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diff --git a/20092-h/20092-h.htm b/20092-h/20092-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..af70b5c --- /dev/null +++ b/20092-h/20092-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,14286 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="CONTENT-TYPE" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii" /> +<title>Saint Bartholomew's Eve:</title> + +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[*/ + body {background:#ffffff; + color:black; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + font-size:14pt; + margin-top:70px; + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align:justify} + caption { font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.04em; font-family: "Arial"; + text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 18pt; } + div { text-align: center} + em {font-weight: bold} + h1 {text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.05em} + h2 {text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0.04em} + h3 {text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0.04em} + hr {height: 5px} + p {text-indent: 4% } + pre {margin-left: 10%; font-size: 10pt;} + table {text-align: center} + td { font-family: "Arial"; text-align: left} + td.ltoc { letter-spacing: 0.04em; font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; + text-transform: uppercase; text-align: right; vertical-align: top } + td.rtoc { font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; text-align: left} + thead { font-weight: bold;} +/*]]>*/ +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Saint Bartholomew's Eve, by G. A. Henty + +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: Saint Bartholomew's Eve + A Tale of the Huguenot WarS + +Author: G. A. Henty + +Illustrator: H. J. Draper + +Release Date: December 12, 2006 [EBook #20092] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SAINT BARTHOLOMEW'S EVE *** + + + + +Produced by Martin Robb + + + + + +</pre> + +<h1><br /> +Saint Bartholomew's Eve:<br /></h1> +<h2>A Tale of the Huguenot Wars<br /> +By G. A. Henty.<br /></h2> +<h3>Illustrated by H. J. Draper.<br /></h3> +<hr /> +<center> +<table summary="Table of Contents"> +<caption>Contents</caption> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"></td> +<td class="rtoc"><a href="#Preface">Preface</a>.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch1">Chapter 1</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Driven From Home.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch2">Chapter 2</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">An Important Decision.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch3">Chapter 3</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">In A French Chateau.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch4">Chapter 4</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">An Experiment.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch5">Chapter 5</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Taking The Field.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch6">Chapter 6</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Battle Of Saint Denis.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch7">Chapter 7</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">A Rescue.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch8">Chapter 8</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Third Huguenot War.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch9">Chapter 9</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">An Important Mission.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch10">Chapter 10</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Queen Of Navarre.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch11">Chapter 11</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Jeanne Of Navarre.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch12">Chapter 12</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">An Escape From Prison.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch13">Chapter 13</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">At Laville.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch14">Chapter 14</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Assault On The Chateau.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch15">Chapter 15</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Battle Of Jarnac.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch16">Chapter 16</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">A Huguenot Prayer Meeting.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch17">Chapter 17</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Battle Of Moncontor.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch18">Chapter 18</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">A Visit Home.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch19">Chapter 19</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">In A Net.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch20">Chapter 20</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Tocsin.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch21">Chapter 21</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Escape.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch22">Chapter 22</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Reunited.</td> +</tr> +</table> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<table summary="Illustrations"> +<caption>Illustrations<br /> + </caption> +<tr> +<td><a href="#Map1">Map of France in 1570.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicA">Gaspard Vaillant makes a proposal.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicB">Philip and Francoise in the armoury.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicC">Philip gets his first look at Pierre.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicD">"If you move a step, you are a dead +man."</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicE">Philip and his followers embarking.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicF">Philip in prison.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicG">Philip struck him full in the face.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicH">Pierre listens at the open window of the +inn.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicI">Gaspard Vaillant gets a surprise.</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicJ">"You have not heard the news, Monsieur +Philip?"</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicK">"That cross is placed there by +design."</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicL">Philip, Claire and Pierre disguise +themselves.</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +</center> +<br /> +<a id="Map1" name="Map1"></a> +<center><img src="images/1.jpg" alt= +"Map of France in 1570." /></center> +<h2><a name="Preface" id="Preface">Preface</a>.</h2> +<p>It is difficult, in these days of religious toleration, to +understand why men should, three centuries ago, have flown at each +others' throats in the name of the Almighty; still less how, in +cold blood, they could have perpetrated hideous massacres of men, +women, and children. The Huguenot wars were, however, as much +political as religious. Philip of Spain, at that time the most +powerful potentate of Europe, desired to add France to the +countries where his influence was all powerful; and in the +ambitious house of Guise he found ready instruments.</p> +<p>For a time the new faith, that had spread with such rapidity in +Germany, England, and Holland, made great progress in France, also. +But here the reigning family remained Catholic, and the vigorous +measures they adopted, to check the growing tide, drove those of +the new religion to take up arms in self defence. Although, under +the circumstances, the Protestants can hardly be blamed for so +doing, there can be little doubt that the first Huguenot war, +though the revolt was successful, was the means of France remaining +a Catholic country. It gave colour to the assertions of the Guises +and their friends that the movement was a political one, and that +the Protestants intended to grasp all power, and to overthrow the +throne of France. It also afforded an excuse for the cruel +persecutions which followed, and rallied to the Catholic cause +numbers of those who were, at heart, indifferent to the question of +religion, but were Royalists rather than Catholics.</p> +<p>The great organization of the Church of Rome laboured among all +classes for the destruction of the growing heresy. Every pulpit in +France resounded with denunciations of the Huguenots, and +passionate appeals were made to the bigotry and fanaticism of the +more ignorant classes; so that, while the power of the Huguenots +lay in some of the country districts, the mobs of the great towns +were everywhere the instruments of the priests.</p> +<p>I have not considered it necessary to devote any large portion +of my story to details of the terrible massacres of the period, nor +to the atrocious persecutions to which the Huguenots were +subjected; but have, as usual, gone to the military events of the +struggle for its chief interest. For the particulars of these, I +have relied chiefly upon the collection of works of contemporary +authors published by Monsieur Zeller, of Paris; the Memoirs of +Francois de la Noue, and other French authorities.</p> +<p>G. A. Henty.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch1" id="Ch1">Chapter 1</a>: Driven From Home.</h2> +<p>In the year 1567 there were few towns in the southern counties +of England that did not contain a colony, more or less large, of +French Protestants. For thirty years the Huguenots had been exposed +to constant and cruel persecutions; many thousands had been +massacred by the soldiery, burned at the stake, or put to death +with dreadful tortures. Fifty thousand, it was calculated, had, in +spite of the most stringent measures of prevention, left their +homes and made their escape across the frontiers. These had settled +for the most part in the Protestant cantons of Switzerland, in +Holland, or England. As many of those who reached our shores were +but poorly provided with money, they naturally settled in or near +the ports of landing.</p> +<p>Canterbury was a place in which many of the unfortunate +emigrants found a home. Here one Gaspard Vaillant, his wife, and +her sister, who had landed in the year 1547, had established +themselves. They were among the first comers, but the French colony +had grown, gradually, until it numbered several hundreds. The +Huguenots were well liked in the town, being pitied for their +misfortunes, and admired for the courage with which they bore their +losses; setting to work, each man at his trade if he had one, or if +not, taking to the first work that came to hand. They were quiet +and God-fearing folk; very good towards each other, and to their +poor countrymen on their way from the coast to London, entertaining +them to the best of their power, and sending them forward on their +way with letters to the Huguenot committee in London, and with +sufficient money in their pockets to pay their expenses on the +journey, and to maintain them for a while until some employment +could be found for them.</p> +<p>Gaspard Vaillant had been a landowner near Civray, in Poitou. He +was connected by blood with several noble families in that +district, and had been among the first to embrace the reformed +religion. For some years he had not been interfered with, as it was +upon the poorer and more defenceless classes that the first fury of +the persecutors fell; but as the attempts of Francis to stamp out +the new sect failed, and his anger rose more and more against them, +persons of all ranks fell under the ban. The prisons were filled +with Protestants who refused to confess their errors; soldiers were +quartered in the towns and villages, where they committed terrible +atrocities upon the Protestants; and Gaspard, seeing no hope of +better times coming, or of being permitted to worship in peace and +quietness, gathered together what money he could and made his way, +with his wife and her sister, to La Rochelle, whence he took ship +to London.</p> +<p>Disliking the bustle of a large town, he was recommended by some +of his compatriots to go down to Canterbury, where three or four +fugitives from his own part of the country had settled. One of +these was a weaver by trade, but without money to manufacture looms +or set up in his calling. Gaspard joined him as partner, embarking +the little capital he had saved; and being a shrewd, clear-headed +man he carried on the business part of the concern, while his +partner Lequoc worked at the manufacture.</p> +<p>As the French colony in Canterbury increased, they had no +difficulty in obtaining skilled hands from among them. The business +grew in magnitude, and the profits were large, in spite of the fact +that numbers of similar enterprises had been established by the +Huguenot immigrants in London, and other places. They were, indeed, +amply sufficient to enable Gaspard Vaillant to live in the +condition of a substantial citizen, to aid his fellow countrymen, +and to lay by a good deal of money.</p> +<p>His wife's sister had not remained very long with him. She had, +upon their first arrival, given lessons in her own language to the +daughters of burgesses, and of the gentry near the town; but, three +years after the arrival of the family there, she had married a +well-to-do young yeoman who farmed a hundred acres of his own land, +two miles from the town. His relations and neighbours had shaken +their heads over what they considered his folly, in marrying the +pretty young Frenchwoman; but ere long they were obliged to own +that his choice had been a good one.</p> +<p>Just after his first child was born he was, when returning home +one evening from market, knocked down and run over by a drunken +carter, and was so injured that for many months his life was in +danger. Then he began to mend, but though he gained in strength he +did not recover the use of his legs, being completely paralysed +from the hips downward; and, as it soon appeared, was destined to +remain a helpless invalid all his life. From the day of the +accident Lucie had taken the management of affairs in her hands, +and having been brought up in the country, and being possessed of a +large share of the shrewdness and common sense for which +Frenchwomen are often conspicuous, she succeeded admirably. The +neatness and order of the house, since their marriage, had been a +matter of surprise to her husband's friends; and it was not long +before the farm showed the effects of her management. Gaspard +Vaillant assisted her with his counsel and, as the French methods +of agriculture were considerably in advance of those in England, +instead of things going to rack and ruin, as John Fletcher's +friends predicted, its returns were considerably augmented.</p> +<p>Naturally, she at first experienced considerable opposition. The +labourers grumbled at what they called new-fangled French fashions; +but when they left her, their places were supplied by her +countrymen, who were frugal and industrious, accustomed to make the +most out of small areas of ground, and to turn every foot to the +best advantage. Gradually the raising of corn was abandoned, and a +large portion of the farm devoted to the growing of vegetables; +which, by dint of plentiful manuring and careful cultivation, were +produced of a size and quality that were the surprise and +admiration of the neighbourhood, and gave her almost a monopoly of +the supply of Canterbury.</p> +<p>The carters were still English; partly because Lucie had the +good sense to see that, if she employed French labourers only, she +would excite feelings of jealousy and dislike among her neighbours; +and partly because she saw that, in the management of horses and +cattle, the Englishmen were equal, if not superior, to her +countrymen.</p> +<p>Her life was a busy one. The management of the house and farm +would, alone, have been a heavy burden to most people; but she +found ample time for the tenderest care of the invalid, whom she +nursed with untiring affection.</p> +<p>"It is hard upon a man of my size and inches, Lucie," he said +one day, "to be lying here as helpless as a sick child; and yet I +don't feel that I have any cause for discontent. I should like to +be going about the farm, and yet I feel that I am happier here, +lying watching you singing so contentedly over your work, and +making everything so bright and comfortable. Who would have +thought, when I married a little French lady, that she was going to +turn out a notable farmer? All my friends tell me that there is not +a farm like mine in all the country round, and that the crops are +the wonder of the neighbourhood; and when I see the vegetables that +are brought in here, I should like to go over the farm, if only for +once, just to see them growing."</p> +<p>"I hope you will be able to do that, some day, dear. Not on +foot, I am afraid; but when you get stronger and better, as I hope +you will, we will take you round in a litter, and the bright sky +and the fresh air will do you good."</p> +<p>Lucie spoke very fair English now, and her husband had come to +speak a good deal of French; for the service of the house was all +in that language, the three maids being daughters of French workmen +in the town. The waste and disorder of those who were in the house +when her husband first brought her there had appalled her; and the +women so resented any attempt at teaching, on the part of the +French madam, that after she had tried several sets with equally +bad results, John Fletcher had consented to the introduction of +French girls; bargaining only that he was to have good English +fare, and not French kickshaws. The Huguenot customs had been kept +up, and night and morning the house servants, with the French +neighbours and their families, all assembled for prayer in the +farmhouse.</p> +<p>To this John Fletcher had agreed without demur. His father had +been a Protestant, when there was some danger in being so; and he +himself had been brought up soberly and strictly. Up to the time of +his accident there had been two congregations, he himself reading +the prayers to his farm hands, while Lucie afterwards read them in +her own language to her maids; but as the French labourers took the +place of the English hands, only one service was needed.</p> +<p>When John Fletcher first regained sufficient strength to take +much interest in what was passing round, he was alarmed at the +increase in the numbers of those who attended these gatherings. +Hitherto four men had done the whole work of the farm; now there +were twelve.</p> +<p>"Lucie, dear," he said uneasily one day, "I know that you are a +capital manager; but it is impossible that a farm the size of ours +can pay, with so many hands on it. I have never been able to do +more than pay my way, and lay by a few pounds every year, with only +four hands, and many would have thought three sufficient; but with +twelve--and I counted them this morning--we must be on the highroad +to ruin."</p> +<p>"I will not ruin you, John. Do you know how much money there was +in your bag when you were hurt, just a year ago now?"</p> +<p>"Yes, I know there were thirty-three pounds."</p> +<p>His wife went out of the room and returned with a leather +bag.</p> +<p>"Count them, John," she said.</p> +<p>There were forty-eight. Fifteen pounds represented a vastly +greater sum, at that time, than they do at present; and John +Fletcher looked up from the counting with amazement.</p> +<p>"This can't be all ours, Lucie. Your brother must have been +helping us."</p> +<p>"Not with a penny, doubting man," she laughed. "The money is +yours, all earned by the farm; perhaps not quite all, because we +have not more than half as many animals as we had before. But, as I +told you, we are growing vegetables, and for that we must have more +men than for corn. But, as you see, it pays. Do not fear about it, +John. If God should please to restore you to health and strength, +most gladly will I lay down the reins; but till then I will manage +as best I may and, with the help and advice of my brother and his +friends, shall hope, by the blessing of God, to keep all +straight."</p> +<p>The farm throve, but its master made but little progress towards +recovery. He was able, however, occasionally to be carried round in +a hand litter, made for him upon a plan devised by Gaspard +Vaillant; in which he was supported in a half-sitting position, +while four men bore him as if in a Sedan chair.</p> +<p>But it was only occasionally that he could bear the fatigue of +such excursions. Ordinarily he lay on a couch in the farmhouse +kitchen, where he could see all that was going on there; while in +warm summer weather he was wheeled outside, and lay in the shade of +the great elm, in front of the house.</p> +<p>The boy, Philip--for so he had been christened, after John +Fletcher's father--grew apace and, as soon as he was old enough to +receive instruction, his father taught him his letters out of a +horn book, until he was big enough to go down every day to school +in Canterbury. John himself was built upon a large scale, and at +quarterstaff and wrestling could, before he married, hold his own +with any of the lads of Kent; and Philip bade fair to take after +him, in skill and courage. His mother would shake her head +reprovingly when he returned, with his face bruised and his clothes +torn, after encounters with his schoolfellows; but his father took +his part.</p> +<p>"Nay, nay, wife," he said one day, "the boy is eleven years old +now, and must not grow up a milksop. Teach him if you will to be +honest and true, to love God, and to hold to the faith; but in +these days it needs that men should be able to use their weapons, +also. There are your countrymen in France, who ere long will be +driven to take up arms, for the defence of their faith and lives +from their cruel persecutors; and, as you have told me, many of the +younger men, from here and elsewhere, will assuredly go back to aid +their brethren.</p> +<p>"We may even have trials here. Our Queen is a Protestant, and +happily at present we can worship God as we please, in peace; but +it was not so in the time of Mary, and it may be that troubles may +again fall upon the land, seeing that as yet the Queen is not +married. Moreover, Philip of Spain has pretensions to rule here; +and every Englishman may be called upon to take up bow, or bill, +for his faith and country. Our co-religionists in Holland and +France are both being cruelly persecuted, and it may well be that +the time will come when we shall send over armies to their +assistance.</p> +<p>"I would that the boy should grow up both a good Christian and a +stout soldier. He comes on both sides of a fighting stock. One of +my ancestors fought at Agincourt, and another with the Black Prince +at Cressy and Poitiers; while on your side his blood is noble and, +as we know, the nobles of France are second to none in bravery.</p> +<p>"Before I met you I had thoughts of going out, myself, to fight +among the English bands who have engaged on the side of the +Hollanders. I had even spoken to my cousin James about taking +charge of the farm, while I was away. I would not have sold it, for +Fletchers held this land before the Normans set foot in England; +but I had thoughts of borrowing money upon it, to take me out to +the war, when your sweet face drove all such matters from my +mind.</p> +<p>"Therefore, Lucie, while I would that you should teach the boy +to be good and gentle in his manners, so that if he ever goes among +your French kinsmen he shall be able to bear himself as befits his +birth, on that side; I, for my part--though, alas, I can do nothing +myself--will see that he is taught to use his arms, and to bear +himself as stoutly as an English yeoman should, when there is need +of it.</p> +<p>"So, wife, I would not have him chidden when he comes home with +a bruised face, and his garments somewhat awry. A boy who can hold +his own, among boys, will some day hold his own among men; and the +fisticuffs, in which our English boys try their strength, are as +good preparation as are the courtly sports; in which, as you tell +me, young French nobles are trained. But I would not have him +backward in these, either. We English, thank God, have not had much +occasion to draw a sword since we broke the strength of Scotland on +Flodden Field; and in spite of ordinances, we know less than we +should do of the use of our weapons. Even the rules that every lad +shall practise shooting at the butts are less strictly observed +than they should be. But in this respect our deficiencies can be +repaired, in his case; for here in Canterbury there are several of +your countrymen of noble birth, and doubtless among these we shall +be able to find an instructor for Phil. Many of them are driven to +hard shifts to procure a living; and since that bag of yours is +every day getting heavier, and we have but him to spend it upon, we +will not grudge giving him the best instruction that can be +procured."</p> +<p>Lucie did not dispute her husband's will; but she nevertheless +tried to enlist Gaspard Vaillant--who was frequently up at the farm +with his wife in the evening, for he had a sincere liking for John +Fletcher--on her side; and to get him to dissuade her husband from +putting thoughts into the boy's head that might lead him, some day, +to be discontented with the quiet life on the farm. She found, +however, that Gaspard highly approved of her husband's +determination.</p> +<p>"Fie upon you, Lucie. You forget that you and Marie are both of +noble blood, in that respect being of condition somewhat above +myself, although I too am connected with many good families in +Poitou. In other times I should have said it were better that the +boy should grow up to till the land, which is assuredly an +honourable profession, rather than to become a military adventurer, +fighting only for vainglory. But in our days the sword is not drawn +for glory, but for the right to worship God in peace.</p> +<p>"No one can doubt that, ere long, the men of the reformed +religion will take up arms to defend their right to live, and +worship God, in their own way. The cruel persecutions under Francis +the First, Henry the Second, and Francis the Second have utterly +failed in their object. When Merindol, Cabrieres, and twenty-two +other towns and villages were destroyed, in 1547; and persons +persecuted and forced to recant, or to fly as we did; it was +thought that we were but a handful, whom it would be easy to +exterminate. But in spite of edict after edict, of persecution, +slaughterings, and burnings, in spite of the massacres of Amboise +and others, the reformed religion has spread so greatly that even +the Guises are forced to recognize it as a power. At Fontainebleau +Admiral Coligny, Montmorency, the Chatillons, and others openly +professed the reformed religion, and argued boldly for tolerance; +while Conde and Navarre, although they declined to be present, were +openly ranged on their side. Had it not been that Henry the Second +and Francis were both carried off by the manifest hand of God, the +first by a spear thrust at a tournament, the second by an abscess +in the ear, France would have been the scene of deadly strife; for +both were, when so suddenly smitten, on the point of commencing a +war of extermination.</p> +<p>"But it is only now that the full strength of those who hold the +faith is manifested. Beza, the greatest of the reformers next to +Calvin himself, and twelve of our most learned and eloquent pastors +are at Poissy, disputing upon the faith with the Cardinal of +Lorraine and the prelates of the Romish church, in the presence of +the young king, the princes, and the court. It is evident that the +prelates are unable to answer the arguments of our champions. The +Guises, I hear, are furious; for the present Catharine, the queen +mother, is anxious for peace and toleration, and it is probable +that the end of this argument at Poissy will be an edict allowing +freedom of worship.</p> +<p>"But this will only infuriate still more the Papists, urged on +by Rome and Philip of Spain. Then there will be an appeal to arms, +and the contest will be a dreadful one. Navarre, from all I hear, +has been well-nigh won over by the Guises; but his noble wife will, +all say, hold the faith to the end, and her kingdom will follow +her. Conde is as good a general as Guise, and with him there is a +host of nobles: Rochefoucauld, the Chatillons, Soubise, Gramont, +Rohan, Genlis, and a score of others. It will be terrible, for in +many cases father and son will be ranged on opposite sides, and +brother will fight against brother."</p> +<p>"But surely, Gaspard, the war will not last for years?"</p> +<p>"It may last for generations," the weaver said gloomily, "though +not without intermissions; for I believe that, after each success +on one side or the other, there will be truces and concessions; to +be followed by fresh persecutions and fresh wars, until either the +reformed faith becomes the religion of all France, or is entirely +stamped out.</p> +<p>"What is true of France is true of Holland. Philip will +annihilate the reformers there, or they will shake off the yoke of +Spain. England will be driven to join in one or both struggles; for +if papacy is triumphant in France and Holland, Spain and France +would unite against her.</p> +<p>"So you see, sister, that in my opinion we are at the +commencement of a long and bloody struggle for freedom of worship; +and at any rate it will be good that the boy should be trained as +he would have been, had you married one of your own rank in France; +in order that, when he comes to man's estate, he may be able to +wield a sword worthily in the defence of the faith.</p> +<p>"Had I sons, I should train them as your husband intends to +train Phil. It may be that he will never be called upon to draw a +sword, but the time he has spent in acquiring its use will not be +wasted. These exercises give firmness and suppleness to the figure, +quickness to the eye, and briskness of decision to the mind. A man +who knows that he can, at need, defend his life if attacked, +whether against soldiers in the field or robbers in the street, has +a sense of power and self reliance that a man, untrained in the use +of the strength God has given him, can never feel. I was instructed +in arms when a boy, and I am none the worse weaver for it.</p> +<p>"Do not forget, Lucie, that the boy has the blood of many good +French families in his veins; and you should rejoice that your +husband is willing that he shall be so trained that, if the need +should ever come, he shall do no discredit to his ancestors on our +side. These English have many virtues, which I freely recognize; +but we cannot deny that many of them are somewhat rough and +uncouth, being wondrous lacking in manners and coarse in speech. I +am sure that you yourself would not wish your son to grow up like +many of the young fellows who come into town on market day. Your +son will make no worse a farmer for being trained as a gentleman. +You yourself have the training of a French lady, and yet you manage +the farm to admiration.</p> +<p>"No, no, Lucie, I trust that between us we shall make a true +Christian and a true gentleman of him; and that, if needs be, he +will show himself a good soldier, also."</p> +<p>And so, between his French relatives and his sturdy English +father, Philip Fletcher had an unusual training. Among the +Huguenots he learned to be gentle and courteous; to bear himself +among his elders respectfully, but without fear or shyness; to +consider that, while all things were of minor consequence in +comparison to the right to worship God in freedom and purity, yet +that a man should be fearless of death, ready to defend his rights, +but with moderation and without pushing them to the injury of +others; that he should be grave and decorous of speech, and yet of +a gay and cheerful spirit. He strove hard so to deport himself that +if, at any time, he should return to his mother's country, he could +take his place among her relations without discredit. He learned to +fence, and to dance.</p> +<p>Some of the stricter of the Huguenots were of opinion that the +latter accomplishment was unnecessary, if not absolutely sinful; +but Gaspard Vaillant was firm on this point.</p> +<p>"Dancing is a stately and graceful exercise," he said, "and like +the use of arms, it greatly improves the carriage and poise of the +figure. Queen Elizabeth loves dancing, and none can say that she is +not a good Protestant. Every youth should be taught to dance, if +only he may know how to walk. I am not one of those who think that, +because a man is a good Christian, he should necessarily be awkward +and ungainly in speech and manner, adverse to innocent gaieties, +narrow in his ideas, ill dressed and ill mannered, as I see are +many of those most extreme in religious matters, in this +country."</p> +<p>Upon the other hand, in the school playground, under the shadow +of the grand cathedral, Phil was as English as any; being foremost +in their rough sports, and ready for any fun or mischief.</p> +<p>He fought many battles, principally because the difference of +his manner from that of the others often caused him to be called +"Frenchy." The epithet in itself was not displeasing to him; for he +was passionately attached to his mother, and had learned from her +to love her native country; but applied in derision it was regarded +by him as an insult, and many a tough battle did he fight, until +his prowess was so generally acknowledged that the name, though +still used, was no longer one of disrespect.</p> +<p>In figure, he took after his French rather than his English +ancestors. Of more than average height for his age, he was +apparently slighter in build than his schoolfellows. It was not +that he lacked width of chest, but that his bones were smaller and +his frame less heavy. The English boys, among themselves, sometimes +spoke of him as "skinny," a word considered specially appropriate +to Frenchmen; but though he lacked their roundness and fulness of +limb, and had not an ounce of superfluous flesh about him, he was +all sinew and wire; and while in sheer strength he was fully their +equal, he was incomparably quicker and more active.</p> +<p>Although in figure and carriage he took after his mother's +countrymen, his features and expression were wholly English. His +hair was light brown, his eyes a bluish gray, his complexion fair, +and his mouth and eyes alive with fun and merriment. This, however, +seldom found vent in laughter. His intercourse with the grave +Huguenots, saddened by their exile, and quiet and restrained in +manner, taught him to repress mirth, which would have appeared to +them unseemly; and to remain a grave and silent listener to their +talk of their unhappy country, and their discussions on religious +matters.</p> +<p>To his schoolfellows he was somewhat of an enigma. There was no +more good-tempered young fellow in the school, no one more ready to +do a kindness; but they did not understand why, when he was +pleased, he smiled while others roared with laughter; why when, in +their sports, he exerted himself to the utmost, he did so silently +while others shouted; why his words were always few and, when he +differed from others, he expressed himself with a courtesy that +puzzled them; why he never wrangled nor quarrelled; and why any +trick played upon an old woman, or a defenceless person, roused him +to fury.</p> +<p>As a rule, when boys do not quite understand one of their number +they dislike him. Philip Fletcher was an exception. They did not +understand him, but they consoled themselves under this by the +explanation that he was half a Frenchman, and could not be expected +to be like a regular English boy; and they recognized instinctively +that he was their superior.</p> +<p>Much of Philip's time was spent at the house of his uncle, and +among the Huguenot colony. Here also were many boys of his own age. +These went to a school of their own, taught by the pastor of their +own church, who held weekly services in the crypt of the cathedral, +which had been granted to them for that purpose by the dean. While, +with his English schoolfellows, he joined in sports and games; +among these French lads the talk was sober and quiet. Scarce a week +passed but some fugitive, going through Canterbury, brought the +latest news of the situation in France, and the sufferings of their +co-religionist friends and relations there; and the political +events were the chief topics of conversation.</p> +<p>The concessions made at the Conference of Poissy had infuriated +the Catholics, and the war was brought on by the Duke of Guise who, +passing with a large band of retainers through the town of Vassy in +Champagne, found the Huguenots there worshipping in a barn. His +retainers attacked them, slaying men, women, and children--some +sixty being killed, and a hundred or more left terribly +wounded.</p> +<p>The Protestant nobles demanded that Francis of Guise should be +punished for this atrocious massacre, but in vain; and Guise, on +entering Paris, in defiance of Catharine's prohibition, was +received with royal honours by the populace. The Cardinal of +Lorraine, the duke's brother, the duke himself, and their allies, +the Constable Montmorency and Marshal Saint Andre, assumed so +threatening an attitude that Catharine left Paris and went to +Melun, her sympathies at this period being with the reformers; by +whose aid, alone, she thought that she could maintain her influence +in the state against that of the Guises.</p> +<p>Conde was forced to leave Paris with the Protestant nobles, and +from all parts of France the Huguenots marched to assist him. +Coligny, the greatest of the Huguenot leaders, hesitated; being, +above all things, reluctant to plunge France into civil war. But +the entreaties of his noble wife, of his brothers and friends, +overpowered his reluctance. Conde left Meaux, with fifteen hundred +horse, with the intention of seizing the person of the young king; +but he had been forestalled by the Guises, and moved to Orleans, +where he took up his headquarters. All over France the Huguenots +rose in such numbers as astonished their enemies, and soon became +possessed of a great many important cities.</p> +<p>Their leaders had endeavoured, in every way, to impress upon +them the necessity of behaving as men who fought only for the right +to worship God; and for the most part these injunctions were +strictly obeyed. In one matter, alone, the Huguenots could not be +restrained. For thirty years the people of their faith had been +executed, tortured, and slain; and their hatred of the Romish +church manifested itself by the destruction of images and pictures +of all kinds, in the churches of the towns of which they obtained +possession. Only in the southeast of France was there any exception +to the general excellence of their conduct. Their persecution here +had always been very severe, and in the town of Orange the papal +troops committed a massacre almost without a parallel in its +atrocity. The Baron of Adrets, on behalf of the Protestants, took +revenge by massacres equally atrocious; but while the butchery at +Orange was hailed with approbation and delight by the Catholic +leaders, those promoted by Adrets excited such a storm of +indignation, among the Huguenots of all classes, that he shortly +afterwards went over to the other side, and was found fighting +against the party he had disgraced.</p> +<p>At Toulouse three thousand Huguenots were massacred, and in +other towns where the Catholics were in a majority terrible +persecutions were carried out.</p> +<p>It was nearly a year after the massacre at Vassy before the two +armies met in battle. The Huguenots had suffered greatly, by the +delays caused by attempts at negotiations and compromise. Conde's +army was formed entirely of volunteers, and the nobles and gentry, +as their means became exhausted, were compelled to return home with +their retainers; while many were forced to march to their native +provinces, to assist their co-religionists there to defend +themselves from their Catholic neighbours.</p> +<p>England had entered, to a certain extent, upon the war; +Elizabeth, after long vacillation, having at length agreed to send +six thousand men to hold the towns of Havre, Dieppe, and Rouen, +providing these three towns were handed over to her; thus evincing +the same calculating greed that marked her subsequent dealings with +the Dutch, in their struggle for freedom.</p> +<p>In vain Conde and Coligny begged her not to impose conditions +that Frenchmen would hold to be infamous to them. In vain +Throgmorton, her ambassador at Paris, warned her that she would +alienate the Protestants of France from her; while the possession +of the cities would avail her but little. In vain her minister, +Cecil, urged her frankly to ally herself with the Protestants. From +the first outbreak of the war for freedom of conscience in France, +to the termination of the struggle in Holland, Elizabeth baffled +both friends and enemies by her vacillation and duplicity, and her +utter want of faith; doling out aid in the spirit of a huckster +rather than a queen, so that she was, in the end, even more hated +by the Protestants of Holland and France than by the Catholics of +France and Spain.</p> +<p>To those who look only at the progress made by England, during +the reign of Elizabeth--thanks to her great ministers, her valiant +sailors and soldiers, long years of peace at home, and the spirit +and energy of her people--Elizabeth may appear a great monarch. To +those who study her character from her relations with the +struggling Protestants of Holland and France, it will appear that +she was, although intellectually great, morally one of the meanest, +falsest, and most despicable of women.</p> +<p>Rouen, although stoutly defended by the inhabitants, supported +by Montgomery with eight hundred soldiers, and five hundred +Englishmen under Killegrew of Pendennis, was at last forced to +surrender. The terms granted to the garrison were basely violated, +and many of the Protestants put to death. The King of Navarre, who +had, since he joined the Catholic party, shown the greatest zeal in +their cause, commanded the besiegers. He was wounded in one of the +attacks upon the town, and died shortly afterwards.</p> +<p>The two armies finally met, on the 19th of December, 1562. The +Catholic party had sixteen thousand foot, two thousand horse, and +twenty-two cannon; the Huguenots four thousand horse, but only +eight thousand infantry and five cannon. Conde at first broke the +Swiss pikemen of the Guises, while Coligny scattered the cavalry of +Constable Montmorency, who was wounded and taken prisoner; but the +infantry of the Catholics defeated those of the Huguenots, the +troops sent by the German princes to aid the latter behaving with +great cowardice. Conde's horse was killed under him, and he was +made prisoner. Coligny drew off the Huguenot cavalry and the +remains of the infantry in good order, and made his retreat +unmolested.</p> +<p>The Huguenots had been worsted in the battle, and the loss of +Conde was a serious blow; but on the other hand Marshal Saint Andre +was killed, and the Constable Montmorency a prisoner. Coligny was +speedily reinforced; and the assassination of the Duke of Guise, by +an enthusiast of the name of Jean Poltrot, more than equalized +matters.</p> +<p>Both parties being anxious to treat, terms of peace were +arranged; on the condition that the Protestant lords should be +reinstated in their honours and possessions; all nobles and +gentlemen should be allowed to celebrate, in their own houses, the +worship of the reformed religion; that in every bailiwick the +Protestants should be allowed to hold their religious services, in +the suburbs of one city, and should also be permitted to celebrate +it, in one or two places, inside the walls of all the cities they +held at the time of the signature of the truce. This agreement was +known as the Treaty of Amboise, and sufficed to secure peace for +France, until the latter end of 1567.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch2" id="Ch2">Chapter 2</a>: An Important +Decision.</h2> +<p>One day in June, 1567, Gaspard Vaillant and his wife went up to +Fletcher's farm.</p> +<p>"I have come up to have a serious talk with you, John, about +Philip. You see, in a few months he will be sixteen. He is already +taller than I am. Rene and Gustave both tell me that they have +taught him all they know with sword and dagger; and both have been +stout men-at-arms in their time, and assure me that the lad could +hold his own against any young French noble of his own age, and +against not a few men. It is time that we came to some conclusion +about his future."</p> +<a id="PicA" name="PicA"></a> +<center><img src="images/a.jpg" alt= +"Gaspard Vaillant makes a proposal." /></center> +<p>"I have thought of it much, Gaspard. Lying here so helpless, my +thoughts do naturally turn to him. The boy has grown almost beyond +my power of understanding. Sometimes, when I hear him laughing and +jesting with the men, or with some of his school friends whom he +brings up here, it seems to me that I see myself again in him; and +that he is a merry young fellow, full of life and fun, and able to +hold his own at singlestick, or to foot it round the maypole with +any lad in Kent of his age. Then again, when he is talking with his +mother, or giving directions in her name to the French labourers, I +see a different lad, altogether: grave and quiet, with a gentle, +courteous way, fit for a young noble ten years his senior. I don't +know but that between us, Gaspard, we have made a mess of it; and +that it might have been better for him to have grown up altogether +as I was, with no thought or care save the management of his farm, +with a liking for sport and fun, when such came in his way."</p> +<p>"Not at all, not at all," Gaspard Vaillant broke in hastily, "we +have made a fine man of him, John; and it seems to me that he +possesses the best qualities of both our races. He is frank and +hearty, full of life and spirits when, as you say, occasion offers; +giving his whole heart either to work or play, with plenty of +determination, and what you English call backbone. There is, in +fact, a solid English foundation to his character. Then from our +side he has gained the gravity of demeanour that belongs to us +Huguenots; with the courtesy of manner, the carriage and bearing of +a young Frenchman of good blood. Above all, John, he is a sober +Christian, strong in the reformed faith, and with a burning hatred +against its persecutors, be they French or Spanish.</p> +<p>"Well then, being what he is, what is to be done with him? In +the first place, are you bent upon his remaining here? I think +that, with his qualities and disposition, it would be well that for +a while he had a wider scope. Lucie has managed the farm for the +last fifteen years, and can well continue to do so for another ten, +if God should spare her; and my own opinion is that, for that time, +he might be left to try his strength, and to devote to the good +cause the talents God has given him, and the skill and training +that he has acquired through us; and that it would be for his good +to make the acquaintance of his French kinsfolk, and to see +something of the world."</p> +<p>"I know that is Lucie's wish, also, Gaspard; and I have +frequently turned the matter over in my mind, and have concluded +that, should it be your wish also, it would be well for me to throw +no objections in the way. I shall miss the boy sorely; but young +birds cannot be kept always in the nest, and I think that the lad +has such good stuff in him that it were a pity to keep him shut up +here."</p> +<p>"Now, John," his brother-in-law went on, "although I may never +have said quite as much before, I have said enough for you to know +what my intentions are. God has not been pleased to bestow children +upon us; and Philip is our nearest relation, and stands to us +almost in the light of a son. God has blest my work for the last +twenty years, and though I have done, I hope, fully my share +towards assisting my countrymen in distress, putting by always +one-third of my income for that purpose, I am a rich man. The +factory has grown larger and larger; not because we desired greater +gains, but that I might give employment to more and more of my +countrymen. Since the death of Lequoc, twelve years ago, it has +been entirely in my hands and, living quietly as we have done, a +greater portion of the profits have been laid by every year; +therefore, putting out of account the money that my good sister has +laid by, Philip will start in life not ill equipped.</p> +<p>"I know that the lad has said nothing of any wishes he may +entertain--at his age it would not be becoming for him to do so, +until his elders speak--but of late, when we have read to him +letters from our friends in France, or when he has listened to the +tales of those freshly arrived from their ruined homes, I have +noted that his colour rose; that his fingers tightened, as if on a +sword; and could see how passionately he was longing to join those +who were struggling against their cruel oppressors. Not less +interested has he been in the noble struggle that the Dutch are +making against the Spaniards; a struggle in which many of our +exiled countrymen are sharing.</p> +<p>"One of his mother's cousins, the Count de La Noue, is, as you +know, prominent among the Huguenot leaders; and others of our +relatives are ranged on the same side. At present there is a truce, +but both parties feel that it is a hollow one; nevertheless it +offers a good opportunity for him to visit his mother's family. +Whether there is any prospect of our ever recovering the lands +which were confiscated on our flight is uncertain. Should the +Huguenots ever maintain their ground, and win freedom of worship in +France, it may be that the confiscated estates will in many cases +be restored; as to that, however, I am perfectly indifferent. Were +I a younger man, I should close my factory, return to France, and +bear my share in the defence of the faith. As it is, I should like +to send Philip over as my substitute.</p> +<p>"It would, at any rate, be well that he should make the +acquaintance of his kinsfolk in France; although even I should not +wish that he should cease to regard England as his native country +and home. Hundreds of young men, many no older than himself, are in +Holland fighting against the persecutors; and risking their lives, +though having no kinship with the Dutch, impelled simply by their +love of the faith and their hatred of persecution.</p> +<p>"I have lately, John, though the matter has been kept quiet, +purchased the farms of Blunt and Mardyke, your neighbours on either +hand. Both are nearly twice the size of your own. I have arranged +with the men that, for the present, they shall continue to work +them as my tenants, as they were before the tenants of Sir James +Holford; who, having wasted his money at court, has been forced to +sell a portion of his estates. Thus, some day Phil will come into +possession of land which will place him in a good position, and I +am prepared to add to it considerably. Sir James Holford still +gambles away his possessions; and I have explained, to his notary, +my willingness to extend my purchases at any time, should he desire +to sell. I should at once commence the building of a comfortable +mansion, but it is scarce worth while to do so; for it is probable +that, before many years, Sir James may be driven to part with his +Hall, as well as his land. In the meantime I am ready to provide +Philip with an income which will enable him to take his place with +credit among our kinsfolk, and to raise a company of some fifty men +to follow him in the field, should Conde and the Huguenots again be +driven to struggle against the Guises.</p> +<p>"What do you think?"</p> +<p>"I think, in the first place, that Lucie and I should be indeed +grateful to you, Gaspard, for your generous offer. As to his going +to France, that I must talk over with his mother; whose wishes in +this, as in all respects, are paramount with me. But I may say at +once that, lying here as I do, thinking of the horrible cruelties +and oppressions to which men and women are subjected for the +faith's sake in France and Holland, I feel that we, who are happily +able to worship in peace and quiet, ought to hesitate at no +sacrifice on their behalf; and moreover, seeing that, owing to my +affliction, he owes what he is rather to his mother and you than to +me, I think your wish that he should make the acquaintance of his +kinsfolk in France is a natural one. I have no wish for the lad to +become a courtier, English or French; nor that he should, as +Englishmen have done before now in foreign armies, gain great +honour and reputation; but if it is his wish to fight on behalf of +the persecuted people of God, whether in France or in Holland, he +will do so with my heartiest goodwill; and if he die, he could not +die in a more glorious cause.</p> +<p>"Let us talk of other matters now, Gaspard. This is one that +needs thought before more words are spoken."</p> +<p>Two days later, John Fletcher had a long talk with Phil. The +latter was delighted when he heard the project, which was greatly +in accord with both sides of his character. As an English lad, he +looked forward eagerly to adventure and peril; as French and of the +reformed religion, he was rejoiced at the thought of fighting with +the Huguenots against their persecutors, and of serving under the +men with whose names and reputations he was so familiar.</p> +<p>"I do not know your uncle's plans for you, as yet, Phil," his +father said. "He went not into such matters, leaving these to be +talked over after it had been settled whether his offer should be +accepted or not. He purposes well by you, and regards you as his +heir. He has already bought Blunt and Mardyke's farms, and purposes +to buy other parts of the estates of Sir James Holford, as they may +slip through the knight's fingers at the gambling table. Therefore, +in time, you will become a person of standing in the county; and +although I care little for these things now, Phil, yet I should +like you to be somewhat more than a mere squire; and if you serve +for a while under such great captains as Coligny and Conde, it will +give you reputation and weight.</p> +<p>"Your good uncle and his friends think little of such matters, +but I own that I am not uninfluenced by them. Coligny, for example, +is a man whom all honour; and that honour is not altogether because +he is leader of the reformed faith, but because he is a great +soldier. I do not think that honour and reputation are to be +despised. Doubtless the first thing of all is that a man should be +a good Christian. But that will in no way prevent him from being a +great man; nay, it will add to his greatness.</p> +<p>"You have noble kinsfolk in France, to some of whom your uncle +will doubtless commit you; and it may be that you will have +opportunities of distinguishing yourself. Should such occur, I am +sure you will avail yourself of them, as one should do who comes of +good stock on both sides; for although we Fletchers have been but +yeomen, from generation to generation, we have been ever ready to +take and give our share of hard blows when they were going; and +there have been few battles fought, since William the Norman came +over, that a Fletcher has not fought in the English ranks; whether +in France, in Scotland, or in our own troubles.</p> +<p>"Therefore it seems to me but natural that, for many reasons, +you should desire at your age to take part in the fighting; as an +Englishman, because Englishmen fought six years ago under the +banner of Conde; as a Protestant, on behalf of our persecuted +brethren; as a Frenchman by your mother's side, because you have +kinsfolk engaged, and because it is the Pope and Philip of Spain, +as well as the Guises, who are, in fact, battling to stamp out +French liberty.</p> +<p>"Of one thing I am sure, my boy--you will disgrace neither an +honest English name, nor the French blood in your veins, nor your +profession as a Christian and a Protestant. There are Englishmen +gaining credit on the Spanish Main, under Drake and Hawkins; there +are Englishmen fighting manfully by the side of the Dutch; there +are others in the armies of the Protestant princes of Germany; and +in none of these matters are they so deeply concerned as you are in +the affairs of France and religion.</p> +<p>"I shall miss you, of course, Philip, and that sorely; but I +have long seen that this would probably be the upshot of your +training and, since I can myself take no share in adventure, beyond +the walls of this house, I shall feel that I am living again in +you. But, lad, never forget that you are English. You are Philip +Fletcher, come of an old Kentish stock; and though you may be +living with French kinsfolk and friends, always keep uppermost the +fact that you are an Englishman who sympathizes with France, and +not a Frenchman with some English blood in your veins. I have given +you up greatly to your French relations here; but if you win credit +and honour, I would have it won by my son, Philip Fletcher, born in +England of an English father, and who will one day be a gentleman +and landowner in the county of Kent."</p> +<p>"I sha'n't forget that, father," Philip said earnestly. "I have +never regarded myself as in any way French; although speaking the +tongue as well as English, and being so much among my mother's +friends. But living here with you, where our people have lived so +many years; hearing from you the tales from our history; seeing +these English fields around me; and being at an English school, +among English boys, I have ever felt that I am English, though in +no way regretting the Huguenot blood that I inherit from my mother. +Believe me, that if I fight in France it will be as an Englishman +who has drawn his sword in the quarrel, and rather as one who hates +oppression and cruelty than because I have French kinsmen engaged +in it."</p> +<p>"That is well, Philip. You may be away for some years, but I +trust that, on your return, you will find me sitting here to +welcome you back. A creaking wheel lasts long. I have everything to +make my life happy and peaceful--the best of wives, a well-ordered +farm, and no thought or care as to my worldly affairs--and since it +has been God's will that such should be my life, my interest will +be wholly centred in you; and I hope to see your children playing +round me or, for ought I know, your grandchildren, for we are a +long-lived race.</p> +<p>"And now, Philip, you had best go down and see your uncle, and +thank him for his good intentions towards you. Tell him that I +wholly agree with his plans, and that if he and your aunt will come +up this evening, we will enter farther into them."</p> +<p>That evening John Fletcher learned that it was the intention of +Gaspard that his wife should accompany Philip.</p> +<p>"Marie yearns to see her people again," he said, "and the +present is a good time for her to do so; for when the war once +breaks out again, none can say how long it will last or how it will +terminate. Her sister and Lucie's, the Countess de Laville, has, as +you know, frequently written urgently for Marie to go over and pay +her a visit. Hitherto I have never been able to bring myself to +spare her, but I feel that this is so good an opportunity that I +must let her go for a few weeks.</p> +<p>"Philip could not be introduced under better auspices. He will +escort Marie to his aunt's, remain there with her, and then see her +on board ship again at La Rochelle; after which, doubtless, he will +remain at his aunt's, and when the struggle begins will ride with +his cousin Francois. I have hesitated whether I should go, also. +But in the first place, my business would get on but badly without +me; in the second, although Marie might travel safely enough, I +might be arrested were I recognized as one who had left the kingdom +contrary to the edicts; and lastly, I never was on very good terms +with her family.</p> +<p>"Emilie, in marrying the Count de Laville, made a match somewhat +above her own rank; for the Lavilles were a wealthier and more +powerful family than that of Charles de Moulins, her father. On the +other hand, I was, although of good birth, yet inferior in +consideration to De Moulins, although my lands were broader than +his. Consequently we saw little of Emilie, after our marriage. +Therefore my being with Marie would, in no way, increase the warmth +of the welcome that she and Philip will receive. I may say that the +estrangement was, perhaps, more my fault than that of the Lavilles. +I chose to fancy there was a coolness on their part, which probably +existed only in my imagination. Moreover, shortly after my marriage +the religious troubles grew serious; and we were all too much +absorbed in our own perils, and those of our poorer neighbours, to +think of travelling about, or of having family gatherings.</p> +<p>"At any rate, I feel that Philip could not enter into life more +favourably than as cousin of Francois de Laville; who is but two +years or so his senior, and who will, his mother wrote to Marie, +ride behind that gallant gentleman, Francois de la Noue, if the war +breaks out again. I am glad to feel confident that Philip will in +no way bring discredit upon his relations.</p> +<p>"I shall at once order clothes for him, suitable for the +occasion. They will be such as will befit an English gentleman; +good in material but sober in colour, for the Huguenots eschew +bright hues. I will take his measure, and send up to a friend in +London for a helmet, breast, and back pieces, together with +offensive arms, sword, dagger, and pistols. I have already written +to correspondents, at Southampton and Plymouth, for news as to the +sailing of a ship bound for La Rochelle. There he had better take +four men into his service, for in these days it is by no means safe +to ride through France unattended; especially when one is of the +reformed religion. The roads abound with disbanded soldiers and +robbers, while in the villages a fanatic might, at any time, bring +on a religious tumult. I have many correspondents at La Rochelle, +and will write to one asking him to select four stout fellows, who +showed their courage in the last war, and can be relied on for good +and faithful service. I will also get him to buy horses, and make +all arrangements for the journey.</p> +<p>"Marie will write to her sister. Lucie, perhaps, had better +write under the same cover; for although she can remember but +little of Emilie, seeing that she was fully six years her junior, +it would be natural that she should take the opportunity to +correspond with her.</p> +<p>"In one respect, Phil," he went on, turning to his nephew, "you +will find yourself at some disadvantage, perhaps, among young +Frenchmen. You can ride well, and I think can sit a horse with any +of them; but of the menage, that is to say, the purely ornamental +management of a horse, in which they are most carefully instructed, +you know nothing. It is one of the tricks of fashion, of which +plain men like myself know but little; and though I have often made +inquiries, I have found no one who could instruct you. However, +these delicacies are rather for courtly displays than for the rough +work of war; though it must be owned that, in single combat between +two swordsmen, he who has the most perfect control over his horse, +and can make the animal wheel or turn, press upon his opponent, or +give way by a mere touch of his leg or hand, possesses a +considerable advantage over the man who is unversed in such +matters. I hope you will not feel the want of it, and at any rate, +it has not been my fault that you have had no opportunity of +acquiring the art.</p> +<p>"The tendency is more and more to fight on foot. The duel has +taken the place of the combat in the lists, and the pikeman counts +for as much in the winning of a battle as the mounted man. You +taught us that at Cressy and Agincourt; but we have been slow to +learn the lesson, which was brought home to you in your battles +with the Scots, and in your own civil struggles. It is the bow and +the pike that have made the English soldier famous; while in +France, where the feudal system still prevails, horsemen still form +a large proportion of our armies; and the jousting lists, and the +exercise of the menage, still occupy a large share in the training +and amusements of the young men of noble families."</p> +<p>Six weeks later, Philip Fletcher landed at La Rochelle, with his +aunt and her French serving maid. When the ship came into port, the +clerk of a trader there came on board at once and, on the part of +his employer, begged Madame Vaillant and her son to take up their +abode at his house; he having been warned of their coming by his +valued correspondent, Monsieur Vaillant. A porter was engaged to +carry up their luggage to the house, whither the clerk at once +conducted them.</p> +<p>From his having lived so long among the Huguenot colony, the +scene was less strange to Philip than it would have been to most +English lads. La Rochelle was a strongly Protestant city, and the +sober-coloured costumes of the people differed but little from +those to which he was accustomed in the streets of Canterbury. He +himself and his aunt attracted no attention, whatever, from +passersby; her costume being exactly similar to those worn by the +wives of merchants, while Philip would have passed anywhere as a +young Huguenot gentleman, in his doublet of dark puce cloth, +slashed with gray, his trunks of the same colour, and long gray +hose.</p> +<p>"A proper-looking young gentleman," a market woman said to her +daughter, as he passed. "Another two or three years, and he will +make a rare defender of the faith. He must be from Normandy, with +his fair complexion and light eyes. There are not many of the true +faith in the north."</p> +<p>They were met by the merchant at the door of his house.</p> +<p>"I am glad indeed to see you again, Madame Vaillant," he said. +"It is some twenty years, now, since you and your good husband and +your sister hid here, for three days, before we could smuggle you +on board a ship. Ah! Those were bad times; though there have been +worse since. But since our people showed that they did not intend, +any longer, to be slaughtered unresistingly, things have gone +better here, at least; and for the last four years the +slaughterings and murders have ceased.</p> +<p>"You are but little changed, madame, since I saw you last."</p> +<p>"I have lived a quiet and happy life, my good Monsieur Bertram; +free from all strife and care, save for anxiety about our people +here. Why cannot Catholics and Protestants live quietly side by +side here, as they do in England?"</p> +<p>"We should ask nothing better, madame."</p> +<p>At this moment, a girl came hurrying down the stairs.</p> +<p>"This is my daughter Jean, madame.</p> +<p>"Why were you not down before, Jean?" he asked sharply. "I told +you to place Suzette at the casement, to warn you when our visitors +were in sight, so that you should, as was proper, be at the door to +meet them. I suppose, instead of that, you had the maid arranging +your headgear, or some such worldly folly."</p> +<p>The girl coloured hotly, for her father had hit upon the +truth.</p> +<p>"Young people will be young people, Monsieur Bertram," Madame +Vaillant said, smiling, "and my husband and I are not of those who +think that it is necessary to carry a prim face, and to attire +one's self in ugly garments, as a proof of religion. Youth is the +time for mirth and happiness, and nature teaches a maiden what is +becoming to her; why then should we blame her for setting off the +charms God has given her to their best advantage?"</p> +<p>By this time they had reached the upper storey, and the +merchant's daughter hastened to relieve Madame Vaillant of her +wraps.</p> +<p>"This is my nephew, of whom my husband wrote to you," the latter +said to the merchant, when Philip entered the room--he having +lingered at the door to pay the porters, and to see that the +luggage, which had come up close behind them, was stored.</p> +<p>"He looks active and strong, madame. He has the figure of a fine +swordsman."</p> +<p>"He has been well taught, and will do no discredit to our race, +Monsieur Bertram. His father is a strong and powerful man, even for +an Englishman; and though Philip does not follow his figure, he has +something of his strength."</p> +<p>"They are wondrous strong, these Englishmen," the trader said. +"I have seen, among their sailors, men who are taller by a head +than most of us here, and who look strong enough to take a bull by +the horns and hold him. But had it not been for your nephew's fair +hair and gray eyes, his complexion, and the smile on his lips--we +have almost forgotten how to smile, in France--I should hardly have +taken him for an Englishman."</p> +<p>"There is nothing extraordinary in that, Monsieur Bertram, when +his mother is French, and he has lived greatly in the society of my +husband and myself, and among the Huguenot colony at +Canterbury."</p> +<p>"Have you succeeded in getting the horses and the four men for +us, Monsieur Bertram?" Philip asked.</p> +<p>"Yes, everything is in readiness for your departure tomorrow. +Madame will, I suppose, ride behind you upon a pillion; and her +maid behind one of the troopers.</p> +<p>"I have, in accordance with Monsieur Vaillant's instructions, +bought a horse, which I think you will be pleased with; for Guise +himself might ride upon it, without feeling that he was ill +mounted. I was fortunate in lighting on such an animal. It was the +property of a young noble, who rode hither from Navarre and was +sailing for England. I imagine he bore despatches from the queen to +her majesty of England. He had been set upon by robbers on the way. +They took everything he possessed, and held him prisoner, doubtless +meaning to get a ransom for him; but he managed to slip off while +they slept, and to mount his horse, with which he easily left the +varlets behind, although they chased him for some distance. So when +he came here, he offered to sell his horse to obtain an outfit and +money for his voyage; and the landlord of the inn, who is a friend +of mine, knowing that I had been inquiring for a good animal, +brought him to me, and we soon struck a bargain."</p> +<p>"It was hard on him to lose his horse in that fashion," Philip +said; "and I am sorry for it, though I may be the gainer +thereby."</p> +<p>"He did not seem to mind much," the merchant said. "Horses are +good and abundant in Navarre, and when I said I did not like to +take advantage of his strait, he only laughed and said he had three +or four others as good at home. He did say, though, that he would +like to know if it was to be in good hands. I assured him that on +that ground he need not fear; for that I had bought it for a young +gentleman, nearly related to the Countess de Laville. He said that +was well, and seemed glad, indeed, that it was not to be ridden by +one of the brigands into whose hands he fell."</p> +<p>"And the men. Are they trustworthy fellows?"</p> +<p>"They are stout men-at-arms. They are Gascons all, and rode +behind Coligny in the war, and according to their own account +performed wonders; but as Gascons are given to boasting, I paid not +much heed to that. However, they were recommended to me by a +friend, a large wine grower, for whom they have been working for +the last two years. He says they are honest and industrious, and +they are leaving him only because they are anxious for a change +and, deeming that troubles were again approaching, wanted to enter +the service of some Huguenot lord who would be likely to take the +field. He was lamenting the fact to me, when I said that it seemed +to me they were just the men I was in search of; and I accordingly +saw them, and engaged them on the understanding that, at the end of +a month, you should be free to discharge them if you were not +satisfied with them; and that equally they could leave your +service, if they did not find it suit.</p> +<p>"They have arms, of course, and such armour as they need; and I +have bought four serviceable horses for their use, together with a +horse to carry your baggage, but which will serve for your body +servant.</p> +<p>"I have not found a man for that office. I knew of no one who +would, as I thought, suit you; and in such a business it seemed to +me better that you should wait, and choose for yourself, for in the +matter of servants everyone has his fancies. Some like a silent +knave, while others prefer a merry one. Some like a tall proper +fellow, who can fight if needs be; others a staid man, who will do +his duty and hold his tongue, who can cook a good dinner and groom +a horse well. It is certain you will never find all virtues +combined. One man may be all that you wish, but he is a liar; +another helps himself; a third is too fond of the bottle. In this +matter, then, I did not care to take the responsibility, but have +left it for you to choose for yourself."</p> +<p>"I shall be more likely to make a mistake than you will, +Monsieur Bertram," Philip said with a laugh.</p> +<p>"Perhaps so, but then it will be your own mistake; and a man +chafes less, at the shortcomings of one whom he has chosen himself, +than at those of one who has, as it were, been forced upon +him."</p> +<p>"Well, there will be no hurry in that matter," Philip said. "I +can get on well enough without a servant, for a time. Up to the +present, I have certainly never given a thought as to what kind of +man I should want as a servant; and I should like time to think +over a matter which is, from what you say, so important."</p> +<p>"Assuredly it is important, young sir. If you should take the +field, you will find that your comfort greatly depends upon it. A +sharp, active knave, who will ferret out good quarters for you, +turn you out a good meal from anything he can get hold of, bring +your horse up well groomed in the morning, and your armour brightly +polished; who will not lie to you overmuch, or rob you overmuch, +and who will only get drunk at times when you can spare his +services. Ah! He would be a treasure to you. But assuredly such a +man is not to be found every day."</p> +<p>"And of course," Marie put in, "in addition to what you have +said, Monsieur Bertram, it would be necessary that he should be one +of our religion, and fervent and strong in the faith."</p> +<p>"My dear lady, I was mentioning possibilities," the trader said. +"It is of course advisable that he should be a Huguenot, it is +certainly essential that he should not be a Papist; but beyond this +we need not inquire too closely. You cannot expect the virtues of +an archbishop, and the capacity of a horse boy. If he can find a +man embracing the qualities of both, by all means let your son +engage him; but as he will require him to be a good cook, and a +good groom, and he will not require religious instruction from him, +the former points are those on which I should advise him to lay +most stress.</p> +<p>"And now, Madame Vaillant, will you let me lead you into the +next room where, as my daughter has for some time been trying to +make me understand, a meal is ready? And I doubt not that you are +also ready; for truly those who travel by sea are seldom able to +enjoy food, save when they are much accustomed to voyaging. Though +they tell me that, after a time, even those with the most delicate +stomachs recover their appetites, and are able to enjoy the rough +fare they get on board a ship."</p> +<p>After the meal was over, the merchant took Philip to the +stables, where the new purchases had been put up. The men were not +there, but the ostler brought out Philip's horse, with which he was +delighted.</p> +<p>"He will not tire under his double load," the merchant said; +"and with only your weight upon him, a foeman would be well +mounted, indeed, to overtake you."</p> +<p>"I would rather that you put it, Monsieur Bertram, that a foeman +needs be well mounted to escape me."</p> +<p>"Well, I hope it will be that way," his host replied, smiling. +"But in fighting such as we have here, there are constant changes. +The party that is pursued one day is the pursuer a week later; and +of the two, you know, speed is of much more importance in flight +than in pursuit. If you cannot overtake a foe, well, he gets away, +and you may have better fortune next time; but if you can't get +away from a foe, the chances are you may never have another +opportunity of doing so."</p> +<p>"Perhaps you are right. In fact, now I think of it, I am sure +you are; though I hope it will not often happen that we shall have +to depend for safety on the speed of our horses. At any rate, I am +delighted with him, Monsieur Bertram; and I thank you greatly for +procuring so fine an animal for me. If the four men turn out to be +as good, of their kind, as the horse, I shall be well set up, +indeed."</p> +<p>Early the next morning the four men came round to the +merchant's, and Philip went down with him into the entry hall where +they were. He was well satisfied with their appearance. They were +stout fellows, from twenty-six to thirty years old. All were +soberly dressed, and wore steel caps and breast pieces, and carried +long swords by their sides. In spite of the serious expression of +their faces, Philip saw that all were in high, if restrained, +spirits at again taking service.</p> +<p>"This is your employer, the Sieur Philip Fletcher. I have +warranted that he shall find you good and true men, and I hope you +will do justice to my recommendation."</p> +<p>"We will do our best," Roger, the eldest of the party, said. "We +are all right glad to be moving again. It is not as if we had been +bred on the soil here, and a man never takes to a strange place as +to one he was born in."</p> +<p>"You are Gascons, Maitre Bertram tells me," Philip said.</p> +<p>"Yes, sir. We were driven out from there ten years ago, when the +troubles were at their worst. Our fathers were both killed, and we +travelled with our mothers and sisters by night, through the +country, till we got to La Rochelle."</p> +<p>"You say both your fathers. How are you related to each +other?"</p> +<p>"Jacques and I are brothers," Roger said, touching the youngest +of the party on his shoulder. "Eustace and Henri are brothers, and +are our cousins. Their father and ours were brothers. When the +troubles broke out, we four took service with the Count de Luc, and +followed him throughout the war. When it was over we came back +here. Our mothers had married again. Some of our sisters had taken +husbands, too. Others were in service. Therefore we remained here +rather than return to Gascony, where our friends and relations had +all been either killed or dispersed.</p> +<p>"We were lucky in getting employment together, but were right +glad when we heard that there was an opening again for service. For +the last two years we have been looking forward to it; for as +everyone sees, it cannot be long before the matter must be fought +out again. And in truth, we have been wearying for the time to +come; for after having had a year of fighting, one does not settle +down readily to tilling the soil.</p> +<p>"You will find that you can rely on us, sir, for faithful +service. We all bore a good reputation as stout fighters and, +during the time we were in harness before, we none of us got into +trouble for being overfond of the wine pots."</p> +<p>"I think you will suit me very well," Philip said, "and I hope +that my service will suit you. Although an Englishman by birth and +name, my family have suffered persecution here as yours have done, +and I am as warmly affected to the Huguenot cause as yourselves. If +there is danger you will not find me lacking in leading you, and so +far as I can I shall try to make my service a comfortable one, and +to look after your welfare.</p> +<p>"We shall be ready to start in half an hour, therefore have the +horses round at the door in that time. One of the pillions is to be +placed on my own horse. You had better put the other for the maid +behind your saddle, Roger; you being, I take it, the oldest of your +party, had better take charge of her."</p> +<p>The men saluted and went out.</p> +<p>"I like their looks much," Philip said to the merchant. "Stout +fellows and cheerful, I should say. Like my aunt, I don't see why +we should carry long faces, Monsieur Bertram, because we have +reformed our religion; and I believe that a light heart and good +spirits will stand wear and tear better than a sad visage."</p> +<p>The four men were no less pleased with their new employer.</p> +<p>"That is a lad after my own heart," Roger said, as they went +out. "Quick and alert, pleasant of face; and yet, I will be bound, +not easily turned from what he has set his mind to. He bears +himself well, and I doubt not can use his weapons. I don't know +what stock he comes from, on this side, but I warrant it is a good +one.</p> +<p>"He will make a good master, lads. I think that, as he says, he +will be thoughtful as to our comforts, and be pleasant and cheerful +with us; but mind you, he will expect the work to be done, and you +will find that there is no trifling with him."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch3" id="Ch3">Chapter 3</a>: In A French Chateau.</h2> +<p>The three days' ride to the chateau of the Countess de Laville +was marked by no incident. To Philip it was an exceedingly pleasant +one. Everything was new to him; the architecture of the churches +and villages, the dress of the people, their modes of agriculture, +all differing widely from those to which he was accustomed. In some +villages the Catholics predominated, and here the passage of the +little party was regarded with frowning brows and muttered threats; +by the Huguenots they were saluted respectfully, and if they +halted, many questions were asked their followers as to news about +the intentions of the court, the last rumours as to the attitude of +Conde, and the prospects of a continuance of peace.</p> +<p>Here, too, great respect was paid to Marie and Philip when it +was known they were relatives of the Countess de Laville, and +belonged to the family of the De Moulins. Emilie had for some time +been a widow--the count, her husband, having fallen at the battle +of Dreux, at the end of the year 1562--but being an active and +capable woman, she had taken into her hands the entire management +of the estates, and was one of the most influential among the +Huguenot nobles of that part of the country.</p> +<p>From their last halting place, Marie Vaillant sent on a letter +by one of the men to her sister, announcing their coming. She had +written on her landing at La Rochelle, and they had been met on +their way by a messenger from the countess, expressing her delight +that her sister had at last carried out her promise to visit her, +and saying that Francois was looking eagerly for the coming of his +cousin.</p> +<p>The chateau was a semi-fortified building, capable of making a +stout resistance against any sudden attack. It stood on the slope +of a hill, and Philip felt a little awed at its stately aspect as +they approached it. When they were still a mile away, a party of +horsemen rode out from the gateway, and in a few minutes their +leader reined up his horse in front of them and, springing from it, +advanced towards Philip, who also alighted and helped his aunt to +dismount.</p> +<p>"My dear aunt," the young fellow said, doffing his cap, "I am +come in the name of my mother to greet you, and to tell you how +joyful she is that you have, at last, come back to us.</p> +<p>"This is my Cousin Philip, of course; though you are not what I +expected to see. My mother told me that you were two years' my +junior, and I had looked to find you still a boy; but, by my faith, +you seem to be as old as I am. Why, you are taller by two inches, +and broader and stronger too, I should say. Can it be true that you +are but sixteen?"</p> +<p>"That is my age, Cousin Francois; and I am, as you expected, but +a boy yet and, I can assure you, no taller or broader than many of +my English schoolfellows of the same age."</p> +<p>"But we must not delay, aunt," Francois said, turning again to +her. "My mother's commands were urgent, that I was not to delay a +moment in private talk with you, but to bring you speedily on to +her; therefore I pray you to mount again and ride on with me, for +doubtless she is watching impatiently now, and will chide me +rarely, if we linger."</p> +<p>Accordingly the party remounted at once, and rode forward to the +chateau. A dozen men-at-arms were drawn up at the gate and, on the +steps of the entrance from the courtyard into the chateau itself, +the countess was standing. Francois leapt from his horse, and was +by the side of his aunt as Philip reined in his horse. Taking his +hand, she sprang lightly from the saddle, and in a moment the two +sisters fell into each others' arms.</p> +<p>It was more than twenty years since they last met, but time had +dealt gently with them both. The countess had changed least. She +was two or three years older than Marie, was tall, and had been +somewhat stately even as a girl. She had had many cares, but her +position had always been assured; as the wife of a powerful noble +she had been accustomed to be treated with deference and respect, +and although the troubles of the times and the loss of her husband +had left their marks, she was still a fair and stately woman at the +age of forty-three. Marie, upon the other hand, had lived an +untroubled life for the past twenty years. She had married a man +who was considered beneath her, but the match had been in every way +a happy one. Her husband was devoted to her, and the expression of +her face showed that she was a thoroughly contented and happy +woman.</p> +<p>"You are just what I fancied you would be, Marie, a quiet little +home bird, living in your nest beyond the sea, and free from all +the troubles and anxieties of our unhappy country. You have been +good to write so often, far better than I have been; and I seem to +know all about your quiet, well-ordered home, and your good husband +and his business that flourishes so. I thought you were a little +foolish in your choice, and that our father was wrong in mating you +as he did; but it has turned out well, and you have been living in +quiet waters, while we have been encountering a sea of +troubles.</p> +<p>"And this tall youth is our nephew, Philip? I wish you could +have brought over Lucie with you. It would have been pleasant, +indeed, for us three sisters to be reunited again, if only for a +time. Why, your Philip is taller than Francois, and yet he is two +years younger. I congratulate you and Lucie upon him.</p> +<p>"Salute me, nephew. I had not looked to see so proper a youth. +You show the blood of the De Moulins plainly, Philip. I suppose you +get your height and your strength from your English father?"</p> +<p>"They are big men, these English, Emilie; and his father is big, +even among them. But, as you say, save in size Philip takes after +our side rather than his father's; and of course he has mixed so +much with our colony at Canterbury that, in spite of his being +English bred, we have preserved in him something of the French +manner, and I think his heart is fairly divided between the two +countries."</p> +<p>"Let us go in," the countess said. "You need rest and +refreshment after your journey, and I long to have a quiet talk +with you.</p> +<p>"Francois, do you take charge of your cousin. I have told the +serving men to let you have a meal in your own apartments, and then +you can show him over the chateau and the stables."</p> +<p>Francois and Philip bowed to the two ladies, and then went off +together.</p> +<p>"That is good," the young count said, laying his hand on +Philip's shoulder; "now we shall get to know each other. You will +not be angry, I hope, when I tell you that, though I have looked +forward to seeing my aunt and you, I have yet been a little anxious +in my mind. I do not know why, but I have always pictured the +English as somewhat rough and uncouth--as doughty fighters, for so +they have shown themselves to our cost, but as somewhat deficient +in the graces of manner--and when I heard that my aunt was bringing +you over, to leave you for a time with us, since you longed to +fight in the good cause, I have thought--pray, do not be angry with +me, for I feel ashamed of myself now--" and he hesitated.</p> +<p>"That I should be a rough cub, whom you would be somewhat +ashamed of introducing to your friends as your cousin," Philip +laughed. "I am not surprised. English boys have ideas just as +erroneous about the French, and it was a perpetual wonder to my +schoolfellows that, being half French, I was yet as strong and as +tough as they were. Doubtless I should have been somewhat +different, had I not lived so much with my uncle and aunt and the +Huguenot community at Canterbury. Monsieur Vaillant and my aunt +have always impressed upon me that I belong to a noble French +family, and might some day come over here to stay with my +relations; and have taken much pains with my deportment and +manners, and have so far succeeded that I am always called +'Frenchy' among my English companions, though in their own games +and sports I could hold my own with any of them."</p> +<p>"And can you ride, Philip?"</p> +<p>"I can sit on any horse, but I have had no opportunity of +learning the menage."</p> +<p>"That matters little, after all," Francois said; "though it is +an advantage to be able to manage your horse with a touch of the +heel, or the slightest pressure of the rein, and to make him wheel +and turn at will, while leaving both arms free to use your weapons. +You have learned to fence?"</p> +<p>"Yes. There were some good masters among the colony, and many a +lesson have I had from old soldiers passing through, who paid for a +week's hospitality by putting me up to a few tricks with the +sword."</p> +<p>"I thought you could fence," Francois said. "You would hardly +have that figure and carriage, unless you had practised with the +sword. And you dance, I suppose. Many of our religion regard such +amusement as frivolous, if not sinful; but my mother, although as +staunch a Huguenot as breathes, insists upon my learning it, not as +an amusement but as an exercise. There was no reason, she said, why +the Catholics should monopolize all the graces."</p> +<p>"Yes, I learned to dance, and for the same reason. I think my +uncle rather scandalized the people of our religion in Canterbury. +He maintained that it was necessary, as part of the education of a +gentleman; and that in the English Protestant court, dancing was as +highly thought of as in that of France, the queen herself being +noted for her dancing, and none can throw doubts upon her +Protestantism. My mother and aunt were both against it, but as my +father supported my uncle, he had his own way."</p> +<p>"Well I see, Philip, that we shall be good comrades. There are +many among us younger Huguenots who, though as staunch in the +religion as our fathers, and as ready to fight and die for it if +need be, yet do not see that it is needful to go about always with +grave faces, and to be cut off from all innocent amusements. It is +our natural disposition to be gay, and I see not why, because we +hold the Mass in detestation, and have revolted against the +authority of the Pope and the abuses of the church, we should go +through life as if we were attending a perpetual funeral. Unless I +am mistaken, such is your disposition also; for although your face +is grave, your eyes laugh."</p> +<p>"I have been taught to bear myself gravely, in the presence of +my elders," Philip replied with a smile; "and truly at Canterbury +the French colony was a grave one, being strangers in a strange +land; but among my English friends, I think I was as much disposed +for a bit of fun or mischief as any of them."</p> +<p>"But I thought the English were a grave race."</p> +<p>"I think not, Francois. We call England 'Merry England.' I think +we are an earnest people, but not a grave one. English boys play +with all their might. The French boys of the colony never used to +join in our sports, regarding them as rude and violent beyond all +reason; but it is all in good humour, and it is rare, indeed, for +anyone to lose his temper, however rough the play and hard the +knocks. Then they are fond of dancing and singing, save among the +strictest sects; and the court is as gay as any in Europe. I do not +think that the English can be called a grave people."</p> +<p>"Well, I am glad that it is so, Philip, especially that you +yourself are not grave. Now, as we have finished our meal, let us +visit the stables. I have a horse already set aside for you; but I +saw, as we rode hither, that you are already excellently mounted. +Still, Victor, that is his name, shall be at your disposal. A +second horse is always useful, for shot and arrows no more spare a +horse than his rider."</p> +<p>The stables were large and well ordered for, during the past two +months, there had been large additions made by the countess, in +view of the expected troubles.</p> +<p>"This is my charger. I call him Rollo. He was bred on the estate +and, when I am upon him, I feel that the king is not better +mounted."</p> +<p>"He is a splendid animal, indeed," Philip said, as Rollo tossed +his head, and whinnied with pleasure at his master's approach.</p> +<p>"He can do anything but talk," Francois said, as he patted him. +"He will lie down when I tell him, will come to my whistle and, +with the reins lying loose on his neck, will obey my voice as +readily as he would my hand.</p> +<p>"This is my second horse, Pluto. He is the equal of Rollo in +strength and speed, but not so docile and obedient, and he has a +temper of his own."</p> +<p>"He looks it," Philip agreed. "I should keep well out of reach +of his heels and jaws."</p> +<p>"He is quiet enough when I am on his back," Francois laughed; +"but I own that he is the terror of the stable boys.</p> +<p>"This is Victor. He is not quite as handsome as Rollo, but he +has speed and courage and good manners."</p> +<p>"He is a beautiful creature," Philip said enthusiastically. "I +was very well satisfied with my purchase, but he will not show to +advantage by the side of Victor."</p> +<p>"Ah, I see they have put him in the next stall," Francois +said.</p> +<p>"He is a fine animal, too," he went on, after examining the +horse closely. "He comes from Gascony, I should say. He has signs +of Spanish blood."</p> +<p>"Yes, from Gascony or Navarre. I was very fortunate in getting +him," and he related how the animal had been left at La +Rochelle.</p> +<p>"You got him for less than half his value, Philip. What are you +going to call him?"</p> +<p>"I shall call him Robin. That was the name of my favourite +horse, at home.</p> +<p>"I see you have got some stout animals in the other stalls, +though of course they are of a very different quality to your +own."</p> +<p>"Yes; many of them are new purchases. We have taken on thirty +men-at-arms; stout fellows, old soldiers all, whom my mother will +send into the field if we come to blows. Besides these there will +be some twenty of our tenants. We could have raised the whole +number among them, had we chosen; for if we called up the full +strength of the estate, and put all bound to service in the field +in war time, we could turn out fully three hundred; but of these +well-nigh a third are Catholics, and could not in any way be relied +on, nor would it be just to call upon them to fight against their +co-religionists. Again, it would not do to call out all our +Huguenot tenants; for this would leave their wives and families and +homes and property, to say nothing of the chateau, at the mercy of +the Catholics while they were away. I do not think that our +Catholic tenants would interfere with them, still less with the +chateau; for our family have ever been good masters, and my mother +is loved by men of both parties. Still, bands might come from other +districts, or from the towns, to pillage or slay were the estate +left without fighting men. Therefore, we have taken these +men-at-arms into our service, with twenty of our own tenants, all +young men belonging to large families; while the rest will remain +behind, as a guard for the estate and chateau; and as in all they +could muster some two hundred and fifty strong, and would be joined +by the other Huguenots of the district, they would not likely be +molested, unless one of the Catholic armies happened to come in +this direction.</p> +<p>"Directly I start with the troop, the younger sons of the +tenants will be called in to form a garrison here. We have +five-and-thirty names down, and there are twenty men capable of +bearing arms among the household, many of whom have seen service. +Jacques Parold, our seneschal, has been a valiant soldier in his +time, and would make the best of them; and my mother would +assuredly keep our flag flying till the last.</p> +<p>"I shall go away in comfort for, unless the Guises march this +way, there is little fear of trouble in our absence. We are +fortunate in this province. The parties are pretty evenly divided, +and have a mutual respect for each other. In districts where we are +greatly outnumbered, it is hard for fighting men to march away with +the possibility that, on their return, they will find their +families murdered and their homes levelled.</p> +<p>"Now we will take a turn round the grounds. Their beauty has +been sadly destroyed. You see, before the troubles seven years ago +broke out, there was a view from the windows on this side of the +house over the park and shrubberies; but at that time my father +thought it necessary to provide against sudden attacks, and +therefore, before he went away to the war, he had this wall with +its flanking towers erected. All the tenants came in and helped, +and it was built in five weeks time. It has, as you see, made the +place safe from a sudden attack, for on the other three sides the +old defences remain unaltered. It was on this side, only, that my +grandfather had the house modernized, believing that the days of +civil war were at an end.</p> +<p>"You see, this new wall forms a large quadrangle. We call it the +countess's garden, and my mother has done her best, by planting it +with shrubs and fast-growing trees, to make up for the loss of the +view she formerly had from the windows.</p> +<p>"Along one side you see there are storehouses, which are +screened from view by that bank of turf. They are all full, now, of +grain. There is a gate, as you see, opposite. In case of trouble +cattle will be driven in there, and the garden turned into a +stockyard, so that there is no fear of our being starved out."</p> +<p>"Fifty-five men are a small garrison for so large a place, +Francois."</p> +<p>"Yes, but that is only against a sudden surprise. In case of +alarm, the Protestant tenants would all come in with their wives +and families, and the best of their horses and cattle, and then +there will be force enough to defend the place against anything +short of a siege by an army. You see there is a moat runs all +round. It is full now on three sides, and there is a little stream +runs down from behind, which would fill the fourth side in a few +hours.</p> +<p>"Tomorrow we will take a ride through the park, which lies +beyond that wall."</p> +<p>Entering the house, they passed through several stately +apartments, and then entered a large hall completely hung with arms +and armour.</p> +<a id="PicB" name="PicB"></a> +<center><img src="images/b.jpg" alt= +"Philip and Francois in the armoury." /></center> +<p>"This is the grand hall, and you see it serves also the purpose +of a salle d'armes. Here we have arms and armour for a hundred men, +for although all the tenants are bound, by the terms of their +holding, to appear when called upon fully armed and accoutred, each +with so many men according to the size of his farm, there may well +be deficiencies; especially as, until the religious troubles began, +it was a great number of years since they had been called upon to +take the field. For the last eight years, however, they have been +trained and drilled; fifty at a time coming up, once a week. That +began two years before the last war, as my father always held that +it was absurd to take a number of men, wholly unaccustomed to the +use of arms, into the field. Agincourt taught that lesson to our +nobles, though it has been forgotten by most of them.</p> +<p>"We have two officers accustomed to drill and marshal men, and +these act as teachers here in the hall. The footmen practise with +pike and sword. They are exercised with arquebus and crossbow in +the park, and the mounted men are taught to manoeuvre and charge, +so that, in case of need, we can show a good face against any body +of troops of equal numbers. It is here I practise with my maitre +d'armes, and with Montpace and Bourdon, our two officers.</p> +<p>"Ah! Here is Charles, my maitre d'armes.</p> +<p>"Charles, this is my cousin Philip, who will also be a pupil of +yours while he remains here.</p> +<p>"What do you say, Philip? Will we try a bout with blunted swords +just now?"</p> +<p>"With pleasure," Philip said.</p> +<p>The art of fencing had not, at that time, reached the perfection +it afterwards attained. The swords used were long and straight, and +sharpened at both edges; and were used as much for cutting as +thrusting. In single combat on foot, long daggers were generally +held in the left hand, and were used for the purpose both of +guarding and of striking at close quarters.</p> +<p>They put on thick quilted doublets, and light helmets with +visors.</p> +<p>"Do you use a dagger, Philip?"</p> +<p>"No, I have never seen one used in England. We are taught to +guard with our swords, as well as to strike with them."</p> +<p>"Monsieur has learned from English teachers?" the maitre d'armes +asked.</p> +<p>"I have had English teachers as well as French," Philip said. +"We all learn the use of the sword in England; but my uncle, +Monsieur Vaillant, has taken great pains in having me taught also +by such French professors of arms as lived in Canterbury, or +happened to pass through it; but I own that I prefer the English +style of fighting. We generally stand upright to our work, equally +poised on the two feet for advance or retreat; while you lean with +the body far forward and the arm outstretched, which seems to me to +cripple the movements."