again. + +So we fleeted the time, till about the fifth hour after noon, when we +heard the clatter of horses on the bridge; and some women waxed pale. My +own heart leaped up. The noise drew nearer, and presently She rode +across and forth, carrying her banner in the noblest manner, mounted on a +grey horse, and clad in a rich hucque of cramoisie; she smiled and bowed +like a queen to the people, who cried, "Noel! Noel!" Beside her rode +Pothon le Bourgignon (not Pothon de Xaintrailles, as some have falsely +said), her confessor Pasquerel on a palfrey; her brother, Pierre du Lys, +with his new arms bravely blazoned; and her maitre d'hotel, D'Aulon. But +of the captains in Compiegne no one rode with her. She had but her own +company, and a great rude throng of footmen of the town that would not be +said nay. They carried clubs, and they looked, as I heard, for no less +than to take prisoner the Duke of Burgundy himself. Certain of these men +also bore spades and picks and other tools; for the Maid, as I deem, +intended no more than to take and hold Margny, that so she might cut the +Burgundians in twain, and sunder from them the English at Venette. Now +as the night was not far off, then at nightfall would the English be in +sore straits, as not knowing the country and the country roads, and not +having the power to join them of Burgundy at Clairoix. This, one told me +afterwards, was the device of the Maid. + +Be this as it may, and a captain of hers, Barthelemy Barrette, told me +the tale, the Maid rode gallantly forth, flowers raining on her, while my +heart longed to be riding at her rein. She waved her hand to Guillaume +de Flavy, who sat on his horse by the gate of the boulevard, and so, +having arrayed her men, she cried, "Tirez avant!" and made towards +Margny, the foot-soldiers following with what speed they might, while I +and Father Francois, and others in the chamber, strained our eyes after +them. All the windows and roofs of the houses and water-mills on the +bridge were crowded with men and women, gazing, and it came into my mind +that Flavy had done ill to leave these mills and houses standing. They +wrought otherwise at Orleans. This was but a passing thought, for my +heart was in my eyes, straining towards Margny. Thence now arose a great +din, and clamour of trumpets and cries of men-at-arms, and we could see +tumult, blown dust, and stir of men, and so it went for it may be half of +an hour. Then that dusty cloud of men and horses drove, forward ever, +out of our sight. + +The sun was now red and sinking above the low wall of the western hills, +and the air was thicker than it had been, and confused with a yellow +light. Despite the great multitude of men and women on the city walls, +there came scarcely a sound of a voice to us across the wide river, so +still they kept, and the archers in the boats beneath us were silent: +nay, though the chamber wherein I lay was thronged with the people of the +house pressing to see through the open casement, yet there was silence +here, save when the father prayed. + +A stronger wind rising out of the west now blew towards us with a sweet +burden of scent from flowers and grass, fragrant upon our faces. So we +waited, our hearts beating with hope and fear. + +Then I, whose eyes were keen, saw, blown usward from Margny, a cloud of +flying dust, that in Scotland we call stour. The dust rolled white along +the causeway towards Compiegne, and then, alas! forth from it broke +little knots of our men, foot-soldiers, all running for their lives. +Behind them came more of our men, and more, all running, and then mounted +men-at-arms, spurring hard, and still more and more of these; and ever +the footmen ran, till many riders and some runners had crossed the +drawbridge, and were within the boulevard of the bridge. There they +stayed, sobbing and panting, and a few were bleeding. But though the +foremost runaways thus won their lives, we saw others roll over and fall +as they ran, tumbling down the sides of the causeway, and why they fell I +knew not. + +But now, in the midst of the causeway, between us and Margny, our flying +horsemen rallied under the Maiden's banner, and for the last time of all, +I heard that clear girl's voice crying, "Tirez en avant! en avant!" + +Anon her horsemen charged back furiously, and drove the Picards and +Burgundians, who pursued, over a third part of the raised roadway. + +But now, forth from Margny, trooped Burgundian men-at-arms without end or +number, the banner of the Maid waved wildly, now up, now down, in the mad +mellay, and ever they of Burgundy pressed on, and still our men, being +few and outnumbered, gave back. Yet still some of the many clubmen of +the townsfolk tumbled over as they ran, and the drawbridge was choked +with men flying, thrusting and thronging, wild and blind with the fear of +death. Then rose on our left one great cry, such as the English give +when they rejoice, or when they charge, and lo! forth from a little wood +that had hidden them, came galloping and running across the heavy wet +meadowland between us and Venette, the men-at-arms and the archers of +England. Then we nigh gave up all for lost, and fain I would have turned +my eyes away, but I might not. + +Now and again the English archers paused, and loosed a flight of +clothyard shafts against the stream of our runaways on the bridge. +Therefore it was that some fell as they ran. But the little company of +our horsemen were now driven back so near us that I could plainly see the +Maid, coming last of all, her body swung round in the saddle as she +looked back at the foremost foemen, who were within a lance's length of +her. And D'Aulon and Pierre du Lys, gripping each at her reins, were +spurring forward. But through the press of our clubmen and flying +horsemen they might not win, and now I saw, what never man saw before, +the sword of the Maid bare in battle! She smote on a knight's shield, +her sword shivered in that stroke, she caught her steel sperthe into her +hand, and struck and hewed amain, and there were empty saddles round her. + +And now the English in the meadow were within four lances' lengths of the +causeway between her and safety. Say it I must, nor cannon-ball nor +arrow-flight availed to turn these English. Still the drawbridge and the +inlet of the boulevard were choked with the press, and men were leaping +from bank and bridge into the boats, or into the water, while so mixed +were friends and foes that Flavy, in a great voice, bade archers and +artillerymen hold their hands. + +Townsfolk, too, were mingled in the throng, men who had come but to gape +as curious fools, and among them I saw the hood of a cordelier, as I +glanced from the fight to mark how the Maid might force her way within. +Still she smote, and D'Aulon and Pierre du Lys smote manfully, and anon +they gained a little way, backing their horses, while our archers dared +not shoot, so mixed were French, English, and Burgundians. + +Flavy, who worked like a man possessed, had turned about to give an order +to the archers above him; his back, I swear, was to the press of flying +men, to the inlet of the boulevard, and to the drawbridge, when his own +voice, as all deemed who heard it, cried aloud, "Up drawbridge, close +gates, down portcullis!" The men whose duty it was were standing ready +at the cranks and pulleys, their tools in hand, and instantly, groaning, +the drawbridge flew up, casting into the water them that were flying +across, down came the portcullis, and slew two men, while the gates of +the inlet of the boulevard were swung to and barred, all, as it might he +said, in the twinkling of an eye. + +Flavy turned in wrath and great amaze: "In God's name, who cried?" he +shouted. "Down drawbridge, up portcullis, open gates! To the front, men- +at-arms, lances forward!" + +For most of the mounted men who had fled were now safe, and on foot, +within the boulevard. + +All this I heard and saw, in a glance, while my eyes were fixed on the +Maid and the few with her. They were lost from our sight, now and again, +in a throng of Picards, Englishmen, Burgundians, for all have their part +in this glory. Swords and axes fell and rose, steeds countered and +reeled, and then, they say, for this thing I myself did not see, a Picard +archer, slipping under the weapons and among the horses' hoofs, tore the +Maid from saddle by the long skirts of her hucque, and they were all upon +her. This befell within half a stone's-throw of the drawbridge. While +Flavy himself toiled with his hands, and tore at the cranks and chains, +the Maid was taken under the eyes of us, who could not stir to help her. +Now was the day and the hour whereof the Saints told her not, though she +implored them with tears. Now in the throng below I heard a laugh like +the sound of a saw on stone, and one struck him that laughed on the +mouth. It was the laugh of that accursed Brother Thomas! + +I had laid my face on my hands, being so weak, and was weeping for very +rage at that which my unhappy eyes had seen, when I heard the laugh, and +lifting my head and looking forth, I beheld the hood of the cordelier. + +"Seize him!" I cried to Father Francois, pointing down at the cordelier. +"Seize that Franciscan, he has betrayed her! Run, man, it was he who +cried in Flavy's voice, bidding them raise drawbridge and let fall +portcullis. The devil gave him that craft to counterfeit men's voices. I +know the man. Run, Father Francois, run!" + +"You are distraught with very grief," said the good father, the tears +running down his own cheeks; "that is Brother Thomas, the best +artilleryman in France, and Flavy's chief trust with the couleuvrine. He +came in but four days agone, and there was great joy of his coming." + +Thus was the Maid taken, by art and device of the devil and Brother +Thomas, and in no otherwise. They who tell that Flavy sold her, closing +the gates in her face, do him wrong; he was an ill man, but loyal to +France, as was seen by the very defence he made at Compiegne, for there +was none like it in this war. But of what avail was that to us who loved +the Maid? Rather, many times, would I have died in that hour than have +seen what I saw. For our enemies made no more tarrying, nor any +onslaught on the boulevard, but rode swiftly back with the prize they had +taken, with her whom they feared more than any knight or captain of +France. This page whereon I work, in a hand feeble and old, and weary +with much writing, is blotted with tears that will not be held in. But +we must bow humbly to the will of God and of His Saints. "Dominus dedit, +et Dominus abstulit; benedictum sit nomen Domini." + +Wherefore should I say more? They carried me back in litter over the +bridge, through the growing darkness. Every church was full of women +weeping and praying for her that was the friend of them, and the playmate +of their children, for all children she dearly loved. + +Concerning Flavy, it was said, by them who loved him not, that he showed +no sign of sorrow. But when his own brother Louis fell, later in the +siege, a brother whom he dearly loved, none saw him weep, or alter the +fashion of his countenance; nay, he bade musicians play music before him. + +I besought the Prior, when I was borne home, that I might be carried to +Flavy, and tell him that I knew. But he forbade me, saying that, in very +truth, I knew nought, or nothing that could be brought against a +Churchman, and one in a place of trust. For I had not seen the lips of +the cordelier move when that command was given--nay, at the moment I saw +him not at all. Nor could I even prove to others that he had this +devilish art, there being but my oath against his, and assuredly he would +deny the thing. And though I might be assured and certain within myself, +yet other witness I had none at all, nor were any of my friends there who +could speak with me. For D'Aulon, and Pasquerel, and Pierre du Lys had +all been taken with the Maid. It was long indeed before Pierre du Lys +was free, for he had no money to ransom himself withal. Therefore Flavy, +knowing me only for a wounded Scot of the Maid's, would think me a brain- +sick man, and as like as not give me more of Oise river to drink than I +craved. + +With these reasonings it behoved me to content myself. The night I +passed in prayers for the Maid, and for myself, that I might yet do +justice on that devil, or, at least, might see justice done. But how +these orisons were answered shall be seen in the end, whereto I now +hasten. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII--HOW NORMAN LESLIE FARED IN COMPIEGNE, WITH THE END OFTHAT +LEAGUER + + +About all that befell in the besieged city of Compiegne, after that +wicked day of destiny when the Maid was taken, I heard for long only from +the Jacobin brothers, and from one Barthelemy Barrette. He was a Picardy +man, more loyal than most of his country, who had joined the Maid after +the fray at Paris. Now he commanded a hundred of her company, who did +not scatter after she was taken, and he was the best friend I then had. + +"The burgesses are no whit dismayed," said he, coming into my chamber +after the day of the Ascension, which was the second after the capture of +the Maid. "They have sent a messenger to the King, and expect succour." + +"They sue for grace at a graceless face," said I, in the country proverb; +for my heart was hot against King Charles. + +"That is to be seen," said be. "But assuredly the Duke of Burgundy is +more keen about his own business." + +"How fare the Burgundians?" I asked, "for, indeed, I have heard the guns +speak since dawn, but none of the good fathers cares to go even on to the +roof of the church tower and bring me tidings, for fear of a stray cannon- +ball." + +"For holy men they are wondrous chary of their lives," said Barthelemy, +laughing. "Were I a monk, I would welcome death that should unfrock me, +and let me go a-wandering in Paradise among these fair lady saints we see +in the pictures." + +"It is written, Barthelemy, that there is neither marrying nor giving in +marriage." + +"Faith, the more I am fain of it," said Barthelemy, "and may be I might +take the wrong track, and get into the Paradise of Mahound, which, I have +heard, is no ill place for a man-at-arms." + +This man had no more faith than a paynim, but, none the less, was a stout +carl in war. + +"But that minds me," quoth he, "of the very thing I came hither to tell +you. One priest there is in Compiegne who takes no keep of his life, a +cordelier. What ails you, man? does your leg give a twinge?" + +"Ay, a shrewd twinge enough." + +"Truly, you look pale enough." + +"It is gone," I said. "Tell me of that cordelier." + +"Do you see this little rod?" he asked, putting in my hand a wand of dark +wood, carven with the head of a strange beast in a cowl. + +"I see it." + +"How many notches are cut in it?" + +"Five," I said. "But why spoil you your rod?" + +"Five men of England or Burgundy that cordelier shot this day, from the +creneaux of the boulevard where the Maid," crossing himself, "was taken. +A fell man he is, strong and tall, with a long hooked nose, and as black +as Sathanas." + +"How comes he in arms?" I asked. + +"Flavy called him in from Valenciennes, where he was about some business +of his own, for there is no greater master of the culverin. And, faith, +as he says, he 'has had rare sport, and will have for long.'" + +"Was there an onfall of the enemy?" + +"Nay, they are over wary. He shot them as they dug behind pavises. {36} +For the Duke has moved his quarters to Venette, where the English lay, +hard by the town. And, right in the middle of the causeway to Margny, +two arrow-shots from our bridge end, he is letting build a great +bastille, and digging a trench wherein men may go to and fro. The +cordelier was as glad of that as a man who has stalked a covey of +partridges. 'Keep my tally for me,' he said to myself; 'cut a notch for +every man I slay'; and here," said Barthelemy, waving his staff, "is his +first day's reckoning." + +Now I well saw what chance I had of bringing that devil to justice, for +who would believe so strange a tale as mine against one so serviceable in +the war? Nor was D'Aulon here to speak for me, the enemy having taken +him when they took the Maid. Thinking thus, I groaned, and Barthelemy, +fearing that he had wearied me, said farewell, and went out. + +Every evening, after sunset, he would come in, and partly cheer me, by +telling how hardily our people bore them, partly break my heart with +fresh tidings of that devil, Brother Thomas. + +"Things go not ill, had we but hope of succour," he said. "The Duke's +bastille is rising, indeed, and the Duke is building taudis {37} of oaken +beams and earth, between the bastille and our boulevard. The skill is to +draw nearer us, and nearer, till he can mine beneath our feet. Heard you +any new noise of war this day?" + +"I heard such a roar and clatter as never was in my ears, whether at +Orleans or Paris." + +"And well you might! This convent is in the very line of the fire. They +have four great bombards placed, every one of them with a devilish +Netherland name of its own. There is Houpembiere,--that means the beer- +barrel, I take it,--and La Rouge Bombarde, and Remeswalle and Quincequin, +every one shooting stone balls thirty inches in girth. The houses on the +bridge are a heap of stones, the mills are battered down, and we must +grind our meal in the city, in a cellar, for what I can tell. Nom Dieu! +when they take the boulevard we lose the river, and if once they bar our +gates to the east, whence shall viands come?" + +"Is there no good tidings from the messenger?" + +"The King answers ever like a drawer in a tavern, 'Anon, anon, sir!' He +will come himself presently, always presently, with all his host." + +"He will never come," I said. "He is a . . . " + +"He is my King," said Barthelemy. "Curse your own King of Scots, if you +will. Scots, by the blood of Iscariot, traitors are they; well, I crave +your pardon, I spake in haste and anger. Know you Nichole Cammet?" + +"I have heard of the man," I said. "A town's messenger, is he not?" + +"The same. But a week agone, Cammet was sent on a swift horse to Chateau +Thierry. The good town craved of Pothon de Xaintrailles, who commands +there, to send them what saltpetre he could spare for making gunpowder. +The saltpetre came in this day by the Pierrefonds Gate, and Cammet with +it, but on another horse, a jade." + +"Well, and what have the Scots to do with that?" + +"No more than this. A parcel of them, routiers and brigands, have crept +into an old castle on the road, and hold it for their own hands. Thence +they sallied forth after Cammet, and so chased him that his horse fell +down dead under him in the gateway of Chateau Thierry." + +"They would be men of the Land Debatable," I cried: "Elliots and +Armstrongs, they never do a better deed, being corrupted by dwelling nigh +our enemies of England. Fain would I pay for that horse; see here," and +I took forth my purse from under my pillow, "take that to the attournes, +and say a Scot atones for what Scots have done." + +"Norman, I take back my word; I crave your pardon, and I am shamed to +have spoken so to a sick man of his own country-folk. But for your +purse, I am ill at carrying purses; I have no skill in that art, and the +dice draw me when I hear the rattle of them. But look at the cordelier's +tally: four men to-day, three yesterday; faith, he thins them!" + +Indeed, to shorten a long story, by the end of Barthelemy's count there +were two hundred and thirty-nine notches on the rod. That he kept a true +score (till he stinted and reckoned no more), I know, having proof from +the other side. For twelve years thereafter, I falling into discourse +with Messire Georges Chastellain, an esquire of the Duke of Burgundy, and +a maker both of verse and prose, he told me the same tale to a man, three +hundred men. And I make no doubt but that he has written it in his book +of the praise of his prince, and of these wars, to witness if I lie. + +Consider, then, what hope I had of being listened to by Flavy, or by the +attournes (or, as we say, bailies), of the good town, if, being recovered +from my broken limbs, I brought my witness to their ears. + +None the less, the enemy battered at us every day with their engines, +destroying, as Barthelemy had said, the houses on the bridge, and the +mills, so that they could no longer grind the corn. + +And now came the Earls of Huntingdon and Arundel, with two thousand +Englishmen, while to us appeared no succour. So at length, being smitten +by balls from above, and ruined by mines dug under earth from below, our +company that held the boulevard at the bridge end were surprised in the +night, and some were taken, some drowned in the river Oise. Wherefore +was great sorrow and fear, the more for that the Duke of Burgundy let +build a bridge of wood from Venette, to come and go across Oise, whereby +we were now assailed on both hands, for hitherto we had been free to come +and go on the landward side, and through all the forest of Pierrefonds. +We had but one gate unbeleaguered, the Chapel Gate, leading to Choisy and +the north-east. Now were we straitened for provender, notably for fresh +meat, and men were driven, as in a city beleaguered, to eat the flesh of +dead horses, and even of rats and dogs, whereof I have partaken, and it +is ill food. + +None the less we endured, despite the murmuring of the commons, so strong +are men's hearts; moreover, all France lay staked on this one cast of the +dice, no less than at Orleans in the year before. + +Somewhat we were kept in heart by tidings otherwise bitter. For word +came that the Maid, being in ward at Beaurevoir, a strong place of Jean +de Luxembourg, had leaped in the night from the top of the tower, and +had, next morning, been taken up all unhurt, as by, miracle, but +astounded and bereft of her senses. For this there was much sorrow, but +would to God that He had taken her to Himself in that hour! + +Nevertheless, when she was come to herself again, she declared, by +inspiration of the Saints, that Compiegne should be delivered before the +season of Martinmas. Whence I, for one, drew great comfort, nor ever +again despaired, and many were filled with courage when this tidings came +to our ears, hoping for some miracle, as at Orleans. + +Now, too, God began to take pity upon us; for, on August the fifteenth, +the eighty-fifth day of the siege, came news to the Duke of Burgundy that +Philip, Duke of Brabant, was dead, and he must go to make sure of that +great heritage. The Duke having departed, the English Earls had far less +heart for the leaguer; I know not well wherefore, but now, at least, was +seen the truth of that proverb concerning the "eye of the master." The +bastille, too, which our enemies had made to prevent us from going out by +our Pierrefonds Gate on the landward side, was negligently built, and of +no great strength. All this gave us some heart, so much that my hosts, +the good Jacobins, and the holy sisters of the Convent of St. John, +stripped the lead from their roofs, and bestowed it on the town, for +munition of war. And when I was in case to walk upon the walls, and +above the river, I might see men and boys diving in the water and +searching for English cannon-balls, which we shot back at the English. + +It chanced, one day, that I was sitting and sunning myself in the warm +September weather, on a settle in a secure place hard by the Chapel Gate. +With me was Barthelemy Barrette, for it was the day of Our Lady's Feast, +that very day whereon we had failed before Paris last year, and there was +truce for the sacred season. We fell to devising of what had befallen +that day year, and without thought I told Barthelemy of my escape from +prison, and so, little by little, I opened my heart to him concerning +Brother Thomas and all his treasons. + +Never was man more astounded than Barthelemy; and he bade me swear by the +Blessed Trinity that all this tale was true. + +"Mayhap you were fevered," he said, "when you lay in the casement seat, +and saw the Maid taken by device of the cordelier." + +"I was no more fevered than I am now, and I swear, by what oath you will, +and by the bones of St. Andrew, which these sinful hands have handled, +that Flavy's face was set the other way when that cry came, 'Down +portcullis, up drawbridge, close gates!' And now that I have told you +the very truth, what should I do?" + +"Brother Thomas should burn for this," quoth Barthelemy; "but not while +the siege endures. He carries too many English lives in his munition- +box. Nor can you slay him in single combat, or at unawares, for the man +is a priest. Nor would Flavy, who knows you not, listen to such a +story." + +So there he sat, frowning, and plucking at his beard. "I have it," he +said; "D'Aulon is no further off than Beaulieu, where Jean de Luxembourg +holds him till he pays his ransom. When the siege is raised, if ever we +are to have succour, then purchase safe-conduct to D'Aulon, take his +testimony, and bring it to Flavy." + +As he spoke, some stir in the still air made me look up, and suddenly +throw my body aside; and it was well, for a sword swept down from the low +parapet above our heads, and smote into the back of that settle whereon +we were sitting. + +Ere I well knew what had chanced, Barthelemy was on his feet, his whinger +flew from his hand, and he, leaping up on to the parapet, was following +after him who smote at me. + +In the same moment a loud grating voice cried-- + +"The Maid shall burn, and not the man," and a flash of light went past +me, the whinger flying over my head and clipping into the water of the +moat below. + +Rising as I best might, but heedfully, I spied over the parapet, and +there was Barthelemy coming back, his naked sword in his hand. + +"The devil turned a sharp corner and vanished," he said. "And now where +are we? We have a worse foe within than all the men of Burgundy without. +There goes the devil's tally!" he cried, and threw the little carven