</p> +<p>"Yes, but it puts the body out of harm's way," Francois +said.</p> +<p>"It is the arm's business to guard the body, Francois, and it is +impossible to strike a downright blow when leaning so far +forward."</p> +<p>"We strike but little, nowadays, in single combat," the maitre +d'armes said. "The point is more effective."</p> +<p>"That is doubtless so, Maitre Charles," Philip agreed; "but I +have not learned fencing for the sake of fighting duels, but to be +able to take my part on a field of battle. The Spaniards are said +to be masters of the straight sword, and yet they have been roughly +used in the western seas by our sailors; who, methinks, always use +the edge."</p> +<p>The two now took up their position facing each other. Their +attitude was strikingly different. Francois stood on bent knees, +leaning far forward; while Philip stood erect, with his knees but +slightly bent, ready to spring either forwards or backwards, with +his arm but half extended. For a time both fought cautiously. +Francois had been well taught, having had the benefit, whenever he +was in Paris, of the best masters there. He was extremely active +and, as they warmed to their work, Philip had difficulty in +standing his ground against his impetuous rushes. Some minutes +passed without either of them succeeding in touching the other. At +length the maitre d'armes called upon them to lower their +swords.</p> +<p>"That is enough," he said. "You are equally matched.</p> +<p>"I congratulate you, Monsieur Philip. You have been well taught; +and indeed, there are not many youths of his age who could hold +their own with my pupil.</p> +<p>"Take off your helmets. Enough has been done for one day."</p> +<p>"Peste, Philip!" Francois said, as he removed his helmet. "I was +not wrong when I said that, from your figure, I was sure that you +had learned fencing. Maitre Charles interfered on my behalf, and to +save me the mortification of defeat. I had nearly shot my bolt, and +you had scarcely begun.</p> +<p>"I own myself a convert. Your attitude is better than ours--that +is, when the hand is skilful enough to defend the body. The fatigue +of holding the arm extended, as I do, is much greater than it is as +you stand; and in the long run you must get the better of anyone +who is not sufficiently skilful to slay you before his arm becomes +fatigued.</p> +<p>"What do you think, Maitre Charles? My cousin is two years +younger than I am, and yet his wrist and arm are stronger than +mine, as I could feel every time he put aside my attacks."</p> +<p>"Is that so?" the maitre d'armes said, in surprise. "I had taken +him for your senior. He will be a famous man-at-arms, when he +attains his full age. His defence is wonderfully strong and, +although I do not admit that he is superior to you with the point, +he would be a formidable opponent to any of our best swordsmen in a +melee. If, as he says, he is more accustomed to use the edge than +the point, I will myself try him tomorrow, if he will permit me. I +have always understood that the English are more used to strike +than to thrust, and although in the duel the edge has little chance +against the point, I own that it is altogether different in a melee +on horseback; especially as the point cannot penetrate armour, +while a stout blow, well delivered with a strong arm, can break it +in.</p> +<p>"Are you skilled in the exercises of the ring, Monsieur +Philip?"</p> +<p>"Not at all. I have had no practise, whatever, in them. Except +in some of the great houses, the tourney has gone quite out of +fashion in England; and though I can ride a horse across country, I +know nothing whatever of knightly exercises. My father is but a +small proprietor and, up to the time I left England, I have been +but a schoolboy."</p> +<p>"If all your schoolboys understand the use of their arms as you +do," Maitre Charles said courteously, "it is no wonder that the +English are terrible fighters."</p> +<p>"I do not say that," Philip said, smiling. "I have had the +advantage of the best teaching, both English and French, to be had +at Canterbury; and it would be a shame for me, indeed, if I had not +learnt to defend myself."</p> +<p>A servant now entered, and said that the countess desired their +presence, and they at once went to the apartment where the sisters +were talking.</p> +<p>"What do you think, mother?" Francois said. "This cousin of +mine, whom I had intended to patronize, turns out to be already a +better swordsman than I am."</p> +<p>"Not better, madame," Philip said hastily. "We were a fair +match, neither having touched the other."</p> +<p>"Philip is too modest, mother," Francois laughed. "Maitre +Charles stopped us in time to save me from defeat. Why, he has a +wrist like iron, this cousin of mine."</p> +<p>"We have done our best to have him well taught," Madame Vaillant +said. "There were some good swordsmen among our Huguenot friends, +and he has also had the best English teachers we could get for him. +My husband always wished, particularly, that if he ever came over +to visit our friends here, he should not be deficient in such +matters."</p> +<p>"I feel a little crestfallen," the countess said. "I have been +rather proud of Francois' skill as a swordsman, and I own that it +is a little mortifying to find that Philip, who is two years +younger, is already his match. Still, I am glad that it is so; for +if they ride together into battle, I should wish that Philip should +do honour to our race.</p> +<p>"Now, Philip, I have been hearing all about your mother's life, +as well as that of your uncle and aunt. Now let us hear about your +own, which must needs differ widely from that to which Francois has +been accustomed. Your aunt says that your English schools differ +altogether from ours. With us our sons are generally brought up at +home, and are instructed by the chaplain, in Huguenot families; or +by the priest in Catholic families; or else they go to religious +seminaries, where they are taught what is necessary of books and +Latin, being under strict supervision, and learning all other +matters such as the use of arms after leaving school, or when at +home with their families."</p> +<p>Philip gave an account of his school life, and its rough games +and sports.</p> +<p>"But is it possible, Philip," the countess said in tones of +horror, "that you used to wrestle and to fight? Fight with your +arms and fists against rough boys, the sons of all sorts of common +people?"</p> +<p>"Certainly I did, aunt, and it did me a great deal of good, and +no harm so far as I know. All these rough sports strengthen the +frame and give quickness and vigour, just the same as exercises +with the sword do. I should never have been so tall and strong as I +am now if, instead of going to an English school, I had been +either, as you say, educated at home by a chaplain, or sent to be +taught and looked after by priests. My mother did not like it at +first, but she came to see that it was good for me. Besides, there +is not the same difference between classes in England as there is +in France. There is more independence in the lower and middle +classes, and less haughtiness and pride in the upper, and I think +that it is better so."</p> +<p>"It is the English custom, Emilie," her sister said; "and I can +assure you that my husband and I have got very English, in some +things. We do not love our country less, but we see that, in many +respects, the English ways are better than ours; and we admire the +independence of the people, every man respecting himself, though +giving honour, but not lavishly, to those higher placed."</p> +<p>The countess shrugged her shoulders.</p> +<p>"We will not argue, Marie. At any rate, whatever the process, it +has succeeded well with Philip."</p> +<p>The days passed quietly at the chateau. Before breakfast Philip +spent an hour on horseback, learning to manage his horse by the +pressure of knee or hand. This was the more easy, as both his +horses had been thoroughly trained in the menage, and under the +instruction of Captain Montpace, who had been Francois' teacher, he +made rapid progress.</p> +<p>"It is much easier to teach the man than the horse," his +instructor said, "although a horse learns readily enough, when its +rider is a master of the art; but with horse and rider alike +ignorant, it is a long business to get them to work together as if +they were one, which is what should be. As both your horses know +their work, they obey your motions, however slight; and you will +soon be able to pass muster on their backs. But it would take +months of patient teaching for you so to acquire the art of +horsemanship as to be able to train an animal, yourself."</p> +<p>After the lesson was over, Francois and Philip would tilt at +rings and go through other exercises in the courtyard. Breakfast +over, they went hawking or hunting. Of the former sport Philip was +entirely ignorant, and was surprised to learn how highly a +knowledge of it was prized in France, and how necessary it was +considered as part of the education of a gentleman. Upon the other +hand, his shooting with the bow and arrow astonished Francois; for +the bow had never been a French weapon, and the crossbow was fast +giving way to the arquebus; but few gentlemen troubled themselves +to learn the use of either one or the other. The pistol, however, +was becoming a recognized portion of the outfit of a cavalier in +the field and, following Francois' advice, Philip practised with +one steadily, until he became a fair shot.</p> +<p>"They are cowardly weapons," Francois said, "but for all that +they are useful in battle. When you are surrounded by three or four +pikemen, thrusting at you, it is a good thing to be able to +disembarrass yourself of one or two of them. Besides, these German +horsemen, of whom the Guises employ so many, all carry firearms; +and the contest would be too uneven if we were armed only with the +sword; though for my part I wish that all the governments of Europe +would agree to do away with firearms of every description. They +place the meanest footman upon the level of the bravest knight, and +in the end will, it seems to me, reduce armies to the level of +machines."</p> +<p>In the afternoons there were generally gatherings of Huguenot +gentry, who came to discuss the situation, to exchange news, or to +listen to the last rumours from Paris. No good had arisen from the +Conference of Bayonne, and one by one the privileges of the +Huguenots were being diminished.</p> +<p>The uprising of the Protestants of Holland was watched with the +greatest interest by the Huguenots of France. It was known that +several of the most influential Huguenot nobles had met, at Valery +and at Chatillon, to discuss with the Prince of Conde and Admiral +Coligny the question of again taking up arms in defence of their +liberties. It was rumoured that the opinion of the majority was +that the Huguenot standard should be again unfurled, and that this +time there should be no laying down of their arms until freedom of +worship was guaranteed to all; but that the admiral had used all +his powers to persuade them that the time had not yet come, and +that it was better to bear trials and persecutions, for a time, in +order that the world might see they had not appealed to arms until +driven to it by the failure of all other hope of redress of their +grievances.</p> +<p>The elder men among the visitors at the chateau were of the +admiral's opinion. The younger chafed at the delay. The position +had indeed become intolerable. Protestant worship was absolutely +forbidden, except in a few specified buildings near some of the +large towns; and all Protestants, save those dwelling in these +localities, were forced to meet secretly, and at the risk of their +lives, for the purpose of worship. Those caught transgressing the +law were thrown into prison, subjected to crushing fines, and even +punished with torture and death.</p> +<p>"Better a thousand times to die with swords in our hands, in the +open field, than thus tamely to see our brethren ill-treated and +persecuted!" was the cry of the young men; and Philip, who from +daily hearing tales of persecution and cruelty had become more and +more zealous in the Huguenot cause, fully shared their feeling.</p> +<p>In the presence of the elders, however, the more ardent spirits +were silent. At all times grave and sober in manner and word, the +knowledge that a desperate struggle could not long be deferred, and +the ever-increasing encroachments of the Catholics, added to the +gravity of their demeanour. Sometimes those present broke up into +groups, talking in an undertone. Sometimes the gathering took the +form of a general council. Occasionally some fugitive minister, or +a noble from some district where the persecution was particularly +fierce, would be present; and their narratives would be listened to +with stern faces by the elders, and with passionate indignation by +the younger men.</p> +<p>In spite of the decrees, the countess still retained her +chaplain and, before the meetings broke up, prayers were offered by +him for their persecuted brethren, and for a speedy deliverance of +those of the reformed religion from the cruel disabilities under +which they laboured.</p> +<p>Services were held night and morning in the chateau. These were +attended not only by all the residents, but by many of the farmers +and their families. The countess had already received several +warnings from the Catholic authorities of the province; but to +these she paid no attention, and there were no forces available to +enforce the decree in her case, as it would require nothing short +of an army to overcome the opposition that might be expected, +joined as she would be by the other Huguenot gentry of the +district.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch4" id="Ch4">Chapter 4</a>: An Experiment.</h2> +<p>Marie Vaillant, after remaining six weeks at the chateau, +returned to England; and Philip, with a party of twelve men, +escorted her to La Rochelle. Her visit was cut short somewhat, at +the end, by the imminence of the outbreak of hostilities, in which +case she might have found a difficulty in traversing the country. +Moreover, La Rochelle would probably be besieged, soon after the +war began; for being both an important town and port, the Catholics +would be anxious to obtain possession of it, and so cut off the +Huguenots from escape to England, besides rendering it difficult +for Elizabeth to send a force to their assistance.</p> +<p>"It has been a pleasant time," the countess said, on the morning +of her departure; "and your presence has taken me back +five-and-twenty years, Marie. I hope that when these troubles are +past you will again come over, and spend a happier time with me. I +was going to say that I will look well after Philip, but that I +cannot do. He has cast his lot in with us, and must share our +perils. I am greatly pleased with him, and I am glad that Francois +will have him as a companion in arms. Francois is somewhat +impulsive, and liable to be carried away by his ardour; and Philip, +although the younger, is, it seems to me, the more thoughtful of +the two. He is one I feel I can have confidence in. He is grave, +yet merry; light hearted in a way, and yet, I think, prudent and +cautious. It seems strange, but I shall part with Francois with the +more comfort, in the thought that he has Philip with him.</p> +<p>"Don't come back more English than you are now, Marie; for truly +you seem to me to have fallen in love with the ways of these +islanders."</p> +<p>"I will try not to, Emilie; but I should not like the customs, +did it not seem to me that they are better than my own. In England +Protestants and Catholics live side by side in friendship, and +there is no persecution of anyone for his religion; the Catholics +who have suffered during the present reign have done so, not +because they are Catholics, but because they plotted against the +queen. Would that in France men would agree to worship, each in his +own way, without rancour or animosity."</p> +<p>"Tell Lucie that I am very sorry she did not come over with you +and Philip, and that it is only because you tell me how occupied +she is that I am not furiously angry with her.</p> +<p>"Tell her, too," she went on earnestly, "that I feel she is one +of us; still a Huguenot, a Frenchwoman, and one of our race, or she +would never have allowed her only son to come over, to risk his +life in our cause. I consider her a heroine, Marie. It is all very +well for me, whose religion is endangered, whose friends are in +peril, whose people are persecuted, to throw myself into the strife +and to send Francois into the battle; but with her, working there +with an invalid husband, and her heart, as it must be, wrapped up +in her boy, it is splendid to let him come out here, to fight side +by side with us for the faith. Whose idea was it first?"</p> +<p>"My husband's. Gaspard regards Philip almost in the light of a +son. He is a rich man now, as I told you, and Philip will become +his heir. Though he has no desire that he should settle in France, +he wished him to take his place in our family here, to show himself +worthy of his race, to become a brave soldier, to win credit and +honour, and to take his place perhaps, some day, in the front rank +of the gentry of Kent."</p> +<p>"They were worldly motives, Marie, and our ministers would +denounce them as sinful; but I cannot do so. I am a Huguenot, but I +am a countess of France, a member of one noble family and married +into another; and though, I believe, as staunch a Huguenot, and as +ready to lay down my life for our religion as any man or woman in +France, yet I cannot give up all the traditions of my rank, and +hold that fame and honour and reputation and courage are mere +snares. But such were not Lucie's feelings in letting him go, I +will be bound; nor yours."</p> +<p>"Mine partly," Marie said. "I am the wife now of a trader, +though one honoured in his class; but have still a little of your +feelings, Emilie, and remember that the blood of the De Moulins +runs in Philip's veins, and hope that he will do credit to it. I +don't think that Lucie has any such feelings. She is wrapt up in +duty--first her duty to God, secondly her duty to her crippled +husband, whom she adores; and I think she regarded the desire of +Philip to come out to fight in the Huguenot ranks as a call that +she ought not to oppose. I know she was heartbroken at parting with +him, and yet she never showed it.</p> +<p>"Lucie is a noble character. Everyone who knows her loves her. I +believe the very farm labourers would give their lives for her, and +a more utterly unselfish creature never lived."</p> +<p>"Well, she must take a holiday and come over with you, next time +you come, Marie. I hope that these troubles may soon be over, +though that is a thing one cannot foretell."</p> +<p>After seeing his aunt safely on board a ship at La Rochelle, +Philip prepared to return to the chateau. He and his aunt had +stayed two nights at the house of Maitre Bertram, and on his +returning there the latter asked:</p> +<p>"Have you yet found a suitable servant, Monsieur Philip?"</p> +<p>"No; my cousin has been inquiring among the tenantry, but the +young men are all bent on fighting, and indeed there are none of +them who would make the sort of servant one wants in a campaign--a +man who can not only groom horses and clean arms, but who knows +something of war, can forage for provisions, cook, wait on table, +and has intelligence. One wants an old soldier; one who has served +in the same capacity, if possible."</p> +<p>"I only asked because I have had a man pestering me to speak to +you about him. He happened to see you ride off, when you were here +last, and apparently became impressed with the idea that you would +be a good master. He is a cousin of one of my men, and heard I +suppose from him that you were likely to return. He has been to me +three or four times. I have told him again and again that he was +not the sort of man I could recommend, but he persisted in begging +me to let him see you himself."</p> +<p>"What sort of a fellow is he?"</p> +<p>"Well, to tell you the truth he is a sort of ne'er-do-well," the +merchant laughed. "I grant that he has not had much chance. His +father died when he was a child, and his mother soon married again. +There is no doubt that he was badly treated at home, and when he +was twelve he ran away. He was taken back and beaten, time after +time; but in a few hours he was always off again, and at last they +let him go his own way. There is nothing he hasn't turned his hand +to. First he lived in the woods, I fancy; and they say he was the +most arrant young poacher in the district, though he was so cunning +that he was never caught. At last he had to give that up. Then he +fished for a bit, but he couldn't stick to it. He has been always +doing odd jobs, turning his hand to whatever turned up. He worked +in a shipyard for a bit, then I took him as a sort of errand boy +and porter. He didn't stop long, and the next I heard of him he was +servant at a priest's. He has been a dozen other things, and for +the last three or four months he has been in the stables where your +horse was standing. I fancy you saw him there. Some people think he +is half a fool, but I don't agree with them; he is as sharp as a +needle, to my mind. But, as I say, he has never had a fair chance. +A fellow like that, without friends, is sure to get roughly +treated."</p> +<p>"Is he a young man of about one or two and twenty?" Philip +asked. "I remember a fellow of about that age brought out the +horse, and as he seemed to me a shrewd fellow, and had evidently +taken great pains in grooming Robin, I gave him a crown. I thought +he needed it, for his clothes were old and tattered, and he looked +as if he hadn't had a hearty meal for a week.</p> +<p>"Well, Maitre Bertram, can you tell me if, among his other +occupations, he has ever been charged with theft?"</p> +<p>"No, I have never heard that brought against him."</p> +<p>"Why did he leave you?"</p> +<p>"It was from no complaint as to his honesty. Indeed, he left of +his own accord, after a quarrel with one of the men, who was, as +far as I could learn, in the wrong. I did not even hear that he had +left until a week after, and it was too late then to go thoroughly +into the matter. Boys are always troublesome and, as everyone had +warned me that Pierre would turn out badly, I gave the matter but +little thought at the time. Of course, you will not think of taking +the luckless rascal as your servant."</p> +<p>"I don't know. I will have a talk with him, anyhow. A fellow +like that would certainly be handy; but whether he could be relied +upon to behave discreetly and soberly, and not to bring me into +discredit, is a different matter. Is he here now?"</p> +<p>"He is below. Shall I send him up here to you?"</p> +<p>"No, I will go down and see him in the courtyard. If he comes up +here he would be, perhaps, awkward and unnatural, and would not +speak so freely as he would in the open air."</p> +<p>The merchant shook his head.</p> +<p>"If you take the vagabond, remember, Monsieur Philip, that it is +altogether against my advice. I would never have spoken to you +about him, if I had imagined for a moment that you would think of +taking him. A fellow who has never kept any employment for two +months, how could he be fit for a post of confidence, and be able +to mix as your body servant with the households of honourable +families?"</p> +<p>"But you said yourself, Maitre Bertram, that he has never had a +fair chance. Well, I will see him, anyhow."</p> +<a id="PicC" name="PicC"></a> +<center><img src="images/c.jpg" alt= +"Philip gets his first look at Pierre." /></center> +<p>He descended into the courtyard, and could not help smiling as +his eye fell upon a figure seated on the horse block. He was +looking out through the gateway, and did not at first see Philip. +The expression of his face was dull and almost melancholy, but as +Philip's eye fell on him his attention was attracted by some +passing object in the street. His face lit up with amusement. His +lips twitched and his eyes twinkled. A moment later and the +transient humour passed, and the dull, listless expression again +stole over his face.</p> +<p>"Pierre!" Philip said sharply.</p> +<p>The young fellow started to his feet, as if shot upwards by a +spring; and as he turned and saw who had addressed him, took off +his cap and, bowing, stood twisting it round in his fingers.</p> +<p>"Monsieur Bertram tells me you want to come with me as a +servant, Pierre; but when I asked him about you, he does not give +you such a character as one would naturally require in a +confidential servant. Is there anyone who will speak for you?"</p> +<p>"Not a soul," the young man said doggedly; "and yet, monsieur, I +am not a bad fellow. What can a man do, when he has not a friend in +the world? He picks up a living as he can, but everybody looks at +him with suspicion. There is no friend to take his part, and so +people vent their ill humours upon him, till the time comes when he +revolts at the injustice and strikes back; and then he has to begin +it all over again, somewhere else.</p> +<p>"And yet, sir, I know that I could be faithful and true to +anyone who would not treat me like a dog. You spoke kindly to me in +the stable, and gave me a crown. No one had ever given me a crown +before. But I cared less for that than for the way you spoke. Then +I saw you start, and you spoke pleasantly to your men; and I said +to myself, 'that is the master I would serve, if he would let +me.'</p> +<p>"Try me, sir, and if you do not find me faithful, honest, and +true to you, tell your men to string me up to a bough. I do not +drink, and have been in so many services that, ragged as you see +me, I can yet behave so as not to do discredit to you."</p> +<p>Philip hesitated. There was no mistaking the earnestness with +which the youth spoke.</p> +<p>"Are you a Catholic or a Huguenot?" he asked.</p> +<p>"I know nothing of the difference between them," Pierre replied. +"How should I? No one has ever troubled about me, one way or the +other. When my mother lived I went to Mass with her; since then I +have gone nowhere. I have had no Sunday clothes. I know that the +bon Dieu has taken care of me, or I should have died of hunger, +long ago. The priest I was with used to tell me that the Huguenots +were worse than heathen; but if that were so, why should they let +themselves be thrown into prison, and even be put to death, rather +than stay away from their churches? As for me, I know nothing about +it. They say monsieur is a Huguenot, and if he were good enough to +take me into his service, of course I should be a Huguenot."</p> +<p>"That is a poor reason, Pierre," Philip said smiling. "Still, +you may find better reasons, in time. However, you are not a +Catholic, which is the principal thing, at present.</p> +<p>"Well, I will try you, I think. Perhaps, as you say, you have +never had a fair chance yet, and I will give you one. I believe +what you say, that you will be faithful."</p> +<p>The young fellow's face lit up with pleasure.</p> +<p>"I will be faithful, sir. If I were otherwise, I should deserve +to be cut in pieces."</p> +<p>"As for wages," Philip said, "I will pay you what you deserve. +We will settle that when we see how we get on together. Now follow +me, and I will get some suitable clothes for you."</p> +<p>There was no difficulty about this. Clothes were not made to fit +closely in those days, and Philip soon procured a couple of suits +suitable for the serving man of a gentleman of condition. One was a +riding suit; with high boots, doublet, and trunks of sober colour +and of a strong tough material; a leather sword belt and sword; and +a low hat thickly lined and quilted, and capable of resisting a +heavy blow. The other suit was for wear in the house. It was of +dark green cloth of a much finer texture than the riding suit; with +cloth stockings of the same colour, coming up above the knee, and +then meeting the trunks or puffed breeches. A small cap with turned +up brim, furnished with a few of the tail feathers of a black cock, +completed the costume; a dagger being worn in the belt instead of +the sword. Four woollen shirts, a pair of shoes, and a cloak were +added to the purchases; which were placed in a valise, to be +carried behind the saddle.</p> +<p>"Is there any house where you can change your clothes, Pierre? +Of course you could do so at Monsieur Bertram's, but some of the +men I brought with me will be there, and it would be just as well +that they did not see you in your present attire."</p> +<p>"I can change at the stables, sir, if you will trust me with the +clothes."</p> +<p>"Certainly, I will trust you. If I trust you sufficiently to +take you as my servant, I can surely trust you in a matter like +this. Do you know of anyone who has a stout nag for sale?"</p> +<p>Pierre knew of several and, giving Philip an address, the latter +was not long in purchasing one, with saddle and bridle complete. He +ordered this to be sent, at once, to the stables where Pierre had +been employed, with directions that it was to be handed over to his +servant.</p> +<p>It was one o'clock in the day when Madame Vaillant embarked, and +it was late in the afternoon before Philip returned to Monsieur +Bertram's house.</p> +<p>"What have you done about that vagabond Pierre?"</p> +<p>"I have hired him," Philip said.</p> +<p>"You don't say that you have taken him, after what I have told +you about him!" the merchant exclaimed.</p> +<p>"I have, indeed. He pleaded hard for a trial, and I am going to +give him one. I believe that he will turn out a useful fellow. I am +sure that he is shrewd, and he ought to be full of expedients. As +to his appearance, good food and decent clothes will make him +another man. I think he will turn out a merry fellow, when he is +well fed and happy; and I must say, Maitre Bertram, that I am not +fond of long faces. Lastly, I believe that he will be +faithful."</p> +<p>"Well, well, well, I wash my hands of it altogether, Monsieur +Philip. I am sorry I spoke to you about him, but I never for a +moment thought you would take him. If harm comes of it, don't blame +me."</p> +<p>"I will hold you fully acquitted," Philip laughed. "I own that I +have taken quite a fancy to him, and believe that he will turn out +well."</p> +<p>An hour later one of the domestics came in, with word that +Monsieur Philip's servant was below, and wished to know if he had +any commands for him.</p> +<p>"Tell him to come up," Philip said, and a minute later Pierre +entered.</p> +<p>He was dressed in his dark green costume. He had had his hair +cut, and presented an appearance so changed that Philip would +hardly have known him.</p> +<p>"By my faith!" the merchant said, "you have indeed transformed +him. He is not a bad-looking varlet, now that he has got rid of +that tangled crop of hair."</p> +<p>Pierre bowed low at the compliment.</p> +<p>"Fine feathers make fine birds, Monsieur Bertram," replied +Pierre. "It is the first time I have had the opportunity of proving +the truth of the proverb. I am greatly indebted to monsieur, for +recommending me to my master."</p> +<p>"It is not much recommendation you got from me, Pierre," the +merchant said bluntly; "for a more troublesome young scamp I never +had in my warehouse. Still, as I told Monsieur Philip, I think +everything has been against you; and I do hope, now that this +English gentleman has given you a chance, that you will take +advantage of it."</p> +<p>"I mean to, sir," the young fellow said earnestly, and without a +trace of the mocking smile with which he had first spoken. "If I do +not give my master satisfaction, it will not be for want of trying. +I shall make mistakes at first--it will all be strange to me, but I +feel sure that he will make allowances. I can at least promise that +he will find me faithful and devoted."</p> +<p>"Has your horse arrived, Pierre?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sir. I saw him watered and fed before I came out. Is it +your wish that I should go round to the stables where your horse +and those of your troop are, and take charge of your horse at +once?"</p> +<p>"No, Pierre; the men will look after him, as usual. We will +start at six in the morning. Be at the door, on horseback, at that +hour."</p> +<p>Pierre bowed and withdrew.</p> +<p>"I do not feel so sure as I did that you have made a bad +bargain, Monsieur Philip. As far as appearances go, at any rate, he +would pass muster. Except that his cheeks want filling out a bit, +he is a nimble, active-looking young fellow; and with that little +moustache of his, and his hair cut short, he is by no means ill +looking. I really should not have known him. I think at present he +means what he says, though whether he will stick to it is another +matter, altogether."</p> +<p>"I think he will stick to it," Philip said quietly. "Putting +aside what he says about being faithful to me, he is shrewd enough +to see that it is a better chance than he is ever likely to have, +again, of making a start in life. He has been leading a dog's life, +ever since he was a child; and to be well fed, and well clothed, +and fairly treated will be a wonderful change for him.</p> +<p>"My only fear is that he may get into some scrape at the +chateau. I believe that he is naturally full of fun, and fun is a +thing that the Huguenots, with all their virtues, hardly +appreciate."</p> +<p>"A good thrashing will tame him of that," the merchant said.</p> +<p>Philip laughed.</p> +<p>"I don't think I shall be driven to try that. I don't say that +servants are never thrashed in England, but I have not been brought +up among the class who beat their servants. I think I shall be able +to manage him without that. If I can't, we must part.</p> +<p>"I suppose there is no doubt, Monsieur Bertram, how La Rochelle +will go when the troubles begin?"</p> +<p>"I think not. All preparations are made on our part and, as soon +as the news comes that Conde and the Admiral have thrown their +flags to the wind, we shall seize the gates, turn out all who +oppose us, and declare for the cause. I do not think it can be much +longer delayed. I sent a trusty servant yesterday to fetch back my +daughter; who, as I told you, has been staying with a sister of +mine, five or six leagues away. I want to have her here before the +troubles break out. It will be no time for damsels to be wandering +about the country, when swords are once out of their +scabbards."</p> +<p>The next morning the little troop started early from La +Rochelle, Pierre riding gravely behind Philip. The latter presently +called him up to his side.</p> +<p>"I suppose you know the country round here well?"</p> +<p>"Every foot of it. I don't think that there is a pond in which I +have not laid my lines, not a streamlet of which I do not know +every pool, not a wood that I have not slept in, nor a hedge where +I have not laid snares for rabbits. I could find my way about as +well by night as by day; and you know, sir, that may be of use, if +you ever want to send a message into the town when the Guises have +got their troops lying outside."</p> +<p>Philip looked sharply at him.</p> +<p>"Oh, you think it likely that the Guises will soon be besieging +La Rochelle?"</p> +<p>"Anyone who keeps his ears open can learn that," Pierre said +quietly. "I haven't troubled myself about these matters. It made no +difference to me whether the Huguenots or the Catholics were in the +saddle; still, one doesn't keep one's ears closed, and people talk +freely enough before me.</p> +<p>"'Pierre does not concern himself with these things. The lad is +half a fool; he pays no attention to what is being said.'</p> +<p>"So they would go on talking, and I would go on rubbing down a +horse, or eating my black bread with a bit of cheese or an onion, +or whatever I might be about, and looking as if I did not even know +they were there. But I gathered that the Catholics think that the +Guises, and Queen Catherine, and Philip of Spain, and the Pope are +going to put an end to the Huguenots altogether. From those on the +other side, I learned that the Huguenots will take the first step +in La Rochelle, and that one fine morning the Catholics are likely +to find themselves bundled out of it. Then it doesn't need much +sense to see that, ere long, we shall be having a Catholic army +down here to retake the place; that is, if the Huguenot lords are +not strong enough to stop them on their way."</p> +<p>"And you think the Catholics are not on their guard at all?"</p> +<p>"Not they," Pierre said contemptuously. "They have been +strengthening the walls and building fresh ones, thinking that an +attack might come from without from the Huguenots; and all the time +the people of that religion in the town have been laughing in their +sleeves, and pretending to protest against being obliged to help at +the new works, but really paying and working willingly. Why, they +even let the magistrates arrest and throw into prison a number of +their party, without saying a word, so that the priests and the +commissioners should think they have got it entirely their own way. +It has been fun watching it all, and I had made up my mind to take +to the woods again, directly it began. I had no part in the play, +and did not wish to run any risk of getting a ball through my head; +whether from a Catholic or a Huguenot arquebus.</p> +<p>"Now, of course, it is all different. Monsieur is a Huguenot, +and therefore so am I. It is the Catholic bullets that will be shot +at me and, as no one likes to be shot at, I shall soon hate the +Catholics cordially, and shall be ready to do them any ill turn +that you may desire."</p> +<p>"And you think that if necessary, Pierre, you could carry a +message into the town, even though the Catholics were camped round +it."</p> +<p>Pierre nodded.</p> +<p>"I have never seen a siege, master, and don't know how close the +soldiers might stand round a town; but I think that if a rabbit +could get through I could and, if I could not get in by land, I +could manage somehow to get in by water."</p> +<p>"But such matters as this do not come within your service, +Pierre. Your duties are to wait on me when not in the field, to +stand behind my chair at meals, and to see that my horses are well +attended to by the stable varlets. When we take the field you will +not be wanted to fight, but will look after my things; will buy +food and cook it, get dry clothes ready for me to put on if I come +back soaked with rain, and keep an eye upon my horses. Two of the +men-at-arms will have special charge of them. They will groom and +feed them. But if they are away with me, they cannot see after +getting forage for them; and it will be for you to get hold of +that, either by buying it from the villagers or employing a man to +cut it. At any rate, to see that there is food for them, as well as +for me, when the day's work is over."</p> +<p>"I understand that, master; but there are times when a lad who +can look like a fool, but is not altogether one, can carry messages +and make himself very useful, if he does not place over much value +on his life. When you want anything done, no matter what it is, you +have only to tell me, and it will be done, if it is possible."</p> +<p>In the afternoon of the second day after starting, they +approached the chateau. The old sergeant of the band who, with two +of his men, was riding a hundred yards ahead, checked his horse and +rode back to Philip.</p> +<p>"There is something of importance doing, Monsieur Philip. The +flag is flying over the chateau. I have not seen it hoisted before +since my lord's death, and I can make out horsemen galloping to and +from the gates."</p> +<p>"We will gallop on then," Philip said, and in ten minutes they +arrived.</p> +<p>Francois ran down the steps as Philip alighted in the +courtyard.</p> +<p>"I am glad you have come, Philip. I had already given orders for +a horseman to ride to meet you, and tell you to hurry on. The die +is cast, at last. There was a meeting yesterday at the Admiral's. A +messenger came to my mother from my cousin, Francois de la Noue. +The Admiral and Conde had received news, from a friend at court, +that there had been a secret meeting of the Royal Council; and that +it had been settled that the Prince should be thrown into prison, +and Coligny executed. The Swiss troops were to be divided between +Paris, Orleans, and Poitiers. The edict of toleration was to be +annulled, and instant steps taken to suppress Huguenot worship by +the sternest measures.</p> +<p>"In spite of this news the Admiral still urged patience; but his +brother, D'Andelot, took the lead among the party of action; and +pointed out that if they waited until they, the leaders, were all +dragged away to prison, resistance by the Huguenots would be +hopeless. Since the last war over three thousand Huguenots had been +put to violent deaths. Was this number to be added to indefinitely? +Were they to wait until their wives and children were in the hands +of the executioners, before they moved? His party were in the +majority, and the Admiral reluctantly yielded.</p> +<p>"Then there was a discussion as to the steps to be taken. Some +proposed the seizure of Orleans and other large towns; and that, +with these in their hands, they should negotiate with the court for +the dismissal of the Swiss troops; as neither toleration nor peace +could be hoped for, as long as this force was at the disposal of +the Cardinal of Lorraine and his brothers.</p> +<p>"This council, however, was overruled. It was pointed out that, +at the beginning of the last war, the Huguenots held fully a +hundred towns, but nearly all were wrested from their hands before +its termination. It was finally resolved that all shall be prepared +for striking a heavy blow, and that the rising shall be arranged to +take place, throughout France, on the 29th of September. That an +army shall take the field, disperse the Swiss, seize if possible +the Cardinal of Lorraine; and at any rate petition the king for a +redress of grievances, for a removal of the Cardinal from his +councils, and for sending all foreign troops out of the +kingdom.</p> +<p>"We have, you see, a fortnight to prepare. We have just sent out +messengers to all our Huguenot friends, warning them that the day +is fixed, that their preparations are to be made quietly, and that +we will notify them when the hour arrives. All are exhorted to +maintain an absolute silence upon the subject, while seeing that +their tenants and retainers are, in all respects, ready to take the +field."</p> +<p>"Why have you hoisted your flag, Francois? That will only excite +attention."</p> +<p>"It is my birthday, Philip, and the flag is supposed to be +raised in my honour. This will serve as an excuse for the +assemblage of our friends, and the gathering of the tenants. It has +been arranged, as you know, that I, and of course you, are to ride +with De la Noue, who is a most gallant gentleman; and that our +contingent is to form part of his command.</p> +<p>"I am heartily glad this long suspense is over, and that at last +we are going to meet the treachery of the court by force. Too long +have we remained passive, while thousands of our friends have, in +defiance of the edicts, been dragged to prison and put to death. +Fortunately the court is, as it was before the last war, besotted +with the belief that we are absolutely powerless; and we have every +hope of taking them by surprise."</p> +<p>"I also am glad that war has been determined upon," Philip said. +"Since I have arrived here, I have heard nothing but tales of +persecution and cruelty. I quite agree with you that the time has +come when the Huguenots must either fight for their rights; abandon +the country altogether and go into exile, as so many have already +done; or renounce their religion."</p> +<p>"I see you have a new servant, Philip. He is an active, +likely-looking lad, but rather young. He can know nothing of +campaigning."</p> +<p>"I believe he is a very handy fellow, with plenty of sense and +shrewdness; and if he can do the work, I would rather have a man of +that age than an older one. It is different with you. You are +Francois, Count de Laville; and your servant, whatever his age, +would hold you in respect. I am younger and of far less +consequence, and an old servant might want to take me under his +tuition. Moreover, if there is hard work to be done for me, I would +rather have a young fellow like this doing it than an older +man."</p> +<p>"You are always making out that you are a boy, Philip. You don't +look it, and you are going to play a man's part."</p> +<p>"I mean to play it as far as I can, Francois; but that does not +really make me a day older."</p> +<p>"Well, mind, not a word to a soul as to the day fixed on."</p> +<p>For the next fortnight the scene at the chateau was a busy one. +Huguenot gentlemen came and went. The fifty men-at-arms who were to +accompany Francois were inspected, and their arms and armour served +out to them. The tenantry came up in small parties, and were also +provided with weapons, offensive and defensive, from the armoury; +so that they might be in readiness to assemble for the defence of +the chateau, at the shortest notice. All were kept in ignorance as +to what was really going on; but it was felt that a crisis was +approaching, and there was an expression of grim satisfaction on +the stern faces of the men, that showed they rejoiced at the +prospect of a termination to the long passive suffering, which they +had borne at the hands of the persecutors of their faith. Hitherto +they themselves had suffered but little, for the Huguenots were +strong in the south of Poitou; while in Niort--the nearest town to +the chateau--the Huguenots, if not in an absolute majority, were +far too strong to be molested by the opposite party. Nevertheless +here, and in all other towns, public worship was suspended; and it +was only in the chateaux and castles of the nobles that the +Huguenots could gather to worship without fear of interruption or +outrage.</p> +<p>There was considerable debate as to whether Francois' troop +should march to join the Admiral, at Chatillon-sur-Loing; or should +proceed to the southeast, where parties were nearly equally +balanced; but the former course was decided upon. The march itself +would be more perilous; but as Conde, the Admiral, and his brother +D'Andelot would be with the force gathered there, it was the most +important point; and moreover Francois de la Noue would be +there.</p> +<p>So well was the secret of the intended movement kept that the +French court, which was at Meaux, had no idea of the danger that +threatened; and when a report of the intentions of the Huguenots +came from the Netherlands, it was received with incredulity. A spy +was, however, sent to Chatillon to report upon what the Admiral was +doing; and he returned with the news that he was at home, and was +busily occupied in superintending his vintage.</p> +<p>On the evening of the 26th the troop, fifty strong, mustered in +the courtyard of the chateau. All were armed with breast and back +pieces, and steel caps, and carried lances as well as swords. In +addition to this troop were Philip's four men-at-arms; and four +picked men who were to form Francois' bodyguard, one of them +carrying his banner. He took as his body servant a man who had +served his father in that capacity. He and Pierre wore lighter +armour than the others, and carried no lances.</p> +<p>Francois and Philip were both in complete armour; Philip +donning, for the first time, that given to him by his uncle. +Neither of them carried lances, but were armed with swords, light +battle-axes, and pistols.</p> +<p>Before mounting, service was held. The pastor offered up prayers +for the blessing of God upon their arms, and for his protection +over each and all of them in the field. The countess herself made +them a stirring address, exhorting them to remember that they +fought for the right to worship God unmolested, and for the lives +of those dear to them. Then she tenderly embraced her son and +Philip, the trumpets sounded to horse, and the party rode out from +the gates of the chateau.</p> +<p>As soon as they were away, the two young leaders took off their +helmets and handed them to their attendants, who rode behind them. +Next to these came their eight bodyguards, who were followed by the +captain and his troop.</p> +<p>"It may be that this armour will be useful, on the day of +battle," Philip said; "but at present it seems to me, Francois, +that I would much rather be without it."</p> +<p>"I quite agree with you, Philip. If we had only to fight with +gentlemen armed with swords, I would gladly go into battle +unprotected; but against men with lances, one needs a defence. +However, I do not care so much, now that I have got rid of the +helmet; which, in truth, is a heavy burden."</p> +<p>"Methinks, Francois, that armour will ere long be abandoned, now +that arquebuses and cannon are coming more and more into use. +Against them they give no protection; and it were better, methinks, +to have lightness and freedom of action, than to have the trouble +of wearing all this iron stuff merely as a protection against +lances. You have been trained to wear armour, and therefore feel +less inconvenience; but I have never had as much as a breast plate +on before, and I feel at present as if I had almost lost the use of +my arms. I think that, at any rate, I shall speedily get rid of +these arm pieces. The body armour I don't so much mind, now that I +am fairly in the saddle.</p> +<p>"The leg pieces are not as bad as those on the arms. I was +scarcely able to walk in them; still, now that I am mounted, I do +not feel them much. But if I am to be of any use in a melee, I must +have my arms free, and trust to my sword to protect them."</p> +<p>"I believe that some have already given them up, Philip; and if +you have your sleeves well wadded and quilted, I think you might, +if you like, give up the armour. The men-at-arms are not so +protected, and it is only when you meet a noble, in full armour, +that you would be at a disadvantage."</p> +<p>"I don't think it would be a disadvantage; for I could strike +twice, with my arms free, to once with them so confined."</p> +<p>"There is one thing, you will soon become accustomed to the +armour."</p> +<p>"Not very soon, I fancy, Francois. You know, you have been +practising in it almost since you were a child; and yet you admit +that you feel a great difference. Still, I daresay as the novelty +wears off I shall get accustomed to it, to some extent."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch5" id="Ch5">Chapter 5</a>: Taking The Field.</h2> +<p>A guide thoroughly acquainted with the country rode ahead of the +party, carrying a lantern fixed at the back of his saddle. They +had, after leaving the chateau, begun to mount the lofty range of +hills behind. The road crossing these was a mere track, and they +were glad when they began to descend on the other side. They +crossed the Clain river some ten miles above Poitiers, a few miles +farther forded the Vienne, crossed the Gartempe at a bridge at the +village of Montmorillon and, an hour later, halted in a wood, just +as daylight was breaking, having ridden nearly fifty miles since +leaving the chateau.</p> +<p>So far they had kept to the south of the direct course, in order +to cross the rivers near their sources. Every man carried +provisions for himself and his horse and, as soon as they had +partaken of a hearty meal, the armour was unstrapped, and all threw +themselves down for a long sleep; sentries being first placed, with +orders to seize any peasants who might enter the wood to gather +fuel. With the exception of the sentries, who were changed every +hour, the rest slept until late in the afternoon; then the horses +were again fed and groomed, and another meal was eaten.</p> +<p>At sunset the armour was buckled on again, and they started. +They crossed the Creuse at the bridge of Argenton about midnight +and, riding through La Chatre, halted before morning in a wood two +miles from Saint Amand. Here the day was passed as the previous one +had been.</p> +<p>"Tell me, Francois," Philip said, as they were waiting for the +sun to go down, "something about your cousin De la Noue. As we are +to ride with him, it is as well to know something about him. How +old is he?"</p> +<p>"He is thirty-six, and there is no braver gentleman in France. +As you know, he is of a Breton family, one of the most illustrious +of the province. He is connected with the great houses of +Chateau-Briant and Matignon. As a boy he was famous for the vigour +and strength that he showed in warlike exercises; but was in other +respects, I have heard, of an indolent disposition, and showed no +taste for reading or books of any kind. As usual among the sons of +noble families, he went up to the court of Henry the Second as a +page; and when there became seized with an ardour for study, +especially that of ancient and modern writers who treated on +military subjects. As soon as he reached manhood he joined the army +in Piedmont, under Marshal de Brissac, that being the best military +school of the time.</p> +<p>"On his return he showed the singular and affectionate kindness +of his nature. His mother, unfortunately, while he was away, had +become infected with the spirit of gambling; and the king, who had +noted the talent and kind disposition of the young page, thought to +do him a service by preventing his mother squandering the estates +in play. He therefore took the management of her affairs entirely +out of her hands, appointing a royal officer to look after them. +Now most young men would have rejoiced at becoming masters of their +estates; but the first thing that Francois did, on his return, was +to go to the king and solicit, as a personal favour, that his +mother should be reinstated in the management of her estates. This +was granted, but a short time afterwards she died. De La Noue +retired from court, and settled in Brittany upon his estates, which +were extensive.</p> +<p>"Shortly afterwards D'Andelot, Coligny's brother, who was about +to espouse Mademoiselle De Rieux, the richest heiress in Brittany, +paid a visit there. He had lately embraced our faith, and was bent +upon bringing over others to it; and he brought down with him to +Brittany a famous preacher named Cormel. His preaching in the +chateau attracted large numbers of people, and although Brittany is +perhaps the most Catholic province in France, he made many +converts. Among these was De La Noue, then twenty-seven years old. +Recognizing his talent and influence, D'Andelot had made special +efforts to induce him to join the ranks of the Huguenots, and +succeeded.</p> +<p>"My cousin, who previous to that had, I believe, no special +religious views, became a firm Huguenot. As you might expect with +such a man, he is in no way a fanatic, and does not hold the +extreme views that we have learned from the preachers of Geneva. He +is a staunch Huguenot, but he is gentle, courtly, and polished; and +has, I believe, the regard of men of both parties. He is a personal +friend of the Guises, and was appointed by them as one of the group +of nobles who accompanied Marie Stuart to Scotland.</p> +<p>"When the war broke out in 1562, after the massacre of Vassy, he +joined the standard of Conde. He fought at Dreux, and distinguished +himself by assisting the Admiral to draw off our beaten army in +good order. The assassination of Francois de Guise, as you know, +put an end to that war. De la Noue bitterly regretted the death of +Guise and, after peace was made, retired to his estates in +Brittany, where he has lived quietly for the last four years.</p> +<p>"I have seen him several times, because he has other estates in +Poitou, within a day's ride of us. I have never seen a man I admire +so much. He is all for peace, though he is a distinguished soldier. +While deeply religious, he has yet the manners of a noble of the +court party. He has no pride, and he is loved by the poor as well +as by the rich. He would have done anything to have avoided war; +but you will see that, now the war has begun, he will be one of our +foremost leaders. I can tell you, Philip, I consider myself +fortunate indeed that I am going to ride in the train of so brave +and accomplished a gentleman."</p> +<p>During the day they learned, from a peasant, of a ford crossing +the Cher, two or three miles below Saint Amand. Entering a village +near the crossing place, they found a peasant who was willing, for +a reward, to guide them across the country to Briare, on the +Loire--their first guide had returned from their first halting +place--and the peasant, being placed on a horse behind a +man-at-arms, took the lead. Their pace was much slower than it had +been the night before, and it was almost daybreak when they passed +the bridge at Briare, having ridden over forty miles. They rode two +or three miles into the mountains after crossing the Loire, and +then halted.</p> +<p>"We must give the horses twenty-four hours here," Francois said. +"I don't think it is above twenty miles on to Chatillon-sur-Loing; +but it is all through the hills, and it is of no use arriving there +with the horses so knocked up as to be useless for service. We have +done three tremendous marches, and anyhow, we shall be there long +before the majority of the parties from the west and south can +arrive. The Admiral and Conde will no doubt be able to gather +sufficient strength, from Champagne and the north of Burgundy, for +his purpose of taking the court by surprise.</p> +<p>"I am afraid there is but little chance of their succeeding. It +is hardly possible that so many parties of Huguenots can have been +crossing the country in all directions to the Admiral's, without an +alarm being given. Meaux is some sixty miles from Chatillon, and if +the court get the news only three or four hours before Conde +arrives there, they will be able to get to Paris before he can cut +them off."</p> +<p>In fact, even while they were speaking, the court was in safety. +The Huguenots of Champagne had their rendezvous at Rosoy, a little +more than twenty miles from Meaux, and they began to arrive there +in the afternoon of the 28th. The Prince of Conde, who was awaiting +them, feeling sure that the news of the movement must, in a few +hours at any rate, be known at Meaux, marched for Lagny on the +Mane, established himself there late in the evening, and seized the +bridge. The news however had, as he feared, already reached the +court; and messages had been despatched in all haste to order up +six thousand Swiss troops, who were stationed at Chateau-Thierry, +thirty miles higher up the Maine.</p> +<p>During the hours that elapsed before their arrival, the court +was in a state of abject alarm, but at one o'clock the Swiss +arrived; and two hours later the court set out, under their +protection, for Paris. The Prince of Conde, who had with him but +some four hundred gentlemen, for the most part armed only with +swords, met the force as it passed by Lagny. He engaged in a slight +skirmish with it; but being unable, with his lightly-armed +followers, to effect anything against the solid body of the Swiss +mountaineers, armed with their long pikes, he fell back to await +reinforcements; and the court reached Paris in safety.</p> +<p>A messenger had arrived at Chatillon with the news when Francois +and Philip rode in. The castle gate stood open. Numbers of Huguenot +gentlemen were standing in excited groups, discussing the news.</p> +<p>"There is my cousin De la Noue!" Francois exclaimed, as he +alighted from his horse. "This is good fortune. I was wondering +what we should do, if we did not find him here;" and he made his +way to where a singularly handsome gentleman was talking with +several others.</p> +<p>"Ah, Francois, is that you? Well arrived, indeed!</p> +<p>"Gentlemen, this is my cousin and namesake, Francois de Laville. +He has ridden across France to join us. Is that your troop, +Francois, entering the gate now? Ah, yes, I see your banner.</p> +<p>"By my faith, it is the best accoutred body we have seen yet. +They make a brave show with their armour and lances. The countess +has indeed shown her goodwill right worthily, and it is no small +credit to you that you should have brought them across from the +other side of Poitou, and yet have arrived here before many who +live within a few leagues of the castle.</p> +<p>"And who is this young gentleman with you?"</p> +<p>"It is my cousin, Philip Fletcher, son of my mother's sister +Lucie. I spoke to you of his coming to us, when you were at Laville +three months since. He has come over in order that he may venture +his life on behalf of our religion and family."</p> +<p>"I am glad to welcome you, young sir. We are, you see, +connections; I being Philip's first cousin on his father's side, +and you on that of his mother. Your spirit in coming over here +shows that you inherit the bravery of your mother's race, and I +doubt not that we shall find that the mixture with the sturdy stock +of England will have added to its qualities. Would that your queen +would but take her proper place, as head of a league of the +Protestants of Europe. Our cause would then be well-nigh won, +without the need of striking a blow."</p> +<p>"Is it true, cousin, that the court has escaped to Paris?"</p> +<p>"Yes. I would that Conde had had but a few hours longer, before +they took the alarm. Another day, and he would have had such a +gathering as it would have puzzled the Swiss to have got through. +His forces were doubled yesterday, and eight hundred have ridden +forth from here this morning to join him.</p> +<p>"I myself, though I made all speed, arrived but two hours since; +and shall, with all who come in this evening, ride forward +tomorrow. The Admiral and his brother, the Cardinal of Chatillon, +will go with us. D'Andelot is already with Conde.</p> +<p>"Now, as your troop is to ride with mine, I will see that they +are disposed for the night together, and that their wants are +attended to. My men have picketed their horses just outside the +castle moat; for, as you see, we are crowded here with gentlemen +and their personal followers, and it would be impossible to make +room for all. I will take your officer to the seneschal, who will +see that your men are provided with bread, meat, and wine.</p> +<p>"Ah, Captain Montpace, you are in command of the troop, I see. I +thought the countess would send so experienced a soldier with them, +and I am proud to have such a well-appointed troop behind me. None +so well armed and orderly have yet arrived. My own at present are +forty strong, and have, like you, made their way across France from +Poitou.</p> +<p>"I could not bring my Bretons," he said, turning to Francois. +"The Huguenots there are but a handful among the Catholics. Happily +on my estates they are good friends together, but I could not call +away men from their homes, at a time like this.</p> +<p>"Now, Captain Montpace, I will show you where your men are to +bivouac, next to my own. Then, if you will come with me to the +seneschal, rations shall be served out to them. Are your horses fit +for another journey?"</p> +<p>"They will be by tomorrow morning, Count. They have only come +from this side of Briare this morning, but though the journey is +not long the road is heavy. They had twenty-four hours' rest before +that, which they needed sorely, having travelled from Laville in +three days."</p> +<p>"Draw a good supply of forage for them from the magazines," De +la Noue said. "See that the saddlebags are well filled in the +morning. There is another heavy day's work before them, and then +they can take a good rest."</p> +<p>Francois and Philip accompanied the troop, and waited until they +saw that they were supplied with provisions and forage, and with +straw for lying down on; then they re-entered the castle. De la +Noue presented them to many of his friends, and then took them in +to the Admiral.</p> +<p>He quite fulfilled the anticipations that Philip had formed of +him. He was of tall figure, with a grave but kindly face. He was +dressed entirely in black, with puffed trunks, doublet to match, +and a large turned-down collar. As was usual, he wore over his +shoulders a loose jacket with a very high collar, the empty sleeves +hanging down on either side. When riding, the arms were thrust into +these. He wore a low soft cap with a narrow brim all round.</p> +<p>The expression of his face, with its short pointed beard, +moustache, and closely trimmed whiskers, was melancholy. The +greatest captain of his age, he was more reluctant than any of his +followers to enter upon civil war; and the fact that he felt that +it was absolutely necessary, to save Protestantism from being +extinguished in blood, in no way reconciled him to it.</p> +<p>He received Francois and his cousin kindly.</p> +<p>"I am glad," he said to the former, "to see the representative +of the Lavilles here. Your father was a dear friend of mine, and +fell fighting bravely by my side. I should have been glad to have +had you riding among my friends; but it is better still for you to +be with your cousin, De la Noue, who is far more suitable as a +leader and guide for youth than I am. You can follow no better +example.</p> +<p>"I am glad also," he said, turning to Philip, "to have another +representative of the old family of the De Moulins here; and to +find that, though transplanted to England, it still retains its +affection for France. I trust that, ere long, I may have many of +your countrymen fighting by my side. We have the same interests +and, if the Protestant nations would unite, the demand for the +right of all men, Catholic and Protestant, to worship according to +their consciences could no longer be denied. I regret that your +queen does not permit free and open worship to her Catholic +subjects, since her not doing so affords some sort of excuse to +Catholic kings and princes. Still, I know that this law is not put +rigidly into force, and that the Catholics do, in fact, exercise +the rights of their religion without hindrance or persecution; and +above all, that there is no violent ill will between the people of +the two religions. Would it were so here.</p> +<p>"Were it not that you are going to ride with my good friend +here, I would have said a few words to you; praying you to remember +that you are fighting, not for worldly credit and honour, but for a +holy cause, and it behoves you to bear yourselves gravely and +seriously. But no such advice is needed to those who come under his +influence."</p> +<p>Leaving the Count de la Noue in conversation with the Admiral, +Francois and Philip made their way to the hall; where the tables +were laid, so that all who came, at whatever hour, could at once +obtain food. Their own servants, who were established in the +castle, waited upon them.</p> +<p>"I think that lackey of yours will turn out a very useful +fellow, Philip," Francois said, as they left the hall. "He is quick +and willing, and he turned out our dinner yesterday in good +fashion. It was certainly far better cooked than it had been, by +Charles, the day before."</p> +<p>"I fancy Pierre has done a good deal of cooking in the open +air," Philip said, "and we shall find that he is capable of turning +out toothsome dishes from very scanty materials."</p> +<p>"I am glad to hear it for, though I am ready to eat horseflesh, +if necessary, I see not why, because we happen to be at war, one +should have to spoil one's teeth by gnawing at meat as hard as +leather. Soldiers are generally bad cooks. They are in too much +haste to get their food, at the end of a long day's work, to waste +much time with the cooking.</p> +<p>"Here comes La Noue again."</p> +<p>"Will you order your troop to be again in the saddle at five +o'clock in the morning, De Laville?" the Count said. "I start with +a party of two hundred at that hour. There will be my own men and +yours. The rest will be gentlemen and their personal +retainers."</p> +<p>"I would that it had been three hours later," Francois said, as +the Count left them and moved away, giving similar orders to the +other gentlemen. "I own I hate moving before it is light. There is +nothing ruffles the temper so much as getting up in the dark, +fumbling with your buckles and straps, and finding everyone else +just as surly and cross as you feel yourself. It was considered a +necessary part of my training that I should turn out and arm myself +at all times of the night. It was the part of my exercises that I +hated the most."</p> +<p>Philip laughed.</p> +<p>"It will not make much difference here, Francois. I don't like +getting out of a warm bed, myself, on a dark winter's morning; but +as there will be certainly no undressing tonight, and we shall +merely have to get up and shake the straw off us, it will not +matter much. By half-past five it will be beginning to get light. +At any rate, we should not mind it tomorrow, as it will be really +our first day of military service."</p> +<p>Up to a late hour fresh arrivals continued to pour in, and the +cooks and servants of the castle were kept hard at work, +administering to the wants of the hungry and tired men. There was +no regular set meal, each man feeding as he was disposed. After it +became dark, all the gentlemen of family gathered in the upper part +of the great hall, and there sat talking by the light of torches +until nine. Then the Admiral, with a few of the nobles who had been +in consultation with him, joined them and, a quarter of an hour +later, a pastor entered and prayers were read. Then a number of +retainers came in with trusses of straw, which were shaken down +thickly beside the walls; and as soon as this was done, all present +prepared to lie down.</p> +<p>"The trumpet will sound, gentleman," Francois de la Noue said in +a loud voice, "at half-past four; but this will only concern those +who, as it has already been arranged, will ride with me--the rest +will set out with the Admiral, at seven. I pray each of you who go +with me to bid his servant cut off a goodly portion of bread and +meat, to take along with him, and to place a flask or two of wine +in his saddlebags; for our ride will be a long one, and we are not +likely to be able to obtain refreshment on our way."</p> +<p>"I should have thought," Francois said, as he lay down on the +straw by Philip's side, "that we should have passed through plenty +of places where we could obtain food. Whether we go direct to +Paris, or by the road by Lagny, we pass through Nemours and +Melun."</p> +<p>"These places may not open their gates to us, Francois; and in +that case probably we should go through Montereau and Rosoy, and it +may be considered that those who have already gone through to join +Conde may have pretty well stripped both places of provisions."</p> +<p>The trumpet sounded at half-past four. The torches were at once +relighted by the servants, and the gentlemen belonging to La Noue's +party rose, and their servants assisted them to buckle on their +armour. They gave them instructions as to taking some food with +them, and prepared for their journey by an attack on some cold +joints, that had been placed on a table at the lower end of the +hall.</p> +<p>There was a scene of bustle and confusion in the courtyard, as +the horses were brought up by the retainers. The Admiral himself +was there to see the party off and, as they mounted, each issued +out and joined the men drawn up outside. Before starting the +minister, according to Huguenot custom, held a short service; and +then, with a salute to the Admiral, La Noue took his place at their +head and rode away.</p> +<p>With him went some twenty or thirty gentlemen, behind whom rode +their body servants. After these followed some fifty men-at-arms, +and the troops of La Noue and Laville. As soon as they were off, La +Noue reined in his horse so as to ride in the midst of his friends, +and chatted gaily with them as they went along.</p> +<p>An hour and a half's brisk riding took them to Montargis. +Instead of keeping straight on, as most of those present expected, +the two men who were riding a short distance in advance of the +column turned sharp off to the left, in the middle of the town.</p> +<p>"I am going to give you a surprise, gentlemen," De la Noue said, +with a smile. "I will tell you what it is when we are once outside +the place."</p> +<p>"I suppose," one of the gentlemen from the province, who was +riding next to Philip, said, "we are going to strike the main road +from Orleans north; to ride through Etampes, and take post between +Versailles and Paris on the south side of the river; while the +Prince and his following beleaguer the place on the north. It is a +bold plan thus to divide our forces, but I suppose the Admiral's +party will follow us and, by taking post on the south side of the +river, we shall straiten Paris for provisions."</p> +<p>"Gentlemen," the Count said, when they had issued from the +streets of Montargis, "I can now tell you the mission which the +Admiral has done me the honour to confide to me. It was thought +best to keep the matter an absolute secret, until we were thus +fairly on our way; because, although we hope and believe that there +is not a man at Chatillon who is not to be trusted, there may +possibly be a spy of the Guises there, and it would have been wrong +to run the risk of betrayal.</p> +<p>"Well, my friends, our object is the capture of Orleans."</p> +<p>An exclamation of surprise broke from many of his hearers.</p> +<p>"It seems a bold enterprise to undertake, with but little over +two hundred men," La Noue went on with a smile; "but we have +friends there. D'Andelot has been, for the last ten days, in +communication with one of them. We may, of course, expect to meet +with a stout resistance but, with the advantage of a surprise, and +with so many gallant gentlemen with me, I have no shadow of fear as +to the result. I need not point out to you how important its +possession will be to us. It will keep open a road to the south; +will afford a rallying place for all our friends, in this part of +France; and the news of its capture will give immense encouragement +to our co-religionists throughout the country. Besides, it will +counterbalance the failure to seize the court, and will serve as an +example, to others, to attempt to obtain possession of strong +places.</p> +<p>"We shall ride at an easy pace today, for the distance is long +and the country hilly. We could not hope to arrive there until too +late to finish our work before dark. Moreover, most of our horses +have already had very hard work during the past few days. We have +started early, in order that we may have a halt of four hours in +the middle of the day. We are to be met tonight by our friend, the +Master of Grelot, five miles this side of the city. He will tell us +what arrangements have been made for facilitating our +entrance."</p> +<p>"This is a glorious undertaking, Philip, is it not?" Francois +said. "Until now I have been thinking how unfortunate we were, in +being too late to ride with Conde. Now I see that what I thought +was a loss has turned out a gain."</p> +<p>"You do not think Conde will be able to do anything against +Paris?" Philip asked.</p> +<p>"Certainly not at present. What can some fifteen hundred +horsemen and as many infantry (and he will have no more force than +that, for another three or four days) do against Paris with its +walls and its armed population, and the Guises and their friends +and retainers, to say nothing of the six thousand Swiss? If our +leaders thought they were going to fight at once, they would hardly +have sent two hundred good troops off in another direction. I +expect we shall have plenty of time to get through this and other +expeditions, and then to join the Prince in front of Paris before +any serious fighting takes place."</p> +<p>"Do you know how far it is across the hills to Orleans?" Philip +asked the gentlemen next to him on the other side.</p> +<p>"It is over fifty miles, but how much more I do not know. I am a +native of the province, but I have never travelled along this road, +which can be but little used. East of Montargis the traffic goes by +the great road through Melun to Paris; while the traffic of +Orleans, of course, goes north through Etampes."</p> +<p>They rode on until noon, and then dismounted by a stream, +watered and fed the horses, partook of a meal from the contents of +their saddlebags, and then rested for four hours to recruit the +strength of their horses. The soldiers mostly stretched themselves +on the sward and slept. A few of the gentlemen did the same, but +most of them sat chatting in groups, discussing the enterprise upon +which they were engaged.</p> +<p>Francois and Philip went among their men with Captain Montpace, +inspected the horses, examined their shoes, saw that fresh nails +were put in where required, chatting with the men as they did +so.</p> +<p>"I felt sure we should not be long before we were engaged on +some stirring business," the Captain said. "The Count de la Noue is +not one to let the grass grow under his feet. I saw much of him in +the last campaign; and the count, your father, had a very high +opinion of his military abilities. At first he was looked upon +somewhat doubtfully in our camp, seeing that he did not keep a long +face, but was ready with a jest and a laugh with high and low, and +that he did not affect the soberness of costume favoured by our +party; but that soon passed off, when it was seen how zealous he +was in the cause, how ready to share in any dangerous business; +while he set an example to all, by the cheerfulness with which he +bore fatigue and hardship. Next to the Admiral himself, and his +brother D'Andelot, there was no officer more highly thought of by +the troops.</p> +<p>"This is certainly a bold enterprise that he has undertaken now, +if it be true what I have heard, since we halted, that we are going +to make a dash at Orleans. It is a big city for two hundred men to +capture; even though, no doubt, we have numbers of friends within +the walls."</p> +<p>"All the more glory and credit to us, Montpace," Francois said +gaily. "Why, the news that Orleans is captured will send a thrill +through France, and will everywhere encourage our friends to rise +against our oppressors. We are sure to take them by surprise, for +they will believe that all the Huguenots in this part of France are +hastening to join the Prince before Paris."</p> +<p>At four o'clock the party got in motion again and, an hour after +dark, entered a little village among the hills, about five miles +north of the town. De la Noue at once placed a cordon of sentries, +with orders that neither man, woman, nor child was to be allowed to +leave it. Orders were issued, to the startled peasants, that all +were to keep within their doors, at the peril of their lives. The +horses were picketed in the street, and the soldiers stowed in +barns; trusses of straw were strewn round a fire for La Noue, and +the gentlemen who followed him.</p> +<p>At eight o'clock two videttes, thrown forward some distance +along the road, rode in with a horseman. It was the Master of +Grelot who, as he rode up to the fire, was heartily greeted by the +Count.</p> +<p>"I am glad to find you here, Count," he said. "I knew you to be +a man of your word, but in warfare things often occur to upset the +best calculations."</p> +<p>"Is everything going on well at Orleans?" De la Noue asked.</p> +<p>"Everything. I have made all my arrangements. A party of +five-and-twenty men I can depend on will, tomorrow morning at seven +o'clock, gather near the gate this side of the town. They will come +up in twos and threes and, just as the guard are occupied in +unbarring the gate, they will fall upon them. The guard is fifteen +strong and, as they will be taken by surprise, they will be able to +offer but a faint resistance.</p> +<p>"Of course, you with your troop will be lying in readiness near. +As soon as they have taken possession of the gateway, the party +will issue out and wave a white flag, as a signal to you that all +is clear; and you will be in before the news that the gateway has +been seized can spread. After that you will know what to do. In +addition to the men who are to carry out the enterprise, you will +shortly be joined by many others. Word has been sent round to our +partisans that they may speedily expect deliverance; and bidding +them be prepared, whenever they are called upon, to take up their +arms and join those who come to free them.</p> +<p>"A large number of the town folk are secretly either wholly with +us or well disposed towards us; and, although some will doubtless +take up arms on the other side, I think that, with the advantage of +the surprise, and with such assistance as our party can give you, +there is every chance of bringing the enterprise to a successful +issue.</p> +<p>"One of our friends, who has a residence within a bow shot of +the gates, has arranged with me that your troop, arriving there +before daylight, shall at once enter his grounds, where they will +be concealed from the sight of any country people going towards the +city. From the upper windows the signal can be seen and, if you are +mounted and ready, you can be there in three or four minutes; and +it will take longer than that before the alarm can spread, and the +Catholics muster strongly enough to recapture the gate."</p> +<p>"Admirably arranged," the Count said warmly. "With a plan so +well laid, our scheme can hardly fail of success. If we only do our +part as well as you have done yours, Orleans is as good as won.</p> +<p>"Now, gentlemen, I advise you to toss off one more goblet of +wine, and then to wrap yourselves up in your cloaks for a few +hours' sleep. We must be in the saddle soon after four, so as to be +off the road by five."</p> +<p>At that hour the troop, led by the Master of Grelot, turned in +at the gate of the chateau. The owner was awaiting them, and gave +them a cordial welcome. The men were ordered to dismount and stand +by their horses, while the leaders followed their host into the +house, where a repast had been laid out for them; while some +servitors took out baskets of bread and flagons of wine to the +troopers.</p> +<p>At half-past six groups of countrymen were seen, making their +way along the road towards the gate and, a quarter of an hour +later, the troop mounted and formed up, in readiness to issue out +as soon as the signal was given; their host placing himself at an +upper window, whence he could obtain a view of the city gate.</p> +<p>It was just seven when he called out "The gate is opening!" and +immediately afterwards, "They have begun the work. The country +people outside are running away in a panic.</p> +<p>"Ah! there is the white flag."</p> +<p>Two servitors at the gate of the chateau threw it open and, +headed by La Noue and the gentlemen of the party, they issued out +and galloped down the road at full speed. As they approached the +gate some men ran out, waving their caps and swords.</p> +<p>"Well done!" La Noue exclaimed, as he rode up. "Now, scatter and +call out all our friends to aid us in the capture."</p> +<p>The troop had been already divided into four parties, each led +by gentlemen familiar with the town. Francois and Philip, with the +men from Laville, formed the party led by the Count himself. The +news of the tumult at the gate had spread and, just as they reached +the marketplace, a body of horsemen, equal in strength to their +own, rode towards them.</p> +<p>"For God and the religion!" La Noue shouted, as he led the +charge.</p> +<p>Ignorant of the strength of their assailants, and having mounted +in haste at the first alarm, the opposing band hesitated; and +before they could set their horses into a gallop, the Huguenots +were upon them. The impetus of the charge was irresistible. Men and +horses rolled over, while those in the rear turned and rode away; +and the combat was over before scarce a blow had been struck.</p> +<p>A party of infantry, hastening up, were next encountered. These +offered a more stubborn resistance, but threw down their arms and +surrendered, when another of the Huguenot parties rode into the +square.</p> +<p>At the sound of the conflict the upper windows of the houses +were opened, and the citizens looked out in alarm at the struggle. +But the Catholics, having neither orders nor plan, dared not +venture out; while the Huguenots mustered rapidly, with arms in +their hands; and rendered valuable assistance to the horsemen, in +attacking and putting to flight the parties of Catholic horse and +foot, as they came hurriedly up.</p> +<p>In an hour all resistance had ceased and Orleans was taken. The +Count at once issued a proclamation to the citizens, assuring all +peaceable persons of protection; and guaranteeing to the citizens +immunity from all interference with personal property, and the +right of full exercise of their religion. The charge of the gates +was given over to the Huguenot citizens. Parties of horse were told +off to patrol the streets, to see that order was preserved, and to +arrest any using threats or violence to the citizens; and in a very +few hours the town resumed its usual appearance.</p> +<p>Now that all fear of persecution was at an end, large numbers of +the citizens, who had hitherto concealed their leanings towards the +new religion, openly avowed them; and La Noue saw with satisfaction +that the town could be safely left to the keeping of the Huguenot +adherents, with the assistance only of a few men to act as leaders. +These he selected from the gentlemen of the province who had come +with him and, as soon as these had entered upon their duties, he +felt free to turn his attention elsewhere.</p> +<p>Two days were spent in appointing a council of the leading +citizens, the Huguenots of course being in the majority. To them +was intrusted the management of the affairs of the town, and the +maintenance of order. The young nobleman appointed as governor was +to have entire charge of military matters. All Huguenots capable of +bearing arms were to be formed up in companies, each of which was +to appoint its own officers. They were to practise military +exercises, to have charge of the gates and walls, and to be +prepared to defend them, in case a hostile force should lay siege +to the city.</p> +<p>Three of the nobles were appointed to see to the victualling of +the town; and all citizens were called upon to contribute a sum, +according to their means, for this purpose. A few old soldiers were +left to drill the new levies, to see that the walls were placed in +a thorough condition of defence, and above all to aid the leaders +in suppressing any attempt at the ill-treatment of Catholics, or +the desecration of their churches, by the Huguenot portion of the +population.</p> +<p>When all arrangements were made for the peace and safety of the +town, De la Noue despatched most of the gentlemen with him, and +their followers, to join the Prince of Conde before Paris; +retaining only his Cousin Francois, Philip, the troop from Laville, +and his own band of forty men-at-arms.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch6" id="Ch6">Chapter 6</a>: The Battle Of Saint +Denis.</h2> +<p>Francois de Laville and Philip had fought by the side of La +Noue, in the engagement in the streets of Orleans; but had seen +little of the Count afterwards, his time being fully employed in +completing the various arrangements to ensure the safety of the +town. They had been lodged in the house of one of the Huguenot +citizens, and had spent their time walking about the town, or in +the society of some of the younger gentlemen of their party.</p> +<p>"Are you both ready for service again?" the Count de la Noue, +who had sent for them to come to his lodgings, asked on the evening +of the third day after the capture of Orleans.</p> +<p>"Quite ready," Francois replied. "The horses have all recovered +from their fatigue, and are in condition for a fresh start. Are we +bound for Paris, may I ask?"</p> +<p>"No, Francois, we are going on a recruiting tour: partly because +we want men, but more to encourage our people by the sight of an +armed party, and to show the Catholics that they had best stay +their hands, and leave us alone for the present.</p> +<p>"I take a hundred men with me, including your troop and my own, +which I hope largely to increase. Sometimes we shall keep in a +body, sometimes break up into two or three parties. Always we shall +move rapidly, so as to appear where least expected, and so spread +uneasiness as to where we may next appear.</p> +<p>"In the south we are, as I hear, holding our own. I shall +therefore go first to Brittany and, if all is quiet, there raise +another fifty men. We shall travel through Touraine and Anjou as we +go, and then sweep round by Normandy and La Perche, and so up to +Paris.</p> +<p>"So you see, we shall put a good many miles of ground under our +feet, before we join the Prince. In that way not only shall we +swell our numbers and encourage our friends, but we shall deter +many of the Catholic gentry from sending their retainers to join +the army of the Guises."</p> +<p>"It will be a pleasant ride, cousin," Francois said, "and I hope +that we shall have an opportunity of doing some good work, before +we reach Paris; and especially that we shall not arrive there too +late to join in the coming battle."</p> +<p>"I do not think that there is much fear of that," the Count +replied. "The Prince has not sufficient strength to attack Paris. +And for my part, I think that it would have been far better, when +it was found that his plan of seizing the court had failed, to have +drawn off at once. He can do nothing against Paris, and his +presence before it will only incite the inhabitants against us, and +increase their animosity. It would have been better to have applied +the force in reducing several strong towns where, as at Orleans, +the bulk of the inhabitants are favourable to us. In this way we +should weaken the enemy, strengthen ourselves, and provide places +of refuge for our people in case of need. However, it is too late +for such regrets. The Prince is there, and we must take him what +succour we can.</p> +<p>"I was pleased with you both, in the fights upon the day we +entered. You both behaved like brave gentlemen and good swordsmen. +I expected no less from you, Francois; but I was surprised to find +your English cousin so skilled with his weapon."</p> +<p>"He is a better swordsman than I am," Francois said; "which is a +shame to me, since he is two years my junior."</p> +<p>"Is he indeed!" the Count said in surprise. "I had taken him to +be at least your equal in years. Let me think, you are but eighteen +and some months?"</p> +<p>"But a month over eighteen," Francois said, "and Philip has but +just passed sixteen."</p> +<p>"You will make a doughty warrior when you attain your full +strength, Philip. I saw you put aside a thrust from an officer in +the melee, and strike him from his horse with a backhanded cut with +your sword, dealt with a vigour that left nothing to be +desired."</p> +<p>"I know that I am too fond of using the edge, sir," Philip said, +modestly. "My English masters taught me to do so and, although my +French instructors at home were always impressing upon me that the +point was more deadly than the edge, I cannot break myself +altogether from the habit."</p> +<p>"There is no need to do so," the Count said. "Of late the point +has come into fashion among us, and doubtless it has advantages; +but often a downright blow will fetch a man from his saddle, when +you would in vain try to find, with the point, a joint in his +armour. But you must have been well taught, indeed, if you are a +better swordsman than my cousin; whose powers I have tried at +Laville, and found him to be an excellent swordsman, for his +age."</p> +<p>"I have had many masters," Philip said. "Both my French and +English teachers were good swordsmen; and it was seldom a Frenchman +who had been in the wars passed through Canterbury, that my uncle +did not engage him to give me a few lessons. Thus, being myself +very anxious to become a good swordsman, and being fond of +exercises, I naturally picked up a great many tricks with the +sword."</p> +<p>"You could not have spent your time better, if you had an +intention of coming over to take part in our troubles here. Your +grandfather, De Moulins, was said to be one of the best swordsmen +in France; and you may have inherited some of his skill. I own that +I felt rather uneasy at the charge of two such young cockerels, +though I could not refuse when the countess, my aunt, begged me to +let you ride with me; but in future I shall feel easy about you, +seeing that you can both take your own parts stoutly.</p> +<p>"Well, order your men to be ready and mounted, in the +marketplace, at half-past five. The west gate will be opened for us +to ride forth at six."</p> +<p>Philip had every reason to be satisfied with the conduct of his +new servant. In the town, as at Laville, Pierre behaved +circumspectly and quietly; assuming a grave countenance in +accordance with his surroundings, keeping his arms and armour +brightly polished, and waiting at table as orderly as if he had +been used to nothing else all his life.</p> +<p>"I am glad to hear it, sir," Pierre said, when Philip informed +him that they would start on the following morning. "I love not +towns; and here, where there is nought to do but to polish your +armour, and stand behind your chair at dinner, the time goes mighty +heavily."</p> +<p>"You will have no cause to grumble on that account, Pierre, I +fancy, for your ride will be a long one. I do not expect we shall +often have a roof over our heads."</p> +<p>"All the better, sir, so long as the ride finishes before the +cold weather sets in. Fond as I am of sleeping with the stars over +me; I own that, when the snow is on the ground, I prefer a roof +over my head."</p> +<p>At six o'clock the party started. Only two other gentlemen rode +with it, both of whom were, like the Count, from Brittany. The +little group chatted gaily as they rode along. Unless they happened +to encounter parties of Catholics going north, to join the royal +army, there was, so far as they knew, no chance of their meeting +any body of the enemy on their westward ride.</p> +<p>The towns of Vendome, Le Mans, and Laval were all strongly +Catholic, and devoted to the Guises. These must be skirted. Rennes +in Brittany must also be avoided, for all these towns were strongly +garrisoned, and could turn out a force far too strong for La Noue +to cope with.</p> +<p>Upon the march, Pierre was not only an invaluable servant but +the life of the troop; he being full of fun and frolic, and making +even the gravest soldier smile at his sallies. When they halted, he +was indefatigable in seeing after Philip's comforts. He cut boughs +of the trees best suited for the purpose of making a couch, and +surprised his master and Francois by his ingenuity in turning out +excellent dishes from the scantiest materials. He would steal away +in the night to procure fowls and eggs from neighbouring farmhouses +and, although Philip's orders were that he was to pay the full +price for everything he required, Philip found, when he gave an +account a fortnight later of how he had spent the money he had +given him, that there was no mention of any payment for these +articles. When he rated Pierre for this, the latter replied:</p> +<p>"I did not pay for them, sir. Not in order to save you money, +but for the sake of the farmers and their families. It would have +been worse than cruelty to have aroused them from sleep. The loss +of a fowl or two, and of a dozen eggs, were nothing to them. If +they missed them at all, they would say that a fox had been there, +and they would think no more of it. If, on the other hand, I had +waked them up in the middle of the night to pay for these trifles, +they would have been scared out of their life; thinking, when I +knocked, that some band of robbers was at the door. In their anger +at being thus disturbed they would have been capable of shooting +me; and it is well nigh certain that, at any rate, they would have +refused to sell their chickens and eggs at that time of the +night.</p> +<p>"So you see, sir, I acted for the best for all parties. Two +chickens out of scores was a loss not worth thinking of, while the +women escaped the panic and terror that my waking them up would +have caused them. When I can pay I will assuredly do so, since that +is your desire; but I am sure you will see that, under such +circumstances, it would be a crime to wake people from their sleep +for the sake of a few sous."</p> +<p>Philip laughed.</p> +<p>"Besides, sir," Pierre went on, "these people were either +Huguenots or Catholics. If they were Huguenots, they would be right +glad to minister to those who are fighting on their behalf. If they +were Catholics, they would rob and murder us without mercy. +Therefore they may think themselves fortunate, indeed, to escape at +so trifling a cost from the punishment they deserve."</p> +<p>"That is all very well, Pierre; but the orders are strict +against plundering and, if the Admiral were to catch you, you would +get a sound thrashing with a stirrup leather."</p> +<p>"I have risked worse than that, sir, many times in my life; and +if I am caught, I will give them leave to use the strap. But you +will see, Monsieur Philip, that if the war goes on these niceties +will soon become out of fashion. At present the Huguenot lords and +gentlemen have money in their pockets to pay for what they want, +but after a time money will become scarce. They will see that the +armies of the king live on plunder, as armies generally do; and +when cash runs short, they will have to shut their eyes and let the +men provide themselves as best they can."</p> +<p>"I hope the war won't last long enough for that, Pierre. But at +any rate, we have money in our pockets at present, and can pay for +what we require; though I do not pretend that it is a serious +matter to take a hen out of a coop, especially when you can't get +it otherwise, without, as you say, alarming a whole family. +However, remember my orders are that everything we want is to be +paid for."</p> +<p>"I understand, sir, and you will see that the next time we +reckon up accounts every item shall be charged for, so that there +will be nothing on your conscience."</p> +<p>Philip laughed again.</p> +<p>"I shall be content if that is the case, Pierre; and I hope that +your conscience will be as clear as mine will be."</p> +<p>On the third of November, just a month after leaving Orleans, De +La Noue, with his troop augmented to three hundred, joined the +Prince of Conde before Paris. During the interval, he had traversed +the west of France by the route he had marked out for himself, had +raised fifty more men among the Huguenots of Brittany, and had been +joined on the route by many gentlemen with parties of their +retainers.</p> +<p>Several bodies of Catholics had been met and dispersed. Two or +three small towns, where the Huguenots had been ill treated and +massacred, were entered. The ringleaders in the persecutions had +been hung, and the authorities had been compelled to pay a heavy +fine, under threat of the whole town being committed to the flames. +Everywhere he passed La Noue had caused proclamations to be +scattered far and wide, to the effect that any ill treatment of +Huguenots would be followed by his return, and by the heaviest +punishment being inflicted upon all who molested them.</p> +<p>And so, having given great encouragement to the Huguenots, and +scattered terror among their persecutors; having ridden great +distances, and astonished the people of the western provinces by +his energy and activity; La Noue joined the Prince of Conde, with +three hundred men. He was heartily welcomed on his arrival at the +Huguenot camp at Saint Denis.</p> +<p>Francois de Laville and Philip Fletcher had thoroughly enjoyed +the expedition. They had often been in the saddle from early +morning to late at night; and had felt the benefit of having each +two horses as, when the party halted for a day or two, they were +often sent out with half their troop to visit distant places--to +see friends; to bring into the camp magistrates, and others, who +had been foremost in stirring up the people to attack the +Huguenots; to enter small towns, throw open prisons and carry off +the Huguenots confined there; and occasionally to hang the leaders +of local massacres. In these cases they were always accompanied by +one or other of the older leaders, in command of the party.</p> +<p>Their spare chargers enabled them to be on horseback every day, +while half the troop rested in turn. Sometimes their halts were +made in small towns and villages, but more often they bivouacked in +the open country; being thus, the Count considered, more watchful +and less apt to be surprised.</p> +<p>On their return from these expeditions, Pierre always had a meal +prepared for them. In addition to the rations of meat and bread, +chicken and eggs, he often contrived to serve up other and daintier +food. His old poaching habits were not forgotten. As soon as the +camp was formed, he would go out and set snares for hares, traps +for birds, and lay lines in the nearest stream; while fish and +game, of some sort, were generally added to the fare.</p> +<p>"Upon my word," the Count, who sometimes rode with them, said +one evening, "this varlet of yours, Master Philip, is an invaluable +fellow; and Conde, himself, cannot be better served than you are. I +have half a mind to take him away from you, and to appoint him +Provider-in-General to our camp. I warrant me he never learned thus +to provide a table, honestly; he must have all the tricks of a +poacher at his fingers' end."</p> +<p>"I fancy, when he was young, he had to shift a good deal for +himself, sir," Philip replied.</p> +<p>"I thought so," La Noue laughed. "I marked him once or twice, +behind your chair at Orleans; and methought, then, that he looked +too grave to be honest; and there was a twinkle in his eye, that +accorded badly with the gravity of his face, and his sober +attire.</p> +<p>"Well, there can be no doubt that, in war, a man who has a spice +of the rogue in him makes the best of servants; provided he is but +faithful to his master, and respects his goods, if he does those of +no one else. Your rogue is necessarily a man of resources; and one +of that kind will, on a campaign, make his master comfortable, +where one with an over-scrupulous varlet will well-nigh starve. I +had such a man, when I was with Brissac in Northern Italy; but one +day he went out, and never returned. Whether a provost marshal did +me the ill service of hanging him, or whether he was shot by the +peasants, I never knew; but I missed him sorely, and often went +fasting to bed, when I should have had a good supper had he been +with me.</p> +<p>"It is lucky for you both that you haven't to depend upon that +grim-visaged varlet of Francois'. I have no doubt that the countess +thought she was doing well by my cousin, when she appointed him to +go with him, and I can believe that he would give his life for him; +but for all that, if you had to depend upon him for your meals, you +would fare badly, indeed."</p> +<p>De la Noue was much disappointed, on joining the Prince, at +finding that the latter's force had not swollen to larger +dimensions. He had with him, after the arrival of the force the +Count had brought from the west, but two thousand horse. Of these a +large proportion were gentlemen, attended only by a few personal +retainers. A fifth only were provided with lances, and a large +number had no defensive armour. Of foot soldiers he had about the +same number as of horse, and of these about half were armed with +arquebuses, the rest being pikemen.</p> +<p>The force under the command of the Constable de Montmorency, +inside the walls of Paris, was known to be enormously superior in +strength; and the Huguenots were unable to understand why he did +not come out to give them battle. They knew, however, that Count +Aremberg was on his way from the Netherlands, with seventeen +hundred horse, sent by the Duke of Alva to the support of the +Catholics; and they supposed that Montmorency was waiting for this +reinforcement.</p> +<p>On the 9th of November news arrived that Aremberg was +approaching, and D'Andelot, with five hundred horse and eight +hundred of the best-trained arquebusiers, was despatched to seize +Poissy, and so prevent Aremberg entering Paris.</p> +<p>The next morning the Constable, learning that Conde had weakened +his army by this detachment, marched out from Paris. Seldom have +two European armies met with a greater disparity of numbers; for +while Conde had but fifteen hundred horse and twelve hundred foot, +the Constable marched out with sixteen thousand infantry, of whom +six thousand were Swiss, and three thousand horse. He had eighteen +pieces of artillery, while Conde was without a single cannon.</p> +<p>As soon as this force was seen pouring out from the gates of +Paris, the Huguenot trumpets blew to arms. All wore over their +coats or armour a white scarf, the distinguishing badge of the +Huguenots; and the horsemen were divided into three bodies. De la +Noue and his following formed part of that under the personal +command of Conde.</p> +<p>"We longed to be here in time for this battle, Philip," Francois +said; "but I think this is rather more than we bargained for. They +must be nearly ten to one against us. There is one thing: although +the Swiss are good soldiers, the rest of their infantry are for the +most part Parisians, and though these gentry have proved themselves +very valiant in the massacre of unarmed Huguenot men, women, and +children, I have no belief in their valour, when they have to meet +men with swords in their hands. I would, however, that D'Andelot, +with his five hundred horse and eight hundred arquebusiers, all +picked men, were here with us; even if Aremberg, with his seventeen +hundred horse, were ranged under the Constable.</p> +<p>"As it is, I can hardly believe that Conde and the Admiral will +really lead us against that huge mass. I should think that they can +but be going to manoeuvre so as to fall back in good order, and +show a firm face to the enemy. Their footmen would then be of no +use to them and, as I do not think their horse are more than twice +our strength, we might turn upon them when we get them away from +their infantry, and beyond the range of their cannon."</p> +<p>As soon, however, as the troops were fairly beyond the gates of +Saint Denis, the leaders placed themselves at the head of the three +columns and, with a few inspiring words, led them forward. Coligny +was on the right; La Rochefoucauld, Genlis, and other leaders on +the left; and the column commanded by Conde, himself, in the +centre.</p> +<p>Conde, with a number of nobles and gentlemen, rode in front of +the line. Behind them came the men-at-arms with lances, while those +armed only with swords and pistols followed.</p> +<p>Coligny, on the right, was most advanced, and commenced the +battle by charging furiously down upon the enemy's left.</p> +<p>Facing Conde were the great mass of the Catholic infantry but, +without a moment's hesitation, the little band of but five hundred +horse charged right down upon them. Fortunately for them it was the +Parisians, and not the Swiss, upon whom their assault fell. The +force and impetus of their rush was too much for the Parisians, who +broke at the onset, threw away their arms, and fled in a disorderly +mob towards the gates of Paris.</p> +<p>"Never mind those cowards," the Prince shouted, "there is nobler +game!" and, followed by his troop, he rode at the Constable; who, +with a thousand horse, had taken his post behind the infantry. +Before this body of cavalry could advance to meet the Huguenots, +the latter were among them, and a desperate hand-to-hand melee took +place. Gradually the Huguenots won their way into the mass; +although the old Constable, fighting as stoutly as the youngest +soldier, was setting a splendid example to his troops.</p> +<p>Robert Stuart, a Scotch gentleman in Conde's train, fought his +way up to him and demanded his surrender. The Constable's reply was +a blow with the hilt of the sword which nearly struck Stuart from +his horse, knocking out three of his teeth. A moment later the +Constable was struck by a pistol ball, but whether it was fired by +Stuart himself, or one of the gentlemen by his side, was never +known. The Constable fell, but the fight still raged.</p> +<p>The Royalists, recovered from the first shock, were now pressing +their adversaries. Conde's horse was shot by a musket ball and, in +falling, pinned him to the ground so that he was unable to +extricate himself. De la Noue, followed by Francois and Philip, who +were fighting by his side, and other gentlemen, saw his peril and, +rushing forward, drove back Conde's assailants. Two gentlemen, +leaping from their horses, extricated the Prince from his fallen +steed and, after hard fighting, placed him on a horse before one of +them; and the troops, repulsing every attack made on them, fell +slowly back to Saint Denis.</p> +<p>On the right, Coligny had more than held his own against the +enemy; but on the left the Huguenots, encountering Marshal de +Montmorency, the eldest son of the Constable, and suffering heavily +from the arquebus and artillery fire, had been repulsed; and the +Catholics here had gained considerable advantages. The flight of a +large portion of the infantry, and the disorder caused in the +cavalry by the charges of Conde and Coligny, prevented the Marshal +from following up his advantage; and as the Huguenots fell back +upon Saint Denis the Royalists retired into Paris, where the +wounded Constable had already been carried.</p> +<p>Victory was claimed by both sides, but belonged to neither. Each +party had lost about four hundred men, a matter of much greater +consequence to the Huguenots than to the Catholics, the more so as +a large proportion of the slain on their side were gentlemen of +rank. Upon the other hand the loss of the Constable, who died next +day, paralysed for a time the Catholic forces.</p> +<p>A staunch and even bigoted Catholic, and opposed to any terms of +toleration being granted to the Huguenots, he was opposed to the +ambition of the Guises; and was the head of the Royalist party, as +distinguished from that of Lorraine. Catharine, who was the moving +spirit of the court, hesitated to give the power he possessed, as +Constable, into hands that might use it against her; and persuaded +the king to bestow the supreme command of the army upon his +brother, Henri, Duke of Anjou. The divisions in the court, caused +by the death of the Constable and the question of his successor, +prevented any fresh movements of the army; and enabled the Prince +of Conde, after being rejoined by D'Andelot's force, to retire +unmolested three days after the battle; the advanced guard of the +Royalists having been driven back into Paris by D'Andelot on his +return when, in his disappointment at being absent from the battle, +he fell fiercely upon the enemy, and pursued them hotly to the +gates, burning several windmills close under the walls.</p> +<p>On the evening of the battle De la Noue had presented his cousin +and Philip to the Prince, speaking in high terms of the bravery +they displayed in the battle, and they had received Conde's thanks +for the part they had taken in his rescue from the hands of the +Catholics. The Count himself had praised them highly, but had +gently chided Francois for the rashness he had shown.</p> +<p>"It is well to be brave, Francois, but that is not enough. A man +who is brave without being prudent may, with fortune, escape as you +have done from a battle without serious wounds; but he cannot hope +for such fortune many times, and his life would be a very short +one. Several times today you were some lengths ahead of me in the +melee; and once or twice I thought you lost, for I was too closely +pressed, myself, to render you assistance. It was the confusion, +alone, that saved you.</p> +<p>"Your life is a valuable one. You are the head of an old family, +and have no right to throw your life away. Nothing could have been +more gallant than your behaviour, Francois; but you must learn to +temper bravery by prudence.</p> +<p>"Your cousin showed his English blood and breeding. When we +charged he was half a length behind me, and at that distance he +remained through the fight; except when I was very hotly pressed, +when he at once closed up beside me. More than once I glanced round +at him, and he was fighting with the coolness of a veteran. It was +he who called my attention to Conde's fall which, in the melee, +might have passed unnoticed by me until it was too late to save +him. He kept his pistols in his holsters throughout the fray; and +it was only when they pressed us so hotly, as we were carrying off +the Prince, that he used them; and, as I observed, with effect. I +doubt if there was a pistol save his undischarged, at that time. +They were a reserve that he maintained for the crisis of the +fight.</p> +<p>"Master Philip, I trust that you will have but small opportunity +for winning distinction in this wretched struggle; but were it to +last, which heaven forbid, I should say that you would make a name +for yourself; as assuredly will my cousin Francois, if he were to +temper his enthusiasm with coolness."</p> +<p>The evening before the Huguenots retired from Saint Denis, the +Count sent for Francois and his cousin.</p> +<p>"As you will have heard," he said, "we retire tomorrow morning. +We have done all, and more than all, that could have been expected +from such a force. We have kept Paris shut up for ten weeks, and +have maintained our position in face of a force, commanded by the +Constable of France, of well-nigh tenfold our strength.</p> +<p>"We are now going to march east, to effect a junction with a +force under Duke Casimir. He is to bring us over six thousand +horse, three thousand foot, and four cannon. The march will be +toilsome; but the Admiral's skill will, I doubt not, enable us to +elude the force with which the enemy will try to bar our way.</p> +<p>"The Admiral is sending off the Sieur D'Arblay, whom you both +know, to the south of France, in order that he may explain to our +friends there the reason for our movement to the east; for +otherwise the news, that we have broken up from before Paris, may +cause great discouragement. I have proposed to him that you should +both accompany him. You have frequently ridden under his orders, +during our expedition to the west, and he knows your qualities.</p> +<p>"He has gladly consented to receive you as his companions. It +will be pleasant for him to have two gentlemen with him. He takes +with him his own following, of eight men; six of his band fell in +the battle. The Admiral is of opinion that this is somewhat too +small a force for safety; but if you each take the four men-at-arms +who ride behind you, it will double his force. Two of yours fell in +the fight, I believe, Francois."</p> +<p>"I have taken two others from the troop to fill their +places."</p> +<p>"Your men all came out of it, Philip, did they not?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sir. They were all wounded, but none of them seriously, +and are all fit to ride."</p> +<p>"You will understand, Francois, that in separating you from +myself I am doing so for your sakes, alone. It will be the +Admiral's policy to avoid fighting. Winter is close upon us, and +the work will be hard and toilsome; and doubtless, ere we effect a +junction with the Germans, very many will succumb to cold and +hardship. You are not as yet inured to this work, and I would +rather not run the risk of your careers ending from such +causes.</p> +<p>"If I thought there was a prospect of fighting I should keep you +with me but, being as it is, I think it better you should accompany +the Sieur D'Arblay. The mission is a dangerous one, and will demand +activity, energy, and courage, all of which you possess; but in the +south you will have neither cold nor famine to contend with, and +far greater opportunities, maybe, of gaining credit than you would +in an army like this where, as they have proved to the enemy, every +man is brave.</p> +<p>"Another reason, I may own, is that in this case I consider your +youth to be an advantage. We could hardly have sent one gentleman +on such a mission, alone; and with two of equal rank and age, each +with eight followers, difficulties and dissensions might have +arisen; while you would both be content to accept the orders of the +Sieur D'Arblay without discussion, and to look up to him as the +leader of your party."</p> +<p>Although they would rather have remained with the army, the lads +at once thanked the Count; and stated their willingness to +accompany the Sieur D'Arblay, whom they both knew and liked--being, +like De la Noue, cheerful and of good spirits; not deeming it +necessary to maintain at all times a stern and grave aspect, or a +ruggedness of manner, as well as sombre garments.</p> +<p>De la Noue at once took them across to D'Arblay's tent.</p> +<p>"My cousin and his kinsman will gladly ride with you, and place +themselves under your orders, D'Arblay. I can warmly commend them +to you. Though they are young I can guarantee that you will find +them, if it comes to blows, as useful as most men ten years their +senior; and on any mission that you may intrust to them, I think +that you can rely upon their discretion; but of that you will judge +for yourself, when you know somewhat more of them. They will take +with them eight men-at-arms, all of whom will be stout fellows; so +that, with your own men, you can traverse the country without fear +of any party you are likely to fall in with."</p> +<p>"I shall be glad to have your cousin and his kinsman with me," +D'Arblay said courteously. "Between you and I, De la Noue, I would +infinitely rather have two bright young fellows of spirit than one +of our tough old warriors, who deem it sinful to smile, and have +got a text handy for every occasion. It is not a very bright world +for us, at present; and I see not the use of making it sadder, by +always wearing a gloomy countenance."</p> +<p>The next morning the party started, and rode south. Avoiding the +places held by the Catholics, they visited many of the chateaux of +Huguenot gentlemen, to whom D'Arblay communicated the instructions +he had received, from the Admiral, as to the assemblage of troops, +and the necessity for raising such a force as would compel the +Royalists to keep a considerable army in the south, and so lessen +the number who would gather to oppose his march eastward.</p> +<p>After stopping for a short time in Navarre, and communicating +with some of the principal leaders in that little kingdom, they +turned eastward. They were now passing through a part of the +country where party spirit was extremely bitter, and were obliged +to use some caution, as they were charged to communicate with men +who were secretly well affected to the cause; but who, living +within reach of the bigoted parliament of Toulouse, dared not +openly avow their faith.</p> +<p>Toulouse had, from the time the troubles first began, +distinguished itself for the ferocity with which it had persecuted +the Huguenots; yielding obedience to the various royal edicts of +toleration most reluctantly, and sometimes openly disobeying them. +Thus, for many miles round the city, those of the Reformed faith +lived in continual dread; conducting their worship with extreme +secrecy, when some pastor in disguise visited the neighbourhood, +and outwardly conforming to the rites of the Catholic church. Many, +however, only needed the approach of a Huguenot army to throw off +the mask and take up arms; and it was with these that D'Arblay was +specially charged to communicate. Great caution was needed in doing +this, as the visit of a party of Huguenots would, if denounced, +have called down upon them the vengeance of the parliament; who +were animated not only by hatred of the Huguenots, but by the +desire of enriching themselves by the confiscation of the estates +and goods of those they persecuted.</p> +<p>The visits, consequently, were generally made after nightfall; +the men-at-arms being left a mile or two away. D'Arblay found +everywhere a fierce desire to join in the struggle, restrained only +by the fear of the consequences to wives and families, during +absence.</p> +<p>"Send an army capable of besieging and capturing Toulouse, and +there is not one of us who will not rise and give his blood for the +cause, putting into the field every man he can raise, and spending +his last crown; but unless such a force approaches, we dare not +move. We know that we are strictly watched and that, on the +smallest pretext, we and our families would be dragged to prison. +Tell the Admiral that our hearts and our prayers are with him, and +that nothing in the world would please us so much as to be fighting +under his banner; but until there is a hope of capturing Toulouse, +we dare not move."</p> +<p>Such was the answer at every castle, chateau, and farmhouse +where they called. Many of the Huguenots contributed not only the +money they had in their houses, but their plate and jewels; for +money was, above all things, needed to fulfil the engagements the +Admiral had made with the German mercenaries who were on their +march to join him.</p> +<p>Sometimes Philip and Francois both accompanied their leader on +his visits. Sometimes they went separately, for they were always +able to obtain, from the leading men, the names of neighbours who +were favourable to the cause. In the way of money they succeeded +beyond their expectations for, as the gentlemen in the district had +not, like those where the parties were more equally divided, +impoverished themselves by placing their retainers in the field, +they were able to contribute comparatively large sums to the cause +they had at heart.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch7" id="Ch7">Chapter 7</a>: A Rescue.</h2> +<p>D'Arblay and his two companions had been engaged, for ten days, +in visiting the Huguenots within a circuit of four or five leagues +round Toulouse, when they learned that their movements had been +reported to the authorities there. They had one day halted as usual +in a wood, when the soldier on the lookout ran in and reported that +a body of horsemen, some forty or fifty strong, were approaching at +a gallop by the road from the city.</p> +<p>"They may not be after us," D'Arblay said, "but at any rate, +they shall not catch us napping."</p> +<p>Girths were hastily tightened, armour buckled on, and all took +their places in their saddles. It was too late to retreat, for the +wood was a small one, and the country around open. As the horsemen +approached the wood they slackened speed; and presently halted, +facing it.</p> +<p>"Some spy has tracked us here," D'Arblay said; "but it is one +thing to track the game, another to capture it. Let us see what +these gentlemen of Toulouse are going to do. I have no doubt that +they know our number accurately enough, and if they divide, as I +hope they will, we shall be able to give them a lesson."</p> +<p>This was evidently the intention of the Catholics. After a short +pause an officer trotted off with half the troop, making a circuit +to come down behind the wood and cut off all retreat. As they moved +off, the Huguenots could count that there were twenty-five men in +each section.</p> +<p>"The odds are only great enough to be agreeable," D'Arblay +laughed. "It is not as it was outside Paris, where they were ten to +one against us. Counting our servants we muster twenty-two, while +that party in front are only four stronger; for that gentleman with +the long robe is probably an official of their parliament, or a +city councillor, and need not be counted. We will wait a couple of +minutes longer, until the other party is fairly out of sight; and +then we will begin the dance."</p> +<p>A minute or two later he gave the word, and the little troop +moved through the trees until nearly at the edge of the wood.</p> +<p>"Now, gentlemen, forward," D'Arblay said, "and God aid the +right!"</p> +<p>As in a compact body, headed by the three gentlemen, they burst +suddenly from the wood, there was a shout of dismay; and then loud +orders from the officer of the troop, halted a hundred and fifty +yards away. The men were sitting carelessly on their horses. They +had confidently anticipated taking the Huguenots alive, and thought +of nothing less than that the latter should take the offensive.</p> +<p>Scarcely had they got their horses into motion before the +Huguenots were upon them. The conflict lasted but a minute. Half +the Catholics were cut down; the rest, turning their horses, rode +off at full speed. The Huguenots would have followed them, but +D'Arblay shouted to them to halt.</p> +<p>"You have only done half your work yet," he said. "We have the +other party to deal with."</p> +<p>Only one of his Huguenots had fallen, shot through the head by a +pistol discharged by the officer; who had himself been, a moment +later, run through by D'Arblay, at whom the shot had been aimed. +Gathering his men together, the Huguenot leader rode back and, when +halfway through the wood, they encountered the other party; whose +officer had at once ridden to join the party he had left, when he +heard the pistol shot that told him they were engaged with the +Huguenots. Although not expecting an attack from an enemy they +deemed overmatched by their comrades, the troop, encouraged by +their officer, met the Huguenots stoutly.</p> +<p>The fight was, for a short time, obstinate. Broken up by the +trees, it resolved itself into a series of single combats. The +Huguenot men-at-arms, however, were all tried soldiers; while their +opponents were, rather, accustomed to the slaughter of defenceless +men and women than to a combat with men-at-arms. Coolness and +discipline soon asserted themselves.</p> +<p>Francois and Philip both held their ground, abreast of their +leader; and Philip, by cutting down the lieutenant, brought the +combat to a close. His followers, on seeing their officer fall, at +once lost heart; and those who could do so turned their horses, and +rode off. They were hotly pursued, and six were overtaken and cut +down. Eight had fallen in the conflict in the wood.</p> +<p>"That has been a pretty sharp lesson," D'Arblay said as, leaving +the pursuit to his followers, he reined in his horse at the edge of +the wood. "You both did right gallantly, young sirs. It is no +slight advantage, in a melee of that kind, to be strong in +officers. The fellows fought stoutly, for a short time.</p> +<p>"Had it not been for your despatching their officer, Monsieur +Fletcher, we should not have finished with them so quickly. It was +a right down blow, and heartily given, and fell just at the joint +of the gorget."</p> +<p>"I am sorry that I killed him," Philip replied. "He seemed a +brave gentleman, and was not very many years older than I am, +myself."</p> +<p>"He drew it upon himself," D'Arblay said. "If he had not come +out to take us, he would be alive now.</p> +<p>"Well, as soon as our fellows return we will move round to +Merlincourt, on the other side of the town. There are several of +our friends there, and it is the last place we have to visit. After +this skirmish, we shall find the neighbourhood too hot for us. It +is sure to make a great noise and, at the first gleam of the sun on +helm or breast plate, some Catholic or other will hurry off to +Toulouse with the news. In future we had best take some of the +men-at-arms with us, when we pay our visits, or we may be caught +like rats in a trap."</p> +<p>Making a circuit of twenty miles, they approached Merlincourt +that evening and, establishing themselves as usual in a wood, +remained quiet there next day. After nightfall D'Arblay rode off, +taking with him Francois and five of his own men, and leaving +Philip in command of the rest. The gold and jewels they had +gathered had been divided into three portions, and the bags placed +in the holsters of the saddles of the three lackeys; as these were +less likely to be taken than their masters and, if one were +captured, a portion only of the contributions would be lost. +D'Arblay had arranged that he would not return that night, but +would sleep at the chateau of the gentleman he was going to +visit.</p> +<p>"I will get him to send around to our other friends, in the +morning. The men will return when they see that all is clear. Send +them back to meet us at the chateau, tomorrow night."</p> +<p>The five men returned an hour after they set out, and reported +that all was quiet at Merlincourt; and that the Sieur D'Arblay had +sent a message, to Philip, to move a few miles farther away before +morning, and to return to the wood soon after nightfall.</p> +<p>Philip gave the men six hours to rest themselves and their +horses. They then mounted and rode eight miles farther from +Toulouse, halting before daybreak in a thick copse standing on high +ground, commanding a view of a wide tract of country. Two of the +troopers were sent off to buy provisions in a village, half a mile +away. Two were placed on watch. Some of the others lay down for +another sleep, while Pierre redressed the wounds that five of the +men had received in the fight.</p> +<p>At twelve o'clock one of the lookouts reported that he could +see, away out on the plain, a body of horsemen. Philip at once went +to examine them for himself.</p> +<p>"There must be some two hundred of them, I should say, by the +size of the clump," he remarked to the soldier.</p> +<p>"About that, I should say, sir."</p> +<p>"I expect they are hunting for us," Philip said. "They must have +heard from some villager that we were seen to ride round this way, +the day before yesterday, or they would hardly be hunting in this +neighbourhood for us. It is well we moved in the night.</p> +<p>"I wish the Sieur D'Arblay and the Count de Laville were with +us. No doubt they were hidden away, as soon as the troop was seen, +but one is never secure against treachery."</p> +<p>Philip was restless and uncomfortable all day, and walked about +the wood, impatiently longing for night to come. As soon as it was +dark they mounted, and rode back to the wood near Merlincourt. The +five men were at once sent off to the chateau where they had left +their leaders.</p> +<p>"That is a pistol shot!" Pierre exclaimed, some twenty minutes +after they left.</p> +<p>"I did not hear it. Are you sure, Pierre?"</p> +<p>"Quite sure, sir. At least, I will not swear that it was a +pistol--it might have been an arquebus--but I will swear it was a +shot."</p> +<p>"To your saddle, men," Philip said. "A pistol shot has been +heard, and it may be that your comrades have fallen into an ambush. +Advance to the edge of the wood, and be ready to dash out to +support them, should they come."</p> +<p>But a quarter of an hour passed, and there was no sound to break +the stillness of the evening.</p> +<p>"Shall I go into the village and find out what has taken place, +Monsieur Fletcher? I will leave my iron cap and breast and back +pieces here. I shall not want to fight but to run, and a hare could +not run in these iron pots."</p> +<p>"Do, Pierre. We shall be ready to support you, if you are +chased."</p> +<p>"If I am chased by half a dozen men, I may run here, sir; if by +a strong force, I shall strike across the country. Trust me to +double and throw them off the scent. If I am not back here in an +hour, it will be that I am taken, or have had to trust to my heels; +and you will find me, in the last case, tomorrow morning at the +wood where we halted today. If I do not come soon after daybreak, +you will know that I am either captured or killed. Do not delay for +me longer, but act as seems best to you."</p> +<p>Pierre took off his armour and sped away in the darkness, going +at a trot that would speedily take him to the village.</p> +<p>"Dismount and stand by your horses," Philip ordered. "We may +want all their strength."</p> +<p>Half an hour later Pierre returned, panting.</p> +<p>"I have bad news, sir. I have prowled about the village, which +is full of soldiers, and listened to their talk through open +windows. The Sieur D'Arblay, Monsieur Francois, and the owner of +the chateau and his wife were seized, and carried off to Toulouse +this morning, soon after daybreak. By what I heard, one of the +servants of the chateau was a spy, set by the council of Toulouse +to watch the doings of its owner; and as soon as Monsieur D'Arblay +arrived there last night, he stole out and sent a messenger to +Toulouse. At daybreak the chateau was surrounded, and they were +seized before they had time to offer resistance. The troop of horse +we saw have all day been searching for us, and went back before +nightfall to Merlincourt; thinking that we should be sure to be +going there, sometime or other, to inquire after our captain. The +five men you sent were taken completely by surprise, and all were +killed, though not without a tough fight. A strong party are lying +in ambush with arquebuses, making sure that the rest of the troop +will follow the five they surprised."</p> +<p>"You were not noticed, Pierre, or pursued?"</p> +<p>"No, sir. There were so many men about in the village that one +more stranger attracted no attention."</p> +<p>"Then we can remain here safely for half an hour," Philip +said.</p> +<p>The conversation had taken place a few paces from the troop. +Philip now joined his men.</p> +<p>"The Sieur D'Arblay and Count Francois have been taken +prisoners. Your comrades fell into an ambush, and have, I fear, all +lost their lives. Dismount for half an hour, men, while I think +over what is best to be done. Keep close to your horses, so as to +be in readiness to mount instantly, if necessary. One of you take +my horse.</p> +<p>"Do you come with me, Pierre.</p> +<p>"This is a terrible business, lad," he went on, as they walked +away from the others. "We know what will be the fate of my cousin +and Monsieur D'Arblay. They will be burnt or hung, as heretics. The +first thing is, how are we to get them out; and also, if possible, +the gentleman and his wife who were taken with them?"</p> +<p>"We have but ten of the men-at-arms left, sir; and four of them +are so wounded that they would not count for much, in a fight. +There are the two other lackeys and myself, so we are but fourteen, +in all. If we had arrived in time we might have done something but, +now they are firmly lodged in the prison at Toulouse, I see not +that we can accomplish anything."</p> +<p>Philip fell into silence for some minutes, then he said:</p> +<p>"Many of the councillors and members of parliament live, I +think, in villas outside the walls. If we seize a dozen of them, +appear before the city, and threaten to hang or shoot the whole of +them, if the four captives are not released, we might succeed in +getting our friends into our hands, Pierre."</p> +<p>"That is so, sir. There really seems a hope for us, in that +way."</p> +<p>"Then we will lose no time. We will ride at once for Toulouse. +When we get near the suburbs we will seize some countryman, and +force him to point out to us the houses of the principal +councillors and the members of their parliament. These we will +pounce upon and carry off, and at daybreak will appear with them +before the walls. We will make one of them signify, to their +friends, that if any armed party sallies out through the gates, or +approaches us from behind, it will be the signal for the instant +death of all of our captives.</p> +<p>"Now let us be off, at once."</p> +<p>The party mounted without delay, and rode towards Toulouse. This +rich and powerful city was surrounded by handsome villas and +chateaux, the abode of wealthy citizens and persons of distinction. +At the first house at which they stopped, Philip, with Pierre and +two of the men-at-arms, dismounted and entered. It was the abode of +a small farmer, who cultivated vegetables for the use of the +townsfolk. He had retired to bed with his family, but upon being +summoned came downstairs trembling, fearing that his late visitors +were bandits.</p> +<p>"No harm will be done to you, if you obey our orders," Philip +said; "but if not, we shall make short work of you. I suppose you +know the houses of most of the principal persons who live outside +the walls?"</p> +<p>"Assuredly I do, my lord. There is the President of the +Parliament, and three or four of the principal councillors, and the +Judge of the High Court, and many others, all living within a short +mile of this spot."</p> +<p>"Well, I require you to guide us to their houses. There will be +no occasion for you to show yourself, nor will anyone know that you +have had aught to do with the matter. If you attempt to escape, or +to give the alarm, you will without scruple be shot. If, on the +other hand, we are satisfied with your work, you will have a couple +of crowns for your trouble."</p> +<p>The man, seeing that he had no choice, put a good face on +it.</p> +<p>"I am ready to do as your lordship commands," he said. "I have +no reason for goodwill towards any of these personages, who rule us +harshly, and regard us as if we were dirt under their feet. Shall +we go first to the nearest of them?"</p> +<p>"No, we will first call on the President of the Parliament, and +then the Judge of the High Court, then the councillors in the order +of their rank. We will visit ten in all, and see that you choose +the most important.</p> +<p>"Pierre, you will take charge of this man, and ride in front of +us. Keep your pistol in your hand, and shoot him through the head, +if he shows signs of trying to escape. You will remain with him +when we enter the houses.</p> +<p>"Have you any rope, my man?"</p> +<p>"Yes, my lord, I have several long ropes, with which I bind the +vegetables on my cart when I go to market."</p> +<p>"That will do. Bring them at once."</p> +<p>Pierre accompanied the man when he went to his shed. On his +return with the ropes, Philip told the men-at-arms to cut them into +lengths of eight feet, and to make a running noose at one end of +each. When this was done, they again mounted and moved on.</p> +<p>"When we enter the houses," he said to the two other lackeys, +"you will remain without with Pierre, and will take charge of the +first four prisoners we bring out. Put the nooses round their +necks, and draw them tight enough to let the men feel that they are +there. Fasten the other ends to your saddles, and warn them, if +they put up their hands to throw off the nooses, you will spur your +horses into a gallop. That threat will keep them quiet enough."</p> +<p>In a quarter of an hour they arrived at the gate of a large and +handsome villa. Philip ordered his men to dismount, and fasten up +their horses.</p> +<p>"You will remain here, in charge of the horses," he said to the +lackeys; and then, with the men-at-arms, he went up to the +house.</p> +<p>Two of them were posted at the back entrance, two at the front, +with orders to let no one issue out. Then with his dagger he opened +the shutters of one of the windows and, followed by the other six +men, entered. The door was soon found and, opening it, they found +themselves in a hall where a hanging light was burning.</p> +<p>Several servants were asleep on the floor. These started up, +with exclamations of alarm, at seeing seven men with drawn +swords.</p> +<p>"Silence!" Philip said sternly, "or this will be your last +moment.</p> +<p>"Roger and Jules, do you take each one of these lackeys by the +collar. That is right. Now, put your pistols to their heads.</p> +<p>"Now, my men, lead us at once to your master's chamber.</p> +<p>"Eustace, light one of these torches on the wall at the lamp, +and bring it along with you.</p> +<p>"Henri, do you also come with us.</p> +<p>"The rest of you stay here, and guard these lackeys. Make them +sit down. If any of them move, run him through without +hesitation."</p> +<p>At this moment an angry voice was heard shouting above.</p> +<p>"What is all this disturbance about! If I hear another sound, I +will discharge you all in the morning."</p> +<p>Philip gave a loud and derisive laugh, which had the effect he +had anticipated for, directly afterwards, a man in a loose dressing +gown ran into the hall.</p> +<p>"What does this mean, you rascals?" he shouted angrily, as he +entered.</p> +<p>Then he stopped, petrified with astonishment.</p> +<a id="PicD" name="PicD"></a> +<center><img src="images/d.jpg" alt= +"If you move a step, you are a dead man." /></center> +<p>"It means this," Philip said, levelling a pistol at him, "that +if you move a step, you are a dead man."</p> +<p>"You must be mad," the president gasped. "Do you know who I +am?"</p> +<p>"Perfectly, sir. You are president of the infamous parliament of +Toulouse. I am a Huguenot officer, and you are my prisoner. You +need not look so indignant; better men than you have been dragged +from their homes, to prison and death, by your orders. Now it is +your turn to be a prisoner.</p> +<p>"I might, if I chose, set fire to this chateau, and cut the +throats of all in it; but we do not murder in the name of God. We +leave that to you.</p> +<p>"Take this man away with you, Eustace. I give him into your +charge. If he struggles, or offers the least resistance, stab him +to the heart."</p> +<p>"You will at least give me time to dress, sir?" the president +said.</p> +<p>"Not a moment," Philip replied. "The night is warm, and you will +do very well, as you are.</p> +<p>"As for you," he went on, turning to the servants, "you will +remain quiet until morning; and if any of you dare to leave the +house, you will be slain without mercy. You can assure your +mistress that she will not be long without the society of your +master; for in all probability he will be returned, safe and sound, +before midday tomorrow. One of you may fetch your master's cloak, +since he seems to fear the night air."</p> +<p>The doors were opened and they issued out, Philip bidding the +servants close and bar them behind them. When they reached the +horses, the prisoner was handed over to D'Arblay's lackey, who +placed the noose round his neck, and gave him warning as Philip had +instructed him. Then they set off, Pierre with the guide again +leading the way.</p> +<p>Before morning they had ten prisoners in their hands. In one or +two cases the servants had attempted opposition, but they were +speedily overpowered, and the captures were all effected without +loss of life. The party then moved away about a mile, and the +prisoners were allowed to sit down. Several of them were elderly +men, and Philip picked these out, by the light of two torches they +had brought from the last house, and ordered the ropes to be +removed from their necks.</p> +<p>"I should regret, gentlemen," he said, "the indignity that I +have been forced to place upon you, had you been other than you +are. It is well, however, that you should have felt, though in a +very slight degree, something of the treatment that you have all +been instrumental in inflicting upon blameless men and women, whose +only fault was that they chose to worship God in their own way. You +may thank your good fortune at having fallen into the hands of one +who has had no dear friends murdered in the prisons of Toulouse. +There are scores of men who would have strung you up without mercy, +thinking it a righteous retribution for the pitiless cruelties of +which the parliament of Toulouse has been guilty.</p> +<p>"Happily for you, though I regard you with loathing as pitiless +persecutors, I have no personal wrongs to avenge. Your conscience +will tell you that, fallen as you have into the hands of Huguenots, +you could only expect death; but it is not for the purpose of +punishment that you have been captured. You are taken as hostages. +My friends, the Count de Laville and the Sieur D'Arblay, were +yesterday carried prisoners into Toulouse; and with them Monsieur +de Merouville, whose only fault was that he had afforded them a +night's shelter. His innocent wife was also dragged away with +him.</p> +<p>"You, sir," he said to one of the prisoners, "appear to me to be +the oldest of the party. At daybreak you will be released; and will +bear, to your colleagues in the city, the news that these nine +persons are prisoners in my hands. You will state that, if any body +of men approaches this place from any quarter, these nine persons +will at once be hung up to the branches above us. You will say that +I hold them as hostages for the four prisoners, and that I demand +that these shall be sent out here, with their horses and the arms +of my two friends, and under the escort of two unarmed +troopers.</p> +<p>"These gentlemen here will, before you start, sign a document +ordering the said prisoners at once to be released; and will also +sign a solemn undertaking, which will be handed over to Monsieur de +Merouville, pledging themselves that, should he and his wife choose +to return to their chateau, no harm shall ever happen to them; and +no accusation, of any sort, in the future be brought against +them.</p> +<p>"I may add that, should at any time this guarantee be broken, I +shall consider it my duty, the moment I hear of the event, to +return to this neighbourhood; and assuredly I will hang the +signatories of the guarantee over their own door posts, and will +burn their villas to the ground. I know the value of oaths sworn to +Huguenots; but in this case, I think they will be kept, for I swear +to you--and I am in the habit of keeping my oaths--that if you +break your undertaking, I will not break mine."</p> +<p>As soon as it was daylight, Pierre produced from his saddlebag +an ink horn, paper, and pens; and the ten prisoners signed their +name to an order for the release of the four captives. They then +wrote another document, to be handed by their representative to the +governor, begging him to see that the order was executed, informing +him of the position they were in, and that their lives would +certainly be forfeited, unless the prisoners were released without +delay. They also earnestly begged him to send out orders, to the +armed forces who were searching for the Huguenots, bidding them +make no movement, whatever, until after midday.</p> +<p>The councillor was then mounted on a horse and escorted, by two +of the men-at-arms, to within a quarter of a mile of the nearest +gate of the city. The men were to return with his horse. The +councillor was informed that ten o'clock was the limit given for +the return of the prisoners; and that, unless they had by that hour +arrived, it would be supposed that the order for their release +would not be respected, and in that case the nine hostages would be +hung forthwith; and that, in the course of a night or two, another +batch would be carried off.</p> +<p>Philip had little fear, however, that there would be any +hesitation, upon the part of those in the town, in acting upon the +order signed by so many important persons; for the death of the +president, and several of the leading members of the parliament, +would create such an outcry against the governor, by their friends +and relatives, that he would not venture to refuse the release of +four prisoners, of minor importance, in order to save their +lives.</p> +<p>After the messenger had departed, Philip had the guarantee for +the safety of Monsieur de Merouville and his wife drawn up and +signed, in duplicate.</p> +<p>"One of these documents," he said, "I shall give to Monsieur de +Merouville. The other I shall keep myself, so that, if this solemn +guarantee is broken, I shall have this as a justification for the +execution of the perjured men who signed it."</p> +<p>The time passed slowly. Some of the prisoners walked anxiously +and impatiently to and fro, looking continually towards the town. +Others sat in gloomy silence, too humiliated at their present +position even to talk to one another.</p> +<p>The soldiers, on the contrary, were in high spirits. They +rejoiced at the prospect of the return of their two leaders, and +they felt proud of having taken part in such an exploit as the +capture of the chief men of the dreaded parliament of Toulouse. +Four of them kept a vigilant guard over the prisoners. The rest ate +their breakfast with great gusto, and laughed and joked at the +angry faces of some of their prisoners.</p> +<p>It was just nine o'clock when a small group of horsemen were +seen in the distance.</p> +<p>"I think there are six of them, sir," Eustace said.</p> +<p>"That is the right number, Eustace. The lady is doubtless riding +behind her husband. Two men are the escort, and the other is, no +doubt, the councillor we released, who is now acting as guide to +this spot.</p> +<p>"Bring my horse, Pierre," and, mounting, Philip rode off to meet +the party.</p> +<p>He was soon able to make out the figures of Francois and +D'Arblay and, putting his horse to a gallop, was speedily alongside +of them.</p> +<p>"What miracle is this?" Monsieur D'Arblay asked, after the first +greeting was over. "At present we are all in a maze. We were in +separate dungeons, and the prospect looked as hopeless as it could +well do; when the doors opened and an officer, followed by two +soldiers bearing our armour and arms, entered and told us to attire +ourselves. What was meant we could not imagine. We supposed we were +going to be led before some tribunal; but why they should arm us, +before taking us there, was more than we could imagine.</p> +<p>"We met in the courtyard of the prison, and were stupefied at +seeing our horses saddled and bridled there, and Monsieur De +Merouville and his wife already mounted. Two unarmed troopers were +also there, and this gentleman, who said sourly:</p> +<p>"'Mount, sirs, I am going to lead you to your friends.'</p> +<p>"We looked at each other, to see if we were dreaming, but you +may imagine we were not long in leaping into our saddles.</p> +<p>"This gentleman has not been communicative. In fact, by his +manner, I should say he is deeply disgusted at the singular mission +with which he was charged; and on the ride here Francois, Monsieur +de Merouville, and myself have exhausted ourselves in conjectures +as to how this miracle has come about."</p> +<p>"Wait two or three minutes longer," Philip said, with a smile. +"When you get to yonder trees, you will receive an +explanation."</p> +<p>Francois and Monsieur D'Arblay gazed in surprise at the figures +of nine men, all in scanty raiments, wrapped up in cloaks, and +evidently guarded by the men-at-arms, who set up a joyous shout as +they rode in. Monsieur de Merouville uttered an exclamation of +astonishment, as he recognized the dreaded personages collected +together in such a plight.</p> +<p>"Monsieur de Merouville," Philip said, "I believe you know these +gentlemen by sight.</p> +<p>"Monsieur D'Arblay and Francois, you are not so fortunate as to +be acquainted with them; and I have pleasure in introducing to you +the President of the Parliament of Toulouse, the Judge of the High +Court, and other councillors, all gentlemen of consideration. It +has been my misfortune to have had to treat these gentlemen with +scant courtesy, but the circumstances left me no choice.</p> +<p>"Monsieur de Merouville, here is a document, signed by these +nine gentlemen, giving a solemn undertaking that you and Madame +shall be, in future, permitted to reside in your chateau without +the slightest let or hindrance; and that you shall suffer no +molestation, whatever, either on account of this affair, or on the +question of religion. I have a duplicate of this document; and +have, on my part, given an undertaking that, if its terms are +broken I will, at whatever inconvenience to myself, return to this +neighbourhood, hang these ten gentlemen if I can catch them, and at +any rate burn their chateaux to the ground. Therefore I think, as +you have their undertaking and mine, you can without fear return +home; but this, of course, I leave to yourself to decide.</p> +<p>"Gentlemen, you are now free to return to your homes; and I +trust this lesson--that we, on our part, can strike, if +necessary--will have some effect in moderating your zeal for +persecution."</p> +<p>Without a word, the president and his companions walked away in +a body. The troopers began to jeer and laugh, but Philip held up +his hand for silence.</p> +<p>"There need be no extra scorn," he said. "These gentlemen have +been sufficiently humiliated."</p> +<p>"And you really fetched all these good gentlemen from their +beds," D'Arblay said, bursting into a fit of laughter. "Why, it was +worth being taken prisoner, were it only for the sake of seeing +them. They looked like a number of old owls, suddenly disturbed by +daylight--some of them round eyed with astonishment, some of them +hissing menacingly. By my faith, Philip, it will go hard with you, +if you ever fall into the hands of those worthies.</p> +<p>"But a truce to jokes. We owe you our lives, Philip; of that +there is not a shadow of doubt. Though I have no more fear than +another of death in battle, I own that I have a dread of being +tortured and burned. It was a bold stroke, thus to carry off the +men who have been the leaders of the persecution against us."</p> +<p>"There was nothing in the feat, if it can be called a feat," +Philip said. "Of course, directly we heard that you had been seized +and carried into Toulouse, I cast about for the best means to save +you. To attempt it by force would have been simple madness; and any +other plan would have required time, powerful friends, and a +knowledge of the city, and even then we should probably have failed +to get you out of prison. This being so, it was evident that the +best plan was to seize some of the citizens of importance, who +might serve as hostages. There was no difficulty in finding out, +from a small cultivator, who were the principal men living outside +the walls; and their capture was as easy a business. Scarcely a +blow was struck, and no lives lost, in capturing the whole of +them."</p> +<p>"But some of the men are missing," D'Arblay said.</p> +<p>"Yes; five of your men, I am sorry to say. On getting back to +the wood after dark I sent them, as you ordered, to fetch you from +Monsieur de Merouville's; but of course you had been captured +before that, and they fell into an ambush that was laid for them, +and were all killed."</p> +<p>"That is a bad business, Philip.</p> +<p>"Well, Monsieur de Merouville, will you go with us, or will you +trust in this safeguard?"</p> +<p>"In the first place, you have not given me a moment's +opportunity of thanking this gentleman; not only for having saved +the lives of my wife and myself, but for the forethought and +consideration with which he has, in the midst of his anxiety for +you and Monsieur de Laville, shown for us who were entire strangers +to him.</p> +<p>"Be assured, Monsieur Fletcher, that we are deeply grateful. I +hope that some time in the future, should peace ever again be +restored to France, we may be able to meet you again, and express +more warmly the obligations we feel towards you."</p> +<p>Madame de Merouville added a few words of gratitude, and then +D'Arblay broke in with:</p> +<p>"De Merouville, you must settle at once whether to go with us, +or stay on the faith of this safeguard. We have no such protection +and, if we linger here, we shall be having half a dozen troops of +horse after us. You may be sure they will be sent off, as soon as +the president and his friends reach the city; and if we were caught +again, we should be in an even worse plight than before. Do you +talk it over with Madame and, while you are doing so, Francois and +I will drink a flask of wine, and eat anything we can find here; +for they forgot to give us breakfast before they sent us off, and +it is likely we shall not have another opportunity, for some +hours."</p> +<p>"What do you think, Monsieur Fletcher?" Monsieur de Merouville +said, after speaking for a few minutes with his wife; "will they +respect this pledge? If not we must go, but we are both past the +age when we can take up life anew. My property would, of course, be +confiscated, and we should be penniless among strangers."</p> +<p>"I think they will respect the pledge," Philip replied. "I +assured them, so solemnly, that any breach of their promises would +be followed by prompt vengeance upon themselves and their homes, +that I feel sure they will not run the risk. Two or three among +them might possibly do so, but the others would restrain them. I +believe that you can safely return; and that, for a long time, at +any rate, you will be unmolested.</p> +<p>"Still, if I might advise, I should say sell your property, as +soon as you can find a purchaser at any reasonable price; and then +remove, either to La Rochelle or cross the sea to England. You may +be sure that there will be a deep and bitter hatred against you, by +those whose humiliation you have witnessed."</p> +<p>"Thank you. I will follow your advice, Monsieur Fletcher; and I +hope that I may, ere long, have the pleasure of seeing you, and of +worthily expressing our deep sense of the debt of gratitude we owe +you."</p> +<p>Five minutes later the troop mounted and rode away, while +Monsieur de Merouville, with his wife behind him, started for +home.</p> +<p>"I hope, Francois," D'Arblay said, as they galloped off from the +wood, "that the next time I ride on an expedition your kinsman may +again be with me, for he has wit and resources that render him a +valuable companion, indeed."</p> +<p>"I had great hopes, even when I was in prison, and things looked +almost as bad as they could be," Francois said, "that Philip would +do something to help us. I had much faith in his long headedness; +and so has the countess, my mother. She said to me, when we +started:</p> +<p>"'You are older than Philip, Francois; but you will act wisely +if, in cases of difficulty, you defer your opinions to his. His +training has given him self reliance and judgment, and he has been +more in the habit of thinking for himself than you have,' and +certainly he has fully justified her opinion.</p> +<p>"Where do you propose to ride next, D'Arblay?"</p> +<p>"For La Rochelle. I shall not feel safe until I am within the +walls. Presidents of Parliament, judges of High Court, and +dignified functionaries are not to be dragged from their beds with +impunity. Happily it will take them an hour and a half to walk back +to the town; or longer, perhaps, for they will doubtless go first +to their own homes. They will never show themselves, in such sorry +plight, in the streets of the city where they are accustomed to +lord it; so we may count on at least two hours before they can take +any steps. After that, they will move heaven and earth to capture +us. They will send out troops of horse after us, and messengers to +every city in the province, calling upon the governors to take +every means to seize us.</p> +<p>"We have collected a good sum of money, and carried out the +greater portion of our mission. We shall only risk its loss, as +well as the loss of our own lives, by going forward. The horses are +fresh, and we will put as many miles between us and Toulouse as +they can carry us, before nightfall."</p> +<p>The return journey was accomplished without misadventure. They +made no more halts than were required to rest their horses and, +travelling principally at night, they reached La Rochelle without +having encountered any body of the enemy.</p> +<p>While they had been absent, the army of Conde and the Admiral +had marched into Lorraine and, eluding the forces that barred his +march, effected a junction with the German men-at-arms who had been +brought to their aid by the Duke Casimir, the second son of the +Elector Palatine. However, the Germans refused to march a step +farther, unless they received the pay that had been agreed upon +before they started.</p> +<p>Conde's treasury was empty, and he had no means, whatever, of +satisfying their demand. In vain Duke Casimir, himself, tried to +persuade his soldiers to defer their claims, and to trust their +French co-religionists to satisfy their demands, later on. They +were unanimous in their refusal to march a step, until they +obtained their money.</p> +<p>The Admiral then addressed himself to his officers and soldiers. +He pointed out to them that, at the present moment, everything +depended upon their obtaining the assistance of the Germans--who +were, indeed, only demanding their rights, according to the +agreement that had been made with them--and he implored them to +come to the assistance of the prince and himself at this crisis. So +great was his influence among his soldiers that his appeal was +promptly and generally acceded to, and officers and men alike +stripped themselves of their chains, jewels, money, and valuables +of all kinds, and so made up the sum required to satisfy the +Germans.</p> +<p>As soon as this important affair had been settled, the united +army turned its face again westward; with the intention of giving +battle, anew, under the walls of Paris. It was, however, terribly +deficient in artillery, powder, and stores of all kinds and, the +military chest being empty and the soldiers without pay, it was +necessary, on the march, to exact contributions from the small +Catholic towns and villages through which the army marched and, in +spite of the orders of the Admiral, a certain amount of pillage was +carried on by the soldiers.</p> +<p>Having recruited the strength of his troops, by a short stay at +Orleans, the Admiral moved towards Paris. Since the commencement of +the war, negotiations had been going on fitfully. When the court +thought that the Huguenots were formidable, they pushed on the +negotiations in earnest. Whenever, upon the contrary, they believed +that the royal forces would be able to crush those of the Admiral, +the negotiations at once came to a standstill.</p> +<p>During the Admiral's long march to the east, they would grant no +terms whatever that could possibly be accepted; but as soon as the +junction was effected with Duke Casimir and his Germans, and the +Huguenot army again turned its face to Paris, the court became +eager to conclude peace. When the Prince of Conde's army arrived +before Chartres the negotiators met, and the king professed a +readiness to grant so many concessions, that it seemed as if the +objects of the Huguenots could be attained without further +fighting, and the Cardinal of Chatillon and some Huguenot nobles +went forward to have a personal conference with the royal +commissioners, at Lonjumeau.</p> +<p>After much discussion, the points most insisted upon by the +Huguenots were conceded, and the articles of a treaty drawn up, +copies of which were sent to Paris and Chartres. The Admiral and +Conde both perceived that, in the absence of any guarantees for the +observance of the conditions to which the other side bound +themselves, the treaty would be of little avail; as it could be +broken, as soon as the army now menacing Paris was scattered. The +feeling among the great portion of the nobles and their followers +was, however, strongly in favour of the conditions being +accepted.</p> +<p>The nobles were becoming beggared by the continuance of the war, +the expenses of which had, for the most part, to be paid from their +private means. Their followers, indeed, received no pay; but they +had to be fed, and their estates were lying untilled for want of +hands. Their men were eager to return to their farms and families, +and so strong and general was the desire for peace that the Admiral +and Conde bowed to it.</p> +<p>They agreed to the terms and, pending their ratification, raised +the siege of Chartres. Already their force was dwindling rapidly. +Large numbers marched away to their homes, without even asking for +leave; and their leaders soon ceased to be in a position to make +any demands for guarantees, and the peace of Lonjumeau was +therefore signed.</p> +<p>Its provisions gave very little more to the Huguenots than that +of the preceding arrangement of the same kind, and the campaign +left the parties in much the same position as they had occupied +before the Huguenots took up arms.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch8" id="Ch8">Chapter 8</a>: The Third Huguenot +War.</h2> +<p>Before the treaty of Lonjumeau had been signed many weeks, the +Huguenots were sensible of the folly they had committed, in +throwing away all the advantages they had gained in the war, by +laying down their arms upon the terms of a treaty made by a +perfidious woman and a weak and unstable king, with advisers bent +upon destroying the reformed religion. They had seen former edicts +of toleration first modified and then revoked, and they had no +reason even to hope that the new treaty, which had been wrung from +the court by its fears, would be respected by it.</p> +<p>The Huguenots were not surprised to find, therefore, that as +soon as they had sent back their German auxiliaries and returned to +their homes--the ink, indeed, was scarcely dry on the paper upon +which the treaty was written--its conditions were virtually +annulled. From the pulpit of every Catholic church in France, the +treaty was denounced in the most violent language; and it was +openly declared that there could be no peace with the Huguenots. +These, as they returned home, were murdered in great numbers and, +in many of the cities, the mobs rose and massacred the defenceless +Protestants.</p> +<p>Heavy as had been the persecutions before the outbreak of the +war, they were exceeded by those that followed it. Some of the +governors of the provinces openly refused to carry out the +conditions of the treaty. Charles issued a proclamation that the +edict was not intended to include any of the districts that were +appanages of his mother, or of any of the royal or Bourbon princes. +In the towns the soldiers were quartered upon the Huguenots, whom +they robbed and ill treated at their pleasure; and during the six +months that this nominal peace lasted, no less than ten thousand +Huguenots were slaughtered in various parts of France.</p> +<p>"The Prince of Conde, the Admiral, his brothers, and our other +leaders may be skilful generals and brave men," the Countess de +Laville said indignantly to Francois when, with the troop, reduced +by war, fever, and hardship to one-third of its number, he had +returned to the chateau, "but they cannot have had their senses +about them, when they permitted themselves to be cozened into +laying down their arms, without receiving a single guarantee that +the terms of the treaty should be observed.</p> +<p>"Far better never to have taken up arms at all. The king has +come to regard us as enemies. The Catholics hate us more than ever, +for our successful resistance. Instead of being in a better +position than we were before, we shall be in a worse. We have given +up all the towns we had captured, thrown away every advantage we +had gained and, when we are again driven to take up arms, we shall +be in a worse position than before; for they no longer despise us, +and will in future be on their guard. There will be no repeating +the surprise of last September.</p> +<p>"I am disappointed above all in the Admiral, D'Andelot, La +Rochefoucauld, and Genlis. Conde I have never trusted as one to be +relied upon, in an extremity. He is a royal prince, has been +brought up in courts, and loves gaiety and ease; and although I say +not that he is untrue to the Huguenot cause, yet he would gladly +accommodate matters; and as we see, even in this treaty, the great +bulk of the Huguenots all over the country have been utterly +deserted, their liberty of worship denied, and their very lives are +at the mercy of the bigots.</p> +<p>"What do you think, Philip? Have you had enough of fighting for +a party who wilfully throw away all that they have won by their +sacrifices? Are you thinking of returning home, or will you wait +for a while, to see how matters go on?"</p> +<p>"I will, with your permission, wait," Philip said. "I lament +this peace, which seems to me to leave us in a worse position than +before the war; but I agree with you that it cannot last, and that +ere long the Huguenots will be driven again to take up arms. +Francois and I have become as brothers and, until the cause is +either lost or won, I would fain remain."</p> +<p>"That is well, Philip. I will be glad to have you with us, my +nephew. La Noue wrote to me, a month since, saying that both my son +and you had borne yourselves very gallantly; that he was well +pleased to have had you with him; and that he thought that, if +these wars of religion continued--which they might well do for a +long time, as in Germany and Holland, as well as in France, the +reformed religion is battling for freedom--you would both rise to +eminence as soldiers.</p> +<p>"However, now that peace is made, we must make the best of it. I +should think it will not be broken until after the harvest and +vintage; for until then all will be employed, and the Catholics as +well as the Huguenots must repair their losses, and gather funds, +before they can again take the field with their retainers. +Therefore, until then I think that there will be peace."</p> +<p>The summer passed quietly at Laville. The tales of massacre and +outrage, that came from all parts of France, filled them with +horror and indignation; but in their own neighbourhood, all was +quiet. Rochelle had refused to open her gates to the royal troops +and, as in all that district the Huguenots were too numerous to be +interfered with by their neighbours, the quiet was unbroken.</p> +<p>Nevertheless, it was certain that hostilities would not be long +delayed. The Catholics, seeing the advantage that the perfect +organization of the Huguenots had given them at the commencement of +the war, had established leagues in almost every province. These +were organized by the clergy, and the party that looked upon the +Guises as their leaders and, by the terms of their constitution, +were evidently determined to carry out the extirpation of the +reformed religion, with or without the royal authority; and were, +indeed, bent upon forming a third party in the state, looking to +Philip of Spain rather than to the King of France as their +leader.</p> +<p>So frequent and daring were the outrages, in Paris, that Conde +soon found that his life was not safe there; and retired to Noyers, +a small town in Burgundy. Admiral Coligny, who had been saddened by +the loss of his brave wife, who had died from a disease contracted +in attending upon the sick and wounded soldiers at Orleans, had +abandoned the chateau at Chatillon-sur-Loing, where he had kept up +a princely hospitality; and retired to the castle of Tanlay, +belonging to his brother D'Andelot, situated within a few miles of +Noyers. D'Andelot himself had gone to Brittany, after writing a +remonstrance to Catharine de Medici upon the ruin and desolation +that the breaches of the treaty, and the persecution of a section +of the population, were bringing upon France.</p> +<p>The Chancellor L'Hopital had, in vain, urged toleration. His +adversaries in the royal council were too strong for him. The +Cardinal of Lorraine had regained his old influence. The king +appointed, as his preachers, four of the most violent advocates of +persecution. The De Montmorencys, for a time, struggled +successfully against the influence of the Cardinal of Lorraine; who +sought supreme power, under cover of Henry of Anjou's name. Three +of the marshals of France--Montmorency, his brother Danville, and +Vielleville--supported by Cardinal Bourbon, demanded of the council +that D'Anjou should no longer hold the office of lieutenant +general. Catharine at times aided the Guises, at times the +Montmorencys; playing off one party against the other, but chiefly +inclining to the Guises, who gradually obtained such an ascendency +that the Chancellor L'Hopital, in despair, retired from the +council; and thus removed the greatest obstacle to the schemes and +ambition of the Cardinal of Lorraine.</p> +<p>At the commencement of August the king despatched, to all parts +of his dominions, copies of an oath that was to be demanded from +every Huguenot. It called upon them to swear never to take up arms, +save by the express command of the king; nor to assist with +counsel, money, or food any who did so; and to join their fellow +citizens in the defence of their towns against those who disobeyed +this mandate. The Huguenots unanimously declined to sign the +oath.</p> +<p>With the removal of the chancellor from the council, the party +of Lorraine became triumphant; and it was determined to seize the +whole of the Huguenot leaders, who were quietly residing upon their +estates in distant parts of France. Gaspard de Tavannes was charged +with the arrest of Conde and the Admiral; and fourteen companies of +men-at-arms, and as many of infantry were placed under his orders, +and these were quietly and secretly marched to Noyers.</p> +<p>Fortunately Conde received warning, just before the blow was +going to be struck. He was joined at Noyers by the Admiral, with +his daughter and sons, and the wife and infant son of D'Andelot. +Conde himself had with him his wife and children. They were joined +by a few Huguenot noblemen from the neighbourhood; and these, with +the servants of the prince and Admiral, formed an escort of about a +hundred and fifty horse.</p> +<p>Escape seemed well-nigh hopeless. Tavannes' troops guarded most +of the avenues of escape. There was no place of refuge save La +Rochelle, several hundred miles away, on the other side of France. +Every city was in the hands of their foes, and their movements were +encumbered with the presence of women and young children.</p> +<p>There was but one thing in their favour--their enemies naturally +supposed that, should they attempt to escape, they would do so in +the direction of Germany, where they would be warmly welcomed by +the Protestant princes. Therefore it was upon that line that the +greatest vigilance would be displayed by their enemies.</p> +<p>Before starting, Coligny sent off a very long and eloquent +protest to the king; defending himself for the step that he was +about to take; giving a history of the continuous breaches of the +treaty, and of the sufferings that had been inflicted upon the +Huguenots; and denouncing the Cardinal of Lorraine and his +associates, as the guilty causes of all the misfortunes that had +fallen upon France.</p> +<p>It was on the 23d of August that the party set out from Noyers. +Their march was prompt and rapid. Contrary to expectation, they +discovered an unguarded ford across the Loire, near the town of +Laussonne. This ford was only passable when the river was unusually +low, and had therefore escaped the vigilance of their foes. The +weather had been for some time dry, and they were enabled, with +much difficulty, to effect a crossing; a circumstance which was +regarded by the Huguenots as a special act of Providence, the more +so as heavy rain fell the moment they had crossed, and the river +rose so rapidly that when, a few hours later, the cavalry of +Tavannes arrived in pursuit, they were unable to effect a passage. +The party had many other dangers and difficulties to encounter but, +by extreme caution and rapidity of movement, they succeeded in +baffling their foes, and in making their way across France.</p> +<p>On the evening of the 16th of September, a watchman on a tower +of the chateau of Laville shouted, to those in the courtyard, that +he perceived a considerable body of horsemen in the distance. A +vigilant watch had been kept up for some time, for an army had for +some weeks been collected, with the ostensible motive of capturing +Rochelle and compelling it to receive a royal garrison; and as, on +its approach, parties would probably be sent out to capture and +plunder the chateaux and castles of the Huguenot nobles, everything +had been prepared for a siege.</p> +<p>The alarm bell was at once rung, to warn the neighbourhood of +approaching danger. The vacancies, caused in the garrison during +the war, had been lately filled up; and the gates were now closed, +and the walls manned; the countess herself, accompanied by her son +and Philip, taking her place on the tower by the gateway. The party +halted, three or four hundred yards from the gate, and then two +gentlemen rode forward.</p> +<p>"The party look to me more like Huguenots than Catholics, +mother," Francois had said. "I see no banners; but their dresses +look sombre and dark, and I think that I can see women among +them."</p> +<p>A minute later, Philip exclaimed:</p> +<p>"Surely, Francois, those gentlemen who are approaching are Conde +and the Admiral!"</p> +<p>"Impossible!" the countess said. "They are in Burgundy, full +three hundred miles away."</p> +<p>"Philip is right, mother," Francois said eagerly. "I recognize +them now. They are, beyond doubt, the prince and Admiral +Coligny.</p> +<p>"Lower the drawbridge, and open the gates," he called down to +the warders.</p> +<p>The countess hastened down the stairs to the courtyard, followed +by Francois and Philip, and received her two unexpected visitors as +they rode across the drawbridge.</p> +<p>"Madame," Conde said, as he doffed his cap courteously, "we are +fugitives, who come to ask for a night's shelter. I have my wife +and children with me, and the Admiral has also his family. We have +ridden across France, from Noyers, by devious roads and with many +turnings and windings; have been hunted like rabid beasts, and are +sorely in need of rest."</p> +<p>"You are welcome, indeed, prince," the countess said. "I esteem +it a high honour to entertain such guests as yourself and Admiral +Coligny. Pray enter at once. My son will ride out to welcome the +princess, and the rest of your party."</p> +<p>Francois at once leapt on to a horse and galloped off, and in a +few minutes the party arrived. Their numbers had been considerably +increased since they left Noyers, as they had been joined by many +Huguenot gentlemen on the way, and they now numbered nearly four +hundred men.</p> +<p>"We have grown like a snowball, since we started," the prince +said; "and I am ashamed to invade your chateau with such an +army."</p> +<p>"It is a great honour, prince. We had heard a rumour that an +attempt had been made to seize you; and that you had disappeared, +no one knew whither, and men thought that you were directing your +course towards Germany; but little did we dream of seeing you here, +in the west."</p> +<p>It was not until evening that the tale of the journey across +France, with its many hazards and adventures, was told; for the +countess was fully occupied in seeing to the comforts of her guests +of higher degree, while Francois saw that the men-at-arms and +others were bestowed as comfortably as might be. Then oxen and +sheep were killed, casks of wine broached, forage issued for the +horses; while messengers were sent off to the nearest farms for +chicken and ducks, and with orders for the women to come up, to +assist the domestics at the chateau to meet this unexpected +strain.</p> +<p>"It is good to sit down in peace and comfort, again," Conde said +as, supper over, they strolled in the garden, enjoying the cool air +of the evening. "This is the first halt that we have made, at any +save small villages, since we left Noyers. In the first place, our +object was concealment; and in the second, though many of our +friends have invited us to their castles, we would not expose them +to the risk of destruction, for having shown us hospitality.</p> +<p>"Here, however, we have entered the stronghold of our faith; for +from this place to La Rochelle, the Huguenots can hold their own +against their neighbours, and need fear nothing save the approach +of a large army; in which case, countess, your plight could +scarcely be worse for having sheltered us. The royal commissioners +of the province must long have had your name down, as the most +stiff necked of the Huguenots of this corner of Poitou, as one who +defies the ordinances, and maintains public worship in her chateau. +Your son and nephew fought at Saint Denis; and you sent a troop +across France, at the first signal, to join me. The cup of your +offences is so full that this last drop can make but little +difference, one way or the other."</p> +<p>"I should have felt it as a grievous slight, had you passed near +Laville without halting here," the countess said. "As for danger, +for the last twenty years we have been living in danger; and +indeed, during the last year I have felt safer than ever for, now +that La Rochelle has declared for us, there is a place of refuge, +for all of the reformed religion in the provinces round, such as we +have not before possessed. During the last few months, I have sent +most of my valuables in there for safety; and if the tide of war +comes this way, and I am threatened by a force against which it +would be hopeless to contend, I shall make my way thither.</p> +<p>"But against anything short of an army, I shall hold the +chateau. It forms a place of refuge to which, at the approach of +danger, all of our religion for many miles round would flock in; +and as long as there is a hope of successful resistance, I would +not abandon them to the tender mercies of Anjou's soldiers."</p> +<p>"I fear, countess," the Admiral said, "that our arrival at La +Rochelle will bring trouble upon all the country round it. We had +no choice between that and exile. Had we consulted our own peace +and safety only, we should have betaken ourselves to Germany; but +had we done that, it would have been a desertion of our brethren, +who look to us for leading and guidance.</p> +<p>"Here at La Rochelle we shall be in communication with Navarre +and Gascony; and doubt not that we shall, ere very long, be again +at the head of an army with which we can take the field, even more +strongly than before; for after the breaches of the last treaty, +and the fresh persecutions and murders throughout the land, the +Huguenots everywhere must clearly perceive that there is no option +between destruction, and winning our rights at the point of the +sword.</p> +<p>"Nevertheless, as the court will see that it is to their +interest to strike at once, before we have had time to organize an +army, I think it certain that the whole Catholic forces will march, +without loss of time, against La Rochelle. Our only hope is that, +as on the last occasion, they will deceive themselves as to our +strength. The evil advisers of the king, when persuading him to +issue fresh ordinances against us, have assured him that with +strong garrisons in all the great towns in France, and with his +army of Swiss and Germans still on foot, we are altogether +powerless; and are no longer to be feared, in the slightest +degree.</p> +<p>"We know that even now, while they deem us but a handful of +fugitives, our brethren throughout France will be everywhere +banding themselves in arms. Before we left Noyers we sent out a +summons, calling the Huguenots in all parts of France to take up +arms again. Their organization is perfect in every district. Our +brethren have appointed places where they are to assemble, in case +of need; and by this time I doubt not that, although there is no +regular army yet in the field, there are scores of bands ready to +march, as soon as they receive orders.</p> +<p>"It is true that the Catholics are far better prepared than +before. They have endeavoured, by means of these leagues, to +organize themselves in our manner; but there is one vital +difference. We know that we are fighting for our lives and our +faith, and that those who hang back run the risk of massacre in +their own homes. The Catholics have no such impulse. Our +persecutions have been the work of the mobs in the towns, excited +by the priests; and these ruffians, though ardent when it is a +question of slaying defenceless women and children, are +contemptible in the field against our men. We saw how the Parisians +fled like a flock of sheep, at Saint Denis.</p> +<p>"Thus, outnumbered as we are, methinks we shall take up arms far +more quickly than our foes; and that, except from the troops of +Anjou, and the levies of the great Catholic nobles, we shall have +little to fear. Even in the towns the massacres have ever been +during what is called peace; and there was far less persecution, +during the last two wars, than in the intervals between them."</p> +<p>The next morning the prince and Admiral, with their escort, rode +on towards La Rochelle; which they entered on the 18th September. +The countess, with a hundred of her retainers and tenants, +accompanied them on the first day's journey; and returned, the next +day, to the chateau.</p> +<p>The news of the escape, and the reports that the Huguenots were +arming, took the court by surprise; and a declaration was at once +published, by the king, guaranteeing his royal protection to all +adherents of the reformed faith who stayed at home, and promising a +gracious hearing to their grievances. As soon, however, as the +Catholic forces began to assemble in large numbers, the mask of +conciliation was thrown off, all edicts of toleration were +repealed, and the king prohibited his subjects in all parts of his +dominions, of whatever rank, from the exercise of all religious +rites other than those of the Catholic faith, on pain of +confiscation and death.</p> +<p>Nothing could have been more opportune, for the Huguenot +leaders, than this decree. It convinced even the most reluctant +that their only hope lay in resistance; and enabled Conde's agents, +at foreign courts, to show that the King of France was bent upon +exterminating the reformed faith, and that its adherents had been +forced to take up arms, in self preservation.</p> +<p>The fanatical populations of the towns rejoiced in the new +decree. Leagues for the extermination of heresy were formed, in +Toulouse and other towns, under the name of Crusades; and high +masses were celebrated in the churches, everywhere, in honour of +the great victory over heresy.</p> +<p>The countess had offered to send her son, with fifty +men-at-arms, to swell the gathering at La Rochelle; but the Admiral +declined the offer. Niort was but a day's march from the chateau +and, although its population were of mixed religion, the Catholics +might, under the influence of the present excitement, march against +Laville. He thought it would be better, therefore, that the chateau +should be maintained, with all its fighting force, as a centre to +which the Huguenots of the neighbourhood might rally.</p> +<p>"I think," he said, "that you might, for some time, sustain a +siege against all the forces that could be brought from Niort; and +if you are attacked I will, at once, send a force from the city to +your assistance. I have no doubt that the Queen of Navarre will +join us, and that I shall be able to take the offensive, very +shortly."</p> +<p>Encouraged by the presence of the Admiral at La Rochelle, the +whole of the Huguenots of the district prepared to take the field, +immediately. Laville was the natural centre, and two hundred and +fifty men were ready to gather there, directly an alarm was +given.</p> +<p>Three days later a man arrived at the chateau from Niort, soon +after daybreak. He reported that, on the previous day, the populace +had massacred thirty or forty Huguenots; and that all the rest they +could lay hands on, amounting in number to nearly two hundred, had +been dragged from their homes and thrown into prison. He said that +in all the villages round, the priests were preaching the +extermination of the Huguenots; and it was feared that, at any +moment, those of the religion would be attacked there; especially +as it was likely that the populace of the town would flock out, and +themselves undertake the work of massacre should the peasants, who +had hitherto lived on friendly terms with the Huguenots, hang back +from it.</p> +<p>"We must try to assist our brethren," the countess said, when +she heard the news. "Francois, take what force you can get together +in an hour, and ride over towards Niort. You will get there by +midday. If these ruffians come out from the town, do you give them +a lesson; and ride round to the villages, and bring off all of our +religion there. Assure them that they shall have protection here +until the troubles are over, or until matters so change that they +can return safely to their homes. We cannot sit quietly, and hear +of murder so close at hand. I see no prospect of rescuing the +unfortunates from the prison at Niort; and it would be madness, +with our small force, to attack a walled city; but I leave you free +to do what may seem best to you, warning you only against +undertaking any desperate enterprise.</p> +<p>"Philip will, of course, ride with you."</p> +<p>"Shall we ring the alarm bell, mother?"</p> +<p>"No; it is better not to disturb the tenantry, unless on very +grave occasion. Take the fifty men-at-arms, your own men, and +Philip's. Sixty will be ample for dispersing disorderly mobs; while +a hundred would be of no use to you, against the armed forces of +the town and the garrison of two hundred men."</p> +<p>In a quarter of an hour, the troop started. All knew the errand +on which they were bent, and the journey was performed at the +highest speed of which the horses were capable.</p> +<p>"They can have a good, long rest when they get there," Francois +said to Philip; "and half an hour, earlier or later, may mean the +saving or losing of fifty lives. The mob will have been feasting, +and exulting over the slaying of so many Huguenots, until late last +night; and will not be astir early, this morning. Probably, too, +they will, before they think of sallying out, attend the churches; +where the priests will stir them up to fury, before they lead them +out on a crusade into the country.</p> +<p>"I would that we knew where they are likely to begin. There are +a dozen villages, round the town."</p> +<p>"What do you say to dividing our force, Francois? As we near the +town, you with one party could ride round to the left, I with the +other to the right and, searching each village as we go, could join +forces again on the other side of the town. If Montpace had been +with us, of course he would have taken the command of one of the +parties. It is unfortunate that he is laid up with that wound he +got, at Saint Denis."</p> +<p>"I am afraid he will never be fit for active service again, +Philip. But I am not sorry that he is not here. He might have +objected to our dividing the troop; and besides, I am glad that you +should command, putting aside everything else. We understand each +other.</p> +<p>"You will, of course, cut down the ruffians from the towns +without mercy, if you find them engaged in massacre. If not, you +will warn the Huguenots of the villages, as you pass through, to +leave their homes at once and make for Laville; giving a sharp +intimation to the village maires that, if the Protestants are +interfered with in any way, or hindered from taking their goods and +setting out; we will, on our return, burn the village about their +ears, and hang up any who have interfered with our people."</p> +<p>"I should say, Francois, that we should take prisoners, and hold +as hostages, any citizens of importance, or priests, whom we may +find encouraging the townsfolk to massacre. I would take the +village priests, and maire too, so as to carry out the same plan +that acted so well at Toulouse. We could then summon Niort, and say +that, unless the Huguenots in prison are released, and they and all +the Huguenots in the town allowed to come out and join us, we will +in the first place burn and destroy all the Catholic villages round +the town, and the pleasure houses and gardens of the citizens; and +that in the second place we will carry off the prisoners in our +hands, and hang them at once, if we hear of a single Huguenot being +further ill treated."</p> +<p>"That would be a capital plan, Philip, if we could get hold of +anyone of real importance. It is likely some of the principal +citizens, and perhaps Catholic nobles of the neighbourhood, will be +with those who sally out; so that they can claim credit and praise, +from the court party, for their zeal in the cause. I wish our +parties had been a little stronger for, after we have entered a +village or two, we shall have to look after the prisoners."</p> +<p>"I do not think it matters, Francois. A dozen stout men-at-arms, +like ours, would drive a mob of these wretches before them. They +will come out expecting to murder unresisting people; and the sight +of our men-at-arms, in their white scarves, will set them off +running like hares."</p> +<p>"Let it be understood," Philip continued, "that if, when one of +us gets round to the other side of the town, he should not meet the +other party, and can hear no tidings of it, he shall gallop on till +he meets it; for it is just possible, although I think it unlikely, +that one or other of us may meet with so strong a party of the +enemy as to be forced to stand on the defensive, until the other +arrives."</p> +<p>"I think there is little chance of that, Philip; still, it as +well that we should make that arrangement."</p> +<p>As they neared Niort, they met several fugitives. From them they +learned that, so far, the townspeople had not come out; but that +the Catholics in the villages were boasting that an end would be +made of the Huguenots that day, and that many of them were, in +consequence, deserting their homes and making their escape, as +secretly as they could, across the country. When within two miles +of Niort, a column of smoke was seen to arise on the left of the +town.</p> +<p>"They have begun the work!" Francois exclaimed. "That is my +side!"</p> +<p>And he placed himself at the head of half the troop, giving them +orders that they were to spare none whom they found engaged in +massacring Huguenots, save priests and other persons acting as +leaders. These were to be taken as hostages, for the safety of +their brethren in the town.</p> +<p>"You need not be over careful with them," he said. "Throw a +picket rope round their necks, and make them trot beside you. They +came out for a little excitement, let them have enough of it."</p> +<p>As Francois rode off one way, Philip led his party the +other.</p> +<p>"You have heard these orders," he said. "They will do for you, +also."</p> +<p>The first place they rode into, they found the Catholic +inhabitants in the streets; while the houses of the Huguenots were +closed, and the shutters barred. The men fled as the troop dashed +in.</p> +<p>"Pursue them," Philip cried, "and thrash them back with the flat +of your swords, but wound no one."</p> +<p>Most of the men were soon brought back. By this time the +Huguenots had opened their doors and, with shouts of joy, were +welcoming their deliverers.</p> +<p>"Have they threatened you with harm?" Philip asked.</p> +<p>"Yes; there has been mass in the church this morning, and the +priest has told them to prepare to join in the good work, as soon +as the townspeople arrive."</p> +<p>The priest had already been fetched from his house, guarded by +two troopers. The maire was next pointed out, and seized. Two +horses were brought out, and the prisoners placed on them.</p> +<p>"Put a rope round each of their necks," Philip ordered. "Fasten +it firmly."</p> +<p>Two troopers took the other ends.</p> +<p>"Now you will come along with us," Philip went on, "and if you +try to escape, so much the worse for you.</p> +<p>"Now," he said to the villagers, "we shall return here shortly, +and then woe betide you if our orders are not executed. Every house +in the village shall be burned to the ground, every man we lay hold +of shall be hung.</p> +<p>"You will at once place every horse and cart here at the +disposal of your Huguenot brethren. You will assist them to put +their household goods in them, and will at once start with them for +Laville. Those who do so will be allowed to return, unharmed, with +their animals and carts.</p> +<p>"Eustace, you will remain here with two men, and see that this +order is carried out. Shoot down without hesitation any man who +murmurs. If there is any trouble whatever, before our return, the +priest and the maire shall dangle from the church tower."</p> +<p>The next two villages they entered, the same scene was enacted. +As they approached the fourth village, they heard cries and +screams.</p> +<p>"Lower your lances, my friends. Forward!"</p> +<p>And at a gallop, the little band dashed into the village.</p> +<p>It was full of people. Several bodies of men and women lay in +the road. Pistol shots rang out here and there, showing that some +of the Huguenots were making a stout defence of their homes. +Through and through the crowd the horsemen rode, those in front +clearing their way with their lances, those behind thrusting and +cutting with their swords.</p> +<p>The Catholics were, for the most part, roughly armed. Some had +pikes, some had swords, others axes, choppers, or clubs; but none +now thought of defence. The arms that had been brought out for the +work of murder were thrown away, and there was no thought, save of +flight.</p> +<p>The doors of the Huguenot houses were thrown open and the men, +issuing out, fell upon those who were, just before, their +assailants. Philip saw some horsemen, and others, collected round a +cross in the centre of the village and, calling upon the men near +him to follow, dashed forward and surrounded the party, before they +apprehended the meaning of this sudden tumult. Two or three of the +men drew their swords, as if to resist; but seeing that their +friends were completely routed, they surrendered.</p> +<p>The party consisted of three men who were, by their dresses, +persons of rank; four or five citizens, also on horseback; four +priests, and a dozen acolytes, with banners and censers.</p> +<p>"Tie their hands behind them," Philip ordered. "Not the boys; +let them go."</p> +<p>"I protest against this indignity," one of the gentlemen said. +"I am a nobleman."</p> +<p>"If you were a prince of the blood, sir, and I found you engaged +in the massacre of innocent people, I would tie you up, and set you +swinging from the nearest tree, without compunction."</p> +<p>Their arms were all tightly bound behind them.</p> +<p>"Would you touch a servant of the Lord?" the leading priest +said.</p> +<p>"Your clothing is that of a servant of the Lord," Philip +replied; "but as I find you engaged upon the work of the devil, I +can only suppose that you have stolen the clothes.</p> +<p>"Four of you take these priests behind you," he said to his men; +"tie them tightly, with their backs to yours. That will leave you +the use of your arms.</p> +<p>"Pierre, do you ride beside the other prisoners and, if you see +any attempt at escape, shoot them at once.</p> +<p>"Quick, my lads; there may be more of this work going on, +ahead."</p> +<p>He then gave similar instructions, for the carriage of the +Huguenot goods, as he had at the preceding places.</p> +<p>At the next village they were in time to prevent the work of +massacre from commencing. A party of horsemen and some priests, +followed by a mob, were just entering it as they rode up. The +horsemen were overthrown by their onset, the mob sent flying back +towards the town, the Huguenots charging almost up to the gates. +The horsemen and priests were made prisoners, as before; and when +the rest of the band returned from their pursuit, they again rode +on. They had now made half a circuit of Niort, and presently saw +Francois and his party, galloping towards them.</p> +<p>"I had begun to be afraid that something had happened," Francois +said, as he rode up. "I waited a quarter of an hour and then rode +on, as we agreed.</p> +<p>"Well, I see you have got a good batch of prisoners."</p> +<p>"We have lost no time," Philip said. "We have been through five +villages. At one we were just in time, for they had begun the work +of massacre, before we got up. At another, we met them as they +arrived. But at the other three, although the villagers were +prepared for the work, the townsmen had not arrived."</p> +<p>"There were only three villages on my side," Francois said. "At +the first, they had nearly finished their work before we arrived. +That was where we saw the smoke rising. But we paid them for it +handsomely, for we must have cut down more than a hundred of the +scoundrels. At one of the others, the Huguenots were defending +themselves well; and there, too, we gave the townspeople a lesson. +At the third, all was quiet. We have taken six or eight burghers, +as many gentlemen, and ten priests."</p> +<p>Philip told him the orders he had given, for the Catholics to +place their horses and carts at the disposal of their Huguenot +fellow villagers.</p> +<p>"I wish I had thought of it," Francois said. "But it is not too +late. I will ride back with my party, and see all our friends well +on their way from the villages. I left four men at each, to keep +the Catholics from interfering.</p> +<p>"If you will go back the way you came, we will meet again on the +main road, on the other side of the town. I don't think there is +any fear of their making a sortie. Our strength is sure to be +greatly exaggerated; and the fugitives, pouring in from each side +of the town with their tales, will spread a report that Conde +himself, with a whole host of horsemen, is around them."</p> +<p>Philip found all going on well, as he returned through the +villages, the scare being so great that none thought of disobeying +the orders; and in a couple of hours he rejoined Francois, having +seen the whole of the Huguenot population of the villages well on +their way.</p> +<p>"Now, Philip, we will go and summon the town. First of all, +though, let us get a complete list of the names of our +prisoners."</p> +<p>These were all written down, and then the two leaders, with +their eight men-at-arms, rode towards the gates of Niort, a white +flag being raised on one of the lances.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch9" id="Ch9">Chapter 9</a>: An Important +Mission.</h2> +<p>"We have made an excellent haul," Francois said as, while +awaiting the answer to their signal, they looked down the list of +names. "Among the gentlemen are several connected with some of the +most important Catholic families of Poitou. The more shame to them, +for being engaged in so rascally a business; though when the court +and the king, Lorraine and the Guises, set the example of +persecution, one can scarcely blame the lesser gentry, who wish to +ingratiate themselves with the authorities, for doing the same.</p> +<p>"Of the citizens we have got one of the magistrates, and four or +five other prominent men; whom I know, by reputation, as having +been among the foremost to stir up the people against the +Huguenots. These fellows I could hang up with pleasure, and would +do so, were it not that we need them to exchange for our +friends.</p> +<p>"Then we have got thirty priests. The names of two of them I +know as popular preachers who, after the last peace was made, +denounced the king and his mother as Ahab and Jezebel, for making +terms with us. They, too, were it not for their sacred office, I +could string up without having any weight upon my conscience.</p> +<p>"Ah! There is the white flag. Let us ride forward."</p> +<p>The gates remained closed, and they rode up to within a hundred +yards of them. In a few minutes several persons made their +appearance on the wall over the gateway, and they then advanced to +within twenty paces of the gate.</p> +<p>Then one from the wall said:</p> +<p>"I am John De Luc, royal commissioner of this town. This is the +reverend bishop of the town. This is the maire, and these the +magistrates. To whom am I speaking?"</p> +<p>"I am the Count Francois de Laville," Francois replied; "and I +now represent the gentlemen who have come hither, with a large body +of troops, to protect those of our faith from persecution and +massacre. We arrived too late to save all, but not to punish; as +the ruffians of your town have learned, to their cost. Some two or +three hundred of them came out to slay, and have been slain.</p> +<p>"The following persons are in our hands," and he read the list +of the prisoners. "I now give you notice that unless, within one +hour of the present time, all those of the reformed faith whom you +have thrown into prison, together with all others who wish to +leave, are permitted to issue from this gate, free and unharmed, +and carrying with them what portion of their worldly goods they may +wish to take, I will hang up the whole of the prisoners in my +hands--gentlemen, citizens, and priests--to the trees of that wood, +a quarter of a mile away. Let it be understood that the terms are +to be carried out to the letter. Proclamation must be made through +your streets that all of the reformed faith are free to depart, +taking with them their wives and families, and such valuables and +goods as they may choose. I shall question those who come out, and +if I find that any have been detained against their will, or if the +news has not been so proclaimed that all can take advantage of it, +I shall not release the prisoners.</p> +<p>"If these terms are not accepted, my officers will first hang +the prisoners, then they will ravage the country round; and will +then proceed to besiege the city and, when they capture it, take +vengeance for the innocent blood that has been shed within its +walls. You best know what is the strength of your garrison, and +whether you can successfully resist an assault by the troops of the +Admiral.