rod +far from him into the moat, where it fell and floated. + +"No man saw this that could bear witness; most are in church, where you +and I should have been," I said. + +Then we looked on each other with blank faces. + +"My post is far from his, and my harness is good," said Barthelemy; "but +for you, beware!" Thenceforth, if I saw any cowl of a cordelier as I +walked, I even turned and went the other way. + +I was of no avail against this wolf, whom all men praised, so serviceable +was he to the town. + +Once an arbalest bolt struck my staff from my hand as I walked, and I was +fain to take shelter of a corner, yet saw not whence the shot came. + +Once a great stone fell from a turret, and broke into dust at my feet, +and it is not my mind that a cannon-ball had loosened it. + +Thus my life went by in dread and watchfulness. No more bitter penance +may man dree than was mine, to be near this devil, and have no power to +avenge my deadly quarrel. There were many heavy hearts in the town; for, +once it was taken, what man could deem his life safe, or what woman her +honour? But though they lay down and rose up in fear, and were devoured +by desire of revenge, theirs was no such thirst as mine. + +So the days went on, and darkened towards the promised season of +Martinmas, but there dawned no light of hope. Now, on the Wednesday +before All Saints, I had clambered up into the tower of the Church of the +Jacobins, on the north-east of the city, whence there was a prospect far +and wide. With me were only two of the youngest of the fathers. I +looked down into the great forest of Pierrefonds, and up and down Oise, +and beheld the army of our enemies moving in divers ways. The banners of +the English and their long array were crossing the Duke of Burgundy's new +bridge of wood, that he had builded from Venette, and with them the men +of Jean de Luxembourg trooped towards Royaulieu. On the crest of their +bastille, over against our Pierrefonds Gate, matches were lighted and men +were watching in double guard, and the same on the other side of the +water, at the Gate Margny. Plainly our foes expected a rescue sent to us +of Compiegne by our party. But the forest, five hundred yards from our +wall, lay silent and peaceable, a sea of brown and yellow leaves. + +Then, while the English and Burgundian men-at-arms, that had marched +south and east, were drawn up in order of battle away to the right +between wood and water, behold, trumpets sounded, faint enough, being far +off. Then there was a glitter of the pale sun on long lines of lance- +points, under the banners of French captains, issuing out from the +forest, over against the enemy. We who stood on the tower gazed long at +these two armies, which were marshalled orderly, with no more than a +bowshot and a half between them, and every moment we looked to see them +charge upon each other with the lance. Much we prayed to the Saints, for +now all our hope was on this one cast. They of Burgundy and of England +dismounted from their horses, for the English ever fight best on foot, +and they deemed that the knights of France would ride in upon them, and +fall beneath the English bows, as at Azincour and Crecy. We, too, looked +for nought else; but the French array never stirred, though here and +there a knight would gallop forth to do a valiance. Seldom has man seen +a stranger sight in war, for the English and Burgundians could not +charge, being heavy-armed men on foot, and the French would not move +against them, we knew not wherefore. + +All this spectacle lay far off, to the south, and we could not be +satisfied with wondering at it nor turn away our eyes, when, on the left, +a trumpet rang out joyously. Then, all of us wheeling round as one man, +we saw the most blessed sight, whereto our backs had been turned; for, +into the Chapel Gate--that is, far to the left of the Pierrefonds Gate on +the north-east--were streaming cattle, sheep and kine, pricked on and +hastened by a company of a hundred men-at-arms. They had come by forest +paths from Choisy way, and anon all our guns on the boulevard of the +Pierrefonds Gate burst forth at once against the English bastille over +against it. Now this bastille, as I have said, had never been strongly +builded, and, in some sort, was not wholly finished. + +After one great volley of guns against the bastille, we, looking down +into our boulevard of the Pierrefonds Gate, saw the portcullis raised, +the drawbridge lowered, and a great array of men-at-arms carrying ladders +rush out, and charge upon the bastille. Then, through the smoke and +fire, they strove to scale the works, and for the space of half an hour +all was roar of guns; but at length our men came back, leaving many +slain, and the running libbards grinned on the flag of England. + +I might endure no longer, but, clambering down the tower stairs as best I +might, for I was still lame, I limped to my lodgings at the Jacobins, did +on my harness, and, taking a horse from the stable, I mounted and rode to +the Pierrefonds Gate. For Brother Thomas and his murderous ways I had +now no care at all. + +Never, sure, saw any man such a sight. Our boulevard was full, not only +of men-at-arms, but of all who could carry clubs, burgesses armed, old +men, boys, yea, women and children, some with rusty swords, some with +carpenters' axes, some bearing cudgels, some with hammers, spits, and +knives, all clamouring for the portcullis to rise and let them forth. +Their faces were lean and fierce, their eyes were like eyes of wolves, +for now, they cried, was the hour, and the prophecy of the Maid should be +fulfilled! Verily, though she lay in bonds, her spirit was with us on +that day! + +But still our portcullis was down, and the long tail of angry people +stretched inwards, from the inner mouth of the boulevard, along the +street, surging like a swollen loch against its barrier. + +On the crest of the boulevard was Flavy, baton in hand, looking forth +across field and forest, watching for I knew not what, while still the +people clamoured to be let go. But he stood like the statue of a man-at- +arms, and from the bastille of the Burgundians the arrows rained around +him, who always watched, and was still. Now the guards of the gate had +hard work to keep the angry people back, who leaped and tore at the men- +at-arms arrayed in front of them, and yelled for eagerness to issue forth +and fight. + +Suddenly, on the crest of the boulevard, Flavy threw up his arm and gave +one cry-- + +"Xaintrailles!" + +Then he roared to draw up portcullis and open gates; the men-at-arms +charged forth, the multitude trampled over each other to be first in +field, I was swept on and along with them through the gate, and over the +drawbridge, like a straw on a wave, and, lo! a little on our left was the +banner of Pothon de Xaintrailles, his foremost men dismounting, the +rearguard just riding out from the forest. The two bands joined, we from +Compiegne, the four hundred of Xaintrailles from the wood, and, like two +swollen streams that meet, we raced towards the bastille, under a rain of +arrows and balls. Nothing could stay us: a boy fell by my side with an +arrow thrilling in his breast, but his brother never once looked round. I +knew not that I could run, but run I did, though not so fast as many, and +before I reached the bastille our ladders were up, and the throng was +clambering, falling, rising again, and flowing furiously into the fort. +The townsfolk had no thought but to slay and slay; five or six would be +at the throat of one Burgundian man-at-arms; hammers and axes were +breaking up armour, knives were scratching and searching for a crevice; +women, lifting great stone balls, would stagger up to dash them on the +heads of the fallen. Of the whole garrison, one-half, a hundred and +sixty men-at-arms, were put to the sword. Only Pothon de Xaintrailles, +and the gentlemen with him, as knowing the manner of war, saved and held +to ransom certain knights, as Messire Jacques de Brimeu, the Seigneur de +Crepy, and others; while, for my own part, seeing a knight assailed by a +knot of clubmen, I struck in on his part, for gentle blood must ever aid +gentle blood, and so, not without shrewd blows on my salade, I took to +ransom Messire Collart de Bertancourt. + +Thereafter, very late, and in the twilight of October the twenty-fifth, +we turned back to Compiegne, leaving the enemies' bastille in a flame +behind us, while in front were blazing the bonfires of the people of the +good town. And, in Compiegne, we heard how the English and the main army +of Burgundians had turned, late in the day, and crossed by the Duke of +Burgundy's bridge, leaving men to keep guard there. So our victory was +great, and wise had been the prudence of the French captains, subtlety +being the mother of victory; for, without a blow struck, they had kept +Jean de Luxembourg, and the Earls of Huntingdon and Arundel, waiting idle +all day, while their great bastille was taken by Xaintrailles and the +townsfolk, and food was brought into Compiegne. Thus for the second time +I passed a night of joy in a beleaguered town, for there was music in +every street, the churches full of people praising God for this great +deliverance, men and maids dancing around bonfires, yet good watch was +kept at the gates and on the towers. Next day we expected battle, but +our spies brought in tidings that Burgundians and English had decamped in +the dawn, their men deserting. That day was not less joyful than the +night had been; for at Royaulieu, in the abbey where Jean de Luxembourg +had lain, the townsfolk found all manner of meat, and of wine great +plenty, so right good cheer we made, for it cost us nothing. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII--HOW THE BURGUNDIANS HUNTED HARES, WITH THE END OF THAT +HUNTING + + +"Tell me, what tidings of him?" Barthelemy Barrette asked me, on the day +after that unbought feast at Royaulieu. + +He was sitting in the noonday sun on the bridge of Compiegne, and strange +it was to see the place so battered yet so peaceful after five months of +war. The Oise sliding by and rippling on the piers was not more quiet +than this bridge of many battles, yet black in places with dried-up blood +of men slain. "Tidings can I find none," I answered. "He who saw the +cordelier last was on guard in the boulevard during the great charge. He +marked Brother Thomas level his couleuvrine now and again, as we ran for +the bastille, and cried out to him to aim higher, for that the ball would +go amongst us." + +"You were his target, I make no doubt," said Barthelemy, "but by reason +of the throng he had no certain aim." + +"After we broke into the bastille, I can find no man who has set eyes on +him," and I cursed the cordelier for very rage. + +"He is well away, if he stays away: you and I need scarce any longer pray +for eyes in the backs of our heads. But what make we next?" + +"I have but one thought," I said: "to pluck the Maid out of the hands of +the English, for now men say that she is sold to them by Jean of +Luxembourg. They mean to take her to Arras, and so by Crotoy at the +mouth of Seine, and across Normandy to Rouen. Save her France must, for +the honour of France." + +"My mind is the same," he said, and fell into a muse. "Hence the +straight road, and the shortest," he said at last, "is by Beauvais on to +Rouen, where she will lie in chains," and drawing his dagger he scratched +lines on the bridge parapet with its point. "Here is Compiegne; there, +far to the west, is the sea, and here is Rouen. That straight line," +which he scratched, "goes to Rouen from Compiegne. Here, midway, is +Beauvais, whereof we spoke, which town we hold. But there, between us +and Beauvais, is Clermont, held by Crevecoeur for the Burgundians, and +here, midway between Beauvais and Rouen, is Gournay, where Kyriel and the +Lord Huntingdon lie with a great force of English. Do you comprehend? We +must first take Clermont ere we can ride to rescue the Maid at Rouen!" + +"The King should help us," I said. "For what is the army that has +delivered Compiegne but a set of private bands, under this gentleman's +flag or that, some with Boussac, some with Xaintrailles, some with a +dozen others, and victuals are hard to come by." + +"Ay, many a peaceful man sits by the fire and tells how great captains +should have done this, and marched there, never thinking that men fight +on their bellies. And the King should help us, and march with D'Alencon +through Normandy from the south, while our companies take Clermont if we +may, and drive back the English and Burgundians. But you know the King, +and men say that the Archbishop of Reims openly declares that the Maid is +rightly punished for her pride. He has set up a mad shepherd-boy to take +her place, Heaven help him! who can fight as well as that stone can +swim," and he dropped a loose stone over the bridge into the water. + +"Whoever stays at home, we take the field," I said; "let us seek counsel +of Xaintrailles." + +We rose and went to the