</p> +<p>"I will give you ten minutes to deliberate. Unless by the end of +that time you accept the conditions offered, it will go hard with +those in our hands."</p> +<p>"Impious youth," the bishop, who was in full pontificals, said, +"you would never dare to hang priests."</p> +<p>"As the gentlemen of your party have thought it no sin to put to +death scores of our ministers, and as I found these most holy +persons hounding on a mob to massacre, I shall certainly feel no +compunction, whatever, in executing the orders of my leader, to +hang them with the other malefactors," Francois replied; "and +methinks that you will benefit these holy men more, by advising +those with you to agree to the conditions which I offer, than by +wasting your breath in controversy with me."</p> +<p>There was a hasty conversation between those on the wall, and it +was not long before they came to an agreement. De Luc feared that +he should incur the enmity of several powerful families, if he left +their relatives for execution. The citizens were equally anxious to +save their fellows; and were, moreover, scared at the threat of the +neighbourhood being laid waste, and the town attacked, by this +unknown force that had appeared before it. They had heard vague +rumours of the arrival of the prince and Admiral, with a large +force, at La Rochelle; but it might well be that he had turned +aside on his journey, at the news of the occurrences at Niort. The +bishop was equally anxious to rescue the priests, for he felt that +he might be blamed for their death by his ecclesiastical +superiors.</p> +<p>Their consultation over, de Luc turned to the Count.</p> +<p>"Do you give me your solemn assurance and word, as a noble of +France, that upon our performing our part of the condition, the +prisoners in your hands shall be restored unharmed?"</p> +<p>"I do," Francois replied. "I pledge my honour that, as soon as I +find that the whole of those of our religion have left the town +peaceably, the prisoners shall be permitted to return, unharmed in +any way."</p> +<p>"Then we accept the terms. All those of the reformed religion in +the town, whether at present in prison or in their homes, who may +desire to leave, will be permitted to pass. As soon as you retire, +the gate shall be opened."</p> +<p>Francois and his party fell back a quarter of a mile. In a short +time, people began to issue in twos and threes from the gate. Many +bore heavy bundles on their backs, and were accompanied by women +and children, all similarly laden. A few had with them carts, piled +up with household goods.</p> +<p>From the first who came, Francois learned that the conditions +had been carried out; the proclamation being made in every street, +at the sound of the trumpet, that all who held the reformed +religion were free to depart, and that they might take with them +such goods as they could carry, or take in carts. At first it had +been thought that this was but a trap, to get the Huguenots to +reveal themselves; but the reports of those who had returned, +discomfited, to the town, that there was a great Huguenot force +outside, and that many people of consideration had been taken +prisoners, gave them courage; and some of the leading citizens went +round, to every house where persons suspected of being Huguenots +were living, to urge them to leave, telling them that a treaty had +been made securing them their safety. Before the hour had passed, +more than five hundred men, women, and children had left the +town.</p> +<p>As all agreed that no impediment had been placed in their way, +but that upon the contrary, every person even suspected as having +Huguenot leanings had been urged to go, Francois and Philip felt +assured that, at any rate, all who wished to leave had had the +opportunity of doing so. They waited ten minutes over the hour; and +then, seeing that no more came forth, they ordered the prisoners to +be unbound, and allowed to depart for the city.</p> +<p>As the fugitives had come along they were told that the Prince +of Conde, with a strong force, had entered La Rochelle; and were +advised to make for that city, where they would find safety and +welcome. Those, however, who preferred to go to Laville, were +assured that they would be welcomed and cared for, there, until an +opportunity arose for their being sent, under escort, to La +Rochelle. The greater portion decided to make, at once, for the +Huguenot city.</p> +<p>"I think, Philip, you had better take forty of the men, to act +as a rearguard to these poor people, till you are within sight of +La Rochelle. The fellows whom we have let free will tell, on their +return to the town, that we are but a small party; and it is +possible they may send out parties in pursuit."</p> +<p>"I don't think it is likely. The townspeople have been too +roughly handled to care about running any risks. They have no very +large body of men-at-arms in the town. Still, if they do pursue, it +will be by the road to La Rochelle, for that is the one they will +think that most of the fugitives will take.</p> +<p>"Had we not better divide the troop equally, Francois?"</p> +<p>"No, I think not. They will imagine we shall all be going by +that road; and that, moreover, some of the other gentlemen of our +faith may be coming to meet us, with their retainers. Twenty will +be ample for me. Do you take the rest."</p> +<p>Two hours later, Philip saw a cloud of dust rising from the road +in his rear. He hurried on with the fugitives in front of him +until, half an hour later, they came to a bridge over a stream. +This was only wide enough for four horsemen to cross abreast, and +here he took up his station.</p> +<p>In a few minutes, a number of horsemen approached. They were +riding without order or regularity, intent only on overtaking their +prey. Seeing the disorder in which they came, Philip advanced from +the bridge, formed up his men in two lines, and then charged at +full gallop.</p> +<p>The men-at-arms tried to rein in their horses and form in order +but, before they could do so, the Huguenots burst down upon them. +The horses of the Catholics, exhausted with the speed at which they +had been ridden, were unable to withstand the shock; and they and +their riders went down before it. A panic seized those in the rear +and, turning quickly, they fled in all directions, leaving some +thirty of their number dead on the ground. Philip would not permit +his followers to pursue.</p> +<p>"They outnumber us four times," he said; "and if we scatter, +they may turn and fall upon us. Our horses have done a long day's +work, and deserve rest. We will halt here at the bridge. They are +not likely to disturb us, but if they do, we can make a stout +resistance here.</p> +<p>"Do you ride on, Jacques, and tell the fugitives that they can +press forward as far as they like, and then halt for the night. We +will take care that they are not molested, and will ride on and +overtake them, in the morning."</p> +<p>The night passed quietly and, late the following evening, the +party were in sight of La Rochelle. Philip had intended to turn at +this point, where all danger to the fugitives was over, and to +start on his journey back. But the hour was late, and he would have +found it difficult to obtain food and forage, without pressing the +horses. He therefore determined to pass the night at La Rochelle, +as he could take the last news, thence, back to Laville.</p> +<p>The streets of the town presented a busy aspect. Parties of +Huguenot gentlemen and their retainers were constantly arriving, +and fugitive villagers had come in from a wide extent of country. +Large numbers of men were working at the walls of the town. The +harbour was full of small craft. Lines of carts brought in +provisions from the surrounding country, and large numbers of oxen, +sheep, and goats were being driven in.</p> +<p>"As we shall start for Laville in the morning," Philip said to +his men, "it is not worth while to trouble to get quarters; and +indeed, I should say, from the appearance of the place, that every +house is already crowded from basement to roof. Therefore we will +bivouac down by the shore, where I see there are many companies +already bestowed."</p> +<p>As soon as they had picketed their horses, a party were sent +off, to purchase provisions for the troop and forage for their +horses; and when he had seen that the arrangements were complete, +Philip told Pierre to follow him, and went up to the castle, where +Conde and Coligny, with their families, were lodged. He was greeted +warmly by several of the gentlemen who had stopped at the chateau, +a few days before.</p> +<p>The story of the fugitives from Niort had already spread through +the town, and Philip was eagerly questioned about it. Just as he +was about to tell the story, Conde and the Admiral came out, from +an inner room, into the large anteroom where they were talking.</p> +<p>"Ah! Here is the young count's cousin, Monsieur Fletcher," the +Admiral said. "Now we shall hear about this affair of Niort, of +which we have received half a dozen different versions, in the last +hour. Is the count himself here?"</p> +<p>"No, sir. He returned to Laville, escorting the fugitives who +went thither; while he sent me, with the larger portion of the +troop, to protect the passage hither of the main body."</p> +<p>"But it was reported to me that the troop with which you entered +was but forty strong. I hear you fought a battle on the way. Did +you lose many men there?"</p> +<p>"None, sir. Indeed I am glad to say that, beyond a few trifling +wounds, the whole matter has been carried out without any loss to +the party that rode from Laville."</p> +<p>"How strong were they altogether, monsieur?"</p> +<p>"Sixty, sir."</p> +<p>"Then where did you join the force that, as we hear, cut up the +townspeople of Niort as they were massacring our people in the +villages round, and afterwards obtained from the town the freedom +of those who had been cast into prison, and permission for all +Huguenots to leave the town?"</p> +<p>"There was no other force, sir. We had just the sixty men from +Laville, commanded by my cousin Francois. When the news arrived of +the doings at Niort, there was no time to send round to gather our +friends; so we mounted the men-at-arms at the chateau and rode with +all speed, and were but just in time. Had we delayed another half +hour, to gather a larger force, we should have been too late."</p> +<p>"Tell us all about it," the prince said.</p> +<p>"This seems to have been a gallant and well-managed affair, +Admiral."</p> +<p>Philip related the whole circumstances of the affair; how the +townspeople had been heavily punished, and the chief men taken as +hostages, and the peasants compelled to assist to convey the +property of the Huguenots to Laville; also the subsequent +negotiations, and the escape of all the Huguenots from Niort; and +how the troop under him had smartly repulsed, with the loss of over +thirty men, the men-at-arms from the city.</p> +<p>"A gallant enterprise," the prince said. "What think you, +Admiral?"</p> +<p>"I think, indeed, that this young gentleman and his cousin, the +young Count of Laville, have shown singular prudence and +forethought, as well as courage. The matter could not have been +better managed, had it been planned by any of our oldest heads. +That they should, at the head of their little bodies of +men-at-arms, have dispersed the cowardly mob of Niort, is what we +may believe that any brave gentleman would have done; but their +device of taking the priests and the other leaders as hostages, +their boldness in summoning the authorities of Niort, under the +threat of hanging the hostages and capturing the town, is indeed +most excellent and commendable. I heard that the number of +fugitives from Niort was nearly six hundred, and besides these +there were, I suppose, those from the villages."</p> +<p>"About two hundred set out from the villages, sir."</p> +<p>"Eight hundred souls. You hear that, gentlemen? Eight hundred +souls have been rescued, from torture and death, by the bravery and +prudence of these two young gentlemen, who are in years but youths. +Let it be a lesson, to us all, of what can be done by men engaged +in a good work, and placing their trust in God. There is not one of +us but might have felt proud to have been the means of doing so +great and good a work, with so small a force; and to have saved +eight hundred lives, without the loss of a single one; to say +nothing of the sharp lesson given to the city mobs, that the work +of massacre may sometimes recoil upon those who undertake it.</p> +<p>"Our good friend De la Noue has, more than once, spoken very +highly to the prince and myself respecting the young count, and +this young English gentleman; and they certainly have more than +borne out his commendations."</p> +<p>"And more than that," the prince put in, "I myself in no small +degree owe my life to them; for when I was pinned down by my horse, +at Saint Denis, they were among the foremost of those who rushed to +my rescue. Busy as I was, I had time to mark well how stoutly and +valiantly they fought.</p> +<p>"Moreover, Monsieur D'Arblay has spoken to me in the highest +terms of both of them, but especially of Monsieur Fletcher; who, as +he declared, saved his life and that of the Count de Laville, by +obtaining their release from the dungeons of Toulouse, by some such +device as that he has used at Niort.</p> +<p>"And now, gentlemen, supper is served. Let us go in at once. We +must have already tried the patience of our good hosts, who are +doing their best to entertain us right royally; and whom I hope to +relieve of part of the burden, in a very few days.</p> +<p>"Monsieur Fletcher, you shall sit between the Admiral and +myself; for you have told us your story but briefly, and afterwards +I would fain question you farther, as to that affair at +Toulouse."</p> +<p>The two nobles, indeed, inquired very minutely into all the +incidents of the fight. By closely questioning him, they learned +that the idea of forcing the peasants to lend their horses and +carts, to convey the Huguenot villagers' goods to Laville, was his +own, and occurred to him just as he was about to start from the +first village he entered.</p> +<p>"The success of military operations," the Admiral said, "depends +greatly upon details. It is one thing to lay out a general plan; +another to think, amid the bustle and excitement of action, of the +details upon which success so largely depends; and your thought of +making the men, who were about to join in the slaughter of their +fellow villagers, the means of conveying their goods and chattels +to a place of safety, is one that shows that your head is cool, and +able to think and plan in moments when most men would be carried +away by the excitement of the occasion. I am pleased with you, sir; +and shall feel that, if I have any matter on hand demanding +discretion and prudence, as well as bravery, I can, in spite of +your years, confidently intrust you with it.</p> +<p>"Are you thinking of returning tomorrow to Laville?"</p> +<p>"I was intending to do so, sir. It may be that the people of +Niort may endeavour to revenge the stroke that we have dealt them, +and the forty men with me are necessary for the defence of the +chateau."</p> +<p>"I do not think there is any fear of an attack from Niort," the +Admiral said. "They will know, well enough, that our people are +flocking here from all parts; and will be thinking of defence, +rather than of attack, knowing that, while we are almost within +striking distance, the royal army is not in a condition, as yet, to +march from Paris.</p> +<p>"Where are you resting for the night?"</p> +<p>"My troops are down by the shore, sir. Seeing how full the town +was, I thought it was not worth while to look for quarters; and +intended to sleep down there among them, in readiness for an early +start."</p> +<p>"Then, after supper, I would that you go down to them, and tell +them not to be surprised if you do not join them till morning. Then +return hither for the night. It may be that we may want to speak to +you again."</p> +<p>Late in the evening a page came to Philip and, saying that the +prince wished to speak with him, conducted him to a small +apartment, where he found Conde and the Admiral.</p> +<p>"We have a mission with which we would intrust you, if you are +willing to undertake it," the Admiral said. "It is a dangerous one, +and demands prudence and resource, as well as courage. It seems to +the prince and myself that you possess these qualities; and your +youth may enable you to carry out the mission, perhaps, more easily +than another would do.</p> +<p>"It is no less than to carry a letter, from the prince and +myself, to the Queen of Navarre. She is at present at Nerac. Agents +of Catharine have been trying to persuade her to go with her son to +Paris; but fortunately, she discovered that there was a plot to +seize her, and the young prince her son, at the same time that we +were to be entrapped in Burgundy. De Lossy, who was charged with +the mission of seizing her at Tarbes, was fortunately taken ill; +and she has made her way safely up to Nerac.</p> +<p>"All Guyenne swarms with her enemies. D'Escars and four thousand +Catholics lie scattered along from Perigueux to Bordeaux, and other +bands lie between Perigueux and Tulle. If once past those dangers, +her course is barred at Angouleme, Cognac, and Saintes.</p> +<p>"I want her to know that I will meet her on the Charente. I do +not say that I shall be able to take those three towns, but I will +besiege them; and she will find me outside one of them, if I cannot +get inside. It is all important that she should know this, so that +she may judge whither to direct her course, when once safely across +the river Dronne and out of Guyenne.</p> +<p>"I dare not send a written despatch for, were it to fall into +the hands of the Catholics, they would at once strengthen the +garrisons of the town on the Charente; and would keep so keen a +watch, in that direction, that it would be impossible for the queen +to pass. I will give you a ring, a gift from the queen herself, in +token that you are my messenger, and that she can place every +confidence in you.</p> +<p>"I will leave to you the choice of how you will proceed. You can +take some of your men-at-arms with you, and try to make your way +through with a sudden dash; but as the bridges and fords will be +strongly watched, I think that it will be much wiser for you to go +in disguise, either with or without a companion. Certainty is of +more importance than speed. I found a communication here, sent by +the queen before she started to the authorities of the town, saying +that she should try to make her way to them; and she knew that the +prince and myself would also come here, if we found our personal +safety menaced in Burgundy. She foresaw that her difficulties would +be great; and requested that, if we arrived here, we would send her +word as to our movements, in order that she might accommodate hers +to them.</p> +<p>"I have chosen you for several reasons, one being, as I have +told you, that I see you are quick at forming a judgment, and cool +in danger. The second is that you will not be known to any of the +enemy whom you may meet on your way. Most of the Huguenots here +come from the neighbouring provinces, and would almost certainly be +recognized, by Catholics from the same neighbourhood. Of course you +understand that, if suspicion should fall upon you of being a +messenger from this place, you will have but a short shrift."</p> +<p>"I am quite ready to do my best, sir, to carry out your mission. +Personally I would rather ride fast, with half a dozen men-at-arms; +but doubtless, as you say, the other would be the surest way. I +will take with me my servant, who is shrewd and full of resources +and, being a native of these parts, could pass as a countryman +anywhere. My horses and my four men I will leave here, until my +return. The troop will, of course, start in the morning for +Laville."</p> +<p>"We have another destination for them," the prince said. "A +messenger rode yesterday to Laville, to bid the young count start, +the day after tomorrow, with every man he can raise, to join me +before Niort; for which place I set out, tomorrow at midday. Of +course we had no idea that he had already come to blows with that +city; but we resolved to make its capture our first enterprise, +seeing that it blocks the principal road from Paris hither, and is +indeed a natural outpost of La Rochelle. Niort taken, we shall push +on and capture Parthenay, which still further blocks the road, and +whose possession will keep a door open for our friends from +Brittany, Normandy, and the north. When those places are secured +and garrisoned, we can then set about clearing out the Catholics +from the towns to the south."</p> +<p>"Very well, sir. Then I will give orders to them that they are +to accompany your force tomorrow, and join the count before +Niort."</p> +<p>"Here is a large map of the country you will have to traverse. +You had best take it into the next room, and study it carefully; +especially the course and direction of the rivers, and the points +of crossing. It would be shorter, perhaps, if you could have gone +by boat south to Arcachon and thence made your way to Nerac; but +there are wide dunes to be crossed, and pine forests to be +traversed, where a stranger might well die of hunger and thirst. +The people, too, are wild and savage, and look upon strangers with +great suspicion; and would probably have no compunction in cutting +your throat. Moreover, the Catholics have a flotilla at the mouth +of the Gironde, and there would be difficulty and danger in +passing.</p> +<p>"You will, of course, make all speed that you can. I shall +presently see some of the council of the town and, if they tell me +that a boat can take you down the coast as far as the Seudre, some +ten miles north of the mouth of the Gironde, you will avoid the +difficulty of crossing the Boutonne at Saint Jean d'Angely, and the +Charente at Saintes or Cognac. It would save you a quarter of your +journey. I expect them shortly, so that by the time you have +studied the map, I shall be able to tell you more."</p> +<p>An hour later, Philip was again summoned. To his surprise, he +found Maitre Bertram with the prince.</p> +<p>"Our good friend here tells me that he is already acquainted +with you, Monsieur Fletcher. He will house you for tonight, and at +daybreak put you on board a small coasting vessel, which will carry +you down to the mouth of the Seudre. He will also procure for you +whatever disguises you may require, for yourself and your +attendant.</p> +<p>"He has relations with traders in many of the towns. Some of +these are openly of our faith, others are time servers, or are not +yet sufficiently convinced to dare persecution and death for its +sake. He will give you the names of some of these; and you may, at +a push, be able to find shelter with them, obtain a guide, or +receive other assistance.</p> +<p>"Here is the ring. Hide it carefully on the way for, were you +searched, a ring of this value would be considered a proof that you +were not what you seemed.</p> +<p>"You quite understand my message. I pray the queen to trust to +no promises but, using all care to avoid those who would stop her, +to come north as speedily as possible, before the toils close round +her; and you will assure her that she will find me on the Charente, +and that I shall have either taken Cognac, or be occupied in +besieging it."</p> +<p>"If I fail, sir, it shall be from no lack of prudence on my +part; and I hope to prove myself worthy of the high honour that the +prince and yourself have done me, in selecting me for the +mission."</p> +<p>"Farewell then," the Admiral said. "I trust that, in ten days' +time, I shall meet you at Cognac. I have arranged with Maitre +Bertram, who will furnish you with the funds necessary for your +expedition."</p> +<p>Philip bowed deeply to the two nobles, and retired with the +merchant. He had directed Pierre to remain among the lackeys at the +foot of the grand staircase, as he would be required presently; and +as he passed through, he beckoned to him to follow.</p> +<p>"You have seen my horses comfortably stabled, Pierre?"</p> +<p>"It was done an hour since, monsieur."</p> +<p>"And my four men understand that they are to remain here, in +charge of them, until I return?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sir. Their own horses are also bestowed here, and +mine."</p> +<p>"Very well. We sleep tonight at Maitre Bertram's."</p> +<p>"I am right glad to hear it, sir; for truly this castle is full +from the top to the bottom, and I love not to sleep in a +crowd."</p> +<p>"You still have Pierre with you?" the merchant said.</p> +<p>"Yes, and he has turned out an excellent servant. It was a +fortunate day, for me, when I insisted on taking him in spite of +your warning. He is a merry varlet, and yet knows when to joke, and +when to hold his peace. He is an excellent forager--"</p> +<p>"Ah! That I warrant he is," Maitre Bertram put in;</p> +<p>"--And can cook a dinner or a supper with any man in the army. I +would not part with him on any consideration."</p> +<p>"A fellow of that sort, Master Fletcher, is sure to turn out +either a rogue or a handy fellow. I am glad to hear that he has +proved the latter.</p> +<p>"Here we are at the house. At ordinary times we should all be +abed and asleep at this hour, but the place is turned upside down +since the prince and the Admiral arrived; for every citizen has +taken in as many men as his house will hold. I have four gentlemen +and twenty of their retainers lodging here; but I will take you to +my own den, where we can talk undisturbed; for there is much to say +and to arrange, as to this expedition of yours, in which there is +more peril than I should like to encounter. However, that is your +affair. You have undertaken it, and there is nought for me to do, +save to try and make it as successful as possible.</p> +<p>"You have already been studying the map, I hear, and know +something of the route. I have a good map myself, and we will +follow the way together upon it. It would be as well to see whether +your rascal knows anything of the country. In some of his +wanderings, he may have gone south."</p> +<p>"I will question him," Philip said and, reopening the door of +the room, he told Pierre, whom he had bidden follow him upstairs, +to enter.</p> +<p>"I am going down into Gascony, Pierre. It matters not, at +present, upon what venture. I am going to start tomorrow at +daylight, in a craft of Maitre Bertram's, which will land me ten +miles this side the mouth of the Gironde; by which, as you will +see, I avoid having to cross the Charente, where the bridges are +all in the hands of the Catholics. I am going in disguise, and I +propose taking you with me."</p> +<p>"It is all one to me, sir. Where you go, I am ready to follow +you. I have been at Bordeaux, but no farther south.</p> +<p>"I don't know whether you think that three would be too many. +Your men are all Gascons, and one or other of them might know the +part of the country you wish to travel."</p> +<p>"I had not thought of it," Philip said; "but the idea is a good +one. It would depend greatly upon our disguises."</p> +<p>"Do you travel as a man-at-arms, or as a countryman, or a +pedlar, or maybe as a priest, sir?"</p> +<p>"Not as a priest, assuredly," Philip laughed. "I am too young +for that."</p> +<p>"Too young to be in full orders, but not too young to be a +theological student: one going from a theological seminary, at +Bordeaux, to be initiated at Perigueux, or further south to +Agen."</p> +<p>Philip shook his head.</p> +<p>"I should be found out by the first priest who questioned +me."</p> +<p>"Then, sir, we might go with sacks of ware on our backs, as +travelling pedlars; or, on the other hand, we might be on our way +to take service under the Catholic leaders. If so, we might carry +steel caps and swords, which methinks would suit you better than +either a priest's cowl or a pedlar's pack.</p> +<p>"In that case there might well be three of us, or even four. Two +of your men-at-arms would go as old soldiers, and you and I as +young relations of theirs, anxious to turn our hands to soldiering. +Once in Gascony, their dialect would help us rarely, and our story +should pass without difficulty; and even on the way it would not be +without its use, for the story that they have been living near La +Rochelle but, owing to the concourse of Huguenots, could no longer +stay there; and were therefore making south to see, in the first +place, their friends at home; and then to take service, under some +Catholic lord, would sound likely enough."</p> +<p>"I don't know that we can contrive a better scheme than that, +Maitre Bertram. What do you think?"</p> +<p>"It promises well," the trader agreed.</p> +<p>"Do you know what part of Gascony these men come from, +Pierre?"</p> +<p>"They come from near Dax."</p> +<p>"That matters little," Philip said, "seeing that it is only to +the south of Guyenne that we are bound. Still, they will probably +have traversed the province often; and in any case there should be +no trouble in finding our way, seeing that Agen lies on the +Garonne, and we shall only have to keep near the river, all the way +from the point where we are landed. Our great difficulty will be in +crossing the Dordogne, the Dronne, and the Lot, all of which we are +likely to find guarded."</p> +<p>"If you can manage to cross the Garonne here, near Langon," the +merchant said, placing his finger on the map, "you would avoid the +two last rivers and, by keeping west of Bazas, you would be able to +reach Nerac without difficulty. You have to cross somewhere, and it +might be as easy there as at Agen."</p> +<p>"That is so," Philip agreed. "At any rate, we will try there +first.</p> +<p>"I don't know which of the men I had best take with me. They are +all shrewd fellows, as Gascons generally are, so I don't know how +to make my choice."</p> +<p>"I don't think there is much difference, sir," Pierre said. "I +have seen enough of them to know, at least, that they are all +honest fellows."</p> +<p>"I would let them decide the matter for themselves," Philip +said. "Some might like to go, and some to stay behind. If I chose +two, the others might consider themselves slighted.</p> +<p>"Do you know where they have bestowed themselves, Pierre?"</p> +<p>"Down in the stables with the horses, sir. I could pretty well +put my hand on them, in the dark."</p> +<p>"Well, go and fetch them hither, then. Say nothing about the +business on which they are required."</p> +<p>In a quarter of an hour Pierre returned, with the four men. +Philip explained to them, briefly, that he wanted two of them to +journey with him, on a mission of some danger, through Guyenne.</p> +<p>"I have sent for you all," he said, "in order that you might +arrange among yourselves which two shall go. Therefore do you +settle the matter, and if you cannot agree, then cast lots and +leave it to fortune. Only, as you are two sets of brothers, these +had best either go or stay together; therefore if you cast lots do +it not singly, but two against two."</p> +<p>"We may as well do it at once, Monsieur Philip," Eustace said. +"I know, beforehand, that we would all choose to follow you; +therefore if you will put two papers into my steel cap, one with my +name, and one with Jacques', Pierre shall draw. If he takes out the +one with my name, then I and Henri will go with you. If he draws +Jacques, then he and Roger shall go."</p> +<p>This was done, and Jacques and Roger won.</p> +<p>"You will have plenty to do, while we are away," Philip said to +Eustace. "There will be seven horses to look after, including my +chargers."</p> +<p>"How long are you likely to be away, sir?"</p> +<p>"I may return in ten days. I may be away three weeks. Should any +evil chance befall us, you will take the horses over to Laville and +hand them over to my cousin; who will, I am sure, gladly take you +and Henri into his service.</p> +<p>"As we leave here at daybreak, you, Jacques, and your brother +Roger had better wrap yourselves up in your cloaks, and lie down in +the hall below. I would that we could, in the morning, procure +clothes for you, older and more worn than those you have on. You +are going as men who have formerly served; but have since been +living in a village, tilling the land, just as you were when you +first joined me."</p> +<p>"Then we have the very clothes ready to hand," Jacques said. +"When we joined you, we left ours with a friend in the town, to +hold for us. There is no saying how long military service may last +and, as our clothes were serviceable, we laid them by. We can go +round and get them, the first thing in the morning; leaving these +we wear in his care, until we return."</p> +<p>"That will do well; but you must be up early, for it is +important we should make our start as soon as possible."</p> +<p>"I also have my old clothes held in keeping for me, by one who +worked in the stable with me," Pierre said. "A man who is going to +the war can always find others ready to take charge of whatever he +may leave behind, knowing full well that the chances are that he +will never return to claim them."</p> +<p>"That simplifies matters," Maitre Bertram said. "There remains +only your dress, Monsieur Philip; and I shall have no difficulty in +getting, from my own knaves, a doublet, cloak, and other things to +suit you. I have plenty of steel caps and swords, in my +warehouse."</p> +<p>"You had best leave your breast pieces here," Philip said to the +men. "The number of those who carry them is small, and it will be +enough to have steel caps and swords. We are going to walk fast and +far, and the less weight we carry, the better."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch10" id="Ch10">Chapter 10</a>: The Queen Of +Navarre.</h2> +<p>The sun had just risen when Maitre Bertram, accompanied by four +men in the attire of peasants, went down to the port. Two of them +wore steel caps, and had the appearance of discharged soldiers. The +other two looked like fresh countrymen, and wore the low caps in +use by the peasantry on their heads, carrying steel caps slung by +cords from their shoulder. All four had swords stuck into their +leathern belts. Similar groups might have been seen in hundreds, +all over France, making their way to join the forces of the +contending parties.</p> +<a id="PicE" name="PicE"></a> +<center><img src="images/e.jpg" alt= +"Philip and his followers embarking." /></center> +<p>The craft upon which the trader led them was a small one, of +four or five tons burden, manned by three men and a boy.</p> +<p>"You understand, Johan, if you meet with no interruption, you +will land your passengers at the mouth of the Seudre; but if you +should come across any of the craft that have been hovering about +the coast, and find that they are too fast for you, put them ashore +wherever they may direct. If you are too hotly chased to escape, +after landing them, you had best also disembark; and make your way +back by land, as best you can, leaving them to do what they will +with the boat. As like as not they would cut your throats, did they +take you; and if not, would want to know whom you had landed, and +other matters.</p> +<p>"I do not want to lose the craft, which has done me good service +in her time, and is a handy little coaster; but I would rather lose +it, than that you should fall into the hands of the Bordeaux boats +and get into trouble. The fact that you made for shore, to land +passengers, would be sufficient to show that those passengers were +of some importance.</p> +<p>"Now, good luck to you, Master Philip. I trust to see you back +here again, before long."</p> +<p>They kept straight out from La Rochelle to the Isle of Oleron, +and held along close to its shore, lest boats coming out from the +Charente might overhaul them. From the southern end of the island, +it was only a run of some eight miles into the mouth of the Seudre. +A brisk wind had blown, and they made the forty miles' voyage in +seven hours. They could see several white sails far to the south, +as they ran in; but had met with nothing to disquiet them, on the +way. They were rowed ashore in the little boat the craft carried, +and landed among some sand hills; among which they at once struck +off, and walked briskly for a mile inland, so as to avoid any +questionings, from persons they might meet, as to where they had +come from.</p> +<p>Jacques and his brother carried bags slung over their shoulders, +and in these was a store of food with which the merchant had +provided them, and two or three flasks of good wine; so that they +might make a day's journey, at least, without having to stop to +purchase food.</p> +<p>It was two o'clock when they landed, and they had therefore some +five hours of daylight; and before this had faded they had passed +Royan, situated on the Gironde. They did not approach the town but, +keeping behind it, came down upon the road running along the shore, +three miles beyond it; and walked along it until about ten o'clock, +by which time all were thoroughly tired with their unaccustomed +exercise. Leaving the road, they found a sheltered spot among the +sand hills, ate a hearty meal, and then lay down to sleep.</p> +<p>They were afoot again, at daylight. The country was sparsely +populated. They passed through a few small villages, but no place +of any importance until, late in the afternoon, they approached +Blaye, after a long day's tramp. As they thought that here they +might learn something, of the movements of the large body of +Catholic troops Philip had heard of as guarding the passages of the +Dordogne, they determined to enter the town.</p> +<p>They passed through the gates, half an hour before they were +closed, and entered a small cabaret. Here, calling for some bread +and common wine, they sat down in a corner, and listened to the +talk of the men who were drinking there. It was all about the +movements of troops, and the scraps of news that had come in from +all quarters.</p> +<p>"I don't know who they can be all arming against," one said. +"The Queen of Navarre has no troops and, even if a few hundreds of +Huguenots joined her, what could she do? As to Conde and the +Admiral, they have been hunted all over France, ever since they +left Noyers. They say they hadn't fifty men with them. It seems to +me they are making a great fuss about nothing."</p> +<p>"I have just heard a report," a man who had, two or three +minutes before, entered the room said, "to the effect that they +arrived four days since at La Rochelle, with some five or six +hundred men, who joined them on the way."</p> +<p>An exclamation of surprise broke from his hearers.</p> +<p>"Then we shall have trouble," one exclaimed. "La Rochelle is a +hard nut to crack, in itself; and if the prince and the Admiral +have got in, the Huguenots from all the country round will rally +there, and may give a good deal of trouble, after all. What can the +Catholic lords have been about, that they managed to let them slip +through their hands in that way? They must have seen, for some +time, that they were making for the one place where they would be +safe; unless indeed they were making down for Navarre. That would +account for the way in which all the bridges and fords across the +rivers are being watched."</p> +<p>"I expect they are watching both ways," another said. "These +Huguenots always seem to know what is going on, and it is likely +enough that, while our people all thought that Conde was making for +Germany, there was not a Huguenot throughout France who did not +know he was coming west to La Rochelle; and if so, they will be +moving in all directions to join him there, and that is why +D'Escars has got such a force at all the bridges. I heard, from a +man who came in yesterday, that the Lot is watched just as sharply, +from the Garonne through Cahors right on to Espalion; and he had +heard that at Agen, and along the Aveyron, the troops hold the +bridges and fords as if they expected an enemy.</p> +<p>"No doubt, as soon as they hear that Conde and his party are in +La Rochelle, they will close round them and catch them in a trap. +That will be as good as any other way, and save much trouble. It is +a long chase to catch a pack of wolves, scattered all over the +country; but one can make short work of them all, when you get them +penned up in an inclosure."</p> +<p>Philip cast a warning glance at his companions, for he felt so +inclined to retort, himself, that he feared they might give way to +a similar impulse. Jacques and his brother, however, were munching +their bread stolidly; while Pierre was looking at the speaker, with +a face so full of admiring assent to his remark, that Philip had to +struggle hard to repress a laugh.</p> +<p>"It must be owned," another of the group said, "that these +wolves bite hard. I was in Paris last year, with the Count de +Caussac. Well, we laughed when we saw the three parties of white +wolves ride out from Saint Denis; but I tell you, there was no +laughing when they got among us. We were in the Constable's troop; +and though, as far as I know, we were all pretty stout men-at-arms, +and were four to one against them at least, we had little to boast +of when the fight was over.</p> +<p>"At any rate, I got a mark of the wolves' teeth, which has put a +stop to my hunting, as you see," and he held out his arm. "I left +my right hand on the field of battle. It was in the fight round +Conde. A young Huguenot--for he was smooth faced, and but a +youth--shred it off with a sweeping backhanded blow, as if it had +been a twig. So there is no more wolf hunting for me; but even if I +had my right hand back again, I should not care for any more such +rough sport as that."</p> +<p>Philip congratulated himself that he was sitting with his back +to the speaker, for he remembered the incident well, and it was his +arm that had struck the blow. His visor had been up; but as his +face was shaded by the helmet and cheek pieces, and the man could +have obtained but a passing glance at him, he felt sure, on +reflection, that he would not be recognized.</p> +<p>"Ah, well, we shall do better this time," the first speaker +said. "We are better prepared than we were then and, except La +Rochelle and four or five small towns, every place in France is in +our hands. I expect the next news will be that the prince and +Coligny, and the others, have taken ship for England. Then, when +that pestilent Queen of Navarre and her boy are in our hands, the +whole thing will be over; and the last edict will be carried out, +and each Huguenot will have the choice between the mass and the +gallows.</p> +<p>"Well, I will have one more stoup of wine, and then I will be +off, for we march at daybreak."</p> +<p>"How many ride out with you?" the man who had lost his hand +asked.</p> +<p>"A hundred. The town has voted the funds, and we march to join +D'Escars tomorrow. I believe we are not going to Perigueux, but are +to be stationed somewhere on the lower Dordogne, to prevent any of +the Huguenots from the south making their way towards La +Rochelle."</p> +<p>The frequenters of the cabaret presently dropped off. Jacques, +who acted as spokesman, had on entering asked the landlord if they +could sleep there; and he said there was plenty of good hay, in the +loft over the stable. As his duties were now over, he came across +to them.</p> +<p>"Which way are you going, lads?" he asked. "Are you bound, like +the others, to join one of the lords on the Dordogne?"</p> +<p>"No," Jacques said, "we are bound for Agen. We come from near +there."</p> +<p>"I thought your tongue had a smack of Gascon in it."</p> +<p>"Yes, we come from across the border. We are tired of hard work +in the vineyards, and are going to take up with our own trade; for +my comrade, here, and I served under De Brissac, in Italy. We would +rather enlist under our own lord than under a stranger."</p> +<p>"Yes, that I can understand," the landlord said; "but you will +find it no easy work travelling, at present; when every bridge and +ford across the rivers is watched by armed men, and all who pass +are questioned, sharply, as to their business."</p> +<p>"Well, if they won't let us pass," Jacques said carelessly, "we +must join some leader here; though I should like to have had a few +days at home, first."</p> +<p>"Your best plan would have been to have gone by boat to +Bordeaux. There has been a strong wind from the west, for the last +three days, and it would save you many a mile of weary +tramping."</p> +<p>"That it would," Jacques said; "but could one get a +passage?"</p> +<p>"There will be no difficulty about that. There is not a day +passes, now that the wind is fair, that three or four boats do not +go off to Bordeaux, with produce from the farms and vineyards. Of +course, you wouldn't get up without paying; but I suppose you are +not without something in your pockets.</p> +<p>"There is a cousin of mine, a farmer, who is starting in the +morning, and has chartered a boat to carry his produce. If I say a +word to him, I have no doubt he would give the four of you a +passage, for a crown."</p> +<p>"What do you say, comrades?" Jacques said. "It would save us +some thirty or forty miles walking, and perhaps some expense for +ferrys; to say nought of trouble with the troops, who are apt +enough, moreover, to search the pockets of those who pass."</p> +<p>"I think it would be a good plan," his brother replied; and the +other two also assented.</p> +<p>"Very well then," the landlord said; "my cousin will be here in +the morning, for he is going to leave two or three barrels of last +year's vintage with me. By the way, I daresay he will be easy with +you as to the passage money, if you agree to help him carry up his +barrels to the magazine of the merchant he deals with, and aid him +with his other goods. It will save him from having to employ men +there, and those porters of Bordeaux know how to charge pretty high +for their services.</p> +<p>"I will make you up a basket for your journey. Shall I say a +bottle of wine each, and some bread, and a couple of dozen eggs, +which I will get boiled hard for you?"</p> +<p>"That will do well, landlord," Jacques said, "and we thank you, +for having put us in the way of saving our legs tomorrow. What time +do you think your cousin will be in?"</p> +<p>"He will have his carts at the gates by the time they open them. +He is not one to waste time; besides, every minute is of importance +for, with this wind, he may well hope to arrive at Bordeaux in time +to get his cargo discharged by nightfall."</p> +<p>"That was a lucky stroke, indeed," Philip said, when they had +gained the loft; and the landlord, having hung up a lantern, had +left them alone. "Half our difficulties will be over, when we get +to Bordeaux. I had begun to fear, from what we heard of the watch +they are keeping at the bridges, that we should have found it a +very difficult matter crossing the rivers. Once out of Bordeaux the +Ciron is the only stream we shall have to cross, and that is but a +small river, and is not likely to be watched; for no one making his +way from the south to La Rochelle would keep to the west of the +Garonne."</p> +<p>They were downstairs by six, had a meal of bread and spiced +wine; and soon after seven there was a rumble of carts outside, and +two of them stopped at the cabaret. They were laden principally +with barrels of wine; but in one the farmer's wife was sitting, +surrounded by baskets of eggs, fowls, and ducks, and several casks +of butter.</p> +<p>Three of the casks of wine were taken down, and carried into the +house. The landlord had a chat apart with his cousin, who then came +forward to where they were sitting at a table.</p> +<p>"My cousin tells me you want to go to Bordeaux, and are willing +to help load my boat, and to carry the barrels to the warehouse at +Bordeaux, in return for a passage. Well, I agree to the bargain. +The warehouse is not very far from the wharf, but the men there +charge an extortionate price."</p> +<p>"We will do your work," Jacques said.</p> +<p>"But how am I to know that, when you land, you will not slip +away without fulfilling your share of the bargain?" the farmer +asked. "You look honest fellows, but soldiers are not gentry to be +always depended upon. I mean no offence, but business is business, +you know."</p> +<p>Jacques put his hand in his pocket.</p> +<p>"Here is a crown," he said. "I will hand it over to you, as +earnest. If we do not do your work, you can keep that to pay the +hire of the men to carry your barrels."</p> +<p>"That is fair enough," the farmer said, pocketing the coin. +"Now, let us go without delay."</p> +<p>The landlord had already been paid for the supper of the night +before, the lodging, and the contents of the basket; and without +more words, they set out with the cart to the riverside. Here the +boat was in waiting, and they at once set to work, with the drivers +of the two carts, to transfer their contents to it. As they were as +anxious as the farmer that no time should be lost, they worked +hard, and in a quarter of an hour all was on board.</p> +<p>They took their places in the bow; the farmer, his wife, and the +two boatmen being separated from them by the pile of barrels. The +sail was at once hoisted and, as the west wind was still blowing +strongly, Blaye was soon left behind.</p> +<p>"This is better than walking, by a long way," Philip said. "We +are out of practice, and my feet are tender from the tramp from the +coast. It would have taken us two days to get to Bordeaux, even if +we had no trouble in crossing the Dordogne, and every hour is of +importance. I hope we may get out of the city before the gates +close, then we shall be able to push on all night."</p> +<p>They passed several islands on their way and, after four hours' +run, saw the walls and spires of Bourg, where the Dordogne unites +with the Garonne to form the great estuary known as the +Gironde.</p> +<p>At three o'clock they were alongside the wharves of Bordeaux. +They stowed away their steel caps and swords, and at once prepared +to carry up the barrels.</p> +<p>"Do you make an excuse to move off, master," Pierre said; "we +three will soon get these barrels into the store, and it is no +fitting work for you."</p> +<p>"Honest work is fitting work, Pierre, and methinks that my +shoulders are stronger than yours. I have had my sail, and I am +going to pay for it by my share of the work."</p> +<p>The store was nearer than Philip had expected to find it. A wide +road ran along by the river bank, and upon the other side of this +was a line of low warehouses, all occupied by the wine merchants; +who purchased the produce of their vineyards from the growers and, +after keeping it until it matured, supplied France and foreign +countries with it.</p> +<p>Several ships lay by the wharves. Some were bound for England, +others for Holland. Some were freighted for the northern ports of +France, and some, of smaller size, for Paris itself. Several men +came up to offer their services, as soon as the boat was alongside; +and these, when they saw that the owner of the wines had brought +men with them, who would transport the wine to the warehouses, +indulged in some rough jeers before moving away.</p> +<p>In the first place Philip and his companions, aided by the +boatmen, carried the cargo ashore; while the farmer crossed the +road to the merchant with whom he dealt. His store was not more +than fifty yards from the place of landing and, as soon as he +returned, the work began. In an hour and a half the whole of the +barrels were carried over. The farmer's wife had seen to the +carriage of her portion of the cargo to the inn her husband +frequented on these occasions. It was close to the marketplace, and +there she would, as soon as the market opened in the morning, +dispose of them; and by nine o'clock they would be on board again. +When the last barrel was carried into the store, the farmer handed +Jacques the crown he had taken, as pledge for the performance of +the bargain.</p> +<p>"You are smart fellows," he said, "and nimble. The same number +of these towns fellows would have taken double the time that you +have done; and I must have had six, at least, to have got the wine +safely stored before nightfall."</p> +<p>"We are well contented with our bargain," Jacques said. "It is +better to work hard for two hours, than to walk for two days. So +good day to you, master, for we shall get on our way at once, and +do not want to spend our money in the wine shops here."</p> +<p>Possessing themselves of their steel caps and swords again, they +made their way through the busy town to the south gates; through +which a stream of peasants, with carts, horses, and donkeys was +passing out, having disposed of the produce they had brought +in.</p> +<p>"Where are you bound to, you two with steel caps?" the officer +at the gate asked.</p> +<p>Jacques and his brother paused, while Philip and Pierre, who had +stowed their caps in the bundles they carried, went on without +stopping; as it had previously been agreed that, in case of one or +more of his followers being stopped, Philip should continue his +way; as it was urgent that he should not suffer anything to delay +him in the delivery of his message. He waited, however, a quarter +of a mile from the gates, and the two men then rejoined him.</p> +<p>"We had no difficulty, sir," Jacques said. "We said that we once +had served, and were going to do so again, having grown sick +working in the vineyards; and that we had come up from Blaye with a +cargo of wine, and had taken our discharge, and were now bound for +Agen to see our families, before joining the force that the +Viscount de Rouillac, under whom our father held a farm, would no +doubt be putting in the field. That was sufficient, and he let us +go on without further question; except that he said that we should +have done better by going up to Saintes, or Cognac, and taking +service with the force there, instead of making this long journey +up to Agen."</p> +<p>They walked steadily on until, when it was nearly midnight, they +arrived at a small village on the banks of the Ciron. As the +inhabitants would have been in bed, hours before, they made up +their minds not to attempt to find a shelter there; but to cross by +the bridge, and sleep in the first clump of trees they came to. As +they approached the bridge, however, they saw a fire burning in the +centre of the road. Two men were sitting beside it, and several +others lay round.</p> +<p>"Soldiers!" Philip said. "It would not do to try to cross, at +this time of night. We will retire beyond the village, and wait +until morning."</p> +<p>They turned off into a vineyard, as soon as they were outside +the village; and lay down among the vines that had, some weeks +before, been cleared of their grapes.</p> +<p>"How far does this river run before it becomes fordable, +Jacques?"</p> +<p>"I do not know, sir. There are hills run along, in a line with +the Garonne, some ten or twelve miles back; and I should say that, +when we get there, we shall certainly find points at which we might +cross this stream."</p> +<p>"That would waste nearly a day, and time is too precious for +that. We will go straight on in the morning. Our story has been +good enough, thus far. There is no reason why it should not carry +us through."</p> +<p>Accordingly, as soon as the sun was up they entered the village, +and went into a cabaret and called for wine and bread.</p> +<p>"You are travelling early," the landlord said.</p> +<p>"Yes, we have a long tramp before us, so we thought we had +better perform part of it before breakfast."</p> +<p>"These are busy times. Folks are passing through, one way or the +other, all day. It is not for us innkeepers to grumble, but peace +and quiet are all we want, about here. These constant wars and +troubles are our ruin. The growers are all afraid to send their +wine to market; for many of these armed bands are no better than +brigands, and think much more of robbing, and plundering, than they +do of fighting. I suppose, by your looks, you are going to take +service with some lord or other?"</p> +<p>Jacques repeated the usual tale.</p> +<p>"Well, well, every man to his liking," the landlord said; "but +for my part, I can't think what Frenchmen want to fly at each +others' throats for. We have got thirty soldiers quartered in the +village now, though what they are doing here is more than I can +imagine. We shall be glad when they are gone; for they are a rough +lot, and their leader gives himself as many airs as if he had +conquered the place. I believe they belong to a force that is lying +at Bazas, some five leagues away. One would think that the Queen of +Navarre had got a big Huguenot army together, and was marching +north."</p> +<p>"I should not think she could raise an army," Philip said +carelessly; "and if she is wise, she will stop quietly down in +Bearn."</p> +<p>"There is a rumour here," the landlord said, "that she is at +Nerac, with only a small party of gentlemen; and that she is on her +way to Paris, to assure the king that she has no part in these +troubles. I don't know whether that has anything to do with the +troops; who, as I hear, are swarming all over the country. They say +that there are fifteen hundred men at Agen."</p> +<p>"I am afraid we shall have trouble at this bridge," Philip said, +as the landlord left them. "They seem to be a rough lot, and this +truculent lieutenant may not be satisfied with a story that his +betters would accept, without question. We will ask our host if +there is any place where the river can be forded, without going too +far up. We can all swim and, as the river is no great width, we can +make a shift to get across, even if the ford is a bad one."</p> +<p>The landlord presently returned. Jacques put the question:</p> +<p>"By your account of those fellows at the bridge, we might have +trouble with them?"</p> +<p>"As like as not," the landlord said. "They worry and vex all who +come past, insult quiet people; and have seized several, who have +happened to have no papers of domicile about them, and sent them +off to Bazas. They killed a man who resented their rough usage, two +days ago. There has been a talk, in the village, of sending a +complaint of their conduct to the officer at Bazas; but perhaps he +might do nothing and, if he didn't, it would only make it the worse +for us, here."</p> +<p>"We don't want troubles," Jacques said, "and therefore, if we +could pass the river without having to make too wide a detour, we +would do so. Do you know of any fords?"</p> +<p>"Yes, there are two or three places where it can be crossed, +when the water is low; and as there has been no rain, for some +weeks past, you will be able to cross now, easily enough. There is +one four miles higher up. You will see a clump of willow trees, on +this side of the river; and there is a pile of stones, some five +feet high, on the other. You enter the river close by the trees, +and then keep straight for the pile of stones, which is some fifty +yards higher up, for the ford crosses the river at an angle."</p> +<p>"Well, we will take that way, then," Jacques said. "It is better +to lose an hour, than to have trouble here."</p> +<p>An hour later, the party arrived at the ford and crossed it +without difficulty, the water being little above their waists. Some +miles farther, they saw ahead of them the towers of Bazas; and +struck off from the road they were traversing, to pass to the east +of it. They presently came upon a wide road.</p> +<p>"This must be the road to Nerac," Philip said. "There are +neither rivers nor places of any size to be passed, now. The only +danger is from bodies of horse watching the road."</p> +<p>"And if I mistake not, sir, there is one of them approaching +now," Pierre said, pointing ahead.</p> +<p>As he spoke, the heads and shoulders of a body of horsemen were +seen, as they rode up from a dip the road made into a hollow, half +a mile away.</p> +<p>Philip glanced round. The country was flat, and it was too late +to think of concealment.</p> +<p>"We will go quietly on," he said. "We must hope they will not +interfere with us."</p> +<p>The troop consisted of some twenty men, two gentlemen riding at +their head; and as they came up, they checked their horses.</p> +<p>"Whither come you, and where are you bound, my men?"</p> +<p>"We come from Bordeaux, sir, and we are bound for Agen," Jacques +replied. "My comrade and I served under De Brissac, when we were +mere lads, and we have a fancy to try the old trade again; and our +young cousins also want to try their metal."</p> +<p>"You are a Gascon, by your tongue?"</p> +<p>"That is so," Jacques said; "and it is for that reason we are +going south. We would rather fight in a company of our own people +than with strangers."</p> +<p>"Whom have you been serving at Bordeaux? I am from the city, and +know most of those in and round it."</p> +<p>"We have not been working there, sir. We come from near Blaye, +and made the journey thence to Bordeaux by a boat with our master, +Jacques Blazin, who was bringing to Bordeaux a cargo of his +wines."</p> +<p>"Why waste time, Raoul?" the other gentleman said, impatiently. +"What matter if they came from Bordeaux or Blaye, these are not of +those whom we are here to arrest. Anyhow they are not Huguenot +lords, but look what they say they are; but whether men-at-arms, or +peasants, they concern us not. Maybe, while we are questioning +them, a party of those we are in search of may be traversing some +other road. Let us be riding forward."</p> +<p>He roughly pricked his horse with his spur, and the troop rode +on.</p> +<p>"I think you are wrong to be so impatient, Louis," the one who +had acted as interrogator said. "Anyone could see, with half an +eye, that those two fellows were, as they said, old men-at-arms. +There is a straightness and a stiffness about men who have been +under the hands of the drill sergeant there is no mistaking; and I +could swear that fellow is a Gascon, as he said.</p> +<p>"But I am not so sure as to one of the young fellows with them. +I was about to question him, when you broke in. He did not look to +me like a young peasant, and I should not be at all surprised if he +is some Huguenot gentleman, making his way to Nerac with three of +his followers."</p> +<p>"Well, if it was so, Raoul, he will not swell the queen's army +to any dangerous extent. I am glad that you didn't ask him any +questions; for if he declared himself a Huguenot--and to do them +justice, the Huguenots will never deny their faith--I suppose it +would have been our duty to have fallen upon them and slaughtered +them; and though I am willing enough to draw, when numbers are +nearly equal and it is a fair fight, I will take no part in the +slaughter of men when we are twenty to one against them. Three or +four men, more or less, at Nerac will make no difference. The Queen +of Navarre has but some fifty men in all and, whenever the orders +come to seize her and her son, it may be done easily enough, +whether she has fifty or a hundred with her.</p> +<p>"War is all well enough, Raoul, but the slaughtering of solitary +men is not an occupation that suits me. I am a good Catholic, I +hope, but I abhor these massacres of defenceless people, only +because they want to worship in their own way. I look to the pope +as the head of my religion on earth, but why should I treat as a +mortal enemy a man who does not recognize the pope's +authority?"</p> +<p>"That is dangerous doctrine, Louis."</p> +<p>"Yes, but why should it be? You and I were both at the colloquy +at Poissy, and we saw that the Cardinal of Lorraine, and all the +bishops, failed totally to answer the arguments of the Huguenot +minister Beza. The matter was utterly beyond me and, had Beza +argued ten times as strongly as he did, it would in no way have +shaken my faith; but I contend that if Lorraine himself and the +bishops could not show this man to be wrong, there can be nothing +in these people's interpretation of Scripture that can be so +terrible as to deserve death. If they become dangerous to the +state, I am ready to fight against them, as against any other +enemies of France; but I can see nothing that can excuse the +persecutions and massacres. And if these men be enemies of France, +of which as yet no proof has been shown, it is because they have +been driven to it, by persecution."</p> +<p>"Louis, my cousin," the other said, "it is dangerous, indeed, in +these days to form an opinion. You must remember our greatest +statesman, L'Hopital, has fallen into some disgrace, and has been +deprived of rank and dignity, because he has been an advocate of +toleration."</p> +<p>"I know that, Raoul; but I also know there are numbers of our +nobles and gentlemen who, although staunch Catholics, are sickened +at seeing the king acting as the tool of Philip of Spain and the +pope; and who shudder, as I do, at beholding France stained with +blood from end to end, simply because people choose to worship God +in their own way. You must remember that these people are not the +ignorant scum of our towns, but that among them are a large number +of our best and wisest heads. I shall fight no less staunchly, when +fighting has to be done, because I am convinced that it is all +wrong. If they are in arms against the king, I must be in arms for +him; but I hope none the less that, when arms are laid down, there +will be a cessation of persecution--at any rate, a cessation of +massacre. It is bringing disgrace on us in the eyes of all Europe, +and I trust that there may be a league made among us to withstand +the Guises; and to insist that there shall be, in France, no +repetition of the atrocities by which Philip of Spain, and the Duke +of Alva, are trying to stamp out the reformed religion in the +Netherlands."</p> +<p>"Well, I hope at any rate, Louis," his cousin said impatiently, +"that you will keep these opinions to yourself; for assuredly they +will bring you into disgrace, and may even cost you your +possessions and your head, if they are uttered in the presence of +any friend of the Guises."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch11" id="Ch11">Chapter 11</a>: Jeanne Of +Navarre.</h2> +<p>"It is lucky," Philip said to Jacques, as they proceeded on +their way after the troop had ridden on, "that he did not think of +asking us if we were Huguenots."</p> +<p>"I was expecting it myself, sir," Jacques said; "and I was just +turning it over in my conscience, how I could answer."</p> +<p>"There could be but one answer, Jacques; though no doubt it +would have cost us our lives."</p> +<p>"I should not deny my faith, even to save my life, sir, if the +question were put to me: 'Are you a Huguenot?' But I think that +when four lives are at stake, it is lawful to take any opening +there may be to get out of it."</p> +<p>"But how would there have been an opening, Jacques?"</p> +<p>"Well, sir, you see, if he had asked, 'Are you Huguenots?' I +think I could have said 'No,' with a clear conscience, seeing that +you are an Englishman. Your religion may be like ours, but you are +not a Huguenot; and although Pierre does not seem to me to have +quite made up his mind as to what he is, assuredly I should not +call him a Huguenot. So you see, sir, that as only two out of the +four are Huguenots, there would have been no lie to my saying 'no' +to that question. But if he had said 'Are you Catholics?' I must +have answered 'No,' seeing that none of us go to mass."</p> +<p>"It is a nice question," Philip said; "but seeing that the +Catholics never keep their oaths and their promises to what they +call heretics, I think that one would be justified, not in telling +a lie, for nothing can justify that, but in availing one's self of +a loophole such as one would scorn to use, to others. I should be +sorry to have the question asked me, though seeing I am not myself +a Huguenot, although I am fighting with them, I think that I could +reply 'no;' especially as it is not a question of my own life only, +but one involving the whole cause of the Huguenots.</p> +<p>"If I were in your place, I don't know that I should do so; but +as you say that you could do it, without your conscience pricking +you, I certainly should not put pressure upon you to say 'yes.' +However, I hope you may never be asked the question, and that we +shall meet with no more interruptions until we get to Nerac. There +can be little doubt that, at present, the Catholics have received +no orders to seize the queen and her son at Nerac; although they +have orders to prevent her, at all costs, from going forward to +Paris except under escort; and are keeping a sharp lookout, to +prevent her from being joined by parties of Huguenots who would +render her force formidable.</p> +<p>"I should hope that, by this time, we are past the last of their +bands. Those we met just now doubtless belonged to the force +gathered in Bazas; and it is in the direction of the north, rather +than the west, that the Catholics are most vigilant. If she +succeeds in making her way through them, it will be well nigh a +miracle.</p> +<p>"Now that we are well past Bazas, we will leave the road and +make our way across the fields; for it is upon the roads that any +watch there may be will be set."</p> +<p>It was a long day's journey, and at eight o'clock in the evening +they lay down in a wood, ten miles from Nerac; having walked fully +fifty miles since crossing the river Ciron.</p> +<p>"I am very glad, Monsieur Philip, that we were not here four +hours earlier."</p> +<p>"Why, Pierre?"</p> +<p>"Because, sir, in that case you would have insisted on pushing +on to Nerac, so as to enter it before the gate is closed; and in +that case I doubt whether, with the best will, I could have got +that far, and I am sure that Jacques and Roger could not have done +so."</p> +<p>"No, indeed," Jacques said, "I have done my last inch. For the +last four hours I felt as if walking upon hot irons, so sore are my +feet; and indeed, I could not have travelled at all, if I had not +taken your advice and gone barefoot."</p> +<p>They had bought some wine and bread in a little village through +which they had passed and, as soon as they had finished their +supper, they lay down to sleep. They were up next morning long +before daybreak, and were at the gates of Nerac before they opened. +A group of countrymen were gathered there and, as soon as the +drawbridge was lowered, they entered the town with them. They +observed that there were sentries all round the walls, and that a +keen watch was kept. As Philip was aware, the majority of the +inhabitants there were Huguenots, and the governor was a nobleman +of Bearn; and it was doubtless for this reason that the Queen of +Navarre had halted there, as Nerac was a strong town, and not to be +taken without a regular siege.</p> +<p>They had no difficulty in ascertaining where the queen was +lodged. Early as it was, several Huguenot gentlemen, armed to the +teeth, were gathered round the door. Philip, leaving his companions +behind him, went up to the group and, addressing one of them, +said:</p> +<p>"I am the bearer of a message for the queen. It is important. +May I pray you, sir, to cause this ring to be conveyed to her. It +is a token that she will recognize."</p> +<p>The gentleman glanced at the ring.</p> +<p>"She may well do that," he said, "seeing that it bears her own +cognizance. The queen is already up, and I will cause it to be sent +in to her, at once."</p> +<p>Two minutes later another gentleman came out.</p> +<p>"Her majesty will at once see the messenger who has brought the +ring," he said, and Philip at once followed him into the house.</p> +<p>He was conducted to a room where a lady was sitting whom he +recognized, by the descriptions he had read of her, as the Queen of +Navarre. Beside her stood a lad of fifteen.</p> +<p>"You come from the Admiral!" she said. "Have you despatches for +me?"</p> +<p>"I have a paper sewn up in my boot, your majesty; but it was +read over to me several times, in case either water or wear should +render it illegible."</p> +<p>"He has reached La Rochelle safely, as I heard three days +since," the queen said, "with but a small following?"</p> +<p>"He and the prince had over five hundred with them, when they +rode in, your majesty; and parties were arriving, hourly, to swell +his force. On the day I left he was going out to attack Niort and, +that captured, he was going to move south. That was the message I +was charged to deliver. You will find him either in Cognac, or in +front of that town."</p> +<p>"That is good news, indeed," the queen said, "for I should have +had to make a wide detour to pass round the Charente, all the towns +and bridges being held by our enemies. It will be difficult enough +to cross the intervening rivers. Indeed, as the news that I had +started hence would arrive, long before I did myself, it would be +hopeless to elude their vigilance; and I should have had to make a +long bend to the east, and might well have been cut off before I +could reach him.</p> +<p>"And who are you, sir, that the Admiral should think fit to +intrust so important a message to you?"</p> +<p>"I am English born, madam, and my name is Philip Fletcher. My +mother was French, being the daughter of the Count de Moulins; and +she sent me over to reside with her sister, the Countess of +Laville, in order that I might fight for the cause of the religion, +by the side of my cousin Francois. I rode with him through the last +campaign, in the train of Francois de la Noue and, having had the +good fortune to attract the notice of the Prince of Conde and the +Admiral, they selected me to bear this message to you; thinking +that, being but a lad, I should better escape suspicion and +question than a French gentleman would do; especially as he would +risk being recognized, while my face would be altogether +unknown.</p> +<p>"Now, if your majesty will permit me, I will open the lining of +my shoe. You will find, however, that the despatch contains but a +few words. At first the Admiral thought only to give me a message; +but he afterwards wrote what he had said, in order that, should any +evil befall me by the way, one of the three men who accompanied me +should take my shoe and bring it to your majesty."</p> +<p>By this time he had slit open the lining of his shoe with his +knife, and handed the little piece of paper to the queen. It +contained only the words:</p> +<p>"All goes well. Am hoping to see you. You will find me in or +near Cognac."</p> +<p>There was no signature.</p> +<p>"You have done good service to the cause, Monsieur Fletcher," +the queen said. "How did you manage to pass south, for I hear that +every bridge and ford is guarded by the Catholics?"</p> +<p>Philip gave a brief account of his journey.</p> +<p>"You have acted prudently and well, young sir; and fully +justified the Admiral's confidence in your prudence. What are your +orders now?"</p> +<p>"They are simply to accompany your majesty on your way north, if +it be your pleasure to permit me to ride in your train."</p> +<p>"I shall do that right willingly, sir; and it will be a pleasure +for my son to hear, from your lips, a full account of your journey +hither, and something of your native land, in which it may be that +he will be, some day, compelled to take refuge."</p> +<p>"You shall ride by my side, Monsieur Philip," the young prince +said. "You look as if you could laugh and joke. These Huguenot +lords are brave and faithful, but they have ever serious +faces."</p> +<p>"Hush, Henri! It is not fitting to speak so. They are brave and +good men."</p> +<p>"They may be that, mother, but they weary me dreadfully; and I +am sure it would be much more cheerful having this English +gentleman as my companion."</p> +<p>The young prince was tall for his age, active and sinewy. His +mother had brought him up as if he had been a peasant boy. As a +child he had run about barefoot and, as he grew, had spent much of +his time among the mountains, sometimes with shepherds, sometimes +engaged in the chase. Jeanne herself had a horror of the corruption +of the French court, and strove to make her son hardy and robust, +with simple tastes and appetites; and preferring exercise, hard +work, and hunter's food to the life of the town. He had practised +constantly in arms, and his mother regretted nothing so much as the +fact that, next to the king and his brothers, he stood in +succession to the French throne; and would have been far happier +that he should rule, some day, over the simple and hardy people of +Navarre.</p> +<p>"The first thing to do, Monsieur Fletcher," the queen said, "is +to obtain more suitable garments for yourself and your followers. +This my chamberlain shall see about, without delay. I will then +present you to the gentlemen who accompany me. They are but a small +party, but we have received promises from many others, who will +join us on our way.</p> +<p>"I may tell you it is already arranged that I shall set forward +this evening. Monsieur D'Escars has, I hear, some four thousand +gentlemen under arms; but these are widely scattered, and I hope to +have a sufficient force to overcome them at any point we may make +for. Some friends have secretly collected two or three boats near +Tonneins, where there is but a small part of the Catholics +assembled. Once past the Garonne, we shall feel safe for a +time."</p> +<p>"Would it please you that I should ride on first to Tonneins, +your majesty, and ascertain if the garrison there are not alert, +and have no suspicion that you are about to cross so close to them? +Being a stranger here I could pass unsuspected; while were any of +the gentlemen with you seen near Tonneins, it would create +suspicion that you, yourself, were about to cross in the +neighbourhood."</p> +<p>"I thank you for that offer," the queen said, "and will speak to +you about it, later on."</p> +<p>As Philip had been furnished with money, he did not trouble the +queen's chamberlain, but at once purchased clothes for himself and +his three followers, together with breast and back piece for +Jacques and Roger. On his return to the queen, after an hour's +absence, he was informed that Prince Henri had made inquiries for +him, and was shown into a room where the young prince was sitting +down to his breakfast, the queen being engaged in business with +some of her councillors.</p> +<p>"That is right, Monsieur Fletcher. I have been waiting breakfast +for you, for half an hour. Come, sit you down with me. I warrant +you have been too busy, since you arrived at Nerac, to think of a +meal."</p> +<p>"I don't think, Prince," Philip began, "that it would be seemly +that I--"</p> +<p>"Nonsense," the prince interrupted, "we are not at the court of +France, thank goodness, and we have no ceremony at Bearn. Besides, +a simple gentleman may dine with the king, any day. So sit down +without any more delay, and let me hear all your adventures."</p> +<p>Philip still hesitated, and the prince said:</p> +<p>"I told my mother that I was going to have you to breakfast with +me; and I believe she was well satisfied that I should, for a time, +be out of her way."</p> +<p>This removed any doubt from Philip's mind, and he at once sat +down with the prince and ate a hearty meal; after which he chatted +with him for an hour, telling him about the journey from La +Rochelle, the rescue of the Huguenots near Niort, and some of the +adventures in the last war.</p> +<p>"And you were with my cousin Conde, and the Admiral, in the +battle of Saint Denis. What luck you have had, Monsieur Fletcher. I +hope the day will come when I, too, shall take a part in war, and +be a great leader like the Admiral; but I would rather that it was +against Spaniards, or others, than against Frenchmen."</p> +<p>The door opened, and the queen entered. Philip rose hastily, but +she motioned him to be seated.</p> +<p>"No ceremony, I beg of you, Master Philip. I am glad to find you +here, with my son. I have spoken to some of my friends of your +offer to go to Tonneins, but they think not well of it. It is a +small place, and a stranger would be sure to be questioned; but it +was agreed that, if you would ride through Agen, you might do us +great service. Five leagues from Tonneins Fontarailles, the +seneschal of Armagnac, will be waiting for me, in the morning, with +a troop of horse and a regiment of infantry. If the governor of +Agen has news of his coming, he may send out a force to attack him +or, should he not feel strong enough for that, he may at least +think that I am intending to join the seneschal; and in that case +he may send out troops, to bar the roads leading thither from the +river. As many will be passing through Agen, on their way to join +D'Escars, the passage of a gentleman and two men-at-arms will +excite no attention; and if you put up for a short time at an inn, +you may be able to gather whether there has been any movement of +the troops, or whether there is any talk of the departure of any, +this evening.</p> +<p>"Should all be quiet, you can join me on the road; or ride +direct to the village of Villeneuve d'Agenois, where the seneschal +will arrive, some time tonight. If you should hear of any movements +of troops, ride down on the other side of the river till within two +miles of Tonneins; then, if you place your men at intervals of +three or four hundred yards apart, you will be sure to see us +cross, and can give us warning of danger, and such indications as +you may gather as to the points where the troops are likely to be +posted. We shall cross about midnight."</p> +<p>"I will gladly undertake the mission," Philip said. "I will go +out and procure some horses, at once."</p> +<p>"That is unnecessary," the queen said. "We have brought several +spare horses with us, and I have already ordered four to be saddled +for you. You have no armour, I see."</p> +<p>"I would rather ride without it, your majesty, especially on +such a mission as the present. Besides, if in full armour I might +well be accosted, and asked to whose party I belong; while riding +in as I am, unarmed, save for my sword, I should have the air of a +gentleman of the neighbourhood, who had merely ridden in on +business, or to learn the latest news."</p> +<p>The queen smiled approvingly.</p> +<p>"You see, Henri, this gentleman, although about to undertake a +dangerous business, does not proceed rashly or hastily, but thinks +coolly as to the most prudent course to pursue.</p> +<p>"You will understand, Monsieur Fletcher, that several of the +gentlemen with me have volunteered for this duty, and that we have +accepted your offer solely because they could scarcely enter Agen +without meeting some who know them; while you, being a stranger, do +not run this risk."</p> +<p>"Moreover, madam, I have another advantage. Were any of them +questioned, and asked directly, 'Are you a Huguenot?' they could +not but answer yes; whereas, were that question put to me I could +reply 'no,' seeing that I am an English Protestant, and in no way, +save in my sympathies, a Huguenot."</p> +<p>"That is an advantage, certainly; but it may be the question +will be put, 'Are you a Catholic?'"</p> +<p>"In that case, your majesty, I could only reply 'no;' but +methinks the other question is the most likely one."</p> +<p>"I wish I were going to ride with Monsieur Fletcher, +mother."</p> +<p>"That is impossible, Henri; for scarce a Gascon gentleman but +has been down, at one time or other, to Bearn. Do not be anxious +for adventures. They will come in time, my son, and plenty of them. +Would that you could pass your life without one; but in these +troubled times, and with France divided against itself, that is too +much to hope.</p> +<p>"Should you by any chance, Monsieur Fletcher, fail to rejoin us +at Villeneuve d'Agenois, you may overtake us farther on. But run no +risk to do so. You know whither we are bound, and I trust that, +when we arrive there, we may find you before us. I myself will +retain the ring that you brought me, and will return it to the +Admiral; but wear this, in remembrance of one in whose service you +risked your life," and she handed him a diamond ring, which he knew +enough of gems to be aware was of considerable value.</p> +<p>"And take this dagger," the prince said, taking a small and +beautifully tempered weapon from his belt. "It is but a bodkin, but +it is of famous steel. It was sent me by Philip of Spain, at a time +when he was trying to cajole my mother, and is of the best +workmanship of Toledo."</p> +<p>Philip expressed his thanks for the gifts in suitable words; and +then, taking leave of the queen and prince, went down to the +courtyard. Here he found Pierre and the two men-at-arms, standing +at the head of three powerful horses; while one of the queen's +retainers held a very handsome animal in readiness for himself.</p> +<p>"Her majesty begs you to accept these horses, sir, as a slight +token of her goodwill."</p> +<p>In five minutes, the party had issued from Nerac; Pierre, as +usual, keeping close behind Philip, and the two men-at-arms riding +a few lengths behind.</p> +<p>"This is truly a change for the better, Monsieur Philip," Pierre +said. "We entered Nerac as tillers of the soil, we ride out in +knightly fashion."</p> +<p>"Yes, Pierre, it is good to be on the back of a fine horse +again; and this one I am riding is worthy of a place beside Victor +and Robin."</p> +<p>"Yes, he is as good as either of them, sir. I am not sure that +he is not better. We, too, are well content with the queen of +Navarre's generosity; for her steward gave us, before we started, +each a purse of twenty crowns, which has been a wonderful salve to +our sore feet. I trust there will be no more occasion to use them, +for a time."</p> +<p>"I hope not. It was a long journey, but it was fortunate that we +pushed on as we did; for had we been twelve hours later, we should +not have found the queen at Nerac."</p> +<p>"And why does not your honour stay to ride with her?" Pierre +asked.</p> +<p>"I hope to join her again, tonight. We are going through Agen, +where I hope to gather such news, of the movements of the Catholic +troops, as may be of use to her."</p> +<p>Agen was about fifteen miles distance from Nerac, and as there +was no occasion for haste, and Philip did not wish the horses to +have the appearance of being ridden fast, they took three hours in +traversing the distance.</p> +<p>When they neared the town, he said to Pierre:</p> +<p>"I shall not take you with me. If there should be +trouble--though I do not see how this can well come about--four men +could do no more than one. Therefore, Pierre, do you follow me no +nearer than is sufficient to keep me in sight. The other two will +follow you at an equal distance, together or separately.</p> +<p>"Should any accident befall me, you are on no account to ride +up, or to meddle in the business. I have told you what my +instructions are, and it will be your duty to carry them out, if I +am taken. You will put up your horse and, mingling with the +soldiers and townspeople, find out if there is any movement in the +wind, or whether any troops have already gone forward. Jacques and +Roger will do the same, and you will meet and exchange news. If you +find that anything has been done, or is going to be done, towards +putting more guards on the river, or despatching a force that might +interfere with the passage of the queen from Tonneins to Villeneuve +d'Agenois, Roger and Jacques will ride to the point where I told +you the crossing is to be made, and will warn the queen of the +danger. I leave you free to ride with them, or to stay in the town +till you learn what has happened to me. If you should find that +there is no movement of troops, you and the others will be free +either to ride to Pontier, or to make your way back to Cognac; and +to join my cousin and give him news of what has happened to me. If +I am only held as a prisoner, the Admiral will doubtless exchange a +Catholic gentleman for me. He is sure to take many prisoners at the +capture of the towns."</p> +<p>He then called the two men-at-arms up, and repeated the +instructions relating to them.</p> +<p>"But may we not strike in, should you get into trouble, master? +Roger and I would far rather share whatever may befall you."</p> +<p>"No, Jacques, it would be worse in every way. Force could be of +no avail, and it would lessen my chance of escape, were you beside +me. Single handed I might get through, and trust to the speed of my +horse. If taken, I might plan some mode of escape. In either case +it would hamper me, were you there. Above all it is important that +my mission should be fulfilled, therefore my commands on that head +are strict. I do not apprehend trouble in any way; but if it should +occur, you will at once turn your horses down the first street you +come to, so that you may in no way be connected with me. Pierre +will, of course, turn first. You will follow him, see where he +stables his horse, then go on to some other cabaret and, having put +up your horses, go back to the place where he has stopped, wait +till he joins you outside, then arrange for the hour at which you +are to meet again, and then go off in different directions to +gather the news of which we are in search.</p> +<p>"Take no further thought about me, at all. Give your whole minds +to the safety of the queen. Upon that depends greatly the issue of +this war. Were she and her son to fall into the hands of the +Catholics, it would be a fatal blow to the cause."</p> +<p>So saying, he rode on again at the head of the party. When +within a quarter of a mile of the town, he again called Pierre up +to him.</p> +<p>"Pierre, do you take this ring and dagger. Should I be taken, I +shall assuredly be searched to see whether I am the bearer of +despatches. I should grieve to lose these gifts, as much as I +should to fall into the hands of the Catholics. Keep them for me, +until you learn that there is no chance of my ever returning to +claim them; and then give them to my cousin, and beg him in my name +to return the ring to the Queen of Navarre, and the dagger to the +young prince."</p> +<p>"I like not all these provisions," Pierre said to himself. +"Hitherto the master has never, since I first knew him, given any +commands to me, as to what was to be done in case he were captured +or killed. It seems to me that the danger here is as nothing to +that he has often run before, and yet he must have some sort of +foreboding of evil. If I were not a Huguenot, I would vow a score +of pounds of candles, to be burnt at the shrine of the Holy Virgin, +if the master gets safe out of yonder town."</p> +<p>Philip rode on across the bridge, and entered the gates without +question. Up to this time, his followers had kept close behind him; +but now, in accordance with his instructions, they dropped behind. +He continued his way to the principal square, rode up to an inn, +entered the courtyard, and gave his horse to the stableman.</p> +<p>"Give it a feed," he said, "and put it in the stable. I shall +not require it until the afternoon."</p> +<p>Then he went into the public room, called for food and wine, and +sat down. The tables were well nigh full, for there were many +strangers in the town. After a first glance at the newcomer, none +paid him any attention. Pierre and the two men had, in accordance +with his instructions, passed the inn they had seen him enter, and +put up at other places.</p> +<p>There was a loud buzz of conversation, and Philip listened +attentively to that between four gentlemen who had just sat down at +the next table to him. Three of them had come in together, and the +fourth joined them, just as Philip's meal was brought to him.</p> +<p>"Well, have you heard any news at the governor's, Maignan?" one +of them asked the last comer.</p> +<p>"Bad news. Conde and the Admiral are not letting the grass grow +under their feet. They have captured not only Niort, as we heard +yesterday, but Parthenay."</p> +<p>"Peste! That is bad news, indeed. What a blunder it was to let +them slip through their fingers, when they might have seized them +with two or three hundred men, in Burgundy."</p> +<p>"It seems to me that they are making just the same mistake +here," another put in. "As Jeanne of Navarre is well nigh as +dangerous as the Admiral himself, why don't they seize her and her +cub, and carry them to Paris?"</p> +<p>"Because they hope that she will go willingly, of her own +accord, Saint Amand. La Motte-Fenelon has been negotiating with +her, for the last fortnight, on behalf of the court. It is clearly +far better that she should go there of her own will, than that she +should be taken there a prisoner. Her doing so would seem a +desertion of the Huguenot cause, and would be a tremendous blow to +them.</p> +<p>"On the other hand, if she were taken there as a prisoner, it +would drive many a Huguenot to take up arms who is now content to +rest quiet. And moreover, the Protestant princes of Germany, and +Elizabeth of England would protest; for whatever the court may say +of the Admiral, they can hardly affirm that Jeanne of Navarre is +thinking of making war against Charles for any other reason than +the defence of her faith. Besides, she can do no harm at Nerac; and +we can always lay hands on her, when we like. At any rate, there is +no fear of her getting farther north. The rivers are too well +guarded for that."</p> +<p>"I don't know," another said, "after the way in which Conde and +the Admiral, though hampered with women and children, made their +way across France, I should never be surprised at anything. You +see, there is not a place where she has not friends. These +pestilent Huguenots are everywhere. She will get warning of danger, +and guides across the country--peasants who know every byroad +through the fields, and every shallow in the rivers. It would be +far better to make sure of her and her son, by seizing them at +Nerac."</p> +<p>"Besides," Saint Amand said, "there are reports of movements of +Huguenots all over Guyenne; and I heard a rumour, last night, that +the Seneschal of Armagnac has got a considerable gathering +together. These Huguenots seem to spring out of the ground. Six +weeks ago, no one believed that there was a corner of France where +they could gather a hundred men together, and now they are +everywhere in arms."</p> +<p>"I think," Maignan said, "that you need not be uneasy about the +Queen of Navarre. I am not at liberty to say what I have heard; but +I fancy that, before many hours, she will be on her way to Paris, +willingly or unwillingly. As for the seneschal, he and the others +will be hunted down, as soon as this matter is settled. A day or +two, sooner or later, will make no difference there and, until the +queen is taken, the troops will have to stay in their present +stations.</p> +<p>"My only fear is that, seeing she can have no hope of making her +way north, she will slip away back to Navarre again. Once there, +she could not be taken without a deal of trouble. Whatever is to be +done must be done promptly. Without direct orders from the court, +no step can be taken in so important a matter. But the orders may +arrive any hour, and I think you will see that there will be no +loss of time in executing them."</p> +<p>"And Nerac could not stand a long siege, even if it were +strongly garrisoned; and the handful of men she has got with her +could not defend the walls for an hour. I hope she may not take the +alarm too soon; for as you say, once back in Navarre it would be +difficult, indeed, to take her. It is no joke hunting a bear among +the mountains; and as her people are devoted to her, she could play +hide and seek among the valleys and hills for weeks--ay, or +months--before she could be laid hold of.</p> +<p>"It is well for our cause, Maignan, that she is not a man. She +would be as formidable a foe as the Admiral himself. Huguenot as +she is, one can't help respecting her. Her husband was a poor +creature, beside her. He was ready to swallow any bait offered him; +while, even if it would seat her son on the throne of France, she +would not stir a hand's breadth from what she thinks right."</p> +<p>Philip finished his meal, and then went out into the square. The +news was satisfactory. No order had yet arrived for the seizure of +the queen; and though one was evidently looked for, to arrive in +the course of a few hours, it would then be too late to take any +steps until nightfall, at the earliest; and by nine o'clock the +queen would have left Nerac.</p> +<p>No movement was intended at present against the seneschal, nor +did the idea that the queen might attempt to join him seem to be +entertained. It was possible, however, that such a suspicion might +have occurred to the governor, and that some troops might secretly +be sent off, later. He must try to learn something more.</p> +<p>Confident that he could not be suspected of being ought but what +he appeared, a Catholic gentleman--for his garments were of much +brighter hue than those affected by the Huguenots--he strolled +quietly along, pausing and looking into shops when he happened to +pass near groups of soldiers or gentlemen talking together. So he +spent two or three hours. No word had reached his ear indicating +that any of the speakers were anticipating a sudden call to +horse.</p> +<p>He saw that Pierre was following him, keeping at some distance +away, and pausing whenever he paused. He saw no signs of the other +two men, and doubted not that they were, as he had ordered, +spending their time in wine shops frequented by the soldiers, and +listening to their talk.</p> +<p>Feeling convinced that no orders had been given for the assembly +of any body of troops, he sat down for a time at a small table in +front of one of the principal wine shops, and called for a bottle +of the best wine; thinking that the fact that he was alone would be +less noticeable, so, than if he continued to walk the streets. +Presently a party of four or five gentlemen sat down at a table a +short distance off. He did not particularly notice them at first; +but presently, glancing that way, saw one of them looking hard at +him, and a thrill of dismay ran through him, as he recognized the +gentleman addressed as Raoul, the leader of the party that had +stopped him near Bazas. He had, however, presence of mind enough to +look indifferently at him, and then to continue sipping his +wine.</p> +<p>The possibility that this gentleman, with his troop, should have +come to Agen had never entered his mind; and though the encounter +was a most unfortunate one, he trusted that the complete change in +his appearance would be sufficient to prevent recognition; although +it was evident, by the gaze fixed on him, that the gentleman had an +idea that his face was familiar. To move now would heighten +suspicion, if any existed; and he therefore sat quiet, watching the +people who passed in front of him, and revolving in his mind the +best course to be taken, should Raoul address him. The latter had +just spoken to his cousin, who was sitting next to him.</p> +<p>"Do you know that young gentleman, Louis?" he asked. "I seem to +know his face well; and yet he does not know me, for he just now +glanced at me, without recognizing me. You know most of the gentry +in this neighbourhood. Do you know him?"</p> +<p>"No, I cannot say that I do, Raoul; though I, too, seem to have +a recollection of his face. It is a sort of face one remembers, +too. I should think his family must belong to the north, for you do +not often see men of that complexion about here. He looks very +young, not above nineteen or twenty; but there is a look of +earnestness and resolution, about his face, that would point to his +being some years older."</p> +<p>Dismissing the matter from his mind, Raoul joined in the +conversation round him. Presently he grasped his cousin's arm.</p> +<p>"I know where we saw the face now, Louis. He was one of the four +fellows we stopped, two days since, near Bazas."</p> +<p>"Impossible, Raoul! Those men were peasants, though two of them +had served for a time in the army; the others--" and he +stopped.</p> +<p>"You see it yourself, Louis. One of the others was a dark, +active man. The other was but a lad--a tall, well-built young +fellow, with fair complexion and gray eyes. I thought of it +afterwards, and wondered where he got that skin and hair from. I +put it down that it was a trace of English blood, of which there is +a good deal still left in Guyenne, and some of the other provinces +they held, long ago."</p> +<p>"I certainly see the likeness, now you mention it, Raoul; but it +can hardly be the same. This is a gentleman. He is certainly that, +whoever he may be. How could a gentleman be masquerading about as a +peasant?"</p> +<p>"That is what I am going to find out, Louis. He may have been a +Huguenot, making his way down to join the Queen of Navarre at Nerac +He may be one of her train there, who had gone out, in disguise, to +reconnoitre the country and see what forces of ours were in the +neighbourhood, and where posted. That may be his mission, here; but +this time he has chosen to come in his proper attire."</p> +<p>"That can hardly be his attire, if he is one of Jeanne of +Navarre's followers. He may have got a suit for the purpose, but +assuredly the colours are too gay for a Huguenot in her train. For +my part, I see nothing suspicious about his appearance. There, he +is paying his reckoning, and going."</p> +<p>"And I am going after him," Raoul said, rising. "There is +something strange about the affair, and there may be some plot. Do +you come with me, Louis.</p> +<p>"Monsieur D'Estanges, I have a little matter of business on +hand. Will you come with me?"</p> +<h2><a name="Ch12" id="Ch12">Chapter 12</a>: An Escape From +Prison.</h2> +<p>Glancing half round, as he turned away from the wine shop, +Philip saw Raoul and two of his companions rising. He walked off in +a leisurely manner and, a few paces farther, turned down a side +street. He heard steps following him, and then a voice said:</p> +<p>"Hold, young sir. I would have a word with you."</p> +<p>Philip turned, with an expression of angry surprise.</p> +<p>"Are you addressing me, sir? I would have you know that am not +accustomed to be spoken to, in that fashion; and that I bear an +insult from no one."</p> +<p>Raoul laughed.</p> +<p>"Are you equally particular, sir, when you are going about in +peasant's clothes?"</p> +<p>"I am not good at riddles, sir," Philip said haughtily, "and can +only suppose that your object is to pick a quarrel with me; though +I am not conscious of having given you offence. However, that +matters little. I suppose you are one of those gallants who air +their bravery when they think they can do so, with impunity. On the +present occasion you may, perchance, find that you are mistaken. I +am a stranger here, and know of no place where this matter can be +settled, nor am I provided with a second; but I am quite content to +place myself in the hands of one of these gentlemen, if they will +act for me."