Jacobins, where Xaintrailles was lodged, and +there found him at his dejeuner. + +He was a tall young knight, straight as a lance, lean as a greyhound; for +all his days his sword had won his meat; and he was hardy, keen, and +bright, with eyes of steel in a scarred face, and his brow was already +worn bald with the helmet. When he walked his legs somewhat straggled +apart, by reason of his much riding. + +Xaintrailles received us in the best manner, we telling him that we had +ridden with the Maid, that I was of her own household, and that to save +her we were willing to go far, and well knew that under no banner could +we be so forward as under his. + +"I would all my company were as honest as I take you twain to be," he +said, "and I gladly receive you under my colours with any men you can +bring." + +"Messire, I have a handful of horse of the Maid's company," said +Barthelemy, hardily; "but when do we march, for to-day is better than to- +morrow." + +"As soon as may be," said the knight; "the Marechal de Boussac leads us +against Clermont. That town we cannot leave behind us when we set forth +from Beauvais. But, with these great bombards, which we have won from +the Burgundians, we may have reason of Clermont, and then," clapping his +hands together, and looking up, "then for Rouen! We shall burst the cage +and free the bird, God willing!" + +He stood like one in prayer, crossing himself, and our hearts turned to +him in loyalty. + +"If but the King will send a force to join hands with La Hire in +Louviers, the English shall have news of you, Messire!" I made bold to +say. + +"Ay, if!" quoth Xaintrailles, and his face grew darker, "but we must make +good speedy for the midwinter draws nigh." + +Therewith we left him, and, in few days, were marching on Clermont, +dragging with long trains of horses the great bombards of the +Burgundians. + +To our summons Messire de Crevecoeur answered knightly, that Clermont he +would hold till death or rescue, so we set to battering his house about +his ears. But, alas! after four days a sentinel of ours saw, too late, +an English knight with nine men slip through the vines, under cover of +darkness, and win a postern gate in the town wall. Soon we heard a joy- +fire of guns within Clermont town, and foreboded the worst. At midnight +came a peasant to Xaintrailles, with tidings that a rescue was riding to +Clermont, and next morning it was boots and saddles and away, so hastily +that we left behind us the great bombards of the Burgundians. On this +they made much mirth; but they laugh best who laugh last, as shall he +seen. + +And the cause of our going was that the Earl of Huntingdon had ridden out +of Gournay, in Normandy, with a great force of English, to deliver +Clermont. Against foes within the town and foes without the town the +captains judged that we were of no avail. So we departed, heavy at +heart. Now the companies scattered, and Barthelemy and I, sorry enough, +rode behind Xaintrailles, due north to Guermigny, whence we threatened +Amiens. + +At Guermigny, then, for a short season, lay Xaintrailles, gathering all +the force he might along the Picardy marches, for the Duke of Burgundy +was in Peronne, full of wrath and sorrow, so many evils had befallen him. +For ourselves, we were in no gentler temper, having lost our hope of +pushing on to Rouen. + +I was glad, therefore, when Xaintrailles himself rode one day to the door +of our lodging in Guermigny, strode clanging into our chamber, and asked +if we were alone? We telling him that none was within ear-shot, he sat +him down on the table, playing with his dagger hilt, and, with his hawk's +eye on Barthelemy, asked, "You know this land well?" + +"I have ridden over it, in war or peace, since I was a boy." + +"How far to Lihons?" + +"A matter of two leagues." + +"What manner of country lies between?" + +"Chiefly plain, rude and untilled, because of the distresses of these +times. There is much heath and long grasses, a great country for hares." + +"Know you any covert nigh the road?" + +"There runs a brook that the road crosses by a bridge, midway between +Guermigny and Lihons. The banks are steep, and well wooded with such +trees and undergrowth as love water." + +"You can guide me thither?" + +"There is no missing the road." + +"God could not have made this land better for me, if He had asked my +counsel," said Xaintrailles. "You can keep your own?" + +"Nom Dieu, yea!" said Barthelemy. + +"And your Scots friend I can trust. A good-day to you, and thanks many." + +Thereupon he went forth. + +"What has he in his mind?" I asked Barthelemy. + +"Belike an ambush. The Duke of Burgundy lies at Peronne, and has +mustered a great force. Lihons is midway between us and Peronne, and is +in the hands of Burgundy. I deem Xaintrailles has tidings that they +intend to ride from Peronne to Lihons to-night, and thence make early +onfall on us to-morrow. Being heavy-pated men of war, and bemused with +their strong wine, they know not, belike, that we have more with us than +the small garrison of Guermigny. And we are to await them on the road, I +doubt not. You shall see men that wear your cross of St. Andrew, but not +of your colour." + +I shame not to say that of bushments in the cold dawn I had seen as much +as I had stomach for, under Paris. But if any captain was wary in war, +and knew how to discover whatsoever his enemy designed, that captain was +Xaintrailles. None the less I hoped in my heart that his secret tidings +of the Burgundian onfall had not come through a priest, and namely a +cordelier. + +Dawn found us mounted, and riding at a foot's-pace through the great +plain which lies rough and untilled between Guermigny and Lihons. All +grey and still it was, save for a cock crowing from a farmstead here and +there on the wide wold, broken only by a line of trees that ran across +the way. + +Under these trees, which were mainly poplars and thick undergrowth of +alders about the steep banks of a little brook, we were halted, and here +took cover, our men lying down. + +"Let no man stir, or speak, save when I speak to him, whatever befalls, +on peril of his life," said Xaintrailles, when we were all disposed in +hiding. Then touching me on the shoulder that I should rise, he said-- + +"You are young enough to climb a tree; are your eyes good?" + +"I commonly was the first that saw the hare in her form, when we went +coursing at home, sir." + +"Then up this tree with you! keep outlook along the road, and hide +yourself as best you may in the boughs. Throw this russet cloak over +your harness." It was shrewdly chill in the grey November morning, a +hoarfrost lying white on the fields. I took the cloak gladly and +bestowed myself in the tree, so that I had a wide view down Lihons way, +whence we expected our enemies, the road running plain to see for +leagues, like a ribbon, when once the low sun had scattered the mists. It +was a long watch, and a weary, my hands being half frozen in my steel +gauntlets. Many of our men slept; if ever a wayfarer crossed the bridge +hard by he was stopped, gagged, and trussed in a rope's end. But +wayfarers were few, and all were wandering afoot. I was sorry for two +lasses, who crossed on some business of their farm, but there was no +remedy. + +These diversions passed the time till nigh noon, when I whispered to +Xaintrailles that I saw clouds of dust (the roads being very dry) a +league away. He sent Barthelemy and another to waken any that slept, and +bade all be ready at a word. + +Now there came shouts on the wind, cries of venerie, loud laughter, and +snatches of songs. + +And now, up in my perch, I myself broke into a laugh at that I saw. + +"Silence, fool!" whispered Xaintrailles. "Why laugh you, in the name of +Behemoth?" + +"The Burgundians are hunting hares," I whispered; "they are riding all +disorderly, some on the road, some here and there about the plain. One +man has no lance, another is unhelmeted, many have left their harness +behind with the baggage!" Even as I spoke rose up a great hunting cry, +and a point of the chase was blown on a trumpet. The foremost +Burgundians were spurring like madmen after some beast, throwing at it +with their lances, and soon I saw a fox making our way for its very life. + +"To horse," cried Xaintrailles, and, leaving thirty men to hold the +bridge, the whole of our company, with spears in rest, drove down on +these hare-hunters of Burgundy. + +Two hundred picked men in all, fully armed, were we, and we scattered the +foremost riders as they had scattered the hares. Saddles were emptied, +archers were cut down or speared ere they could draw bows, the +Burgundians were spurring for their lives, many cried mercy, and were +taken to ransom, of whom I had my share, as I shall tell. + +But a few men made a right good end. Thomas Kyriel, a knight of England, +stood to his banner, his archers rallied about it, with three or four +knights of Burgundy. There, unhelmeted for the most part, they chose the +way of honour, but they were of no avail where so many lances were +levelled and so many swords were hewing at so few. There was a great +slaughter, but Geoffrey de Thoisy, nephew to the Bishop of Tournay, +plucked from danger fortune, for he so bore him that he being fully armed +we took him for Messire Antoine de Vienne, a very good knight. For his +courage we spared him, but Antoine, being unhelmeted and unknown, was +smitten on the head by Barthelemy Barrette, with a blow of a casse-tete. + +For this Barthelemy made much sorrow, not only that so good a knight was +slain, but that he had lost a great ransom, whereby he should have been a +rich man. Yet such is the fortune of war! Which that day was strangely +seen; for a knight having yielded to me because his horse threw him, and +he lost for a moment all sense with the fall and found my boot on his +neck when he came to himself, who should he be but Messire Robert Heron, +the same whom I took at Orleans! + +Who, when he knew me, took off his salade for greater ease, and, sitting +down on a rock by the way, swore as never I heard man swear, French, +English, Spaniard, or Scot; and at length laughed, and said it was +fortune of war, and so was content. This skirmish being thus ended, we +returned, blithe and rich men every one of us, what with prisoners, +horses, arms, and all manner of treasure taken with the baggage. That +night we slept little in Guermigny, but feasted and drank deep. For my +own part, I know not well where I did sleep, or how I won to what bed, +which shames me some deal after all these years. + +On the morrow we left Guermigny to the garrison of the place for their +ill-fortune, and rode back towards Compiegne. + +And this was the sport that the Burgundians had in hare-hunting. + +This Battle of the Hares was the merriest passage of arms for our party, +and bourdes were made on it, and songs sung, as by the English on that +other Battle of the Herrings. Now, moreover, I might be called rich, +what with ransoms, what with my share of the plunder in horses, rings, +chains of gold, jewels, silver dishes, and rich cloths, out of the +baggage of the enemy. Verily lack of wealth could no more sunder Elliot +and me! For Pothon was as open of hand as he was high of heart, and was +no greedy captain, wherefore men followed him the more gladly. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX--SHOWETH HOW VERY NOBLE WAS THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY + + +All this was well, but we were no nearer Rouen, and the freeing of the +Maid, on this twentieth of November, than we had been when the siege of +Compiegne broke up, on the twenty-sixth of October. + +The Duke of Burgundy, we learned, was like a man mad when he heard of the +Battle of the Hares. Nothing would serve him that day but to lead all +his host to Guermigny from Peronne, whence he would have got little +comfort of vengeance, for we were in a place of safety. But Jean de +Luxembourg told him that he must not venture his nobility among routiers +like us, wherein he pleased the Duke, but spoke foolishly. For no man, +be he duke or prince, can be of better blood than we of the House of +Rothes, not to speak of Xaintrailles and many other gentlemen of our +company. + +The Duke, then, put not his noble person in any jeopardy, but, more +wisely, he sent messengers after my Lord of Huntingdon that he should +bring up the English to aid the Burgundian hare-hunters. But Huntingdon +had departed to Rouen, where then lay Henry, King of England, a boy on +whom and on whose House God has avenged the Maid with terrible judgments, +and will yet the more avenge her, blessed be His name! + +The Duke of Burgundy comforted himself after his kind, for when he did +pluck up heart to go against Guermigny, he, finding us departed, sacked +the place, and razed it to the very ground, and so withdrew to Roye, and +there waited for what help England would send him. Now Roye is some +sixteen leagues due north of Compiegne. + +So the days went by, for Messire Lefebvre Saint-Remy, the pursuivant, was +hunting for my Lord of Huntingdon, all up and down Normandy, and at last +came to Rouen, and to the presence of the Duke of Bedford, the uncle of +the English King. All this I myself heard from Messire Saint-Remy, who +is still a pursuivant, and a learned man, and a maker of books. + +Bedford then, who was busy hounding that devil, Cauchon, sometime Bishop +of Beauvais, against the Maid, sent the Comte de Perche and Messire Loys +Robsart, to bid the Duke of Burgundy be of what courage he might, for +succour of England he should have. Wherein Bedford was no true prophet. + +Of all this we, in Compiegne, knew so much as that it was wiser to strike +the Duke at Roye, before he could add English talbots to his Burgundian +harriers. Therefore all the captains of companies, as Boussac, +Xaintrailles, Alain Giron, Amadee de Vignolles, and Loys de Naucourt, +mustered their several companies, to the number of some five thousand men- +at-arms. We had news of six hundred English marching to join the Duke, +and on them we fell at Couty, hard by Amiens, and there slew Loys +Robsart, a good knight, of the Order of the Garter, and drove the English +that fled into the castle of Couty, and we took all their horses, leaving +them shamed, for they kept no guard. + +Thence we rode to within a league of Roye, and thence sent a herald, in +all due form, to challenge the Duke to open battle for his honour's sake. +This we did, because we had no store of victual, and must fight or ride +home. + +The Duke received the herald, and made as if he would hear him as beseems +a gentleman under challenge. But his wise counsellors forbade him, +because he was so noble. + +We were but "routiers," they said, and had no Prince in all our company; +so we must even tarry till the morrow, and then the Duke would fight. In +truth he expected the English, who were footing it to Castle Couty. + +I stood by Xaintrailles when the pursuivant bore back this message. + +Pothon spat on the ground. + +"Shall we be more noble to-morrow than to-day, or to-morrow can this +huxter of maids, the Duke, be less noble than he is, every day that he +soils knighthood?" + +Thereon he sent the herald back, to say that the Duke should have battle +at his gates if he gave no better answer, for that wait for his pleasure +we could not, for want of victuals. + +And so we drew half a league nearer to Roye. + +The Duke sent back our herald with word that of victuals he would give us +half his own store; for he had read, as I deem, the romance of Richard +Lion-Heart, another manner of man than himself. We said nought to this, +not choosing to dine in such high company, but rode up under the walls of +Roye, defying the Duke with open ribaldry, such as no manant could bear +but he would take cudgel in hand to defend his honour. Our intent was, +if the Duke accepted battle, to fight with none but him, if perchance we +might take him, and hold him as hostage for the Maid's life. + +Howbeit, so very noble was the Duke this day, that he did not put lance +in rest (as belike he would have done on the morrow), but, drawing up his +men on foot, behind certain mosses and marshes, all in firm array, he +kept himself coy behind them, and not too far from the gate of Roye. + +To cross these mosses and marshes was beyond our cunning, nor could we +fast all that night, and see if the Duke would feel himself less noble, +and more warlike, on the morrow. + +So, with curses and cries of shame, we turned bridle, and, for that we +could not hold together, being in lack of meat, the companies broke up, +and went each to his own hold. + +I have heard Messire Georges Chastellain tell, in times that were still +to come, how fiercely the Duke of Burgundy bore him in council that +night, after that we had all gone, and how he blamed his people who would +not let him fight. But, after he had well supped, he even let this +adventure slip by, as being ordained by the will of God, who, doubtless, +holds in very high honour men of birth princely, and such, above all, as +let sell young virgins to the tormentors. And thus ended our hope to +save the Maid by taking captive the Duke of Burgundy. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX--HOW NORMAN LESLIE TOOK SERVICE WITH THE ENGLISH + + +"What make we now?" I asked of Barthelemy Barrette, one day, after the +companies had scattered, as I have said, and we had gone back into +Compiegne. "What stroke may France now strike for the Maid?" He hung +his head and plucked at his beard, ere he spoke. + +"To be as plain with you as my heart is with myself, Norman," he answered +at last, "deliverance, or hope of deliverance, see I none. The English +have the bird in the cage, and Rouen is not a strength that can be taken +by sudden onslaught. And, were it so, where is our force, in midwinter? +I rather put my faith, that can scarce move mountains, in some subtle +means, if any man might devise them." + +"We cannot sit idle here," I said. "And for three long months there will +be no moving of armies in open field." + +"And in three months these dogs of false French doctors of Paris will +have tried and condemned the Maid. For my part, I ride with my handful +of spears to the Loire. Perchance there is yet some hope in the King." + +"Then I ride with you, granted your goodwill, for I must needs to Tours, +and I have overmuch treasure in my wallet to ride alone." + +Indeed, I was now a rich man, more by luck than by valour; and though I +said nought of it, I hoped that my long wooing might now come to a happy +end. + +Barthelemy clasped hands gladly on that offer; and not to make a long +tale, he and his men were my escort to Tours, and thence he rode to Sully +to see the King. + +I had no heart for glad surprises this time, but having sent on a letter +to my master, by a King's messenger who rode from Compiegne ere we did, I +was expected and welcomed by Elliot and my master, with all the joy that +might be, after our long severance. And in my master's hands I laid my +newly gotten gear, and heard privily from him that, with his goodwill, I +and his daughter might wed so soon as she would. + +"For she is pining with grief, and prayer, and fasting, and marriage is +the best remede for such maladies." + +Of this grace I was right glad; yet Christmas went by and I dared not +speak, for Elliot seemed set on far other things than mirth, and was ever +and early in the churches, above all when service and prayer were offered +up for the Maid. She was very willing to hear all the tale of the long +siege, and her face, that was thin and wan, unlike her bright countenance +of old, flushed scarlet when she heard how we had bearded and shamed the +noble Duke of Burgundy, and what words Xaintrailles had spoken concerning +his nobleness. + +"There is one true knight left in France!" she said, and fell silent +again. + +Then, we being alone in the chamber, I tried to take her hand, but she +drew it away. + +"My dear love," she said, "I know all that is in your heart, and all my +love that is in mine you know well. But in mine there is no care for +happiness and joy, and to speak as plain as a maiden may, I have now no +will to marry. While the Sister of the Saints lies in duresse, or if she +be unjustly slain, I have set up my rest to abide unwed, for ever, as the +Bride of Heaven. And, if the last evil befall her, as well I deem it +must, I shall withdraw me from the world into the sisterhood of the +Clarisses." + +Had the great mid-beam of the roof fallen and smitten me, I could not +have been stricken more dumb and dead. My face showed what was in my +mind belike, for, looking fearfully and tenderly on me, she took my hand +between hers and cherished it. + +"My love," I said at last, "you see in what case I am, that can scarce +speak for sorrow, after all I have ventured, and laboured, and won, for +you and for the Maid." + +"And I," she answered, "being but a girl, can venture and give nothing +but my poor prayers; and if she now perish, then I must pray the more +continually for the good rest of her soul, and the forgiveness of her +enemies and false friends." + +"Sure, she hath already the certain promise of Paradise, and even in this +world her life is with the Saints. And if men slay her body, we need her +prayers more than she needs ours." + +But Elliot said no word, being very wilful. + +"Consider what manner of friend the Maid is," I said, "who desires +nothing but joy and happy life to all whom she loves, as she loves you. +Verily, I am right well assured that, could she see us in this hour, she +would bid you be happy with me, and not choose penance for love of her." + +"If she herself bids me do as you desire," said Elliot at last, "then I +would not be disobedient to that Daughter of God." + +Here I took some comfort, for now a thought came into my mind. + +"But," said Elliot, "as we read of the rich man and Lazarus, between her +and us is a great gulf fixed, and none may come from her to us, or from +us to her." + +"Elliot!" I said, "if either the Maid be delivered, or if she sends you +sure and certain tidings under her own hand that she wills you to put off +this humour, will you then be persuaded, and make no more delay!" + +"Indeed, if either of these miracles befall, or both, right gladly will I +obey both you and her. But now her Saints, methinks, have left her, +wearied by the wickedness of France." + +"I ask no more," I answered, "for, Elliot, either the Maid shall be free, +or she shall send you this command, or you shall see my face no more." + +My purpose was now clear before me, even as I executed it, as shall be +seen. + +"Indeed, if my vow must be kept, never may I again behold you; for oh! my +love, my heart would surely break in twain, being already weak with grief +and fasting, and weary with prayer." + +Whereon she laid her kind arms about my neck, and, despite my manhood, I +wept no less than she. + +For Holy Writ says well, that hope deferred maketh the heart sick; and +mine was sick unto death. + +Of my resolve I spoke no word more to Elliot, lest her counsel should +change when she knew the jeopardy whereinto I was firmly minded to go. +And to my master I said no more than that I was minded to ride to the +Court, and for that end I turned into money a part of my treasure, for +money I should need more than arms. + +One matter in especial, which I deemed should stand me in the greatest +stead, I purchased for gold of the pottinger at Tours, the same who had +nursed me after my wound. This draught I bestowed in a silver phial, +graven with strange signs, and I kept it ever close and secret, for it +was my chief mainstay. + +Secretly as I wrought, yet I deem that my master had some understanding +of what was in my mind, though I told him nothing of the words between me +and Elliot. For I was in no way without hope that, when the bitterness +of her grief was overpast, Elliot might change her counsel. And again, I +would not have him devise and dispute with her, as now, whereby I very +well knew that she would be but the more unhappy, and the more set on +taking her own wilful way. I therefore said no more than that it behoved +me to see such captains as were about the King. + +Thereafter I bade them farewell, nor am I disposed to write concerning +what passed at the parting of Elliot and me. For thrice ere now I had +left her to pass into the mouth of war, but now I went into other peril, +and with fainter hope. + +I did indeed ride to the Court, which was at Sully, and there I met, as I +desired, Barthelemy Barrette. He greeted me well, and was richly clad, +and prosperous to behold. But it gave me greater joy that he spoke of +some secret enterprise which should shortly be put in hand, when the +spring came. + +"For I have good intelligence," he said, "that the Bastard of Orleans +will ride privily to Louviers with men-at-arms. Now Louviers, where La +Hire lies in garrison, is but seven leagues from Rouen town, and what +secret enterprise can he purpose there, save to break the cage and set +free the bird?" + +In this hope I tarried long, intending to ride with the spears of +Barthelemy, and placing my trust on two knights so good and skilled in +war as La Hire and the Bastard, the Maid's old companions in fight. + +But the days waxed long, and it was March the thirteenth ere we rode +north, and already the doctors had begun to entrap the Maid with their +questions, whereof there could be but one end. + +Without adventure very notable, riding much at night, through forests and +byways, we came to Louviers, where they received us joyfully. For it was +very well known that the English were minded to besiege this town, that +braved them so near their gates at Rouen, and that they only held back +till they had slain the Maid. While she lived they dared not stir +against us, knowing well that their men feared to follow their flag. + +Now, indeed, I was in good hope, but alas! there were long counsels of +the captains, there was much harrying of Normandy, and some outlying +bands of English were trapped, and prisoners were taken. But of an +assault on Rouen we heard no word, and, indeed, the adventure was +desperate, though, for the honour of France, I marvel yet that it was not +put to the touch. + +"There is nought to be done," Barthelemy said to me; "I cannot take Rouen +with a handful of spears, and the captains will not stir." + +"Then," said I, "farewell, for under the lilies I fight never again. One +chance remains, and I go to prove it." + +"Man, you are mad," he answered me. "What desperate peril are you minded +to run?" + +"I am minded to end this matter," I said. "My honour and my very life +stand upon it. Ask me not why, and swear that you will keep this secret +from all men, if you would do the last service to me, and to Her, whom we +both love. I tell you that, help me or hinder me, I have no choice but +this; yet so much I will say to you, that I put myself in this jeopardy +for my honour and the honour of Scotland, and for my lady." + +"The days are past for the old chivalry," he said; "but no more words. I +swear by St. Ouen to keep your counsel, and if more I can do, without +mere madness and risk out of all hope, I will do it." + +"This you can do without risk. Let me have the accoutrements of one of +the Englishmen who lie in ward, and let me ride with your band at +daybreak to-morrow. It is easy to tell some feigned tale, when you ride +back without me." + +"You will not ride into Rouen in English guise? They will straightway +hang you for a spy, and therein is little honour." + +"My purpose is some deal subtler," I said, with a laugh, "but let me keep +my own counsel." + +"So be it," said he, "a wilful man must have his way. And now I drink to +your better wisdom, and may you escape that rope on which your heart +seems to be set!" + +I grasped his hand on it, and by point of day we were riding out +seawards. We made an onslaught on a village, burned a house or twain, +and seized certain wains of hay, so, in the confusion, I slipped forward, +and rode alone into a little wood. There I clad myself in English guise, +having carried the gear in a wallet on my saddle-bow, and so pushed on, +till at nightfall I came to a certain little fishing-village. There, +under cover of the dark, I covenanted with a fisherman to set me across +the Channel, I feigning to be a deserter who was fleeing from the English +army, for fear of the Maid. + +"I would well that I had to carry all the sort of you," said the boat- +master, for I had offered him my horse, and a great reward in money, part +down, and the other part to be paid when I set foot in England. Nor did +he make any tarrying, but, taking his nets on board, as if he would be +about his lawful business, set sail, with his two sons for a crew. The +east wind served us to a miracle, and, after as fair a passage as might +be, they landed me under cloud of night not far from the great port of +Winchelsea. + +That night I slept none, but walking fast and warily, under cover of a +fog, I fetched a compass about, and ended by walking into the town of Rye +by the road from the north. Here I went straight to the best inn of the +place, and calling aloud for breakfast, I bade the drawer bring mine host +to me instantly. For, at Louviers, we were so well served by spies, the +country siding with us rather than with the English, that I knew how a +company of the Earl of Warwick's men was looked for in Winchelsea to sail +when they had a fair wind for Rouen. + +Mine host came to me in a servile English fashion, and asked me what I +would? + +"First, a horse," said I, "for mine dropped dead last night, ten miles +hence on the north road, in your marshes, God damn them, and you may see +by my rusty spur and miry boot that I have walked far. Here," I cried, +pulling off my boots, and flinging them down on the rushes of the floor, +"bid one of your varlets clean them! Next, breakfast, and a pot of your +ale; and then I shall see what manner of horses you keep, for I must +needs ride to Winchelsea." + +"You would join the men under the banner of Sir Thomas Grey of Falloden, +I make no doubt?" he answered. "Your speech smacks of the Northern +parts, and the good knight comes from no long way south of the border. +His men rode through our town but few days agone." + +"And me they left behind on the way," I answered, "so evil is my luck in +horse-flesh. But for this blessed wind out of the east that hinders +them, my honour were undone." + +My tale was not too hard of belief, and before noon I was on my way to +Winchelsea, a stout nag enough between my legs. + +The first man-at-arms whom I met I hailed, bidding him lead me straight +to Sir Thomas Grey of Falloden. "What, you would take service?" he +asked, in a Cumberland burr that I knew well, for indeed it came ready +enough on my own tongue. + +"Yea, by St. Cuthbert," I answered, "for on the Marches nothing stirs; +moreover, I have slain a man, and fled my own country." + +With that he bade God damn his soul if I were not a good fellow, and so +led me straight to the lodgings of the knight under whose colours he +served. To him I told the same tale, adding that I had heard late of his +levying of his men, otherwise I had ridden to join him at his setting +forth. + +"You have seen war?" he asked. + +"Only a Warden's raid or twain, on the moss-trooping Scots of Liddesdale. +Branxholme I have seen in a blaze, and have faced fire at the Castle of +the Hermitage." + +"You speak the tongue of the Northern parts," he said; "are you noble?" + +"A poor cousin of the Storeys of Netherby," I answered, which was true +enough; and when he questioned me about my kin, I showed him that I knew +every name and scutcheon of the line, my mother having instructed me in +all such lore of her family. {38} + +"And wherefore come you here alone, and in such plight?" + +"By reason of a sword-stroke at Stainishawbank Fair," I answered boldly. + +"Faith, then, I see no cause why, as your will is so good, you should not +soon have your bellyful of sword-strokes. For, when once we have burned +that limb of the devil, the Puzel" (for so the English call the Maid), +"we shall shortly drive these forsworn dogs, the French, back beyond the +Loire." + +I felt my face reddening at these ill words, so I stooped, as if to clear +my spur of mire. + +"Shortly shall she taste the tar-barrel," I answered, whereat he swore +and laughed; then, calling a clerk, bade him write my indenture, as is +the English manner. Thus, thanks to my northern English tongue, for +which I was sore beaten by the other boys when I was a boy myself, behold +me a man-at-arms of King Henry, and so much of my enterprise was +achieved. + +I make no boast of valour, and indeed I greatly feared for my neck, both +now and later. For my risk was that some one of the men-at-arms in +Rouen, whither we were bound, should have seen my face either at Orleans, +at Paris (where I was unhelmeted), or in the taking of the Bastille at +Compiegne. Yet my visor was down, both at Orleans and Compiegne, and of +those few who marked me in girl's gear in Paris none might chance to meet +me at Rouen, or to remember me in changed garments. So I put a bold brow +on it, for better might not be. None cursed the Puzel more loudly than +I, and, without feigning, none longed so sorely as I for a fair wind to +France, wherefore I was ever going about Winchelsea with my head in the +air, gazing at the weather-cocks. And, as fortune would have it, the +wind went about, and we on board, and with no long delay were at Rouen +town. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI--HOW NORMAN LESLIE SAW THE MAID IN HER PRISON + + +On arriving in the town of Rouen, three things were my chief care, +whereof the second helped me in the third. The first was to be lodged as +near as I might to the castle, wherein the Maid lay, being chained (so +fell was the cruelty of the English) to her bed. The next matter was to +purvey me three horses of the fleetest. Here my fortune served me well, +for the young esquires and pages would ever be riding races outside of +the gates, they being in no fear of war, and the time till the Maid was +burned hung heavy on their hands. I therefore, following the manner of +the English Marchmen, thrust myself forward in these sports, and would +change horses, giving money to boot, for any that outran my own. My +money I spent with a very free hand, both in wagers and in feasting men- +at-arms, so that I was taken to be a good fellow, and I willingly let +many make their profit of me. In the end, I had three horses that, with +a light rider in the saddle, could be caught by none in the whole +garrison of Rouen. + +Thirdly, I was most sedulous in all duty, and so won the favour of Sir +Thomas Grey, the rather that he counted cousins with me, and reckoned +that we were of some far-off kindred, wherein he spoke the truth. Thus, +partly for our common blood, partly for that I was ever ready at call, +and forward to do his will, and partly because none could carry a message +swifter, or adventure further to spy out any bands of the French, he kept +me close to him, and trusted me as his galloper. Nay, he gave me, on +occasion, his signet, to open the town gates whensoever he would send me +on any errand. Moreover, the man (noble by birth, but base by breeding) +who had the chief charge and custody of the Maid, was the brother's son +of Sir Thomas. He had to name John Grey, and was an esquire of the body +of the English King, Henry, then a boy. This miscreant it was often my +fortune to meet, at his uncle's table, and to hear his pitiless and cruel +speech. Yet, making friends, as Scripture commands us, of the Mammon of +unrighteousness, I set myself to win the affection of John Grey by +laughing at his jests and doing him what service I might. + +Once or twice I dropped to him a word of my great desire to see the famed +Puzel, for the trials that had been held in open hall were now done in +the dungeon, where only the bishop, the doctors of law, and the notaries +might hear them. Her noble bearing, indeed, and wise answers (which were +plainly put into her mouth by the Saints, for she was simple and +ignorant) had gained men's hearts. + +One day, they told me, an English lord had cried--"The brave lass, pity +she is not English." For to the English all the rest of God's earth is +as Nazareth, out of which can come no good thing. Thus none might see +the Maid, and, once and again, I let fall a word in John Grey's ear +concerning my desire to look on her in prison. I dared make no show of +eagerness, though now the month of May had come, which was both her good +and ill month. For in May she first went to Vaucouleurs and prophesied, +in May she delivered Orleans, and in May she was taken at Compiegne. +Wherefore I deemed, as men will, that in May she should escape her +prison, or in May should die. Moreover, on the first day of March they +had asked her, mocking her-- + +"Shalt thou be delivered?" + +And she had answered-- + +"Ask me on this day three months, and I shall declare it to you." + +The English, knowing this, made all haste to end her ere May ended, +wherefore I had the more occasion for speed. + +Now, on a certain day, being May the eighth, the heart of John Grey was +merry within him. He had well drunk, and I had let him win of me, at the +dice, that one of my three horses which most he coveted. + +He then struck me in friendly fashion on the back, and cried-- + +"An unlucky day for thee, and for England. This very day, two years +agone, that limb of the devil drove us by her sorceries from before +Orleans. But to-morrow--" and he laughed grossly in his beard. "Storey, +you are a good fellow, though a fool at the dice." + +"Faith, I have met my master," I said. "But the lesson you gave me was +worth bay Salkeld," for so I had named my horse, after a great English +house on the Border who dwell at the Castle of Corby. + +"I will do thee a good turn," he said. "You crave to see this Puzel, ere +they put on her the high witch's cap for her hellward journey." + +"I should like it not ill," I said; "it were something to tell my +grandchildren, when all France is English land." + +"Then you shall see her, for this is your last chance to see her whole." + +"What mean you, fair sir?" I asked, while my heart gave a turn in my +body, and I put out my hand to a great tankard of wine. + +"To-morrow the charity of the Church hath resolved that she shall be had +into the torture-chamber." + +I set my lips to the tankard, and drank long, to hide my face, and for +that I was nigh swooning with a passion of fear and wrath. + +"Thanks to St. George," I said, "the end is nigh!" + +"The end of the tankard," quoth he, looking into it, "hath already come. +You drink like a man of the Land Debatable." + +Yet I was in such case that, though by custom I drink little, the great +draught touched not my brain, and did but give me heart. + +"You might challenge at skinking that great Danish knight who was with us +under Orleans, Sir Andrew Haggard was his name, and his bearings were . . +. " {39} + +So he