</p> +<p>"I am sure, Raoul, there is some mistake," Louis began, putting +his hand on his cousin's shoulder.</p> +<p>But the other shook it off, angrily. He was of a passionate and +overbearing temper, and Philip's coolness, and the manner in which +he had turned the tables upon him and challenged him to a duel, +inflamed him to the utmost.</p> +<p>"Hands off, Louis," he said. "Do you think that I, Raoul de +Fontaine, am to be crowed over by this youth? He has challenged me +to fight, and fight he shall."</p> +<p>"You provoked him," Louis said firmly. "You gave him provocation +such as no gentleman of honour could suffer. It was not for this +that I came out with you, but because you said that you wished to +unravel what may be a plot."</p> +<p>"I will cut it, which will be easier than unravelling it," Raoul +replied. "It is shorter and easier work, to finish the matter with +a sword thrust, than to provide for his being swung at the end of a +rope."</p> +<p>"We had best waste no time in empty braggadocio," Philip said +coldly, "but proceed at once to some quiet spot, where this matter +can be settled, undisturbed."</p> +<p>"I think the young gentleman is right," Monsieur D'Estanges, a +gentleman of the court, said gravely. "The matter has gone too far +for anything else, now; and I am bound to say that your adversary, +of whose name I am ignorant, has borne himself in a manner to merit +my esteem; and that, as your cousin will of course act for you, I +shall be happy to place my services at his disposal."</p> +<p>"Let us get beyond the gates," Raoul said abruptly, turning on +his heel, and retracing his steps up the lane to the main +street.</p> +<p>"I thank you, sir, for offering to stand by one of whose very +name you are ignorant," Philip said as, accompanied by Monsieur +D'Estanges, he followed the others. "It is, however, right that you +should know it. It is Philip Fletcher. On my father's side I am +English, on my mother's I am of noble French blood, being cousin to +Francois de Laville, whose mother and mine were daughters of the +Count de Moulins."</p> +<p>"Two distinguished families of Poitou," Monsieur D'Estanges +said, courteously. "It needed not that, to tell me that you were of +good blood. I regret much that this encounter is going to take +place. Monsieur Raoul de Fontaine was in the wrong, in so rudely +hailing you, and I cannot blame you for taking it up sharply; +although, seeing your age and his, and that he is a good swordsman, +it might have been more prudent to have overlooked his manner.</p> +<p>"Unless, indeed," and he smiled, "Monsieur Raoul was right, and +that you are engaged on some weighty matter here, and preferred to +run the risk of getting yourself killed rather than have it +inquired into. The Countess of Laville and her son are both staunch +Huguenots, and you may well be on business here that you would not +care to have investigated.</p> +<p>"You have not asked my name, sir. It is Charles D'Estanges. I am +a cousin of the Duc de Guise, and am naturally of the court party; +but I can esteem a brave enemy, and regret to see one engaged in an +encounter in which he must needs be overmatched."</p> +<p>"I am a fair swordsman, sir," Philip said; "though my arm may +lack somewhat of the strength it will have, a few years later. But +had it been otherwise, I should have still taken the course I have. +I do not say your conjecture is a correct one, but at any rate I +would prefer the most unequal fight to being seized and questioned. +One can but be killed once, and it were better that it should be by +a thrust in the open air than a long imprisonment, ending perhaps +with death at the stake."</p> +<p>Monsieur D'Estanges said no more. In spite of his relationship +with the Guises he, like many other French Catholic nobles, +disapproved of the persecutions of the Huguenots, and especially of +the massacres perpetrated by the lower orders in the towns, men for +whom he had the profoundest contempt. He felt sorry for his +companion, whose youth and fearless demeanour moved him in his +favour; and who, he doubted not, had come to Agen to confer with +some of the Huguenots, who were to be found in every town.</p> +<p>Issuing from the gates, they went for a quarter of a mile along +the road, and then Raoul led the way into a small wood. Here, +without a word being spoken, Raoul and Philip threw aside their +cloaks and doublets.</p> +<p>"Gentlemen," Monsieur D'Estanges said, "surely this quarrel +might be arranged without fighting. Monsieur de Fontaine addressed +my principal, doubtless under a misapprehension, with some +roughness, which was not unnaturally resented. If Monsieur de +Fontaine will express his regret, which he certainly could do +without loss of dignity, for the manner in which he spoke; my +principal would, I am sure, gladly accept his apology."</p> +<p>"That is my opinion also," Louis de Fontaine said, "and I have +already expressed it to my cousin."</p> +<p>"And I have already said that I will do nothing of the sort," +Raoul said. "I am fighting not only in my own quarrel, but in that +of the king; being well assured in my mind that this young man, +whether he be, as he now appears, a gentleman of birth, or whether, +as I saw him last, a peasant boy, is engaged in some plot hostile +to his majesty."</p> +<p>"Then there is nothing more to be said," Monsieur D'Estanges +said gravely; "but before you begin, I may tell you, Monsieur de +Fontaine, that this gentleman belongs to a family no less noble +than your own. He has confided to me his name and position, which I +think it as well not to divulge.</p> +<p>"Now, Louis, we may as well stand aside. We have done our best +to stop this quarrel, and to prevent what I cannot but consider a +most unequal contest from taking place."</p> +<p>The last words were galling, in the extreme, to Raoul de +Fontaine. Monsieur D'Estanges stood high at court, was a gentleman +of unblemished reputation, and often appealed to on questions of +honour; and this declaration that he considered the combat to be an +unequal one was the more irritating, since he was himself conscious +of the fact. However, he could not recoil now but, with an angry +expression of face, drew his sword and stood on guard.</p> +<p>Philip was no less ready. The easy attitude he assumed, with his +weight for the most part on his left leg, differed so widely from +the forward attitude then in fashion among French duellists, that +Monsieur D'Estanges, convinced that he knew nothing of swordplay, +shrugged his shoulders pityingly. The moment, however, that the +swords grated against each other; and Philip put aside, with a +sharp turn of the wrist, a lunge with which his opponent intended +at once to finish the combat, the expression of his face +changed.</p> +<p>"The lad did not speak boastfully, when he said he was a fair +swordsman," he muttered to himself. "He does not fight in our +fashion, but at least he knows what he is about."</p> +<p>For some minutes the fight continued, Raoul's temper rising +higher and higher, as he found every attack baffled by a foe he had +despised, and who refused to fall back even an inch, however hotly +he pressed him. He had at first intended either to wound or disarm +him, but he soon fought to kill. At last there was a fierce rally, +ending by Philip parrying a home thrust and, returning it with +lightning swiftness, running Raoul de Fontaine through the body +with such force that the hilt of his sword struck against his +chest, and he sank lifeless to the ground.</p> +<p>"By our Lady, young gentleman," Monsieur D'Estanges exclaimed, +"but you have done well! You said that you were a fair swordsman. +Truly you are of the highest class. Raoul's temper has led him into +many a duel, and he has always wounded or killed his man. Who could +have thought that he would receive his death blow at the hands of a +youth?</p> +<p>"But whom have we here? Peste! This is awkward."</p> +<p>As he spoke, Count Darbois, the governor of Agen, with a body of +troopers, rode up. He had ridden to within a mile or two of Nerac +and, questioning persons from the town, learned that everything was +quiet there, and that no fresh body of Huguenots had arrived. He +was on his way back when, hearing the clash of swords, he had +ridden into the wood to inquire into its meaning.</p> +<p>"What is this?" he exclaimed.</p> +<p>"Why, what is this, Monsieur De Fontaine? Your cousin, Count +Raoul, dead!"</p> +<p>Louis, who was leaning over his cousin, looked up.</p> +<p>"Alas! I fear that it is so, Monsieur le Comte. My poor cousin +has fallen in a duel."</p> +<p>"What a misfortune, and at such a moment! Is it not scandalous +that, at a time like this, when every gentleman's sword is needed +in defence of our king and faith, they should indulge in private +quarrels?</p> +<p>"And is it you, Monsieur D'Estanges, who has done his majesty +this bad service?"</p> +<p>For by this time Philip had resumed his doublet and cloak.</p> +<p>"No. I only stood as second to his opponent, who has behaved +fairly and honourably in the matter, as I am sure Count Louis will +testify."</p> +<p>"Your word is quite sufficient, Monsieur D'Estanges. And who is +this gentleman, who has thus slain one who had no mean reputation +as a swordsman?"</p> +<p>"A young gentleman passing through Agen. The quarrel arose +through a rencontre in the street. Count Raoul was, as was his +nature, hasty, and put himself in the wrong. The gentleman resented +his language, and a meeting was at once arranged. Count Louis and +myself were with Raoul, and as his opponent was alone, and it was +not desirable to draw others into the matter, I offered to act as +his second; and he accepted it, at once. We came here. Count Louis +and I made a final effort to persuade Raoul to apologize for his +language. He refused to do so, and they fought, and you see the +consequence."</p> +<p>"But who is this stranger?" the governor asked again.</p> +<p>"Count Raoul did not feel it necessary to ask, count; and I +think, as he waived the point, and the affair is now terminated, it +would be well that his opponent should be permitted to withdraw +without questions."</p> +<p>"That is all very well for you, Monsieur D'Estanges, as a party +in a private quarrel; but as governor of Agen, it is my duty to +satisfy myself as to who this stranger, who has killed an officer +of the king, may be."</p> +<p>He turned his horse, and for the first time obtained a view of +Philip; who, seeing the impossibility of escape, had been standing +quietly by.</p> +<p>"Why, it is but a youth!" he exclaimed. "You say he slew Count +Raoul in fair fight, Monsieur D'Estanges?"</p> +<p>"In as fair a fight as ever I saw, Monsieur le Comte."</p> +<p>"Who are you, sir?" the governor asked Philip.</p> +<p>"I am a stranger, travelling through Agen on private business," +Philip said quietly.</p> +<p>"But what is your name and family, sir?"</p> +<p>"I am English," Philip replied. "My name is Philip +Fletcher."</p> +<p>"A Huguenot, I will be bound?" the governor said angrily.</p> +<p>"Not at all, count. I am of the religion of my nation--a +Protestant."</p> +<p>"It is the same thing," the governor said. "It is clear that, +for whatever purpose you may be in Agen, you are here for no +good.</p> +<p>"This is a serious matter, Monsieur D'Estanges."</p> +<p>"As I have said, I know nothing of this gentleman, count. I saw +him for the first time a little over half an hour ago, and on every +account I wish that I had not seen him. He has killed my friend +Raoul, deprived his majesty of a staunch adherent, and has got +himself into trouble. But for all that, I am assured, by his +conduct and bearing in this business, that he is an honourable +gentleman; and I intreat you, as a personal favour, count, that you +allow him to go free."</p> +<p>"I would do much to oblige you, Monsieur D'Estanges; but he is +an Englishman and a Protestant, by his own confession, and +therefore can only be here to aid the men who have risen in +rebellion, and to conspire with the king's enemies. He will be +placed in close charge and, when the present pressing affairs have +been put out of hand, I doubt not we shall find means of learning a +good deal more about this mysterious person, who claims to be +English, but who yet speaks our language like a Frenchman."</p> +<p>"As to that matter, I can satisfy you at once," Philip said. "My +mother was a French lady, a daughter of the Count de Moulins of +Poitou."</p> +<p>"A Huguenot family, if I mistake not," the governor said, +coldly. "Well, we have other things to think of, now.</p> +<p>"Captain Carton, place two troopers one on each side of this +person. I authorize you to cut him down, if he tries to escape. Let +four others dismount, and carry the body of the Count de Fontaine +into the city.</p> +<p>"You will, of course, take the command of his troop, Count +Louis; seeing that, if I mistake not, you are his nearest relative, +and the heir to his possessions."</p> +<p>As Philip was led through the streets he caught sight of Pierre, +who made no sign of recognition as he passed. He was taken to the +castle, and confined in a room in a turret, looking down upon the +river. The window was closely barred, but otherwise the room, +though small, was not uncomfortable. It contained a chair, a table, +and a couch.</p> +<a id="PicF" name="PicF"></a> +<center><img src="images/f.jpg" alt= +"Philip in prison." /></center> +<p>When the door was barred and bolted behind him, Philip walked to +the window and stood looking out at the river. The prospect seemed +dark. The governor was unfavourably disposed towards him now; and +when the news came, on the morrow, that the Queen of Navarre had +slipped through his fingers, his exasperation would no doubt be +vented on him. What was now but a mere suspicion, would then become +almost a certainty; and it would, as a matter of course, be assumed +that he was there on matters connected with her flight. That he was +a Protestant was alone sufficient to condemn him to death, but his +connection with the queen's flight would, beyond all question, seal +his fate.</p> +<p>Pierre, he felt sure, would do all that he could for him; but +that could amount to almost nothing. Even if he had the means of +filing through or removing the bars, it would need a long stout +rope to enable him to descend to the water's edge, a hundred feet +below him; and that he could obtain possession of either file, or +rope, seemed to him as absolutely impossible.</p> +<p>"Nevertheless," he said to himself, "I will let Pierre know +where I am confined. I do not see that it can do any good. But he +is a fellow of resource. I have great faith in him and, though I +can see no possible plan of escape, he, being without, may try +something.</p> +<p>"I have no doubt that his first endeavour will be to find out +where I am confined. I warrant he will know my cap, if he sees it. +He has an eye like a hawk and, if he sees anything outside one of +the windows, he will suspect at once that it is a signal; and when +he once looks closely at it, he will make out its orange tint and +these three long cock's feathers."</p> +<p>So saying, he thrust one of his arms through the bars with the +cap, which he allowed to hang down against the wall below. There he +stood for two hours, closely examining every boat that came along. +At last he saw one rowed by two men, with a third sitting in the +stern; and had no difficulty in making out, as it came closer, that +this was Pierre, who was gazing at the castle.</p> +<p>Presently he saw him suddenly clap his hands, and speak to the +rowers. These did not look up, but continued to row on in the same +leisurely way as before; nor did Pierre again glance at the +castle.</p> +<p>Satisfied that his signal had been observed, Philip withdrew it, +but continued to watch the boat. It went half a mile higher up, +then turned and floated quietly down the stream again. When he had +seen it pass the bridge, he threw himself down on the couch.</p> +<p>"There is nothing more for me to do," he said. "The matter is in +Pierre's hands, now."</p> +<p>He listened for a time to the tramp of a sentry, backwards and +forwards outside his door; and then fell off to sleep, from which +he did not awake until he heard the bars withdrawn, and the key +turned in the lock. Then a man accompanied by two soldiers entered, +and placed a chicken, a bottle of wine, and a loaf of bread on the +table.</p> +<p>"Monsieur D'Estanges sends this, with his compliments," he said; +and then Philip was again left alone.</p> +<p>Two hours after it became dark he thought he heard a confused +sound, as of the trampling of a number of horsemen in the courtyard +of the castle. He went to the door and, placing his ear against it, +was convinced that he was not mistaken.</p> +<p>"That looks as if an expedition were about to start somewhere," +he said. "If they are bound for Nerac, they will arrive there too +late; for the queen will, by this time, be setting out. They cannot +intend to scale the walls tonight, and the gates will have been +shut long ago. They are probably going into ambush, somewhere near, +so as to ride in in the morning.</p> +<p>"I wish I could be certain they are bound in that direction. +There was certainly no idea of an expedition this morning, but it +is possible that the messenger with the order for the arrest of the +queen and prince may have arrived this afternoon, and the governor +is losing no time.</p> +<p>"I trust it is so, and not that news has come, from some spy at +Nerac, that she will leave the place tonight. If it is so, this +party may be setting out to strengthen the guards on the river; or +to occupy the roads by which she would travel, were her purpose to +join the seneschal.</p> +<p>"I trust that Pierre and the others are on the alert, and not +wasting their time in thinking about me; and that, if this troop +make along the river, they will ride to warn the queen in time. +Hearing nothing, she will assume that the road is clear, and that +she can go on fearlessly.</p> +<p>"It is enough to drive one mad, being cooped up here when the +whole success of the cause is at stake."</p> +<p>The character of the sentry's walk had changed. He had been +relieved some four hours before, and his walk at times ceased, as +if he were leaning against the wall to rest himself, while at times +he gave an impatient stamp with his feet.</p> +<p>"I expect they have forgotten to relieve him," Philip said to +himself. "If a strong body has gone out, that might very well +be."</p> +<p>Another half hour passed, and then he heard steps ascending the +stone staircase, and the sentry exclaimed angrily:</p> +<p>"Sapristie, comrade, I began to think I was going to be kept all +night at my post, and that everyone had ridden out with that party +that started, half an hour ago.</p> +<p>"Now, then, the orders are: 'Permit no one to approach. Refuse +even to allow officers to visit the prisoner, without a special +order of the governor.' That is all.</p> +<p>"Now I am off for a tankard of spiced wine, which I think I have +earned well, for it is a good hour after my time of relief."</p> +<p>Then Philip heard his footsteps descending the stairs, while the +man who had relieved him walked briskly up and down in front of the +door. In a minute or two he stopped, then Philip turned with a +start from the window at which he was standing, as he heard through +the keyhole a loud whisper:</p> +<p>"Monsieur Philip, are you asleep? It is I!"</p> +<p>"Why, Pierre!" he exclaimed, running to the door and putting his +mouth to the keyhole; "how did you come here?"</p> +<p>"I will tell you that later, master. The thing is now to get you +out. The bolts here are easy enough to draw, but this lock puzzles +me. I have brought up two thin saws and an auger, and thought to +cut round it; but there is a plate of iron outside."</p> +<p>"And there is one inside too, Pierre. How about the hinges, +Pierre?"</p> +<p>"There is no doing anything with them, master. The ironwork goes +right across the door. There is nothing for it, but to cut right +round the iron plate."</p> +<p>"That won't take very long, if the saws are good, Pierre."</p> +<p>Philip heard a rasping sound and, in a short time, the auger +passed through the woodwork. Two other holes adjoining the first +were soon made, and then the end of a saw was pushed through.</p> +<p>"If you can make a hole large enough at the bottom of the plate, +Pierre, and pass me the other saw through, I can work that way to +meet you."</p> +<p>"It would take too long to make, sir. I have plenty of oil, and +it won't take me long to saw round the plate. I only brought the +second saw in case the first should break. But this oak is pretty +nearly as hard as iron."</p> +<p>It took over an hour's work before the cut was complete. When it +was nearly finished, Pierre said:</p> +<p>"Be ready to seize the piece that is cut out, as soon as I am +through with it, master; otherwise it may fall down, as the door +opens, and make a clatter that will be heard all over the +castle."</p> +<p>As the last piece was sawn through Philip pressed the door and, +as it opened, seized the portion cut out, drew it backward, and +laid it gently on the stone floor. Then he rose, and grasped +Pierre's hand.</p> +<p>"My brave Pierre, you have accomplished what I thought was an +impossibility. Now, what is the next thing to be done?"</p> +<p>"The next thing is to unwind this rope from my body. It is lucky +I am so lean that it did not make me look bulky. It is not very +thick, but it is new and strong, and there are knots every two +feet. Roger is waiting for us below, in a boat."</p> +<p>"Where is Jacques?"</p> +<p>"Jacques has ridden off. He learned, before sunset, that orders +had been issued for the troops to assemble. He and Roger had taken +the four horses beyond the walls, an hour after you were arrested; +and had left them at a farmer's, a mile away. So he arranged with +me that he should follow the troop on foot; which he could do, as +there are footmen as well as horse in the party that has gone out. +Then, as soon as he discovered which way they were going, he would +slip off and make for the farmhouse and mount. If they were bound +for Nerac, he will wait for us at the point on the other side of +the river. If they follow the river down, he will ride at full +speed, make a circuit, and warn the queen of the danger. He will +have plenty of time to do that, as the column will have to move at +the pace of the infantry."</p> +<p>"That is a load off my mind, Pierre."</p> +<p>While they were speaking they had unwound the rope, fastened one +end to the battlement, and lowered the other down.</p> +<p>"I will go first, master. I am the lightest, and will steady the +rope for you, from below."</p> +<p>In two or three minutes Philip felt that the rope was no longer +tight, and at once swung himself over and lowered himself down. The +water washed the foot of the wall, and he stepped directly into the +boat; which Roger was keeping in its place with a pole, while +Pierre held the rope. An exclamation of thankfulness broke from the +two men, as his feet touched the gunwale of the boat; and then, +without a word, Roger began to pole the boat along against the +tide, keeping close to the foot of the wall.</p> +<p>Once fairly beyond the castle, the pole was laid in and the two +men took the oars, and the boat shot across the river. Then they +rowed up under the opposite bank, until a voice from above them +said:</p> +<p>"Is all well--is Monsieur Philip with you?"</p> +<p>"All is well, Jacques," Philip exclaimed, delighted; for the +fact that his follower was there showed that the troops had gone in +the direction that did not threaten the safety of the queen.</p> +<p>They leapt ashore and pushed the boat off, to allow it to float +down with the stream.</p> +<p>It was a mile to the spot where the horses had been left. On the +way, Philip heard how his escape had been effected.</p> +<p>"I saw you go out from the town, monsieur; and could not, for +the life of me, make out what was going to happen. I did not know +the gentleman you were walking with, but I recognized the two in +front of you as the officers of the troop that had questioned us, +near Bazas. One of them was talking angrily to the other. As it +seemed to me that you were going willingly, and not as a prisoner; +and especially as you were going out of the town, I thought that it +was my business to wait until you returned.</p> +<p>"I saw, half an hour, later some horsemen coming up the street, +and someone said that it was the governor, who had been out with a +party. It gave me a bad turn, when I saw you walking as a prisoner +in the middle of them. I saw you glance at me, but of course made +no sign; and I followed until you entered the castle.</p> +<p>"When I was walking away, I saw a crowd. Pushing forward, I +found they were surrounding four soldiers who were carrying a body +on their shoulders, and made out at once it was the officer who had +been talking so angrily to his companion. Then I understood what +had puzzled me before, and what you had gone outside the walls +for.</p> +<p>"The rest was easy to guess. The governor had come along, you +had been questioned, and had been arrested as a Huguenot. It was +evident that no time was to be lost and that, if you were to be got +out, it must be done quickly.</p> +<p>"I hurried away to the cabaret where Jacques and Roger were +drinking. We talked the matter over, and agreed that the first +thing was to get the four horses out of the town. So I went to the +inn where you had put up, said I was your servant, paid the +reckoning, and took away the horse. Then I got my own and joined +the other two, who were mounted and ready. They each took a horse +and rode off, settling to leave them at some farmhouse a short +distance away, explaining there that the town was so full they +could find no room for them.</p> +<p>"Directly they had started, I set off to have a look round the +castle. The great thing was to know where they had lodged you. If +it was in a cell looking outward, I thought that, knowing I should +be searching for you, you would make a signal. If I could see +nothing, I determined to accost some servant coming out from the +castle; to make acquaintance with him and, over a bottle of wine, +to find out in what part of the castle you were lodged.</p> +<p>"On the land side I could see nothing, and then went back and +waited till Jacques and Roger returned. Then we took a boat and, as +you know, rowed up; and I soon made out your cap outside the +wall.</p> +<p>"Then, as we rowed back, we arranged matters. Jacques was to +carry out your former orders: find out about the movement of +troops, and warn the queen if danger threatened. Roger was to be at +the foot of the wall with a boat, as soon as it became dark. I was +to undertake to get you out.</p> +<p>"The first thing to do was to get a rope. This I carried to a +quiet place on the wall, knotted it, and put it round me under my +doublet. Then there was nothing to do but to wait. I went several +times to hear if Jacques had any news, and was glad when he told me +that most of the troops were ordered to be under arms, at eight +o'clock. This would make matters simpler for me for, with numbers +of people going in and coming out of the castle, it would be easy +to slip in unnoticed.</p> +<p>"As soon as it was dark, Jacques and I went down a lane; and he +gave me his steel cap and breast piece, and took my cap in +exchange. Then I went up towards the castle. The gates were open, +and I was told that they would not be closed until midnight; as so +many were coming out and going in, and there was no hostile force +anywhere in these parts. Presently, numbers of gentlemen began to +arrive with their retainers, and I soon went in with a party of +footmen.</p> +<p>"The courtyard was full of men, and I was not long before I +found the staircase leading up to the top of the wall, on the river +side. I went boldly up and, halfway, found a door partly open. +Looking in, I saw that it was evidently used by some gentlemen who +had gone down, in haste, to join the party below; so I shut the +door and waited. I heard the troops start and guessed, from the +quiet that followed, that the greater portion of the garrison had +left.</p> +<p>"I felt pretty sure that there would be a sentry at your door, +and waited until the time I thought he would be expecting a relief. +Then I went up. He was in a mighty hurry to get down, and did not +stop to see who I was, or to ask any questions; which was well for +him, for I had my knife in my hand, and should have stabbed him +before he could utter a cry. Everything went off well, and you know +the rest, sir."</p> +<p>"You managed wonderfully, Pierre. I thought over every plan by +which you might aid me to escape, but I never thought of anything +so simple as this. Nor, indeed, did I see any possible way of your +freeing me.</p> +<p>"How are we going to get our horses? The farmer will think that +we are a party of thieves."</p> +<p>"They are in an open shed," Jacques said. "I told the farmer +that our reason for bringing them out of the town was that you +might have to start with orders, any time in the night; and that it +would be troublesome getting them out from town stables, and having +the gates opened for them to pass out; while, on foot, you could +issue from the postern without trouble. I paid him for the corn +when I left them."</p> +<p>The horses, indeed, were got out without any stir in the house +indicating that its occupants were awakened.</p> +<p>"Give me your sword, Pierre," Philip said, as he mounted. "I +trust that we shall meet with no enemies on the road; still we may +do so, and I should not like to be unarmed. You have your +arquebus."</p> +<p>This had been brought in the boat by Roger, and on landing +Pierre had exchanged the steel cap and breast piece for his own +cap.</p> +<p>The road to Villeneuve D'Agenois was a cross-country one, and +would be impossible to follow in the dark. Consequently, after +keeping on the main road for half an hour, they turned off a road +to the right, rode until they came to a wood, and there +alighted.</p> +<p>"Shall I light a fire, sir?" Pierre asked.</p> +<p>"It is not worth while, Pierre. It must be getting on for +midnight now, and we must be in the saddle again, at daybreak. By +this time they have, no doubt, found that I have escaped. The first +time they send up a man to relieve you, the open door will be +noticed. They will certainly make no search tonight, and tomorrow +they will have something else to think about; for doubtless some +spy at Nerac will, as soon as the gates are open, take the news to +the governor's party that the queen has left."</p> +<p>Two hours' brisk ride, in the morning, took them within sight of +Villeneuve D'Agenois. Riding across the bridge over the river Lot, +he entered the town. The street was full of troops; and three +gentlemen, standing at the door of an inn, looked with suspicion on +the gay colouring of Philip's costume and, as he alighted, they +stepped forward to accost him.</p> +<p>"May I ask who you are, sir?" one said advancing; "and what is +your business here?"</p> +<p>"Certainly you may," Philip said, as he dismounted. "My name is +Philip Fletcher. I am here at the order of her majesty, the Queen +of Navarre; who, I trust, has arrived here safely."</p> +<p>"The queen arrived here three hours since, Monsieur Fletcher; +and I may say that she did you the honour to inquire, at once, if a +gentleman of your name had arrived."</p> +<p>"I should have met her at the river near Tonneins, but the +governor of Agen laid an embargo on me. Yet, thanks to these three +faithful fellows, I got safely out of his clutches."</p> +<p>"We shall march in an hour, Monsieur Fletcher and, as soon as +the queen is up, I will see that she is acquainted with your +coming.</p> +<p>"Allow me to introduce myself, first--Gaston de Rebers. +Breakfast is ready in this cottage, and we were about to sit down +when we saw you riding up. I shall be glad if you will share it +with us. These are my comrades, Messieurs Duvivier, Harcourt, and +Parolles."</p> +<p>He then called a sergeant.</p> +<p>"Sergeant, see that Monsieur Fletcher's servant and men-at-arms +have a good meal."</p> +<p>"I think they must want it," Philip said. "They have been so +busy, in my service, that I doubt if they have eaten since +breakfast yesterday. I myself supped well, thanks to the courtesy +of Monsieur D'Estanges, who was good enough to send up an excellent +capon, and a bottle of wine to my cell."</p> +<p>"You know Monsieur D'Estanges?" Gaston de Rebers asked +courteously. "He is a gentleman of high repute and, though +connected with the Guises, he is said to be opposed to them in +their crusade against us."</p> +<p>"I had only the honour of meeting him yesterday," Philip said, +as they sat down to table; "but he behaved like a true gentleman, +and did me the honour of being my second, in an unfortunate affair +into which I was forced."</p> +<p>"Who was your opponent, may I ask, sir?"</p> +<p>"Count Raoul de Fontaine."</p> +<p>"A doughty swordsman!" Gaston de Rebers exclaimed; "but one of +our bitterest opponents in this province. You are fortunate, +indeed, to have escaped without a serious wound; for he has been +engaged in many duels, and but few of his opponents have escaped +with their lives."</p> +<p>"He will neither persecute you, nor fight more duels," Philip +said quietly; "for I had the misfortune to kill him."</p> +<p>The others looked at him with astonishment.</p> +<p>"Do I understand rightly, Monsieur Fletcher, that you have slain +Raoul de Fontaine in a duel?"</p> +<p>"That is the case," Philip replied. "Monsieur D'Estanges, as I +have said, acted as my second. Count Louis de Fontaine acted for +his cousin."</p> +<p>"You will pardon my having asked you the question again," De +Rebers said; "but really, it seemed well-nigh impossible that a +gentleman who, as I take it, can yet be scarcely of age, should +have slain Raoul de Fontaine."</p> +<p>"I lack four years, yet, of being of age," Philip said; "for it +will be another month before I am seventeen. But I have had good +teachers, both English and French; and our games and exercises, at +school, naturally bring us forward, in point of strength and +stature, in comparison with your countrymen of the same age. Still, +doubtless, it was as much due to good fortune as to skill that I +gained my success.</p> +<p>"I assuredly had no desire to kill him; the less so because, to +a certain extent, the duel was of my making. There was, as it +seemed to me, no choice between fighting him, and being denounced +by him as a spy. Therefore when he accosted me roughly, I took the +matter up hotly, and there was nothing for it but an encounter. As +I have said, I meant only to wound him; but his skill and his +impetuosity were so great that I was forced, in self defence, to +run him through.</p> +<p>"After all, I gained nothing by the duel; for the governor, with +a troop of horse, came up just as it concluded, and as I could give +no satisfactory account of myself, I was hauled off a prisoner to +the castle."</p> +<p>"And how did you escape thence?" Gaston asked.</p> +<p>Philip gave an account of the manner in which his servant had +rescued him.</p> +<p>"Parbleu! You are fortunate in your servant! Would that so +shrewd a knave--</p> +<p>"But there, the trumpets are sounding. I will take you at once +to the queen, who is doubtless ready to mount."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch13" id="Ch13">Chapter 13</a>: At Laville.</h2> +<p>The queen was standing at the door of the house where she had +lain down for a few hours' rest, after her arrival. The prince was +standing beside her.</p> +<p>"Here is our English friend, mother," he exclaimed, running +forward to meet Philip.</p> +<p>"Welcome, Monsieur Fletcher. When we found that you were not +here, on our arrival last night, we feared that some evil had +befallen you."</p> +<p>"Monsieur Fletcher is well able to take care of himself, prince. +He has been having adventures enough," Gaston de Rebers said.</p> +<p>"You must tell me about them as we ride," the prince said. "I +love adventures, Monsieur Fletcher."</p> +<p>They had now reached the queen.</p> +<p>"I am glad to see you, Monsieur Fletcher. Of course, it was in +one way a relief to us, when we crossed the river and did not find +you there; for I was sure you would have been there to give us +warning, had there been danger on the way; but I thought you might +come in any case, and when we found that you had not arrived here +before us, I was afraid that something might have befallen +you."</p> +<p>"I have had some slight troubles, your majesty; and to my great +regret, I was unable to meet you at the passage of the river. I +should have been here long before daylight, but we were unable to +find the road in the dark, and had to wait until we could inquire +the way."</p> +<p>"Monsieur Fletcher is pleased to say that he has had some slight +troubles, madame," Gaston said; "but as the troubles included the +slaying in a duel of Raoul de Fontaine, one of the bitterest +enemies of our faith, and moreover a noted duellist; and an escape +from the castle of Agen, where he was confined as a suspected +Huguenot and spy, the term slight does not very aptly describe +them."</p> +<p>"What!" A tall soldierly old man, standing next to the queen, +exclaimed. "Do you mean to say, De Rebers, that Monsieur Fletcher +has killed Raoul de Fontaine in a duel?</p> +<p>"If so, I congratulate your majesty. He was a bitter persecutor +of the Huguenots, and one of the hottest headed and most +troublesome nobles in the province. Moreover, he can put a hundred +and fifty men into the field; and although his cousin Louis, who is +his heir, is also Catholic, he is a man of very different kind, and +is honoured by Huguenot and Catholic alike. But how this gentleman +could have killed so notable a swordsman is more than I can +understand. He looks, if you will pardon my saying so, a mere +youth."</p> +<p>"He rode beside Francois de la Noue in the battle of Saint +Denis, seneschal," the queen said; "and as he was chosen by my +cousin Conde, and Admiral Coligny, for the difficult and dangerous +enterprise of carrying a communication to me, it is clear that, +whatever his years, he is well fitted to act a man's part."</p> +<p>"That is so," the seneschal said heartily. "I shall be glad to +talk to you again, sir; but at present, madame, it is time to +mount. The troops are mustering, and we have a long ride before +us.</p> +<p>"If you will lead the way with the infantry at once, Monsieur de +Rebers, we will follow as soon as we are mounted. We must go your +pace, but as soon as we start I will send a party to ride a mile +ahead of you, and see that the roads are clear."</p> +<p>At starting, the queen rode with the prince and the seneschal at +the head of the mounted party, some two hundred and fifty strong; +and behind followed the noblemen and gentlemen who had come with +her, and those who had accompanied the seneschal. Philip, who knew +no one, rode near the rear of this train, behind which followed the +armed retainers.</p> +<p>In a short time a gentleman rode back through the party.</p> +<p>"Monsieur Fletcher," he said, when he reached Philip, "the +prince has asked me to say that it is his wish that you shall ride +forward, and accompany him."</p> +<p>Philip turned into the field, and rode to the head of the party. +The prince, who was looking round, at once reined in his horse and +took his place beside him.</p> +<p>"Now, Monsieur Philip, you must tell me all about it. I am tired +of hearing consultations about roads and Catholic forces. I want to +hear a full account of your adventures, just as you told me the +tale of your journey to Nerac."</p> +<p>During the course of the day, several parties of gentlemen +joined the little force. So well organized were the Huguenots that, +during the last two or three days, the news had passed from mouth +to mouth throughout the province for all to assemble, if possible, +at points indicated to them; and all knew the day on which the +seneschal would march north from Villeneuve. Yet so well was the +secret kept, that the Catholics remained in total ignorance of the +movement. Consequently, at every village there were accessions of +force awaiting the seneschal, and parties of from ten to a hundred +rode up and joined them on the march.</p> +<p>After marching twenty miles, they halted at the foot of a chain +of hills, their numbers having been increased during the day to +over twelve hundred men. The queen and her son found rough +accommodation in a small village, the rest bivouacked round it.</p> +<p>At midnight three hundred cavalry and two hundred footmen +started across the hills, so as to come down upon Bergerac and +seize the bridge across the Dordogne; then at daylight the rest of +the force marched. On reaching the river they found that the bridge +had been seized without resistance. Three hundred gentlemen and +their retainers, of the province of Perigord, had assembled within +half a mile of the other side of the bridge, and had joined the +party as they came down. A Catholic force of two hundred men, in +the town, had been taken by surprise and captured, for the most +part in their beds.</p> +<p>The queen had issued most stringent orders that there was to be +no unnecessary bloodshed; and the Catholic soldiers, having been +stripped of their arms and armour, which were divided among those +of the Huguenots who were ill provided, were allowed to depart +unharmed the next morning, some fifteen gentlemen being retained as +prisoners. Three hundred more Huguenots rode into Bergerac in the +course of the day.</p> +<p>The footmen marched forward in the afternoon, and were directed +to stop at a village, twelve miles on. As the next day's journey +would be a long one, the start was again made early; and late in +the afternoon the little army, which had been joined by two hundred +more in the course of the day, arrived within sight of Perigueux. +Five hundred horsemen had ridden forward, two hours before, to +secure the bridge.</p> +<p>The seneschal had, after occupying Bergerac, placed horsemen on +all the roads leading north, to prevent the news from spreading; +and Perigueux, a large and important town, was utterly unprepared +for the advent of an enemy. A few of the troops took up arms and +made a hasty resistance, but were speedily dispersed. The greater +portion fled, at the first alarm, to the castle, where D'Escars +himself was staying. He had, only two days before, sent off a +despatch to the court declaring that he had taken his measures so +well that not a Huguenot in the province would take up arms.</p> +<p>His force was still superior to that of the horsemen, but his +troops were disorganized; and many, in their flight, had left their +arms behind them, and he was therefore obliged to remain inactive +in the citadel; and his mortification and fury were complete, when +the seneschal's main body marched through the town and halted, for +the night, a league beyond it.</p> +<p>The next day they crossed the Dronne at Brantome, and then +turned to the west. The way was now open to them and, with two +thousand men, the seneschal felt capable of coping with any force +that could be got together to attack them. A halt was made for a +day, to rest the men and horses and, four days later, after +crossing the Perigord hills, and keeping ten miles south of +Angouleme, they came within sight of Cognac. Messages had already +been sent on to announce their coming and, five miles from the +town, they were met by the Prince of Conde and the Admiral.</p> +<p>"Your first message lifted a load from our minds, madame," the +Admiral said. "The last news I received of you was that you were +still at Nerac, and as an intercepted despatch informed us that +orders had been sent from the court for your immediate arrest, we +were in great uneasiness about you."</p> +<p>"We left Nerac just in time," the queen said; "for, as we have +learned, the governor of Agen, with a strong force, left that city +to effect our capture at the very hour that we started on our +flight."</p> +<p>"Did you know where you would find us, madame? We sent off a +message by trusty hands, but whether the gentleman reached you we +know not."</p> +<p>"Indeed he did, and has since rendered us good service; and +Henri here has taken so great a fancy to him that, since we left +Villeneuve, he has always ridden by his side."</p> +<p>After Conde had presented the gentlemen who had ridden out with +him to the queen, and the seneschal in turn had introduced the most +important nobles and gentlemen to the prince and Admiral, they +proceeded on their way.</p> +<p>"Have you taken Cognac, cousin?" the queen asked Conde.</p> +<p>"No, madame; the place still holds out. We have captured Saint +Jean d'Angely, but Cognac is obstinate, and we have no cannon with +which to batter its walls."</p> +<p>As soon, however, as the queen arrived at the camp, a summons +was sent in in her name and, influenced by this, and by the sight +of the reinforcements she had brought with her, Cognac at once +surrendered.</p> +<p>As soon as Philip rode into camp, he was greeted joyously by his +cousin Francois.</p> +<p>"We did not think, when we parted outside Niort, that we were +going to be separated so long," he said, after they had shaken +hands heartily. "I was astonished indeed when, two days later, I +met the Admiral outside the walls of the town again, to hear that +you had gone off to make your way through to Nerac.</p> +<p>"I want to hear all your adventures. We have not had much +fighting. Niort made but a poor resistance, and Parthenay +surrendered without striking a blow; then I went with the party +that occupied Fontenay. The Catholics fought stoutly there, but we +were too strong for them. Those three places have given La Rochelle +three bulwarks to the north.</p> +<p>"Then we started again from La Rochelle, and marched to Saint +Jean d'Angely, which we carried by storm. Then we came on here, and +I believe we shall have a try at Saintes or Angouleme. When we have +captured them, we shall have a complete cordon of strong places +round La Rochelle.</p> +<p>"We expect La Noue down from Brittany every hour, with a force +he has raised there and in Normandy; and we have heard that a large +force has gathered in Languedoc, and is advancing to join us; and +all is going so well that I fancy, if Monsieur d'Anjou does not +come to us before long, we shall set out in search of him.</p> +<p>"So much for our doings; now sit down comfortably in my tent, +and tell me all about your journey. I see you have brought Pierre +and your two men back with you."</p> +<p>"You would be nearer the truth, if you said that Pierre and the +two men had brought me back," Philip laughed; "for if it had not +been for them, I should probably have lost my head the day after +the queen left Nerac."</p> +<p>"That is a good beginning to the story, Philip; but tell me the +whole in proper order, as it happened."</p> +<p>Philip told his story at length, and his cousin was greatly +pleased at the manner in which he had got through his various +dangers and difficulties.</p> +<p>The queen remained but a few hours with the army, after Cognac +had opened its gates. After a long conference with the Prince of +Conde, the Admiral, and the other leaders, she left under a strong +escort for La Rochelle; leaving the young prince with the army, of +which he was given the nominal command, as his near connection with +the royal family, and the fact that he was there as the +representative of his mother, strengthened the Huguenot cause; +which could no longer be described, by the agents of the French +court with foreign powers, as a mere rising of slight importance, +the work only of Conde, Coligny, and a few other ambitious and +turbulent nobles.</p> +<p>"I asked my mother to appoint you as one of the gentlemen who +are to ride with me, Monsieur Fletcher," the young prince said to +Philip, when he saw him on the day after the queen's departure; +"but she and the Admiral both said no. It is not because they do +not like you, you know; and the Admiral said that he could very +well trust me with you. But when my mother told him that I had +ridden with you for the last four days, he said that it would cause +jealousy, when there were so many young French nobles and gentlemen +in the camp, if I were to choose you in preference to them as my +companion; you being only French on your mother's side, and having +an English name. I begged them to let me tell you this, for I would +rather ride with you than with any of them; and I should not like +you to think that I did not care to have you with me, any more.</p> +<p>"I think it hard. They call me the commander of this army, and I +can't have my own way even in a little thing like this. Some day, +Monsieur Fletcher, I shall be able to do as I please, and then I +hope to have you near me."</p> +<p>"I am greatly obliged to your Highness," Philip said; "but I am +sure the counsel that has been given you is right, and that it is +far better for you to be in the company of French gentlemen. I have +come over here solely to do what little I can to aid my mother's +relations, and those oppressed for their faith; and though I am +flattered by your wish that I should be near you, I would rather be +taking an active share in the work that has to be done."</p> +<p>"Yes, the Admiral said that. He said that, while many a youth +would be most gratified at being selected to be my companion, he +was sure that you would far rather ride with your cousin, Monsieur +De Laville; and that it would be a pity to keep one, who bids fair +to be a great soldier, acting the part of nurse to me. It was not +quite civil of the Admiral; for I don't want a nurse of that kind, +and would a thousand times rather ride as an esquire to you, and +take share in your adventures. But the Admiral is always plain +spoken; still, as I know well that he is good and wise, and the +greatest soldier in France, I do not mind what he says."</p> +<p>Angouleme and Saintes were both captured without much +difficulty; and then, moving south from Angouleme, the army +captured Pons and Blaye, and thus possessed themselves of a +complete semicircle of towns round La Rochelle.</p> +<p>A short time afterwards, they were joined by a strong force of +Huguenots from Languedoc and Provence. These had marched north, +without meeting with any enemy strong enough to give them battle; +and when they joined the force under the Admiral, they raised its +strength to a total of three thousand cavalry, and twenty thousand +infantry.</p> +<p>By this time the royal army of the Prince d'Anjou, having united +with that raised by the Guises, had advanced to Poitiers. The +season was now far advanced. Indeed, winter had already set in. +Both armies were anxious to fight; but the royalist leaders, +bearing in mind the desperate valour that the Huguenots had +displayed at Saint Denis, were unwilling to give battle, unless in +a position that afforded them every advantage for the movements of +their cavalry, in which they were greatly superior in strength to +the Huguenots.</p> +<p>The Admiral was equally determined not to throw away the +advantage he possessed in his large force of infantry; and after +being in sight of each other for some time, and several skirmishes +having taken place, both armies fell back into winter quarters--the +severity of the weather being too great to keep the soldiers, +without tents or other shelter, in the field.</p> +<p>During these operations Philip and his cousin had again ridden +with Francois de la Noue, who had rejoined the army after a most +perilous march, in which he and the small body of troops he had +brought from Brittany had succeeded in making their way through the +hostile country, and in crossing the fords of the intervening +rivers, after hard fighting and considerable loss.</p> +<p>As soon as the intense cold had driven both armies to the +shelter of the towns, the count said to Francois:</p> +<p>"You and Philip had better march at once, with your troop, to +Laville. It will cost far less to maintain them at the chateau, +than elsewhere; indeed the men can, for the most part, return to +their farms.</p> +<p>"But you must be watchful, Francois, now that a portion of +Anjou's army is lying at Poitiers. They may, should the weather +break, make raids into our country; and as Laville is the nearest +point to Poitiers held for us, they might well make a dash at +it."</p> +<p>The countess welcomed them back heartily, but expressed great +disappointment that the season should have passed without the +armies meeting.</p> +<p>"It was the same last time. It was the delay that ruined us. +With the best will in the world, there are few who can afford to +keep their retainers in the field for month after month; and the +men, themselves, are longing to be back to their farms and +families.</p> +<p>"We shall have to keep a keen lookout, through the winter. +Fortunately our harvest here is a good one, and the granaries are +all full; so that we shall be able to keep the men-at-arms on +through the winter, without much expense. I feel more anxious about +the tenants than about ourselves."</p> +<p>"Yes, mother, there is no doubt there is considerable risk of +the enemy trying to beat us up; and we must arrange for signals, so +that our people may have time to fall back here. Philip and I will +think it over. We ought to be able to contrive some scheme between +us."</p> +<p>"Do so, Francois. I feel safe against surprise here; but I never +retire to rest, without wondering whether the night will pass +without the tenants' farms and stacks being set ablaze, and they +and their families slaughtered on their own hearth stones."</p> +<p>"I suppose, Francois," Philip said to him as they stood at the +lookout, next morning, "there is not much doubt which way they +would cross the hills, coming from Poitiers. They would be almost +sure to come by that road that we travelled by, when we went to +Chatillon. It comes down over the hills, two miles to the west.</p> +<p>"There it is, you see. You just catch sight of it, as it crosses +that shoulder. Your land does not go as far as that, does it?"</p> +<p>"No, it only extends a mile in that direction, and four miles in +the other, and five miles out into the plain."</p> +<p>"Are there many Huguenots on the other side of the hill?"</p> +<p>"Yes, there are some; but as you know, our strength is in the +other direction. What are you thinking of?"</p> +<p>"I was thinking that we might make an arrangement with someone, +in a village some seven or eight miles beyond the hills, to keep a +boy on watch night and day; so that, directly a body of Catholic +troops were seen coming along, he should start at full speed to +some place a quarter of a mile away, and there set light to a +beacon piled in readiness.</p> +<p>"We, on our part, would have a watch set on the top of this hill +behind us; at a spot where the hill on which the beacon was placed +would be visible. Then at night the fire, and by day the smoke +would serve as a warning. Our watchman would, at once, fire an +arquebus and light another beacon; which would be the signal for +all within reach to come here, as quickly as possible.</p> +<p>"At each farmhouse a lookout must, of course, be kept night and +day. I should advise the tenants to send up as much of their corn +and hay as possible, at once; and that the cattle should be driven +up close to the chateau, at night."</p> +<p>"I think that would be a very good plan, Philip. I am sure that +among our men-at-arms must be some who have acquaintances and +friends on the other side of the hill. It will be best that they +should make the arrangements for the firing of the signal beacon. +We might even station one of them in a village there, under the +pretence that he had been knocked up with the cold and hardship, +and was desirous of staying quietly with his friends. He would +watch at night and could sleep by day, as his friends would waken +him at once, if any troops passed along."</p> +<p>The same afternoon, one of the men-at-arms prepared to start for +a village, eight miles beyond the hill.</p> +<p>"There is no rising ground near it," he said to Francois, "that +could well be seen from the top of the hill here; but about half a +mile away from the village there is an old tower. It is in ruins, +and has been so ever since I can remember. I have often climbed to +its top, when I was a boy. At this time of year, there is no chance +of anyone visiting the place. I could collect wood and pile it, +ready for a fire, without any risk whatever. I can point out the +exact direction of the tower from the top of the hill, so that the +watchers would know where to keep their attention fixed."</p> +<p>"Well, you had better go up with us at once, then, so that I +shall be able to instruct the men who will keep watch. We will +build a hut up there for them, and keep three men on guard; so that +they will watch four hours apiece, day and night."</p> +<p>The distance was too great to make out the tower; but as the +soldier knew its exact position, he drove two stakes into the +ground, three feet apart.</p> +<p>"Now," he said, "a man, looking along the line of the tops of +these stakes, will be looking as near as may be at the tower."</p> +<p>The tenants were all visited, and were warned to keep a member +of their family always on the watch for fire, or smoke, from the +little hut at the top of the hill. As soon as the signal was seen, +night or day, they were to make their way to the chateau, driving +their horses and most valuable stock before them, and taking such +goods as they could remove.</p> +<p>"You had better let two horses remain with their harness on, +night and day; and have a cart in readiness, close to your house. +Then, when the signal is given, the women will only have to bundle +their goods and children into the cart; while the men get their +arms, and prepare to drive in their cattle.</p> +<p>"The Catholics will show no mercy to any of the faith they may +find; while as to the chateau, it can make a stout resistance, and +you may be sure that it will not be long before help arrives, from +Niort or La Rochelle."</p> +<p>Arrangements were also made, with the Huguenot gentry in the +neighbourhood, that they should keep a lookout for the signal; and +on observing it light other beacons, so that the news could be +spread rapidly over that part of the country. As soon as the fires +were seen, the women and children were to take to the hills, the +cattle to be driven off by the boys, and the men to arm themselves +and mount.</p> +<p>"Of course," the countess said, at a council where all these +arrangements were made, "we must be guided by the number sent +against us. If, by uniting your bands together, you think you can +raise the siege, we will sally out as soon as you attack and join +you; but do not attack, unless you think that our united forces can +defeat them. If we could defeat them, we should save your chateaux +and farms from fire and ruin.</p> +<p>"If you find they are too strong to attack, you might harass +parties sent out to plunder, and so save your houses, while you +despatch men to ask for help from the Admiral. If, however, they +are so strong in cavalry that you could not keep the field against +them, I should say it were best that you should ride away, and join +any party advancing to our assistance."</p> +<p>A month passed quietly. Every day, a soldier carrying wine and +provisions rode to the hut that had been built, on the crest of the +hill three miles away.</p> +<p>Eight o'clock one evening, towards the end of January, the alarm +bell rang from the lookout tower. Philip and his cousin ran up.</p> +<p>"There is the beacon alight at the hut, count," the lookout +said.</p> +<p>"Light this bonfire then, Jules, and keep the alarm bell +going.</p> +<p>"To horse, men!" he cried, looking over the parapet. "Bring out +our horses with your own."</p> +<p>The men had been previously told off in twos and threes to the +various farmhouses, to aid in driving in the cattle and, as soon as +they were mounted, each party dashed off to its destination. From +the watchtower four or five fires could be seen blazing in the +distance, showing that the lookouts had everywhere been vigilant, +and that the news had already been carried far and wide.</p> +<p>Francois and Philip rode up to the hut on the hill.</p> +<p>"There is no mistake, I hope," Francois said as, a quarter of a +mile before they reached it, they met the three men-at-arms coming +down.</p> +<p>"No, count, it was exactly in a line with the two stakes and, I +should think, about the distance away that you told us the tower +was. It has died down now."</p> +<p>The beacon fire near the hut had been placed fifty yards below +the crest of the hill, so that its flame should not be seen from +the other side. This had been at Philip's suggestion.</p> +<p>"If it is put where they can see it," he said, "they will feel +sure that it is in answer to that fire behind them, and will ride +at full speed, so as to get here before the news spreads. If they +see no answering fire, they may suppose that the first was but an +accident. They may even halt at the village, and send off some men +to see what has caused the fire; or if they ride straight through, +they will be at some little distance before Simon has got to the +fire and lighted it, and may not care to waste time sending back. +At any rate, it is better that they should see no flame up +here."</p> +<p>They had often talked the matter over, and had agreed that, even +if the column was composed only of cavalry, it would be from an +hour and a half to two hours before it arrived at the chateau, as +it would doubtless have performed a long journey; while if there +were infantry with them, they would take double that time.</p> +<p>Directly an alarm had been given, two of the youngest and most +active of the men-at-arms had set off, to take post at the point +where the road crossed the hill. Their orders were to lie still +till all had passed, and then to make their way back along the +hill, at full speed, to inform the garrison of the strength and +composition of the attacking force.</p> +<p>When they returned to the chateau, people were already pouring +in from the neighbouring farms; the women staggering under heavy +burdens, and the men driving their cattle before them, or leading +strings of horses. The seneschal and the retainers were at work, +trying to keep some sort of order; directing the men to drive the +cattle into the countess's garden, and the women to put down their +belongings in the courtyard, where they would be out of the way; +while the countess saw that her maids spread rushes, thickly, along +by the walls of the rooms that were to be given up to the use of +the women and children.</p> +<p>Cressets had been lighted in the courtyard, but the bonfire was +now extinguished so that the enemy, on reaching the top of the +hill, should see nothing to lead them to suppose that their coming +was known. The alarm bell had ceased sending its loud summons into +the air; but there was still a variety of noises that were almost +deafening: the lowing of cattle, disturbed and angered at the +unaccustomed movement; mingled with the shouts of men, the barking +of dogs, and the crying of frightened children.</p> +<p>"I will aid the seneschal in getting things into order down +here, Francois," Philip said, "while you see to the defence of the +walls, posting the men, and getting everything in readiness to give +them a reception. I will look after the postern doors, and see that +the planks across the moats are removed, and the bolts and bars in +place."</p> +<p>Francois nodded and, bidding the men-at-arms, who had already +returned, stable their horses and follow him, he proceeded to the +walls.</p> +<p>"This is enough to make one weep," Pierre said, as the oxen +poured into the courtyard, and then through the archway that led to +the countess's garden.</p> +<p>"What is enough, Pierre? To see all these poor women and +children, who are likely to behold their homesteads in flames, +before many hours?"</p> +<p>"Well, I did not mean that, master; though I don't say that is +not sad enough, in its way; but that is the fortune of war, as it +were. I meant the countess's garden being destroyed. The beasts +will trample down all the shrubs and, in a week, it will be no +better than a farmyard."</p> +<p>Philip laughed.</p> +<p>"That is of very little consequence, Pierre. A week's work, with +plenty of hands, will set that right again. Still, no doubt it will +vex the countess, who is very fond of her garden."</p> +<p>"A week!" Pierre said. "Why, sir, it will take years and years +before those yew hedges grow again."</p> +<p>"Ah well, Pierre, if the countess keeps a roof over her head she +may be well content, in these stormy times. You had better go and +see if she and her maids have got those chambers ready for the +women. If they have, get them all in as quickly as you can. These +beasts come into the courtyard with such a rush that some of the +people will be trampled upon, if we do not get them out of the +way."</p> +<p>"Most of them have gone into the hall, sir. The countess gave +orders that all were to go in as they came; but I suppose the +servants have been too busy to tell the latecomers. I will get the +rest in, at once."</p> +<p>As soon as the farmers and their men had driven the animals into +the garden, they went up to the walls, all having brought their +arms in with them. The boys were left below, to look after the +cattle.</p> +<p>"Nothing can be done tonight," Philip said to some of the men. +"The cattle will come to no harm and, as the boys cannot keep them +from breaking down the shrubs, they had best leave them alone, or +they will run the risk of getting hurt. The boys will do more good +by taking charge of the more valuable horses, as they come in, and +fastening them up to the rings round the wall here. The cart horses +must go in with the cattle."</p> +<p>Several gentlemen, with their wives and families, came in among +the fugitives. Their houses were not in a condition to withstand a +siege, and it had long been settled that they should come into the +chateau, if danger threatened. The ladies were taken to the +countess's apartments, while the gentlemen went to aid Francois in +the defence.</p> +<p>An hour and a half after the lads returned to the castle, the +men-at-arms who had been sent to watch the road came in. They +reported that the column approaching consisted of about three +hundred mounted men, and fifteen hundred infantry.</p> +<p>Roger had, all this time, been standing by the side of his +saddled horse. Philip hurried to him, as soon as the men came +in.</p> +<p>"Three hundred horsemen and fifteen hundred foot! Ride at full +speed to La Rochelle. Tell the Admiral the numbers, and request +him, in the name of the countess, to come to her assistance. Beg +him to use all speed, for no doubt they will attack hotly, knowing +that aid will soon be forthcoming to us."</p> +<p>Roger leapt to his saddle, and galloped out through the gate. A +man had been placed there to mark off the names of all who entered, +from the list that had been furnished him. Philip took it, and saw +that a cross had been placed against every name. He therefore went +up to the top of the wall.</p> +<p>"The tenants are all in, Francois!"</p> +<p>"Very well, then, I will have the drawbridge raised and the +gates closed. I am glad, indeed, that we have had time given us for +them all to enter. My mother would have been very grieved, if harm +had come to any of them.</p> +<p>"I have everything in readiness, here. I have posted men at +every window and loophole, where the house rises from the side of +the moat. All the rest are on the walls. I will take command here +by the gate and along the wall. Do you take charge of the defence +of the house, itself. However, you may as well stay here with me, +until we have had our first talk with them. Pass the word along the +walls for perfect silence."</p> +<p>In another half hour they heard a dull sound. Presently it +became louder, and they could distinguish, above the trampling of +horses, the clash of steel. It came nearer and nearer, until within +two or three hundred yards of the chateau, then it ceased. +Presently a figure could be made out, creeping quietly forward +until it reached the edge of the moat. It paused a moment, and then +retired.</p> +<p>"He has been sent to find out whether the drawbridge is down," +Francois whispered to Philip. "We shall see what they will do +now."</p> +<p>There was a pause for ten minutes, then a heavy mass of men +could be seen approaching.</p> +<p>"Doubtless they will have planks with them, to push across the +moat," Philip said.</p> +<p>"We will let them come within twenty yards," Francois replied, +"then I think we shall astonish them."</p> +<p>Believing that all in the chateau were asleep, and that even the +precaution of keeping a watchman on the walls had been neglected, +the assailants advanced eagerly. Suddenly, the silence on the walls +was broken by a voice shouting, "Give fire!" And then, from along +the whole face of the battlements, deadly fire from arquebuses was +poured into them. A moment later half a dozen fireballs were flung +into the column, and a rain of crossbow bolts followed.</p> +<p>Shouts of astonishment, rage, and pain broke from the mass and, +breaking up, they recoiled in confusion; while the shouts of the +officers, urging them forward, could be heard. The heavy fire from +the walls was, however, too much for men who had expected no +resistance, but had moved forward believing that they had but to +sack and plunder; and in two or three minutes from the first shot +being fired, all who were able to do so had retired; though a +number of dark figures, dotting the ground, showed how deadly had +been the fire of the besieged.</p> +<p>"They will do nothing more tonight, I fancy," one of the +Huguenot gentlemen standing by the two friends remarked. "They +expected to take you entirely by surprise. Now that they have +failed in doing so, they will wait until morning to reconnoitre, +and decide on the best points of attack. Besides, no doubt they +have marched far, and are in need of rest before renewing the +assault."</p> +<p>"Well, gentlemen," Francois said, "it would be needless for you +all to remain here; and when they once begin in earnest, there will +be but slight opportunity of rest until relief reaches us. +Therefore, I beg you to go below. You will find a table laid in the +hall, and two chambers roughly prepared for you; and you can get a +few hours' sleep.</p> +<p>"I myself, with my own men, will keep watch. Should they muster +for another attack, my horn will summon you again to the wall.</p> +<p>"Philip, will you go down and see that these gentlemen have all +that they require? You can dismiss all save our own men from guard, +on the other side of the house. The tenants and their men will all +sleep in the hall."</p> +<p>Philip went down, and presided at the long table. The gentlemen +were seated near him while, below them, the tenants and other +followers took their places. There was enough cold meat, game, and +pies for all; and when they had finished, the defenders of the wall +came down, half at a time, for a meal.</p> +<p>When the gentlemen had retired to their apartments, and the +farmers and their men had thrown themselves down upon the rushes +strewn on each side of the hall, Philip went up to join +Francois.</p> +<p>"Any sign of them, Francois?"</p> +<p>"None at all. I expect they are thoroughly tired out, and are +lying down just as they halted. There is no fear that we shall hear +any more of them, tonight."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch14" id="Ch14">Chapter 14</a>: The Assault On The +Chateau.</h2> +<p>The night passed quietly. Just as the sun rose a trumpet +sounded, calling for a truce; and two knights in armour rode +forward, followed by an esquire carrying a white flag. They halted +thirty or forty yards from the gate; and the countess herself came +up on to the wall, when the knight raised his vizor.</p> +<p>"Countess Amelie de Laville, I summon you, in the name of his +majesty the king, to surrender. I have with me an ample force to +overcome all resistance; but his gracious majesty, in his clemency, +has empowered me to offer to all within the walls their lives; save +only that you and your son shall accompany me to Paris, there to be +dealt with according to the law, under the accusation of having +taken up arms against his most sacred majesty."</p> +<p>"Methinks, sir," the countess said, in a loud clear voice, "that +it would have been better had you delayed until this morning, +instead of attempting, like a band of midnight thieves, to break +into my chateau. I fancy we should have heard but little of his +majesty's clemency, had you succeeded in your attempt. I am in +arms, not against the king, but against his evil counsellors; the +men who persuade him to break his pledged word, and to treat his +unoffending subjects as if they were the worst of malefactors. +Assuredly their royal highnesses, the Princes of Conde and Navarre, +have no thought of opposing his majesty; but desire, above all +things, that he should be able to act without pressure from +Lorraine or Guise, from pope or King of Spain; and when they lay +down their arms, I shall be glad to do so. Did I know that the king +himself, of his own mind, had sent you here to summons me, I would +willingly accompany you to Paris, to clear myself from any charges +brought against me; but as your base attempt, without summons or +demand, to break into my chateau last night shows that you can have +no authority from his majesty to enter here, I refuse to open my +gates; and shall defend this place until the last, against all who +may attack it."</p> +<p>The knights rode away. They had, after the rough reception on +their arrival, perceived that the countess was determined to defend +the chateau, and had only summoned her to surrender as a matter of +form.</p> +<p>"I would we had never entered upon this expedition, De Brissac. +They told us that the house was but poorly fortified, and we +thought we should assuredly carry it last night by surprise; and +that by taking this obstinate dame prisoner, burning her chateau, +and sweeping all the country round, we should give a much needed +lesson to the Huguenots of the district. One could not have +expected to find the place crowded with men, and everyone ready +with lighted matches and drawn crossbows to receive us. I believe +now that that fire we saw, two or three miles in our rear as we +came along, was a signal; but even if it were, one would not have +given them credit for gathering so promptly to withstand us.</p> +<p>"As for the place itself, it is, as we heard, of no great +strength. 'Tis but a modern house, inclosed on three sides with a +wall some twenty feet high, and surrounded by a moat of the same +width. With our force we should carry it in half an hour. We know +that the garrison consists of only fifty men, besides a score or so +of grooms and servants."</p> +<p>"So we heard; but I am mistaken if there were not more than +double that number engaged on the wall. Still, as you say, there +will be no great difficulty in carrying the place. The ladders will +be ready in a couple of hours, and De Beauvoir will bring in, from +the farmhouses, plenty of planks and beams for throwing bridges +across the moat. It is two hours since he set out with the +horsemen, so as to catch the Huguenot farmers asleep."</p> +<p>As they returned to the spot where the men were engaged in +cooking their breakfast, while some were occupied in constructing +ladders from young trees that had been felled for the purpose, a +gentleman rode in.</p> +<p>"What is your news, De Villette?"</p> +<p>"The news is bad. De Beauvoir asked me to ride in to tell you +that we find the farmhouses completely deserted, and the whole of +the cattle and horses have disappeared, as well as the inhabitants. +Save for some pigs and poultry, we have not seen a living +thing."</p> +<p>"Sapristie! The Huguenot dogs must have slept with one eye open. +Either they heard the firing last night, and at once made off; or +they must have learned we were coming, and must have gathered in +the chateau. Their measures must have been indeed well planned and +carried out, for them all to have got the alarm in time to gather +here before our arrival.</p> +<p>"I hope that is what they have done, for we reckoned upon +carrying off at least a thousand head of cattle, for the use of the +army. It was for that, as much as to capture the countess and +strike a blow at this hive of Huguenots, that the expedition was +arranged. However, if they are all in there, it will save us the +trouble of driving them in."</p> +<p>"In that case though, De Brissac, the fifty men will have been +reinforced by as many more, at least."</p> +<p>"Ay, maybe by a hundred and fifty, with the farmers and all +their hands; but what are a hundred and fifty rustics and fifty +men-at-arms, against our force?"</p> +<p>De Brissac had guessed pretty accurately the number of fighting +men that could be mustered among the tenants of the countess. The +training that they had undergone had, however, made them more +formidable opponents than he supposed; and each man was animated by +hatred of their persecutors, and a stern determination to fight +until the last, in defence of their lives and freedom of worship. +They had been mustered at the first dawn of day in the courtyard, +their arms inspected, and all deficiencies made up from the +armoury.</p> +<p>Fifty men were placed under Philip's orders, for the defence of +that portion of the house that rose directly from the edge of the +moat. The lower windows were small and strongly barred, and there +was little fear of an entrance being forced. The postern gate here +had, during the night, been strengthened with stones; and articles +of heavy furniture piled against it. A few men were placed at the +lower windows; the main body on the first floor, where the +casements were large; and the rest distributed at the upper +windows, to vex the enemy by their fire, as they approached.</p> +<p>Philip appointed Eustace to take the command of the men at the +lower windows; and Roger of those on the upper floor; he, with +Jacques, posting himself on the first floor, against which the +enemy would attempt to fix their ladders. Great fires were lighted +in all the rooms, and cauldrons of water placed over them; and boys +with pails stood by these, in readiness to bring boiling water to +the windows, when required.</p> +<p>The walls round the courtyard and garden were not of sufficient +thickness for fires to be lighted, along the narrow path on which +the defenders were posted; but fires were lighted in the courtyard, +and boiling water prepared there, in readiness to carry up when the +assault began. The Huguenot gentlemen were placed in command, at +the various points along the wall most likely to be assailed.</p> +<p>Had the besiegers been provided with cannon, the defence could +not have lasted long, for the walls would not have resisted +battering by shot; but cannon, in those times, were rare, and were +too clumsy and heavy to accompany an expedition requiring to move +with speed. For a time, the men-at-arms alone garrisoned the wall; +the farmers and their men being occupied in pumping water from the +wells and carrying it to the cattle, of which some eight hundred +had been driven in. The granaries were opened, and a plentiful +supply of food placed in large troughs.</p> +<p>At ten o'clock a trumpet called all the defenders to their +posts. The enemy were drawn up in order, and moved towards the +house in six columns; two taking their way towards the rear, to +attack the house on that side, while the others advanced toward +different points on the wall.</p> +<p>Ladders and long planks were carried at the head of each column. +As they approached the assailants halted, and the arquebusiers came +forward and took their post in line, to cover by their fire the +advance of the storming parties.</p> +<p>As soon as these advanced, a heavy fire was opened by the +besieged with crossbow and arquebus. The parapet was high and, +while they exposed only their heads to fire, and were altogether +sheltered while loading, the assailants were completely exposed. +Orders were given that the defenders should entirely disregard the +fire of the matchlock men, and should direct their aim upon the +storming parties. These suffered heavily but, urged forward by +their officers, they gained the edge of the moat, pushed the planks +across, and placed the ladders; but as fast as these were put into +position, they were hurled down again by the defenders who, with +long forked sticks, thrust them out from the wall and hurled them +backwards; sometimes allowing them to remain until a line of men +had climbed up, and then pouring a pail of boiling water over the +wall upon them.</p> +<p>The farmers vied with the men-at-arms in the steadiness of the +defence, being furious at the sight of columns of smoke which rose +in many directions, showing that the cavalry of the besiegers were +occupied in destroying their homesteads. Sometimes, when four or +five ladders were planted together, the assailants managed to climb +up to the level of the parapet; but only to be thrust backward with +pikes, and cut down with swords and axes. For two hours the assault +continued, and then De Brissac, seeing how heavy was the loss, and +how vain the efforts to scale the wall at any point, ordered the +trumpeters to sound the retreat; when the besiegers drew off, +galled by the fire of the defenders until they were out of +range.</p> +<p>The attempts of the two columns which had attacked the house, +itself, were attended with no greater success than those of their +fellows; their efforts to gain a footing in any of the rooms on the +first floor having been defeated, with heavy loss.</p> +<p>The leaders of the assailants held a consultation, after their +troops had drawn off.</p> +<p>"It is of no use," De Brissac said, "to repeat the attack on the +walls. They are too stoutly defended. It is out of the question for +us to think of returning to Poitiers. We undertook to capture the +place, to harry the farms, to destroy all the Huguenots, and to +return driving in all the cattle for the use of the army. Of all +this we have only so far burned the farmhouses, and we have lost +something like a couple of hundred men.</p> +<p>"This time, we must try by fire. The men must gather bundles of +firewood, and must attack in three columns; the principal against +the great gate, the others against the two posterns; the one at the +back of the house itself, the other nearest the angle where the +wall joins it. If we had time to construct machines for battering +the walls, it would be an easy business; but that is out of the +question. In a couple of days, at the latest, we shall have them +coming out like a swarm of hornets from La Rochelle. It is not +likely, when they had all their measures so well prepared, that +they omitted to send off word at once to Coligny; and by tomorrow, +at noon, we may have Conde and the Admiral upon us. Therefore we +must make an end of this, by nightfall.</p> +<p>"Have you any better plans to suggest, gentlemen?"</p> +<p>There was no reply. Several of those present had been wounded, +more or less severely; and some terribly bruised, by being hurled +back from the ladders as they led the troops to the assault. Five +or six of the young nobles, who had joined what they regarded as an +expedition likely to meet with but slight resistance, had been +killed; and all regretted that they had embarked upon an affair +that could bring them but small credit, while they were unprovided +with the necessary means for attacking a place so stoutly +defended.</p> +<p>De Brissac at once issued orders, and strong parties of soldiers +scattered and proceeded to cut down fences and bushes, and to form +large faggots. Their movements were observed by the men placed on +the summit of the tower, and no doubt was entertained of the +intentions of the enemy.</p> +<p>"What do you think we had better do, Philip?" Francois asked, as +they stood together at the top of the tower, watching the Catholics +at work. "We may shoot a number of them but, if they are +determined, they will certainly be able to lay their faggots; and +in that case we shall be open to attack at three points, and likely +enough they will at the same time renew their attack on the +walls."</p> +<p>"That is the most dangerous part of it," Philip said. "We ought +to have no difficulty in holding the three entrances. The posterns +are narrow, and forty men at each should be able to keep back a +host; and this would leave you a hundred and twenty to hold the +main gates. But if we have to man the walls, too, the matter would +be serious.</p> +<p>"If we had time, we might pull down one of the outbuildings and +build a thick wall behind the gates; but in an hour they will be +attacking us again."</p> +<p>He stood thinking for a minute or two, and then exclaimed:</p> +<p>"I have it, Francois. Let us at once kill a number of the +cattle, and pile their carcasses up, two deep, against the gates. +They may burn them down if they like, then, but they can do nothing +against that pile of flesh; the weight of the carcasses will keep +them in a solid mass. At any rate, we might do that at the two +posterns. The great gates are, perhaps, too wide and lofty; but if +we formed a barricade inside them of, say, three bodies high, a +hundred men ought to be able to defend it; and that will leave a +hundred for the walls and house."</p> +<p>"That is a capital idea, Philip. We will not lose a moment in +carrying it out."</p> +<p>Two of the principal tenants were called up, and told to see to +the slaughtering, instantly, of sufficient cattle to pile two deep +against the posterns. Calling a number of men together, these at +once set about the business.</p> +<p>"We will see to the other barricade ourselves, Philip. That is +where the fighting will be."</p> +<p>The entrance behind the gateway was some twenty-five feet in +width, and as much in depth, before it entered the courtyard. The +bullocks were brought up to the spot, and slaughtered there. The +first line were about to be dragged into place, when Philip +suggested that they should be skinned.</p> +<p>"What on earth do you want to skin them for, Philip?" Francois +asked.</p> +<p>"When they are arranged in a row, I would throw the skins over +them again, inside out. The weight of the next row will keep the +skins in their places, and it will be impossible for anyone to +obtain a footing on that slippery surface, especially if we pour +some blood over it."</p> +<p>Francois at once saw the point of the suggestion.</p> +<p>"Excellent, Philip. I wish my brain was as full of ideas as +yours is."</p> +<p>The same course was pursued with the other two tiers of +carcasses, the hides of the upper row being firmly pegged into the +flesh, to prevent their being pulled off. The breastwork was about +five feet high, and was absolutely unclimbable.</p> +<p>"It could not be better," Francois said. "A solid work would not +be half so difficult to get over. Twenty men here could keep a host +at bay."</p> +<p>Another tier of unskinned carcasses was laid down behind the +breastwork, for the defenders to stand on; and earth was piled over +it, to afford a footing.</p> +<p>They had but just completed their preparations when the trumpet, +from above, sounded the signal that the enemy were approaching. All +took the posts that they had before occupied. The enemy approached +as they had expected, in three bodies; each preceded by a +detachment that carried in front of them great faggots, which +served as a protection against the missiles of the besieged. Among +them were men carrying sacks.</p> +<p>"What can they have there?" Philip asked one of the Huguenot +gentlemen.</p> +<p>"I should say it was earth," he replied</p> +<p>"Earth?" Philip repeated, puzzled. "What can they want that +for?"</p> +<p>"I should think it is to cover the planks thickly, before they +lay down the faggots; otherwise the planks would burn, and perhaps +fall bodily in the water, before the fire had done its work on the +doors."</p> +<p>"No doubt that is it," Philip agreed. "I did not think of that +before."</p> +<p>As soon as the heads of the columns approached within a hundred +yards, the men with arquebuses opened fire; and those with +crossbows speedily followed suit. Four hundred men with arquebuses +at once ran forward, until within a short distance of the moat; and +opened so heavy a fire, against the defenders of the wall and +house, that these were compelled to stoop down under shelter. Some +of them would have still gone on firing from the windows, but +Philip ordered them to draw back.</p> +<p>"It is of no use throwing away life," he said. "We cannot hope +to prevent them planting their faggots, and firing them."</p> +<p>He himself went up into a small turret, partly overhanging the +wall and, through a loophole, watched the men at work. The contents +of the sacks were emptied out upon the planks, the latter having +been first soaked with water, drawn from the moat by a pail one of +the men carried. The earth was levelled a foot deep, and then a +score of buckets of water emptied over it. Then the faggots were +piled against the door. A torch was applied to them and, as soon as +this was done, the assailants fell back; the defenders plying them +with shot and cross bolts, as soon as they did so.</p> +<p>Philip now paid a hasty visit to the walls. Here the assailants +had suffered heavily, before they had planted their faggots; the +defenders being better able to return their fire than were those at +the windows. In both cases, however, they had succeeded in laying +and firing the faggots; although much hindered at the work, by +pails of boiling water emptied upon them.</p> +<p>Some ten of the defenders had been shot through the head, as +they stood up to fire. Attempts were made, by pouring water down +upon the faggots, to extinguish the flames; but the time taken, in +conveying the water up from the courtyard, enabled the fire to get +such hold that the attempt was abandoned.</p> +<p>"It is just as well," Francois said. "If we could extinguish the +fire, we should lose the benefit of the surprise we have prepared +for them."</p> +<p>In a quarter of an hour, light flames began to flicker up at the +edges of the great gates.</p> +<p>"Do you stay here with me, Philip," Francois said. "Our own band +will take post here. They are more accustomed to hand-to-hand +fighting. The tenants will guard the wall. Montpace will be in +command there.</p> +<p>"Beg De Riblemont to take command at the back of the house. Tell +him to send for aid to us, if he is pressed.</p> +<p>"I would put your own three men down in the postern there. I +feel sure they can never move that double row of bullocks, but it +is as well to make certain; and those three could hold the narrow +postern, till help reaches them. Place a boy with them to send off +for aid, if necessary.</p> +<p>"Bourdou is stationed behind the other postern, with three men. +It will be half an hour before the gates are down, yet."</p> +<p>The two together made a tour of the defences. All was in +readiness. The men, after their first success, felt confident that +they should beat off their assailants; and even the women, gathered +round the great fires in the house and courtyard, with pails in +readiness to carry boiling water to the threatened points, showed +no signs of anxiety; the younger ones laughing and chatting +together, as if engaged in ordinary work.</p> +<p>The countess went round, with her maids carrying flagons and +cups, and gave a draught of wine to each of the defenders. The +minister accompanied her. As yet there were no wounded needing +their care, for all who had been hit had been struck in the head; +and death had, in each case, been instantaneous.</p> +<p>At last the great gates fell with a crash, and a shout of +exultation arose from the Catholics; answered, by the Huguenots on +the wall, by one of defiance. In half an hour the assailants again +formed up. The strongest column advanced towards the great gate, +others against the posterns; and four separate bodies, with planks +and ladders, moved forward to bridge the moat and to attack at +other points.</p> +<p>The defenders on the walls and at the windows were soon at work, +and the assailants suffered heavily from the fire, as they +advanced. The fifty men-at-arms behind the barricade remained quiet +and silent, a dozen of them with arquebuses lining the barricade. +With loud shouts the Catholics came on, deeming the chateau as good +as won. The arquebusiers poured their fire into them as they +crossed the moat, and then fell back behind their comrades, who +were armed with pike and sword.</p> +<p>As they passed through the still smoking gateway the assailants +saw the barricade in front of them, but this did not appear +formidable and, led by a number of gentlemen in complete armour, +they rushed forward.</p> +<p>For a moment those in front recoiled, as they reached the wall +of slippery hides; then, pressed forward from behind, they made +desperate attempts to climb it. It would have been as easy to try +to mount a wall of ice. Their hands and feet alike failed to obtain +a hold, and from above the defenders, with pike and sword, thrust +and cut at them; while the arquebusiers, as fast as possible, +discharged their pieces into the crowd, loaded each time with three +or four balls.</p> +<p>For half an hour the efforts to force the barricade continued. +So many had fallen that the wall was now no higher than their +waist; but even this could not be surmounted, in face of the double +line of pikemen; and at last the assailants fell back, baffled.</p> +<p>At the two posterns, they had failed to make any impression upon +the carcasses that blocked their way. In vain they strove, by +striking the curved points of their halberts into the carcasses, to +drag them from their place; but the pressure of the weight above, +and of the interior line of carcasses that were piled on the legs +of the outside tiers, prevented the enemy from moving them in the +slightest degree. While so engaged, those at work were exposed to +the boiling water poured from above; and the soldiers standing +behind, in readiness to advance when the entrance was won, were +also exposed to the fire of the defenders.</p> +<p>The assaults on the walls, and at the windows, were far less +obstinate than those in the previous attack, as they were intended +only as diversions to the main assaults on the posterns and gate; +and when the assailants at these points fell back, the storming +parties also retreated. They had lost, in all, nearly four hundred +men in the second attack; of whom more than a hundred and fifty had +fallen in the assault upon the barricade.</p> +<p>The instant they retreated, Francois and Philip led out their +men, cleared the earth from the planks, and threw these into the +water. They were not a moment too soon for, just as they completed +their task, the Catholic cavalry thundered down to the edge of the +moat; regardless of the fire from the walls, which emptied many +saddles. Finding themselves unable to cross, they turned and +galloped off after the infantry.</p> +<p>"We were just in time, Philip," Francois said. "If they had +crossed the moat it would have gone hard with us; for, with that +bank of bodies lying against the breastwork, they might have been +able to leap it. At any rate, their long lances would have driven +us back, and some would have dismounted and climbed over.</p> +<p>"As it is, I think we have done with them. After two such +repulses as they have had, and losing pretty nearly half their +infantry, they will never get the men to try another attack."</p> +<p>An hour later, indeed, the whole Catholic force, horse and foot, +were seen to march away by the road along which they had come. As +soon as they did so, a trumpet summoned the defenders from the +walls and house. The women and children also poured out into the +courtyard and, the minister taking his place by the side of the +countess on the steps of the chateau, a solemn service of +thanksgiving to God, for their preservation from the danger that +had threatened them, was held.</p> +<p>It was now five o'clock, and the short winter day was nearly +over. Many of the tenants would have started off to their farms, +but Francois begged them to remain until next morning.</p> +<p>"The smoke told you what to expect," he said. "You will find +nothing but the ruins of your houses and, in this weather, it would +be madness to take your wives and families out. In the morning you +can go and view your homes. If there are still any sheds standing, +that you can turn into houses for the time, you can come back for +your wives and families. If not, they must remain here till you can +get up shelter for them. In this bitter cold weather, you could not +think of rebuilding your houses regularly; nor would it be any use +to do so, until we get to the end of these troubles. But you can +fell and saw wood, and erect cottages that will suffice for present +use, and serve as sheds when better times return.</p> +<p>"The first thing to do is to attend to those who have fallen. +The dead must be removed and buried; but there must be many +wounded, and these must be brought in and attended to. There is an +empty granary that we will convert into a hospital."</p> +<p>"Before we do anything else, Francois, we must fish the planks +from the moat, to serve until a fresh drawbridge is +constructed.</p> +<p>"Eustace, do you get two heavy beams thrust over, and lay the +planks across them; then with Roger mount, cross the moat as soon +as it is bridged, and follow the road after the Catholics. They may +not have gone far, and might halt and return to attack us, when we +shall be off our guard.</p> +<p>"Follow them about five miles; then, if they are still marching, +you had both better come back to us. If they halt before that, do +you remain and watch them; and send Roger back with the news."</p> +<p>A hundred and thirty wounded men were brought in, some wounded +by shot or crossbow bolt, some terribly scalded, others with broken +limbs from being hurled backwards with the ladders. The countess, +with her maids and many of the women, attended to them as they were +brought in, and applied salves and bandages to the wounds. Among +the mass that had fallen inside the gate, seven gentlemen who still +lived were discovered. These were brought into the chateau, and +placed in a room together.</p> +<p>The task was carried on by torchlight, and occupied some hours. +Towards midnight, the trampling of a large body of horse was heard. +Arms were hastily snatched up and steel caps thrust on and, pike in +hand, they thronged to defend the entrance. Francois ran to the +battlements.</p> +<p>"Who comes there?" he shouted. "Halt and declare yourselves, or +we fire."</p> +<p>The horsemen halted, and a voice cried:</p> +<p>"Is that you, Francois?"</p> +<p>"Yes, it is I, De la Noue," Francois shouted back joyously.</p> +<p>"Is all well? Where are the enemy?" was asked, in the Admiral's +well-known voice.</p> +<p>"All is well, sir. They retreated just before nightfall, leaving +seven hundred of their infantry wounded or dead behind them."</p> +<p>A shout of satisfaction rose from the horsemen.</p> +<p>"Take torches across the bridge," Francois ordered. "It is the +Admiral, come to our rescue."</p> +<p>A minute later, the head of the column crossed the temporary +bridge. Francois had run down and received them in the gateway.</p> +<p>"What is this?" the Admiral asked. "Have they burnt your +drawbridge and gate?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> +<p>"How was it, then, they did not succeed in capturing the place? +Ah, I see, you formed a barricade here."</p> +<p>Two or three of the carcasses had been dragged aside, to permit +the men carrying the wounded to enter.</p> +<p>"Why, what is it, Francois--skins of freshly slain oxen?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sir, and the barricade is formed of their bodies. We had +neither time nor materials at hand, and my cousin suggested +bringing the oxen up, and slaughtering them here. In that way we +soon made a barricade. But we should have had hard work in holding +it, against such numbers, had he not also suggested our skinning +them, and letting the hides hang as you see, with the raw sides +outwards. Then we smeared them thickly with blood and, though the +Catholics strove their hardest, not one of them managed to get a +footing on the top."</p> +<p>"A rare thought, indeed," the Admiral said warmly.</p> +<p>"De la Noue, these cousins of yours are truly apt scholars in +war. The oldest soldier could not have thought of a better +device.</p> +<p>"And you say you killed seven hundred of them, Laville?"</p> +<p>"That is the number, sir, counting in a hundred and thirty +wounded, who are now lying in a granary here."</p> +<p>"They must have fought stoutly. But what was your strength?"</p> +<p>"We had fifty men-at-arms, sir, five or six Huguenot gentlemen +with their retainers, and a hundred and fifty men from our own +estate; all of whom fought as doughtily as old soldiers could have +done.</p> +<p>"The enemy thought to take us by surprise, yesterday evening; +but we were ready for them, and our discharge killed over fifty. +Then they drew off, and left us until this morning. They made two +great attacks: the first by throwing planks across the moat, and +placing ladders at three places; the second by trying, again, to +storm with ladders, while other bands tried to force their way in +at this gateway, and at the two posterns.</p> +<p>"Of course they have burned all the farina to the ground, but +the cattle were all safely driven in here, before they arrived.</p> +<p>"Now if you will enter, sir, we will endeavour to provide for +your wants. No one is yet in bed. We have been too busy carrying +out the dead, and collecting the wounded, to think of sleep."</p> +<p>The countess was at the steps of the chateau, to receive the +Admiral as he dismounted.</p> +<p>"Accept my heartiest thanks for the speed with which you have +come to our aid, Admiral. We did not expect you before tomorrow +morning, at the earliest."</p> +<p>"It has been a long ride, truly," the Admiral said. "Your +messenger arrived at daybreak, having walked the last five miles, +for his horse had foundered. I flew to horse, the moment I received +the news; and with four hundred horsemen, for the most part +Huguenot gentlemen, we started at once. We halted for three hours +in the middle of the day to rest our horses, and again for an hour +just after nightfall. We feared that we should find your chateau in +flames for, although your messenger said that your son thought you +could hold out against all attacks for two days, it seemed to us +that so strong a force as was beleaguering you would carry the +place by storm, in a few hours. I have to congratulate you on the +gallant defence that you have made."</p> +<p>"I have had nothing to do with it," the countess replied; "but +indeed, all have fought well.</p> +<p>"Now, if you will follow me in, I will do my best to entertain +you and the brave gentlemen who have ridden so far to my rescue; +but I fear the accommodation will be of the roughest."</p> +<p>The horses were ranged in rows, in the courtyard, haltered to +ropes stretched across it; and an ample supply of food was given to +each. Some of the oxen that had done such good service were cut up, +and were soon roasting over great fires; while the women spread +straw thickly, in the largest apartments, for the newcomers to +sleep on.</p> +<p>"Where are the Catholics?" the Admiral asked.</p> +<p>"They have halted at a village, some seven miles away," Francois +said. "We sent two mounted men after them, to make sure that they +had gone well away, and did not intend to try to take us by +surprise in the night. They returned some hours since with the +news."</p> +<p>"What do you say, De la Noue," the Admiral exclaimed; "shall we +beat them up tonight? They will not be expecting us and, after +their march here and their day's fighting, they will sleep +soundly."</p> +<p>"I should like nothing better, Admiral; but in truth, I doubt +whether our horses could carry us. They have already made a +twenty-league journey."</p> +<p>"We have at least two hundred horses here, Admiral," Francois +said. "We have those of my own troop, and fully a hundred and fifty +that were driven in by the tenants. My own troop will, of course, +be ready to go; and you could shift your saddles on to the other +horses. There is not one of our men who would not gladly march with +you, for although we have beaten the Catholics well, the tenants do +not forget that they are homeless; and will, I am sure, gladly +follow up the blow."</p> +<p>"Then so it shall be," the Admiral said. "A hundred and fifty of +the gentlemen who came with me shall ride with your troop. The rest +of us will march with your tenants.</p> +<p>"I think we are capable of doing that, even after our ride, +gentlemen?"</p> +<p>There was a chorus of assent from those standing round, and De +la Noue added:</p> +<p>"After supper, Admiral?"</p> +<p>"Certainly after supper," Coligny assented, with a smile. +"Another hour will make no difference. You may be sure they will +not be moving before daylight. If we start from here at three, we +shall be in ample time."</p> +<p>Philip at once went out, and ordered the attendants and +men-at-arms to lie down for two hours, as the Admiral was going to +lead them to attack the Catholics at their halting place--news +which was received with grim satisfaction. In the meantime, +Francois gave a detailed account of the events of the siege; and +the Admiral insisted upon going, at once, to inspect by torchlight +the novel manner in which the two posterns had been blocked up.</p> +<p>"Nothing could have been better, De Laville," he said. "Your +English cousin is, indeed, full of resources. Better material than +this, for blocking up a narrow gateway, could hardly be contrived. +Fire, as it was proved, was of no avail against it, for it would be +impossible to dislodge the carcasses by main force; and even if +they had cannon, the balls would not have penetrated this thickness +of flesh, which must have been torn to pieces before it yielded. +The idea of covering the carcasses at the gates with their own raw +hides was an equally happy one.</p> +<p>"Upon my word, De la Noue, I do not think that, if you or I had +been in command here, we could have done better than these two +young fellows."</p> +<p>At three o'clock all was ready for a start. De la Noue took the +command of the two hundred horsemen. The Admiral declined to ride, +and placed himself at the head of the column of infantry, which was +three hundred strong; thirty of the original defenders having been +either killed or disabled, and twenty being left as a guard at the +chateau.</p> +<p>The surprise of the Catholics was complete. Three hundred were +killed. Two hundred, including their commander, De Brissac, and +thirty other gentlemen, were made prisoners. The remaining six +hundred escaped in the darkness; their arms, armour, and the whole +of the horses falling into the hands of the victors, who halted at +the village until morning.</p> +<p>"Well, De Brissac," the Count de la Noue said, as they started +on their return, "the times have changed since you and I fought +under your father in Italy; and we little thought, then, that some +day we should be fighting on opposite sides."</p> +<p>"Still less that I should be your prisoner, De la Noue," the +other laughed. "Well, we have made a nice business of this. We +thought to surprise De Laville's chateau, without having to strike +a blow; and that we were going to return to Poitiers with at least +a thousand head of cattle. We were horribly beaten at the chateau, +have now been surprised ourselves, and you are carrying off our +horses, to say nothing of ourselves. We marched out with eighteen +hundred men, horse and foot; and I don't think more than five or +six hundred, at the outside, have got away--and that in the +scantiest apparel.</p> +<p>"Anjou will be furious, when he hears the news. When I am +exchanged, I expect I shall be ordered to my estates. Had De +Laville some older heads to assist him?"</p> +<p>"No, he and that young cousin of his, riding next to him, acted +entirely by themselves; and the cousin, who is an English lad, is +the one who invented that barricade of bullocks that stopped +you."</p> +<p>"That was a rare device," De Brissac said. "I fought my way to +it, once, but there was no possibility of climbing it. It is rather +mortifying to my pride, to have been so completely beaten by the +device of a lad like that. He ought to make a great soldier, some +day, De la Noue."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch15" id="Ch15">Chapter 15</a>: The Battle Of +Jarnac.</h2> +<p>While the two armies were lying inactive through the winter, the +agents of both were endeavouring to interest other European powers +in the struggle. The pope and Philip of Spain assisted the Guises; +while the Duc de Deux-Ponts was preparing to lead an army to the +assistance of the Huguenots, from the Protestant states of Germany. +The Cardinal Chatillon was in England, eloquently supporting the +letters of the Queen of Navarre to Elizabeth, asking for aid and +munitions of war, men, and money--the latter being required, +especially, to fulfil the engagements made with the German +mercenaries.</p> +<p>Elizabeth listened favourably to these requests while, with her +usual duplicity, she gave the most solemn assurances to the court +of France that, so far from assisting the Huguenots, she held in +horror those who raised the standard of rebellion against their +sovereigns. She lent, however, 7000 pounds to the King of Navarre, +taking ample security in the way of jewels for the sum; and ordered +Admiral Winter to embark six cannons, three hundred barrels of +powder, and four thousand balls, and carry them to La Rochelle. The +admiral, well aware of the crooked policy of the queen, and her +readiness to sacrifice any of her subjects in order to justify +herself, absolutely refused to sail until he received an order +signed by the queen herself.</p> +<p>His caution was justified for, upon the French ambassador +remonstrating with her upon supplying the king's enemies, she +declared that the assistance was wholly involuntary; for that +Admiral Winter had entered the port of La Rochelle simply to +purchase wine, and other merchandise, for some ships that he was +convoying. The governor, however, had urged him so strongly to sell +to him some guns and ammunition that he, seeing that his ships were +commanded by the guns of the forts, felt himself obliged to comply +with the request. The court of France professed to be satisfied +with this statement, although perfectly aware of its absolute +untruth; but they did not wish, while engaged in the struggle with +the Huguenots, to be involved in open war with England.</p> +<p>As soon as spring commenced, both armies again prepared to take +the field. The position of the Huguenots was by no means so strong +as it had been, when winter set in. Considerable numbers had died +from disease; while large bodies had returned to their homes, the +nobles and citizens being alike unable to continue any longer in +the field, owing to the exhaustion of their resources. Upon the +other hand, although the army of Anjou had suffered equally from +disease, it had not been diminished by desertion, as the troops +were paid out of the royal treasury. Two thousand two hundred +German horsemen, a portion of the large force sent by the Catholic +princes of Germany, had joined him; and the Count de Tende had +brought 3000 soldiers from the south of France. Other nobles came +in, as the winter broke, with bodies of their retainers.</p> +<p>The southern Huguenot leaders, known as the Viscounts, remained +in Guyenne to protect the Protestant districts. The plan of Conde +and the Admiral was to effect a junction with them, and then to +march and meet the army of the Duc de Deux-Ponts. They therefore +left Niort, which had for some time been their headquarters, and +marched south towards Cognac; while the Duc d'Anjou moved in the +same direction.</p> +<p>Both armies reached the river Charente at the same time, but +upon opposite sides. The Royalists seized the town of Chateau Neuf, +halfway between Jarnac and Cognac; and set to work to repair the +bridge, which had been broken down by the Huguenots. Their main +army marched down to Cognac, and made a pretence of attacking the +town.</p> +<p>The Huguenots were spread over a long line; and the Admiral, +seeing the danger of being attacked while so scattered, sent to +Conde, who commanded the most advanced part of the army opposite +Chateau Neuf, begging him to retire. Conde, however, with his usual +rashness, declined to fall back; exclaiming that a Bourbon never +fled from a foe.</p> +<p>The troop of Francois de Laville was with a large body of horse, +commanded by the Count de la Noue. Life had passed quietly at the +chateau, after the repulse of the attack; for the occupation of +Niort by a large force, under the Admiral, secured Laville from any +risk of a repetition of the attack.</p> +<p>The garrison and the whole of the tenantry, after they had +erected huts for their families, devoted themselves to the work of +strengthening the defences. Flanking towers were erected at the +angles of the walls. The moat was doubled in width, and a work +erected beyond it, to guard the approach across the drawbridge. The +windows on the unprotected side were all partially closed with +brickwork, leaving only loopholes through which the defenders could +fire. The battlements of the wall were raised two feet and pierced +with loopholes, so that the defenders would no longer be obliged to +raise their heads above its shelter to fire; and the narrow path +was widened by the erection of a platform, so as to give more room +for the men to use their weapons.</p> +<p>A garrison, composed of fifty of the younger men on the farms, +took the place of the troop when it rode away.</p> +<p>Anjou had prepared several bridges, and suddenly crossed the +river on the night of the 12th of March; the movement being so well +managed that even the Huguenot divisions in the neighbourhood were +unaware, until morning, of what was taking place. As soon as the +Admiral was informed that the enemy had crossed in great force, +messengers were sent off in all directions, to order the scattered +divisions to concentrate.</p> +<p>The operation was a slow one. Discipline was lax, and many of +the commanders, instead of occupying the positions assigned to +them, had taken up others where better accommodation could be +obtained; and much time was lost before the orders reached them. +Even then their movements were slow, and it was afternoon before +those in the neighbourhood were assembled, and the Admiral prepared +to fall back towards the main body of the army, which lay near the +position occupied by Conde.</p> +<p>But before this could be done, the whole Royalist army were upon +him. He had taken part at Bassac, a little village with an abbey, +with but De la Noue's cavalry and a small number of infantry with +him; and though the latter fought desperately, they could not check +the advance of the enemy.</p> +<p>"This is worse than Saint Denis, Francois," De la Noue said, as +he prepared to charge a vastly superior body of the enemy's +cavalry, advancing against the village. "However, it must be done; +for unless Anjou's advance is checked, the battle will be lost +before Conde can arrive. You and your cousin had best put yourself +at the head of your own troop."</p> +<p>On reaching his men Francois gave the order:</p> +<p>"Now, my men, is the time to show that you have profited by your +drill. Keep in a solid body. Do not break up and engage in single +conflicts for, if you do, we must be overpowered by numbers. Ride +boot to boot. Keep your eyes fixed on our plumes and, when we turn, +do you turn also, and follow us closely."</p> +<p>When De la Noue's trumpet sounded the charge, the band of +horsemen burst down upon the Catholic cavalry, broke their ranks, +and pierced far into them. Francois and Philip were but a horse's +length ahead of their men, and the pressure of the enemy soon drove +them back into their ranks. Keeping in a close and compact body, +they fought their way on until Francois perceived that they were +separated from the rest of the force. Then he put the horn that he +wore slung over his shoulder to his lips, and gave the command to +wheel round. It was obeyed, and the line, which was four deep, +fought their way round until facing the rear; and then, putting +spurs to their horses, they overthrew all opposition and cleft +their way out through the enemy, and then galloped back to +Bassac.</p> +<p>The village was lost, and the defenders were falling back in +disorder upon D'Andelot; who, with his division, was just arriving +to their assistance. For a moment, the fugitive horse and foot +broke up his ranks. But he rallied his men and, advancing, drove +the Catholics out of the village and retook the abbey.</p> +<p>But as a whole army was opposed to him, the success was but +brief. After a desperate struggle the village was again lost, and +the Huguenots fell back, contesting every foot of the ground, along +a raised causeway.</p> +<p>The enemy were, however, fast outflanking them; and they were on +the point of destruction when Conde arrived, with three hundred +knights with whom he had ridden forward, leaving the infantry to +follow, as soon as Coligny's message for help had reached him.</p> +<p>He himself was in no condition for battle. His arm had been +broken by a cannon shot and, just as he reached the scene of +battle, his hip was fractured by the kick of a horse ridden by his +brother-in-law, La Rochefoucault. Nevertheless he did not hesitate +but, calling on his little band to follow him, rode full at a body +of eight hundred of the Catholic cavalry.</p> +<p>For a time the struggle was a desperate one. The Huguenots +performed prodigies of valour; but the Royalists were reinforced, +and the devoted band melted away. One Huguenot nobleman, named La +Vergne, fought surrounded by twenty-five of his kinsmen whom he +brought into the field. He himself, and fifteen of his followers, +fell in a circle. Most of the others were taken prisoners.</p> +<p>At last Conde's horse was killed under him and fell, pinning him +to the ground. Conde raised his visor, and surrendered to two +knights to whom he was known. They raised him from the ground +respectfully; but as they did so Montesquieu, captain of Anjou's +guards, rode up and, drawing a pistol, shot Conde in the back, +killing him almost instantaneously. Several other Huguenot nobles +were killed in cold blood, after they had surrendered.</p> +<p>But Conde's magnificent charge had not been without effect, for +it enabled the Admiral to draw off from the field, without further +loss. The accounts of the number of killed and wounded differ, but +numerically it was very small. The Huguenot infantry were not +engaged at all, with the exception of a small body of the regiment +of Plupiart. But of their cavalry nearly four hundred were killed +or taken prisoners, and of these a hundred and forty were nobles +and gentlemen, the flower of the Huguenot nobility. Among the +prisoners were La Noue, Soubise, La Loue, and many others of +distinction.</p> +<p>Coligny's retreat was not interfered with. The satisfaction of +the Catholics at the death of Conde was so great that they were +contented to rest upon their success. There were great rejoicings +throughout France, and the Catholic countries of Europe, over the +exaggerated accounts issued by Anjou of his victory; and it was +generally considered that the Huguenot cause was lost. However, out +of a hundred and twenty-eight troops of cavalry, only fifteen had +been engaged; and only six out of two hundred companies of +infantry.</p> +<p>The army retired to Cognac, where the brave Queen of Navarre at +once hurried, on hearing the intelligence, and herself addressed +the army; reminding them that though the Prince of Conde was dead, +the good cause was still alive, and that God would provide fresh +instruments for carrying on His work. She then hurried away to La +Rochelle, to make provision for the needs of the army.</p> +<p>The young Prince Henry was, at Conde's death, nominally placed +in command of the army as general-in-chief; and he was joined by +his cousin, the young Prince of Conde, a lad of about his own +age.</p> +<p>D'Anjou, one of the most despicable of the princes of France, +was so intoxicated by the success that he had gained that, for a +time, he made no effort to follow up his advantage. He disgraced +himself by having the body of Conde stripped and carried on a +donkey to Jarnac, and there exposed for four days by the house +where he lodged; while he occupied himself in writing vainglorious +despatches to all the Catholic kings and princes.</p> +<p>At last he moved forward to the siege of Cognac. Seven thousand +infantry, for the most part new levies, had been placed here by +Coligny; and these received the royal army with great +determination. Not only were the assaults upon the walls repulsed, +with heavy loss; but the garrison made many sallies and, after +wasting a month before the town, Anjou, despairing of its capture, +drew off the army, which had suffered heavier losses here than it +had done in the battle of Jarnac.</p> +<p>He then besieged Saint Jean d'Angely, where the garrison, +commanded by Count Montgomery, also repulsed all attacks. Angouleme +was attacked with an equal want of success; but Mucidan, a town to +the southwest of Perigueux, was captured. The attack upon it, +however, cost the life of De Brissac, one of his best officers--a +loss which Anjou avenged by the murder, in cold blood, of the +garrison; which surrendered on condition that life and property +should be spared.</p> +<p>As a set off to the success of the Huguenots, they suffered a +heavy blow in the death of the gallant D'Andelot, the Admiral's +brother--an officer of the highest ability, who had, before the +outbreak of the troubles, occupied the rank of colonel general of +the French infantry. His death was attributed by both parties to +poison, believed to have been administered by an emissary of +Catherine de Medici. The fact, however, was not clearly +established; and possibly he fell a victim to arduous and unceasing +toil and exertion.</p> +<p>Both Francois de Laville and Philip Fletcher had been severely +wounded in the battle of Jarnac, and some twenty of their troop had +fallen in the fight. They were able, however, to sit their horses +until they reached Cognac. The Admiral visited them, as soon as he +arrived there. He had noticed the little band, as it emerged +unbroken from the charge and, at once, ranged itself up to aid him +in retreating from the village of Bassac, until Conde's charge +enabled him to draw off. He praised the cousins highly for their +conduct and, as soon as they were able to be about again, he +bestowed on both the honour of knighthood; and then sent them to La +Rochelle, to remain there until perfectly cured.</p> +<p>The vacancies in the troop were filled up by young men from the +estate, who responded to the summons, of the countess, for men to +take the place of those who had fallen in her son's command.</p> +<p>The young Prince of Navarre had, while at Cognac, paid frequent +visits to Philip, for whom he had taken a great liking; and he +again begged Coligny to appoint him as one of the knights told off +as his special bodyguard. The Admiral, however, repeated the +arguments he had before used.</p> +<p>"He is very young, prince, though he has borne himself so well; +and it would create much jealousy among our young nobles, were I to +choose a foreigner for so honourable a post."</p> +<p>"But my councillors are all staid men, Admiral; and I want +someone I can talk to, without ceremony."</p> +<p>"There are plenty of young Frenchmen, prince. If you must choose +one, why not take the Count de Laville? You were saying, but +yesterday, that you liked him."</p> +<p>"Yes, he is something like his cousin. I think being together +has given him Philip's manner. If I cannot have Philip, I should +like to have him."</p> +<p>"He would doubtless feel it a great honour, prince; while I +doubt, were I to offer the post to the young Englishman, if he +would accept it. He has not come here to seek honour, but to fight +for our faith. I had a conversation with him, one day, and found +that it was with that simple purpose he came here; and however +honourable the post, I am sure he would prefer one that gave him +full opportunity for taking an active part.</p> +<p>"With De Laville it is different. He is a French noble; and +maybe, someday, you will be king of France. He is of a brave and +adventurous spirit; but methinks that the young Englishman has a +greater genius for war. His cousin, although older, I observe +generally appeals to him for his opinion; and has frankly and nobly +given him the chief credit, in the affairs in which he has been +engaged."</p> +<p>The Admiral was not mistaken. Francois, when asked if he would +like to be appointed as one of the gentlemen about the prince's +person, at once embraced the offer; which, as he saw, afforded him +great openings for advancement in the future. His only regret was +that it would separate him from Philip.</p> +<p>When he said as much to his cousin, on informing him of the +unexpected honour that had befallen him, Philip replied at +once:</p> +<p>"Do not think of that, Francois. I shall of course be sorry; but +I shall see you often, and you would be wrong to refuse such an +offer. The King of France has no children. His two brothers are +unmarried. Anjou is, from all accounts, reckless and dissolute; and +Alencon is sickly. They alone stand between Henry of Navarre and +the throne of France and, should he succeed to it, his intimates +will gain honours, rank, and possessions. There is not a young +noble but would feel honoured by being selected for the post.</p> +<p>"As for fighting, no one can say how long these troubles may +last; and I am greatly mistaken if those round Henry of Navarre, +when he reaches manhood, will not have their full share of it."</p> +<p>Therefore, when the two newly-made young knights went to La +Rochelle, for quiet and sea air, it was with the understanding +that, as soon as their strength was thoroughly recovered, Francois +should resign the command of the troop to Philip, and would himself +ride with the Prince of Navarre and his cousin Conde. Francois had +at once written to his mother, with the news of his appointment +and, a few days after they reached La Rochelle, received an answer +expressing her gratification.</p> +<p>"I rejoice," she said, "not only because it is a post of high +honour, but because it will take you somewhat out of the heat of +the fray. I have not hesitated to let you risk your life in the +cause; but you are my only son and, were you slain, I should be +alone in the world; and the title would go to one of your cousins, +for whom I care nothing; and it will be a comfort for me to know, +in the future, you will not be running such fearful risks."</p> +<p>At La Rochelle they took up their abode at Maitre Bertram's, and +were most kindly received by him and his daughter.</p> +<p>"It is but two years since you landed here with madame, your +mother, Monsieur Fletcher. You were but a stripling then, though +you gave wonderful promise of size and strength. Now you are a man, +and have won the honour of knighthood; and methinks that, in thew +and sinew, there are not many in our army who would overmatch +you."</p> +<p>"Oh, yes, there are, Maitre Bertram," Philip laughed. "I have a +big frame like my father's, I will admit; and to look at, it may be +as you say; but I shall want many another year over my head, before +my strength matches my size. I am but just eighteen, and men do not +come to their full strength till they are five-and-twenty."</p> +<p>"You are strong enough for anything, now," the merchant said; +"and I should not like to stand a downright blow from you, in the +best suit of armour ever forged.</p> +<p>"I was glad to see that rascal Pierre come back with you. He is +a merry fellow, though I fear that he causes idleness among my +servants, for all the grave looks he puts on as he waits on you at +dinner. Is he valiant?"</p> +<p>"He has had no great opportunity of showing valour," Philip +replied; "but he is cool, and not easily ruffled, and he fought +stoutly in the defence of the Count de Laville's chateau; but of +course, it is not his business to ride behind me in battle."</p> +<p>Philip had corresponded regularly with his parents, and had +received letters in reply from them, and also from his uncle and +aunt; though these of course came irregularly, as ships happened to +be sailing for La Rochelle. His father wrote but briefly, but his +letters expressed satisfaction.</p> +<p>"I am right glad," he said, "to think that a Fletcher is again +cracking the skulls of Frenchmen--I mean, of course, of Catholic +Frenchmen--for I regard the Huguenots, being of our religion, as +half English. I don't say take care of yourself, my lad--it is not +the way of Englishmen to do that, on the battlefield--but it would +be a grievous day for us all, here, if we heard that aught had +befallen you."</p> +<p>The letters of his mother and aunt were of a different +character, and dwelt strongly upon the sacred cause upon which he +was engaged; and both rejoiced greatly over the number of Huguenots +he and Francois had rescued, round Niort.</p> +<p>His uncle's letters were more worldly.</p> +<p>"Your aunt's letters to my wife," he said, "speak very warmly in +praise of you. She said you have distinguished yourself highly, +that you have attracted the attention of the Prince of Conde and +the Admiral, have rendered service to the Queen of Navarre and her +son, and have received tokens of their esteem; also that you stand +high in the regard of the Count de la Noue, who is in all respects +a most accomplished gentleman; and that he has told her that he +hopes, before long, you will receive the honour of knighthood. +Worldly honours, Philip, are not to be despised, especially when +they are won by worthy service; although I know that my wife and +your mother think but lightly of them, and that it is the fashion +of those of our faith to treat them with contempt. Such is not my +opinion. I am gratified to think that the money I have made in +trade will descend to one of whom I can be proud; and who, in this +country, may occupy the position that his ancestors on his mother's +side did in my own; and to me it will be a matter of extreme +gratification if I hear that you have won your spurs, especially at +the hand of so great a leader, and so worthy a one, as Admiral +Coligny. I promise you that there shall be feasting among the poor +of Canterbury, on the day when the news comes.</p> +<p>"Of late you have drawn but slightly upon me for, as you say, +you have few expenses save the pay of your five men, when staying +at Laville; but do not stint money, should there be an +occasion."</p> +<p>Upon rejoining the camp, Philip found the time hang somewhat +heavily upon his hands. Francois was necessarily much with the +prince. Captain Montpace looked after the troop, and the Count de +la Noue was in captivity. A few days after he rejoined, however, +one of the Admiral's pages came to his tent, and requested him to +call upon Coligny.</p> +<p>"The camp will break up tomorrow, Chevalier Fletcher," the +latter said. "We are going down to join the Viscounts, and then +march to effect a junction with the Duc de Deux-Ponts, who we hear +has now fairly set out on his forward march. I wish to send a +despatch to him, and I know no one to whom I could better intrust +it than yourself. It is a mission of honour, but of danger. +However, you have already exhibited such tact and discretion, as +well as bravery, that I believe if anyone can reach the duke, +through the two royal armies that are trying to intercept him, you +can do so. Will you undertake the mission?"</p> +<p>"I am greatly honoured by your intrusting me with it, sir, and +will assuredly do my best."</p> +<p>"I do not propose that you should travel in disguise," the +Admiral said, "for disguise means slow motion, and there is need +for despatch. Therefore, I should say, take a small body of +well-mounted men with you, and ride as speedily as you can. How +many to take, I leave to your discretion. The despatches will be +ready for you, by ten o'clock tonight."</p> +<p>"I shall be ready to start at that hour, sir," and Philip +returned to his tent.</p> +<p>After sitting thinking for a few minutes he called to Pierre, +who was sitting outside.</p> +<p>"Pierre, I want your advice. I am about to start on a journey to +the east of France. I do not go this time in disguise, but ride +straight through. What think you? How many men shall I take with +me--one, or fifty?"</p> +<p>"Not fifty, certainly," Pierre said promptly. "There is mighty +trouble in feeding fifty men. Besides, you may have to pass as a +Royalist, and who can answer for the discretion of so many? +Besides, if we have to turn and double, there is no hiding fifty +men. If you ride through the smallest village at midnight, the +noise would wake the inhabitants; and when the enemy came up, they +would get news of your passage.</p> +<p>"I do not see that you can do better than take Eustace and Roger +and myself. Henri will not be fit to ride for weeks, yet; and +although Jacques is recovering from the loss of his bridle arm, you +settled that he was to go to Laville, where the countess would take +him into her service. Jarnac lessened your force by half; but I +think that two will be as good as four, on a journey like this. +Such a party can pass unnoticed. It is but a gentleman, with two +retainers behind him, from a neighbouring chateau."</p> +<p>"That is what I concluded myself, Pierre; but I thought I would +ask your opinion about it, for you have shown yourself a shrewd +fellow.</p> +<p>"All your horses are in good condition, and it is well that I +exchanged those you rode before, for some of the best of the three +hundred we captured from the assailants of the chateau. Of course, +you will ride one of my horses; changing the saddle every day, as +your weight is so much less than mine.</p> +<p>"I shall not take armour with me. The extra weight tells +heavily, on a long journey; and besides, a knight in full armour +would attract more attention than one riding, as it would seem, for +pleasure.</p> +<p>"Let Eustace and Roger pick the two best horses."</p> +<p>"When do we start, sir?"</p> +<p>"We must be saddled, and ready to start, by ten tonight. See +that a bottle of wine, a cold fowl, and a portion of bread for each +are brought along with us. We shall have a long night's ride.</p> +<p>"We will carry no valises. They add to the weight, and look like +travelling. Let each man make a small canvas bag, and place in it a +change of linen. It can be rolled up in the cloak, and strapped +behind the saddle. A dozen charges, for each pistol, will be more +than we shall be likely to require. Tell them to take no more. They +must take their breast pieces and steel caps, of course. They can +leave the back pieces behind them.</p> +<p>"I will go round to the hospital, and say goodbye to Henri and +Jacques. They will feel being left behind, sorely."</p> +<p>After visiting his wounded followers, he went to the house +occupied by the Prince of Navarre, where Francois also was +lodged.</p> +<p>"So I hear you are off again, Philip," the latter said; as his +cousin entered the salon where two or three of the prince's +companions were sitting. "I should feel envious of you, were it not +that we also are on the point of starting."</p> +<p>"How did you know I was going off, Francois?"</p> +<p>"The prince told me, half an hour since. He heard it from the +Admiral. He told me he wished he was going with you, instead of +with the army. He is always thirsting after adventure. He bade me +bring you in to him, if you came. I said you would be sure to do +so. It was useless my going out to look for you, as I could not +tell what you might have to do before starting."</p> +<p>The young prince threw aside the book he was reading, when they +entered.</p> +<p>"Ah, monsieur the Englishman," he said; "so you are off again, +like a veritable knight-errant of romance, in search of fresh +adventure."</p> +<p>"No, sir, my search will be to avoid adventure."</p> +<p>"Ah, well, you are sure to find some, whether or not. Sapristie, +but it is annoying to be born a prince."</p> +<p>"It has its advantages also, sir," Philip said, smiling.</p> +<p>The prince laughed merrily.</p> +<p>"So I suppose; but for my part, I have not discovered them, as +yet. I must hope for the future; but it appears to me, now, that it +can never be pleasant. One is obliged to do this, that, and the +other because one is a prince. One always has to have one's head +full of politics, to listen gravely to stupidities, to put up with +tiresome people, and never to have one's own way in anything. +However, I suppose my turn will come; but at present, I would +rather be hunting the wild goats in Navarre than pretending to be +general-in-chief of an army, when everyone knows that I am not even +as free to go my own way as a common soldier.</p> +<p>"I shall look to see you again, Chevalier Philip; and shall +expect you to have some more good stories to tell me."</p> +<p>Having handed him his despatches, the Admiral pointed out to him +the position, as far as he knew by recent report, of the forces +under the Dukes of Aumale and Nemours.</p> +<p>"Possibly there will be other enemies," the Admiral said; "for +our friends in Paris have sent me word that the Spanish ambassador +has, at the king's request, written to beg the Duke of Alva, and +Mansfeld, governor of Luxembourg, to send troops to aid in barring +the way to the Duc de Deux-Ponts. I hope Alva has his hands full +with his own troubles, in the Netherlands; and although Spain is +always lavish of promises, it gives but little real aid to the +king.</p> +<p>"Then again, on the road you may meet with bands of German +mercenaries, sent by the Catholic princes to join the royal forces. +As you see, the despatches are written small and, at your first +halt, it will be well if you sew them in the lining of your boot. +They will escape observation there, however closely you may be +searched; for they are but of little bulk, and I have written them +on the softest paper I could obtain, so that it will not crackle to +the touch.</p> +<p>"I leave it to yourself to choose the route; but I think that +you could not do better than take that one you before followed, +when you and Laville joined me at Chatillon. Thence keep well south +through Lorraine. The royal forces are at Metz. I can give you no +farther instructions; for I cannot say how rapidly Deux-Ponts may +move, or what route he may be obliged to take, to avoid the royal +forces.</p> +<p>"And now farewell, lad. Remember that it is an important service +you are rendering to our cause, and that much depends on your +reaching Deux-Ponts; for the despatches tell him the route by which +I intend to move, indicate that which he had best follow in order +that he may effect a junction, and give him many details as to +roads, fords, and bridges, that may be of vital importance to +him."</p> +<p>Philip rode forty miles that night; and put up, just as daylight +was breaking, at the village of Auverge. There they rested for six +hours, and then rode on to Laville; where he was received with +great joy by his aunt, for whom he bore a letter from Francois. +After halting here for a few hours, they continued their +journey.</p> +<p>So far they had been riding through a friendly country, but had +now to travel with due precautions; journeying fast, and yet taking +care that the horses should not be overworked, as sudden occasion +might arise for speed or endurance; and as the journey was some +eight hundred miles long, it behoved him to carefully husband the +strength of the animals.</p> +<p>After riding another fifteen miles, they stopped for the night +at a village, as Philip intended to journey by day; for his arrival +at inns, early in the morning, would excite comment. The three men +had been carefully instructed in the story they were to tell, at +the inns where they halted. Their master was Monsieur de Vibourg, +whose estate lay near the place at which they halted on the +preceding night; and who was going for a short visit, to friends, +at the next town at which they would arrive. If questioned as to +his politics, they were to say that he held aloof from the matter, +for he considered that undue violence was exercised towards the +Huguenots; who, he believed, if permitted to worship in their own +way, would be good and harmless citizens.</p> +<p>So day by day they journeyed along, avoiding all large towns, +and riding quietly through small ones, where their appearance +attracted no attention whatever. On the fourth day when, as usual, +they had halted to dine and give their horses a couple of hours' +rest, Philip heard the trampling of horses outside the inn. Going +to the window he saw two gentlemen, with eight armed retainers, +dismounting at the door. The gentlemen wore the Royalist colours. +At the same moment, Pierre came into the room.</p> +<p>"I have told Eustace and Roger to finish their meal quickly, and +then to get the horses saddled; to mount, and take ours quietly to +the end of the village, and wait for us there, sir; so that if +there should be trouble, we have but to leap through the casement, +and make a short run of it."</p> +<p>"That is very well done, Pierre," Philip said; reseating himself +at the table, while Pierre took his place behind his chair, as if +waiting upon him.</p> +<p>The door opened, and the two gentlemen entered. They did not, as +usual, remove their hats; but seated themselves at a table, and +began talking noisily. Presently one made a remark in a low tone to +the other, who turned round in his chair, and stared offensively at +Philip. The latter continued his meal, without paying any attention +to him.</p> +<p>"And who may you be, young sir?" the man said, rising and +walking across the room.</p> +<p>"I am not in the habit of answering questions addressed to me by +strangers," Philip said quietly.</p> +<p>"Parbleu, custom or no custom, you have to answer them, now. +This is not a time when men can go about unquestioned. You do not +wear the Royalist colours, and I demand to know who you are."</p> +<p>"I would wear the Royalist colours, if I were on the way to join +the Royalist army," Philip replied calmly; "as at present I am not +doing so, but am simply travelling as a private gentleman, I see no +occasion for putting on badges."</p> +<p>"You have not answered my question. Who are you?"</p> +<p>"I do not intend to answer the question. My name is a matter +which concerns myself only."</p> +<p>"You insolent young knave," the man said angrily, "I will crop +your ears for you."</p> +<p>Philip rose from the table; and the other was, for a moment, +surprised at the height and proportions of one whom he had taken +for a mere lad.</p> +<p>"I desire to have no words with you," Philip said. "Eat your +dinner in peace, and let me eat mine; for if it comes to cutting +off ears, you may find that you had better have left the matter +alone."</p> +<a id="PicG" name="PicG"></a> +<center><img src="images/g.jpg" alt= +"Philip struck him full in the face." /></center> +<p>The gentleman put his hand to the hilt of his sword, and was in +the act of drawing it when Philip, making a step forward, struck +him full in the face with all his strength, knocking him backwards +to the ground. His companion leapt from his seat, drawing a pistol +from his belt as he did so; when Pierre sent a plate skimming +across the room with great force. It struck the man in the mouth, +cutting his lips and knocking out some of his front teeth. The +pistol exploded harmlessly in the air, while the sudden shock and +pain staggered and silenced him; and before he could recover +sufficiently to draw his sword or to shout, Philip and Pierre +leaped through the open casement, and ran down the street.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch16" id="Ch16">Chapter 16</a>: A Huguenot Prayer +Meeting.</h2> +<p>"That was a good shot, Pierre," Philip said, as they ran; "and +has probably saved my life."</p> +<p>"I am accustomed to throw straight, sir. My dinner has +frequently depended on my knocking down a bird with a stone, and it +was not often that I had to go without it.</p> +<p>"They are making a rare hubbub, back at the inn."</p> +<p>Loud shouts were heard behind them.</p> +<p>"We have plenty of time," Philip said, as he moderated the pace +at which they had started. "The men will be confused at first, +knowing nothing of what it all means. Then they will have to get +the horses out of the stables."</p> +<p>"And then they will have trouble," Pierre added.</p> +<p>"What trouble, Pierre?"</p> +<p>"I gave a hint to Eustace," Pierre said with a laugh, "that it +would be just as well, before he mounted, to cut off all the +bridles at the rings. A nice way they will be in, when they go to +mount!"</p> +<p>"Did you cut their bridles for them, Eustace?" he asked, as they +came up to the others.</p> +<p>"Ay, and their stirrup leathers, too, Pierre."</p> +<p>"Good, indeed!" Philip exclaimed. "Without bridles or stirrup +leathers, they can scarce make a start; and it will take them some +minutes to patch them up. We will ride hard for a bit. That will +put us far enough ahead to be able to take any byroad, and throw +them off our traces. I have no fear of their catching us by +straight riding. The masters' horses may be as good as ours, but +those of the men can hardly be so. Still, they might come up to us +wherever we halted for the night."</p> +<p>They looked back, when they were some two miles from the +village, and along the long straight road could make out some +figures that they doubted not were horsemen, just starting in +pursuit.</p> +<p>"They waited to mend their leathers," Pierre remarked.</p> +<p>"They were right, there," Philip said; "for a man can fight but +poorly, without bridle or stirrups. The horses will not have been +fed, so we have an advantage there. I do not think we need trouble +ourselves much more about them."</p> +<p>"There is one thing, sir. They won't mind foundering their +horses, and we have to be careful of ours."</p> +<p>"That is so, Pierre; and besides, at the first place they come +to, they may send others on in pursuit with fresh horses. No, we +must throw them off our track as soon as we can. There is a wood, a +mile or so ahead; we will leave the road there."</p> +<p>They were riding on the margin of turf, bordering the road on +either side, so as to avoid the dust that lay thick and white upon +it; and they held on at an easy canter, till they reached the +trees. Then, at Philip's order, they scattered and went at a walk; +so as to avoid leaving marks that could be seen, at once, by anyone +following them. A couple of hundred yards farther, they came upon a +stream running through a wood. It was but a few inches deep.</p> +<p>"This will do for us," Philip said. "Now, follow me in single +file, and see that your horses step always in the water."</p> +<p>He led them across the road, and on for half a mile. Then they +left the stream and, soon afterwards, emerged from the wood and +struck across the country.</p> +<p>"I should think they will have had pretty well enough of it, by +the time they get to the wood," Philip said; "and at any rate, will +lose a lot of time there. They will trace our tracks to the edge of +the stream, and will naturally suppose that we will follow it up, +as we struck it on the other side of the road. It is like enough +they will be half an hour searching, before they find where we left +the stream; and will know well enough, then, it will be hopeless +trying to catch us."</p> +<p>"They saw we had good horses," Eustace said; "for as we led them +out, one of them made the remark that they were as good looking a +lot of horses as you would often see together. No doubt, at first, +their leaders were so furious that they thought of nothing but +mending the leathers and getting off; but when they get a check, in +the wood, it is probable that someone will venture to tell them how +well we are mounted, and that pursuit will be hopeless."</p> +<p>"Nevertheless, I think they will pursue, Monsieur Philip," +Pierre said. "They did not look like men who would swallow an +injury, and think no more of it. As long as there remains a single +chance of discovering you, they will not give up pursuit. Of +course, they have no reason for suspicion that you are anything but +what you seem to be, a gentleman of the neighbourhood; and will +consider that, at one or other of the towns or villages ahead of +us, they are sure to hear of our passing through, and perhaps to +learn who you are and where you reside. Doubtless they asked at the +inn, before starting, whether you were known; and as soon as they +find they are not likely to catch us by hard riding, they will make +straight forward, dividing into several parties at the next place +they come to, and scattering in order to obtain news of us."</p> +<p>"Which they will not get," Philip said, "as we will take good +care to avoid passing through villages. For tonight we will sleep +in the woods, as the weather is warm and pleasant."</p> +<p>After riding another fifteen miles, they halted in a wood. They +always carried some food and wine with them, as circumstances might +at any time arise that would render it imprudent for them to put up +at an inn; and each also carried a feed of corn for his horse.</p> +<p>Leaving Pierre to unsaddle and rub down his horse, Philip walked +to the farther edge of the wood, to view the country beyond. They +were, he knew, not far from La Chatre; and he was not surprised to +see the town, lying in a valley, to which the ground sloped down +from the wood. It was about a mile and a half distant. Nearer the +wood, but half a mile to the west, the towers of a fortified +chateau rose from a clump of trees. The country was rich and well +cultivated, and everything had an aspect of peace and comfort.</p> +<p>"What a hideous thing it is," Philip said to himself, "that in +so fair a country people cannot live in peace together; and should +fly at each other's throats, simply because they cannot agree that +each shall worship God after his own fashion! It might be +Canterbury, with the hills rising round it and the little river, +save that it lacks the cathedral rising over it; and yet, I doubt +not there are many there who live in daily peril of their lives, +for there is not a town in France that has not its share of +Huguenots, and they can never tell when the storm of popular fury +may burst upon them."</p> +<p>The shades of evening were beginning to fall, when he rejoined +his companions. They had already rubbed down their horses and +replaced the saddles, and the animals were contentedly eating their +corn.</p> +<p>"They look well," Philip said, as he walked from one to the +other.</p> +<p>"Yes, sir, they are none the worse for their travel so far, and +could carry us on a hard race for our lives. Shall we light a +fire?"</p> +<p>"I do not think it is worth while, Eustace. The evening is warm, +and we shall be off at daybreak. Someone passing through the wood +might see the flames, and carry the news down to La Chatre, which +is but a mile and a half away; and it is quite possible that those +fellows we had to do with today may be there, if they are +travelling the same way that we are, and may consider it likely we +shall halt there for the night. At any rate, as we do not need the +fire, we will run no risks."</p> +<p>They ate their supper and, an hour later, wrapped themselves in +their cloaks and lay down. Philip was just dropping off to sleep, +when Pierre touched him. He sat up with a start.</p> +<p>"There are some people in the wood," Pierre said.</p> +<p>Philip was wide awake now, and the sound of singing, at no great +distance, came to his ears.</p> +<p>"It is a Huguenot hymn," he exclaimed. "There must be a meeting +in the wood. No doubt it is some of the people from the town, who +have come out to hold a secret meeting here. I will go and see +it.</p> +<p>"Come with me, Pierre. We will go very quietly, for it would +scare them terribly, did they hear anyone approaching."</p> +<p>Making their way noiselessly through the wood they came, after +walking about three hundred yards, to the edge of an open space +among the trees, where they halted. In the centre they could see, +in the moonlight, a body of some seventy or eighty people gathered. +Standing upon the trunk of a fallen tree was a minister who was +addressing them.</p> +<p>"My brethren," he was saying, when they could catch his words, +"this is the last time we shall meet here. We know that suspicions +have already arisen that we are holding meetings, and that we do so +at the peril of our lives. The search for me has been hot, for some +days; and though I am willing enough to give my life in the cause +of our Lord, I would not bring destruction upon you, at the present +moment. Were the prospects hopeless, I should say, 'let us continue +together here, till the last;' but the sky is clearing, and it may +be that, ere long, freedom of worship may be proclaimed throughout +France. Therefore it is better that, for a time, we should abstain +from gathering ourselves together. Even now, the persecutors may be +on our track."</p> +<p>"Pierre," Philip whispered, "do you go over in that direction, +until you come to the edge of the wood. If you see any signs of men +moving about, run quickly to the others, and bring the horses up +here."</p> +<p>"I had better go back there first, had I not, Monsieur Philip, +and bring the men and horses along with me to the edge of the wood? +For I might lose a quarter of an hour in searching for them."</p> +<p>"That would be the best plan, Pierre. Should you hear a sudden +noise here, hurry in this direction, and I will come to meet you. +It may well be that, guessing the Huguenots would place someone on +watch towards the town, the Catholics may, if they come, approach +from the other side. Should you see anyone coming, give a loud +shout, at once. It will act as a warning to these people, and +enable them to scatter and fly, before their foes arrive."</p> +<p>For an hour the preacher continued to address his hearers, +exhorting them to stand firm in the faith, and to await with +patience the coming of better days. They were not more than twenty +paces away from the spot where Philip was standing, and in the +moonlight he could clearly see the faces of the assembly, for the +preacher was standing with his back to him. From their dress, he +judged that most of them belonged to the poorer classes; though +three or four were evidently bourgeois of the well-to-do class.</p> +<p>Seated on the trunk on which the preacher was standing, and +looking up at him so that her profile was clearly visible to +Philip, sat a young girl, whose face struck Philip as of singular +beauty. The hood of the cloak in which she was wrapped had fallen +back from her head, and her hair looked golden in the moonlight. +She was listening with rapt attention. The moonlight glistened on a +brooch, which held the cloak together at her throat. A young woman +stood by her; and a man, in steel cap and with a sword at his side, +stood a pace behind her. Philip judged that she belonged to a rank +considerably above that of the rest of the gathering.</p> +<p>When the address had concluded, the preacher began a hymn in +which all joined. Just as they began, Philip heard the crack of a +stick among the trees. It was not on the side from which Pierre +would be coming. He listened attentively, but the singing was so +loud that he could hear nothing; except that once a clash, such as +would be made by a scabbard or piece of armour striking against a +bough, came to his ears.</p> +<p>Suddenly he heard a shout.</p> +<p>"That is Pierre!" he exclaimed to himself, and ran forward into +the circle.</p> +<p>There was a cry of alarm, and the singing suddenly stopped.</p> +<p>"I am a friend," he exclaimed. "I have come to warn you of +danger. There are men coming in this direction from the town."</p> +<p>"My brethren, we will separate," the minister said calmly. "But +first, I will pronounce the benediction."</p> +<p>This he did solemnly, and then said:</p> +<p>"Now, let all make through the wood and, issuing from the other +side, return by a circuit to the town.</p> +<p>"Mademoiselle Claire, I will accompany you to the chateau."</p> +<p>At this moment Philip heard horses approaching.</p> +<p>"This way, Pierre," he shouted, and ran to meet them.</p> +<p>Fifty yards away he came upon them, and leapt into his +saddle.</p> +<p>"See to your weapons, lads," he said. "I believe there are +others in the wood already."</p> +<p>He was within twenty yards of the clearing when he heard a +sudden shout of:</p> +<p>"Down with the Huguenot dogs! Kill! Kill!"</p> +<p>He dashed forward, followed by his men. A mob of armed men, +headed by two or three horsemen, had burst from the opposite side +of the glade and were rushing upon the Huguenots, who had just +broken up into small groups.</p> +<p>They stood, as if paralysed, at this sudden attack. No cry or +scream broke from the women. Most of these threw themselves upon +their knees. A few of the men followed their example, and prepared +to die unresistingly. Some sprang away among the trees, and above +the din the preacher's voice was heard commencing a Huguenot hymn +beginning, "The gates of heaven are opened;" in which, without a +moment's hesitation, those who remained around him joined.</p> +<p>In a moment, with savage shouts and yells, their assailants were +upon them, smiting and thrusting. With a shout, Philip spurred +forward from the other side. He saw at once that, against such +numbers, he and his three followers could do nothing; but his rage +at this massacre of innocent people--a scene common enough in +France, but which he now for the first time witnessed--half +maddened him.</p> +<p>One of the horsemen, whom he recognized at once as the man +Pierre had knocked down with the plate, rode at the girl Philip had +been watching; and who was standing, with upturned face, joining in +the hymn. The man attending her drew his sword, and placed himself +in the way of the horseman; but the latter cut him down, and raised +the sword to strike full at the girl, when Philip shot him through +the head.</p> +<p>Instantly another horseman, with a shout of recognition, rode at +him. Philip thrust his still smoking pistol in his holster, and +drew his sword.</p> +<p>"This is more than I hoped for," his assailant said, as he dealt +a sweeping blow at him.</p> +<p>"Do not congratulate yourself too soon," Philip replied, as he +guarded the blow and, lunging in return, the point glided off his +adversary's armour.</p> +<p>He parried again; and then, with a back-handed sweep, he struck +his opponent on the neck with his whole force. Coming out to take +part in a Huguenot hunt, in which he expected no opposition, the +knight had left his helmet behind him; and fell from his horse, +with his head half severed from his body.</p> +<p>In the meantime the two men-at-arms and Pierre had driven back +the mob of townsmen; who, however, having massacred most of the +unresisting Huguenots, were surging up round them.</p> +<p>"Give me your hand, mademoiselle, and put your foot on mine," +Philip exclaimed to the girl, who was still standing close to +him.</p> +<p>"Pierre," he shouted as, bewildered by the uproar, the girl +instinctively obeyed the order, "take this woman up behind +you."</p> +<p>Pierre made his horse plunge, and so freed himself from those +attacking him. Then, reining round, he rode to Philip's side, and +helped the companion of the young lady to the croup of his saddle; +Philip dashing forward, to free his two followers from their +numerous assailants.</p> +<p>"To the left, Eustace;" and, cutting their way through the +crowd, the three horsemen freed themselves and, as they dashed off, +were joined by Pierre.</p> +<p>"We must work back by the way we came, Monsieur Philip," Pierre +said. "There is another body coming up in front, to cut off +fugitives; and that was why I shouted to you."</p> +<p>In a minute or two they were out of the wood. Men were seen +running across the fields, but these they easily avoided.</p> +<p>"Now turn again, and make straight for La Chatre," Philip said. +"We can cross the bridge, and ride through the place without +danger. Those who would have interfered with us are all behind +us."</p> +<p>As he had expected, the place was perfectly quiet. The better +class of the bourgeois were all asleep, either ignorant or +disapproving of the action of the mob. As soon as they were through +the town, Philip checked the speed of his horse.</p> +<p>"Mademoiselle," he said, "I am as yet in ignorance of your name. +I am the Chevalier Philip Fletcher, an English gentleman fighting +for the cause of the reformed religion, under Admiral Coligny. I am +on my way east, with important despatches; and I was bivouacking +with my three followers in the wood, when I was attracted by the +singing.</p> +<p>"Judging, from the words of the minister, that there was danger +of an attack, I put one of my men on the watch; while I myself +remained in the wood by your meeting place. Unfortunately, the +sound of the last hymn you sang drowned the noise made by the party +that assailed you. However, happily we were in time to save you and +your servant; and our sudden appearance doubtless enabled many to +escape, who would otherwise have been massacred."</p> +<p>The girl had burst into a fit of sobbing, as soon as the danger +was over; but she had now recovered.</p> +<p>"My name is Claire de Valecourt, monsieur," she said. "My father +is with the Admiral. He will be deeply grateful to you for saving +my life."</p> +<p>"I have the honour of knowing the Count de Valecourt, +mademoiselle; and am glad, indeed, that I have been able to be of +service to his daughter. The count is one of the gentlemen who act +as guardians to the Prince of Navarre, whom I have also the honour +of knowing.</p> +<p>"And now, what are your wishes? It is not too late even now, +should you desire it, for me to take you back to the chateau."</p> +<p>"I should be defenceless there, sir," she said. "There are but a +score of men-at-arms and, though formerly a place of some strength, +it could not be defended now. See, sir, it is too late +already."</p> +<p>Philip looked round, and saw a bright light suddenly rising from +the clump of trees on which the chateau stood. He gave an +exclamation of anger.</p> +<p>"It cannot be helped," she said quietly. "It is but a small +place. It was part of my mother's dower. Our estates, you know, are +in Provence. My father thought I should be safer, here, than +remaining there alone while he was away. We have always been on +good terms with the townspeople here, and they did not interfere +with those of our religion during the last war; so we thought that +it would be the same now. But of late some people have been here, +stirring up the townsmen; and some travelling friars preached in +the marketplace, not long since, upbraiding the people with their +slackness in not rooting us out altogether.</p> +<p>"A month ago, one of the persecuted ministers came to the +chateau at night, and has been concealed there since. Seeing that +there will be no minister here for some time, word was sent round +secretly, to those of our religion in the town, and twice a week we +have had meetings in the wood. Many of the servants of the chateau +are Catholics, and of the men-at-arms, the majority are not of our +faith. Therefore I used to steal out quietly with my attendant. We +heard, two days ago, that a rumour of the meetings had got about; +and tonight's was to have been the last of them."</p> +<p>"And now, mademoiselle, what are your wishes? Have you any +friends with whom I could place you, until you could rejoin your +father?"</p> +<p>"None near here, monsieur. I have always lived in the +south."</p> +<p>"I should not have taken you for a lady of Provence," Philip +said. "Your hair is fair, and you have rather the appearance of one +of my own countrywomen, than of one born in the south of +France."</p> +<p>"I am partly of northern blood," she said. "My mother was the +daughter of Sir Allan Ramsay, a Scottish gentleman who took service +in France, being driven from home by the feuds that prevailed +there. I knew but little about her, for she died when I was a +child; and my father, who loved her greatly, seldom speaks to me of +her."</p> +<p>Philip rode for some time in silence.</p> +<p>"I feel that I am a terrible burden on your hands, monsieur," +she said quietly, at last; "but I will do anything that you think +best. If you set us down, we will try and find refuge in some +peasant's hut; or we can dress ourselves as countrywomen, and try +to make our way westward to La Rochelle."</p> +<p>"That is not to be thought of," he replied gravely. "Were it not +that my despatches may not be delayed, without great danger to our +cause, the matter would be of no inconvenience; but we must ride +fast and far. As to leaving you to shift for yourselves, it is +impossible; but if we could find a Huguenot family with whom I +could place you, it would be different. But unfortunately, we are +all strangers to the country."</p> +<p>"I can ride well," the girl said, "and if horses could be +procured would, with my maid, try to reach La Rochelle; travelling +by night, and hiding in the woods by day. We could carry food with +us, so as not to have to enter any place to purchase it."</p> +<p>Philip shook his head.</p> +<p>"We will halt at yonder clump of trees," he said. "It is not yet +midnight, and then we can talk the matter over further."</p> +<p>As soon as they halted, he unrolled his cloak.</p> +<p>"Do you, mademoiselle, and your attendant lie down here. We +shall be but a short distance away, and two of us will keep watch; +therefore you can sleep without fear of surprise."</p> +<p>"This is an unfortunate business, Pierre," he said, after the +latter had fastened the horses to the trees.</p> +<p>"I can understand that, monsieur. I have been talking to the +maid, and it seems that they have no friends in these parts."</p> +<p>"That is just it, Pierre. One thing is certain--they cannot ride +on with us. We must journey as fast as possible, and delicate women +could not support the fatigue; even were it seemly that a young +lady, of good family, should be galloping all over France with a +young man like myself."</p> +<p>"I should not trouble about that, monsieur. At ordinary times, +doubtless, it would cause a scandal; but in days like these, when +in all parts of France there are women and children hiding from the +persecution, or fleeing for their lives, one cannot stand upon +niceties. But doubtless, as you say, they would hinder our speed +and add to our dangers."</p> +<p>"I see but two plans, Pierre. The one is that they should +journey to La Rochelle, in charge of yourself and Eustace. We have +now twice crossed the country without difficulty and, as there +would be no need of especial speed, you could journey quietly; +choosing quiet and lonely places for your halts, such as +farmhouses, or groups of two or three cottages where there is a +tiny inn."</p> +<p>"What is your other plan, sir?"</p> +<p>"The other plan is that you should start forward at once, so as +to enter Saint Amboise early. Stable your horse at an inn; and +order rooms, saying that you are expecting your master and a party, +who are on their way to join the army. You might also order a meal +to be cooked. Then you could enter into conversation with stablemen +and others, and find out whether there are any castles in the +neighbourhood held for us by Huguenot lords, or by their wives in +their absence. If not, if there are any Huguenot villages. In fact, +try and discover some place where we may leave the young lady in +safety. You can have three hours to make your inquiry.</p> +<p>"At the end of that time, whether successful or not, say that +you are going out to meet your master and lead him to the inn. Give +the host a crown, as an earnest of your return and on account of +the meal you have ordered, and then ride to meet us.</p> +<p>"We shall start from here at daybreak. If you succeed in hearing +of some place where, as it seems, she can be bestowed in safety, we +will take her there at once. If not, you and Eustace must start +back with them, travelling slowly. The horses will carry double, +easily enough.</p> +<p>"Do not forget to get a cold capon or two, some good wine, and a +supply of white bread, while you are waiting in the town."</p> +<p>"Which horse shall I take, sir?"</p> +<p>"You had best take Robin. He is the faster of the two, though +not quite so strong as Victor."</p> +<p>"I understand, monsieur, and will carry out your orders. If +there be a place within twenty miles--or within forty, if lying on +the right road--where the young lady can be left in safety, rely +upon it I will hear of it; for there is nought I would not do, +rather than turn back at the outset of our journey, while you have +to journey on with only Roger, who is a stout man-at-arms enough, +but would be of little use if you should find yourself in +difficulties; for his head is somewhat thick, and his wits +slow."</p> +<p>Robin had already finished his scanty ration of food and, when +Pierre tightened the girths before mounting, looked round in mild +surprise at finding himself called upon to start, for the second +time, after he had thought that his work was done.</p> +<p>"You shall have a good feed at Saint Amboise," Pierre said, +patting its neck; "and beyond that, there will be no occasion, I +hope, for such another day's work."</p> +<p>After seeing Pierre start, Philip threw himself down for two +hours' sleep; and then went to relieve Eustace, who was keeping +watch at the edge of a clump of trees. As soon as it was broad +daylight, he went across to where Claire de Valecourt was lying +down by the side of her maid, with a cloak thrown over them. She +sat up at once, as his step approached.</p> +<p>"I am afraid you have not had much sleep, mademoiselle."</p> +<p>"No, indeed," she said. "I have scarce closed my eyes. It will +be long before I shall sleep quietly. That terrible scene of last +night will be before my eyes for a long time. Do you think that the +minister escaped, Monsieur Fletcher?"</p> +<p>"I fear that he did not. I saw him cut down, by the fellow I +shot, just before he turned to ride at you."</p> +<p>"How many do you think escaped?"</p> +<p>"A score perhaps, or it may be more. Some fled at once. Others I +noticed make off, as we rode forward."</p> +<p>"Did not one of your men ride off, last night, soon after we lay +down?"</p> +<p>"Yes, I sent off my servant."</p> +<p>And he told her the mission upon which Pierre had been +despatched.</p> +<p>"That is a good plan," she said. "I would much rather hide +anywhere, than that you should go forward on your long journey with +but half your little force. Does it not seem strange, monsieur, +that while, but a few hours ago, I had never so much as heard your +name, now I owe my life to you, and feel that I have to trust to +you in everything? I am quite surprised, now I look at you--I +scarce saw your face, last night; and only noticed, as I sat in +front of you, that you seemed very big and strong. And as you +talked of what I must do, just as if you had been my father, I have +been thinking of you as a grave man, like him. Now I see you are +quite young, and that you don't look grave at all."</p> +<p>Philip laughed.</p> +<p>"I am young, and not very grave, mademoiselle. I am not at all +fit to be the protector of a young lady like yourself."</p> +<p>"There I am sure you are wronging yourself, Monsieur Fletcher. +The Admiral would never have sent you so far, with important +despatches, had he not full confidence that you were wise as well +as brave. And you said you were a chevalier, too. My cousin Antoine +looks ever so much older than you do, and he has not been knighted +yet. I know young gentlemen are not made knights, unless they have +done something particularly brave."</p> +<p>Philip smiled.</p> +<p>"I did not do anything particularly brave, mademoiselle; but +what I did do happened to attract the Admiral's attention.</p> +<p>"Now, here are the remains of a cold capon, some bread, and +wine. You and your attendant had better eat something, while we are +saddling the horses and preparing for a start."</p> +<p>Four hours later they halted, three miles from Saint Amboise; +taking refuge in a wood near the road, where they could see Pierre +as he returned. Half an hour later he rode up. Philip went down the +road to meet him.</p> +<p>"Well, Pierre, what success?"</p> +<p>"I have heard of a place where I think Mademoiselle de Valecourt +would be safe, for the present. It is the chateau of Monsieur de +Landres. It lies some five-and-twenty miles away, and is in the +forest, at a distance from any town or large village. It is a small +place, but is strong. Monsieur de Landres is with the army in the +west, but he has only taken a few of his men with him; and forty, +they say, have been left to guard the tower. As most of the +Catholics round here have obeyed the king's summons, and are either +with the royal army in the west, or with the two dukes at Metz, +there seems no chance of any attack being made upon Landres."</p> +<p>"That will do excellently, Pierre. No doubt the lady will be +happy to receive Mademoiselle de Valecourt, whose father is a +well-known nobleman and, at present, in the same army as the lady's +husband. At any rate, we will try that to begin with."</p> +<p>They started without delay and, riding briskly, reached Landres +in four hours; having had a good deal of difficulty in finding the +way. As soon as they issued from the forests into a cleared space, +half a mile across, in the centre of which stood the fortalice, a +horn was heard to sound, and the drawbridge was at once raised. +Philip saw, with satisfaction, that Pierre had not been +misinformed. The castle was an old one and had not been modernized +and, with its solid-looking walls and flanking towers, was capable +of standing a siege.</p> +<p>Halting the others, when halfway across to the tower, he rode on +alone. As he approached, a lady appeared on the battlements over +the gate; while the parapet was occupied with armed men, with +spears and crossbows. Philip removed his cap.</p> +<p>"Madame," he said, "I am a soldier belonging to the army of the +Prince of Navarre, and am riding on the business of Admiral +Coligny. On my way hither, I had the good fortune to save a +Huguenot congregation, and the daughter of the Count de Valecourt, +from massacre by the people of La Chatre. My business is urgent, +and I am unable to turn back to conduct her to her father, who is +with the army of the prince. Hearing that you are of the reformed +religion, I have ventured to crave your protection for the young +lady; until I can return to fetch her, or can notify to her father +where he may send for her."</p> +<p>"The lady is welcome," Madame de Landres said. "In such times as +these, it is the duty of all of our religion to assist each other; +and the daughter of the Count de Valecourt, whom I know by +reputation, will be specially welcomed."</p> +<p>Bowing to the lady, Philip rode back to his party.</p> +<p>"The matter is settled, mademoiselle. The chatelaine will be +glad to receive you."</p> +<p>By the time they reached the castle the drawbridge had been +lowered; and Madame de Landres stood at the gate, ready to receive +her guest. As Philip, leaping off, lifted the girl to the ground, +the lady embraced her kindly.</p> +<p>"I am truly glad to be able to offer you a shelter, for a time. +You are young, indeed, to be abroad without a natural protector; +for as I gather this gentleman, whose name I have not yet learned, +rescued you by chance from an attack by the Catholics."</p> +<p>"God sent him to my succour, as by a miracle," Claire said +simply. "The Chevalier Fletcher is known to my father. Had he +arrived but one minute later, I should be one among seventy or +eighty who are now lying dead in a wood, near La Chatre. My father +had a chateau close by, but it was fired after the massacre."</p> +<p>"And now, mademoiselle, with your permission, and that of Madame +de Landres, we will ride on at once. We must do another thirty +miles before sunset."</p> +<p>Madame de Landres, however, insisted on Philip and his men +stopping to partake of a meal before they rode on; and although +they had breakfasted heartily, four hours before, upon the +provisions Pierre had brought back with him from Amboise, their +ride had given them an appetite; and Philip did not refuse the +invitation. Madame de Landres expressed much satisfaction on +hearing that the Huguenot army was likely to pass somewhere near +the neighbourhood of the chateau, on its way to effect a junction +with the Duc de Deux-Ponts; and promised to send one of her +retainers with a message, to the count, that his daughter was in +her keeping. The meal was a short one; and Philip, after a halt of +half an hour, mounted and rode on again.</p> +<p>"My father will thank you, when you meet him, Monsieur Fletcher. +As for me, I cannot tell you what I feel, but I shall pray for you +always; and that God, who sent you to my aid, will watch over you +in all dangers," Claire de Valecourt had said, as she bade him +goodbye.</p> +<p>They halted that night at a small village and, as Philip was +eating his supper, Pierre came in.</p> +<p>"I think, monsieur, that it would be well for us to move on for +a few miles farther."</p> +<p>"Why, Pierre? We have done a long day's journey, and the horses +had but a short rest last night."</p> +<p>"I should like to rest just as well as the horses," Pierre said; +"but I doubt if we should rest well, here. I thought, when we drew +bridle, that the landlord eyed us curiously; and that the men who +sauntered up regarded us with more attention than they would +ordinary travellers. So I told Eustace and Roger, as they led the +horses to the stable, to keep the saddles on for the present; and I +slipped away round to the back of the house, and got my ear close +to the open window of the kitchen. I got there just as the landlord +came in, saying:</p> +<a id="PicH" name="PicH"></a> +<center><img src="images/h.jpg" alt= +"Pierre listens at the open window of the inn." /></center> +<p>"'These are the people, wife, that we were told of three hours +ago. There are the same number of men, though they have no women +with them, as I was told might be the case. Their leader is a +fine-looking young fellow, and I am sorry for him, but that I can't +help. I was told that, if they came here, I was to send off a +messenger at once to Nevers; and that, if I failed to do so, my +house should be burnt over my head, and I should be hung from the +tree opposite, as a traitor to the king. Who he is I don't know, +but there can be no doubt he is a Huguenot, and that he has killed +two nobles. I daresay they deserved it if they were, as the men +said, engaged in what they call the good work of slaying Huguenots; +which is a kind of work with which I do not hold. But that is no +business of mine--I am not going to risk my life in the matter.</p> +<p>"'Besides, if I don't send off it will make no difference; for +they told half-a-dozen men, before they started, that they would +give a gold crown to the first who brought them news of the party; +and it is like enough someone has slipped off, already, to earn the +money. So I must make myself safe by sending off Jacques, at once. +The men said that their lords had powerful friends at Nevers, and I +am not going to embroil myself with them, for the sake of a +stranger.'</p> +<p>"'We have nothing to do with the Huguenots, one way or other,' +the woman said. 'There are no Huguenots in this village, and it is +nothing to us what they do in other parts. Send off Jacques if you +like, and perhaps it will be best; but I don't want any fighting or +bloodshed here.'</p> +<p>"I slipped away then," continued Pierre, "as I thought the +landlord would be coming out to look for this Jacques. If it had +not been for what he said about the reward offered, and the +likelihood that others would already have started with the news, I +should have watched for the man and followed him when he started. I +don't think he would have carried his message far. As it was, I +thought it best to let you know at once; so that we could slip out +of this trap, in time."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch17" id="Ch17">Chapter 17</a>: The Battle Of +Moncontor.</h2> +<p>When Pierre left him in order to look after the horses, Philip +continued his meal. There could be no hurry, for Nevers was twelve +miles away; and it would be four hours, at least, before a party +could arrive.</p> +<p>The landlady herself brought in the next course. After placing +the dish upon the table, she stood looking earnestly at him for a +minute, and then said:</p> +<p>"You spoke of stopping here tonight, sir. The accommodation is +very poor and, if you will take my advice, you will ride farther. +There have been some men along here this afternoon, inquiring for a +party like yours; and offering a reward to any who would carry the +news to them, should you pass through. Methinks their intentions +were not friendly."</p> +<p>"I thank you very much for your counsel," Philip said, "and will +take it. I know that there are some who would gladly hinder me, in +my journey; and if there is, as you say, a risk of their coming +here for me, it were as well that I rode farther, although I would +gladly have given my horses a night's rest. I thank you warmly for +having warned me."</p> +<p>"Do not let my husband know that I have spoken to you," she +said. "He is an honest man, but timid; and in these days 'tis +safest not to meddle with what does not concern one."</p> +<p>Philip waited for two hours, and then told Pierre to saddle the +horses, and tell the landlord that he wished to speak to him.</p> +<p>"I have changed my mind, landlord," he said, "and shall ride +forward. The horses will have rested now, and can very well do +another fifteen miles; so let me have your reckoning. You can +charge for my bedroom as, doubtless, it has been put in order for +me."</p> +<p>Philip saw that the landlord looked pleased, though he said +nothing; and in a few minutes the horses were brought round, the +bill paid, and they started. They struck off from the road, three +or four miles farther; and halted in a wood which they reached, +after half an hour's riding. The grain bags had been filled up +again, at the inn; but as the horses had eaten their fill, these +were not opened and, after loosening the girths and arranging the +order in which they should keep watch, the party threw themselves +on the ground.</p> +<p>Two hours after their arrival Eustace, who was on watch, heard +the distant sounds of a body of horsemen, galloping along the main +road in the direction of the village they had left.</p> +<p>In the morning at daybreak they started again, directing their +way to the southwest, and following the course of the Loire; which +they crossed at Estree, and so entered Burgundy. Crossing the great +line of hills, they came down on the Saone; which they crossed at a +ferry, fifteen miles below Dijon. They here obtained news of the +position of the Duc de Deux-Ponts, and finally rode into his camp, +near Vesoul. They had been fortunate in avoiding all questioning; +it being generally assumed, from their travelling without baggage, +that they belonged to the neighbourhood.</p> +<p>Riding into the camp, they were not long in discovering an +officer who spoke French and, upon Philip saying that he was the +bearer of despatches for the Duc from Admiral Coligny, he was at +once conducted to his pavilion. He had, when the camp was in sight +and all dangers at an end, taken his despatches from his boots; and +these he at once presented to the duke, who came to the door of his +tent, on hearing that a gentleman had arrived with letters from +Coligny, himself.</p> +<p>"I am glad to get some news direct, at last," the Duc said; "for +I have heard so many rumours, since I crossed the frontier, that I +know not whether the Admiral is a fugitive or at the head of a +great army. Which is nearest the truth?"</p> +<p>"The latter, assuredly, sir. The Admiral is at the head of as +large a body of men as that with which he offered battle to the Duc +d'Anjou, when winter first set in."</p> +<p>"Come in, monsieur, and sit down, while I read the despatches. +How many days have you taken in traversing France?"</p> +<p>"It is the tenth day since I left La Rochelle, sir."</p> +<p>"And have you ridden the same horses the whole way?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> +<p>"Then they must be good beasts, for you must have done over +forty miles a day."</p> +<p>"We carried no baggage, sir and, as you see, no armour; and we +have husbanded our horses' strength, to the best of our power."</p> +<p>The duke sat down, and read the papers of which Philip was the +bearer.</p> +<p>"The Admiral speaks very highly of you, sir, both as regards +discretion and bravery; and mentions that he knighted you, himself, +for your conduct in the battle of Jarnac. He need not have said so +much, for the fact that he chose you to carry these despatches is +the highest proof of his confidence.</p> +<p>"And now, tell me all particulars of your journey; and what news +you have gathered, on your way, as to the movement and positions of +the forces of the royal dukes. This will supplement the Admiral's +despatches."</p> +<p>Philip gave a full report of his route, of the state of the +roads, the number of cattle in the country through which he had +passed, the accounts he had heard of the forces assembled in the +cities, and the preparations that had been made to guard the +passages across the rivers of Burgundy.</p> +<p>"I will travel by the route that the Admiral indicates, so far +as I can do so undisturbed by the armies of the two French dukes. I +have with me some good guides, as many French gentleman joined me, +not long since, with the Prince of Orange. I had already decided, +by their advice, upon following nearly the route commended by the +Admiral. I trust that you, sir, will ride among my friends; to whom +I will introduce you this evening, at supper."</p> +<p>The Duc's army amounted to some fifteen thousand men, of whom +seven thousand five hundred were horsemen from the states of Lower +Germany, and six thousand infantry from Upper Germany; the +remaining fifteen hundred being French and Flemish gentlemen, who +had joined him with the Prince of Orange. The armies under the +French dukes were, together, considerably superior in force to that +of Deux-Ponts; but singly they were not strong enough to attack +him, and the mutual jealousies of their commanders prevented their +acting in concert. Consequently, the German force moved across +Comte and on to Autun, in the west of Burgundy, without meeting +with any opposition. Then they marched rapidly down. The bridges +upon the Loire were all held; but one of the French officers, who +knew the country, discovered a ford by which a portion of the army +crossed. The main body laid siege to the town of La Chants, and +compelled it to surrender, thus gaining a bridge by which they +crossed the Loire.</p> +<p>As the enemy were now in great force, in front of them; they +turned to the southwest, several messengers being sent off to +appoint a fresh meeting place with Coligny; and skirting the hills +of Bourbonais, Auvergne, and Limousin, they at last arrived within +a day's march of Limoges; the journey of five hundred miles, +through a hostile country, being one of the most remarkable in +military history.</p> +<p>That evening Admiral Coligny and his staff rode into camp, +having arrived with his army at Limoges. The Duc had been for some +time suffering from fever; and had, for the last week, been carried +in a litter, being unable to sit his horse. He was, when the +Admiral arrived, unconscious; and died the next morning, being +succeeded in his command by the Count of Mansfeldt. Next day the +two armies joined, with great demonstrations of joy.</p> +<p>The Duc d'Anjou had been closely watching the army of Coligny, +his army being somewhat superior in force to that of the allies, +who now numbered some twenty-five thousand; for the duke had been +recently reinforced by five thousand papal troops, and twelve +hundred Florentines. A part of his force, under General Strozzi, +was at La Roche Abeille. They were attacked by the Huguenots. Four +hundred Royalists were killed, and many taken prisoners, among them +their general.</p> +<p>There was, for a time, a pause. The court entered into fresh +negotiations with the Admiral, being anxious to delay his +operations; as many of the nobles who were with the Duc D'Anjou, +wearied by the burdens imposed upon them, insisted upon returning +for a time to their homes. The Huguenots were, above all things, +anxious for peace; and allowed themselves to be detained, for +nearly a month, by these negotiations.</p> +<p>On the march down after the capture of La Charite, the German +force had passed within a few miles of the Chateau de Landres; and +Philip rode over to see whether Claire was still there. She +received him with the frank pleasure of a girl.</p> +<p>"We have heard very little of what is going on outside, Monsieur +Fletcher," Madame de Landres said, after the first greetings were +over; "though the air has been full of rumours. Again and again, +reports were brought in that the duke's army had been entirely +destroyed by the Royalist forces. Then, after a day or two, we +heard of it as still advancing; but in danger, hourly, of being +destroyed. Then came the news that every town commanding a bridge +across the Loire was being put in a state of defence, and strong +bodies of troops thrown into them; and we heard that, as soon as +the Germans reached the river, and farther advance was impossible, +they would be attacked by the armies of Nemours and Aumale. But by +this time we had become so accustomed to these tales that we were +not much alarmed.</p> +<p>"We were, however, surprised when we heard that a strong body of +the Germans had forded the river; and had blockaded La Charite on +this side, while it had been besieged on the other. I hear that a +strong garrison has been left there."</p> +<p>"Yes, madam. The place is of great importance, as it gives us a +means of crossing the Loire at any time. We find, too, that a large +part of the population are Huguenot; and the place will certainly +be held against any attack the Royalists may make against us."</p> +<p>"The news will be received with joy, indeed, by all of our +religion in this part of France. Hitherto we have had no place of +refuge, whatever. There was but the choice of dying in our own +houses or villages, or taking refuge in the woods until hunted +down. It will be, to us, what La Rochelle is to the Huguenots of +the west. Besides, the garrison there will make the Catholics very +chary of attacking us. Moreover, having now this passage across the +Loire it is likely that our party will largely use it on their +marches, and would be able to punish heavily any places at which +there had been massacres. It is by this way, too, the Germans are +sure to return. Therefore I feel that, for a time, my young charge +will be perfectly safe here.</p> +<p>"I sent off a messenger to our army, on the day you left us; but +have had no reply, and know not whether he reached it in safety. At +any rate, you cannot be very long before your force joins the +Admiral; and as we felt quite sure that you would come to see us, +as you passed, we have our letters ready to my husband and the +Count de Valecourt. You will, I am sure, deliver them as soon as +you join the Admiral."</p> +<p>"That I will assuredly do, madam. I expect that we shall meet +him near Limoges. That is the direction in which we are now +marching."</p> +<p>The Count de Valecourt was one of the gentlemen who rode into +the Duc do Deux-Ponts' camp with the Admiral and, as soon as they +dismounted, and Coligny entered the tent of the dying general, +Philip made his way to his side.</p> +<p>"Ah! Monsieur Fletcher, I am glad to see you again. You +accomplished, then, your journey in safety. The Prince of Navarre +often spoke of you, and wondered how you were faring."</p> +<p>"I did very well, sir; but I have not thrust myself upon you, at +the moment of your arrival, to speak of my own journey; but to +deliver you a letter, which I have the honour of being the bearer, +from your daughter."</p> +<p>The count stepped backwards a pace, with a cry of astonishment +and pleasure.</p> +<p>"From my daughter! Is it possible, sir? How long is it since you +saw her?"</p> +<p>"It is nigh three weeks back, sir."</p> +<p>"The Lord be praised!" the count said solemnly, taking off his +cap and looking upwards. "He has shown me many mercies, but this is +the greatest. For the last two months I have mourned her as dead. +News was brought to me, by one of my retainers, that she was with a +congregation who were attacked by the people of La Chatre, and that +all had been massacred. My chateau near there was attacked and +burnt, and those of the men who were Huguenots slain, save the one +who brought me the news."</p> +<p>"You will see, sir, that your daughter escaped," Philip said, +handing him the letter. "She is now in the safe custody of Madame +de Landres."</p> +<p>The count tore open the letter, and he had read but a few lines +when he uttered an exclamation of surprise and, turning towards +Philip, who had moved a few paces away, ran to him and threw his +arms round his neck.</p> +<p>"It is you who have, with God's blessing, rescued my daughter +from death," he exclaimed. "She is my only child. Oh, monsieur, +what joy have you brought to me, what thankfulness do I feel, how +deeply am I indebted to you! I had thought that there remained to +me but to do my duty to God, and His cause; and then, if I lived to +see the end of the war, to live out my days a childless old man. +Now I seem to live again. Claire is alive; I have still something +to love and care for.</p> +<p>"I will first run through the rest of the letter; and then you +shall tell me, in full, all the story. But which is your tent? Pray +take me there. I would be alone, a little while, to thank God for +this great mercy."</p> +<p>Half an hour later, the count reappeared at the entrance of the +tent. Pierre had wine and refreshments ready and, placing them on a +box that served as a table, retired; leaving his master and the +count together.</p> +<p>"Now, tell me all about it," the count said. "Claire's +description is a very vague one, and she bids me get all the +details from you. She only knows that a man on horseback rode at +her, with uplifted sword. She commended her soul to God, and stood +expecting the blow; when there was a pistol shot, close to her, and +the man fell from his horse. Then another dashed forward; while +you, on horseback, threw yourself between her and him. There was a +terrible clashing of swords; and then he, too, fell. Then you +lifted her on to your horse, and for a short time there was a whirl +of conflict. Then you rode off with three men, behind one of whom +her maid Annette was sitting. That is all she knows of it, except +what you told her, yourself."</p> +<p>"That is nearly all there is to know, count. The fray lasted but +two minutes, in all; and my being upon the spot was due to no +forethought of mine, but was of the nature of a pure accident."</p> +<p>"Nay, sir, you should not say that; you were led there by the +hand of God. But tell me how you came to be in the wood, and pray +omit nothing."</p> +<p>Philip related the whole story, from the time of the incident at +the inn, to the time when he handed over Claire to the care of +Madame de Landres.</p> +<p>"It was well done, sir," the count said, laying his hand +affectionately on his shoulder, when he concluded. "The young +prince said you would have a story to tell him, when you came back; +but I little dreamt that it would be one in which I had such +interest.</p> +<p>"Well, Claire cannot do better than remain where she is, for the +present; until, at any rate, I can remove her to La Rochelle, which +is the only place where she can be said to be absolutely safe; but +so long as we hold La Charite there is, as you say, but slight fear +of any fresh trouble there. From all other parts of France, we hear +the same tales of cruel massacre and executions, by fire and +sword."</p> +<p>Francois de Laville was not with Coligny's army, as he was with +the Prince of Navarre, who had remained near La Rochelle; but he +was very pleased to find the Count de la Noue, who had just +rejoined the army; having been exchanged for a Royalist officer of +rank, who had fallen into the hands of the Huguenots.</p> +<p>"You have been doing great things, while I have been lying in +prison, Philip," the count said warmly. "I hear that the Admiral +has made you and my cousin knights; and more than that, I heard +half an hour since from De Valecourt that, while carrying +despatches to the Germans, you had time to do a little +knight-errant's work, and had the good fortune to save his daughter +from being massacred by the Catholics. By my faith, chevalier, +there is no saying what you will come to, if you go on thus."</p> +<p>"I don't want to come to anything, count," Philip said, +laughing. "I came over here to fight for the Huguenot cause, and +with no thought of gaining anything for myself. I am, of course, +greatly pleased to receive the honour of knighthood, and that at +the hands of so great and noble a general as Admiral Coligny. I +have been singularly fortunate, but I owe my good fortune in no +small degree to you; for I could have had no better introduction +than to ride in your train."</p> +<p>"You deserve all the credit you have obtained, Philip. You have +grasped every opportunity that was presented to you, and have +always acquitted yourself well. A young man does not gain the +esteem and approval of a Coligny, the gratitude of a Valecourt, and +the liking of all who know him--including the Queen of Navarre and +her son--unless by unusual merit. I am proud of you as a +connection, though distant, of my own; and I sincerely trust you +will, at the end of this sad business, return home to your friends +none the worse for the perils you have gone through."</p> +<p>At the end of a month the negotiations were broken off, for the +court had no real intention of granting any concessions. The +Huguenots again commenced hostilities. Two or three strong +fortresses were captured; and a force despatched south, under Count +Montgomery, who joined the army of the Viscounts, expelled the +Royalists from Bearn, and restored it to the Queen of Navarre.</p> +<p>There was a considerable division, among the Huguenot leaders, +as to the best course to be taken. The Admiral was in favour of +marching north and besieging Saumur, which would give them a free +passage across the lower Loire to the north of France, as the +possession of La Charite kept open for them a road to the west; but +the majority of the leaders were in favour of besieging Poitiers, +one of the richest and most important cities in France. +Unfortunately their opinion prevailed, and they marched against +Poitiers, of which the Count de Lude was the governor. Before they +arrived there Henry, Duke of Guise, with his brother the Duke of +Mayenne, and other officers, threw themselves into the town. A +desperate defence was made, and every assault by the Huguenots was +repulsed, with great loss. A dam was thrown across a small river by +the besieged, and its swollen waters inundated the Huguenot camp; +and their losses at the breaches were greatly augmented by the +ravages of disease.</p> +<p>After the siege had lasted for seven weeks, the Duc d'Anjou laid +siege to Chatelherault, which the Huguenots had lately captured; +and Coligny raised the siege, which had cost him two thousand men, +and marched to its assistance.</p> +<p>The disaster at Poitiers was balanced, to a certain extent, by a +similar repulse which a force of seven thousand Catholics had +sustained, at La Charite; which for four weeks successfully +repelled every assault, the assailants being obliged, at last, to +draw off from the place. In Paris, and other places, the murders of +Huguenots were of constant occurrence; and at Orleans two hundred +and eighty, who had been thrown into prison, were massacred in a +single day. The Parliament of Paris rendered itself infamous by +trying the Admiral, in his absence, for treason; hanging him in +effigy; and offering a reward, of fifty thousand gold crowns, to +anyone who should murder him.</p> +<p>But a serious battle was now on the eve of being fought. The Duc +d'Anjou had been largely reinforced, and his army amounted to nine +thousand cavalry and eighteen thousand infantry; while Coligny's +army had been weakened by his losses at Poitiers, and by the +retirement of many of the nobles, whose resources could no longer +bear the expense of keeping their retainers in the field. He had +now only some eleven thousand foot, and six thousand horse. He was +therefore anxious to avoid a battle until joined by Montgomery, +with the six thousand troops he had with him at Bearn.</p> +<p>His troops from the south, however, were impatient at the long +inaction, and anxious to return home; while the Germans threatened +to desert, unless they were either paid or led against the +enemy.</p> +<p>La Noue, who commanded the advance guard, had captured the town +of Moncontour; and the Admiral, advancing in that direction, and +ignorant that the enemy were in the neighbourhood, moved towards +the town. When on the march, the rear was attacked by a heavy body +of the enemy. De Mouy, who commanded there, held them at bay until +the rest of the Huguenot army gained the other side of a marsh, +through which they were passing, and entered the town in +safety.</p> +<p>The Admiral would now have retreated, seeing that the whole +force of the enemy were in front of him; but the Germans again +mutinied, and the delay before they could be pacified enabled the +French army to make a detour, and overtake the Huguenots soon after +they left Moncontour. The Admiral, who commanded the left wing of +the army--Count Louis of Nassau commanding the right--first met +them, and his cavalry charged that of the Catholics, which was +commanded by the German Rhinegrave. The latter rode well in advance +of his men, while Coligny was equally in front of the +Protestants.</p> +<p>The two leaders therefore met. The conflict was a short one. +Coligny was severely wounded in the face, and the Rhinegrave was +killed.</p> +<p>While the cavalry on both sides fought desperately for victory, +the infantry was speedily engaged. The combat between the Huguenot +foot, and the Swiss infantry in the Royalist ranks, was long and +doubtful. The Duc d'Anjou displayed great courage in the fight; +while on the other side the Princes of Navarre and Conde, who had +that morning joined the army from Parthenay, fought bravely in the +front of the Huguenots. The Catholic line began to give way, in +spite of their superiority in numbers; when Marshal Cosse advanced +with fresh troops into the battle, and the Huguenots in turn were +driven back.</p> +<p>The German cavalry of the Huguenots, in spite of the valour of +their leader, Louis of Nassau, were seized with a panic and fled +from the field; shattering on their way the ranks of the German +infantry. Before the latter could recover their order, the Swiss +infantry poured in among them. Many threw down their arms and +shouted for quarter, while others defended themselves until the +last; but neither submission nor defence availed and, out of the +four thousand German infantry, but two hundred escaped.</p> +<p>Three thousand of the Huguenot infantry were cut off by Anjou's +cavalry. A thousand were killed, and the rest spared, at the Duc's +command. In all, two thousand Huguenot infantry and three hundred +knights perished on the field, besides the German infantry; while +on the Catholic side the loss was but a little over five hundred +men.</p> +<p>La Noue was again among those taken prisoner. Before the battle +began, he had requested Philip to join his cousin, who had come up +with the princes; and to attach himself to their bodyguard, during +the battle. They kept close to the princes during the fight, riding +far enough back for them to be seen by the Huguenots, and closing +round when the enemy poured down upon them. When the German +horsemen fled, and the infantry were enveloped by the Catholics, +they led Henri and Conde from the field; charging right through a +body of Catholic horse who had swept round to the rear, and +carrying them off to Parthenay.