was running on, for he himself had drunk more than his share, when +I brought him back to my matter. + +"But as touching this Puzel, how may I have my view of her, that you +graciously offered me?" + +"My men change guard at curfew," he said; "five come out and five go in, +and I shall bid them seek you here at your lodgings. So now, farewell, +and your revenge with the dice you shall have when so you will." + +"Nay, pardon me one moment: when relieve you the guard that enters at +curfew?" + +"An hour after point of day. But, now I bethink me, you scarce will care +to pass all the night in the Puzel's company. Hast thou paper or +parchment?" + +I set paper and ink before him, who said-- + +"Nay, write yourself; I am no great clerk, yet I can sign and seal." + +Therewith, at his wording, I set down an order to the Castle porter to +let me forth as early in the night as I would. This pass he signed with +his name, and sealed with his ring, bearing his arms. + +"So I wish you joy of this tryst and bonne fortune," he said, and +departed. + +I had two hours before me ere curfew rang, and the time was more than I +needed. Therefore I went first to the Church of St. Ouen, which is very +great and fair, and there clean confessed me, and made my orisons that, +if it were God's will, this enterprise might turn to His honour, and to +the salvation of the Maid. And pitifully I besought Madame St. Catherine +of Fierbois, that as she had delivered me, a sinner, she would deliver +the Sister of the Saints. + +Next I went back to my lodgings, and there bade the hostler to have my +two best steeds saddled and bridled in stall, by point of day, for a +council was being held that night in the Castle, and I and another of Sir +Thomas's company might be sent early with a message to the Bishop of +Avranches. This holy man, as then, was a cause of trouble and delay to +the Regent and Pierre Cauchon, Bishop of Beauvais, because he was just, +and fell not in with their treasons. + +Next I clad myself in double raiment, doublet above doublet, and hose +over hose, my doublets bearing the red cross of St. George. Over all I +threw a great mantle, falling to the feet, as if I feared the night +chills. Thereafter I made a fair copy of my own writing in the pass +given to me by John Grey, and copied his signature also, and feigned his +seal with a seal of clay, for it might chance that two passes proved +better than one. Then I put in a little wallet hanging to my girdle the +signet of Sir Thomas Grey, and the pass given to me by John Grey, also an +inkhorn with pen and paper, and in my hand, secretly, I held that phial +which I had bought of the apothecary in Tours. All my gold and jewels I +hid about my body; I sharpened my sword and dagger, and then had no more +to do but wait till curfew rang. + +This was the weariest part of all; for what, I thought, if John Grey had +forgotten his promise, the wine being about his wits. Therefore I walked +hither and thither in my chamber, in much misdoubt; but at the chime of +curfew I heard rude voices below, and a heavy step on the stairs. It was +a man-at-arms of the basest sort, who, lurching with his shoulder against +my door, came in, and said that he and his fellows waited my pleasure. +Thereon I showed him the best countenance, and bade my host fill a +pannier with meat and cakes and wine, to pass the hours in the prison +merrily. I myself ran down into the host's cellar, and was very busy in +tasting wine, for I would have the best. And in making my choice, while +the host stooped over a cask to draw a fresh tankard, I poured all the +drugs of my phial into a large pewter vessel with a lid, filled it with +wine, and, tasting it, swore it would serve my turn. This flagon, such +as we call a 'tappit hen' in my country, but far greater, I bore with me +up the cellar stairs, and gave it to one of the guard, bidding him spill +not a drop, or he should go thirsty. + +The lourdaud, that was their captain, carried the pannier, and, laughing, +we crossed the street and the moat, giving the word "Bedford." To the +porter I showed my pass, telling him that, though I was loath to disturb +him, I counted not to watch all night in the cell, wherefore I gave him a +gold piece for the trouble he might have in letting me go forth at an +hour untimely. Herewith he was well content, and so, passing the word to +the sentinel at each post, we entered. + +And now, indeed, my heart beat so that my body seemed to shake with hope +and fear as I walked. At the door of the chamber wherein the Maid lay we +met her guards coming forth, who cried roughly, bidding her good even, +and to think well of what waited her, meaning the torments. They tumbled +down the stairs laughing, while we went in, and I last. It was a dark +vaulted chamber with one window near the roof, narrow and heavily barred. +In the recess by the window was a brazier burning, and casting as much +shadow as light by reason of the smoke. Here also was a rude table, +stained with foul circles of pot-rims, and there were five or six stools. +On a weighty oaken bed lay one in man's raiment, black in hue, her face +downwards, and her arms spread over her neck. It could scarce be that +she slept, but she lay like one dead, only shuddering when the lourdaud, +the captain of the guard, smote her on the shoulder, asking, in English, +how she did? + +"Here she is, sir, surly as ever, and poor company for Christian men. See +you how cunningly all her limbs are gyved, and chained to the iron bolts +of the bed? What would my lady Jeanne give me for this little master- +key?" + +Here he showed a slender key, hung on a steel chain about his neck. + +"Never a saint of the three, Michael, Margaret, and Catherine, can take +this from me; nay, nor the devils who wear their forms." + +"Have you seen this fair company of hers?" I whispered in English, +crossing myself. + +"No more than she saw the white lady that goes with that other witch, +Catherine of La Rochelle. But, sir, she is sullen; it is her manner. +With your good leave, shall we sup?" + +This was my own desire, so putting the pannier on the table, I carved the +meat with my dagger, and poured out the wine in cups, and they fell to, +being hungry, as Englishmen are at all times. They roared over their +meat, eating like wolves and drinking like fishes, and one would sing a +lewd song, and the others strike in with the over-word, but drinking was +their main avail. + +"This is better stuff," says the lourdaud, "than our English ale. Faith, +'tis strong, my lads! Wake up, Jenkin; wake up, Hal," and then he roared +a snatch, but stopped, looking drowsily about him. + +O brothers in Christ, who hear this tale, remember ye that, for now four +months and more, the cleanest soul in Christenty, and the chastest lady, +and of manners the noblest, had endured this company by night and by day! + +"Nay, wake up," I cried; "ye are dull revellers; what say ye to the +dice?" + +Therewith I set out my tablier and the dice. Then I filled up the cup +afresh, pretending to drink, and laid on the foul table a great shining +heap of gold. Their dull eyes shone like the metal when I said-- + +"Myself will be judge and umpire; play ye, honest fellows, for I crave no +gains from you. Only, a cup for luck!" + +They camped at the table, all the five of them, and some while their +greed kept them wakeful, and they called the mains, but their drought +kept them drinking. And, one by one, their heads fell heavy on the +table, or they sprawled on their stools, and so sank on to the floor, so +potent were the poppy and mandragora of the leech in Tours. + +At last they were all sound on sleep, one man's hand yet clutching a pile +of my gold that now and again would slip forth and jingle on the stone +floor. + +Now all this time she had never stirred, but lay as she had lain, her +face downwards, her arms above her neck. + +Stealthily I took the chain and the key from about the neck of the +sleeping lourdaud, and then drew near her on tiptoe. + +I listened, and, from her breathing, I believe that she slept, as extreme +labour and weariness and sorrow do sometimes bring their own remede. + +Then a thought came into my mind, how I should best awake her, and +stooping, I said in her ear-- + +"Fille De!" + +Instantly she turned about, and, sitting up, folded her hands as one in +prayer, deeming, belike, that she was aroused by the voices of her +Saints. I kneeled down beside the bed, and whispered--"Madame, Jeanne, +look on my face!" + +She gazed on me, and now I saw her brave face, weary and thin and white, +and, greater than of old, the great grey eyes. + +"I said once," came her sweet voice, "that thou alone shouldst stand by +me when all had forsaken me. Fair Saints, do I dream but a dream?" + +"Nay, Madame," I said, "thou wakest and dost not dream. One has sent me +who loves thee, even my lady Elliot; and now listen, for the time is +short. See, here I have the master-key, and when I have unlocked thy +bonds . . . " + +"Thou hast not slain these men?" she asked. "That were deadly sin." + +"Nay, they do but sleep, and will waken belike ere the fresh guard comes, +wherefore we must make haste." + +"When I have freed thee, do on thy body, above thy raiment, this doublet +of mine, for it carries the cross of England, and, I being of little +stature, you may well pass for me. Moreover, this cloak and its hood, +which I wore when I came in, will cover thee. Then, when thou goest +forth give the word 'Bedford' to the sentinels; and, to the porter in the +gate, show this written pass of John Grey's. He knows it already, having +seen it this night. Next, when thou art without the castle, fare to the +hostelry called 'The Rose and Apple,' which is nearest the castle gate, +and so straight into the stable, where stand two steeds, saddled and +bridled. Choose the black, he is the swifter. If the hostler be awake, +he expects me, and will take thee for me; mount, with no word, and ride +to the eastern port. There show to the gate ward this signet of Sir +Thomas Grey, and he will up with portcullis and down with drawbridge, for +he has often done no less for me and that signet. + +"Then, Madame, ride for Louviers, and you shall break your fast with the +Bastard and La Hire." Her white face changed to red, like the morning +light, as on that day at Orleans, before she took Les Tourelles. + +Then the flush faded, and she grew ashen pale, while she said-- + +"But thou, how shalt thou get forth?" + +"Madame," I said, "fear not for me. I will follow after thee, and shame +the sleepy porter to believe that he has dreamed a dream. And I have +written this other pass, on seeing which he will needs credit me, being +adrowse, and, moreover, I will pay him well. And I shall be at the +stable as soon almost as thou, and I have told the hostler that belike I +shall ride with a friend, carrying a message to the Bishop of Avranches. +For I have beguiled the English to believe me of their party, as Madame +Judith wrought to the tyrant Holofernes." + +"Nay," she answered simply, "this may not be. Even if the porter were to +be bought or beguiled, thou couldst not pass the sentinels. It may not +be." + +"The sentinels, belike, are sleeping, or wellnigh sleeping, and I have a +dagger. O Madame! for the sake of the fortune of France, and the honour +of the King"--for this, I knew, was my surest hope--"delay not, nor reck +at all of me. I have but one life, and it is thine freely." + +"They will burn thee, or slay thee with other torments." + +"Not so," I said; "I shall not be taken alive." + +"That were deadly sin," she answered. "I shall not go and leave thee to +die for me. Then were my honour lost, and I could not endure to live. +Entreat me not, for I will not go forth, as now. Nay more, I tell thee +as I have told my judges, that which the Saints have spoken to me. 