</p> +<p>Here they found the Admiral, who had been borne off the field, +grievously wounded. For a moment the lion-hearted general had felt +despondency at the crushing defeat, being sorely wounded and +weakened by loss of blood; but as he was carried off the field, his +litter came alongside one in which L'Estrange, a Huguenot +gentleman, also sorely wounded, was being borne. Doubtless the +Admiral's face expressed the deep depression of his spirit; and +L'Estrange, holding out his hand to him, said:</p> +<p>"Yet is God very gentle."</p> +<p>The words were an echo of those which formed the mainspring of +the Admiral's life. His face lit up, and he exclaimed:</p> +<p>"Thanks, comrade. Truly God is merciful, and we will trust him +always."</p> +<p>He was much pleased when the two young princes, both unhurt, +rejoined him. He issued orders to his officers to rally their +troops as they came in, to evacuate Parthenay, and march at once to +Niort.</p> +<p>The gallant De Mouy was appointed to command the city, and three +or four days were spent there in rallying the remains of the army. +Scarce had they reached Niort when the Queen of Navarre arrived +from La Rochelle, whence she had hastened, as soon as she had heard +the news of the defeat. The presence of this heroic woman speedily +dispelled the despondency among the Huguenots. Going about among +them, and addressing the groups of officers and soldiers, she +communicated to them her own fire and enthusiasm. Nothing was lost +yet, she said; the Germans had failed them, but their own valour +had been conspicuous, and with the blessing of God matters would +soon be restored. Already the delay of the Catholics in following +up their victory had given them time to rally, and they were now in +a position to give battle again.</p> +<p>Leaving a strong garrison at Niort, Coligny moved with a portion +of his army to Saintes; while the southern troops, from Dauphine +and Provence, marched to Angouleme. These troops were always +difficult to retain long in the field, as they were anxious for the +safety of their friends at home. They now clamoured for permission +to depart, urging that the news of the defeat of Moncontour would +be the signal for fresh persecutions and massacres, in the south. +Finally they marched away without Coligny's permission and, after +some fighting, reached Dauphine in safety.</p> +<p>In the meantime Niort had been attacked. De Mouy defended the +place stoutly, and sallied out and repulsed the enemy. His bravery, +however, was fatal to him. A Catholic named Maurevel, tempted by +the fifty thousand crowns that had been offered for the +assassination of Coligny, had entered the Protestant camp, +pretending that he had been badly treated by the Guises. No +opportunity for carrying out his design against the Admiral +presented itself, and he remained at Niort with De Mouy; who, +believing his protestations of attachment for the cause, had +treated him with great friendship. As the Huguenots were returning +after their successful sortie, he was riding in the rear with De +Mouy and, seizing his opportunity, he drew a pistol and shot the +Huguenot leader, mortally wounding him. He then galloped off and +rejoined the Catholics; and was rewarded, for the treacherous +murder, by receiving from the king the order of Saint Michael, and +a money reward from the city of Paris.</p> +<p>The garrison of Niort, disheartened at the death of their +leader, surrendered shortly after. Several other strong places +fell, and all the conquests the Protestants had made were wrested +from their hands. The battle of Moncontour was fought on October +3rd. On the 14th the southern troops marched away, and four days +later Coligny, with the remains of the army, started from Saintes. +He had with him but six thousand men, of whom three thousand were +cavalry.</p> +<p>His plan was an extremely bold one. In the first place, he +wished to obtain money to pay the German horsemen, by the capture +of some of the rich Catholic cities in Guyenne; to form a junction +with the army of Montgomery; then to march across to the Rhone, and +there to meet the forces of the south, which would by that time be +ready to take the field again; then to march north to Lorraine, +there to gather in the Germans whom William of Orange would have +collected to meet him; and then to march upon Paris, and to end the +war by giving battle under its walls.</p> +<p>The Queen of Navarre was to remain in La Rochelle, which city +was placed under the command of La Rochefoucault; and the two young +princes were to accompany the army, where they were to have small +commands. They would thus become inured to the hardships of war, +and would win the affection of the soldiers.</p> +<p>Francois de Laville had, with his own troop, ridden off to his +chateau from Parthenay on the morning after the battle; Coligny +advising him to take his mother, at once, to La Rochelle, as the +chateau would speedily be attacked, in revenge for the sharp +repulse that the Catholics had suffered there. On his arrival the +countess at once summoned all the tenants, and invited those who +chose to accompany her; pointing out that the Catholics would +speedily ravage the land. Accordingly, the next day all the +valuables in the chateau were packed up in carts, and the place +entirely abandoned. The whole of the tenants accompanied her, +driving their herds before them, as they would find a market for +these in the city. As they moved along they were joined by large +numbers of other fugitives, as throughout the whole country the +Protestants were making for refuge to the city.</p> +<p>When the Admiral marched away, Philip rode with a young French +officer, for whom he had a warm friendship, named De Piles. The +latter had been appointed governor of Saint Jean d'Angely, which +was now the sole bulwark of La Rochelle; and he had specially +requested the Admiral to appoint Philip to accompany him. The place +was scarcely capable of defence, and the Admiral had only decided +to hold it in the hope that the Duc d'Anjou, instead of following +him with his whole army, would wait to besiege it.</p> +<p>This decision was, in fact, adopted by the Royalists, after much +discussion among the leaders. Several of them wished to press on at +once after Coligny, urging that the destruction of the remnant of +his army would be a fatal blow to the Huguenot cause. The majority, +however, were of opinion that it was of more importance to reduce +La Rochelle, the Huguenots' stronghold in the west, and in order to +do this Saint Jean d'Angely must first be captured. Their counsel +prevailed and, just as the siege of Poitiers had proved fatal to +the plans of Coligny, so that of Saint Jean d'Angely went far to +neutralize all the advantages gained by the Catholic victory at +Moncontour.</p> +<p>Scarcely had De Piles taken the command than the army of the Duc +d'Anjou appeared before the walls, and at once opened fire. The +garrison was a very small one, but it was aided by the whole of the +inhabitants; who were, like those of La Rochelle, zealous +Huguenots. Every assault upon the walls was repulsed, and at night +the breaches made by the cannon during the day were repaired; the +inhabitants, even the women and children, bringing stones to the +spot, and the soldiers doing the work of building.</p> +<p>On the 26th of October, after the siege had continued for a +fortnight, the king himself joined the Catholic army, and summoned +the place to surrender. De Piles replied that, although he +recognized the authority of the king, he was unable to obey his +orders; as he had been appointed to hold the city by the Prince of +Navarre, the royal governor of Guyenne, his feudal superior, and +could only surrender it on receiving his orders to do so. The +siege, therefore, recommenced.</p> +<p>The walls were so shaken that De Piles himself, after repulsing +a furious attack upon them, came to the conclusion that the next +assault would probably be successful; and he therefore caused a +breach to be made in the wall on the other side of the town, to +afford a means of retreat for his troops. His supply of ammunition, +too, was almost exhausted.</p> +<p>"What do you think, Fletcher?" he said gloomily. "If we could +but hold out for another ten days or so, the Admiral would have got +so fair a start that they would never overtake him. But I feel sure +that another twenty-four hours will see the end of it."</p> +<p>"We might gain some time," Philip replied, "by asking for an +armistice. They probably do not know the straits to which we are +reduced, and may grant us a few days."</p> +<p>"They might do so. At any rate, it is worth trying," De Piles +agreed; and an hour later Philip went, with a flag of truce, to the +royal camp. He was taken before the Duc d'Anjou.</p> +<p>"I am come with proposals from the governor," he said. "He will +not surrender the town without orders from the Prince of Navarre. +But if you will grant a fortnight's armistice, he will send a +messenger to the prince; and if no answer arrives, or if no succour +reaches him at the end of that time, he will surrender; on +condition that the garrison shall be permitted to retire, with +their horses and arms, and that religious liberty shall be granted +to all the inhabitants."</p> +<p>The Duc consulted with his generals. The losses in the attacks +had been extremely heavy, and disease was raging in the army and, +to Philip's inward surprise and delight, an answer was made that +the conditions would be granted, but that only ten days would be +given. He returned with the answer to De Piles, and the armistice +was at once agreed upon, six hostages for its proper observance +being given on both sides.</p> +<p>On the ninth day Saint Surin, with forty horsemen, dashed +through the enemy's lines and rode into the town; thus relieving De +Piles from the necessity of surrendering. The hostages were +returned on both sides, and the siege recommenced.</p> +<p>Attack after attack was repulsed, with heavy loss; several of +the bravest royalist officers, among them the governor of Brittany, +being killed. The town was valiantly defended until the 2nd of +December, when De Piles, satisfied with having detained the royal +army seven weeks before the walls, and seeing no hope of relief, +surrendered on the same conditions that had before been agreed on. +Its capture had cost the Duc d'Anjou 6000 men, about half of whom +had fallen by disease, the rest in the assaults; and the delay had +entirely defeated the object of the campaign.</p> +<p>The gates were opened, and the little body of defenders marched +out, with colours flying. One of the conditions of surrender had +been that they should not serve again during the war.</p> +<p>The Duc d'Aumale, and other officers, endeavoured to ensure the +observance of the condition of their safe conduct through the +Catholic lines; but the soldiers, furious at seeing the handful of +men who had inflicted such loss upon them going off in safety, +attacked them, and nearly a hundred were killed--a number equal to +the loss they had suffered throughout the whole siege. De Piles +with the rest were, by their own exertions and those of some of the +Catholic leaders, enabled to make their way through, and rode to +Angouleme.</p> +<p>There De Piles sent a letter demanding the severe punishment of +those who had broken the terms of the surrender; but, no attention +having been paid to his demand, he sent a herald to the king to +declare that, in consequence of the breach of the conditions, he +and those with him considered themselves absolved from their +undertaking not to carry arms during the war; and he then rode +away, with his followers, to join the Admiral.</p> +<p>The French army rapidly fell to pieces. With winter at hand, it +was in vain to attempt the siege of La Rochelle. Philip of Spain +and the pope ordered the troops they had supplied to return home, +alleging that the victory of Moncontour, of which they had received +the most exaggerated reports, had virtually terminated the war. The +German and Swiss troops were allowed to leave the service, and the +nobles and their retainers were granted permission to do the same, +until the spring. Thus the whole fruits of the victory of +Moncontour were annihilated by the heroic defence of Saint Jean +d'Angely.</p> +<p>In the meantime, the Admiral had been moving south. In order to +cross the rivers he had marched westward, and so made a circuit to +Montauban, the stronghold of the Huguenots in the south. Moving +westward he joined the Count of Montgomery at Aiguillon, and +returned with him to Montauban, where he received many +reinforcements; until his army amounted to some twenty-one thousand +men, of whom six thousand were cavalry.</p> +<p>At the end of January they marched to Toulouse, a city with an +evil fame, as the centre of persecuting bigotry in the south of +France. It was too strong to be attacked; but the country round it +was ravaged, and all the country residences of the members of its +parliament destroyed. Then they marched westward to Nismes, sending +marauding expeditions into the Catholic districts, and even into +Spain, in revenge for the assistance the king had given the +Catholics. De Piles and his party had joined the Admiral at +Montauban, and the former commanded the force that penetrated into +Spain.</p> +<p>Coligny turned north, marched up the Rhone, surmounting every +obstacle of mountain and river; until he reached Burgundy, arriving +at Saint Etienne-sur-Loire on the 26th of May. Here they were met +by messengers from the court, which was in a state of consternation +at the steady approach of an enemy they had regarded as crushed; +and were ready, in their alarm, to promise anything. The Admiral +fell dangerously ill and, at the news, the king at once broke off +the negotiations. He recovered, however, and, advancing, met the +royal army, under Marshal Cosse, in the neighbourhood of the town +of Arnay de Duc.</p> +<p>Coligny's army had dwindled away during its terrible march, and +it consisted now of only two thousand horsemen and two thousand +five hundred arquebusiers, the cannon being all left behind. Cosse +had ten thousand infantry, of whom four thousand were Swiss; three +thousand cavalry, and twelve cannon. The armies took post on the +hills on opposite sides of a valley, through which ran a stream fed +by some small ponds. The Royalists commenced the attack but, after +fighting obstinately for seven hours, were compelled to fall back +with heavy loss.</p> +<p>A fresh body was then directed against an intrenchment the +Huguenots had thrown up, near the ponds. Here again the fighting +was long and obstinate, but at last the Catholics were +repulsed.</p> +<p>The next morning both armies drew up in order of battle; but +neither would advance to the attack, as the ground offered such +advantages to those who stood on the defensive; and they +accordingly returned to their camps.</p> +<p>The Admiral, being unwilling to fight till he received +reinforcements, marched away to La Charite; where he was +reorganizing his force, when a truce of ten days was made. At the +end of that time he again marched north and, distributing his +soldiers in the neighbourhood of Montargis, took up his quarters at +his castle of Chatillon-sur-Loing, where he remained while +negotiations were going on.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch18" id="Ch18">Chapter 18</a>: A Visit Home.</h2> +<p>While Coligny had been accomplishing his wonderful march round +France, La Noue, who had been exchanged for Strozzi, had betaken +himself to La Rochelle. He forced the Catholics, who were still +languidly blockading that place, to fall back; defeated them near +Lucon, and recaptured Fontenay, Niort, the Isle of Oleron, Brouage, +and Saintes. At Fontenay, however, the brave Huguenot leader had +his left arm broken, and was obliged to have it amputated.</p> +<p>Negotiations were now being carried on in earnest. Charles the +Ninth was weary of a war that impoverished the state, diminished +his revenues, and forced him to rely upon the Guises, whom he +feared and disliked. Over and over again, he had been assured that +the war was practically at an end, and the Huguenots crushed; but +as often, fresh armies rose. The cities that had been taken with so +much difficulty had again fallen into their hands, and Paris itself +was menaced.</p> +<p>The princes of Germany wrote, begging him to make peace; and +although the terms fell far short of what the Huguenots hoped and +desired, the concessions were large and, could they have depended +upon the good faith of the court, their lives would have at least +been tolerable. A complete amnesty was granted, and a royal command +issued that the Protestants were to be exposed to neither insults +nor recriminations, and were to be at liberty to profess their +faith openly.</p> +<p>Freedom of worship was, however, restricted within very small +proportions. The nobles of high rank were permitted to name a +place, belonging to them, where religious services could be +performed. As long as they or their families were present, these +services could be attended by all persons in their jurisdiction. +Other nobles were allowed to have services, but only for their +families and friends, not exceeding twelve in number. Twenty-four +towns were named, two in each of the principal provinces, in which +Protestant services were allowed; the privilege being extended to +all the towns of which the Huguenots had possession, at the +signature of the truce.</p> +<p>All property, honours, and offices were restored, and judicial +decisions against their holders annulled. The four towns, La +Rochelle, Montauban, Cognac, and La Charite were, for two years, to +remain in the hands of the Huguenots, to serve as places of refuge. +The edict, in which the king promulgated the terms of peace, stated +the conditions to be perpetual and irrevocable.</p> +<p>The Huguenots had the more hope that the peace would be +preserved, since Montmorency, who was an opponent of the Guises, +and had done his best to bring about peace, was high in favour with +the king; and indeed, held the chief power in France.</p> +<p>There can be little doubt that, at the time, the king was in +earnest. He ordered the parliament of Paris to annul a declaration +they had made, declaring the Cardinal Chatillon, the Admiral's +brother, deprived of his bishopric; and as it hesitated, he ordered +its president to bring the records to him, and with his own hand +tore out the pages upon which the proceedings were entered.</p> +<p>The priests, throughout France, threw every obstacle in the way +of the recognition of the edict; and in several places there were +popular disturbances, and wholesale massacres. Paris, as usual, set +the example of turbulence and bigotry.</p> +<p>As soon as the peace was concluded, Philip prepared to return +for a while to England. In the three years which had elapsed since +he left home, he had greatly changed. He had been a lad of sixteen +when he landed in France. He was now a tall, powerful young fellow. +Although still scarcely beyond the age of boyhood, he had acquired +the bearing and manners of a man. He stood high in the confidence +of Coligny, and the other Huguenot leaders; was a special favourite +with the young Prince of Navarre, and his cousin Conde; and had +received the honour of knighthood, at the hands of one of the +greatest captains of his age.</p> +<p>"You had better stay, Philip," his cousin urged. "You may be +sure that this peace will be as hollow as those which preceded it. +There will never be a lasting one until we have taken Paris, and +taught the bloodthirsty mob there that it is not only women and +children who profess the reformed religion, but men who have swords +in their hands and can use them."</p> +<p>"If the troubles break out again, I shall hasten back, Francois; +indeed, I think that in any case I shall return for a while, ere +long. I do not see what I could do at home. My good uncle Gaspard +has been purchasing land for me, but I am too young to play the +country gentleman."</p> +<p>"Nonsense, Philip. There have been plenty of young nobles in our +ranks who, if your seniors in years, look no older than you do, and +are greatly your inferiors in strength. They are feudal lords on +their estates, and none deem them too young."</p> +<p>"Because they have always been feudal nobles, Francois. I go +back to a place where I was, but three years ago, a boy at school. +My comrades there are scarcely grown out of boyhood. It will seem +to them ridiculous that I should return Sir Philip Fletcher; and +were I to set up as a country squire, they would laugh in my face. +Until I am at least of age, I should not dream of this; and +five-and-twenty would indeed be quite time for me to settle down +there.</p> +<p>"Here it is altogether different. I was introduced as your +cousin, and as a son of one of noble French family; and to our +friends here it is no more remarkable that I should ride behind +Coligny, and talk with the princes of Navarre and Conde, than that +you should do so. But at home it would be different; and I am sure +that my father and mother, my uncle and aunt will agree with me +that it is best I should not settle down, yet. Therefore I propose, +in any case, to return soon.</p> +<p>"I agree with you there will be troubles again here, before +long. If not, there is likely enough to be war with Spain, for they +say Philip is furious at toleration having been granted to the +Huguenots; and in that case there will be opportunities for us, and +it will be much pleasanter fighting against Spaniards than against +Frenchmen.</p> +<p>"If there are neither fresh troubles here, nor war with Spain, I +shall go and join the Dutch in their struggle against the +Spaniards. Prince Louis of Nassau told me that he would willingly +have me to ride behind him; and the Prince of Orange, to whom the +Admiral presented me, also spoke very kindly. They, like you, are +fighting for the reformed faith and freedom of worship and, cruel +as are the persecutions you have suffered in France, they are as +nothing to the wholesale massacres by Alva."</p> +<p>"In that case, Philip, I will not try to detain you; but at any +rate, wait a few months before you take service in Holland, and pay +us another visit before you decide upon doing so."</p> +<p>Philip journeyed quietly across the north of France, and took +passage to Dover for himself and his horses. Pierre accompanied +him, taking it so greatly to heart, when he spoke of leaving him, +behind that Philip consented to keep him; feeling, indeed, greatly +loath to part from one who had, for three years, served him so +well. The two men-at-arms were transferred to Francois' troop, both +being promised that, if Philip rode to the wars again in France, +they and their comrades now at Laville should accompany him.</p> +<p>From Dover Philip rode to Canterbury. He saw in the streets he +passed through many faces he knew, among them some of his former +schoolfellows; and he wondered to himself that these were so little +changed, while he was so altered that none recognized, in the +handsomely dressed young cavalier, the lad they had known; although +several stopped to look at, and remark on, the splendid horses +ridden by the gentleman and his attendant.</p> +<p>He drew rein in front of Gaspard Vaillant's large establishment +and, dismounting, gave his reins to Pierre and entered. He passed +straight through the shop into the merchant's counting house.</p> +<a id="PicI" name="PicI"></a> +<center><img src="images/i.jpg" alt= +"Gaspard Vaillant gets a surprise." /></center> +<p>Gaspard looked up in surprise, at the entry of a gentleman +unannounced; looked hard at his visitor, and then uttered his name +and, rushing forward, embraced him warmly.</p> +<p>"I can hardly believe it is you," he exclaimed, holding Philip +at arm's length and gazing up in his face. "Why, you have grown a +veritable giant; and as fine a man as your father was, when I first +knew him; and you have returned Sir Philip, too. I don't know that +I was ever so pleased as when you sent me the news. I gave a +holiday to all the workmen, and we had a great fete.</p> +<p>"But of course, you cannot stop now. You will be wanting to go +up to your father and mother. Run upstairs and embrace Marie. We +will not keep you at present, but in an hour we will be up with +you."</p> +<p>In a minute or two Philip ran down again.</p> +<p>"Pardieu, but you are well mounted, Philip," the merchant said, +as he sprang into the saddle. "These are the two horses, I suppose, +you told us about in your letters.</p> +<p>"And is this Pierre, who saved your life when you were captured +at Agen?"</p> +<p>"And a good many other times, uncle, by always managing to get +hold of a fat pullet when we were pretty near starving. I was +always afraid that, sooner or later, I should lose him; and that I +should find him, some morning or other, dangling from a tree to +which the provost marshal had strung him up."</p> +<p>"Then I shall see you in an hour."</p> +<p>And Philip galloped off to the farm.</p> +<p>The delight of Philip's parents, as he rode up to the house, was +great indeed. Philip saw, before he had been at home an hour, that +they were animated by somewhat different feelings. His mother was +full of gratitude, at his preservation through many dangers; and +was glad that he had been able to do some service to her persecuted +co-religionists--the fact that he had won great personal credit, +and had received the honour of knighthood at the hands of Coligny +himself, weighed as nothing in her eyes. It was otherwise with his +father. He was very proud that his boy had turned out a worthy +descendant of the fighting Kentish stock; and that he had shown, in +half-a-dozen fights against heavy odds, a courage as staunch as +that which his forefathers had exhibited at Cressy, Poitiers, and +Agincourt.</p> +<p>"Good blood tells, my boy," he said; "and you must have shown +them a rare sample of what an Englishman can do, before they +knighted you. I would rather you had won it in an English battle, +but all admit that there is no more capable chief in Europe than +the Huguenot Admiral. Certainly there are no English commanders of +fame or repute to compare with him; though if we ever get to blows +with the Spanish, we shall soon find men, I warrant me, who will +match the best of them.</p> +<p>"There was a deal of talk in Canterbury, I can tell you, when +the news came home; and many refugees who came through the town +declared that they had heard your name among those of the nobles +who rode with the Admiral, and the brave La Noue. Indeed, there are +two families settled here who fled from Niort, and these have told +how you and your cousin saved them from the Catholics.</p> +<p>"I warrant you they have told the tale often enough since they +have come here; and it has made quite a stir in Canterbury, and +there is not a week passes without some of your old school friends, +who used to come up here with you, running up to ask the last news +of you, and to hear your letters read; and it has been a pleasure +to me to read them, lad, and to see how they opened their eyes when +they heard that the Queen of Navarre and her son had given you +presents, and that you often rode with the young prince, and his +cousin Conde.</p> +<p>"You have changed, Philip, mightily; not in your face, for I see +but little alteration there, but in your manner and air. The boys +did not seem to understand how you, whom they looked on as one of +themselves, could be riding to battle with nobles and talking with +princes; but I think they will understand better, when they see +you. You look almost too fine for such simple people as we are, +Philip; though I do not say your clothes are not of sombre hues, as +might be expected from one fighting in the Huguenot ranks."</p> +<p>"I am sure, father," Philip laughed, "there is nothing fine +about me. I have gained knighthood, it is true; but a poorer knight +never sat in saddle, seeing that I have neither a square yard of +land nor a penny piece of my own, owing everything to the kindness +of my good uncle, and yourself."</p> +<p>"I must go out tomorrow morning, Philip, and look at those +horses of yours. They must be rare beasts, from what you say of +them."</p> +<p>"That are they, father. Methinks I like the one I bought at +Rochelle even better than that which the Queen of Navarre bestowed +upon me; but I grieved sorely over the death of Victor, the horse +Francois gave me. I was riding him at the fight of Moncontour, and +he was shot through the head with a ball from a German +arquebus."</p> +<p>Pierre had, as soon as they arrived, been welcomed and made much +of by Philip's mother; and was speedily seated in the post of +honour in the kitchen, where he astonished the French servants with +tales of his master's adventures, with many surprising additions +which had but slight basis of fact.</p> +<p>Gaspard Vaillant and his wife thought that Philip's parents +would like to have him, for a time, to themselves; and did not come +up for two or three hours after he had arrived.</p> +<p>"You will admit, John, that my plan has acted rarely," the +merchant said, when he was seated; "and that, as I prophesied, it +has made a man of him. What would he have been, if he had stayed +here?"</p> +<p>"He would, I hope, brother Gaspard," Lucie said gravely, "have +been what he is now--a gentleman."</p> +<p>"No doubt, Lucie. He promised as much as that, before he went; +but he is more than that now. He has been the companion of nobles, +and has held his own with them; and if he should go to court, now, +he would do honour to your family and his, though he rubbed +shoulders with the best of them.</p> +<p>"And now, what are you thinking of doing next, Philip? You will +hardly care to settle down among us here, after such a life as you +have led for the last three years."</p> +<p>Philip repeated the views he had expressed to Francois de +Laville, and his plans were warmly approved by his uncle and +father; though his mother folded her hands, and shook her head +sadly.</p> +<p>"The lad is right, Lucie," the merchant said.</p> +<p>"He is lord now of the Holford estates--for the deeds are +completed and signed, Philip, making them over to you. But I agree +heartily with your feeling that you are too young, yet, to assume +their mastership. I have a good steward there looking after things, +seeing that all goes well, and that the house is kept in order. But +it is best, as you say, that a few years should pass before you go +to reside there. We need not settle, for a time, whether you shall +return to France, or go to see service with those sturdy Dutchmen +against the Spaniards. But I should say that it is best you should +go where you have already made a name, and gained many friends.</p> +<p>"There is no saying, yet, how matters will go there. Charles is +but a puppet in the hands of Catherine de Medici; and with the +pope, and Philip of Spain, and the Guises always pushing her on, +she will in time persuade the king, who at present earnestly wishes +for peace, to take fresh measures against the Huguenots. She is +never happy unless she is scheming, and you will see she will not +be long before she begins to make trouble, again."</p> +<p>The news spread quickly through Canterbury that Philip Fletcher +had returned, and the next day many of his old friends came up to +see him. At first they were a little awed by the change that had +come over him, and one or two of them even addressed him as Sir +Philip. But the shout of laughter, with which he received this +well-meant respect, showed them that he was their old schoolfellow +still; and soon set them at their ease with him.</p> +<p>"We didn't think, Philip," one of them said, "when you used to +take the lead in our fights with the boys of the town, that you +would be so soon fighting in earnest, in France; and that in three +years you would have gained knighthood."</p> +<p>"I did not think so myself, Archer. You used to call me +Frenchie, you know; but I did not think, at the time, that I was +likely ever to see France. I should like to have had my old band +behind me, in some of the fights we had there. I warrant you would +have given as hard knocks as you got, and would have held your own +there, as well as you did many a time in the fights in the +Cloisters.</p> +<p>"Let us go and lie down under the shade of that tree, there. It +used to be our favourite bank, you know, in hot weather; and you +shall ask as many questions as you like, and I will answer as best +I can."</p> +<p>"And be sure, Philip, to bring all your friends in to supper," +John Fletcher said. "I warrant your mother will find plenty for +them to eat. She never used to have any difficulty about that, in +the old times; and I don't suppose their appetites are sharper, +now, than they were then."</p> +<p>Philip spent six months at home. A few days after his return +many of the country gentry, who had not known John Fletcher, called +on Philip, as one who had achieved a reputation that did honour to +the county--for every detail of the Huguenot struggle had been +closely followed, in England; and more than one report had been +brought over, by emigres, of the bravery of a young Englishman who +was held in marked consideration by Admiral Coligny, and had won a +name for himself, even among the nobles and gentlemen who rode with +that dashing officer De La Noue, whose fame was second only to that +of the Admiral. Walsingham, the English ambassador at Paris, had +heard of him from La Noue himself, when he was a prisoner there; +and mentioned him in one of his despatches, saying that it was this +gentleman who had been chosen, by Coligny, to carry important +despatches both to the Queen of Navarre and the Duc de Deux-Ponts, +and had succeeded admirably in both these perilous missions; and +that he had received knighthood, at the hands of the Admiral, for +the valour with which he had covered the retreat at the battle of +Jarnac.</p> +<p>Philip was, at first, disposed to meet these advances +coldly.</p> +<p>"They have not recognized you or my mother, father, as being of +their own rank."</p> +<p>"Nor have we been, Philip. I am but a petty landowner, while it +is already known that you are the owner of a considerable estate; +and have gained consideration and credit, and as a knight have +right to precedence over many of them. If you had intended to +settle in France, you could do as you like as to accepting their +courtesies; but as it is, it is as well that you should make the +acquaintance of those with whom you will naturally associate, when +you take up your residence on the estate your uncle has bought for +you.</p> +<p>"Had your mother and I a grievance against them, it might be +different; but we have none. We Fletchers have been yeomen here for +many generations. In our own rank, we esteem ourselves as good as +the best; but we never thought of pushing ourselves out of our own +station, and in the ordinary course of things you would have lived +and died as your fathers have done. The change has come about, +first through my marrying a French wife of noble blood, though with +but a small share of this world's goods; secondly through her +sister's husband making a large fortune in trade, and adopting you +as his heir; and thirdly, through your going out to your mother's +relations, and distinguishing yourself in the war. Thus you stand +in an altogether different position to that which I held.</p> +<p>"You are a man with an estate. You are noble, on your mother's +side. You are a knight, and have gained the approval of great +captains and princes. Therefore it is only meet and right that you +should take your place among the gentry; and it would be not only +churlish to refuse to accept their civilities now, but altogether +in opposition to the course which your uncle planned for you."</p> +<p>Philip therefore accepted the civilities offered to him, and was +invited to entertainments at many of the great houses in that part +of the county; where, indeed, he was made a good deal of--his fine +figure, the ease and courtesy of his bearing, and the reputation he +had gained for bravery, rendering him a general favourite.</p> +<p>At the end of six months he received a letter from his cousin, +urging him to return.</p> +<p>"Spring has now begun, Philip. At present things are going on +quietly, and the king seems determined that the peace shall be +kept. The Constable Montmorency is still very high in favour, and +the Guises are sulking on their estates. The Huguenot nobles are +all well received at court, where they go in numbers, to pay their +respect to the king and to assure him of their devotion. I have +been there with my mother, and the king was mightily civil, and +congratulated me on having been knighted by Coligny. We were +present at his majesty's marriage with the daughter of the Emperor +of Germany. The show was a very fine one, and everything +pleasant.</p> +<p>"There is a report that, in order to put an end to all further +troubles, and to bind both parties in friendship, the king has +proposed a marriage between his sister Marguerite and Henry of +Navarre. We all trust that it will take place, for it will indeed +be a grand thing for us of the reformed faith.</p> +<p>"It is rumoured that Queen Jeanne is by no means eager for the +match, fearing that Henry, once at Paris, will abandon the simple +customs in which he has been brought up; and may even be led away, +by the influence of Marguerite and the court, to abandon his faith. +Her first fear, I think, is likely enough to be realized; for it +seems to me that he has been brought up somewhat too strictly, and +being, I am sure, naturally fond of pleasure, he is likely enough +to share in the gaieties of the court of Paris. As to her other +fear, I cannot think there is foundation for it. Henry is certainly +ambitious and very politic, and he has talked often and freely with +me, when we have been alone together. He has spoken, once or twice, +of his chances of succeeding to the throne of France. They are not +great, seeing that three lives stand between it and him and, now +that the king has married, they are more remote than before. Still +there is the chance; and he once said to me:</p> +<p>"'One thing seems to me to be certain, Francois: supposing +Charles of Valois and his two brothers died without leaving heirs, +France would not accept a Huguenot king. There would be the Guises, +and the priests, and the papacy, and Spain all thrown in the scale +against him.'</p> +<p>"'That is likely enough, prince,' I said; 'and methinks your lot +would be preferable, as King of Navarre, to that of King of France. +However, happily there is no reason for supposing that the king and +his two brothers will die without heirs.'</p> +<p>"He did not speak for some time, but sat there thinking. You +know the way he has. Methinks, Philip, that when he comes to man's +estate, and is King of Navarre, the Guises will find in him a very +different opponent to deal with than the leaders of the Huguenots +have been so far.</p> +<p>"The Admiral is so honest and loyal and truthful, himself, that +he is ill fitted to match the subtlety of the queen mother, or the +deceit and falsehood of the Guises. The Queen of Navarre is a +heroine and a saint but, although a wise woman, she is no match for +intriguers. Conde was a gallant soldier, but he hated politics.</p> +<p>"Henry of Navarre will be an opponent of another sort. When I +first knew him, I thought him the frankest and simplest of young +princes; and that is what most think him, still. But I am sure he +is much more than that. Having been about his person for months, +and being the youngest of his companions--most of whom were stern, +earnest Huguenot nobles--he was a great deal with me, and talked +with me as he did not with the others. It seems to me that he has +two characters: the one what he seems to be--light hearted, merry, +straightforward, and outspoken; the other thoughtful, astute, +ambitious, and politic, studying men closely, and adapting himself +to their moods.</p> +<p>"I don't pretend to understand him at all--he is altogether +beyond me; but I am sure he will be a great leader, some day. I +think you would understand him better than I should, and I know he +thinks so, too. Of course, you had your own duties all through the +campaign, and saw but little of him; but more than once he +said:</p> +<p>"'I wish I had your English cousin with me. I like you much, +Laville; but your cousin is more like myself, and I should learn +much of him. You are brave and merry and good-tempered, and so is +he; but he has a longer head than you have,'--which I know is quite +true--'you would be quite content to spend your life at court, +Francois; where you would make a good figure, and would take things +as they come. He would not. If he did not like things he would +intrigue, he would look below the surface, he would join a party, +he would be capable of waiting, biding his time. I am only +seventeen, Francois; but it is of all things the most important for +a prince to learn to read men, and to study their characters, and I +am getting on.</p> +<p>"'Your cousin is not ambitious. He would never conspire for his +own advantage, but he would be an invaluable minister and adviser, +to a prince in difficulties. The Admiral meant well, but he was +wrong in refusing to let me have Philip Fletcher. When I am my own +master I will have him, if I can catch him; but I do not suppose +that I shall, because of that very fault of not being ambitious. He +has made his own plans, and is bent, as he told me, on returning to +England; and nothing that I can offer him will, I am sure, alter +his determination. But it is a pity, a great pity.'</p> +<p>"By all this you see, Philip, that those who think the Prince of +Navarre merely a merry, careless young fellow, who is likely to +rule his little kingdom in patriarchal fashion; and to trouble +himself with nothing outside, so long as his subjects are contented +and allowed to worship in their own way, are likely to find +themselves sorely mistaken. However, if you come over soon, you +will be able to judge for yourself.</p> +<p>"The Queen of Navarre saw a great deal of the countess, my +mother, when they were at La Rochelle together; and has invited her +to pay her a visit at Bearn, and the prince has requested me to +accompany her. Of course if you come over you will go with us, and +will be sure of a hearty welcome from Henry. We shall have some +good hunting, and there is no court grandeur, and certainly no more +state than we have at our chateau. In fact, my good mother is a +much more important personage, there, than is Jeanne of Navarre at +Bearn."</p> +<p>This letter hastened Philip's departure. The prospect of hunting +in the mountains of Navarre was a pleasant one. He liked the young +prince; and had, in the short time he had been his companion, +perceived that there was much more in him than appeared on the +surface; and that, beside his frank bonhomie manner, there was a +fund of shrewdness and common sense. Moreover, without being +ambitious, it is pleasant for a young man to know that one, who may +some day be a great prince, has conceived a good opinion of +him.</p> +<p>He took Francois' letter down to his uncle Gaspard, and read +portions of it to him. Gaspard sat thoughtful, for some time, after +he had finished.</p> +<p>"It is new to me," he said at last. "I believed the general +report that Henry of Navarre was a frank, careless young fellow, +fond of the chase, and, like his mother, averse to all court +ceremony; likely enough to make a good soldier, but without +ambition, and without marked talent. If what Francois says is +true--and it seems that you are inclined to agree with him--it may +make a great difference in the future of France. The misfortune of +the Huguenots, hitherto, has been that they have been ready to fall +into any trap that the court of France might set for them and, on +the strength of a few hollow promises, to throw away all the +advantages they had gained by their efforts and courage, in spite +of their experience that those promises were always broken, as soon +as they laid down their arms.</p> +<p>"In such an unequal contest they must always be worsted and, +honest and straightforward themselves, they are no match for men +who have neither truth nor conscience. If they had but a leader as +politic and astute as the queen mother and the Guises, they might +possibly gain their ends. If Henry of Navarre turns out a wise and +politic prince, ready to match his foes with their own weapons, he +may win for the Huguenots what they will never gain with their own +swords.</p> +<p>"But mind you, they will hardly thank him for it. My wife and +your mother would be horrified were I to say that, as a Catholic, +Henry of Navarre would be able to do vastly more, to heal the long +open sore and to secure freedom of worship for the Huguenots, than +he ever could do as a Huguenot. Indeed, I quite agree with what he +says, that as a Huguenot he can never hold the throne of +France."</p> +<p>Philip uttered an exclamation of indignation.</p> +<p>"You cannot think, uncle, that he will ever change his +religion?"</p> +<p>"I know nothing about him, beyond what you and your cousin say, +Philip. There are Huguenots, and Huguenots. There are men who would +die at the stake, rather than give up one iota of their faith. +There are men who think that the Reformed faith is better and purer +than the Catholic, but who nevertheless would be willing to make +considerable concessions, in the interest of peace. You must +remember that, when princes and princesses marry, they generally +embrace the faith of their husbands; and when, lately, Queen +Elizabeth was talking of marrying the Prince of Anjou, she made it +one of the conditions that he should turn Protestant, and the +demand was not considered to be insurmountable. It may be that the +time will come when Henry of Navarre may consider the throne of +France, freedom of worship, and a general peace, cheaply purchased +at the cost of attending mass. If he does so, doubtless the +Huguenots would be grieved and indignant; but so far as they are +concerned, it would be the best thing. But of course, we are only +talking now of what he might do, should nought but his religion +stand between him and the throne of France. As King of Navarre, +simply, his interest would be all the other way, and he would +doubtless remain a staunch Huguenot.</p> +<p>"Of course, Philip, I am speaking without knowing this young +prince. I am simply arguing as to what an astute and politic man, +in his position, not over earnest as to matters of faith, would be +likely to do."</p> +<p>Three days later, Philip rode to London with Pierre and embarked +for La Rochelle. His uncle had amply supplied him with funds, but +his father insisted upon his taking a handsome sum from him.</p> +<p>"Although you did not require much money before, Philip--and +Gaspard told me that you did not draw, from his agent at La +Rochelle, a third of the sum he had placed for you in his hands--it +will be different now. You had no expenses before, save the pay of +your men, and the cost of their food and your own; but in time of +peace there are many expenses, and I would not that you should be, +in any way, short of money. You can place the greater portion of it +in the hands of Maitre Bertram, and draw it as you require. At any +rate, it is better in your hands than lying in that chest in the +corner. Your mother and I have no need for it, and it would take +away half her pleasure in her work, were the earnings not used +partly for your advantage."</p> +<p>The ship made a quick run to La Rochelle, and the next morning +Philip rode for Laville. He had not been there since the battle of +Moncontour; and although he knew that it had been burnt by the +Royalists, shortly afterwards, it gave him a shock to see, as he +rode through the gate, how great a change had taken place. The +central portion had been repaired, but the walls were still +blackened with smoke. The wings stood empty and roofless, and the +ample stables, storehouses, and buildings for the retainers had +disappeared.</p> +<p>His aunt received him with great kindness, and Francois was +delighted to see him again.</p> +<p>"Yes, it is a change, Philip," the countess said, as she saw his +eyes glancing round the apartment. "However, I have grown +accustomed to it, and scarce notice it now. Fortunately I have +ample means for rebuilding the chateau, for I have led a quiet life +for some years; and as the count my husband, being a Huguenot, was +not near the court from the time the troubles began, our revenues +have for a long time been accumulating; and much of it has been +sent to my sister's husband, and has been invested by him in +England. There Francois agrees with me that it should remain.</p> +<p>"There is at present peace here, but who can say how long it +will last? One thing is certain, that should war break out again, +it will centre round La Rochelle; and I might be once more forced +to leave the chateau at the mercy of the Royalists. It would, then, +be folly to spend a crown upon doing more than is sufficient for +our necessities. We only keep such retainers as are absolutely +necessary for our service. There are but eight horses in the +stables, the rest are all out on the farms and, should the troubles +recommence, we shall soon find riders for them."</p> +<p>"You have just arrived in time, Philip," Francois said +presently, "for we start at the end of this week for Bearn and, +although you could have followed us, I am right glad that you have +arrived in time to ride with us. All your men are still here."</p> +<p>"I saw Eustace and Henri, as I rode in," Philip said.</p> +<p>"The other two work in the garden. Of course, their days for +fighting are over. They could doubtless strike a blow in defence of +the chateau, but they have not recovered sufficiently from their +wounds ever to ride as men-at-arms again. However, two will suffice +for your needs, at present.</p> +<p>"I shall take four of my own men, for the country is still far +from safe for travelling. Many of the disbanded soldiers have +turned robbers and, although the royal governors hunt down and +string up many, they are still so numerous that travellers from one +town to another always journey in strong parties, for +protection.</p> +<p>"How did Pierre get on, in England?"</p> +<p>"He was glad to return here again, Francois; although he got on +well enough, as our house servants are French, as are also many of +those on the farm, and he became quite a favourite with every one. +But he is of a restless nature, and grew tired of idleness."</p> +<p>Three days later, the party set out from Laville. The countess +rode on horseback, and her female attendant en croupe behind one of +the troopers. They journeyed by easy stages, stopping sometimes at +hostelries in the towns, but more often at chateaux belonging to +gentlemen known to the countess or her son. They several times came +upon groups of rough-looking men; but the two gentlemen, their +servants, and the six fully-armed retainers were a force too +formidable to be meddled with, and they arrived safely at +Bearn.</p> +<p>The royal abode was a modest building, far less stately than was +Laville, before its ruin. It stood a short distance out of the +town, where they had left the men-at-arms, with instructions to +find lodgings for themselves and their horses. As they arrived at +the entrance, Prince Henri himself ran down the steps, in a dress +as plain as that which would be worn by an ordinary citizen.</p> +<p>"Welcome to Bearn," he said. "It is a modest palace, countess; +and I am a much less important person, here, than when I was +supposed to be commanding our army."</p> +<p>He assisted her to alight, and then rang a bell. A man came +round from the back of the house, and took the horse from Pierre, +who was holding it; while Henri entered the house with the +countess. A minute later, he ran out from the house again.</p> +<p>"Now that I have handed over the countess to my mother, I can +speak to you both," he said heartily. "I am pleased to see you, +Francois, and you too, Monsieur Philip."</p> +<p>"My cousin insisted on my coming with him, prince, and assured +me that you would not be displeased at the liberty. But of course, +I intend to quarter myself in the town."</p> +<p>"You will do no such thing," the prince said. "We are poor in +Bearn, as poor as church mice; but not so poor that we cannot +entertain a friend. Your bedroom is prepared for you."</p> +<p>Philip looked surprised.</p> +<p>"You don't suppose," the prince said, laughing, "that people can +come and go, in this kingdom of ours, without being noticed. We are +weak, and for that very reason we must be on our guard. Half the +people who come here come for a purpose. They come from the king, +or from Philip of Spain, or from the Guises, and most of them mean +mischief of some sort. So you see, we like to know beforehand and, +unless they ride very fast, we are sure to get twenty-four hours' +notice before they arrive.</p> +<p>"Then, you see, if we want a little more time, a horse may cast +its shoe, or some of the baggage may be missing, or perhaps an +important paper somehow gets mislaid. It is curious how often these +things happen. Then, when they arrive here they find that I have, +as usual, gone off for a fortnight's hunting among the mountains; +and that, perhaps, my mother has started for Nerac.</p> +<p>"We heard yesterday morning that you had crossed the frontier, +and that the countess had with her her son, and a big young +Englishman, whose identity I had no difficulty in guessing."</p> +<p>"And we met with no misfortunes by the way, prince," Francois +said, smiling.</p> +<p>"No," the prince laughed, "these things do not happen +always."</p> +<p>They had so far stood on the steps, chatting. The two servants +had followed the lackey, with their own and their masters' horses. +The prince led the way indoors, and they were heartily welcomed by +the queen, who kept no more state at Bearn than would be observed +by any petty nobleman in France.</p> +<p>On the following day, the two friends started with the prince +for the mountains; and were away for three weeks, during which time +they hunted the wild boar, killed several wolves, and shot five or +six wild goats. They were attended only by two or three huntsmen, +and their three personal servants. They slept sometimes in the huts +of shepherds, or charcoal burners; sometimes in the forest, in +spite of the cold, which was often severe.</p> +<p>"What do you say about this marriage which is being arranged for +me?" the prince asked suddenly, one night, as they were sitting by +a huge fire in the forest.</p> +<p>"It ought to be a great thing for the Reformed religion, if it +is agreeable to your highness," Francois said cautiously.</p> +<p>"A politic answer, Monsieur de Laville.</p> +<p>"What say you, Philip?"</p> +<p>"It is a matter too deep for me to venture an opinion," Philip +said. "There is doubtless much to be said, on both sides. For +example--you are a fisherman, prince?"</p> +<p>"Only moderately so, Philip; but what has that to do with +it?"</p> +<p>"I would say, sir, that when a fisherman hooks an exceedingly +large fish, it is just possible that, instead of landing it, the +fish may pull him into the water."</p> +<p>The prince laughed.</p> +<p>"You have hit it exactly, Monsieur Philip. That is just the way +I look at it. Marguerite of Valois is, indeed, a very big fish +compared with the Prince of Bearn; and it is not only she who would +pull, but there are others, and even bigger fish, who would pull +with her. My good mother has fears that, if I once tasted the +gaieties of the court of France, I should be ruined, body and +soul.</p> +<p>"Now I have rather an inclination for the said gaieties, and +that prospect does not terrify me as it does her. But there are +things which alarm me, more than gaieties. There is the king who, +except when he occasionally gets into a rage, and takes his own +course, is but a tool in the hands of Catharine de Medici. There is +Anjou, who made a jest of the dead body of my uncle Conde. There +are Lorraine and the Guises, there are the priests, and there is +the turbulent mob of Paris. It seems to me that, instead of being +the fisherman, I should be like a very small fish, enclosed in a +very strong net."</p> +<p>And he looked thoughtfully into the fire.</p> +<p>"The king is, at present, with us; but his plighted word is +worth nothing."</p> +<p>"But once married," Francois said, "you would have the princess +on your side, and being then brother-in-law to the king, you would +be safe from attack."</p> +<p>"The king has no great love for his own brothers," Henri said; +"but I am not supposing that even Charles would lay hands on me, +after inviting me to his court to marry his sister. He would not +venture upon that, before the eyes of all Europe. It is the strain +and the pressure that I fear. A girl who is sent to a nunnery, +however much she may hate becoming a nun, can no more escape than a +fly from the meshes of a spider. I doubt not that it seems, to all +the Huguenots of France, that for me to marry Marguerite of Valois +would be more than a great victory won for their cause; but I have +my doubts. However, in a matter like this I am not a free +agent.</p> +<p>"The Huguenot lords are all delighted at the prospect. My mother +is still undecided. You see, I am practically as much in a net, +here, as I shall be at Paris, if this marriage is made. I am rather +glad the decision does not rest with me. I shall simply go with the +stream; some day, perhaps, I shall be strong enough to swim against +it. I hope that, at any rate, if I ride to Paris to marry +Marguerite of Valois, you will both accompany me."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch19" id="Ch19">Chapter 19</a>: In A Net.</h2> +<p>After their return from hunting, they remained for another +fortnight at Bearn; and then started, the countess and Francois to +return home, and Philip to pay a visit to the Count de Valecourt, +at his chateau in Dauphiny, in accordance with the promise he had +given him to visit him on his return to France. Here he remained +for a month. The count treated him with the warmest hospitality, +and introduced him to all his friends as the saviour of his +daughter.</p> +<p>Claire had grown much since he had seen her, when he had ridden +over with her father to Landres, a year before. She was now nearly +sixteen, and was fast growing into womanhood.</p> +<p>Philip was already acquainted with many of the nobles and gentry +of Dauphiny who had joined the Admiral's army and, after leaving +Valecourt, he stayed for a short time at several of their chateaux; +and it was autumn before he joined Francois at Laville. The +inhabited portion of the chateau had been enlarged and made more +comfortable, for the king was still firm in his decision that peace +should be preserved, and showed marked favour to the section of the +court that opposed any persecution of the Huguenots. He had further +shown his desire for the friendship of the Protestant powers by the +negotiations that had been carried on for the marriage of the Duke +of Anjou to Queen Elizabeth.</p> +<p>"I have news for you," Francois said. "The king has invited the +Admiral to visit him. It has, of course, been a matter of great +debate whether Coligny should trust himself at court, many of his +friends strongly dissuading him; but he deems it best, in the +interests of our religion, that he should accept the invitation; +and he is going to set out next week for Blois, where the king now +is with the court. He will take only a few of his friends with him. +He is perfectly aware of the risk he runs but, to those who entreat +him not to trust himself at court, he says his going there may be a +benefit to the cause, and that his life is as nothing in the scale. +However, he has declined the offers that have been made by many +gentlemen to accompany him, and only three or four of his personal +friends ride with him."</p> +<p>"No doubt he acts wisely, there," Philip said. "It would be +well-nigh destruction to our cause, should anything befall him now; +and the fewer of our leaders in Charles's hands, the less +temptation to the court to seize them.</p> +<p>"But I do think it possible that good may come of Coligny, +himself, going there. He exercises wonderful influence over all who +come in contact with him, and he may be able to counterbalance the +intrigues of the Catholic party, and confirm the king in his +present good intentions towards us."</p> +<p>"I saw him two days ago, and offered to ride in his train," +Francois said; "but he refused, decidedly, to let me.</p> +<p>"'The friends who will accompany me,' he said, 'have, like +myself, well-nigh done their work. The future is for you and those +who are young. I cannot dream that the king would do wrong to +invited guests; but should aught happen, the blow shall fall upon +none of those who should be the leaders of the next +generation.'"</p> +<p>The news of the reception of the Admiral, at Blois, was +anxiously awaited by the Huguenots of the west; and there was great +joy when they heard that he had been received most graciously by +the king, who had embraced him, and protested that he regarded it +as one of the happiest days in his life; as he saw, in his return +to his side, the end of trouble and an assurance of future +tranquillity. Even Catharine de Medici received the Admiral with +warmth. The king presented him, from his private purse, with the +large sum of a hundred thousand livres; to make good some of the +great losses he had suffered in the war. He also ordered that he +should receive, for a year, the revenues of his brother the +cardinal, who had lately died; and appointed him guardian of one of +the great estates, during the minority of its heir--a post which +brought with it considerable profits.</p> +<p>At Coligny's suggestion, Charles wrote to the Duke of Savoy +interceding for the Waldenses, who were being persecuted cruelly +for having assisted the Huguenots of France.</p> +<p>So angered were the Guises, by the favour with which the king +treated the Admiral, that they retired from court; and the king was +thus left entirely to the influence of Montmorency and Coligny. The +ambassador of Spain, who was further angered by Charles granting +interviews to Louis of Nassau, and by his holding out hopes to the +Dutch of assistance in their struggle against Alva, also left +France in deep dudgeon, and with threats of war.</p> +<p>The result was, naturally, to cause a better state of feeling +throughout France. Persecutions everywhere ceased; and the +Huguenots, for the first time for many years, were able to live in +peace, and without fear of their neighbours.</p> +<p>The negotiations for the marriage between the Prince of Navarre +and Marguerite de Valois continued. The prince was now eighteen and +a half, and the princess twenty. The idea of a marriage between +them was of old standing, for it had been proposed by Henry the +Second, fifteen years before; but at the outbreak of the Huguenot +troubles it had been dropped. Marshal Biron was sent by the king +with the royal proposals to the Queen of Navarre, who was now at La +Rochelle. The queen expressed her gratitude for the honour offered +to her son, but prayed for time before giving a decided answer, in +order that she might consult the ministers of her religion as to +whether such a marriage might be entered into, by one of the +Reformed religion.</p> +<p>The news of the proposed marriage, and also of the negotiations +that had been opened for a marriage between Elizabeth of England +and the Duc d'Alencon, created the greatest alarm throughout the +Catholic world. A legate was sent to Charles by the pope, to +protest against it. Sebastian, King of Portugal, who had refused +the hand of Marguerite when it had before been offered to him, +reopened negotiations for it; while Philip of Spain did all in his +power to throw obstacles in the way of the match.</p> +<p>The ministers of the Reformed religion, consulted by the queen, +considered that the marriage of Henry to Marguerite would be of +vast benefit to the Huguenot cause; and declared that a mixed +marriage was lawful. The English ambassador gave his strongest +support to it, and the Queen of Navarre now entered upon the +negotiations in earnest, and went to Blois for the purpose.</p> +<p>The differences were entirely religious ones, the court +insisting that Henri, while living at Paris with his wife, should +consent to be deprived of all means of worshipping according to his +own religion; while Marguerite, while in Bearn, should be +guaranteed permission to have mass celebrated there. The king would +have been ready to waive both conditions; but Catherine who, after +at first favouring the match, now threw every obstacle in its way, +was opposed to any conclusion. She refused to permit the Queen of +Navarre to have any interview with either Charles or Marguerite, +unless she was also present; and hesitated at no falsehoods, +however outrageous, in order to thwart the efforts of Jeanne and +her friends.</p> +<p>The pious queen, however, was more troubled by the extreme and +open profligacy of the court than by the political difficulties she +encountered and, in her letters, implored her son to insist upon +residing at Bearn with his wife, and on no account to take up his +abode at Paris.</p> +<p>However, at last the difficulties were removed. The court +abandoned its demand that Marguerite should be allowed to attend +mass at Bearn; and the Queen of Navarre, on her part, consented +that the marriage should take place at Paris, instead of at Bearn +as she had before desired.</p> +<p>She then went to Paris to make preparations for the wedding. The +great anxiety she had gone through told heavily upon her, and a few +days after her arrival at the capital she was seized with a fever +which, in a very short time, terminated her life; not without +considerable suspicions being entertained that her illness and +death had been caused by poison, administered by an agent of +Catherine. She was, undoubtedly, one of the noblest women of her +own or any other time. She was deeply religious, ready to incur all +dangers for the sake of her faith, simple in her habits, pure in +her life, unconquerable in spirit, calm and confident in defeat and +danger, never doubting for a moment that God would give victory to +his cause, and capable of communicating her enthusiasm to all +around her--a Christian heroine, indeed. Her death was a terrible +blow to the Reformed religion. She died on the 9th of June, and the +marriage was, in consequence, deferred until August.</p> +<p>The Admiral had not been present at Blois during the +negotiations for the marriage, for after remaining there for three +weeks he had retired to his estate at Chatillon, where he occupied +himself with the work of restoring his ruined chateau.</p> +<p>The Countess Amelie had accompanied the Queen of Navarre to +Blois, and also to Paris, and had been with her at the time she +died. She had sent a message to Francois and Philip to join her +there, when she left Blois; accompanying her letter with a safe +conduct signed by the king. On the road they were met by the news +of the death of the Queen of Navarre. It was a severe blow to both +of them, not only from the effect it would have upon the Huguenot +cause, but from the affection they personally felt for her.</p> +<p>The king, being grievously harassed by the opposite counsels he +received, and his doubts as to which of his advisers were honest, +wrote to Coligny; begging him to come and aid him, with his counsel +and support.</p> +<p>The Admiral received many letters imploring him not to go to +Paris; where, even if the friendship of the king continued, he +would be exposed to the danger of poison, to which, it was +generally believed, his brothers and the Queen of Navarre had +succumbed; but although fully aware of the danger of the step, he +did not hesitate. To one of his advisers he wrote fearlessly:</p> +<p>"As a royal officer, I cannot in honour refuse to comply with +the summons of the king; but will commit myself to the providence +of Him who holds in His hands the hearts of kings and princes, and +has numbered my years, nay, the very hairs of my head."</p> +<p>One reason of the king's desire for the counsels of the Admiral +was that he had determined to carry out his advice, and that of +Louis of Nassau, to assist the Protestants of Holland, and to +embark in a struggle against the dangerous predominance of Spain. +As a first step, he had already permitted Louis of Nassau to +recruit secretly, in France, five hundred horse and a thousand +infantry from among his Huguenot friends, and to advance with them +into the Netherlands; and with these Louis had, on the 24th of May, +captured Mons, the capital of Hainault.</p> +<p>The Huguenot leaders did their best to persuade Charles to +follow up this stroke by declaring war against Spain; and the king +would have done so, had it not been that Elizabeth of England, who +had before urged him to this course, promising him her aid, now +drew back with her usual vacillation; wishing nothing better than +to see France and Spain engaged in hostilities from which she +would, without trouble or expense, gain advantage. Meanwhile +Catharine, Anjou and the Guise faction all did their best to +counteract the influence of the Huguenots.</p> +<p>Elizabeth's crafty and hesitating policy was largely responsible +for the terrible events that followed. Charles saw that she had +been fooling him, both in reference to his course towards Spain and +in her negotiations for a marriage with one or other of his +brothers. These matters were taken advantage of by his Catholic +advisers, and disposed him to doubt the wisdom of his having placed +himself in the hands of the Huguenots.</p> +<p>While Elizabeth was hesitating, a blow came that confirmed the +king in his doubts as to the prudence of the course he had taken. +Alva laid siege to Mons. A Huguenot force of some three thousand +men, led by the Sieur de Genlis, marched to its relief; but was +surprised, and utterly routed, within a short distance of the +town--1200 were killed on the field of battle, some 1900 fugitives +were slain by the peasantry, barely a hundred reached Mons.</p> +<p>Coligny, who was preparing a much larger force for the +assistance of Louis of Nassau, still strove to induce the king to +throw himself heart and soul into the struggle against Spain; and +even warned him that he would never be a true king, until he could +free himself from his mother's control and the influence of his +brother Anjou.</p> +<p>The queen mother, who had spies everywhere, was not long in +learning that Coligny had given this advice, and her hatred against +him was proportionately increased. She at once went in tears to +Charles, and pointed out to him that it was to her counsel and aid, +alone, that he had owed his success against the Huguenots; that +they were now obtaining all the advantages for which they had +fought, in vain; and that he was endangering the safety of his +throne by angering Spain, relying only on the empty promises of the +faithless Queen of England.</p> +<p>Charles, always weak and irresolute, succumbed at once to her +tears and entreaties, and gave himself up altogether to her +pernicious counsels.</p> +<p>After the death of the Queen of Navarre the countess travelled +back to Laville, escorted by her son and Philip. The young men made +no stay there, but returned at once to Paris where, now that +Coligny was in the king's counsels, there was no ground for fear, +and the approaching nuptials of the young King of Navarre would be +attended by large numbers of his adherents. They took a lodging +near that occupied by the Admiral.</p> +<p>De la Noue was not at court, he being shut up in Mons, having +accompanied Louis of Nassau in his expedition. The court was in +deep mourning for the Queen of Navarre, and there would be no +public gaieties until the wedding. Among the Huguenot lords who had +come to Paris were the Count de Valecourt and his daughter, who was +now seventeen, and had several suitors for her hand among the young +Huguenot nobles.</p> +<p>Francois and Philip were both presented to the king by the +Admiral. Charles received them graciously and, learning that they +had been stopping at Bearn with the Prince of Navarre, presented +them to his sister Margaret.</p> +<p>"These gentlemen, Margot, are friends of the King of Navarre, +and will be able to tell you more about him than these grave +politicians can do."</p> +<p>The princess, who was one of the most beautiful women of her +time, asked them many questions about her future husband, of whom +she had seen so little since his childhood, and about the place +where she was to live; and after that time, when they went to court +with the Admiral, who on such occasions was always accompanied by a +number of Huguenot gentlemen, the young princess always showed them +marked friendliness.</p> +<p>As the time for the marriage approached, the king became more +and more estranged from the Admiral. Queen Elizabeth, while +professing her friendship for the Netherlands, had forbidden +English volunteers to sail to the assistance of the Dutch; and had +written to Alva offering, in token of her friendship, to hand over +Flushing to the Spaniards. This proof of her duplicity, and of the +impossibility of trusting her as an ally, was made the most of by +Catherine; and she easily persuaded the weak-minded king that +hostilities with the Spaniards would be fatal to him, and that, +should he yield to the Admiral's entreaties, he would fall wholly +into the power of the Huguenots. The change in the king's +deportment was so visible that the Catholics did not conceal their +exultation, while a feeling of uneasiness spread among some of the +Huguenot gentlemen at Paris.</p> +<p>"What are you doing, Pierre!" Philip said one day, when he found +his servant occupied in cleaning up the two pairs of heavy pistols +they carried in their holsters.</p> +<p>"I am getting them ready for action, master. I always thought +that the Huguenots were fools to put their heads into this cage; +and the more I see of it, the less I like it."</p> +<p>"There can be no reason for uneasiness, Pierre. The king himself +has, over and over, declared his determination to maintain the +truce and, even did he harbour ill designs against us, he would not +mar his sister's marriage by fresh steps against the Huguenots. +What may follow, after we have all left Paris, I cannot say."</p> +<p>"Well, sir, I hope it may be all right, but since I got a sight +of the king's face the other day, I have no faith in him; he looks +like one worried until well nigh out of his senses--and no wonder. +These weak men, when they become desperate, are capable of the most +terrible actions. A month since he would have hung up his mother +and Anjou, had they ventured to oppose him; and there is no saying, +now, upon whom his wrath may fall.</p> +<p>"At any rate, sir, with your permission I mean to be prepared +for the worst; and the first work is to clean these pistols."</p> +<p>"There can be no harm in that anyhow, Pierre, but I have no +shadow of fear of any trouble occurring. The one thing I am afraid +of is that the king will keep Coligny near him, so that if war +should break out again, we shall not have him for our general. With +the Queen of Navarre dead, the Admiral a prisoner here, and De la +Noue a captive in the hands of Alva, we should fight under terrible +disadvantages; especially as La Rochelle, La Charite, and Montauban +have received royal governors, in accordance with the conditions of +the peace."</p> +<p>"Well, we shall see, master. I shall feel more comfortable if I +have got ready for the worst."</p> +<p>Although Philip laughed at the fears of Pierre, he was yet +impressed by what he had said; for he had come to rely very much +upon the shrewdness of observation of his follower. When, however, +he went that evening to the Count de Valecourt's, he saw that there +was no tinge of such feeling in the minds of the Huguenots present. +The only face that had an unusual look was that of Claire. +Apparently she was gayer than usual, and laughed and talked more +than was her wont; but Philip saw that this mood was not a natural +one, and felt sure that something had happened. Presently, when he +passed near her, she made room for him on the settee beside +her.</p> +<a id="PicJ" name="PicJ"></a> +<center><img src="images/j.jpg" alt= +"You have not heard the news, Monsieur Philip?" /></center> +<p>"You have not heard the news, Monsieur Philip?"</p> +<p>"No, mademoiselle, I have heard no particular news."</p> +<p>"I am glad of it. I would rather tell you myself. My father has, +today, laid his commands on me to marry the Sieur de Pascal."</p> +<p>Philip could not trust himself to speak. He had never +acknowledged to himself that he loved Claire de Valecourt; and had, +over and over again, endeavoured to impress upon his mind the fact +that it would be ridiculous for him even to think of her; for that +her father would never dream of giving her, a rich heiress, and the +last of one of the proudest families of Dauphiny, to a simple +English gentleman.</p> +<p>As he did not speak, the girl went on after a pause.</p> +<p>"It is not my wish, Monsieur Philip; but French girls do not +choose for themselves. My father stated his wishes to me three +months ago, in Dauphiny. I then asked for a little time, and now he +has told me that it is to be. He is wise and good, and I have +nothing to say against the Sieur de Pascal; who, as you know, is +our near neighbour, a brave gentleman, and one whom I have known +since my childhood. It is only that I do not love him. I have told +my father so, but he says that it is not to be expected that a +young maid should love, until after marriage."</p> +<p>"And you have promised?" Philip asked.</p> +<p>"Yes, I have promised," she said simply. "It is the duty of a +daughter to obey her father, especially when that father is as good +and kind as mine has always been to me.</p> +<p>"There, he is beckoning to me;" and, rising, she crossed the +room.</p> +<p>Philip, a few minutes later, took his departure quietly. +Francois de Laville came in, an hour afterwards, to their +lodgings.</p> +<p>"Well, Philip, I did not see you leave the count's. Did you hear +the news before you left? The count announced it shortly after you +had gone."</p> +<p>"His daughter told me herself," Philip said.</p> +<p>"I am sorry, Philip. I had thought, perhaps--but it is of no use +talking of that, now."</p> +<p>"Not the least in the world, Francois. It is natural that her +father should wish her to marry a noble of his own province. She +has consented, and there is no more to be said.</p> +<p>"When is Henri to arrive? We are all to ride out to meet him, +and to follow him into Paris. I hope that it will all pass off +well."</p> +<p>"Why, of course it will. What is to prevent it? The wedding will +be the grandest ever known in Paris. I hear that Henri brings with +him seven hundred Huguenot gentlemen; and a hundred of us here will +join him, under the Admiral. It will be a brave sight."</p> +<p>"I wish it was all over."</p> +<p>"Why, it is not often you are in low spirits, Philip. Is it the +news that has upset you, or have you heard anything else?"</p> +<p>"No; but Pierre has been croaking and prophesying evil, and +although I in no way agree with him, it has still made me +uneasy."</p> +<p>"Why, what is there to fear?" Francois said, laughing. "Not the +mob of Paris, surely. They would never venture to brave the king's +anger by marring the nuptials by disorder; and if they did, +methinks that eight hundred of us, with Coligny at our head, could +cut our way through the mob of Paris from one end of the city to +the other."</p> +<p>The entrance of the King of Navarre into Paris was, indeed, an +imposing sight. Coligny with his train had joined him outside the +town, and the Admiral rode on one side of the young king, and the +Prince of Conde on the other. With them rode the Dukes of Anjou and +Alencon, who had ridden out with a gay train of nobles to welcome +Henri in the king's name, and escort him into the city. The +Huguenots were still in mourning for the late queen; but the +sumptuous materials of their dress, set off by their gold chains +and ornaments, made a brave show even by the side of the gay +costumes of the prince's party.</p> +<p>The betrothal took place at the Louvre on the 17th of August, +and was followed by a supper and a ball. After the conclusion of +the festivities Marguerite was, in accordance with the custom of +the princesses of the blood, escorted by her brothers and a large +retinue to the Bishops' Palace adjoining the Cathedral, to pass the +night before her wedding there.</p> +<p>The ceremony upon the following day was a most gorgeous one. The +king, his two brothers, Henri of Navarre, and Conde were all +dressed alike in light yellow satin, embroidered with silver, and +enriched with precious stones. Marguerite was in a violet velvet +dress, embroidered with fleurs de lis, and she wore on her head a +crown glittering with gems. The queen and the queen mother were +dressed in cloth of gold.</p> +<p>Upon a lofty platform, in front of the Cathedral of Notre Dame, +Henri of Navarre with his train of Protestant lords awaited the +coming of the bride; who was escorted by the king, and all the +members of his court. The ceremony was performed, in sight of an +enormous concourse of people, by the Cardinal Bourbon, who used a +form that had been previously agreed upon by both parties. Henri +then led his bride into the cathedral; and afterwards, with his +Protestant companions, retired to the Episcopal Palace while mass +was being said. When this was over, the whole party sat down to +dinner in the Episcopal Palace.</p> +<p>In the evening an entertainment was given, in the Louvre, to the +notabilities of Paris; and after supper there was a masque of the +most lavish magnificence. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday there +was a continuation of pageants and entertainments. During these +festivities the king had shown marked courtesy to the Admiral and +the Huguenot lords, and it seemed as if he had again emancipated +himself from his mother's influence; and the hopes of the +Protestants, that he would shortly declare war with Spain, were +raised to the highest point.</p> +<p>Although the question was greatly debated at the time, and the +belief that the massacre of the Protestants was deliberately +planned long beforehand by the king and queen-mother is still +generally entertained, the balance of evidence is strongly the +other way. What dark thoughts may have passed through the scheming +brain of Catharine de Medici none can say, but it would certainly +appear that it was not until after the marriage of Henri and +Marguerite that they took form. She was driven to bay. She saw +that, in the event of a war with Spain, the Huguenots would become +all powerful in France. Already the influence of the Admiral was +greater than her own, and it had become a battle of life and death +with her; for Coligny, in his fearless desire to do what was right, +and for the service of France, was imprudent enough over and over +again to warn the king against the evil influence of the queen +mother and the Duke d'Anjou; and Charles, in his fits of temper, +did not hesitate to divulge these counsels. The Duke d'Anjou and +his mother, therefore, came to the conclusion that Coligny must be +put out of the way.</p> +<p>The duke, afterwards, did not scruple to avow his share in the +preparations for the massacre of Saint Bartholomew. The Duchess of +Nemours, her son Henri of Guise, and her brother-in-law the Duc +d'Aumale were taken into their counsels, and the plan was speedily +settled.</p> +<p>Few as were the conspirators taken into the confidence of the +queen mother, mysterious rumours of danger reached the ears of the +Huguenots. Some of these, taking the alarm, left Paris and made for +their estates; but by far the greater portion refused to believe +that there could be danger to those whom the king had invited to be +present upon such an occasion. In another week, Coligny would be +leaving, having, as he hoped, brought the king entirely round to +his views; and the vast majority of the Huguenot gentlemen resolved +to stay until he left.</p> +<p>Pierre grew more and more serious. Francois had left the +lodgings, being one of the Huguenot gentlemen whom Henri of Navarre +had chosen to lodge with him at the Louvre.</p> +<p>"You are getting quite unbearable, Pierre, with your long face +and your grim looks," Philip said to him on the Friday morning, +half in joke and half in earnest. "Why, man, in another week we +shall be out of Paris, and on our way south."</p> +<p>"I hope so, Monsieur Philip, with all my heart I hope so; but I +feel just as I used to do when I was a boy living in the woods, and +I saw a thundercloud working up overhead. I cannot tell you why I +feel so. It is something in the air. I wish sir, oh, so much! that +you would leave at once."</p> +<p>"That I cannot do, Pierre. I have no estates that demand my +attention, no excuse whatever for going. I came here with my +cousin, and shall leave with him."</p> +<p>"Well, sir, if it must be, it must."</p> +<p>"But what is that you fear, Pierre?"</p> +<p>"When one is in a town, sir, with Catharine de Medici, and her +son Anjou, and the Guises, there is always something to fear. Guise +is the idol of the mob of Paris, who have always shown themselves +ready to attack the Huguenots. He has but to hold up his finger, +and they would be swarming on us like bees."</p> +<p>"But there are troops in the town, Pierre, and the king would +punish Paris heavily, were it to insult his guests."</p> +<p>"The king is a weathercock, and goes whichever way the wind +blows, monsieur--today he is with the Admiral, tomorrow he may be +with the Guises.</p> +<p>"At any rate, I have taken my precautions. I quite understand +that, if the danger is foreseen, you will all rally round the +Admiral and try to fight your way out of Paris. But if it comes +suddenly there will be no time for this. At any hour the mob may +come surging up the streets, shouting, as they have often shouted +before, 'Death to the Huguenots!' Then, monsieur, fighting would +not avail you. You would be unable to join your friends, and you +would have to think first of your own life.</p> +<p>"I have been examining the house, and I find that from an upper +window one can gain the roof. I got out yesterday evening, after it +was dark, and found that I could easily make my way along. The +tenth house from here is the one where the Count de Valecourt +lodges, and it is easy to gain access to it by a window in the +roof. There will be some of your friends there, at any rate. Or we +can pass down through any of the intervening houses. In the three +before we reach that of the count Huguenots are lodged. The others +belong to Catholics, but it might be possible to pass down through +them and to go into the street unobserved.</p> +<p>"I have bought for myself some rags, such as are worn by the +lowest of the mob; and for you a monk's gown and hood. These I have +placed securely against a chimney on our roof.</p> +<p>"I have also, monsieur," and Pierre's eyes twinkled, "bought the +dress of a woman of the lower class, thinking that there might be +some lady you might be desirous of saving."</p> +<p>"You frighten me, Pierre, with your roofs and your disguises," +Philip said, looking with wonder at his follower. "Why, man, this +is a nightmare of your own imagination."</p> +<p>"It may be so, master. If it is, no harm is done. I have laid +out a few crowns uselessly, and there is an end of it. But if it +should not be a nightmare, but a real positive danger, you would at +least be prepared for it; and those few crowns may be the saving of +our lives."</p> +<p>Philip walked up and down the room for some time.</p> +<p>"At any rate, Pierre, you have acted wisely. As you say, the +cost is as nothing; and though my reason revolts against a belief +in this nightmare of yours, I am not such a fool as to refuse to +pay any attention to it. I know that you are no coward, and +certainly not one to indulge in wild fancies.</p> +<p>"Let us go a step farther. Suppose that all this should turn out +true, and that you, I, and--and some lady--are in disguise in the +midst of a howling mob shouting, 'Death to the Huguenots!' What +should we do next? Where should we go?</p> +<p>"It seems to me that your disguise for me is a badly chosen one. +As a monk, how could I keep with you as a beggar, still less with a +woman?"</p> +<p>"When I bought the monk's robe I had not thought of a woman, +monsieur. That was an afterthought. But what you say is just. I +must get you another disguise. You shall be dressed as a butcher, +or a smith."</p> +<p>"Let it be a smith, by all means, Pierre. Besides, it would be +safer. I would smear my face with dirt. I should get plenty on my +hands from climbing over the roofs.</p> +<p>"Let us suppose ourselves, then, in the mob. What should we do +next?"</p> +<p>"That would all depend, sir, whether the soldiers follow the +Guises and take part with the mob in their rising. If so, Paris +would be in a turmoil from end to end, and the gates closed. I have +thought it all over, again and again; and while your worship has +been attending the entertainments, I have been walking about +Paris.</p> +<p>"If it is at night I should say we had best make for the river, +take a boat and drift down; or else make for the walls, and lower +ourselves by a rope from them. If it is in the day we could not do +that; and I have found a hovel, at present untenanted, close to the +walls, and we could wait there until night."</p> +<p>"You will end by making me believe this, Pierre," Philip said +angrily, as he again walked up and down the room, with impatient +steps. "If you had a shadow of foundation for what you say, even a +rumour that you had picked up in the street, I would go straight to +the Admiral. But how could I go and say:</p> +<p>"'My servant, who is a faithful fellow, has taken it into his +head that there is danger from an attack on us by the mob.'</p> +<p>"What think you the Admiral would say to that? He would say that +it was next door to treason to imagine such things, and that if men +were to act upon such fancies as these, they would be fit only for +hospitals for the insane. Moreover he would say that, even if you +had evidence, even if you had something to show that treachery was +meant, he would still, in the interest of France, stay at his post +of duty."</p> +<p>At this moment the door opened, and Francois de Laville entered +hurriedly.</p> +<p>"What is the matter, Francois?" Philip exclaimed, seeing that +his cousin looked pale and agitated.</p> +<p>"Have you not heard the news?"</p> +<p>"I have heard nothing. I have not been out this morning."</p> +<p>"The Admiral has been shot."</p> +<p>Philip uttered an exclamation of horror.</p> +<p>"Not killed, Francois; not killed, I trust?"</p> +<p>"No; two balls were fired, one took off a finger of his right +hand, and another has lodged in his left arm. He had just left the +king, who was playing at tennis, and was walking homewards with two +or three gentlemen, when an arquebus was fired from a house not far +from his own. Two of the gentlemen with him assisted him home, +while some of the others burst in the door of the house.</p> +<p>"They were too late. Only a woman and a manservant were found +there. The assassin had fled by the back of the house, where a +horse was standing in waiting. It is said that the house belongs to +the old Duchess of Guise.</p> +<p>"It is half an hour since the news reached the palace, and you +may imagine the consternation it excited. The king has shut himself +up in his room. Navarre and Conde are in deep grief, for they both +regard the Admiral almost as a father. As for the rest of us, we +are furious.</p> +<p>"There is a report that the man who was seen galloping away from +the house from which the shot was fired was that villain Maurevel, +who so treacherously shot De Mouy, and was rewarded by the king for +the deed. It is also said that a groom, in the livery of Guise, was +holding the horse when the assassin issued out.</p> +<p>"Navarre and Conde have gone to Coligny. The king's surgeon is +dressing his wounds."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch20" id="Ch20">Chapter 20</a>: The Tocsin.</h2> +<p>As soon as Francois had finished his account of the attempted +assassination of the Admiral, he and Philip sallied out, the latter +having hastily armed himself.</p> +<p>"I must go back to the Louvre," Francois said, "and take my +place by the King of Navarre. He is going to see the king, and to +demand permission to leave Paris at once. Conde and La +Rochefoucault are going to see the king, as soon as they return +from the Admiral's, for the same purpose; as it is evident their +lives are not safe here."</p> +<p>Philip made his way to the Admiral's house in the Rue de +Bethisy. Numbers of Huguenot gentlemen were hurrying in that +direction; all, like himself, armed, and deeply moved with grief +and indignation; for Coligny was regarded with a deep affection, as +well as reverence, by his followers. Each, as he overtook others, +eagerly inquired the news; for as yet most of them had learned +nothing beyond vague rumours of the affair.</p> +<p>Philip's account of it increased their indignation. So it was no +act of a mere fanatic, but the work of the Guises, and probably of +Catharine and Anjou.</p> +<p>In a short time between two and three hundred gentlemen were +gathered in the courtyard and antechamber of Coligny's house. Some +walked up and down, silent and stern. Others gathered in groups, +and passionately discussed the matter. This was an attack not only +upon the Admiral but upon the Huguenots in general. It was the work +of the Guises, ever the deadliest foes of the Reformed faith--the +authors of every measure taken against them, the cause of all the +blood that had been shed in the civil wars.</p> +<p>One thing was certain: all must leave Paris, and prepare for a +renewal of the war. But it was equally certain they could not leave +until the Admiral was fit to be moved.</p> +<p>"Truly he is a saint," said one of the gentlemen, who had come +down from the room where Coligny was lying. "He suffered +atrociously in the hands of the surgeon, for he had come without +his instruments, and amputated Coligny's fingers with a dagger so +blunt that it was only on the third attempt that he succeeded. +Merlin, his minister, was by his side, with several of his most +intimate friends. We were in tears at the sight of our noble chief +thus traitorously struck down. He turned to us and said calmly:</p> +<p>"'My friends, why do you weep? As for me, I deem myself happy at +having thus received wounds for the sake of God.'</p> +<p>"Then he said that, most sincerely, he forgave the man who +wounded him, and those who had instigated him to make the attack; +knowing for certain that it was beyond their power to hurt him for, +even should they kill him, death would be a certain passage to +life."</p> +<p>An hour later Francois arrived.</p> +<p>"The prince has seen the king, Philip. He is furious, and has +sworn that he will inflict the most signal punishment upon the +authors and instigators of the crime: Coligny had received the +wound, but he himself most felt the smart. The King of Navarre told +me he was sure that Charles was deeply in earnest. He feels it in a +threefold sense: first, because it is the renewal of the troubles +that he had hoped had been put an end to; in the second place, +because Coligny is his guest; and lastly, because he has the +greatest respect and confidence in him, not only believing in his +wisdom, but knowing that his counsel is always sincere and +disinterested.</p> +<p>"He is coming to visit the Admiral himself, this afternoon, +Philip. It is no use our staying here. There is nothing to be done, +and no prospect of seeing the Admiral."</p> +<p>As they moved towards the entrance to the courtyard, the Count +de Valecourt joined them.</p> +<p>"I have just left the Admiral," he said. "He is easier, and the +king's surgeon is of opinion that he will recover from his wounds, +and possibly may be fit to travel in a litter, in another +week."</p> +<p>"That is good news, indeed," Francois said; "for the sooner we +are all out of Paris, the better."</p> +<p>"There is no doubt of that," the count agreed; "but as all say +that the king is furious at this attack upon the Admiral, I do not +think the Guises dare strike another blow for some time. Still, I +shall be glad, indeed, when we can set forth.</p> +<p>"It is certain we cannot leave the Admiral here. The villains +who are responsible for the attempt will be furious at its failure, +and next time they may use the weapon to which they are most +accustomed--poison. Even if the king himself begged him to stay at +the Louvre, until cured, Catharine de Medici is there; and I would +not trust him under the same roof with her, for all my estates.</p> +<p>"We have been talking it over, and all agree that we must wait +until he can be moved. Inconstant as Charles is, there can be no +fear of a change in his friendly intentions now. He has already +closed all the gates of Paris save two, and everyone who goes in or +out is closely questioned, and has to show his papers."</p> +<p>By this time, they had arrived at the door of the count's +dwelling.</p> +<p>"Come in, monsieur," he said. "My daughter is terribly upset at +this attack upon the Admiral, for whom she has a profound reverence +and, were she a Catholic, would, I doubt not, make him her patron +saint."</p> +<p>"How is he, father?" Claire asked eagerly, as they entered the +room.</p> +<p>"He is better, Claire. The king's physician thinks he has every +chance of recovering."</p> +<p>"God be praised!" she said earnestly. "It would indeed have been +a terrible day for us all, had the assassin taken his life; and it +would have seemed a mark of Heaven's anger at this marriage of the +Protestant king with a Catholic princess. What says King +Charles?"</p> +<p>"He is as angry as any of us; and declares that the assassin, +and those who abetted him, shall be punished in the severest +manner. He has visited the Admiral, and expressed his grief and +indignation to him."</p> +<p>"I shall be glad to be back in Dauphiny, father. This city, with +its wickedness and its violence, is hateful to me."</p> +<p>"We shall go soon, dear. The doctor hopes that, in a week, the +Admiral will be well enough to be moved in a litter; and we shall +all accompany him."</p> +<p>"A week is a long time, father. So much may happen in a +week."</p> +<p>"There is no fear of anything happening, Claire. You must not +let this sad business affect your nerves. The anger of the king is +so great that you may be sure none will attempt to repeat this +stroke.</p> +<p>"What think you, Monsieur de Laville?"</p> +<p>"I agree with you altogether, count."</p> +<p>"And you, Monsieur Philip?"</p> +<p>"I see no cause for fear, count; and yet, I feel sure that it +would be well to take every precaution. I acknowledge that I have +no grounds whatever for my fear. I have been infected by my lackey, +who is generally the lightest hearted and most reckless fellow; but +who has now turned croaker, and fears a sudden rising of the mob of +Paris, instigated thereto by the Guises."</p> +<p>"Has he heard anything to favour such an idea, or is it merely +born of today's outrage?"</p> +<p>"No, I think he has heard nothing specific, though he may have +caught up vague threats in wandering through the streets."</p> +<p>"Why, that is not like you," the count said, smiling, "who have +been through so many fights and dangerous adventures, to be alarmed +at a shadow."</p> +<p>"No, count, I do not think that I am given, any more than is my +lackey, to sombre thoughts; but I own that he has infected me, and +I would that some precautions could be taken."</p> +<p>"Precautions of what kind, Monsieur Philip?"</p> +<p>"I have not thought them out," Philip said; "but, were I the +next in rank to the Admiral, I would enjoin that a third of our +number should be under arms, night and day, and should at night +patrol our quarters; secondly, that a rallying place should be +appointed, say at the Admiral's, to which all should mount and +ride, directly an alarm is given."</p> +<p>"The first part could hardly be managed, here," the count said +gravely. "It would seem that we doubted the royal assurances of +good faith, and his promises of protection. We have enemies enough +about the king's ear, and such a proceeding would be surely +misrepresented to him. You know how wayward are his moods, and that +it would need but a slight thing to excite his irritation, and undo +all the good that the Admiral has effected."</p> +<p>Two or three other Huguenot gentlemen now entered, and a general +conversation on the state of affairs took place. Philip was +standing a little apart from the others, when Claire came up to +him.</p> +<p>"You really believe in danger, Monsieur Philip?"</p> +<p>"Frankly I do, mademoiselle. The population hate us. There have +been Huguenot massacres over and over again in Paris. The Guises +are doubtless the instigators of this attack on the Admiral. They +are the idols of the Paris mob and, if they gave the word, it would +at once rise against us. As I told your father, I have no real +reason for uneasiness, but nevertheless I am uneasy."</p> +<p>"Then the danger must be real," the girl said simply. "Have you +any advice to give me?"</p> +<p>"Only this. You have but a week to stay here in Paris. During +that time, make excuses so as not to stir abroad in the streets +more than you can help; and in the second place I would say, lie +down in your clothes at night, so as to be in readiness to rise, +instantly."</p> +<p>"I will do that," she said. "There is nothing else?"</p> +<p>"Nothing that I can think of. I hope and trust that the +emergency will not come; but at any rate, until it does come, we +can do no more."</p> +<p>A few minutes later, Philip and his cousin took their leave. The +former went back to his lodgings, the latter to the Louvre. Philip +was surprised at not finding Pierre, and sat up later than usual, +expecting his return; but it was not till he was rising next +morning that the man made his appearance.</p> +<p>"Why, where have you been all night?" Philip asked angrily. +"This is not the time for pleasure."</p> +<p>"I have been outside the walls, master," Pierre said.</p> +<p>"What in the world did you go there for, Pierre?"</p> +<p>"Well, sir, I was here when Monsieur de Laville brought in the +news of the shooting of the Admiral. This seemed, to me, to bear +out all that I have said to you. You hurried away without my having +time to speak to you, so I took it upon myself to act."</p> +<p>"In what way, Pierre?"</p> +<p>"I went straight to the stables, sir, and took one of your +honour's chargers and my horse and, riding one and leading the +other, passed out through the gate before the orders came about +closing. I rode them to a village, six miles away; and put them up +at a small inn there, and left them in the landlord's charge. I did +not forget to tell the stable boy that he should have a crown for +himself if, on my return, I found the horses in as good condition +as I left them.</p> +<p>"Then I walked back to Paris, and found a crowd of people unable +to enter, and learned that the gates had been closed by the king's +order. I went off to Saint Denis, and there bought a long rope and +an iron hook; and at two in the morning, when I thought that any +sentries there might be on the walls would be drowsy, came back +again to Paris, threw up my hook, and climbed into one of the +bastions near the hut we had marked. There I slept until the +morning, and now you see me.</p> +<p>"I have taken out the horses so that, should you be obliged to +fly, there would be means of escape. One charger will suffice for +your wants here, and to ride away upon if you go out with the +Huguenot company, whether peacefully or by force of arms. As for +me, I would make my way there on foot, get the horses, and rejoin +you."</p> +<p>"It was a good idea, Pierre, and promptly carried out. But no +one here has much thought of danger, and I feel ashamed of myself +at being the only one to feel uneasy."</p> +<p>"The wise man is uneasy while the fool sleeps," Pierre said. "If +the Prince of Conde had been uneasy, the night before Jarnac, he +would not have lost his life, and we should not have lost a battle. +No harm has been done. If danger does come, we at least are +prepared for it."</p> +<p>"You are quite right, Pierre. However surely he may count upon +victory, a good general always lays his plans in case of defeat. At +any rate, we have prepared for everything."</p> +<p>Pierre muttered something to himself.</p> +<p>"What do you say, Pierre?"</p> +<p>"I was only saying, master, that I should feel pretty confident +of our getting away, were there only our two selves to think of. +What with our disguises, and what with your honour's strong +arm--and what I can do to back you--and what with our being on our +guard, it would be hard if we did not make our way safe off. But I +foresee that, should there be trouble, it is not of your own safety +you will be thinking."</p> +<p>"Mademoiselle de Valecourt is engaged to the Sieur de Pascal," +Philip said gravely.</p> +<p>"So I heard, from one of the count's lackeys; but there is many +a slip between the cup and the lip, and in such days as these there +is many an engagement that never becomes a marriage. I guessed how +it would be, that night after you had saved Mademoiselle Claire's +life; and I thought so, still more, when we were staying at +Valecourt."</p> +<p>"Then your thoughts ran too fast, Pierre. Mademoiselle de +Valecourt is a great heiress; and the count should, of course, give +her in marriage to one of his own rank."</p> +<p>Pierre shrugged his shoulders almost imperceptibly.</p> +<p>"Your honour is doubtless right," he said humbly; "and +therefore, seeing that she has her father and Monsieur de Pascal to +protect her, we need not trouble more about those articles of +attire stowed away on the roof above; but shall be able to concern +ourselves solely with our own safety, which puts a much better +complexion on the affair."</p> +<p>"The whole matter is ridiculous, Pierre," Philip said angrily, +"and I am a fool to have listened to you. There, go and see about +breakfast, or I shall lose my patience with you, altogether."</p> +<p>There were several consultations, during the day, between the +leading Huguenots. There was no apparent ground for suspicion that +the attack upon the Admiral had been a part of any general plot, +and it was believed that it was but the outcome of the animosity of +the Guises, and the queen mother, against a man who had long +withstood them, who was now higher than themselves in the king's +confidence, and who had persuaded him to undertake an enterprise +that would range France on the side of the Protestant powers. The +balance of evidence is all in favour of the truth of this +supposition, and to the effect that it was only upon the failure of +their scheme, against the Admiral, that the conspirators determined +upon a general massacre of the Huguenots.</p> +<p>They worked upon the weak king's mind, until they persuaded him +that Coligny was at the head of a plot against himself; and that +nothing short of his death, and those of his followers, could +procure peace and quiet for France. At last, in a sudden access of +fury, Charles not only ranged himself on their side, but astonished +Catharine, Anjou, and their companions by going even farther than +they had done, and declaring that every Huguenot should be killed. +This sudden change, and his subsequent conduct during the few +months that remained to him of life, seem to point to the fact that +this fresh access of trouble shattered his weak brain, and that he +was not fairly responsible for the events that followed--the guilt +of which rests wholly upon Catharine de Medici, Henry of Anjou, and +the leaders of the party of the Guises.</p> +<p>Philip spent a considerable portion of the day at the Louvre +with Henry of Navarre, Francois de Laville, and a few of the young +king's closest followers. There was no shadow of disquiet in the +minds of any of them. The doctors reported that the Admiral's state +was favourable; and although all would have been glad to be on +their way south, they regarded the detention of a few days as a +matter of little importance. Listening to their talk about the +court entertainments and pleasures, Philip quite shook off his +uneasiness, and was angry with himself for having listened to +Pierre's prognostications of evil.</p> +<p>"All these Huguenot lords know France and the Parisians better +than I do," he said to himself. "No thought of danger occurs to +them. It is not even thought necessary that a few of them should +take up their abode at the Admiral's. They have every faith in the +king's protestations and pledges for their safety."</p> +<p>Philip dined at the Louvre, and it was ten o'clock before he +returned to his lodging. He was in excellent spirits, and saluted +Pierre with the laughing inquiry:</p> +<p>"Well, bird of ill omen, what fresh plottings have you +discovered?"</p> +<p>"You do not believe me, master, when I tell you," Pierre said +gravely.</p> +<p>"Oh, then, there is something new?" Philip said, seating himself +on a couch. "Let me hear all about it, Pierre, and I will try not +to laugh."</p> +<p>"Will you descend with me to the door, Monsieur Philip?"</p> +<p>"Assuredly I will, if it will please you; though what you are +going to show me there, I cannot imagine."</p> +<p>Pierre led the way downstairs and out through the door.</p> +<p>"Do you see that, sir?"</p> +<p>"Yes, I see that, Pierre."</p> +<p>"What do you take it to be, sir?"</p> +<p>"Well, it is not too dark to see what it is, Pierre. It is a +small white cross that some urchin has chalked on the door."</p> +<p>"Will you please to walk a little farther, sir? There is a cross +on this door. There is none here, neither on the next. Here you see +another, and then a door without one. Now, sir, does not that +strike you as curious?"</p> +<p>"Well, I don't know, Pierre. A boy might very well chalk some +doors, as he went along, and leave others untouched."</p> +<p>"Yes, sir. But there is one very remarkable thing. I have gone +on through several streets, and it has always been the same--so far +as I can discover by questioning the concierges--at every house in +which Huguenots are lodging, there is a white cross on the door. In +the houses that are not so marked, there are no Huguenots."</p> +<p>"That is strange, certainly, Pierre," Philip said, struck alike +by the fact and by the earnestness with which Pierre expressed it. +"Are you quite sure of what you say?"</p> +<p>"I am quite sure, sir. I returned here at nine o'clock, and saw +this mark on our door. I did not pay much heed to it, but went +upstairs. Then, as I thought it over, I said to myself, 'Is this a +freak of some passerby, or is it some sort of signal?' Then I +thought I would see whether our house alone was marked, or whether +there were crosses on other doors. I went to the houses of several +gentlemen of our party, and on each of their doors was a white +cross. Then I looked farther, and found that other houses were +unmarked. At some of these I knocked and asked for one or other of +your friends. In each case I heard that I was mistaken, for that no +Huguenots were lodging there."</p> +<a id="PicK" name="PicK"></a> +<center><img src="images/k.jpg" alt= +"That cross is placed there by design." /></center> +<p>"It is evident, sir, that this is not a thing of chance, but +that these crosses are placed there by design."</p> +<p>Philip went down the street, and satisfied himself that Pierre +had spoken correctly; and then returned to his lodgings, pausing, +however, before the house of the Count de Valecourt, and erasing +the cross upon it. He entered his own door without touching the +mark; but Pierre, who followed him in, rubbed the sleeve of his +doublet across it, unnoticed by his master, and then followed him +upstairs.</p> +<p>Philip seated himself thoughtfully.</p> +<p>"I like not these marks, Pierre. There may be nothing of +importance in them. Some fanatic may have taken the trouble to +place these crosses upon our doors, cursing us as he did so. But at +the same time, I cannot deny that they may have been placed there +for some set purpose, of which I am ignorant. Hitherto there has +been nothing, whatever, to give any foundation to your fancies; but +here is at least something tangible, whatever it may mean. What is +your own idea?"</p> +<p>"My own idea is, sir, that they intend to arrest all the +Admiral's followers; and that the king, while speaking us fair, is +really guided by Catharine, and has consented to her plans for the +capture of all the Huguenot lords who have come into this +trap."</p> +<p>"I cannot believe that such an act of black treachery can be +contemplated, Pierre. All Europe would cry out against the king +who, inviting numbers of his nobles to the marriage of his sister, +seized that occasion for imprisoning them."</p> +<p>"It may not be done by him, sir. It may be the work of the +Guises' agents among the mob of Paris; and that they intend to +massacre us, as they did at Rouen and a score of other places, and +as they have done here in Paris more than once."</p> +<p>"That is as hard to believe as the other, Pierre. My own +supposition is by far the most probable, that it is the work of +some fanatic; but at any rate, we will be on the watch tonight. It +is too late to do anything else and, were I to go round to our +friends, they would mock at me for paying any attention to such a +trifle as a chalk mark on a door.</p> +<p>"I own that I think it serious, because I have come, in spite of +my reason, to believe somewhat in your forebodings; but no one else +seems to entertain any such fears."</p> +<p>Opening the casement, Philip seated himself there.</p> +<p>"Do you lie down, Pierre. At two o'clock I will call you, and +you shall take my place."</p> +<p>Pierre went out, but before lying down he again went quietly +downstairs and, with a wet cloth, entirely erased the mark from the +door; and then, placing his sword and his pistols ready at hand, +lay down on his pallet. At one o'clock Philip aroused him.</p> +<p>"There is something unusual going on, Pierre. I can see a light +in the sky, as of many torches; and can hear a confused sound, as +of the murmur of men. I will sally out and see what it is."</p> +<p>Placing his pistols in his belt and taking his sword, he wrapped +himself in his cloak and, followed by Pierre, also armed, went down +into the street. As he went along he overtook two men. As he passed +under a lamp, one of them exclaimed:</p> +<p>"Is that you, Monsieur Fletcher?"</p> +<p>He turned. It was the Sieur de Pascal.</p> +<p>"It is I, Monsieur de Pascal. I was going out to learn the +meaning of those lights over there."</p> +<p>"That is just what I am doing, myself. As the night is hot, I +could not sleep; so I threw open my window, and saw those lights, +which were, as it appeared to me, somewhere in the neighbourhood of +the Admiral's house; and I thought it was as well to see what they +meant."</p> +<p>As they went along, they came upon men with lighted torches; and +saw that, in several of the streets, groups of men with torches +were silently standing.</p> +<p>"What is taking place?" the Sieur de Pascal asked one of the +men.</p> +<p>"There is going to be a night masque, and a mock combat at the +Louvre," the man said.</p> +<p>"It is strange. I heard nothing about it at the Louvre," Philip +said, as they proceeded on their way. "I was with the King of +Navarre up to ten o'clock and, had anything been known of it by him +or the gentlemen with him, I should have been sure to have heard of +it."</p> +<p>They were joined by two or three other Huguenot gentlemen, +roused by the unusual light and talking in the street; and they +proceeded together to the Louvre. Large numbers of torches were +burning in front of the palace, and a body of soldiers was drawn up +there.</p> +<p>"The man was right," the Sieur de Pascal said. "There is +evidently some diversion going on here."</p> +<p>As they approached they saw a movement in front, and then three +or four men ran towards them.</p> +<p>"Why, De Vignes," De Pascal exclaimed, as the first ran up, +"what is the matter?"</p> +<p>"That I do not know," De Vignes said. "I was roused half an hour +ago by the lights and noise, and came down with De la Riviere, +Maurepas, Castellon, and De Vigors, who lodges with me, to see what +it was about. As we approached the soldiers, they began to jeer at +us in a most insolent manner. Naturally we replied, and threatened +to report them to their officers; when the insolent varlets drew +and ran at us. Maurepas has, as you see, been wounded by a halbert; +and as we five could not give battle to that crowd of soldiers, we +ran for it. I shall lay the matter before La Rochefoucauld, and +request him to make a complaint to the king. What can we do now, +gentlemen?"</p> +<p>"I see not that we can do anything," De Pascal said. "We have +heard that these torchlight gatherings are part of a plan for a +sham attack on a castle, or something of that sort, for the +amusement of the king. Doubtless the soldiers are gathered for that +purpose. We cannot arouse La Rochefoucauld, at this hour of the +night, that is certain; so I see nothing to do but to go home, and +wait till morning."</p> +<p>"You do not think," Philip said, "that there is any possibility +of a general attack upon us being intended?"</p> +<p>"What! An attack got up at the Louvre, under the very eyes of +the king, who is our firm friend? You are dreaming, Monsieur +Fletcher."</p> +<p>"I have one suspicious fact to go upon," Philip said quietly, +and then related the discovery of the crosses upon the doors.</p> +<p>The others, however, were absolutely incredulous that any +treachery could be intended and, after talking for a short time, +longer, they returned to their lodgings.</p> +<p>"What is to be done now, Pierre?"</p> +<p>"I should say we had better search farther, sir. If there is any +harm intended, the mob of Paris will be stirring. Let us go down +towards the Hotel de Ville; that is always the centre of mischief. +If all is quiet there, it may be that this story is correct, and +that it is really only a court diversion. But that does not explain +why the streets should be lighted up near the Admiral's."</p> +<p>"It does not, Pierre."</p> +<p>After they had passed another group of men with torches, Pierre +said:</p> +<p>"Did you notice, sir, that each of those men had a piece of +white stuff bound round his arm, and that it was the same with +those we passed before? If there is any mischief intended, we +should be more likely to learn what it is if we were to put on the +same badge."</p> +<p>"The idea is a good one, Pierre;" and Philip took out his +handkerchief, tore it in two and, handing half of it to Pierre, +fastened the other round his arm.</p> +<p>As they went along, they met men with torches or lanterns, +moving in the same direction as themselves. All wore white +handkerchiefs or scarves round their arms.</p> +<p>Philip became more and more anxious as they went on, and +regretted that he had not returned to his lodgings and renewed his +watch there. However, a few minutes' walking took them to the Hotel +de Ville. The square in front of the building was faintly +illuminated by a few torches, here and there, and by large cressets +that blazed in front of the Hotel. The light, however, was +sufficient to show a dense body of men drawn up in the square, and +the ruddy light of the flames flashed from helmet, lance point, and +axe.</p> +<p>"What think you now, Monsieur Philip? There must be eight or ten +thousand men here. I should say all the city bands, under their +captains."</p> +<p>As they paused, a citizen officer came up to them.</p> +<p>"All is ready, your excellency. I do not think that a man is +absent from his post. The orders remain unchanged, I suppose?"</p> +<p>"Quite unchanged," Philip said briefly, seeing that in the faint +light he was mistaken for someone else.</p> +<p>"And the bell is to be the signal for beginning?"</p> +<p>"I believe there has been a change in that respect," Philip +said; "but you will hear that later on. I am only here to see that +all is in readiness."</p> +<p>"Everything has been done as ordered, your excellency. The gates +are closed, and will not be opened except to one bearing special +orders, under the king's own seal. The boats have all been removed +from the wharves. There will be no escape."</p> +<p>Philip repressed a strong impulse to run the man through the +body, and only said:</p> +<p>"Good. Your zeal will not be forgotten."</p> +<p>Then he turned and walked away. They had gone but a few paces +when, in the distance, the report of a pistol was heard.</p> +<p>"Too late!" he exclaimed, in passionate regret.</p> +<p>"Come, Pierre," and he broke into a rapid run.</p> +<p>Several times groups of men came out from bye-streets at the +sound of the rapid footsteps, but Philip exclaimed:</p> +<p>"Away there! I am on urgent business for Anjou and Guise."</p> +<p>The men fell back at once, in each case, not doubting from the +badges on the arms, which they could make out in the darkness, that +Philip was bearing some important order.</p> +<p>"To the Admiral's, first," he said to Pierre. "It is there they +will surely begin."</p> +<p>But as they entered the Rue de Bethisy, he saw a number of men +pouring out from the Admiral's house, with drawn swords and waving +their torches over their heads. By the light, Philip could make out +Henri of Guise and Henry of Valois, with their attendants and +soldiers.</p> +<p>"We are too late here, Pierre. The Admiral has doubtless been +murdered. His confidence in the king's word has undone him."</p> +<p>Coligny, indeed, had refused the offer of many Protestant +gentlemen to spend the night in the house; and even Teligny, his +son-in-law, had gone to his own lodgings a short distance away. He +had with him only his chaplain Merlin, the king's surgeon, three +gentlemen and four or five servants; while in the court below were +five of the King of Navarre's Swiss guards.</p> +<p>The Admiral had been awakened by the increasing noise without, +but entertained no alarm whatever. Suddenly a loud knocking was +heard at the outer gate, and a demand for entrance, in the king's +name.</p> +<p>The Admiral directed one of the gentlemen, named Le Bonne, to go +down and unbar the gate. As he did so, Cosseins, an officer of +Anjou's household rushed in, followed by fifty soldiers, and +stabbed Le Bonne to the heart. The soldiers had been despatched by +the king, himself, under pretence of guarding the Huguenots; and +twelve hundred arquebusiers had also been posted, under the same +pretext, in the neighbourhood.</p> +<p>The faithful Swiss defended the inner door and, when driven +back, defended for a time a barricade hastily thrown up on the +stairs. One of the Huguenot gentlemen rushed into the Admiral's +room, with the news that the gate had been forced. The Admiral +calmly replied:</p> +<p>"I have kept myself for a long time in readiness for death. Save +yourselves, if you can. It would be hopeless for you to attempt to +save my life."</p> +<p>In obedience to his orders, all who were with him, save a German +interpreter, fled to the roof and made their escape in the +darkness. The barricade was carried, and a German named Besme, a +follower of the Duke of Guise, was the first to rush into the +Admiral's room. Coligny was calmly seated in a chair, and Besme +struck him two blows with his sword, while those following +despatched him.</p> +<p>Guise was waiting in the courtyard below. When he heard that the +Admiral was killed, he ordered the body to be thrown out of the +window. When he recognized that it was indeed the body of the +Admiral, he gave it a brutal kick, while one of his followers cut +off the head; and then Guise called upon the soldiers to follow +him, saying:</p> +<p>"We have begun well. Let us now see to the others, for so the +king commands."</p> +<p>As Philip turned from the spot, the bell of the church of Saint +Germain l'Auxerrois peeled forth, and shouts instantly rose from +all quarters. As he reached the street in which he lodged, Philip +saw that it was already half full of armed men, who were shouting +"Death to the Huguenots!" and were hammering at many of the +doors.</p> +<p>He fell at once into a walk, and made his way through them +unmolested, the white badge on his arm seeming to guarantee that he +was a friend. He passed his own door, and made for that of the +Count de Valecourt. A combat was going on in front of it and, by +the light of the torches, Philip saw De Pascal defending himself +bravely against a host of enemies. Sword in hand, Philip sprang +forward. But before he could make his way through the soldiers, a +musket shot rang out, and De Pascal fell dead.</p> +<p>Philip drew back.</p> +<p>"To our own house, Pierre," he exclaimed to his lackey, who was +keeping close behind him; "we can do nothing here, and the door may +resist for a few minutes."</p> +<p>There was no one in front of the entrance, though at all the +doors marked with a white cross the soldiers were hammering with +the butts of their arquebuses. They slipped in, pushed the bars +across, ran upstairs and made their way on to the roof, and climbed +along it until they reached the window of the house in which De +Valecourt lodged; felt their way across the room till they +discovered the door, issued out and, as soon as they found the +staircase, ran down.</p> +<p>Already there was a turmoil below. A light streamed out from a +door of the count's apartments on the first floor. Philip ran in. +Claire de Valecourt was standing with one hand resting on the +table, deadly pale, but quiet. She was fully dressed.</p> +<p>"Where is your father?" Philip exclaimed.</p> +<p>"He has gone down with the servants to hold the stairs."</p> +<p>"I will join him," Philip said. "Pierre will take care of you. +He knows what to do. We will follow you. Quick, for your own sake +and your father's."</p> +<p>"I cannot go and leave him."</p> +<p>"You will do him no good by staying, and delay may cost us all +our lives. You must go at once. If you do not, at the risk of your +displeasure, I must carry you."</p> +<p>"I will go," she said. "You saved me before, and I trust +you."</p> +<p>"Trust Pierre as you would trust me," he said.</p> +<p>"Now, Pierre, take her hand and hurry her upstairs."</p> +<p>The clash of swords, mingled with shouts and oaths, were heard +below; and Philip, as he saw Pierre turn with Claire de Valecourt, +ran down. On the next landing the count, with four serving men, was +defending himself against the assault of a crowd of armed men, who +were pushing up the staircase. Others behind them held torches, +while some of those engaged in the fray held a torch in one hand, +and a sword in the other.</p> +<p>"Ah, is it you, Monsieur Fletcher?" the count said, as Philip +placed himself beside him, felling one of the foremost of the +assailants, as he did so, with a sweeping blow.</p> +<p>"It is I, count. My house is not attacked, and I have sent off +your daughter, in charge of my man, to gain it along the roofs. We +will follow them, as soon as we can beat back these villains."</p> +<p>"The king's troops must arrive shortly," the count said.</p> +<p>"The king's troops are here," Philip said. "This is done by his +orders, and all Paris is in arms. The Admiral has already been +murdered."</p> +<p>The count gave a cry of fury, and threw himself upon his +assailants. His companions did the same and, step by step, drove +them backward down the stairs.</p> +<p>There was a cry below of "Shoot them down!" and, a moment later, +three or four arquebuses flashed out from the hall. The count, +without a word, pitched forward among the soldiers; and two of the +retainers also fell. Then the crowd surged up again.</p> +<p>Philip fought desperately for a time. Another shot rang out, and +he felt a sudden smart across his cheek. He turned and bounded up +the stairs, paused a moment at the top, and discharged his two +pistols at the leaders of the assailants; pulled to the door of the +count's chamber, leaving the corridor in darkness, and then sprang +up the stairs. When he reached the door of the unused room by which +they had entered, he fastened it behind him, got through the window +and closed it after him, and then rapidly made his way along the +roofs, until he reached his own. Closing and fastening the +casement, he ran down to his room.</p> +<p>Claire was standing there, with Pierre by her side. She gave a +low cry as he entered, alone.</p> +<p>"My father!" she exclaimed.</p> +<p>"God has taken him," Philip said, "as He has taken many others +tonight. He died painlessly, mademoiselle, by a shot from +below."</p> +<p>Claire sank into a chair, and covered her face with her +hands.</p> +<p>"His will be done," she said, in a low but firm voice, as she +looked up a minute later. "We are all in His hands, and can die but +once. Will they soon come?"</p> +<p>"I trust not," Philip said. "They may follow along the roof, +when they cannot find us in any of the rooms; but they will have no +clue as to which house we have entered."</p> +<p>"I will remain here and wait for them," she said.</p> +<p>"Then, mademoiselle, you will sacrifice our lives, as well as +your own; for assuredly we shall not leave you. Thus far we have +escaped and, if you will follow my directions, we may all escape +together. Still, if you wish it, we can die here together."</p> +<p>"What is to be done?" she asked, standing up.</p> +<p>Pierre handed Philip a bundle.</p> +<p>"I brought them down as I passed," he said.</p> +<p>"This is a disguise," Philip said, handing it to the girl. "I +pray you to put it on, at once. We also have disguises, and will +return in them, in a few minutes."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch21" id="Ch21">Chapter 21</a>: Escape.</h2> +<p>"This is awful, Pierre," Philip said, as he hurriedly assumed +the disguise the latter had prepared.</p> +<p>The clamour outside was indeed terrible. The bell of Saint +Germain l'Auxerrois was still sounding its signal, but mingled with +it were a thousand sounds of combat and massacre, the battering of +hammers and axes upon doors, the discharges of arquebuses and +pistols, the shouts of men and the loud screams of women.</p> +<p>Pierre glanced out of the window. With the soldiers were mingled +a crowd from the slums of Paris; who, scenting carnage from the +movements of the citizen troops, had waited in readiness to gather +the spoil; and had arrived on the spot, as if by magic, as soon as +the first signal of alarm told them that the work of slaughter had +begun.</p> +<p>"Can we get out behind, think you, Pierre?" Philip asked, as he +joined him.</p> +<p>"I will see, sir. One could scarce sally out, here, without +being at once seized and questioned. Doubtless a watch was placed +in the rear, at first; but the soldiers would be likely to make +off, to join in the massacre and get their share of plunder, as +soon as the affair began.</p> +<p>"You will do, sir, as far as the dress goes; but you must smear +your face and arms. They are far too white, at present, and would +be instantly noticed."</p> +<p>Philip rubbed his hands, blackened by his passage across the +roofs, over his face and arms; and then joined Claire, who started, +as he entered.</p> +<p>"I did not know you," she said. "Come; are we ready? It were +surely better to die at once, than to listen to these dreadful +sounds."</p> +<p>"One moment. Pierre will return directly. He has gone to see +whether the lane behind the houses is clear. Once fairly away, and +our course will be easier."</p> +<p>Pierre returned almost immediately.</p> +<p>"The way is clear."</p> +<p>"Let us go, then, mademoiselle."</p> +<p>"One moment, monsieur. Let us pray before we start. We may have +no time, there."</p> +<p>And, standing with upturned face, she prayed earnestly for +protection.</p> +<p>"Lead us, O God," she concluded, "through the strife and +turmoil; as Thou didst the holy men of old, through the dangers of +the lions and the furnace. But if it be Thy will that we should +die, then do we commend our souls to Thee; in the sure faith that +we are but passing through death into life.</p> +<p>"Now I am ready," she said, turning to Philip.</p> +<p>"You cannot go like this, Mademoiselle Claire," Pierre said +reverently. "Of what good would that disguise be to you, when your +face would betray you in the darkest street? You must ruffle your +hair, and pull that hood over your face, so as to hide it as much +as possible."</p> +<p>The girl walked across to a mirror.</p> +<a id="PicL" name="PicL"></a> +<center><img src="images/l.jpg" alt= +"Philip, Claire and Pierre disguise themselves." /></center> +<p>"I would I could take my sword, Pierre," said Philip.</p> +<p>"Take it, sir. Strap it boldly round your waist. If anyone +remarks on it, laugh, and say it was a Huguenot's half an hour ago. +I will carry mine stuck under my arm.</p> +<p>"Use as few words as may be, if you have to speak; and speak +them gruffly, or they will discover at once that you are no smith. +I fear not for ourselves. We can play our parts--fight or run for +it. It is that angel I fear for."</p> +<p>"God will protect her, Pierre. Ah! They are knocking at the +door, and the women of the house may be coming down to open +it."</p> +<p>"Not they, sir. You may be sure they are half mad with terror. +Not one has shown herself, since the tumult began. The landlord and +his two sons are, doubtless, with the city bands. Like enough they +have led some of their fellows here, or why should they attack the +door, as it is unmarked?"</p> +<p>Claire joined them again. They hurried downstairs, and then out +by the back entrance into a narrow lane. Philip carried a heavy +hammer on his shoulder. Pierre had a large butcher's knife stuck +conspicuously in his girdle. He was bare headed and had dipped his +head in water, so that his hair fell matted across his face, which +was grimy and black.</p> +<p>Day was now breaking, but the light was as yet faint.</p> +<p>"Keep close to me, Claire," Philip said as they reached the +street, which was ablaze with torches. "Above all things do not +shrink, or seem as if you were afraid."</p> +<p>"I am not afraid," she said. "God saved me before from as great +a peril, and will save me again, if it seems good to Him."</p> +<p>"Keep your eyes fixed on me. Pay no attention to what is going +on around you."</p> +<p>"I will pray," she said simply.</p> +<p>Just as they entered the street the crowd separated, and the +Duke of Guise, followed by several nobles of his party, rode along, +shouting:</p> +<p>"Death to all Huguenots! It is the king's command."</p> +<p>"It is the command you and others have put into his mouth, +villain!" Philip muttered to himself.</p> +<p>A roar of ferocious assent rose from the crowd, which was +composed of citizen soldiers and the scum of Paris. They danced and +yelled, and uttered ferocious jests at the dead bodies lying in the +road.</p> +<p>Here the work of slaughter was nearly complete. Few of the +Huguenots had offered any resistance, although some had fought +desperately to the last. Most of them, however, taken by surprise, +and seeing resistance useless, had thrown down their arms; and +either cried for quarter, or had submitted themselves calmly to +slaughter. Neither age nor sex had availed to save them. Women and +children, and even infants, had been slain without mercy.</p> +<p>The soldiers, provided with lists of the houses inhabited by +Huguenots, were going round to see that none had escaped attack. +Many in the crowd were attired in articles of dress that they had +gained in the plunder. Ragged beggars wore cloaks of velvet, or +plumed hats. Many had already been drinking heavily. Women mingled +in the crowd, as ferocious and merciless as the men.</p> +<p>"Break me in this door, friend," an officer, with a list in his +hand and several soldiers standing beside him, said to Philip.</p> +<p>The latter did not hesitate. To do so would have brought +destruction on himself and those with him; without averting, for +more than a minute or two, the fate of those within. Placing +himself in front of the door, he swung his heavy hammer and brought +it down upon the woodwork. A dozen blows, and the door began to +splinter.</p> +<p>The crack of a pistol sounded above, and the officer standing +close to him fell dead. Four or five shots were fired, by the +soldiers, at the window above. Another two or three blows, and the +door gave way.</p> +<p>Philip went aside as the soldiers, followed by a crowd, rushed +in; and returned to Claire, who was standing by the side of Pierre, +a few paces away.</p> +<p>"Let us go on," he said.</p> +<p>A few yards further they were at the entrance of a lane running +north. As Philip turned into it, a man caught him by the arm.</p> +<p>"Where are you going, comrade?" he said. "There is plenty of +work for your hammer, yet."</p> +<p>"I have a job elsewhere," Philip said.</p> +<p>"It is rare work, comrade. I have killed five of them with my +own hand, and I have got their purses, too," he chuckled.</p> +<p>"Hallo! Who is this girl you have with you?"</p> +<p>And he roughly caught hold of Claire.</p> +<p>Philip's pent-up rage found a vent. He sprang upon the man, +seized him by the throat, and hurled him with tremendous force +against the wall; whence he fell, a senseless mass, on to the +ground.</p> +<p>"What is it?" cried half a dozen men, rushing up.</p> +<p>"A Huguenot in disguise," Philip said. "You will find his +pockets are full of gold."</p> +<p>They threw themselves upon the fallen man, fighting and cursing +to be the first to ransack his pockets; while Philip, with his two +companions, moved up the lane unnoticed.</p> +<p>Fifty yards farther Claire stumbled, and would have fallen had +not Philip caught her. Her head had fallen forward, and he felt at +once that she was insensible. He placed her on a doorstep, and +supported her in a sitting position, Pierre standing by. A minute +later a group of men came hurrying down the street.</p> +<p>"What is it?" one of the group asked, as he stopped for a +moment.</p> +<p>"It is only a woman, squeamish," Pierre said in a rough voice. +"She would come with us, thinking she could pick up a trinket or +two; but, ma foi, it is hot down there, and she turned sick. So we +are taking her home."</p> +<p>Satisfied with the explanation, the men hurried on.</p> +<p>"Shall I carry her, Pierre? Her weight would be nothing."</p> +<p>"Better wait a few minutes, Monsieur Philip, and see if she +comes round. Our story is right enough, as long as we stop here; +but people might want to know more, if they were to meet you +carrying a woman."</p> +<p>Some minutes passed, and then, finding that Claire remained +unconscious, Philip lifted her on to his shoulder.</p> +<p>"We will risk it, Pierre. As long as we only meet them coming +along in twos or threes, we can go on safely; for if they are +inquisitive, I can set her down and speedily silence their +questioning. If we see a large body coming, we can either turn down +a side street or, if there is no turning at hand, can set her down +again and answer as before. Every step we get, farther away from +the quarter we have left, the better."</p> +<p>He had carried Claire but a few hundred yards, when he felt her +move. He at once set her down again, on a doorstep. In a few +minutes she was able to stand and, assisted by Philip, she +presently continued her course, at a slow pace. Gradually the +movement restored her strength, and she said, speaking for the +first time:</p> +<p>"I can walk alone."</p> +<p>An hour later they reached the hut that they had marked out as +their place of refuge. Pierre went to a corner and drew out, from +under a heap of rubbish, a large bundle.</p> +<p>"Here is your cloak and mine," he said, "and a change of clothes +for each of us. We could not wander about the country, in this +guise."</p> +<p>Philip laid the cloaks down to form a sort of couch; and placed +the bundle, with the rest of the things in, as a pillow.</p> +<p>"Now, mademoiselle," he said, "you will be safe here until +nightfall. First you must drink a glass of wine, and try and eat +something. Pierre brought some up here, two days ago. Then I hope +you will lie down. I will watch outside the door. Pierre will go +down into the town, to gather news."</p> +<p>"I will take something presently," she said. "I could eat +nothing, now."</p> +<p>But Pierre had already uncorked a bottle, and Philip advised her +to drink a little wine.</p> +<p>"You will need all your strength," he said, "for we have a long +journey before us."</p> +<p>She drank a few drops.</p> +<p>"Do not go yet," she said. "I must speak to you."</p> +<p>Philip nodded to Pierre, who left the hut. Claire sat on the +cloaks for some minutes, in silence.</p> +<p>"I have been thinking, Monsieur Philip," she said at last, "and +it seems to me that it would not be right for me to go with you. I +am the promised wife of the Sieur de Pascal, and that promise is +all the more sacred, since he to whom I gave it,"--and she +paused--"is gone. It would not be right for me to go with you. You +shall take me to the Louvre, where I will crave the protection of +the King and Queen of Navarre.</p> +<p>"Do not think me ungrateful for what you have done for me. Twice +now you have saved my life, and, and--you understand me, +Philip?"</p> +<p>"I do," he said, "and honour your scruples. One of my objects, +in sending Pierre down into the town again, is to learn what has +taken place at the Louvre. It may be that this fiendish massacre +has extended there, and that even the King of Navarre, and the +Huguenot gentlemen with him, have shared the fate of the others. +Should it not be so, it would be best in every way that what you +suggest should be carried out.</p> +<p>"As for the Sieur de Pascal, it may be that the blow, that has +bereft you of your good father, may well have fallen upon him, +also."</p> +<p>"But many will surely escape, as we have done. It cannot be that +all our friends--all those who rode in with the princes--can have +been murdered."</p> +<p>"Some have doubtless escaped; but I fear that the massacre will +be almost universal, for it has evidently been carefully planned +and, once begun, will extend not only to the followers of Navarre, +but to all the Protestants within the walls of Paris."</p> +<p>"Do you know aught concerning the Sieur de Pascal?" Claire +asked, looking up.</p> +<p>Something in the tone of his voice struck her.</p> +<p>"I saw him fall, mademoiselle. He had made for the door of your +house, doubtless with the intention of joining your father in +defending it to the last; but the murderers were already there. He +was attacked on the doorstep, and was surrounded, and well-nigh +spent, when I saw him. I tried to reach him through the crowd but, +before I could do so, he fell.</p> +<p>"Then, seeing that it would be but throwing away my life, and +destroying all chance of saving yours, I hurried away to carry out +the plan I had before formed of making my way along the roofs, and +so entering your house.</p> +<p>"Monsieur de Pascal fell, mademoiselle, as a brave soldier, +fighting against a host of foes, and in defence of yourself and +your father. It was an unfortunate, though noble impulse, that led +him there; for I had rubbed out the mark upon your door that served +as a guide for the soldiers, and you and the count might have +escaped over the roof, before any attack was made, had not his +presence aroused their suspicions."</p> +<p>Claire had hidden her face in her hands, as he began to speak; +and he had kept on talking, in order to give her time to collect +her feelings; but as she was now crying unrestrainedly, he went +quietly out of the hut and left her to herself; glad that tears had +come to her relief, for the first time.</p> +<p>An hour later the door opened behind him, and Claire called him +in.</p> +<p>"I am better now," she said, "I have been able to cry. It seemed +that my heart was frozen, and I was like one in a terrible +nightmare. Now I know that it is all true, and that my dear father +is dead.</p> +<p>"As for Monsieur de Pascal, I am sorry that a brave soldier has +been killed; but that is all. You know that I received him, as my +affianced husband, simply in obedience to my father's commands; and +that my heart had no part in it. God has broken the tie, and for +that, even in this time of sorrow, I cannot but feel relief."</p> +<p>At this moment there was a knock at the door. Then the latch was +lifted, and Pierre entered.</p> +<p>"What is the news, Pierre?"</p> +<p>"It is bad, sir. The king has, in truth, put himself at the head +of the massacre; and even in the Louvre, itself, several Huguenot +gentlemen have been slain, though I could not learn their names. It +is said that some of them were slain in the presence of the young +Queen of Navarre, in spite of her entreaties and cries. The young +king and his cousin Conde are close prisoners; and it is said that +they, too, will be slain, unless they embrace the Catholic +faith.</p> +<p>"The massacre has spread to all parts of the town, and the +Huguenots are everywhere being dragged from their homes and killed, +together with their wives and children. It is said that the bodies +of Coligny, and other Huguenot leaders, have been taken to the +Louvre; and that the king and the queen mother and the ladies, as +well as the gentlemen of the court, have been down to view them and +make a jest of them.</p> +<p>"Truly, sir, Paris seems to have gone mad. It is said that +orders have been sent, to all parts of France, to exterminate the +Huguenots."</p> +<p>Philip made a sign to Pierre to leave the hut.</p> +<p>"This is terrible news," he said to Claire, "and it is now clear +that the Louvre will afford you no protection. In these days, no +more mercy is shown to women than to men; and at best, or at worst, +you could but save your life by renouncing your faith."</p> +<p>"I had already decided," she said quietly, "that I would not go +to the Louvre. The death of Monsieur de Pascal has altered +everything. As his affianced wife, with the consent of my father, +the king would hardly have interfered to have forced me into +another marriage; but, being now free, he would treat me as a ward +of the crown, and would hand me and my estates to one of his +favourites. Anything would be better than that.</p> +<p>"Now, of course, it is out of the question. Estates I have none; +for, with the extermination of our people, their estates will be +granted to others."</p> +<p>"As to that, mademoiselle, they have been trying to massacre the +Huguenots for years; and though, doubtless, in the towns many may +fall, they will not be taken so readily in the country; and may, +even yet, rally and make head again.</p> +<p>"Still, that does not alter the present circumstances; and I see +no other plan but that I had first formed, for you to accompany me +and my servant, in disguise."</p> +<p>The girl stood hesitating, twining her fingers over each other, +restlessly.</p> +<p>"It is so strange, so unmaidenly," she murmured.</p> +<p>"Then, Claire," Philip said, taking her hands in his, "you must +give me the right to protect you. It is strange to speak of love, +at such a time as this; but you know that I love you. As a rich +heiress, and altogether above my station, even had you been free I +might never have spoken; but now, standing as we do surrounded by +dangers, such distinctions are levelled. I love you with all my +heart, and it seems to me that God, himself, has brought us +together."</p> +<p>"It is surely so, Philip," she said, looking up into his face. +"Has not God sent you twice to save me? Some day I will tell you of +my heart, but not now, dear--not now. I am alone in the world, save +you. I am sure that my father, if he now sees us, must approve. +Therefore, Philip, henceforth I am your affianced wife, and am +ready to follow you to the end of the world."</p> +<p>Philip stooped down, and kissed her gently. Then he dropped her +hands, and she stood back a little apart from him.</p> +<p>"It were best that I called Pierre in," he said. "Even in this +lonely quarter some one might pass and, seeing him standing at the +door, wonder who he might be."</p> +<p>So saying, he opened the door and called Pierre in.</p> +<p>"Pierre," he said gravely, "Mademoiselle de Valecourt is now my +affianced wife."</p> +<p>"That is as it should be, master," Pierre said; and then, +stepping up to Claire, who held out her hand to him, he reverently +pressed it with his lips.</p> +<p>"Mademoiselle," he said, "my life will henceforth be at your +disposal, as at that of my master. We may have dangers to face, but +if anyone can get you through them, he can."</p> +<p>"Thank you, Pierre," the girl said. "It is well, indeed, that we +should have with us one so faithful and attached as yourself."</p> +<p>In the hours that passed before nightfall, Philip related to +Claire how Pierre's warnings had excited his uneasiness; and how +the discovery of the chalk marks, on the doors, had confirmed him +in his conviction that some evil was intended; and explained the +steps they had taken for providing for an escape from the city.</p> +<p>"I have been wondering vaguely, Philip," she said, when he had +told the story, "how it was that you should have appeared so +suddenly, and should have a disguise in readiness for me. But how +could you have guessed that I should be ready to go with you?"</p> +<p>And for the first time, a slight tinge of colour came into her +cheeks.</p> +<p>"It was scarcely a guess, Claire. It was rather a despairing +hope. It seemed to me that, amid all this terror and confusion, I +might in some way be able to rescue you; and I made the only +preparation that seemed possible.</p> +<p>"I knew that you were aware that I loved you. When you told me +of your engagement, I felt that you were saying farewell to me. +When I thought of saving you, it was for him and not for myself; +for I knew that you would never oppose your father's wishes. I did +not dream of such a general calamity as it has been. I thought only +of a rising of the mob of Paris, and that perhaps an hour or two in +disguise might be sufficient, until the king's troops restored +order."</p> +<p>"It is very wonderful," Claire said earnestly. "It seems, beyond +all doubt, that it is God Himself who has thus given me to you; and +I will not doubt that, great as the dangers may seem to be before +us, He will lead us safely through them.</p> +<p>"You will make for La Rochelle?"</p> +<p>"Yes. Once there we shall be safe. You may be sure that there, +at least, the cruel orders of the king will be wholly disregarded; +as we may hope they will be, in many other towns in which the +Huguenots are numerous; but at La Rochelle, certainly, were all the +rest of France in flames, the people would remain steadfast.</p> +<p>"But I do not believe that the power of the Huguenots will be +broken. It may be that, in the northern towns, the orders of the +king will be carried out; but from thence we have obtained no aid +in our former struggles. Our strength in the south will still +remain and, though the loss of so many leaders and nobles, here in +Paris, will be a heavy blow, I hope that the cause of the faith +will speedily rally from it and make head again; just as it did +when all seemed lost, after the battle of Moncontour."</p> +<p>So they talked until night fell, with Pierre sitting discreetly +in the corner, as far away as possible, apparently sleeping most of +the time. As soon as it became perfectly dark, the bundle of +clothes was taken from the hiding place and, going outside the hut, +Philip and Pierre put on their ordinary attire. Claire had simply +slipped on the dress prepared for her over her own, and had but to +lay it aside.</p> +<p>After partaking of a meal, they made their way to the nearest +steps leading to the top of the wall. One end of the rope was +fastened to the parapet, the other was tied round Claire, and she +was carefully lowered to the ground. Philip and Pierre slid down +the rope after her, and they at once started across the +country.</p> +<p>After three hours' walking, they reached the farm where Pierre +had left the horses. They left Claire a short distance away. As +Pierre had seen the horses put into the stables, he knew exactly +where they were. He had, on leaving them there, paid for a week's +keep; saying that he might come for them in haste, and perhaps at +night, and if so he would saddle and take them off without waking +the farmer.</p> +<p>The horses whinnied with pleasure, when Philip spoke to them. +The saddles and bridles were found, hanging on a beam where Pierre +had placed them; and in two or three minutes the horses were led +out, ready to start. Philip had arranged his cloak behind his +saddle, for Claire to sit upon; and led the horse to the place +where she was awaiting them.</p> +<p>"All has passed off well," he said. "No one in the farmhouse +seems to have heard a sound."</p> +<p>He leapt into the saddle. Claire placed her foot on his, and he +swung her up behind him; and they then started at a brisk trot.</p> +<p>Avoiding all large towns, and stopping only at village inns, +they made their way south; making long journeys each day. In the +villages there was little of the religious rancour that animated +the people in the towns and, after the first two days, Philip found +that the news of what had occurred at Paris had not, as yet, +spread. Eager questions were asked Pierre as to the grand wedding +festivities at Paris; and there was, everywhere, a feeling of +satisfaction at a union that seemed to promise to give peace to +France.</p> +<p>Claire was generally supposed to be Philip's sister; and the +hostesses always did their best to make the girl, with her pale sad +face, as comfortable as possible.</p> +<p>Fearing that a watch might have been set at the bridges, they +avoided these, crossing either by ferry boats or at fords. The +Loire was passed above Orleans, and as that city, Blois, and Tours +all lay on the northern bank, they met with no large towns on their +way, until they approached Chatellerault. They bore to the south to +avoid that city and Poitiers and, on the eighth day after leaving +Paris, they reached the chateau of Laville, having travelled +upwards of two hundred miles.</p> +<p>As they crossed the drawbridge, Philip's four retainers met them +at the gate, and greeted him most warmly.</p> +<p>"Is the countess in?" he asked, as he alighted.</p> +<p>"She is, Monsieur Philip. She has been for some days at La +Rochelle, and returned yesterday. There are rumours, sir, that at +Poitiers and Niort the Catholics have again, in spite of the +edicts, fallen upon the Huguenots; and though the countess believes +not the tale, we had a guard posted at the gate last night."</p> +<p>"I am afraid it is true, Eustace," Philip said. "Take the horses +round to the stables, and see to them well. They have travelled +fast."</p> +<p>Taking Claire's hand, he led her up the steps; and just as he +entered the hall the countess, to whom the news of his approach had +been carried, met him.</p> +<p>"Aunt," he said, "I confide this lady to your loving care. It is +Mademoiselle de Valecourt, now my affianced wife. I have bad news +to tell you; but I pray you lead her first to a chamber, for she is +sore wearied and in much grief."</p> +<p>"Francois is not dead?" the countess exclaimed in a low voice, +paling to the lips.</p> +<p>"I trust not, aunt. I have no reason for believing that he +is."</p> +<p>"I will wait here, Philip, with the countess's permission," +Claire said. "It is better that you should not keep her in +suspense, even for a moment, on my account."</p> +<p>"I thank you, mademoiselle," the countess said, as she led the +girl to a couch. "This is but a poor welcome that I am giving you; +but I will make amends for it, when I have heard what Philip has to +tell me.</p> +<p>"Now, Philip, tell me the worst, and let there be no +concealment."</p> +<p>Philip related the whole story of the massacre, his tale being +interrupted by frequent exclamations of horror, by the +countess.</p> +<p>"It seems incredible," she cried, "that a king of France should +thus dishonour himself, alike by breaking his vows, disregarding +his own safe conduct, and massacring those who had accepted his +hospitality.</p> +<p>"And Francois, you say, was at the Louvre with the King of +Navarre and Conde; and even there, within the walls of the royal +palace, some of the king's guests were murdered; but more than this +you know not?"</p> +<p>"That is the report that Pierre gathered in the street, aunt. It +may have been exaggerated. Everyone eagerly seized and retailed the +reports that were current. But even if true, it may well be that +Francois is not among those who fell. To a certain extent he was +warned, for I told him the suspicions and fears that I entertained; +and when he heard the tumult outside, he may have effected his +escape."</p> +<p>"I do not think so," the countess said, drawing herself up to +her full height. "My son was one of the prince's gentlemen of the +chamber, and he would have been unworthy of his name, had he +thought first of his personal safety and not of that of the young +king."</p> +<p>Philip knew that this was so; and the knowledge had, from the +first, prevented his entertaining any great hopes of his cousin's +safety. However, he said:</p> +<p>"As long as there was a hope of his being of service to the +prince, I am sure that Francois would not have left him. But from +the first, aunt, resistance was in vain, and would only have +excited the assailants. Pierre heard that in few cases was there +any resistance, whatever, to the murderers. The horror of the thing +was so great that even the bravest, awakened thus from their sleep, +either fell without drawing sword, or fled."</p> +<p>"What a day for France!" the countess exclaimed. "The Admiral, +our bravest soldier, our greatest leader, a Christian hero, +slaughtered as he lay wounded! And how many others of our noblest +and best! And you say orders have been sent, over all France, to +repeat this horrible massacre?</p> +<p>"But enough, for the present. I am forgetting my duties as +hostess. Mademoiselle de Valecourt, we are alike mourners--you for +your noble father, I for my son, both of us for France and for our +religion. Yet I welcome you to Laville. For you, brighter days may +be in store. My nephew is a gallant gentleman, and with him you may +find a home far away from this unhappy country. To me, if Francois +has gone, Philip will stand almost in the light of a son. Francois +loved him as a brother, and he has grown very dear to me, and +gladly shall I welcome you as his wife.</p> +<p>"Now, come with me.</p> +<p>"Philip, I leave it to you to send round the news to the +tenants, and to see that all preparations are made to leave the +chateau, once again, to the mercy of our foes; and to retire to La +Rochelle, where alone we can talk with safety. See that the bell is +rung at once. The tenants know the summons and, though little +expecting danger, will quickly rally here."</p> +<p>Philip at once went out into the courtyard, and in a minute the +sharp clanging of the bell told the country round that danger +threatened. The retainers of the chateau ran hastily out, arming +themselves as they went; and exclamations of horror and fury broke +from them, as Philip told them that the order for the massacre of +the Huguenots, throughout France, had gone forth; and that already, +most of those who rode to Paris with the King of Navarre had +fallen.</p> +<p>Then he repeated the countess's order that, upon the following +morning, the chateau should be abandoned and all should ride to La +Rochelle; and he despatched half a dozen mounted men, to warn all +the Huguenot gentry in the district.</p> +<p>In a few minutes the tenants began to flock in. Although the +tale that they heard involved the destruction of their newly-built +houses, and the loss of most of their property, this affected them +but slightly in comparison with the news of the murder of Coligny, +and of so many Huguenot leaders; and of the terrible fate that +would befall the Huguenots, in every town in France. Some wept, +others clenched their weapons in impotent rage. Some called down +the curses of Heaven upon the faithless king, while some stood as +if completely dazed at the terrible news.</p> +<p>Philip spoke a few cheering words to them.</p> +<p>"All is not lost yet, my friends. Heaven will raise up fresh +leaders for us. Many may fall, but the indignation and rage that +you feel will likewise animate all who, dwelling in the country, +may escape; so that, ere long, we shall have fresh armies in the +field. Doubtless the first blow will be struck at La Rochelle, and +there we will meet these murderers face to face; and will have the +opportunity of proving, to them, that the men of the Reformed +religion are yet a force capable of resisting oppression, and +revenging treachery. There is one thing: never again shall we make +the mistake of laying down our arms, confiding in the promises and +vows of this perjured king; never again shall we be cozened into +throwing away the results of our victories.</p> +<p>"Gather your horses and cattle, as you did before. Take your +household goods in carts and, at daybreak, send in here the waggons +that you have to provide, in case of necessity."</p> +<p>At noon the next day, the whole of the occupants of the chateau +started for La Rochelle. The tenants, with their cattle and horses +and all their portable property, had left at daybreak; and at +nightfall the countess and her party came up with them. The +encampment was a large one. The women and children slept under the +waggons. The men lay down by fires they had kindled, while a +portion were told off to keep watch over the animals.</p> +<p>The train had swollen considerably since they had started. Most +of the inhabitants of the villages were Huguenots and, as soon as +these heard of the massacres in Paris and elsewhere, they collected +their animals, loaded up their carts, and took the road to the city +of refuge.</p> +<p>After four days' travelling, they entered La Rochelle. The news +had arrived before them, being brought by some of those who had +escaped the massacre, by being lodged without the walls of Paris. +The countess and Claire were received at the house of Monsieur +Bertram. Philip found lodgings near them, and the whole of the +inhabitants vied with each other, in their hospitable reception of +the mass of fugitives.</p> +<p>Claire was completely prostrated by the events through which she +had passed, and Monsieur Bertram's daughter devoted herself to her, +tending her with unwearied care until, after a week in bed, she +began again to gather strength.</p> +<p>The time of the countess was entirely occupied in filling the +part that had, before, been played by Jeanne of Navarre: holding +consultations with the town councillors, going down to the walls +and encouraging the men who were labouring there, and urging on the +people to make every sacrifice in defence of their religion and +homes. She herself set the example, by pawning her jewels and +selling her horses, and devoting the proceeds to the funds raised +for the defence.</p> +<p>She worked with feverish activity, as if to give herself no time +for thought. She was still without news of Francois. Henry of +Navarre and the Prince of Conde had, as was soon known, been +compelled to abjure their religion as the price of their lives. She +was convinced that her son would have refused to buy his life, upon +such conditions. Philip, who had come to regard Francois as a +brother, was equally anxious and, two days after his arrival at the +city, he took Pierre aside.</p> +<p>"Pierre," he said, "I cannot rest here in ignorance of the fate +of my cousin."</p> +<p>"That I can see, master. You have eaten no food the last two +days. You walk about at night, instead of sleeping; and I have been +expecting, every hour, that you would say to me, 'Pierre, we must +go to Paris.'"</p> +<p>"Will you go with me, Pierre?"</p> +<p>"How can you ask such a question?" Pierre said, indignantly. "Of +course, if you go I go, too. There is not much danger in the +affair; and if there were, what then? We have gone through plenty +of it, together. It will not be, now, as when we made our escape. +Then they were hunting down the Huguenots like mad dogs. Now they +think they have exterminated them in Paris, and will no longer be +on the lookout for them. It will be easy enough to come and go, +without being observed; and if we find Monsieur Francois, we will +bring him out with us.</p> +<p>"The young count is not like you, monsieur. He is brave, and a +gallant gentleman, but he is not one to invent plans of escape; and +he will not get away, unless we go for him."</p> +<p>"That is what I think, Pierre. We will start at once, but we +must not let the countess know what we are going for. I will get +the chief of the council, openly, to charge me with a mission to +the south; while telling them, privately, where I am really going, +and with what object. I am known to most of them, and I doubt not +they will fall in with my plans.</p> +<p>"We will ride my two best horses, and lead a spare one. We will +leave them a few miles outside Paris, and then go in disguised as +countrymen. At any rate, we shall soon be able to learn if my +cousin is among those who fell. If not, he must be in hiding +somewhere. It will not be easy to discover him, but I trust to you +to find him."</p> +<p>Accordingly, the next day, the countess heard that Philip had +been requested by the council to proceed on a mission to the south, +where the Huguenots were everywhere in arms.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch22" id="Ch22">Chapter 22</a>: Reunited.</h2> +<p>Philip took clothes with him, in his saddlebags, of gayer +colours than those worn by the Huguenots; and as soon as they were +beyond the district where the Protestants were in the ascendant, he +put these on instead of those in which he had started. They rode +fast and, on the fifth day after leaving La Rochelle, they entered +Versailles. No questions had been asked them by the way, and they +rode into the courtyard of the principal inn, and there stabled +their horses.</p> +<p>"Your animals look as if they needed rest, sir," the landlord +said, as they dismounted.</p> +<p>"Yes, we have come from the south, and have pressed them too +much. I have business in Paris which will occupy me for a few days; +therefore I will leave them here, for a rest. I suppose you can +furnish me with two horses, to take me as far as Saint Cloud, and a +man to bring them back again."</p> +<p>"Certainly I can, sir, and your horses shall be well looked +after, here."</p> +<p>"Then we will go on, the first thing in the morning. Have the +horses ready by that time."</p> +<p>The next morning they rode to Saint Cloud, dismounted there, and +handed over the horses to the man who had ridden behind them. Then +they crossed by the bridge over the river and, entering the wood +that bordered the Seine, put on the disguises they had brought with +them--concealing their clothes among some thick bushes--and then +walked on into Paris.</p> +<p>They put up at a small inn and, as they partook of a meal, +listened to the talk of those around them. But it was not here that +they could expect to gather the news they required. They heard the +names of many of those who had been killed, but these were all +leaders of distinction; and as soon as they had finished their +food, they started for the Louvre.</p> +<p>"I don't see how we are to find out what we want, now we are +here, Pierre," Philip said, after they had stood for some time, +looking at the gate through which numbers of gentlemen entered or +left the palace.</p> +<p>"It will take some little time, sir," Pierre said. "I think the +best plan will be for me to purchase some clothes, suitable for the +lackey of a gentleman of rank. I can get them easily enough, for +the shops will be full of garments, bought of those who took part +in the massacre. Then I shall make acquaintance with one of the +lackeys of the court and, with plenty of good wine, I shall no +doubt be able to learn all that he knows as to what took place at +the Louvre."</p> +<p>At that moment a gentleman passed them.</p> +<p>"That is Count Louis de Fontaine, the cousin of the man I killed +in that duel. I am sure it is he. By what I saw of him, he is a +gentleman and a man of honour, and by no means ill disposed towards +us.</p> +<p>"I will speak to him. Do you stay here, till I return."</p> +<p>Pierre was about to protest, but Philip had already left him, +and was following the count. He waited until they were in a +comparatively quiet place, and then walked on and overtook him.</p> +<p>"Count Louis de Fontaine," he said.</p> +<p>The nobleman turned, in surprise, at being addressed by this big +countryman.</p> +<p>Philip went on:</p> +<p>"Our acquaintance was a short one, count. It was some four years +ago, at Agen, that I met you, and had the misfortune to have +trouble with your cousin, Count Raoul; but short as it was, it was +sufficient to show me that you were a gentleman of heart, and to +encourage me, now, to throw myself on your generosity."</p> +<p>"Are you the gentleman who fought my cousin, and afterwards +escaped from the castle?" the count asked, in surprise.</p> +<p>"I am, count. I am here upon no plot or conspiracy, but simply +to endeavour to ascertain the fate of my cousin, Francois de +Laville, who was with the King of Navarre on that fearful night, a +fortnight since. His mother is distracted at hearing no news of +him, while to me he is as a brother.</p> +<p>"I effected my own escape, and have, as you see, returned in +disguise to ascertain his fate. I am unable to obtain a list of +those who were murdered and, seeing you, I felt that it would be +safe to rely upon your honour, and to ask you to give me the news I +require. I will fall back now, for it might be thought strange that +a noble should be talking to a peasant; but I pray you to lead the +way to some quiet spot, where I can speak with you unnoticed."</p> +<p>"My lodging is in the next street. Follow me, and I will take +you up to my room."</p> +<p>As soon as they had entered the lodging, the count said:</p> +<p>"You are not deceived. I am incapable of betraying a trust +imposed upon me. I bear you no malice for the slaying of my cousin; +for indeed, the quarrel was not of your seeking. Still less do I +feel hostility towards you on the ground of your religion; for I +doubt not, from what you say, that you are of the Reformed faith. I +lament, most deeply and bitterly, the events that have taken +place--events which dishonour our nation in the eyes of all Europe. +I have not the pleasure of knowing your name."</p> +<p>"I am the Chevalier Philip Fletcher, an Englishman by birth, +though related on my mother's side to the family of the Count de +Laville."</p> +<p>"I have heard your name, sir, as that of one of the bravest +gentlemen in the following of Admiral Coligny.</p> +<p>"Now, as to your cousin; his fate is uncertain. He was certainly +cut down by the hired wretches of the Guises. They passed on in +search of other victims, believing him to be dead; but his body was +not afterwards found, and the general opinion is that he either +recovered and crawled away, and is still in some hiding place, or +that he is concealed somewhere in the palace itself. Search was +made next day, but without success. Some think he may have reached +the streets, and been there killed; and his body, like so many +others, thrown into the Seine. I trust that this is not the case, +but I have no grounds for bidding you hope."</p> +<p>"At any rate, you have given me cause to hope, sir, and I thank +you heartily. It is something to know that he is not certainly +dead.</p> +<p>"Can you tell me on which side of the palace was his chamber? I +saw him there frequently, but did not, on any occasion, go with him +to his room."</p> +<p>"It was on the side facing the river. It was near that of the +King of Navarre."</p> +<p>"Thank you, count. It is but a small clue with which to commence +my search, but it is at least something. You say that the palace +itself has been searched?"</p> +<p>"Yes. On the following morning it was thoroughly searched for +fugitives in hiding; but for all that he may be concealed there, by +some servant whose goodwill he had gained.</p> +<p>"Is there anything else that I can tell you? I may say that I +have, personally, no influence whatever at court. I have never +failed to express myself strongly, in reference to the policy of +persecution; and I am only here, now, in obedience to the royal +orders to present myself at court."</p> +<p>"There is nothing else, count. I thank you most sincerely, for +having thus respected my disguise, and for the news you have given +me."</p> +<p>Philip returned to the Louvre and joined Pierre, who was +impatiently waiting.</p> +<p>"I followed you for some distance, sir; but when I saw you +address the count, and then follow quietly behind him, I saw you +were right, and that he was to be trusted; and so returned to await +your coming. Have you obtained any sure news from him?"</p> +<p>Philip repeated his conversation with the count.</p> +<p>"I will wager he is hidden somewhere in the palace," Pierre +said. "Badly wounded as he must have been, he could not have hoped +to make his escape through the streets, knowing no one who would +have dared to give him refuge. It is far more likely that some of +the palace servants came upon him, just as he was recovering, and +hid him away. He was always bright and pleasant, fond of a jest, +and it may well be that some woman or other took pity on him. The +question is, how are we to find out who she is?"</p> +<p>"It is as likely to be a man as a woman, Pierre."</p> +<p>"No," Pierre said positively. "Women are wonderfully tender +hearted, and are not so afraid of consequences as men are. A man +might feel some pity, at seeing a gentleman so sorely wounded, but +he would not risk his own life to shelter him; while any woman +would do it, without hesitation. It may be a lady of noble family, +or a poor kitchen wench, but that it is a woman I would wager my +life."</p> +<p>"It seems hopeless to try to find out who it is," Philip said +despondently.</p> +<p>"Not hopeless, sir, though doubtless difficult. With your +permission, I will undertake this part of the task. I will get +myself up as a workman out of employment--and there are many +such--and will hang about near that little gate. It is the +servants' entrance, and I shall be able to watch every woman that +comes out."</p> +<p>"But what good will watching do?"</p> +<p>"It may do no good, sir, but yet it may help. A woman, with such +a secret as that on her mind, will surely show some signs of it +upon her face. She will either have a scared look, or an anxious +look. She will not walk with an easy step."</p> +<p>"Well, there is something in what you say, Pierre. At any rate, +I can think of nothing better."</p> +<p>The next morning Pierre took up his position opposite the gate, +but had no news that night to report to his master; nor had he on +the second or third; but on the fourth, he returned radiant.</p> +<p>"Good news, master. The count is alive, and I have found +him."</p> +<p>Philip sprung from his settle, and grasped his faithful follower +by the hand.</p> +<p>"Thank God for the news, Pierre. I had almost given up hope. How +did you discover him?"</p> +<p>"Just as I expected, sir. I have seen, in the last three days, +scores of women come out; but none of them needed a second look. +Some were intent on their own finery, others were clearly bent on +shopping. Some looked up and down the street, for a lover who ought +to have been waiting for them. Not one of these had a secret of +life and death on her mind.</p> +<p>"But this afternoon there came out a young woman with a pale +face, and an anxious look. She glanced nervously up and down the +street, not as one expecting to meet a friend, but as if she feared +an enemy. After a moment's hesitation, she crossed the road and +walked along with an indecisive air; more than once glancing behind +her, as if afraid of being followed.</p> +<p>"'This is my lady,' I said to myself and, keeping some distance +behind and on the opposite side of the road, I followed her.</p> +<p>"She soon turned off into a side street. Once or twice she +paused, looked into a shop, hesitated, and then went on again. You +may be sure I marked the spots, and was not surprised to find that, +in each case, it was an apothecary's before which she had +hesitated.</p> +<p>"At last, after looking round again timidly, she entered one; +and when I came up, I also went in. She gave a nervous start. I +asked to be supplied with a pot of salve for a wound, and the man +helped me from one he had just placed on the counter before him. I +paid for it, and left.</p> +<p>"Two or three minutes later, I saw her come out. Whatever she +had bought, she had hidden it under her cloak. Up to this time she +had walked fast, but she now loitered, and looked at the wares +displayed on the stalls.</p> +<p>"'You are in no hurry to go back,' I said to myself. 'You have +got what you wanted, and you do not wish to attract attention, by +returning to the palace after so short an absence.'</p> +<p>"At last, when she was in a quiet spot, I walked quickly up to +her.</p> +<p>"'Mademoiselle,' I said, taking off my hat, 'I am a friend of +the gentleman for whom you have bought that salve, and other +matters.'</p> +<p>"She became very white, but she said stoutly:</p> +<p>"'I don't know what you are talking about, sir; and if you +molest a modest young woman in the streets, I shall appeal to the +town constables for protection.'</p> +<p>"'I repeat,' I said, 'that I am a friend of the gentleman for +whom you have just bought the materials for dressing his wounds. I +am the servant of his cousin, the Chevalier Fletcher; and the name +of your patient is Count Francois de Laville.'</p> +<p>"She looked at me, stupefied with astonishment, and +stammered:</p> +<p>"'How do you know that?'</p> +<p>"'It is enough, mademoiselle, that I know it,' I said. 'My +master and I have come to Paris, expressly to find Monsieur de +Laville; and when we have found him, to aid him to make his escape. +Do not hesitate to confide in me, for only so shall we succeed in +the object of our journey.'</p> +<p>"'What is your master's Christian name?' she asked, still +doubtful.</p> +<p>"'It is Philip,' I said.</p> +<p>"She clasped her hands together.</p> +<p>"'The good God be praised!' she exclaimed. 'It was of Philip he +spoke, when he was so ill. He was unconscious. Surely it is He that +has sent you to me. It has been terrible for me to bear my secret, +alone.'</p> +<p>"'Let us walk farther,' I said, 'before you tell me more. There +are too many people passing here; and if they notice the tears on +your cheeks, they may suspect me of ill treating you, and may ask +troublesome questions.'</p> +<p>"After a few minutes' walk, we came to a quiet square.</p> +<p>"'Let us sit down on this stone seat,' I said. 'We can talk +freely here. Now, tell me all about it.'</p> +<p>"'I am one of the bedmakers of the palace, and it fell to me to +sweep the room occupied by the Count de Laville. Once or twice he +came in, while I was there, and spoke pleasantly; and I thought +what a handsome fellow he was, and said to myself what a pity it +was that he was a heretic. When that terrible night came, we were +all aroused from our sleep, and many of us ran down in a fright to +see what was the matter. We heard shouts, and cries, and the +clashing of swords.</p> +<p>"'As I passed Monsieur de Laville's room, the door was open. I +looked in. Three soldiers lay dead on the floor, and near them the +count, whom I thought was also dead. I ran to him, and lifted his +head, and sprinkled water on his face from a flagon on the table. +He opened his eyes, and made an effort to get to his feet. I was +frightened out of my life at it all, and I said to him:</p> +<p>"'"What does it all mean, monsieur?"</p> +<p>"'"It is a massacre," he said, faintly. "Do you not hear the +firing in the streets, and the din in the palace? They will return +and finish me. I thank you for what you have done, but it is +useless."</p> +<p>"'Then I thought for a moment.</p> +<p>"'"Can you walk, monsieur?"</p> +<p>"'"Barely," he replied.</p> +<p>"'"Lean on my shoulder, monsieur," I said. "I will help you up +the stairs. I know of a place where you may lie concealed."</p> +<p>"'With great difficulty I helped him up a staircase that was but +little used, and got him to the top. Several times he said: "It is +of no use; I am wounded to death!" but he still held on.</p> +<p>"'I slept in a little garret in the roof, with two other +servants, and at the end of the passage was a large lumber store. +It was into this that I took him. Nobody ever went there, and it +was safe, except in case of special search. I laid him down, and +then moved some of the heavy cabinets and chests, at the farther +end, a short distance from the wall, so that there would be space +enough for him to lie behind them. Here I made a bed, with some old +cushions from the couches; got him into the place, first bandaging +his wounds, as well as I could in the faint light that came in +through a dormer window. I fetched a jug of water from my room, and +placed it beside him; and then moved the furniture, so as to close +up the spot at which he had entered. Against it I piled up tables +and chairs; so that, to anyone who did not examine it very closely, +it would seem that the heavy furniture was against the wall.</p> +<p>"'There he has been, ever since. Two or three times a day I have +managed to steal away from my work, to carry him water and food +that I brought from the kitchen, when we went down to our meals. +For a time, I thought he would die; for four days he did not know +me. He talked much to himself and, several times, he mentioned the +name of Philip, and called upon him to aid him against the +murderers. Fortunately he was so weak that he could not speak much +above a whisper, and there was no fear of his voice being +heard.</p> +<p>"'The day after I hid him, the whole palace was searched to see +if any Huguenots were concealed. But up in the attics they searched +but carelessly, seeing that we slept three or four in each room, +and no one could well be hidden there without all knowing it. They +did enter the lumber room. But I had carefully washed the floor +where he had lain and, as I could not get out the stains of blood, +I pushed some heavy chests over them.</p> +<p>"'I was in my room when they searched the lumber room, and my +heart stood still until I heard them come out, and knew that they +had found nothing.</p> +<p>"'For the last ten days, the count has gained strength. His +wounds are still very sore and painful, but they are beginning to +heal. I have bought wine for him, and can always manage to conceal +enough food, from the table, to suffice for his wants. He can walk +now, though feebly; and spoke to me but today about making his +escape.</p> +<p>"'It would be easy enough to get him out of the palace, if I had +a lackey's attire for him. I could lead him down private staircases +till near the door from which we come out of the palace. But I had +little money, for I had sent off most of my wages to my mother, +only a day or two before the royal wedding. Still, we might have +managed that; I could have borrowed some, on some pretence or +other.</p> +<p>"'He is, however, too weak to travel, and the effort to do so +might cause his wounds to burst out afresh; but now that his cousin +has come, all will be well.'</p> +<p>"'Where is he wounded?' I asked.</p> +<p>"'He has four wounds. One is on the head; another on the neck; +one is a stab in the body, that must have narrowly missed his +heart; and the other is a sword thrust, through his arm.</p> +<p>"'But how, monsieur, did you know,' she asked, 'that it is I who +have hidden the count?'</p> +<p>"I told her that I had been watching for four days, feeling sure +that the count was hidden in the palace; but hers was the first +face that showed anxiety, and that, when I saw her buying salve at +the apothecary's, I felt sure that it was she who was sheltering +the count."</p> +<p>"And have you arranged anything, Pierre?" Philip asked +anxiously.</p> +<p>"Only this much, sir, that tomorrow evening, as soon as it is +dark, she will leave the palace with Monsieur Francois. That will +give us plenty of time to make our plans, which will be easy +enough. We have but to take an apartment, and bring him up into it. +No one need know that there are more than ourselves there, and we +can nurse him for a few days, until he is fit to ride.</p> +<p>"Then we have only to get him a disguise like that in which we +entered. We can hide him in the wood, go on to where we hid our +clothes, put them on instead of our disguises, enter Saint Cloud, +go on to Versailles, fetch the three horses, and return to +him--with, of course, a suit of clothes for himself."</p> +<p>There was no difficulty in hiring two rooms in a quiet street. +Suits of clothes suitable for a court lackey were purchased, and +these were given by Pierre to the girl, when she came out in the +afternoon. Philip had accompanied Pierre to meet her.</p> +<p>"My good girl," he said, "I cannot tell you how deeply I feel +the kindness that you have shown my cousin. You have risked your +life to save him; and that, I am sure, without the smallest thought +of reward. Still, so good an action must not pass without +acknowledgment, though no money can express the amount of our +gratitude to you."</p> +<p>"I do not want to be paid, sir," she said. "I had no thought of +money."</p> +<p>"I know that," Philip replied; "but you must allow us to show +our gratitude, in the only way we can. In the first place, what is +your name?"</p> +<p>"Annette Riolt, sir."</p> +<p>"Well, Annette, here are fifty crowns in this purse. It is all +that I can spare, at present; but be assured the Countess de +Laville will send you, at the first opportunity, a sum that will be +a good dot for you, when you find a husband. If the messenger by +whom it is sent asks for you by your name, at the door of the +palace by which you usually leave it, will he obtain access to +you?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sir. The porter at the door knows me; and if he should be +changed, whoever is there will inquire of the maids, if he asks for +Annette Riolt, one of the chamber women in the north wing of the +palace."</p> +<p>"Very well, Annette. You may rely that a messenger will come. I +cannot say how soon; that must depend on other circumstances. Where +do you come from?"</p> +<p>"From Poitiers, sir. My parents live on a little farm called La +Machoir, two miles north of the city."</p> +<p>"Then, Annette, the best thing for you to do is to leave your +present employment, and to journey down home. It will be easy to +send from La Rochelle to Poitiers, and unless the place is +besieged, as it is likely to be before long, you will soon hear +from us. Probably the messenger will have visited the farm before +you reach it."</p> +<p>"I will do that, sir," the girl said gratefully. "I never liked +this life, and since that terrible night I have scarcely had any +sleep. I seem to hear noises and cries, just as they say the king +does, and shall be indeed glad to be away.</p> +<p>"But I cannot come out with the count, this evening. We only get +out once in five days, and it was only as a special favour I have +been let out, now. I will come with him to the door, talking with +him as if he were a lackey of my acquaintance."</p> +<p>At the hour agreed upon Philip and Pierre, stationed a few yards +from the door, saw a man and woman appear. The girl made some +laughing remark, and then went back into the palace. The man came +out. He made two quick steps and then stumbled, and Philip ran +forward, and grasped him firmly under the arm.</p> +<p>"You were just in time, Philip," Francois said, with a feeble +laugh, "another step and I should have been down. I am weaker than +I thought I was, and the fresh air is well-nigh too much for +me.</p> +<p>"I have had a close shave of it, Philip; and have been nearer +death, in that attic up there, than I ever was on a field of +battle. What a good little woman that was! I owe my life to +her.</p> +<p>"It is good of you coming here to find me, old fellow. You are +always getting me out of scrapes. You remember that affair at +Toulouse.</p> +<p>"Thank you, Pierre, but mind, that arm you have got hold of is +the weak one.</p> +<p>"Now, how far have we got to go, Philip? For I warn you, I am +nearly at the end of my strength."</p> +<p>"We will get into a quiet street first, Francois, and there you +shall have a drink, from a flask of excellent wine I have here. +Then we will help you along. You can lean as heavily as you like +upon us. You are no great weight, now; and anyone who notices us +helping you will suppose that we are conveying a drunken comrade to +his home."</p> +<p>But in spite of all the assistance they could give him, Francois +was terribly exhausted when he reached the lodging. Here Philip and +Pierre bandaged his wounds, far more securely and firmly than his +nurse had been able to do; and the next morning, when he awoke, he +declared himself ready to start at once.</p> +<p>It was a week, however, before Philip would hear of his making +such an effort; but by that time, good eating and drinking had done +so much for him that he thought he would be able to stand the +fatigue of the journey, and the next morning they started. +Disguised as peasants, they passed out through the gates +unquestioned. Francois was left in the wood, with the clothes they +had purchased for him. The others then went on and found their +bundles undisturbed, obtained their three horses at Versailles and, +riding back, soon had Francois mounted.</p> +<p>The wound on his head was so far healed that it was no longer +necessary to bandage it, and although he looked pale and weak, +there was nothing about him to attract special notice. They +journeyed by easy stages south, lengthening the distances gradually +as Francois gained strength; and riding fast, towards the end, so +as to reach La Rochelle before an army, under Marshal Biron, sat +down before it.</p> +<p>It was evening when they arrived, and after putting up their +horses they made their way to Monsieur Bertram's. Philip mounted +the stairs, leaving Francois to follow him, slowly.</p> +<p>"I shall not take more than two or three minutes to break the +news, but I must prepare your mother a little, Francois. She has +not said much, but I know she had but little hope, though she bore +up so bravely."</p> +<p>The countess was sitting, with Claire and the merchant's +daughter. It was the first time Philip had seen Mademoiselle de +Valecourt, since they first arrived at La Rochelle. She was dressed +now in deep mourning. A flush of bright colour spread over her +face, as Philip entered.</p> +<p>As in duty bound, he turned first to the countess and saluted +her affectionately; and then turned to Claire, and would have +kissed her hand, but the countess said:</p> +<p>"Tut, tut, Philip, that is not the way to salute your +betrothed."</p> +<p>And Philip, drawing her to him, kissed her for the first time +since they had betrothed themselves to each other in the hut in +Paris; and then saluted Mademoiselle Bertram.</p> +<p>"We have been under no uneasiness respecting you, Philip," the +countess said; "for Claire and myself both look upon you as having +a charmed life. Has your mission been successful?"</p> +<p>"It has, aunt, beyond my hopes. And first, I must ask your +pardon for having deceived you."</p> +<p>"Deceived me, Philip! In what way?"</p> +<p>"My mission was an assumed one," Philip said; "and in reality, +Pierre and I journeyed to Paris."</p> +<p>A cry broke from the countess's lips.</p> +<p>"To Paris, Philip! And your mission has been successful? You +have heard something?"</p> +<p>"I have done more, aunt, I have found him."</p> +<p>"The Lord be praised for all His mercies!" burst from the lips +of the countess, and she threw herself on Philip's neck, and burst +into a passion of tears, the first she had shed since he brought +the news from Paris.</p> +<p>"Courage, aunt," Philip whispered.</p> +<p>He glanced towards the door. Claire understood him, and ran to +open it. Francois came quietly in.</p> +<p>"Mother," he said, and the countess, with a cry of joy, ran into +his arms.</p> +<p>The French army appeared before the town on the following day, +and the siege was at once commenced. With Marshal Biron were the +dukes of Anjou and Alencon, the King of Navarre, and the Prince of +Conde, who had been compelled to accompany him.</p> +<p>The siege made little progress. The defences were strong, and +the Huguenots were not content only to repel assaults, but made +fierce sallies, causing a considerable loss to the besiegers.</p> +<p>To the surprise of the defenders, they heard that the Count de +la Noue had arrived in camp, with a mission from the king. He had +remained a captive, in the camp of the Duke of Alva, after the +surrender of Mons; and so had happily escaped the massacre of Saint +Bartholomew. He had then been released, and had gone to France to +arrange his ransom.</p> +<p>The king, who was now tormented with remorse, sent for him; and +entreated him, as a personal favour, to go as his Commissioner to +La Rochelle, and to endeavour to bring about a cessation of +hostilities, authorizing him to grant almost any terms. De la Noue +undertook the task unwillingly, and only upon condition that he +would be no party to inducing them to surrender, unless perfectly +satisfied with the guarantees for the observance of any treaty that +might be made.</p> +<p>When a flag of truce came forward, and announced that Monsieur +de la Noue had arrived on the part of the king, the news was at +first received with incredulity. Then there was a burst of +indignation, at what was considered the treachery of the count. He +was refused permission to enter the town but, after some parleying, +a party went out to have an interview with him outside the +gate.</p> +<p>The meeting was unsatisfactory. Some of the citizens pretended +that they did not recognize De la Noue, saying that the person they +knew was a brave gentleman, faithful to his religion, and one who +certainly would not be found in a Catholic camp.</p> +<p>A few days later, however, the negotiations were renewed. The +count pointed out that they could not hope, finally, to resist the +whole force of France; and that it would be far better for them to +make terms, now, than when in an extremity. But he was able to give +no guarantees that were considered acceptable by the citizens.</p> +<p>De la Noue's position was exceedingly difficult. But at last the +citizens perceived that he was still loyal to the cause; and as he +had, beforehand, received the king's authority to accept the +governorship of the town, the people of La Rochelle agreed to +receive him in that position, provided that no troops entered with +him.</p> +<p>The negotiations fell through, and the siege was renewed with +vigour, De la Noue now taking the lead in the defence, his military +experience being of immense assistance. Very many of the nobles and +gentlemen in the Catholic army were present, as a matter of duty. +They fought with the usual gallantry of their race, but for the +most part abhorred the massacre of Saint Bartholomew; and were as +strongly of opinion as were the Huguenots of France, and the +Protestants throughout Europe, that it was an indelible disgrace +upon France.</p> +<p>Their feeling was shown in many ways. Among others, Maurevel, +the murderer of De Mouy, and the man who had attempted the +assassination of the Admiral, having accompanied the Duke of Anjou +to the camp, no one would associate with him or suffer him to +encamp near, or even go on guard with him into the trenches; and +the duke was, in consequence, obliged to appoint him to the command +of a small fort which was erected on the seashore.</p> +<p>Incessant fighting went on, but the position was a singular one. +The Duke of Alencon had been an unwilling spectator of the massacre +of Saint Bartholomew. He was jealous of Anjou, and restless and +discontented, and he contemplated going over to the Huguenots. The +King of Navarre and his cousin Conde, and the Huguenot gentlemen +with him, were equally anxious to leave the camp, where they were +closely watched; and De la Noue, while conducting the defence, +occasionally visited the royal camp and endeavoured to bring about +a reconciliation.</p> +<p>He was much rejoiced, on his first arrival at the city, to find +both Francois and Philip there; for he had believed that both had +fallen in the massacre. He took great interest in Philip's love +affair, and made inquiries in the royal camp; where he learned that +Mademoiselle de Valecourt was supposed to have perished with her +father, in the massacre; and that the estates had already been +bestowed, by the king, on one of his favourites.</p> +<p>"I should say that, if our cause should finally triumph, a +portion at least of her estates will be restored to her; but in +that case the king would certainly claim to dispose of her +hand."</p> +<p>"I care nothing for the estates, nor does she," Philip said. +"She will go with me to England, as soon as the fighting here is +over; and if things look hopeless, we shall embark, and endeavour +to break through the blockade by the king's ships. Even had she the +estates, she would not remain in France, which has become hateful +to her. She is now fully restored to health, and we shall shortly +be married."</p> +<p>When De la Noue next went out to the French camp, he sent a +despatch to the king, saying that Mademoiselle de Valecourt had +escaped the massacre and was in La Rochelle. He pointed out that, +as long as she lived, the Huguenots would, if at any time they +became strong enough to make terms, insist upon the restoration of +her estates, as well as those of others that had been confiscated. +He said that he had had an interview with her, and had learned that +she intended, if a proper provision should be secured for her, to +retire to England. He therefore prayed his majesty, as a favour to +him and as an act of justice, to require the nobleman to whom he +had granted the estates to pay her a handsome sum, when she would +make a formal renunciation of the estates in his favour.</p> +<p>A month later he received the royal answer, saying that the king +had graciously taken the case of Mademoiselle de Valecourt into his +consideration, that he had spoken to the nobleman to whom he had +granted her estate, and to the Duke of Guise, whose near relative +he was; and that these noblemen had placed in his hands the sum of +ten thousand livres, for which was enclosed an order, payable by +the treasury of the army upon the signatures of Monsieur de la Noue +and Mademoiselle de Valecourt, and upon the handing over of the +document of renunciation signed by her.</p> +<p>Monsieur de la Noue had told Philip nothing of these +negotiations but, having obtained from Claire the necessary +signature he, one evening, on his return from the royal camp, came +into the room where they were sitting, followed by two servants +carrying small, but heavy bags.</p> +<p>"Mademoiselle," he said, when the servants had placed these on +the table and retired, "I have pleasure in handing you these.</p> +<p>"Philip, Mademoiselle de Valecourt will not come to you as a +dowerless bride, which indeed would be a shame for a daughter of so +old and noble a family. Mademoiselle has signed a formal +renunciation of her rights to the estates of her late father and, +by some slight good offices on my part, his majesty has obtained +for her, from the man to whom he has granted the estates of +Valecourt, the sum of ten thousand livres--a poor fraction, indeed, +of the estates she should have inherited; and yet a considerable +sum, in itself."</p> +<p>A week later, Sir Philip Fletcher and Claire de Valecourt were +married in the principal church of La Rochelle. The Count de la +Noue, as a friend and companion-in-arms of her father, gave her +away; and all the Huguenot noblemen and gentlemen in the town were +present. Three weeks later, a great assault upon the bastion of +L'Evangile having been repulsed, the siege languished; the +besieging army having suffered greatly, both from death in the +trenches and assaults, and by the attacks of fever.</p> +<p>The Count of Montgomery arrived from England, with some +reinforcements. De la Noue resigned to him the governorship, and +left the city. The Prince of Anjou, shortly afterwards, received +the crown of Poland; and left the camp, with a number of nobles, to +proceed to his new kingdom; and the army became so weakened that +the siege was practically discontinued and, the blockading fleet +being withdrawn, Philip and his wife took passage in a ship for +England, Pierre accompanying them.</p> +<p>"I may come some day with Francois, Philip," the countess said, +"but not till I see that the cause is altogether lost. Still I have +faith that we shall win tolerance. They say that the king is mad. +Anjou has gone to Poland. Alencon is still unmarried. I believe +that it is God's will that Henry of Navarre should come to the +throne of France, and if so, there will be peace and toleration in +France. So long as a Huguenot sword is unsheathed, I shall remain +here."</p> +<p>Philip had written to acquaint his father and mother of his +marriage, and his intention to return with his wife as soon as the +siege was over. There was therefore but little surprise, although +great joy, when he arrived. He had sent off Pierre on horseback, as +soon as the ship dropped anchor at Gravesend, and followed more +leisurely himself.</p> +<p>They were met, a few miles out of Canterbury, by a messenger +from his uncle; telling them to ride straight to his new estate, +where he would be met by his mother and father--the latter of whom +had started, the day before, in a litter for the house--and that +his uncle and aunt would also be there.</p> +<p>Upon Philip and Claire's arrival, they were received with much +rejoicing. Monsieur Vaillant had sent round messengers to all the +tenantry to assemble, and had taken over a number of his workmen, +who had decorated the avenue leading to the house with flags, and +thrown several arches across it.</p> +<p>"It is a small place in comparison to Valecourt, Claire," Philip +said, as they drove up to the house.</p> +<p>"It is a fine chateau, Philip; but now that I have you, it would +not matter to me were it but a hut.</p> +<p>"And oh, what happiness to think that we have done with +persecution and terror and war, and that I may worship God freely +and openly! He has been good to me, indeed; and if I were not +perfectly happy, I should be the most ungrateful of women."</p> +<p>Claire's dowry was spent in enlarging the estate, and Philip +became one of the largest landowners in the county. He went no more +to the wars, save that, when the Spanish armada threatened the +religion and freedom of England, he embarked as a volunteer in one +of Drake's ships, and took part in the fierce fighting that freed +England for ever from the yoke of Rome, and in no small degree +aided both in securing the independence of Protestant Holland, and +of seating Henry of Navarre firmly upon the throne of France.</p> +<p>Save to pay two or three visits to Philip and her sisters, the +Countess de Laville and her son did not come to England. Francois +fought at Ivry and the many other battles that took place, before +Henry of Navarre became undisputed King of France; and then became +one of the leading nobles of his court.</p> +<p>Philip settled a small pension on the four men-at-arms who had +followed his fortunes and shared his perils, and they returned to +their native Gascony; where they settled down, two being no longer +fit for service, and the others having had enough fighting for a +lifetime.</p> +<p>The countess had, soon after Francois returned to La Rochelle, +sent a sum of money, to the girl who had saved his life, that +sufficed to make her the wealthiest heiress in her native village +in Poitou; and she married a well-to-do farmer, the countess +herself standing as godmother to their first child, to their +immeasurable pride and gratification.</p> +<p>Pierre remained to the end of his life in Philip's service, +taking to himself an English wife, and being a great favourite with +the children of Philip and Claire, who were never tired of +listening to the adventures he had gone through, with their father +and mother, in the religious wars in France.</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Saint Bartholomew's Eve, by G. 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