'Bear +this thy martyrdom gently,' they say, 'tu t'en viendras en royaume du +Paradis.' Moreover, this I know, that I am to be delivered with great +victory!" + +Here she clasped her hands, looking upwards, and her face was as the face +of an angel. + +"Fair victory it were to leave thee in my place, and so make liars of my +brethren of Paradise." + +Then, alas! I knew that I was of no more avail to move her; yet one last +art I tried. + +"Madame," I said, "I have prayed you in the name of the fortune of +France, and the honour of the King, which is tarnished for ever if you +escape not." + +"I shall be delivered," she answered. + +"I pray you in the dear name of your lady mother, Madame du Lys." + +"I shall be delivered," she said, "and with great victory!" + +"Now I pray thee in my own name, and in that of thy first friend, my +lady. She has made a vow to give her virginity to Heaven unless either +thou art set free, or she have tidings from thee that thou willest her to +wed me, without whom I have no desire to live, but far rather this very +night to perish. For I am clean confessed, within these six hours, +knowing that I was like to be in some jeopardy." + +"Then," she said, smiling sweetly, and signing that I should take her +hand--"Then live, Norman Leslie, for this is to me an easy thing and a +joyous. Thou art a clerk, hast thou wherewithal to write?" + +"Yes, Madame, here in my wallet." + +"Then write as I tell thee:-- + + "JHESU MARIA" + + "'I, Jehanne la Pucelle, send from prison here in Rouen my tidings of + love to Elliot Hume, my first friend among women, and bid her, for my + sake, wed him who loves her, Norman Leslie of Pitcullo, my faithful + servant, praying that all happiness may go with them. In witness + whereto, my hand being guided to write, I set my name, Jehanne la + Pucelle, this ninth day of May, in the year Fourteen hundred and + thirty-one.' + +"So guide my hand," she said, taking the pen from my fingers; and thus +guided, while my tears fell on her hand, she wrote JEHANNE LA PUCELLE. + +"Now," quoth she, smiling as of old, "we must seal this missive. Cut off +one lock of my hair with your dagger, for my last gift to my first +friend, and make the seal all orderly." + +I did as she bade, and, bringing a lighted stick from the brazier, I +melted wax. Then, when it was smooth, she laid on it two hairs from the +little sundered lock (as was sometimes her custom), and bade me seal with +my own signet, and put the brief in my wallet. + +"Now, all is done," she said. + +"Nay, nay," I said, "to die for thee is more to me than to live in love. +Ah, nay, go forth, I beseech thee!" + +"With victory shall I go forth, and now I lay my last commands on the +last of all my servants. If in aught I have ever offended thee, in word +or deed, forgive me!" + +I could but bow my head, for I was weeping, though her eyes were dry. + +"And so, farewell," she said-- + +"As thou art leal and true, begone; it is my order, and make no tarrying. +To-morrow I have much to do, and needs must I sleep while these men are +quiet. Say to thy lady that I love her dearly, and bid her hope, as I +also hope. Farewell!" + +She moved her thin hand, which I kissed, kneeling. + +Again she said "Farewell," and turned her back on me as if she would +sleep. + +Then I hung the chain and key again on the neck of the lourdaud; I put +some of the fallen coins in the men's pouches, but bestowed the dice and +tablier in my wallet. I opened the door, and went forth, not looking +back; and so from the castle, showing my pass, and giving the porter +another coin. Then I went home, in the sweet dawn of May, and casting +myself on my bed, I wept bitterly, for to-day she should be tormented. + +* * * * * + +Of the rest I have no mind to tell (though they had not the heart to +torture the Maid), for it puts me out of charity with a people who have a +name to be Christians, and it is my desire, if I may, to forgive all men +before I die. + +At Rouen I endured to abide, even until the day of unjust doom, and my +reason was that I ever hoped for some miracle, even as her Saints had +promised. But it was their will that she should be made perfect through +suffering, and being set free through the gate of fire, should win her +victory over unfaith and mortal fear. Wherefore I stood afar off at the +end, seeing nothing of what befell; yet I clearly heard, as did all men +there, the last word of her sweet voice, and the cry of JHESUS! + +Then I passed through the streets where men and women, and the very +English, were weeping, and, saddling my swiftest horse, I rode to the +east port. When the gate had closed behind me, I turned, and, lifting my +hand, I tore the cross of St. George from my doublet. + +"Dogs!" I cried, "ye have burned a Saint! A curse on cruel English and +coward French! St Andrew for Scotland!" The shafts and bolts hailed +past me as I wheeled about; there was mounting of steeds, and a clatter +of hoofs behind me, but the sound died away ere I rode into Louviers. + +There I told them the tale which was their shame, and so betook me to +Tours, and to my lady. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII--THE END OF THIS CHRONICLE + + +It serves not to speak of my later fortunes, being those of a private +man, nor have I the heart to recall old sorrows. We were wedded when +Elliot's grief had in some sort abated, and for one year we were happier +than God has willed that sinful men should long be in this world. Then +that befell which has befallen many. I may not write of it: suffice it +that God took from me both her and her child. Then, after certain weeks +and days of which I am blessed enough to keep little memory, I forswore +arms, and served in the household of the Lady Margaret of Scotland, who +married the Dauphin on an unhappy day. I have known much of Courts and +of the learned, I have seen the wicked man exalted, and Brother Thomas +Noiroufle in great honour with Charles VII. King of France, and offering +before him, with his murderous hands, the blessed sacrifice of the Mass. + +The death of the Lady Margaret, slain by lying tongues, and the sudden +sight of that evil man, Brother Thomas, raised to power and place, drove +me from France, and I was certain years with the King's ambassadors at +the Courts of Italy. There I heard how the Holy Inquisition had reversed +that false judgment of the English and false French at Rouen, which made +me some joy. And then, finding old age come upon me, I withdrew to my +own country, where I have lived in religion, somewhile in the Abbey of +Dunfermline, and this year gone in our cell of Pluscardine, where I now +write, and where I hope to die and be buried. + +Here ends my tale, in my Latin Chronicle left untold, of how a Scots Monk +was with the Maid both in her victories and recoveries of towns, and even +till her death. + +For myself, I now grow old, and the earthly time to come is short, and +there remaineth a rest for all souls Christian. Miscreants I have heard +of, men misbelieving and heretics, who deny that the spirit abides after +the death of the body, for in the long years, say they, the spirit with +the flesh wanes, and at last dies with the bodily death. Wherein they +not only make Holy Church a liar, but are visibly confounded by this +truth which I know and feel, namely, that while my flesh wastes hourly +towards old age, and of many things my memory is weakened, yet of that +day in Chinon I mind me as clearly, and see my love as well, and hear her +sweet voice as plain, as if she had but now left the room. + +Herein my memory does not fail, nor does love faint, growing stronger +with the years, like the stream as it races to the fall. Wherefore, +being more strong than Time, Love shall be more strong than Death. The +river of my life speeds yearly swifter, the years like months go by, the +months like weeks, the weeks like days. Even so fleet on, O Time, till I +rest beside her feet! Nay, never, being young, did I more desire my +love's presence when we were apart than to-day I desire it, the memory of +her filling all my heart as fragrance of flowers fills a room, till it +seems as if she were not far away, but near me, as I write of her. And, +foolish that I am! I look up as if I might see her by my side. I know +not if this be so with all men, for, indeed, I have asked none, nor +spoken to any of the matter save in confession. For I have loved this +once, and no more; wherefore I deem me happier than most, and more +certain of a good end to my love, where the blessed dwell in the Rose of +Paradise, beholding the Beatific Vision. + +To this end I implore the prayers of all Christian souls who read this +book, and of all the Saints, and of that Sister of the Saints whom, while +I might, I served in my degree. + +VENERABILIS JOHANNA + +ORA PRO NOBIS + + + + +APPENDIX A--NORMAN'S MIRACLE + + +(See "Livre des Miracles de Madame Sainte Katherine de Fierboys". MSS. +Bib. Nat. 7335, fol. lxxxiv.) + +Le xvi jour du moys de janvier, l'an mil cccc. xxx., vint en la chapelle +de ceans Norman Leslie de Pytquhoulle, escoth, escuyer de la compagnie de +Hugues Cande, capitaine. {40} Lequel dist et afferma par serment estre +vray le miracle cy apres declaire. C'est assavoir que le dit Leslie fut +prins des Anglois a Paris le jour de la Nativite de Nostre Dame de l'an +dernier passe. Lequel Norman Leslie avoit entre dans la ville de Paris +avec c. Escossoys en guise d'Angloys, lesqueuls Escossoys furent prins +des Angloys, et ledit Norman fut mis en fers et en ceps. Et estoit +l'intention de ceux qui l'avoient pris de le faire lendemain ardre, parce +qu'il portoit robe de femme par maniere de ruse de guerre. + +Si s'avint que ledit Norman se voua a Madame Sainte Katherine, qu'il luy +pleust prier Dieu qu'il le voulsist delivrer de la prison ou il estoit; +et incontinent qu'il pourroit estre dehors, il yroit mercier Madame +Sainte Katherine en sa chapelle de Fierboys. Et incontinent son veu fait +si s'en dormit, et au reveiller trouva en la tour avecques luy un Singe, +qui lui apporta deux files, et un petit cousteau. Ainsi il trouva +maniere de se deferrer, et adoncques s'en sortit de la prison emportant +avecques luy le singe. Si se laissoit cheoir a val en priant Madame +Sainte Katherine et chut a bas, et oncques ne se fist mal, et se rendit a +Saint Denys ou il trouvoit des compagnons Escossoys. + +Et ainsy ledit Norman Leslie s'en est venu audit lieu de Fierboys, tout +sain et sauf, emportant avecques luy ledit singe, qui est beste estrange +et fol de son corps. Et a jure ledit Norman ce estre vray par la foy et +serment de son corps. + +Presens messire Richart Kyrthrizian, frere Giles Lacourt, prestres +gouverneurs de la dite chapelle, et messire Hauves Polnoire, peintre du +Roy, et plusieurs aultres. + + + + +APPENDIX B--ELLIOT'S RING + + +The Ring of the Maid, inscribed with the Holy Names, is often referred to +in her Trial ("Proces," i. 86, 103, 185, 236, 238), and is mentioned by +Bower, the contemporary Scottish chronicler ("Proces," iv. 480), whose +work was continued in the "Liber Pluscardensis." We have also, in the +text, Norman's statement that a copy of this ring was presented by the +Maid to Elliot Hume. + +While correcting the proof-sheets of this Chronicle, the Translator +received from Mr. George Black, Assistant Keeper of the National Museum +of Antiquities in Edinburgh, a copy of his essay on "Scottish Charms and +Amulets" ("Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland," May 8, +1893, p. 488). There, to his astonishment, the Translator read: "The +formula MARI. IHS. occurs on two finger-rings of silver-gilt, one of +which was found at Pluscarden, Elginshire, and the other in an old +graveyard near Fintray House, Aberdeenshire." Have we in the Pluscarden +ring a relic of the Monk of Pluscarden, the companion of Jeanne d'Arc, +the author of "Liber Pluscardensis"? + + + + +FOOTNOTES + + +{1} Several copies of this book, the Liber Pluscardensis, are extant, +but the author's original MS. is lost. + +{2} This was written after the Act of the Scots Parliament of 1457. + +{3} Daggers. + +{4} Rude wall surrounding a keep. + +{5} Sisters in the rule of St. Francis. + +{6} These tricks of sleight-of-hand are attributed by Jean Nider, in his +"Formicarium," to the false Jeanne d'Arc.--A. L. + +{7} Very intimate. + +{8} When the sky falls and smothers the larks, + +{9} This quotation makes it certain that Scott's ballad of Harlaw, in +"The Antiquary," is, at least in part, derived from tradition. + +{10} This description confirms that of the contemporary town-clerk of La +Rochelle. + +{11} The staircase still exists. + +{12} "My neck would learn the weight of my more solid proportions." + +{13} Neck. + +{14} "Frightened by a ghost." + +{15} "Airt," i.e. "quarter." + +{16} "Fright for fright." + +{17} Lameter, a lame. + +{18} Bor-brief, certificate of gentle birth. + +{19} Howlet, a young owl; a proverb for voracity. + +{20} Battle-axe. + +{21} Bougran, lustrous white linen. + +{22} There are some slight variations, as is natural, in the Fierbois +record. + +{23} Equipped for battle. + +{24} That is, in the "Liber Pluscardensis." + +{25} Englishman. + +{26} Heavy and still. + +{27} Daughter of God, go on, and I will be thine aid. Go on! + +{28} Lyrat, grey. + +{29} The king's evil: "ecrouelles," scrofula. + +{30} Darg, day's work. + +{31} "Par mon martin," the oath which she permitted to La Hire. + +{32} See Appendix A, 'Norman's Miracle,' Appendix B, 'Elliot's Ring.' + +{33} That in to say, some two thousand combatants. + +{34} Echevins--magistrates. + +{35} "Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas." + +{36} Pavises--large portable shelters. + +{37} Block-houses. + +{38} The Grahames had not yet possessed themselves of Netherby.--A. L. + +{39} Substituting 'or' for 'argent,' his bearings were those of the +distinguished modern novelist of the same name.--A. L. + +{40} Cande = Kennedy. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A MONK OF FIFE*** + + +******* This file should be named 1631.txt or 1631.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/6/3/1631 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: +https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + |