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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/34886-8.txt b/34886-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1c523a8 --- /dev/null +++ b/34886-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10400 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, St. George for England, 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: St. George for England + A Tale of Cressy and Poitiers + + +Author: G. A. Henty + + + +Release Date: January 8, 2011 [eBook #34886] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ST. GEORGE FOR ENGLAND*** + + +E-text prepared by Charlene Taylor, Graeme Mackreth, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images +generously made available by Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries +(http://www.archive.org/details/toronto) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 34886-h.htm or 34886-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/34886/34886-h/34886-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/34886/34886-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries. See + http://www.archive.org/details/stgeorgeforengla00hentuoft + + + + + +ST. GEORGE FOR ENGLAND: + +A Tale of Cressy and Poitiers. + +by + +G.A. HENTY, + +Author of "With Clive in India," "Under Drake's Flag," "The Young +Carthaginian," "Bonnie Prince Charlie," etc., etc. + +Eight Page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. + + +[Illustration: ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF SIR WALTER.] + + + + + + + +New York: +A. L. Burt, Publisher. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +MY DEAR LADS: + +You may be told perhaps that there is no good to be obtained from tales +of fighting and bloodshed--that there is no moral to be drawn from such +histories. Believe it not. War has its lessons as well as Peace. You +will learn from tales like this that determination and enthusiasm can +accomplish marvels, that true courage is generally accompanied by +magnanimity and gentleness, and that if not in itself the very highest +of virtues, it is the parent of almost all the others, since but few of +them can be practiced without it. The courage of our forefathers has +created the greatest empire in the world around a small and in itself +insignificant island; if this empire is ever lost, it will be by the +cowardice of their descendants. + +At no period of her history did England stand so high in the eyes of +Europe as in the time whose events are recorded in this volume. A +chivalrous king and an even more chivalrous prince had infected the +whole people with their martial spirit, and the result was that their +armies were for a time invincible, and the most astonishing successes +were gained against numbers which would appear overwhelming. The +victories of Cressy and Poitiers may be to some extent accounted for by +superior generalship and discipline on the part of the conquerors; but +this will not account for the great naval victory over the Spanish fleet +off the coast of Sussex, a victory even more surprising and won against +greater odds than was that gained in the same waters centuries later +over the Spanish Armada. The historical facts of the story are all drawn +from Froissart and other contemporary historians, as collated and +compared by Mr. James in his carefully written history. They may +therefore be relied upon as accurate in every important particular. + + +Yours sincerely, + + G. A. HENTY. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + PAGE + + CHAPTER I. + A Wayfarer 1 + + CHAPTER II. + The Hut in the Marshes 18 + + CHAPTER III. + A Thwarted Plot 36 + + CHAPTER IV. + A Knight's Chain 54 + + CHAPTER V. + The City Games 72 + + CHAPTER VI. + The Mêlée 89 + + CHAPTER VII. + The Young Esquire 107 + + CHAPTER VIII. + Off to the Wars 126 + + CHAPTER IX. + The Siege of Hennebon 145 + + CHAPTER X. + A Place of Refuge 164 + + CHAPTER XI. + A Stormy Interview 180 + + CHAPTER XII. + Jacob van Artevelde 196 + + CHAPTER XIII. + The White Ford 214 + + CHAPTER XIV. + Cressy 232 + + CHAPTER XV. + The Siege of a Fortalice 250 + + CHAPTER XVI. + A Prisoner 267 + + CHAPTER XVII. + The Capture of Calais 285 + + CHAPTER XVIII. + The Black Death 303 + + CHAPTER XIX. + By Land and Sea 319 + + CHAPTER XX. + Poitiers 336 + + CHAPTER XXI. + The Jacquerie 353 + + CHAPTER XXII. + Victory and Death 372 + + + + +ST. GEORGE FOR ENGLAND. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +A Wayfarer. + + +It was a bitterly cold night in the month of November, 1330. The rain +was pouring heavily, when a woman, with a child in her arms, entered the +little village of Southwark. She had evidently come from a distance, for +her dress was travel-stained and muddy. She tottered rather than walked, +and when, upon her arrival at the gateway on the southern side of London +Bridge, she found that the hour was past and the gates closed for the +night, she leaned against the wall with a faint groan of exhaustion and +disappointment. + +After remaining, as if in doubt, for some time, she feebly made her way +into the village. Here were many houses of entertainment, for travelers +like herself often arrived too late to enter the gates, and had to abide +outside for the night. Moreover, house rent was dear within the walls of +the crowded city, and many, whose business brought them to town, found +it cheaper to take up their abode in the quiet hostels of Southwark +rather than to stay in the more expensive inns within the walls. The +lights came out brightly from many of the casements, with sounds of +boisterous songs and laughter. The woman passed these without a pause. +Presently she stopped before a cottage, from which a feeble light alone +showed that it was tenanted. + +She knocked at the door. It was opened by a pleasant-faced man of some +thirty years old. + +"What is it?" he asked. + +"I am a wayfarer," the woman answered feebly. "Canst take me and my +child in for the night?" + +"You have made a mistake," the man said; "this is no inn. Further up the +road there are plenty of places where you can find such accommodation as +you lack." + +"I have passed them," the woman said, "but all seemed full of +roisterers. I am wet and weary, and my strength is nigh spent. I can pay +thee, good fellow, and I pray you as a Christian to let me come in and +sleep before your fire for the night. When the gates are open in the +morning I will go; for I have a friend within the city who will, +methinks, receive me." + +The tone of voice, and the addressing of himself as good fellow, at once +convinced the man that the woman before him was no common wayfarer. + +"Come in," he said; "Geoffrey Ward is not a man to shut his doors in a +woman's face on a night like this, nor does he need payment for such +small hospitality. Come hither, Madge!" he shouted; and at his voice a +woman came down from the upper chamber. "Sister," he said, "this is a +wayfarer who needs shelter for the night; she is wet and weary. Do you +take her up to your room and lend her some dry clothing; then make her a +cup of warm posset, which she needs sorely. I will fetch an armful of +fresh rushes from the shed and strew them here. I will sleep in the +smithy. Quick, girl," he said sharply; "she is fainting with cold and +fatigue." And as he spoke he caught the woman as she was about to fall, +and laid her gently on the ground. "She is of better station than she +seems," he said to his sister; "like enough some poor lady whose husband +has taken part in the troubles; but that is no business of ours. Quick, +Madge, and get these wet things off her; she is soaked to the skin. I +will go round to the Green Dragon and will fetch a cup of warm cordial, +which I warrant me will put fresh life into her." + +So saying, he took down his flat cap from its peg on the wall and went +out, while his sister at once proceeded to remove the drenched garments +and to rub the cold hands of the guest until she recovered +consciousness. When Geoffrey Ward returned, the woman was sitting in a +settle by the fireside, dressed in a warm woolen garment belonging to +his sister. Madge had thrown fresh wood on the fire, which was blazing +brightly now. The woman drank the steaming beverage which her host +brought with him. The color came faintly again into her cheeks. + +"I thank you, indeed," she said, "for your kindness. Had you not taken +me in I think I should have died at your door, for indeed I could go no +further; and though I hold not to life, yet would I fain live until I +have delivered my boy into the hands of those who will be kind to him, +and this will, I trust, be to-morrow." + +"Say naught about it," Geoffrey answered. "Madge and I are right glad to +have been of service to you. It would be a poor world indeed if one +could not give a corner of one's fireside to a fellow-creature on such a +night as this, especially when that fellow-creature is a woman with a +child. Poor little chap! he looks right well and sturdy, and seems to +have taken no ill from his journey." + +"Truly, he is well and sturdy," the mother said, looking at him proudly; +"indeed. I have been almost wishing to-day that he were lighter by a few +pounds, for in truth I am not used to carry him far, and his weight has +sorely tried me. His name is Walter, and I trust," she added, looking at +the powerful figure of her host, "that he will grow up as straight and +as stalwart as yourself." The child, who was about three years old, was +indeed an exceedingly fine little fellow, as he sat, in one scanty +garment, in his mother's lap, gazing with round eyes at the blazing +fire; and the smith thought how pretty a picture the child and mother +made. She was a fair, gentle-looking girl some twenty-two years old, and +it was easy enough to see now from her delicate features and soft, +shapely hands that she had never been accustomed to toil. + +"And now," the smith said, "I will e'en say good-night. The hour is +late, and I shall be having the watch coming along to know why I keep a +fire so long after the curfew. Should you be a stranger in the city, I +will gladly act as your guide in the morning to the friends whom you +seek, that is, should they be known to me; but if not, we shall +doubtless find them without difficulty." + +So saying, the smith retired to his bed of rushes in the smithy, and +soon afterward the tired visitor, with her baby, lay down on the rushes +in front of the fire, for in those days none of the working or artisan +class used beds, which were not indeed, for centuries afterward, in +usage by the common people. + +In the morning Geoffrey Ward found that his guest desired to find one +Giles Fletcher, a maker of bows. + +"I know him well," the smith said. "There are many who do a larger +business, and hold their heads higher, but Giles Fletcher is well +esteemed as a good workman, whose wares can be depended upon. It is +often said of him that did he take less pains he would thrive more; but +he handles each bow that he makes as if he loved it, and finishes and +polishes each with his own hand. Therefore he doeth not so much trade as +those who are less particular with their wares, for he hath to charge a +high price to be able to live. But none who have ever bought his bows +have regretted the silver which they cost. Many and many a gross of +arrow-heads have I sold him, and he is well-nigh as particular in their +make as he is over the spring and temper of his own bows. Many a +friendly wrangle have I had with him over their weight and finish, and +it is not many who find fault with my handiwork, though I say it myself; +and now, madam, I am at your service." + +During the night the wayfarer's clothes had been dried. The cloak was of +rough quality, such as might have been used by a peasant woman; but the +rest, though of somber color, were of good material and fashion. Seeing +that her kind entertainers would be hurt by the offer of money, the lady +contented herself with thanking Madge warmly, and saying that she hoped +to come across the bridge one day with Dame Fletcher; then, under the +guidance of Geoffrey, who insisted on carrying the boy, she set out from +the smith's cottage. They passed under the outer gate and across the +bridge, which later on was covered with a double line of houses and +shops, but was now a narrow structure. Over the gateway across the +river, upon pikes, were a number of heads and human limbs. The lady +shuddered as she looked up. + +"It is an ugly sight," the smith said, "and I can see no warrant for +such exposure of the dead. There are the heads of Wallace, of three of +Robert Bruce's brothers, and of many other valiant Scotsmen who fought +against the king's grandfather some twenty years back. But after all +they fought for their country, just as Harold and our ancestors against +the Normans under William, and I think it a foul shame that men who have +done no other harm should be beheaded, still less that their heads and +limbs should be stuck up there gibbering at all passers-by. There are +over a score of them, and every fresh trouble adds to their number; but +pardon me," he said suddenly as a sob from the figure by his side called +his attention from the heads on the top of the gateway, "I am rough and +heedless in speech, as my sister Madge does often tell me, and it may +well be that I have said something which wounded you." + +"You meant no ill," the lady replied; "it was my own thoughts and +troubles which drew tears from me; say not more about it, I pray you." + +They passed under the gateway, with its ghastly burden, and were soon in +the crowded streets of London. High overhead the houses extended, each +story advancing beyond that below it until the occupiers of the attics +could well-nigh shake hands across. They soon left the more crowded +streets, and turning to the right, after ten minutes' walking, the smith +stopped in front of a bowyer shop near Aldgate. + +"This is the shop," he said, "and there is Giles Fletcher himself trying +the spring and pull of one of his bows. Here I will leave you, and will +one of these days return to inquire if your health has taken aught of +harm by the rough buffeting of the storm of yester-even." + +So saying he handed the child to its mother, and with a wave of the +hand took his leave, not waiting to listen to the renewed thanks which +his late guest endeavored to give him. + +The shop was open in front, a projecting penthouse sheltered it from the +weather; two or three bows lay upon a wide shelf in front, and several +large sheaves of arrows tied together stood by the wall. A powerful man +of some forty years old was standing in the middle of the shop with a +bent bow in his arm, taking aim at a spot in the wall. Through an open +door three men could be seen in an inner workshop cutting and shaping +the wood for bows. The bowyer looked round as his visitor entered the +shop, and then, with a sudden exclamation, lowered the bow. + +"Hush, Giles!" the lady exclaimed; "it is I, but name no names; it were +best that none knew me here." + +The craftsman closed the door of communication into the inner room. "My +Lady Alice," he exclaimed in a low tone, "you here, and in such a +guise?" + +"Surely it is I," the lady sighed, "although sometimes I am well-nigh +inclined to ask myself whether it be truly I or not, or whether this be +not all a dreadful dream." + +"I had heard but vaguely of your troubles," Giles Fletcher said, "but +hoped that the rumors were false. Ever since the Duke of Kent was +executed the air has been full of rumors. Then came news of the killing +of Mortimer and of the imprisonment of the king's mother, and it was +said that many who were thought to be of her party had been attacked and +slain, and I heard----" And there he stopped. + +"You heard rightly, good Giles, it is all true. A week after the slaying +of Mortimer a band of knights and men-at-arms arrived at our castle and +demanded admittance in the king's name. Sir Roland refused, for he had +news that many were taking up arms, but it was useless. The castle was +attacked and, after three days' fighting, was taken. Roland was killed, +and I was cast out with my child. Afterward they repented that they had +let me go, and searched far and wide for me; but I was hidden in the +cottage of a wood-cutter. They were too busy in hunting down others whom +they proclaimed to be enemies of the king, as they had wrongfully said +of Roland, who had but done his duty faithfully to Queen Isabella, and +was assuredly no enemy of her son, although he might well be opposed to +the weak and indolent king, his father. However, when the search relaxed +I borrowed the cloak of the good man's wife and set out for London, +whither I have traveled on foot, believing that you and Bertha would +take me in and shelter me in my great need." + +"Ay, that will we willingly," Giles said. "Was not Bertha your nurse? +and to whom should you come if not to her? But will it please you to +mount the stairs? for Bertha will not forgive me if I keep you talking +down here. What a joy it will be to her to see you again!" + +So saying, Giles led the way to the apartment above. There was a scream +of surprise and joy from his wife, and then Giles quietly withdrew +downstairs again, leaving the women to cry in each other's arms. + +A few days later Geoffrey Ward entered the shop of Giles Fletcher. + +"I have brought you twenty score of arrow-heads, Master Giles," he said. +"They have been longer in hand than is usual with me, but I have been +pressed. And how goes it with the lady whom I brought to your door last +week?" + +"But sadly, Master Ward, very sadly, as I told you when I came across to +thank you again in her name and my own for your kindness to her. She was +but in poor plight after her journey; poor thing, she was little +accustomed to such wet and hardship, and doubtless they took all the +more effect because she was low in spirit and weakened with much +grieving. That night she was taken with a sort of fever, hot and cold by +turns, and at times off her head. Since then she has lain in a high +fever and does not know even my wife; her thoughts ever go back to the +storming of the castle, and she cries aloud and begs them to spare her +lord's life. It is pitiful to hear her. The leech gives but small hope +for her life, and in troth, Master Ward, methinks that God would deal +most gently with her were he to take her. Her heart is already in her +husband's grave, for she was ever of a most loving and faithful nature. +Here there would be little comfort for her--she would fret that her boy +would never inherit the lands of his father; and although she knows well +enough that she would be always welcome here, and that Bertha would +serve her as gladly and faithfully as ever she did when she was her +nurse, yet she could not but greatly feel the change. She was tenderly +brought up, being, as I told you last week, the only daughter of Sir +Harold Broome. Her brother, who but a year ago became lord of +Broomecastle at the death of his father, was one of the queen's men, and +it was he, I believe, who brought Sir Roland Somers to that side. He was +slain on the same night as Mortimer, and his lands, like those of Sir +Roland, have been seized by the crown. The child upstairs is by right +heir to both estates, seeing that his uncle died unmarried. They will +doubtless be conferred upon those who have aided the young king in +freeing himself from his mother's domination, for which, indeed, +although I lament that Lady Alice should have suffered so sorely in the +doing of it, I blame him not at all. He is a noble prince and will make +us a great king, and the doings of his mother have been a shame to us +all. However, I meddle not in politics. If the poor lady dies, as +methinks is well-nigh certain, Bertha and I will bring up the boy as our +own. I have talked it over with my wife, and so far she and I are not of +one mind. I think it will be best to keep him in ignorance of his birth +and lineage, since the knowledge cannot benefit him, and will but render +him discontented with his lot and make him disinclined to take to my +calling, in which he might otherwise earn a living and rise to be a +respected citizen. But Bertha hath notions. You have not taken a wife to +yourself, Master Geoffrey, or you would know that women oft have fancies +which wander widely from hard facts, and she says she would have him +brought up as a man-at-arms, so that he may do valiant deeds, and win +back some day the title and honor of his family." + +Geoffrey Ward laughed. "Trust a woman for being romantic," he said. +"However, Master Fletcher, you need not for the present trouble about +the child's calling, even should its mother die. At any rate, whether he +follows your trade, or whether the blood in his veins leads him to take +to martial deeds, the knowledge of arms may well be of use to him, and I +promise you that such skill as I have I will teach him when he grows old +enough to wield sword and battle-ax. As you know I may, without +boasting, say that he could scarce have a better master, seeing that I +have for three years carried away the prize for the best sword-player at +the sports. Methinks the boy will grow up into a strong and stalwart +man, for he is truly a splendid lad. As to archery, he need not go far +to learn it, since your apprentice, Will Parker, last year won the prize +as the best marksman in the city bounds. Trust me, if his tastes lie +that way we will between us turn him out a rare man-at-arms. But I must +stand gossiping no longer; the rumors that we are likely ere long to +have war with France have rarely bettered my trade. Since the wars in +Scotland men's arms have rusted somewhat, and my two men are hard at +work mending armor, and fitting swords to hilts, and forging pike-heads. +You see I am a citizen, though I dwell outside the bounds, because house +rent is cheaper and I get my charcoal without paying the city dues. So I +can work somewhat lower than those in the walls, and I have good custom +from many in Kent, who know that my arms are of as good temper as those +turned out by any craftsman in the city." + +Giles Fletcher's anticipations as to the result of his guest's illness +turned out to be well founded. The fever abated, but left her prostrate +in strength. For a few weeks she lingered; but she seemed to have little +hold of life, and to care not whether she lived or died. So gradually +she faded away. + +"I know you will take care of my boy as if he were your own, Bertha," +she said one day, "and you and your husband will be far better +protectors for him than I should have been had I lived. Teach him to be +honest and true. It were better, methinks, that he grew up thinking you +his father and mother, for otherwise he may grow discontented with his +lot; but this I leave with you, and you must speak or keep silent +according as you see his disposition and mind. If he is content to +settle down to a peaceful life here, say naught to him which would +unsettle his mind; but if Walter turn out to have an adventurous +disposition, then tell him as much as you think fit of his history, not +encouraging him to hope to recover his father's lands and mine, for +that can never be, seeing that before that time can come they would +have been enjoyed for many years by others; but that he may learn to +bear himself bravely and gently, as becomes one of good blood." + +A few days later Lady Alice breathed her last, and at her own request +was buried quietly and without pomp, as if she had been a child of the +bowman, a plain stone, with the name "Dame Alice Somers," marking the +grave. + +The boy grew and throve until at fourteen years old there was no +stronger or sturdier lad of his age within the city bounds. Giles had +caused him to be taught to read and write, accomplishments which were +common among the citizens, although they were until long afterward rare +among the warlike barons. The greater part of his time, however, was +spent in sports with lads of his own age in Moorfields beyond the walls. +The war with France was now raging, and as was natural, the boys in +their games imitated the doings of their elders, and mimic battles, +ofttimes growing into earnest, were fought between the lads of the +different wards. Walter Fletcher, as he was known among his +play-fellows, had by his strength and courage won for himself the proud +position of captain of the boys of the ward of Aldgate. + +[Illustration: WALTER IN THE ARMORER'S FORGE.--Page 14.] + +Geoffrey Ward had kept his word, and had already begun to give the lad +lessons in the use of arms. When not engaged otherwise Walter would, +almost every afternoon, cross London Bridge and would spend hours in the +armorer's forge. Geoffrey's business had grown, for the war had +caused a great demand for arms, and he had now six men working in the +forge. As soon as the boy could handle a light tool Geoffrey allowed him +to work, and although not able to wield the heavy sledge, Walter was +able to do much of the finer work. Geoffrey encouraged him in this, as, +in the first place, the use of the tools greatly strengthened the boy's +muscles, and gave him an acquaintance with arms. Moreover, Geoffrey was +still a bachelor, and he thought that the boy, whom he as well as Giles +had come to love as a son, might, should he not take up the trade of +war, prefer the occupation of an armorer to that of a bow maker, in +which case he would take him some day as his partner in the forge. After +work was over and the men had gone away Geoffrey would give the lad +instructions in the use of the arms at which he had been at work, and so +quick and strong was he that he rapidly acquired their use, and Geoffrey +foresaw that he would one day, should his thoughts turn that way, prove +a mighty man-at-arms. + +It was the knowledge which he acquired from Geoffrey which had much to +do with Walter's position among his comrades. The skill and strength +which he had acquired in wielding the hammer, and by practice with the +sword, rendered him a formidable opponent with the sticks, which formed +the weapons in the mimic battles, and indeed not a few were the +complaints which were brought before Giles Fletcher of bruises and hurts +caused by him. + +"You are too turbulent, Walter," the bowyer said one day when a +haberdasher from the ward of Aldersgate came to complain that his son's +head had been badly cut by a blow with a club from Walter Fletcher. "You +are always getting into trouble, and are becoming the terror of other +boys. Why do you not play more quietly? The feuds between the boys of +different wards are becoming a serious nuisance, and many injuries have +been inflicted. I hear that the matter has been mentioned in the Common +Council, and that there is a talk of issuing an order that no boy not +yet apprenticed to a trade shall be allowed to carry a club, and that +any found doing so shall be publicly whipped." + +"I don't want to be turbulent," Walter said; "but if the Aldersgate boys +will defy us, what are we to do? I don't hit harder than I can help, and +if Jonah Harris would leave his head unguarded I could not help hitting +it." + +"I tell you it won't do, Walter," Giles said. "You will be getting +yourself into sore trouble. You are growing too masterful altogether, +and have none of the quiet demeanor and peaceful air which becomes an +honest citizen. In another six months you will be apprenticed, and then +I hope we shall hear no more of these doings." + +"My father is talking of apprenticing me, Master Geoffrey," Walter said +that evening. "I hope that you will, as you were good enough to promise, +talk with him about apprenticing me to your craft rather than to his. I +should never take to the making of bows, though, indeed, I like well to +use them; and Will Parker, who is teaching me, says that I show rare +promise; but it would never be to my taste to stand all day sawing, and +smoothing, and polishing. One bow is to me much like another, though my +father holds that there are rare differences between them; but it is a +nobler craft to work on iron, and next to using arms the most pleasant +thing surely is to make them. One can fancy what good blows the sword +will give and what hard knocks the armor will turn aside; but some day, +Master Geoffrey, when I have served my time, I mean to follow the army. +There is always work there for armorers to do, and sometimes at a pinch +they may even get their share of fighting." + +Walter did not venture to say that he would prefer to be a man-at-arms, +for such a sentiment would be deemed as outrageous in the ears of a +quiet city craftsman as would the proposal of the son of such a man +nowadays to enlist as a soldier. The armorer smiled; he knew well enough +what was in Walter's mind. It had cost Geoffrey himself a hard struggle +to settle down to a craft, and he deemed it but natural that with the +knightly blood flowing in Walter's veins he should long to distinguish +himself in the field. He said nothing of this, however, but renewed his +promise to speak to Giles Fletcher, deeming that a few years passed in +his forge would be the best preparation which Walter could have for a +career as a soldier. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE HUT IN THE MARSHES. + + +A week later a party of knights and court gallants, riding across the +fields without the walls, checked their horses to look at a struggle +which was going on between two parties of boys. One, which was +apparently the most powerful, had driven the other off from a heap of +rubbish which had been carried without the walls. Each party had a flag +attached to a stick, and the boys were armed with clubs such as those +carried by the apprentice boys. Many of them carried mimic shields made +of wood, and had stuffed their flat caps with wool or shavings, the +better to protect their heads from blows. The smaller party had just +been driven from the heap, and their leader was urging them to make +another effort to regain it. + +"That is a gallant-looking lad, and a sturdy, my Lord de Vaux," a boy of +about ten years of age said. "He bears himself like a young knight, and +he has had some hard knocks, for, see, the blood is streaming down his +face. One would scarcely expect to see these varlets of the city playing +so roughly." + +"The citizens have proved themselves sturdy fighters before now, my +prince," the other said; "they are ever independent, and hold to their +rights even against the king. The contingent which the city sends to the +wars bears itself as well as those of any of the barons." + +"See!" the boy interrupted, "they are going to charge again. The leader +has himself seized the flag and has swung his shield behind him, just as +a knight might do if leading the stormers against a place of strength. +Let us stop till we see the end of it." + +With a shout of "Aldgate! Aldgate!" the leader of the assailants dashed +forward, followed by his comrades, and with a rush reached the top of +the heap. + +"Well done!" the young prince exclaimed, clapping his hands. "See how he +lays about him with that club of his. There, he has knocked down the +leader of the defenders as if his club had been a battle-ax. Well done, +young sir, well done! But his followers waver. The others are too strong +for them. Stand, you cowards, rally round your leader!" And in his +enthusiasm the young prince urged his horse forward to the scene of +conflict. + +But the assailants were mastered; few of them could gain the top of the +heap, and those who did so were beaten back from it by the defenders. +Heavy blows were exchanged, and blood flowed freely from many of their +heads and faces, for in those days boys thought less than they do now +of hard knocks, and manliness and courage were considered the first of +virtues. Their leader, however, still stood his ground on the crest, +though hardly pressed on all sides, and used his club both to strike and +parry with a skill which aroused the warmest admiration on the part of +the prince. In vain his followers attempted to come to his rescue; each +time they struggled up the heap they were beaten back again by those on +the crest. + +"Yield thee prisoner," the assailants of their leader shouted, and the +prince in his excitement echoed the cry. The lad, however, heard or +heeded them not. He still kept his flag aloft in his left hand. With a +sudden spring he struck down one of his opponents, plucked up their flag +from the ground, and then fought his way back through his foes to the +edge of the battle ground; then a heavy blow struck him on the temple, +and, still holding the flags, he rolled senseless to the foot of the +heap. The defenders with shouts of triumph were rushing down, when the +prince urged his horse forward. + +"Cease!" he said authoritatively. "Enough has been done, my young +masters, and the sport is becoming a broil." + +Hitherto the lads, absorbed in their strife, had paid but little heed to +the party of onlookers; but at the word they at once arrested their +arms, and, baring their heads, stood still in confusion. + +"No harm is done," the prince said, "though your sport is of the +roughest; but I fear that your leader is hurt, he moves not; lift his +head from the ground." The boy was indeed still insensible. "My lords," +the prince said to the knights who had now ridden up, "I fear that this +boy is badly hurt; he is a gallant lad, and has the spirit of a true +knight in him, citizen's son though he be. My Lord de Vaux, will you bid +your squire ride at full speed to the Tower and tell Master Roger, the +leech, to come here with all haste, and to bring such nostrums as may be +needful for restoring the boy to life?" + +The Tower was but half a mile distant, but before Master Roger arrived +Walter had already recovered consciousness, and was just sitting up when +the leech hurried up to the spot. + +"You have arrived too late, Master Roger," the prince said; "but I doubt +not that a dose of your cordials may yet be of use, for he is still +dazed, and the blow he got would have cracked his skull had it been a +thin one." + +The leech poured some cordial from a vial into a small silver cup and +held it to the boy's lips. It was potent and nigh took his breath away; +but when he had drunk it he struggled to his feet, looking ashamed and +confused when he saw himself the center of attention of so many knights +of the court. + +"What is thy name, good lad?" the prince asked. + +"I am known as Walter Fletcher." + +"You are a brave lad," the prince said, "and if you bear you as well as +a man as you did but now, I would wish no better to ride beside me in +the day of battle. Should the time ever come when you tire of the +peaceable life of a citizen and wish to take service in the wars, go to +the Tower and ask boldly for the Prince of Wales, and I will enroll you +among my own men-at-arms, and I promise you that you shall have your +share of fighting as stark as that of the assault of yon heap. Now, my +lords, let us ride on; I crave your pardon for having so long detained +you." + +Walter was some days before he could again cross London Bridge to inform +his friend Geoffrey of the honor which had befallen him of being +addressed by the Prince of Wales. During the interval he was forced to +lie abed, and he was soundly rated by Master Giles for again getting +into mischief. Geoffrey was far more sympathetic, and said: "Well, +Walter, although I would not that Gaffer Giles heard me say so, I think +you have had a piece of rare good fortune. It may be that you may never +have cause to recall the young prince's promise to him; but should you +some day decide to embrace the calling of arms, you could wish for +nothing better than to ride behind the Prince of Wales. He is, by all +accounts, of a most noble and generous disposition, and is said, young +as he is, to be already highly skilled in arms. Men say that he will be +a wise king and a gallant captain, such a one as a brave soldier might +be proud to follow; and as the king will be sure to give him plenty of +opportunities of distinguishing himself, those who ride with him may be +certain of a chance of doing valorous deeds. I will go across the bridge +to-morrow, and will have a talk with Master Fletcher. The sooner you +are apprenticed the sooner you will be out of your time; and since Madge +married eight years since I have been lonely in the house and shall be +glad to have you with me." + +Geoffrey Ward found his friend more ready to accede to his request that +Walter should be apprenticed to him than he had expected. The bowyer, +indeed, was a quiet man, and the high spirits and somewhat turbulent +disposition of his young charge gave him so much uneasiness that he was +not sorry the responsibility of keeping him in order should be +undertaken by Geoffrey. Moreover, he could not but agree with the +argument that the promise of the Prince of Wales offered a more +favorable opportunity for Walter to enter upon the career of arms, and +so, perhaps, some day to win his way back to rank and honors than could +have been looked for. Therefore, on the following week Walter was +indentured to the armorer, and, as was usual at the time, left his abode +in Aldgate and took up his residence with his master. He threw himself +with his whole heart into the work, and by the time he was fifteen was +on the way to become a skillful craftsman. His frame and muscles +developed with labor, and he was now able to swing all save the very +heaviest hammers in the shop. He had never abated in his practice at +arms, and every day when work was over he and his master had a long bout +together with cudgel or quarter-staff, sword or ax. Walter, of course, +used light weapons, but so quick was he with them that Geoffrey Ward +acknowledged that he needed to put out all his skill to hold his own +with his pupil. But it was not alone with Geoffrey that Walter had an +opportunity of learning the use of arms. Whenever a soldier, returned +from the wars, came to have a weapon repaired by the armorer, he would +be sure of an invitation to come in in the evening and take a stoup of +ale, and tell of the battles and sieges he had gone through, and in the +course of the evening would be asked to have a bout of arms with the +young apprentice, whom Geoffrey represented as being eager to learn how +to use the sword as well as how to make it. + +Thus Walter became accustomed to different styles of fighting, but found +that very few, indeed, of their visitors were nearly so well skilled +with their arms as his master. Some of the soldiers were mortified at +finding themselves unable to hold their own with a boy; others would +take their reverses in good part and would come again, bringing with +them some comrade known to be particularly skilled with his weapons, to +try the temper of the armorer's apprentice. At the age of fifteen Walter +had won the prize at the sports, both for the best cudgel play and for +the best sword-and-buckler play among the apprentices, to the great +disgust of many who had almost reached the age of manhood and were just +out of their time. + +On Sundays Walter always spent the day with Giles Fletcher and his wife, +going to mass with them and walking in the fields, where, after +service, the citizens much congregated. Since Walter had gone to work he +had taken no part in the fights and frolics of his former comrades; he +was, in fact, far too tired at the end of his day's work to have any +desire to do aught but to sit and listen to the tales of the wars, of +the many old soldiers who pervaded the country. Some of these men were +disabled by wounds or long service, but the greater portion were idle +scamps, who cared not for the hard blows and sufferings of a campaign, +liking better to hang about taverns drinking, at the expense of those to +whom they related fabulous tales of the gallant actions they had +performed. Many, too, wandered over the country, sometimes in twos or +threes, sometimes in larger bands, robbing and often murdering travelers +or attacking lonely houses. When in one part or another their ill deeds +became too notorious, the sheriffs would call out a posse of men and +they would be hunted down like wild beasts. It was not, however, easy to +catch them, for great tracts of forests still covered a large portion of +the country and afforded them shelter. + +In the country round London these pests were very numerous, for here, +more than anywhere else, was there a chance of plunder. The swamps on +the south side of the river had especially evil reputation. From +Southwark to Putney stretched a marshy country over which, at high +tides, the river frequently flowed. Here and there were wretched huts, +difficult of access and affording good hiding-places for those pursued +by justice, since searchers could be seen approaching a long way off, +and escape could be made by paths across the swamp known only to the +dwellers there, and where heavily armed men dared not follow. Further +south, in the wild country round Westerham, where miles of heath and +forest stretched away in all directions, was another noted place where +the robber vagrants mustered thickly, and the Sheriff of Kent had much +trouble with them. + +The laws in those days were extremely severe, and death was the penalty +of those caught plundering. The extreme severity of the laws, however, +operated in favor of its breakers, since the sympathy of the people who +had little to lose was with them, and unless caught red-handed in the +act they could generally escape, since none save those who had +themselves been robbed would say aught that would place the pursuers on +their traces, or give testimony which would cost the life of a +fellow-creature. The citizens of London were loud in their complaints +against the discharged soldiers, for it was upon them that the loss +mainly fell, and it was on their petitions to the king that the sheriffs +of Middlesex and Hertford, Essex, Surrey, and Kent, were generally +stirred up to put down the ill-doers. + +Sometimes these hunts were conducted in a wholesale way, and the whole +posse of a county would be called out. Then all found within its limits +who had not land or visible occupation were collected. Any against whom +charges could be brought home were hung without more ado, and the rest +were put on board ship and sent across the sea to the army. Sometimes, +when they found the country becoming too hot for them, these men would +take service with some knight or noble going to the war, anxious to take +with him as strong a following as might be, and not too particular as to +the character of his soldiers. + +Walter, being of an adventurous spirit, was sometimes wont of a summer +evening, when his work was done, to wander across the marshes, taking +with him his bow and arrows, and often bringing home a wild duck or two +which he had shot in the pools. More than once surly men had accosted +him, and had threatened to knock him on the head if they again found him +wandering that way; but Walter laughed at their threats, and seeing that +though but an apprentice lad, he might be able to send an arrow as +straight to the mark as another, they were content to leave him alone. + +One day when he was well-nigh in the heart of the swamp of Lambeth he +saw a figure making his way across. The hour was already late and the +night was falling, and the appearance of the man was so different from +that of the usual denizens of the swamp that Walter wondered what his +business there might be. Scarcely knowing why he did so, Walter threw +himself down among some low brushwood and watched the approaching +figure. When he came near he recognized the face, and saw, to his +surprise, that it was a knight who had but the day before stopped at +the armorer's shop to have two rivets put in his hauberk. He had +particularly noticed him, because of the arrogant manner in which he +spoke. Walter had himself put in the rivets, and had thought, as he +buckled on the armor again, how unpleasant a countenance was that of its +wearer. He was a tall and powerful man, and would have been handsome had +not his eyes been too closely set together; his nose was narrow, and the +expression of his face reminded Walter of a hawk. He had now laid aside +his helmet, and his figure was covered with a long cloak. + +"He is up to no good," Walter said to himself, "for what dealings could +a knight honestly have with the ruffians who haunt these swamps? It is +assuredly no business of mine, but it may lead to an adventure, and I +have had no real fun since I left Aldgate. I will follow and see if I +can get to the bottom of the mystery." + +When he came close to the spot where Walter was lying the knight paused +and looked round as if uncertain of his way. For four or five minutes he +stood still, and then gave a shout of "Humphrey!" at the top of his +voice. It was answered by a distant "Halloo!" and looking in the +direction from which the answer had come, Walter saw a figure appear +above some bushes some four hundred yards distant. The knight at once +directed his steps in that direction, and Walter crept cautiously after +him. + +"A pest upon these swamps and quagmires," the knight said angrily as he +neared the other. "Why didst not meet me and show me the way through, +as before?" + +"I thought that as you had come once you would be able to find your way +hither again," the man said. "Had I thought that you would have missed +it I would have come ten times as far, rather than have had my name +shouted all over the country. However, there is no one to hear, did you +shout thrice as loud, so no harm is done." + +"I thought I saw a figure a short time since," the knight said. + +The man looked round in all directions. + +"I see none," he said, "and you may have been mistaken, for the light is +waning fast. It were ill for any one I caught prying about here. But +come in, sir knight; my hovel is not what your lordship is accustomed +to, but we may as well talk there as here beneath the sky." + +The two men disappeared from Walter's sight. The latter in much surprise +crept forward, but until he reached the spot where he had last seen the +speakers he was unable to account for their disappearance. Then he saw +that the spot, although apparently a mere clump of bushes no higher than +the surrounding country, was really an elevated hummock of ground. Any +one might have passed close to the bushes without suspecting that aught +lay among them. In the center, however, the ground had been cut away, +and a low doorway, almost hidden by the bushes, gave access into a +half-subterranean hut; the roof was formed of an old boat turned bottom +upward, and this had been covered with brown turf. It was an excellent +place of concealment, as searchers might have passed within a foot of +the bushes without suspecting that aught lay concealed within them. + +"A clever hiding-place," Walter thought to himself. "No wonder the posse +search these swamps in vain. This is the lowest and wettest part of the +swamp, and would be but lightly searched, for none would suspect that +there was a human habitation among these brown ditches and stagnant +pools." + +To his disappointment the lad could hear nothing of the conversation +which was going on within the hut. The murmur of voices came to his ear, +but no words were audible; however, he remained patiently, thinking that +perhaps as they came out a word might be said which would give him a +clew to the object of the mysterious interview between a knight and one +who was evidently a fugitive from justice. + +His patience was rewarded. In the half-hour which he waited the night +had fallen, and a thick fog which was rising over the swamps rendered it +difficult to discern anything at the distance of a few paces. + +"You are quite sure that you can manage it?" a voice said as the two men +issued from the hut. + +"There is no difficulty in managing it," the other replied, "if the boat +is punctual to the hour named. It will be getting dusk then, and if one +boat runs into another no one need be surprised. Such accidents will +happen." + +"They will be here just before nightfall," the other said, "and you will +know the boat by the white mantle the lady will wear. The reward will be +fifty pieces of gold, of which you have received ten as earnest. You can +trust me, and if the job be well done I shall take no count of the +earnest-money." + +"You may consider it as good as done," the other replied. "If the boat +is there the matter is settled. Now I will lead you back across the +swamps. I would not give much for your life if you tried to find the way +alone. Who would have thought when you got me off from being hung, after +that little affair at Bruges, that I should be able to make myself +useful to your worship?" + +"You may be sure," the knight replied, "that it was just because I +foresaw that you might be useful that I opened the doors of your cell +that night. It is always handy in times like these to be able to lay +one's hand on a man whom you can hang if you choose to open your mouth." + +"Did it not strike you, sir knight, that it might enter my mind that it +would be very advisable for me to free myself from one who stands toward +me in that relation?" + +"Certainly it did," the knight replied; "but as I happen to be able to +make it for your interest to serve me, that matter did not trouble me. I +knew better than to bring money into this swamp of yours, when I might +be attacked by half a dozen ruffians like yourself; and I took the +precaution of informing Peter, the captain of my men-at-arms, of the +spot to which I was going, bidding him, in case I came not back, to set +a hue-and-cry on foot and hunt down all who might be found here, with +the especial description of your worthy self." + +Walter could hear no more; he had taken off his shoes and followed them +at a distance, and their voices still acted as a guide to him through +the swamp. But he feared to keep too close, as, although the darkness +would conceal his figure, he might at any moment tread in a pool or +ditch, and so betray his presence. Putting his foot each time to the +ground with the greatest caution, he moved quietly after them. They +spoke little more, but their heavy footsteps on the swampy ground were a +sufficient guidance for him. At last these ceased suddenly. A few words +were spoken, and then he heard returning steps. He drew aside a few feet +and crouched down, saw a dim figure pass through the mist, and then +resumed his way. + +The ground was firmer now, and, replacing his shoes, he walked briskly +on. As he neared the higher ground along which the road ran he heard two +horsemen galloping away in the distance. He now turned his face east, +and after an hour's walking he reached the armorer's. + +"Why, Walter, you are late," the smith said. "The men are in bed this +hour or more, and I myself can scarce keep awake. Where hast thou been, +my boy?" + +"I have been in the swamps and lost my way," Walter replied. + +"It is a bad neighborhood, lad, and worse are the people who live there. +If I had my way the whole posse should be called out, and the marshes +searched from end to end, and all found there should be knocked on the +head and thrown into their own ditches. There would be no fear of any +honest man coming to his end thereby; but now to bed, lad. You can tell +me all about it to-morrow; but we have a rare day's work before us, and +the fire must be alight at daybreak." + +On his way back Walter had debated with himself whether to inform his +master of what had happened. He was, however, bent upon having an +adventure on his own account, and it was a serious thing in those days +for an apprentice lad to bring an accusation against a noble. The city +would not indeed allow even an apprentice to be overridden, and although +Geoffrey Ward's forge stood beyond the city walls it was yet within the +liberties, the city allowing its craftsmen to open shops just outside +the gates, and to enjoy the same privileges as if dwelling actually +within the walls. + +On the following afternoon Walter asked leave to cease work an hour +earlier than usual, as he wished to go across into the city. The armorer +was surprised, since this was the first time that such a thing had +happened since the lad had worked for him. + +"What are you up to, Walter?--some mischief, I will be bound. Go, lad; +you have worked so steadily that you have well earned more than an +hour's holiday should you want it." + +Walter crossed the bridge, and seeking out four or five of his old +companions, begged them to bring their bows and clubs and rejoin him at +the stairs by London Bridge. To their laughing inquiries whether he +meant to go a-shooting of fish, he told them to ask no questions until +they joined him. As soon as work was over the boys gathered at the +steps, where Walter had already engaged a boat. There were some mocking +inquiries from the watermen standing about as to where they were going +shooting. Walter answered with some light chaff, and, two of the party +taking oars, they started up the river. + +"Now I will tell you what we are bent on," Walter said. "From some words +I overheard I believe that some of the ruffians over in the marshes are +this evening going to make an attack upon a boat with a lady in it +coming down the river. We will be on the spot, and can give them a +reception such as they do not expect." + +"Do you know who the lady is, Walter?" + +"I have not the least idea. I only caught a few words, and may be wrong; +still it will do no harm should I be mistaken." + +The tide was running down strongly, for there had been a good deal of +rain during the preceding week, and all night it had poured heavily. It +was fine now, but the stream was running down thick and turbid, and it +needed all the boys' efforts to force the wherry against it. They rowed +by turns; all were fairly expert at the exercise, for in those days the +Thames was at once the great highway and playground of London. To the +wharves below the bridge ships brought the rich merchandise of Italy and +the Low Countries; while from above, the grain needed for the wants of +the great city was floated down in barges from the west. + +Passing the Temple, the boys rowed along by the green banks and fields +as far as Westminster, which at that time was almost a rival of the +city, for here were the abbey and great monastery; here were the king's +palace and court, and the houses of many of his nobles. Then they went +along by the low shores of Millbank, keeping a sharp lookout for boats +going down with the stream. It was already getting dark, for Walter had +not allowed for the strength of the stream, and he was full of anxiety +lest he should arrive too late. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +A THWARTED PLOT. + + +A boat was rowing rapidly down the stream. It had passed the village of +Chelsea, and the men were doing their best to reach their destination at +Westminster before nightfall. Two men were rowing; in the stern sat a +lady with a girl of about eleven years old. A woman, evidently a +servant, sat beside the lady, while behind, steering the boat, was an +elderly retainer. + +"It is getting dark," the lady said; "I would that my Cousin James had +not detained us so long at Richmond, and then after all he was unable to +accompany us. I like not being out on the river so late." + +"No, indeed, my lady," the woman replied; "I have heard tell lately much +of the doings of the river pirates. They say that boats are often picked +up, stove in and broken, and that none know what had become of their +occupants, and that bodies, gashed and hewn, are often found floating in +the river." + +"How horrible," the girl said; "your tale makes me shiver, Martha; I +would you had said nothing about it till we were on land again." + +"Do not be afraid, Edith," the lady said cheerfully; "we shall soon be +safe at Westminster." + +There were now only two or three boats to be seen on the river. They +were nearing the end of their journey now, and the great pile of the +abbey could be seen through the darkness. A boat with several men in it +was seen rowing across the river toward the Lambeth side. It was +awkwardly managed. + +"Look out!" the steersman of the boat coming down stream shouted; "you +will run into us if you don't mind." + +An order was given in the other boat, the men strained to their oars, +and in an instant the boat ran with a crash into the side of the other, +cutting it down to the water's edge. For a minute there was a wild scene +of confusion; the women shrieked, the watermen shouted, and, thinking +that it was an accident, strove, as the boat sank from under them, to +climb into that which had run them down. They were speedily undeceived. +One was sunk by a heavy blow with an oar, the other was stabbed with a +dagger, while the assailants struck fiercely at the old man and the +women. + +At this moment, however, a third boat made its appearance on the scene, +its occupants uttering loud shouts. As they rowed toward the spot their +approach was heralded by a shower of arrows. Two of the ruffians were +struck--one fell over mortally wounded, the other sank down into the +boat. + +"Row, men, row," their leader shouted, "or we shall all be taken." + +Again seizing their oars, the rowers started at full speed toward the +Lambeth shore. The arrows of their pursuers still fell among them, two +more of their number being wounded before they reached the opposite +shore. The pursuit was not continued, the new-comers ceasing to row at +the spot where the catastrophe had taken place. Walter stood up in the +boat and looked round. A floating oar, a stretcher, and a sheep-skin +which had served as a cushion alone floated. + +Suddenly there was a choking cry heard a few yards down stream, and +Walter leaped into the river. A few strokes took him to the side of the +girl, and he found, on throwing his arm around her, that she was still +clasped in her mother's arms. Seizing them both, Walter shouted to his +comrades. They had already turned the boat's head and in a minute were +alongside. + +It was a difficult task to get the mother and child on board, as the +girl refused to loose her hold. It was, however, accomplished, and the +child sat still and quiet by Walter's side, while his comrades +endeavored to stanch the blood which was flowing from a severe wound in +her mother's head. When they had bound it up they rubbed her hands, and +by the time they had reached the steps at Westminster the lady opened +her eyes. For a moment she looked bewildered, and then, on glancing +round, she gave a low cry of delight at seeing her child sitting by +Walter's side. + +On reaching the steps the boys handed her over to the care of the +watermen there, who soon procured a litter and carried her, she being +still too weak to walk, to the dwelling of the Earl of Talbot, where she +said she was expected. The apprentices rowed back to London Bridge, +elated at the success of their enterprise, but regretting much that they +had arrived too late to hinder the outrage, or to prevent the escape of +its perpetrators. + +Walter on his return home related the whole circumstance to his master. + +"I would you had told me, Walter," the latter said, "since we might have +taken precautions which would have prevented this foul deed from taking +place. However, I can understand your wanting to accomplish the +adventure without my aid; but we must think now what had best be said +and done. As the lady belongs to the court, there is sure to be a fine +pother about the matter, and you and all who were there will be examined +touching your share of the adventure, and how you came to be upon the +spot. The others will, of course, say that they were there under your +direction; and we had best think how much of your story you had better +tell." + +"Why should I not tell it all?" Walter asked indignantly. + +"You should never tell a lie, Walter; but in days like these it is safer +sometimes not to tell more than is necessary. It is a good rule in life, +my boy, to make no more enemies than may be needful. This knight, who is +doubtless a great villain, has maybe powerful friends, and it is as +well, if it can be avoided, that you should not embroil yourself with +these. Many a man has been knocked on the head or stabbed on a dark +night, because he could not keep his tongue from wagging. 'Least said, +the sooner mended,' is a good proverb; but I will think it over +to-night, and tell you in the morning." + +When they met again in the workshop the armorer said: "Clean yourself up +after breakfast, Walter, and put on your best clothes. I will go with +you before the mayor, and then you shall tell him your story. There is +sure to be a stir about it before the day is done. As we walk thither we +can settle how much of your story it is good to tell." + +On their way over the bridge Geoffrey told Walter that he thought he had +better tell the whole story exactly as it had occurred, concealing only +the fact that he had recognized the knight's face. "You had best, too," +he said, "mention naught about the white cloak. If we can catch the man +of the hut in the swamp, likely enough the rack will wring from him the +name of his employer, and in that case, if you are brought up as a +witness against him you will of course say that you recognize his face; +but 'tis better that the accusation should not come from you. No great +weight would be given to the word of a 'prentice boy as against that of +a noble. It is as bad for earthen pots to knock against brass ones as it +is for a yeoman in a leathern jerkin to stand up against a knight in +full armor." + +"But unless the lady knows her enemy she may fall again into his +snares." + +"I have thought of that," Geoffrey said, "and we will take measures to +prevent it." + +"But how can we prevent it?" Walter asked, surprised. + +"We must find out who this knight may be, which should, methinks, not be +difficult. Then we will send to him a message that his share in this +night's work is known to several, and that if any harm should ever again +be attempted against the lady or her daughter, he shall be denounced +before King Edward himself as the author of the wrong. I trust, however, +that we may capture the man of the swamp, and that the truth may be +wrung from him." + +By this time they had arrived at the guildhall, and making their way +into the court, Geoffrey demanded private speech with the lord mayor. + +"Can you not say in open court what is your business?" the lord mayor +asked. + +"I fear that if I did it would defeat the ends of justice." + +Retiring with the chief magistrate into an inner room, Geoffrey desired +Walter to tell his story. This he did, ending by saying that he +regretted much that he had not at once told his master what he had +heard; but that, although he deemed evil was intended, he did not know +that murder was meant, and thought it but concerned the carrying off of +some damsel, and that this he had intended, by the aid of his comrades, +to prevent. + +"You have done well, Master Walter, since that be your name," the +magistrate said. "That you might have done better is true, for had you +acted otherwise you might have prevented murder from being done. Still +one cannot expect old heads upon young shoulders. Give me the names of +those who were with you, for I shall doubtless receive a message from +Westminster this morning to know if I have heard aught of the affair. In +the mean time we must take steps to secure these pirates of the marsh. +The ground is across the river, and lies out of my jurisdiction." + +"It is for that reason," Geoffrey said, "that I wished that the story +should be told to you privately, since the men concerned might well have +sent a friend to the court to hear if aught was said which might +endanger them." + +"I will give you a letter to a magistrate of Surrey, and he will +dispatch some constables under your guidance to catch these rascals. I +fear there have been many murders performed by them lately besides that +in question, and you will be doing a good service to the citizens by +aiding in the capture of these men." + +"I will go willingly," the smith assented. + +"I will at once send off a messenger on horseback," the lord mayor said, +after a moment's thought. "It will be quicker. I will tell the justice +that if he will come to the meeting of the roads on Kensington Common, +at seven this evening, you will be there with your apprentice to act as +a guide." + +"I will," the armorer said, "and will bring with me two or three of my +men who are used to hard blows, for, to tell you the truth, I have no +great belief in the valor of constables, and we may meet with a stout +resistance." + +"So be it," the lord mayor said; "and luck be with you, for these men +are the scourges of the river." + +That evening the armorer shut up his shop sooner than usual, and +accompanied by Walter and four of his workmen, all carrying stout oaken +cudgels, with hand-axes in their girdles, started along the lonely road +to Kensington. Half an hour after their arrival the magistrate, with ten +men, rode up. He was well pleased at the sight of the reënforcement +which awaited him, for the river pirates might be expected to make a +desperate resistance. Geoffrey advised a halt for a time until it should +be well-nigh dark, as the marauders might have spies set to give notice +should strangers enter the marsh. + +They started before it was quite dark, as Walter doubted whether he +should be able to lead them straight to the hut after the night had +completely fallen. He felt, however, tolerably sure of his locality, for +he had noticed that two trees grew on the edge of the swamp just at the +spot where he had left it. He had no difficulty in finding these, and at +once led the way. The horses of the magistrate and his followers were +left in charge of three of their number. + +"You are sure you are going right?" the magistrate said to Walter. "The +marsh seems to stretch everywhere, and we might well fall into a +quagmire, which would swallow us all up." + +"I am sure of my way," Walter answered; "see, yonder clump of bushes, +which you can just observe above the marsh, a quarter of a mile away, is +the spot where the house of their leader is situated." + +With strict injunctions that not a word was to be spoken until the bush +was surrounded, and that all were to step noiselessly and with caution, +the party moved forward. It was now nearly dark, and as they approached +the hut, sounds of laughter and revelry were heard. + +"They are celebrating their success in a carouse," Geoffrey said. "We +shall catch them nicely in a trap." + +When they came close a man who was sitting just at the low mouth of the +hut suddenly sprang to his feet and shouted, "Who goes there?" He had +apparently been placed as sentry, but had joined in the potations going +on inside, and had forgotten to look round from time to time to see that +none were approaching. + +At his challenge the whole party rushed forward, and as they reached the +hut the men from within came scrambling out, sword in hand. For two or +three minutes there was a sharp fight, and had the constables been alone +they would have been defeated, for they were outnumbered and the pirates +were desperate. + +The heavy clubs of the armorers decided the fight. One or two of the +band alone succeeded in breaking through, the rest were knocked down and +bound; not, however, until several severe wounds had been inflicted on +their assailants. + +When the fray was over, it was found that nine prisoners had been +captured. Some of these were stunned by the blows which the smiths had +dealt them, and two or three were badly wounded; all were more or less +injured in the struggle. When they recovered their senses they were made +to get on their feet, and with their hands tied securely behind them, +were marched between a double line of their captors off the marsh. + +"Thanks for your services," the justice said when they had gained the +place where they had left their horses. "Nine of my men shall tie each +one of these rascals to their stirrups by halters round their necks, and +we will give them a smart run into Richmond, where we will lodge them in +the jail. Tomorrow is Sunday; on Monday they will be brought before me, +and I shall want the evidence of Master Walter Fletcher and of those who +were in the boat with him as to what took place on the river. Methinks +the evidence on that score, and the resistance which they offered us +this evening, will be sufficient to put a halter round their necks; but +from what I have heard by the letter which the lord mayor sent me, there +are others higher in rank concerned in the affair; doubtless we shall +find means to make these ruffians speak." + +Accordingly, at the justice's orders, halters were placed round the +necks of the prisoners, the other ends being attached to the saddles, +and the party set off at a pace which taxed to the utmost the strength +of the wounded men. Geoffrey and his party returned in high spirits to +Southwark. + +On the Monday Walter went over to Richmond, accompanied by the armorers +and by the lads who had been in the boat with him. The nine ruffians, +strongly guarded, were brought up in the justice room. Walter first gave +his evidence, and related how he had overheard a portion of the +conversation which led him to believe that an attack would be made upon +the boat coming down the river. + +"Can you identify either of the prisoners as being the man whom you saw +at the door of the hut?" + +"No," Walter said. "When I first saw him I was too far off to make out +his face. When he left the hut it was dark." + +"Should you know the other man, the one who was addressed as sir knight, +if you saw him again?" + +"I should," Walter replied. He then gave an account of the attack upon +the boat, but said that in the suddenness of the affair and the growing +darkness he noticed none of the figures distinctly enough to recognize +them again. Two or three of the other apprentices gave similar testimony +as to the attack. + +A gentleman then presented himself, and gave his name as Sir William de +Hertford. He said that he had come at the request of the Lady Alice +Vernon, who was still suffering from the effects of the wound and +immersion. She had requested him to say that at some future occasion she +would appear to testify, but that in the confusion and suddenness of the +attack she had noticed no faces in the boat which assailed them, and +could identify none concerned in the affair. + +The justice who had headed the attack on the hut then gave his evidence +as to that affair, the armorer also relating the incidents of the +conflict. + +"The prisoners will be committed for trial," the justice said. "At +present there is no actual proof that any of them were concerned in this +murderous outrage beyond the fact that they were taken in the place +where it was planned. The suspicion is strong that some at least were +engaged in it. Upon the persons of all of them were valuable daggers, +chains, and other ornaments, which could not have been come by honestly, +and I doubt not that they form part of the gang which has so long been a +terror to peaceful travelers alike by the road and river, and it may be +that some who have been robbed will be able to identify the articles +taken upon them. They are committed for trial: firstly, as having been +concerned in the attack upon Dame Alice Vernon; secondly, as being +notorious ill-livers and robbers; thirdly, as having resisted lawful +arrest by the king's officers. The greatest criminal in the affair is +not at present before me, but it may be that from such information as +Dame Vernon may be able to furnish, and from such confessions as justice +will be able to wring from the prisoners, he will at the trial stand +beside his fellows." + +Walter returned to town with his companions. On reaching the armorer's +they found a retainer of the Earl of Talbot awaiting them, with the +message that the Lady Alice Vernon wished the attendance of Walter +Fletcher, whose name she had learned from the lord mayor as that of the +lad to whom she and her daughter owed their lives, at noon on the +following day, at the residence of the Earl of Talbot. + +"That is the worst of an adventure," Walter said crossly, after the +retainer had departed. "One can't have a bit of excitement without being +sent for, and thanked, and stared at. I would rather fight the best +swordsman in the city than have to go down to the mansion of Earl Talbot +with my cap in my hand." + +Geoffrey laughed. "You must indeed have your cap in your hand, Walter; +but you need not bear yourself in that spirit. The 'prentice of a London +citizen may have just as much honest pride and independence as the +proudest earl at Westminster; but carry not independence too far. +Remember that if you yourself had received a great service you would be +hurt if the donor refused to receive your thanks; and it would be +churlish indeed were you to put on sullen looks, or to refuse to accept +any present which the lady whose life you have saved may make you. It is +strange, indeed, that it should be Dame Vernon, whose husband, Sir +Jasper Vernon, received the fiefs of Westerham and Hyde." + +"Why should it be curious that it is she?" Walter asked. + +"Oh!" Geoffrey said rather confusedly. "I was not thinking--that is--I +mean that it is curious because Bertha Fletcher was for years a +dependent on the family of Sir Roland Somers, who was killed in the +troubles when the king took the reins of government in his hands, and +his lands, being forfeit, were given to Sir Jasper Vernon, who aided the +king in that affair." + +"I wish you would tell me about that," Walter said. "How was it that +there was any trouble as to King Edward having kingly authority?" + +"It happened in this way," Geoffrey said. "King Edward II., his father, +was a weak prince, governed wholly by favorites and unable to hold in +check the turbulent barons. His queen, Isabella of France, sister of the +French king, a haughty and ambitious woman, determined to snatch the +reins of power from the indolent hands of her husband, and after a visit +to her brother she returned with an army from Hainault in order to +dethrone him. She was accompanied by her eldest son, and after a short +struggle the king was dethroned. He had but few friends, and men thought +that under the young Edward, who had already given promise of virtue +and wisdom, some order might be introduced into the realm. He was +crowned Edward III., thus, at the early age of fifteen, usurping the +throne of his father. The real power, however, remained with Isabella, +who was president of the council of regency, and who, in her turn, was +governed by her favorite Mortimer. England soon found that the change +which had been made was far from beneficial. The government was by turns +weak and oppressive. The employment of foreign troops was regarded with +the greatest hostility by the people, and the insolence of Mortimer +alienated the great barons. Finally, the murder of the dethroned king +excited throughout the kingdom a feeling of horror and loathing against +the queen. + +"All this feeling, however, was confined to her, Edward, who was but a +puppet in her hands, being regarded with affection and pity. Soon after +his succession the young king was married to our queen, Philippa of +Hainault, who is as good as she is beautiful, and who is loved from one +end of the kingdom to the other. I can tell you, the city was a sight to +see when she entered with the king. Such pageants and rejoicing were +never known. They were so young, he not yet sixteen and she but +fourteen, and yet to bear on their shoulders the weight of the state. A +braver-looking lad and a fairer girl mine eyes never looked on. It was +soon after this that the events arose which led to the war with France, +but this is too long a tale for me to tell you now. The Prince of Wales +was born on the 15th of June, 1330, two years after the royal marriage. + +"So far the king had acquiesced quietly in the authority of his mother, +but he now paid a visit to France, and doubtless the barons around him +there took advantage of his absence from her tutelage to shake her +influence over his mind; and at the same time a rising took place at +home against her authority. This was suppressed, and the Earl of Kent, +the king's uncle, was arrested and executed by Isabella. This act of +severity against his uncle no doubt hastened the prince's determination +to shake off the authority of his haughty mother and to assume the reins +of government himself. The matter, however, was not easy to accomplish. +Mortimer having the whole of the royal revenue at his disposal, had +attached to himself by ties of interest a large number of barons, and +had in his pay nearly two hundred knights and a large body of +men-at-arms. Thus it was no easy matter to arrest him. It was determined +that the deed should be done at the meeting of the parliament at +Nottingham. Here Mortimer appeared with Isabella in royal pomp. They +took up their abode at the castle, while the king and other members of +the royal family were obliged to content themselves with an inferior +place of residence. + +"The gates of the castle were locked at sunset, and the keys brought by +the constable, Sir William Eland, and handed to the queen herself. This +knight was a loyal and gallant gentleman, and regarded Mortimer with no +affection, and when he received the king's commands to assist the barons +charged to arrest him he at once agreed to do so. He was aware of the +existence of a subterranean communication leading from the interior of +the castle to the outer country, and by this, on the night of the 19th +of October, 1330, he led nine resolute knights--the Lords Montague, +Suffolk, Stafford, Molins, and Clinton, with three brothers of the name +of Bohun, and Sir John Nevil--into the heart of the castle. Mortimer was +found surrounded by a number of his friends. On the sudden entry of the +knights known to be hostile to Mortimer his friends drew their swords, +and a short but desperate fight took place. Many were wounded, and Sir +Hugh Turpleton and Richard Monmouth were slain. Mortimer was carried to +London, and was tried and condemned by parliament, and executed for +felony and treason. Several of his followers were executed, and others +were attacked in their strongholds and killed; among these was Sir +Roland Somers. + +"Queen Isabella was confined in Castle Risings, where she still remains +a prisoner. Such, Walter, were the troubles which occurred when King +Edward first took up the reins of power in this realm; and now, let's to +supper, for I can tell you that my walk to Kingston has given me a +marvelous appetite. We have three or four hours' work yet before we go +to bed, for that Milan harness was promised for the morrow, and the +repairs are too delicate for me to intrust it to the men. It is good to +assist the law, but this work of attending as a witness makes a +grievous break in the time of a busy man. It is a pity, Walter, that +your mind is so set on soldiering, for you would have made a marvelous +good craftsman. However, I reckon that after you have seen a few years +of fighting in France, and have got some of your wild blood let out, you +will be glad enough to settle down here with me; as you know, our +profits are good and work plentiful; and did I choose I might hold mine +head higher than I do among the citizens; and you, if you join me, may +well aspire to a place in the common council, ay, and even to an +alderman's gown, in which case I may yet be addressing you as the very +worshipful my lord mayor." + +"Pooh!" Walter laughed; "a fig for your lord mayors! I would a thousand +times rather be a simple squire in the following of our young prince." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +A KNIGHT'S CHAIN + + +The following morning Walter put on the sober russet dress which he wore +on Sundays and holidays, for gay colors were not allowed to the +apprentices, and set out for Westminster. Although he endeavored to +assume an air of carelessness and ease as he approached the dwelling of +Earl Talbot, he was very far from feeling comfortable, and wished in his +heart that his master had accompanied him on his errand. Half a dozen +men-at-arms were standing on the steps of the mansion, who looked with +haughty surprise at the young apprentice. + +"Dame Alice Vernon has sent to express her desire to have speech with +me," he said quietly, "and I would fain know if she can receive me." + +"Here, Dikon," one of the men cried to another within the hall. "This is +the lad you were sent to fetch yesterday. I wondered much who the city +apprentice was who, with such an assured air, marched up to the door; +but if what thou sayest be true, that he saved the life of Dame Vernon +and her little daughter, he must be a brave lad, and would be more in +place among men and soldiers than in serving wares behind the counter +of a fat city tradesman." + +"I serve behind no counter," Walter said indignantly. "I am an armorer, +and mayhap can use arms as well as make them." + +There was a laugh among the men at the boy's sturdy self-assertion, and +then the man named Dikon said: + +"Come along, lad. I will take you to Dame Vernon at once. She is +expecting you; and, my faith, it would not be safe to leave you standing +here long, for I see you would shortly be engaged in splitting the +weasands of my comrades." + +There was another roar of laughter from the men, and Walter, somewhat +abashed, followed his conductor into the house. Leading him through the +hall and along several corridors, whose spaciousness and splendor quite +overpowered the young apprentice, he handed him over to a waiting-woman, +who ushered him into an apartment where Dame Vernon was reclining on a +couch. Her little daughter was sitting upon a low stool beside her, and +upon seeing Walter she leaped to her feet, clapping her hands. + +"Oh! mother, this is the boy that rescued us out of the river." + +The lady looked with some surprise at the lad. She had but a faint +remembrance of the events which occurred between the time when she +received a blow from the sword of one of her assailants and that when +she found herself on a couch in the abode of her kinsman; and when she +had been told that she had been saved by a city apprentice, she had +pictured to herself a lad of a very different kind to him who now stood +before her. + +Walter was now nearly sixteen years old. His frame was very powerful and +firmly knit. His dark-brown hair was cut short, but, being somewhat +longer than was ordinary with the apprentices, fell with a slight wave +back on his forehead. His bearing was respectful, and at the same time +independent. There was none of that confusion which might be expected on +the part of a lad from the city in the presence of a lady of rank. His +dark, heavy eyebrows, resolute mouth, and square chin gave an expression +of sternness to his face, which was belied by the merry expression of +his eyes and the bright smile when he was spoken to. + +"I have to thank you, young sir," she said, holding out her hand, which +Walter, after the custom of the time, raised to his lips, bending upon +one knee as he did so, "for the lives of myself and my daughter, which +would surely have been lost had you not jumped over to save us." + +"I am glad that I arrived in time to be of aid," Walter said frankly; +"but indeed I am rather to be blamed than praised, for had I, when I +heard the plotting against the safety of the boat, told my master of it, +as I should have done, instead of taking the adventure upon mine own +shoulders, doubtless a boat would have been sent up in time to prevent +the attack from taking place. Therefore, instead of being praised for +having arrived a little too late, I should be rated for not having come +there in time." + +Dame Vernon smiled. + +"Although you may continue to insist that you are to blame, this does +not alter the fact that you have saved our lives. Is there any way in +which I can be useful to you? Are you discontented with your state? for, +in truth, you look as if Nature had intended you for a gallant soldier +rather than a city craftsman. Earl Talbot, who is my uncle, would, I am +sure, receive you into his following should you so choose it, and I +would gladly pay for the canceling of your indentures." + +"I thank you, indeed, lady, for your kind offices," Walter said +earnestly; "for the present I am well content to remain at my craft, +which is that of an armorer, until, at any rate, I have gained such +manly strength and vigor as would fit me for a man-at-arms, and my good +master, Geoffrey Ward, will, without payment received, let me go when I +ask that grace of him." + +"Edith, go and look from the window at the boats passing along the +river; and now," she went on as the girl had obeyed her orders, "I would +fain ask you more about the interview you overheard in the marshes. Sir +William de Hertford told me of the evidence that you had given before +the justice. It is passing strange that he who incited the other to the +deed should have been by him termed 'Sir Knight.' Maybe it was merely a +nickname among his fellows." + +"Before I speak, lady," Walter said quietly, "I would fain know whether +you wish to be assured of the truth. Sometimes, they say, it is wiser to +remain in ignorance; at other times forewarned is forearmed. Frankly, I +did not tell all I know before the court, deeming that peradventure you +might wish to see me, and that I could then tell the whole to your +private ear, should you wish to know it, and you could then bid me +either keep silence or proclaim all I knew when the trial of these +evil-doers comes on." + +"You seem to me to be wise beyond your years, young sir," the lady said. + +"The wisdom is not mine, lady, but my master's. I took counsel with him, +and acted as he advised me." + +"I would fain know all," the lady said. "I have already strange +suspicions of one from whom assuredly I looked not for such evil +designs. It will grieve me to be convinced that the suspicions are well +founded; but it will be better to know the truth than to remain in a +state of doubt." + +"The person, then, was a knight, for I had seen him before when he came +in knightly harness into my master's shop to have two rivets put into +his hauberk. I liked not his face then, and should have remembered it +anywhere. I knew him at once when I saw him. He was a dark-faced knight, +handsome, and yet with features which reminded me of a hawk." + +Dame Vernon gave a little exclamation, which assured the lad that she +recognized the description. + +"You may partly know, lady, whether it is he whom you suppose, for he +said that he would detain your boat so that it should not come along +until dark, and, moreover, he told them that they would know the boat +since you would be wrapped in a white mantle." + +The lady sat for some time with her face hidden in her hands. + +"It is as I feared," she said at last, "and it grieves me to the heart +to think that one who, although not so nearly related in blood, I +regarded as a brother, should have betrayed me to death. My mind is +troubled indeed, and I know not what course I shall take, whether to +reveal this dreadful secret or to conceal it." + +"I may say, madam," Walter said earnestly, "that should you wish the +matter to remain a secret, you may rely upon it that I will tell no more +at the trial than I revealed yesterday; but I would remind you that +there is a danger that the leader of yon ruffians, who is probably alone +acquainted with the name of his employer, may, under the influence of +the torture, reveal it." + +"That fear is for the present past, since a messenger arrived from +Kingston but a few minutes since, saying that yester even, under the +threat of torture, the prisoners had pointed out the one among their +number who was their chief. This morning, however, it was found that the +warder who had charge of them had been bribed; he was missing from his +post, and the door of the cell wherein the principal villain had been +immured, apart from the others, was opened, and he had escaped." + +"Then," Walter said, "it is now open to you to speak or be silent as you +will. You will pardon my forwardness if I say that my master, in talking +the matter over with me, suggested that this evil knight might be scared +from attempting any future enterprise against you were he informed that +it was known to several persons that he was the author of this outrage, +and that if any further attempts were at any time made against you, the +proofs of his crime would be laid before the king." + +"Thanks, good lad," the lady said, "for your suggestion. Should I decide +to keep the matter secret, I will myself send him a message to that +effect, in such guise that he would not know whence it comes. And now, I +would fain reward you for what you have done for us; and," she went on, +seeing a flush suddenly mount upon the lad's face as he made a half-step +backward, "before I saw you, had thought of offering you a purse of +gold, which, although it would but poorly reward your services, would +yet have proved useful to you when the time came for you to start as a +craftsman on your own account; but now that I have seen you, I feel that +although there are few who think themselves demeaned by accepting gifts +of money in reward for services, you would rather my gratitude took +some other form. It can only do that of offering you such good services +that I can render with Earl Talbot, should you ever choose the +profession of arms; and in the mean time, as a memento of the lives you +have saved, you will, I am sure, not refuse this chain," and she took a +very handsome one of gold from her neck, "the more so since it was the +gift of her majesty, our gracious queen, to myself. She will, I am sure, +acquit me of parting with her gift when I tell her that I transferred it +to one who had saved the lives of myself and my daughter, and who was +too proud to accept other acknowledgment." + +Coloring deeply, and with tears in his eyes at the kindness and +thoughtful consideration of the lady, Walter knelt on one knee before +her, and she placed round his neck the long gold chain which she had +been wearing. + +"It is a knight's chain," the lady said, smiling, "and was part of the +spoil gained by King Edward from the French. Maybe," she added kindly, +"it will be worn by a knight again. Stranger things have happened, you +know." + +Walter flushed again with pleasure. + +"Maybe, lady," he said modestly, "even apprentices have their dreams, +and men-at-arms may always hope, by deeds of valor, to attain a knight's +spurs even though they may not be of noble blood or have served as page +and squire to a baron; but whether as a 'prentice or soldier, I hope I +shall never do discredit to your gift." + +"Edith, come here," Dame Vernon said, "I have done talking now. And what +are you going to give this brave knight of ours who saved us from +drowning?" + +The girl looked thoughtfully at Walter. "I don't think you would care +for presents," she said; "and you look as if a sword or a horse would +suit you better than a girl's gift. And yet I should like to give you +something, such as ladies give their knights who have done brave deeds +for them. It must be something quite my own, and you must take it as a +keepsake. What shall it be, mamma?" + +"Give him the bracelet which your cousin gave you last week," her mother +said; "I would rather that you did not keep it, and I know you are not +very fond of him." + +"I can't bear him," the girl said earnestly, "and I wish he would not +kiss me; he always looks as if he were going to bite, and I will gladly +give his bracelet to this brave boy." + +"Very well, Edith, fetch the bracelet from that coffer in the corner." + +The girl went to the coffer and brought out the little bracelet; then +she approached Walter. + +"You must go down on your knee," she said; "true knights always do that +to receive their lady's gifts. Now hold out your hand. There," she went +on in a pretty imperious way, "take this gage as a reward of your valor, +and act ever as a true knight in the service of your lady." + +[Illustration: "TAKE THIS GAGE AS A REWARD OF YOUR VALOR."--Page 62] + +Bending down she dropped a kiss upon Walter's glowing cheek, and +then, half-frightened at her own temerity, ran back to her mother's +side. + +"And now," Dame Vernon went on, "will you thank your five comrades for +their service in the matter, and give them each two gold pieces to spend +as they will?" + +"He is a noble lad," Dame Vernon had said to herself when Walter had +taken his leave. "Would he had been the son of one of the nobles of the +court! It might have been then, if he had distinguished himself in war, +as he would surely do, that the king might have assigned Edith to him. +As her lord and guardian he is certain to give her hand as a reward for +valor in the field, and it may well be to a man with whom she would be +less happy than with this 'prentice lad; but there, I need not be +troubling myself about a matter which is five or six years distant yet. +Still, the thought that Edith is a ward of the crown, and that her hand +must go where the king wills, often troubles me. However, I have a good +friend in the queen, who will, I know, exert what influence she has in +getting me a good husband for my child. But even for myself I have some +fears, since the king hinted, when last he saw me, that it was time I +looked out for another mate, for that the vassals of Westerham and Hyde +needed a lord to lead them in the field. However, I hope that my answer +that they were always at his service under the leading of my Cousin +James will suffice for him. Now, what am I to do in that matter? Who +would have thought that he so coveted my lands that he would have slain +me and Edith to possess himself of them? His own lands are thrice as +broad as mine, though men say that he has dipped deeply into them and +owes much money to the Jews. He is powerful and has many friends, and +although Earl Talbot would stand by me, yet the unsupported word of an +apprentice boy were but poor evidence on which to charge a powerful +baron of such a crime as this. It were best, methinks, to say naught +about it, but to bury the thought in my own heart. Nevertheless, I will +not fail to take the precaution which the lad advised, and to let Sir +James know that there are some who have knowledge of his handiwork. I +hear he crosses the seas to-morrow to join the army, and it may be long +ere he return. I shall have plenty of time to consider how I had best +shape my conduct toward him on his return; but assuredly he shall never +be friendly with me again or frighten Edith with his kisses." + +"Well, Walter, has it been such a dreadful business as you expected?" +the armorer asked the lad when he reëntered the shop. "The great folks +have not eaten you, at any rate." + +"It has not been dreadful," Walter replied with a smile, "though I own +that it was not pleasant when I first arrived at the great mansion; but +the lady put me quite at my ease, and she talked to me for some time, +and finally she bestowed on me this chain, which our lady, the queen, +had herself given her." + +"It is a knight's chain and a heavy one," Geoffrey said, examining it, +"of Genoese work, I reckon, and worth a large sum. It will buy you +harness when you go to the wars." + +"I would rather fight in the thickest _mêlée_ in a cloth doublet," +Walter said indignantly, "than part with a single link of it." + +"I did but jest, Walter," Geoffrey said, laughing; "but as you will not +sell it, and you cannot wear it, you had best give it me to put aside in +my strong coffer until you get of knightly rank." + +"Lady Vernon said," the lad replied, "that she hoped one day it might +again belong to a knight; and if I live," he added firmly, "it shall." + +"Oh! she has been putting these ideas into your head; nice notions truly +for a London apprentice! I shall be laying a complaint before the lord +mayor against Dame Vernon, for unsettling the mind of my apprentice and +setting him above his work. And the little lady, what said she? Did she +give you her colors and bid you wear them at a tourney?" + +Walter colored hotly. + +"Ah! I have touched you," laughed the armorer; "come now, out with the +truth. My lad," he added more gravely, "there is no shame in it; you +know that I have always encouraged your wishes to be a soldier, and have +done my best to render you as good a one as any who draws sword 'neath +the king's banner, and assuredly I would not have taken all these pains +with you did I think that you were always to wear an iron cap and trail +a pike. I too, lad, hope some day to see you a valiant knight, and have +reasons that you wot not of for my belief that it will be so. No man +rises to rank and fame any the less quickly because he thinks that +bright eyes will grow brighter at his success." + +"But, Geoffrey, you are talking surely at random. The Lady Edith Vernon +is but a child; a very beautiful child," he added reverently, "and such +that when she grows up the bravest knight in England might be proud to +win. What folly for me, the son of a city bowyer, and as yet but an +apprentice, to raise mine eyes so high!" + +"The higher one looks the higher one goes," the armorer said +sententiously. "You aspire some day to become a knight, you may well +aspire also to win the hand of Mistress Edith Vernon. She is five years +younger than yourself, and you will be twenty-two when she is seventeen. +You have time to make your way yet, and I tell you, though why it +matters not, that I would rather you set your heart on winning Mistress +Edith Vernon than any other heiress of broad lands in merry England. You +have saved her life, and so have made the first step and a long one. Be +ever brave, gentle, and honorable, and, I tell you, you need not +despair; and now, lad, we have already lost too much time in talking; +let us to our work." + +That evening Walter recalled to Geoffrey his promise to tell him the +causes which had involved England in so long and bloody a war with +France. + +"It is a tangled skein," Geoffrey said, "and you must follow me +carefully. First, with a piece of chalk I will draw upon the wall the +pedigree of the royal line of France from Philip downward, and then you +will see how it is that our King Edward and Philip of Valois came to be +rival claimants to the throne of France. + + PHILIP, + King of France. + | + ,---------'-----------------------, + | | + PHILIP LE BEL, CHARLES, + King of France. Count + | of Valois. + ,-----------,-----'-----,-------------, | + | | | | | + LOUIS PHILIP CHARLES ISABELLA, PHILIP, + LE HUTIN. LE LONG. LE BEL. Queen Count + of England. of Valois. + | + | + EDWARD III. + +"Now, you see that our King Edward is nephew of Charles le Bel, the last +King of France, while Philip of Valois is only nephew of Philip le Bel, +the father of Charles. Edward is consequently in the direct line, and +had Isabella been a man instead of a woman his right to the throne would +be unquestionable. In France, however, there is a law, called the Salic +law, which excludes females from the throne; but it is maintained by +many learned in the law, that although a female is held to be +incompetent to reign because from her sex she cannot lead her armies to +battle, yet she no way forfeits otherwise her rights, and that her son +is therefore the heir to the throne. If this contention, which is held +by all English jurists, and by many in France also, be well founded, +Edward is the rightful King of France. Philip of Valois contends that +the Salic law not only bars a female from ascending the throne, but also +destroys all her rights, and that the succession goes not to her sons, +but to the next heir male; in which case, of course, Philip is rightful +king. It is not for me to say which view is the right one, but certainly +the great majority of those who have been consulted have decided that, +according to ancient law and usage, the right lies with Edward. But in +these matters 'right is not always might.' Had Isabella married a French +noble instead of an English king it is probable that her son's claims to +the throne would have been allowed without dispute, but her son is King +of England, and the French nobles prefer being ruled by one of +themselves to becoming united with England under one king. + +"At the time of the death of the last king, Edward was still but a boy +under the tuition of his mother, Philip was a man, and upon the spot, +therefore he was able to win support by his presence and promises, and +so it came that the peers of France declared Philip of Valois to be +their rightful monarch. Here in England, at a parliament held at +Northampton, the rights of Edward were discussed and asserted, and the +Bishops of Worcester and Coventry were dispatched to Paris to protest +against the validity of Philip's nomination. As, however, the country +was not in a position to enforce the claim of their young king by arms, +Philip became firmly seated as King of France, and having shown great +energy in at once marching against and repressing the people of +Flanders, who were in a state of rebellion against their count, one of +the feudatories of the French crown, the nobles were well satisfied with +their choice, and no question as to his right was ever henceforth raised +in France. As soon as the rebellion in Flanders was crushed, Philip +summoned the King of England to do homage for Aquitaine, Ponthieu, and +Montreuil, fiefs held absolutely from the crown of France. Such a +proceeding placed Edward and his council in a great embarrassment. In +case of a refusal the whole of the possessions of the crown in France +might be declared forfeited and be seized, while England was in no +condition to defend them; on the other hand, the fact of doing homage to +Philip of Valois would be a sort of recognition of his right to the +throne he had assumed. Had Edward then held the reins of power in his +hands, there can be little doubt that he would at once have refused, and +would have called out the whole strength of England to enforce his +claim. The influence of Isabella and Mortimer was, however, +all-powerful, and it was agreed that Edward should do homage as a public +act, making a private reservation in secret to his own councilors, +taking exception to the right of Philip. + +"Edward crossed to France and journeyed to Amiens, where Philip with a +brilliant court awaited him, and on the appointed day they appeared +together in the cathedral. Here Edward, under certain protestations, did +homage for his French estates, leaving certain terms and questions open +for the consideration of his council. For some time the matter remained +in this shape; but honest men cannot but admit that King Edward did, by +his action at the time, acknowledge Philip to be King of France, and +that he became his vassal for his estates there; but, as has happened +scores of times before, and will no doubt happen scores of times again, +vassals, when they become powerful enough, throw off their allegiance to +their feudal superiors, and so the time came to King Edward. + +"After the death of Mortimer and the imprisonment of Isabella, the king +gave rein to his taste for military sports. Tournaments were held at +Dartford and other places, one in Westcheape. What a sight was that, to +be sure! For three days the king, with fourteen of his knights, held the +list against all comers, and in the sight of the citizens and the ladies +of the court jousted with knights who came hither from all parts of +Europe. I was there each day, and the sight was a grand one, though +England was well-nigh thrown into mourning by an accident which took +place. The gallery in which the queen and her attendants were viewing +the sports had been badly erected, and in the height of the contests it +gave way. The queen and her ladies were in great peril, being thrown +from a considerable height, and a number of persons were severely +injured. The king, who was furious at the danger to which the queen had +been exposed, would have hung upon the spot the master workman whose +negligence had caused the accident, but the queen went on her knees +before him and begged his life of the king. The love of Edward for +warlike exercises caused England to be regarded as the most chivalrous +court in Europe, and the frequent tournaments aroused to the utmost the +spirits of the people and prepared them for the war with France. But of +the events of that war I will tell you some other night. It is time now +for us to betake us to our beds." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE CITY GAMES. + + +The next evening the armorer, at Walter's request, continued his +narrative. + +"Soon after the tournament we began to fight again with Scotland. For +some years we had had peace with that country, and under the regency a +marriage was made between David, King of Scotland, son of Robert the +Bruce, with the Princess Joan, sister to our king, and a four years' +truce was agreed to." + +"But why should we always be fighting with Scotland?" Walter asked. + +"That is more than I can tell you, Walter. We were peaceful enough with +them until the days of Edward I.; but he set up some claim to the throne +of Scotland, the rights of which neither I nor any one else, so far as I +know, have ever been able to make out. The fact was he was strong, and +thought that he could conquer Scotland. The quarrels between her +nobles--most of them were allied by blood with our own and held +possessions in both kingdoms--gave Edward an excuse to interfere. +Scotland was conquered easily enough, but it was a hard task to hold +it. Sir William Wallace kept the country in a turmoil for many years, +being joined by all the common people. He inflicted one heavy defeat +upon us at Stirling, but receiving no support from the nobles he was +defeated at Falkirk, and some years afterward was captured and executed +here. His head you may see any day over London Bridge. As he fought only +for his country and had ever refused allegiance to our king, it seems to +me that his fate was a cruel one. Then, when all appeared quiet, Robert +Bruce raised Scotland again and was crowned king. There was war for many +years, but at last, at Bannockburn, he inflicted such a defeat upon us +as we have never had before. After that there were skirmishes and +excursions, but Edward II. was a weak prince, and it seemed that the +marriage of David and the Princess Joan would bring about a permanent +peace between the two countries; but it was not to be so. + +"Many of the English nobles held claims by marriage or grants upon lands +in Scotland. They had, of course, been driven from these when the +English were turned out by Bruce. By the terms of the marriage treaty in +1328 it was agreed that they should be reinstated. It was a foolish +clause, because it was plain that the King of Scotland could not take +these lands again from the Scotch nobles who had possession of them, +many of them being well-nigh as powerful as himself. At this time Edward +Baliol, son of the great rival of Robert Bruce, was in England. He still +claimed the throne of Scotland as his right. Round him gathered a +number of the English nobles who claimed lands in Scotland. The king +offered no hindrance to the gathering of this force, for I doubt not +that he was glad to see dissension in Scotland, which might give him +some such pretext for interference as that which Edward I. had seized to +possess himself of that country. At first Baliol was successful and was +crowned at Scone, but he was presently defeated and driven out of +Scotland. The Scots now made an eruption across the frontier as a +retaliation for Edward's having permitted Baliol to gather a force here +for his war against Bruce. King Edward was on the point of starting for +Ireland, and he at once hastened north. He defeated the Scots at Halidon +Hill, captured Berwick, and placed Baliol upon the throne. Bruce fled to +France, where he was supported and encouraged by the French king. + +"The ill-feeling between Edward and Philip of Valois had gone on +increasing ever since the former had been compelled to take the oath of +allegiance to the latter, but outwardly the guise of friendship was kept +up, and negotiations went on between the two courts for a marriage +between the little Prince of Wales and Joanna, daughter of the French +king. + +"The aid which Philip gave to Bruce increased the bad feeling, and +Edward retaliated for Philip's patronage of Bruce by receiving with the +greatest honor and courtesy Robert of Artois, a great feudatory of +France, who had been banished by King Philip. For a time, although both +countries were preparing for war, peace was not broken, as Edward's +hands were full in Scotland, where Baliol having bestowed immense +possessions upon the English nobles who had assisted him, the country +again rose in favor of Bruce. During the three years that followed King +Edward was obliged several times to go to Scotland to support Baliol, +who held the crown as his feudal vassal. He was always successful in the +field, but directly his army recrossed the frontier the Scotch rose +again. In 1330 a new crusade was preached, and in October of that year +King Philip solemnly received the cross and collected an immense army +nominally for the recovery of Jerusalem. Whether his intentions were +honest or not I cannot say, but certainly King Edward considered that +Philip's real aim in creating so great an army was to attack England. +Whether this was so or not would need a wiser head than mine, Walter, to +tell. Certainly Philip of Valois invited Edward to coöperate with him in +the crusade. The king in reply stated his belief that the preparations +were intended for war in Europe rather than in Asia; but that if the +King of France would agree to conclude a firm league of amity between +the two countries, to restore the castles and towns of Aquitaine, whose +surrender had been frequently promised, but never carried out, and would +bind himself by oath to give no assistance, direct or indirect, to +Scotland, he would join him in his war for the delivery of the Holy +Land. + +"I must say that King Edward's demands were reasonable, for it was clear +that he could not march away from England with his whole force and leave +Baliol unsupported against the assaults of his Scotch enemies, aided by +France. Philip was willing to accede to the first two conditions; but in +regard to the third positively declined treating until David Bruce +should be restored to the throne of his father. Now, had the French king +openly supported Bruce from the first, none could have said that his +conduct in befriending a dethroned monarch was aught but noble and +generous; but he had all along answered Edward's complaints of the aid +afforded by Frenchmen to the Bruce by denials that he himself supported +him; and this declaration in his favor now certainly seemed to show that +he had at last determined openly to throw off the veil, and that his +great army was really collected against England. Robert of Artois +craftily seized a moment when the king's indignation against Philip was +at the highest. At a great banquet held by King Edward, at which all his +warlike nobles were present, Robert entered, preceded by two noble +maidens carrying a heron, which, as you know, Walter, is considered the +most cowardly of birds. Then in loud tones he called upon the knights +present each to swear on the bird to perform some deed of chivalrous +daring. First he presented it to King Edward himself, giving him to +understand that he regarded him but as little braver than the heron for +resigning without a blow the fair heritage of France. + +"The moment was well chosen, for Edward was smarting under the answer he +had just received from Philip. He at once rose and took an oath to enter +France in arms; to wait there a month in order to give Philip time to +offer him battle, and to accept the combat, even should the French +outnumber him ten to one. Every knight present followed the example of +the king, and so the war with France, which had been for years a mere +question of time, was at last suddenly decided upon. You yourself, +Walter, can remember the preparations which were made throughout +England: men were enrolled and arms prepared. We armorers were busy +night and day, and every man felt that his own honor, as well as that of +the country, was concerned in winning for King Edward the heritage of +which he had been unlawfully robbed by the King of France. + +"On the 17th of March, 1337, at the parliament at Westminster, the king +created the little prince, then seven years of age, Duke of Cornwall; +and the prince immediately, in exercise of his new dignity, bestowed +upon twenty of the most distinguished aspirants the honor of knighthood. +Immense supplies were voted by the parliaments held at Nottingham, +Westminster, and Northampton. Half the wool shorn in the summer +following was granted to the king, with a variety of other taxes, +customs, and duties. The revenues of all the foreign priories in +England, a hundred and ten in number, were appropriated to the crown. +Provisions of bacon, wheat, and oats were granted, and the king pawned +his own jewels, and even the crown itself, to hire soldiers and purchase +him allies on the Continent. So great did the scarcity of money become +in the country that all goods fell to less than half their value. Thus a +vast army was raised, and with this King Edward prepared to try his +strength with France. + +"Philip on his part was making great preparations. While Edward had +purchased the assistance of many of the German nobles Philip raised +large armaments in the maritime states of Italy. Spain also contributed +a number of naval adventurers, and squadrons were fitted out by his +vassals on the sea-coasts of Normandy, Brittany, and Picardy. King +Edward had crossed over into Belgium, and after vast delays in +consequence of the slowness of the German allies, at last prepared to +enter France at the end of September, 1339. Such, my lad, is the story, +as far as I know, of the beginning of that war with France which is now +raging, and whose events you know as well as I do, seeing that they are +all of late occurrence. So far, although the English have had the best +of it, and have sorely mauled the French both in the north and south, we +have not gained any such advantages as would lead to a belief that there +is any likelihood of an early termination, or that King Edward will +succeed for a long time in winning back his inheritance of the throne of +France. + +"There is no doubt that the war weighs heavily upon the people at +large. The taxes are doubled, and the drain of men is heavy. We +armorers, of course, have a busy time of it, and all trades which have +to do with the furnishing of an army flourish exceedingly. Moreover, men +of metal and valor have an opportunity of showing what they are composed +of, and England rings with the tales of martial deeds. There are some, +Walter, who think that peace is the greatest of blessings, and in some +ways, lad, they are no doubt right; but there are many compensations in +war. It brings out the noble qualities; it raises men to think that +valor and fortitude and endurance and honor are qualities which are +something above the mere huckstering desire for getting money, and for +ignoble ease and comfort. Some day it may be that the world will change, +and that war may become a thing of the past; but to my mind, boy, I +doubt whether men will be any happier or better for it. The priests, no +doubt, would tell you otherwise; but then you see I am an armorer, and +so perhaps am hardly a fair judge on the matter, seeing that without +wars my craft would come to an end." + +Walter remained in thought for some time. "It seems to me, Master +Geoffrey, that while wars may suit strong and courageous men, women +would rejoice were such things to be at an end." + +"Women suffer most from wars, no doubt," Geoffrey said, "and yet do you +mark that they are more stirred by deeds of valor and chivalry than are +we men; that they are ever ready to bestow their love upon those who +have won honor and glory in war, even although the next battle may leave +them widows. This has been always somewhat of a marvel to me; but I +suppose that it is human nature, and that admiration for deeds of valor +and bravery is ingrained in the heart of man, and will continue until +such times come that the desire for wealth, which is ever on the +increase, has so seized all men that they will look with distaste upon +everything which can interfere with the making of money, and will regard +the man who amasses gold by trading as a higher type than he who does +valiant deeds in battle." + +"Surely that can never be," Walter said indignantly. + +"There is no saying," the armorer answered; "at any rate, Walter, it +will matter little to you or to me, for many generations must pass +before such a state of things can come about." + +Two days later Walter, who had been across into the city, returned in a +state of excitement. + +"What do you think, Geoffrey? The king, with the Prince of Wales and all +his court, are coming to the games next month. They say that the king +himself will adjudge the prizes, and there is to be a grand +assault-at-arms between ten of the 'prentices with a captain, and an +equal number of sons of nobles and knights." + +"That will be rare," Geoffrey Ward exclaimed; "but there will be some +broken limbs, and maybe worse. These assaults-at-arms seldom end +without two or three being killed. However, you youngsters will not hit +as hard as trained knights; and if the armor be good, no great damage +should be done." + +"Do you think that I shall be one of the ten?" Walter asked anxiously. + +"Just as if you did not know you would," Geoffrey replied, laughing. +"Did you not win the prize for sword-play last year? and twelve months +have added much to the strength of your arm, to say nothing of your +skill with weapons. If you win this year again--and it will be strange +if you do not--you are like enough to be chosen captain. You will have +tough fighting, I can tell you, for all these young aspirants to +knighthood will do their best to show themselves off before the king and +queen. The fight is not to take place on horseback, I hope; for if so, +it will be settled as soon as it begins." + +"No, it is to be on foot; and the king himself is to give orders as to +the fighting." + +"You had best get out that helmet and coat of mail of yours," Geoffrey +said. "I warrant me that there will be none of finer make or truer metal +in the tourney, seeing that I made them specially for you. They are +light, and yet strong enough to withstand a blow from the strongest arm. +I tried them hard, and will warrant them proof, but you had best see to +the rivets and fastenings. They had a rough handling last year, and you +have not worn them since. There are some other pieces that I must put in +hand at once, seeing that in such a _mêlée_ you must be covered from +head to foot." + +For the next week nothing was talked of in London but the approaching +sports, and the workmen were already engaged in the erection of the +lists and pavilions in the fields between the walls and Westminster. It +was reported that the king would add valuable prizes to those given to +the winners by the city, that there would be jousting on horseback by +the sons of the court nobles, and that the young Prince of Wales would +himself ride. + +The king had once before taken part in the city sports, and with ten of +the citizens had held his own against an equal number of knights. This +was at the commencement of his reign; but the accident to the queen's +stand had so angered him that he had not again been present at the +sports, and his reappearance now was considered to be an act of approval +of the efforts which the city had made to aid him in the war, and as an +introduction of the young prince to the citizens. + +When the day arrived there was a general flocking out of the citizens to +the lists. The scene was a picturesque one; the weather was bright and +warm; the fields were green; and Westminster, as well as London, sent +out large numbers to the scene. The citizens were all in their best; +their garments were for the most part of sober colors--russet, murrey, +brown, and gray. Some, indeed, of the younger and wealthier merchants +adopted somewhat of the fashion of the court, wearing their shoes long +and pointed and their garments parti-colored. The line of division was +down the center of the body one leg, arm, and half the body would be +blue, the other half russet or brown. The ladies' dresses were similarly +divided. Mingling with the citizens, as they strolled to and fro upon +the sward, were the courtiers. These wore the brightest colors, and +their shoes were so long that the points were looped up to the knees +with little gold chains to enable them to walk. The ladies wore +head-dresses of prodigious height, culminating in two points; and from +these fell, sweeping to the ground, streamers of silk or lighter +material. Cloths of gold and silver, rich furs, silks, and velvets were +worn both by men and women. + +None who saw the nobles of the court walking in garments so tight that +they could scarce move, with their long parti-colored hose, their silk +hoods buttoned under the chin, their hair braided down their back, would +have thought that these were the most warlike and courageous of knights, +men whose personal prowess and gallantry were the admiration of Europe. +Their hair was generally cut close upon the forehead, and the beard was +suffered to grow, but was kept trimmed a moderate length. Many of the +ladies had the coat of arms of their family embroidered upon their +dresses, giving them the appearance of heralds' tabards. Almost all wore +gold or silver girdles, with embroidered pouches, and small daggers. + +Thus the appearance of the crowd who moved about among the fields near +the lists was varied and brilliant indeed. Their demeanor was quiet, +for the London merchants deemed a grave demeanor to belong to their +calling and the younger men and apprentices restrained their spirits in +the presence of their superiors. For their special amusement, and in +order, perhaps, to keep them from jostling too freely against the court +gallants and ladies, the city authorities had appointed popular sports +such as pleased the rougher classes; and bull-baiting, cock-fighting, +wrestling for a ram, pitching the bar, and hand-ball, were held in a +field some distance away. Here a large portion of the artisans and +apprentices amused themselves until the hour when the king and queen +were to arrive at their pavilion and the contests were to commence. + +Presently a sound of trumpets was heard, and the royal procession was +seen moving up from Westminster. Then the minor sports were abandoned; +the crowd gathered round the large fenced-in space, and those who, by +virtue of rank or position in the city, had places in the various +stands, took their places there. + +There was a flourish of trumpets as the king and queen appeared in front +of their pavilion, accompanied by the Prince of Wales and many of the +nobles of the court, and a shout of welcome arose from the crowd. The +shooting at a mark at once began. The preliminary trials had been shot +off upon the preceding day, and the six chosen bowmen now took their +places. + +Walter had not entered for the prizes at archery. He had on previous +years shot well; but since he had fully determined to become a +man-at-arms he had given up archery, for which, indeed, his work at the +forge and his exercises at arms when the fires were out left him but +little time. The contest was a close one, and when it was over the +winner was led by the city marshal to the royal pavilion, where the +queen bestowed upon him a silver arrow, and the king added a purse of +money. Then there were several combats with quarter-staff and broadsword +between men who had served among the contingents sent by the city to aid +the king in his wars. Some good sword-play was shown and many stout +blows exchanged, two or three men were badly hurt, and the king and all +present were mightily pleased with the stoutness with which they fought. + +The apprentices then came forward to compete for the prizes for +sword-play. They wore light iron caps and shirts of thickly quilted +leather, and fought with blunted swords, for the city fathers deemed +wisely that with these weapons they could equally show their skill, and +that with sharpened swords not only would severe wounds be given, but +bad blood would be created between the apprentices of the various wards. +Each ward sent its champion to the contest, and as these fought in +pairs, loud was the shouting which rose from their comrades at each blow +given or warded, and even the older citizens joined sometimes in the +shouting and took a warm interest in the champions of their respective +wards. + +The iron caps had stout cheek-pieces which defended the sides of the +face and neck, for even a blunted sword can deliver a terrible blow if +it fall upon the naked flesh. It took a long time to get through the +combats; the pairs were drawn by lot and fought until the king decided +which was the superior. Some were speedily beaten; at other times the +contests were long and severe. It was generally thought by the +apprentices that the final contest lay between Walter Fletcher of +Aldgate and Ralph Smith of Ludgate. The former was allowed to be +superior in the use of his weapon, but the latter was also skillful, was +two years older, and greatly superior in strength. He had not taken part +in the contest in the preceding year, as he had been laid up with a hurt +in his hand which he had got in his employment as a smith, and the lads +of Ludgate were confident that he would turn the tables upon the +champion of the eastern ward. Both had defeated with ease the various +opponents whom they had met, but it chanced that they had not drawn +together until the last round, when they remained alone to struggle for +the first and second prizes. + +The interest in the struggle had increased with each round, and wagers +were freely laid upon the result. According to custom the two champions +had laid aside their leathern shirts and had donned mail armor, for it +was considered that the crowning contest between the two picked young +swordsmen of the city would be a severe one, and greater protection to +the limbs was needed. + +Before taking their places they were led up to the royal pavilion, where +they were closely inspected by the king and his nobles. + +"You are sure that this man is still an apprentice?" the king asked the +lord mayor, who was seated next to him; "he has the appearance of a +man-at-arms, and a stout one too; the other is a likely stripling, and +is, as I have seen, marvelously dexterous with his sword, but he is but +a boy while the other is a grown man." + +"He is an apprentice, my liege, although his time will be up in a few +days, while the other has yet three years to serve, but he works for an +armorer, and is famed through the city, boy as he is, for his skill with +weapons." + +After a few words to each, exhorting them to do their best in the sight +of the queen and her ladies, the king dismissed them. + +"I know the young one now!" the Prince of Wales said, clapping his hands +as the apprentices turned away to take their places. "My Lord Talbot, I +will wager a gold chain with you upon the smaller of the two." + +"I will take your wager," the noble answered; "but I am by no means sure +that I shall win it, for I have watched your champion closely, and the +downright blows which he struck would seem to show that he has the +muscle and strength of a man, though still but a boy." + +The event justified the Prince of Wales' confidence; at the commencement +of the struggle Ralph Smith tried to beat down his opponent by sheer +strength as he had done his prior opponents, but to his surprise he +found that all his efforts could not break down his opponent's guard. +Walter indeed did not appear to take advantage of his superior lightness +and activity, but to prefer to prove that in strength as well as skill +he was equal to his antagonist. In the latter respect there was no +comparison, for as soon as the smith began to relax his rain of blows +Walter took the offensive and with a sweeping blow, given with all his +strength, broke down his opponent's guard and smote him with such force +upon his steel cap that, blunted as the sword was, it clove through the +iron, and stretched the smith senseless on the ground. A loud shout +broke from the assemblage. The marshal came up to Walter, and removing +his helmet, led him to the royal pavilion, while Ralph was carried to a +tent near, where a leech attended to his wound. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE MELEE. + + +"You have won your prize stoutly and well, sir 'prentice," the king +said. "I should not have deemed it possible that one of your age could +have smitten such a blow, and right glad should I be of a few hundred +lads of your mettle to follow me against the French. What is your +calling?" + +"I am an armorer, my liege," Walter answered. + +"An you are as good at mending armor as you are at marring it," the king +said, "you will be a rare craftsman one of these days. 'Tis a rare pity +so promising a swordsman should be lost to our army. Wouldst like to +change your calling, boy, and take to that of arms?" + +"It is my hope to do so, sir," Walter answered modestly, "and his grace +the Prince of Wales has already promised me that I shall some day ride +behind him to the wars." + +"Ah! Edward," the king ejaculated, "how is this? Have you been already +enlisting a troop for the wars?" + +"No, sir," the young prince replied, "but one day, now some four years +since, when I was riding with my Lord Talbot and others in the fields +near the Tower, I did see this lad lead his play-fellows to the assault +of an earthen castle held by others, and he fought so well and gallantly +that assuredly no knight could have done better, until he was at last +stricken senseless, and when he recovered I told him that should he +choose to be a man-at-arms I would enlist him in my following to the +wars." + +The king laughed. + +"I deemed not that the lads of the city indulged in such rough sports; +but I wonder not, seeing that the contingent which my good city of +London furnishes me is ever one of the best in my army. We shall see the +lad at work again to-morrow and will then talk more of it. Now let us +bestow upon him the prize that he has so well earned." + +Walter bent on one knee, and the queen handed to him a sword of the best +Spanish steel, which was the prize given by the city to the victor. The +king handed him a heavy purse of gold pieces, saying: + +"This may aid in purchasing your freedom." + +Walter bowed deeply and murmured some words of thanks, and was then led +off by the marshal. After this many of the young nobles of the court +jousted on horseback, ran at the ring, and performed other feats of +knightly exercise to the great pleasure of the multitude. The marshal on +leading Walter away said to him, "You will be captain of the city band +to-morrow, and I must therefore tell you what the king purports. He has +prepared a surprise for the citizens, and the present show will be +different to anything ever before seen in London. Both to show them +somewhat of the sieges which are taking place on the borders of France +and the Low Countries, in which Sir Walter Manny and many other gallant +knights have so greatly distinguished themselves, and as an exercise for +the young nobles he has determined that there shall be a castle erected. +It will be built of wood, with battlements and towers, with a moat +outside. As soon as the lists are over a large number of workmen will +commence its erection; the pieces are all sawn and prepared. There will +be machines, ladders, and other appliances. The ten champions on either +side will fight as knights; you will have a hundred apprentices as +men-at-arms, and the court party will have an equal number of young +esquires. You, as winner of to-day's tourney, will have the choice of +defense or attack. I should advise you to take the defense, since it is +easier and requires less knowledge of war, and many of the other party +have accompanied their fathers and masters in the field and have seen +real sieges carried out." + +"Can you show me a plan of the castle," Walter said, "if it be not +contrary to the rules, in order that I may think over to-night the plan +of fighting to-morrow?" + +"Here it is," the marshal said. "You see the walls are two hundred feet +long and twelve feet in height, with a tower at the end and one over the +gateway in the center six feet high. There is a drawbridge defended by +an outwork of palisades six feet high. The moat will be a dry one, +seeing that we have no means of filling it with water, but it will be +supposed to be full, and must be crossed on planks or bridges. Two small +towers on wheels will be provided, which may be run up to the edge of +the moat, and will be as high as the top of the towers." + +"Surely they cannot make all this before morning?" Walter said. + +"They will do so," the marshal replied. "The castle has been put +together in the king's court-yard, and the pieces are all numbered. Two +hundred carpenters will labor all night at it, besides a party of +laborers for the digging of the moat. It will be a rare show, and will +delight both the citizens and the ladies of the court, for such a thing +has never before been attempted. But the king grudges not the expense +which it will cost him, seeing that spectacles of this kind do much to +arouse the warlike spirit of the people. Here is a list of the various +implements which will be provided, only it is understood that the +mangonels and arblasts will not be provided with missiles, seeing that +many would assuredly be killed by them. They will be employed, however, +to show the nature of the work, and parties of men-at-arms will be told +off to serve them. Cross-bows and arrows will be used, but the weapons +will be blunted. You will see that there are ladders, planks for making +bridges, long hooks for hauling men down from the wall, beams for +battering down the gate, axes for cutting down the palisades, and all +other weapons. The ten who will serve under you as knights have already +been nominated, and the city will furnish them with full armor. For the +others, the apprentices of each ward will choose sufficient +representatives to make up the hundred who will fight as men-at-arms; +these will wear steel caps and breast-pieces, with leather jerkins, and +vizors to protect their faces, for even a blunted arrow or a wooden +quarrel might well kill if it struck true." + +On leaving the marshal Walter joined Giles Fletcher and Geoffrey Ward, +who warmly congratulated him upon his success. He informed them of the +spectacle which the king had prepared for the amusement of the citizens +on the morrow. + +"In faith," Geoffrey said, "the idea is a good one, and promises rare +sport, but it will be rough, and we may expect many broken limbs, for it +will be no joke to be thrown down with a ladder from a wall even twelve +feet high, and there will be the depth of the moat besides." + +"That will only be two feet," Walter said, "for so it is marked on the +plan." + +"And which do you mean to take, Walter, the attack or the defense? +Methinks the king has erred somewhat in making the forces equal, for +assuredly the besiegers should outnumber the besieged by fully three to +one to give them a fair chance of success." + +"I shall take the assault," Walter answered; "there is more to be done +that way than in the defense. When we get home, Geoffrey, we will look +at the plans, and see what may be the best manner of assault." + +Upon examining the plan that evening they found that the wall was +continued at an angle at either end for a distance of some twenty feet +back so as to give a postern gate behind each of the corner towers +through which a sortie might be made. Geoffrey and Walter talked the +matter over, and together contrived a plan of operation for the +following day. + +"You will have one great advantage," Geoffrey said. "The apprentices are +all accustomed to the use of the bow, while the young nobles will know +but little of that weapon; therefore your shooting will be far +straighter and truer, and even a blunt-headed arrow drawn from the +shoulder will hit so smart a blow that those on the wall will have +difficulty in withstanding them." + +After the talk was ended Walter again crossed London Bridge, and made +his way to Ludgate, where he found his late antagonist, whose head had +been plastered up and was little the worse for the conflict. + +"There is no ill-will between us, I hope," Walter said, holding out his +hand. + +"None in the world," the young smith said frankly. + +He was a good tempered-looking young giant, with closely cropped hair, +light-blue eyes, and a pleasant but somewhat heavy face. + +"My faith! but what a blow was that you gave me! why, one would think +that your muscles were made of steel. I thought that I could hit a good +downright blow, seeing that I have been hammering at the anvil for the +last seven years; but strike as I would I could not beat down your +guard, while mine went down as if it had been a feather before yours. I +knew, directly that I had struck the first blow, and felt how firm was +your defense, that it was all up with me, knowing that in point of skill +I had no chance whatever with you." + +"I am glad to see that you bear no malice, Ralph," Walter said, "and +hope that we shall be great friends henceforth, that is, if you will +take me as such, seeing that you are just out of your apprenticeship, +while I am not yet half-through mine. But I have come to talk to you +about to-morrow. Have you heard that there is to be a mimic siege?" + +"I have heard about it," Ralph said. "The city is talking of nothing +else. The news was published at the end of the sports. It will be rare +fun, surely." + +"It will be pretty rough fun," Walter replied; "and I should not be much +surprised if some lives are lost; but this is always so in a tournament; +and if knights and nobles are ready to be killed, we apprentices need +not fear to hazard our lives. But now as to to-morrow. I, as the winner +to-day, am to be the leader of the party, and you, as second, will of +course be captain under me. Now I want to explain to you exactly what I +propose to do, and to arrange with you as to your share in the +business." + +The young smith listened attentively to Walter's explanation, and, when +he had done, exclaimed admiringly: "Why, Walter, you seem to be made for +a general. How did it all come to you, lad? I should never have thought +of such a scheme." + +"I talked it over with my master," Walter said, "and the idea is his as +much as mine. I wonder if it will do?" + +"It is sure to do," the smith said enthusiastically. "The castle is as +good as taken." + +The next day all London poured out to the scene of the sports, and the +greatest admiration and wonder were expressed at the castle, which had +risen, as if by magic, in the night. It was built at one end of the +lists, which had been purposely placed in a hollow, so that a great +number of people besides those in the pavilions could obtain a view from +the surrounding slopes. The castle was substantially built of heavy +timber painted gray, and looked at a little distance as if constructed +of stone. A flag floated from the central tower, and the building looked +so formidable that the general opinion was freely expressed that the +task of the assailants, whoever they might be--for at present this was +unknown--was quite impossible. At ten o'clock the king and his court +arrived. After they had taken their places the two bands, headed by +their leaders, advanced from the lower end of the lists, and drew up in +front of the royal pavilion. The leaders took their places in front. +Behind them stood the ten chosen followers, all of whom, as well as +their chiefs, were incased in full armor. Behind, on one side, were one +hundred apprentices, on the other, one hundred esquires, all attired as +men-at-arms. The court party were led by Clarence Aylmer, son of the +Earl of Pembroke. His companions were all young men of noble family, +aspirants for the order of knighthood. They were, for the most part, +somewhat older than the apprentices, but as the latter consisted chiefly +of young men nearly out of their term the difference was not great. +Walter's armor was a suit which the armorer had constructed a year +previously for a young knight who had died before the armor could be +delivered. Walter had wondered more than once why Geoffrey did not +endeavor to sell it elsewhere, for although not so decorated and inlaid +as many of the suits of Milan armor, it was constructed of the finest +steel, and the armorer had bestowed special care upon its manufacture, +as the young knight's father had long been one of his best customers. +Early that morning Geoffrey had brought it to his room and had told him +to wear it instead of that lent by the city. + +"But I fear it will get injured," Walter had urged. "I shall not spare +myself, you know, Geoffrey, and the blows will be hard ones." + +"The more need for good armor, Walter. These city suits are made for +show rather than use. You may be sure that young Pembroke and his band +will fight their hardest rather than suffer defeat at the hands of +those whom they consider as a band of city varlets." + +Before issuing from the tent where he and his companions had put on +their mail, Walter carefully fastened in the front of his helmet a tiny +gold bracelet. Upon taking their places before the pavilion the king +ordered the two leaders to advance, and addressed them and the multitude +in the following words: + +"Brave leaders, and you, my people, I have contrived the pastime to-day +that I may show you on a mimic scale the deeds which my brave soldiers +are called upon to perform in France. It is more specially suited for +the combatants of to-day, since one party have had but small opportunity +of acquiring skill on horseback. Moreover, I wish to teach the lesson +that fighting on foot is as honorable as fighting on horseback, for it +has now been proved, and sometimes to our cost, in Scotland, that +footmen can repulse even the bravest chivalry. To-day each party will +fight his best. Remember that, even in the heat of conflict, matters +must not be carried to an extreme. Those cut off from their friends will +be accounted prisoners, as will those who, being overpowered, throw down +their arms. Any wounded on either side will not be accounted as +prisoners, but may retire with honor from the field. You," he said, +looking at Walter, "as the conqueror of yesterday, have the choice of +either the attack or defense; but I should advise you to take the +latter, seeing that it is easier to defend a fortress than to assault +it. Many of your opponents have already gained credit in real warfare, +while you and your following are new to it. Therefore, in order to place +the defense on fair terms with the assault, I have ordered that both +sides shall be equal in numbers." + +"If your liege will permit me," Walter said, bowing, "I would fain take +the assault. Methinks that, with my following, I could do better thus +than in defense." + +The king looked somewhat displeased. + +"As you will," he said coldly; "but I fear that this will somewhat mar +the effect of the spectacle, seeing that you will have no chance +whatever against an equal force, more accustomed to war than your party, +and occupying so superior a position. However," he went on, seeing that +Walter made no sign of changing his mind, "as you have chosen, so be it; +and now it is for you to choose the lady who shall be queen of the +tourney and shall deliver the prizes to the victors. Look round you; +there are many fair faces, and it is for you to choose among them." + +Smiles passed between many of the courtly dames and ladies at the choice +that was to be made among them by the apprentice lad; and they thought +that he would be sorely puzzled at such a duty. Walter, however, did not +hesitate an instant. He ran his eye over the crowd of ladies in the +royal gallery, and soon saw the object of his search. + +"Since I have your majesty's permission," he said, "I choose, as queen +of the tournament, Mistress Edith Vernon." + +There was a movement of surprise and a general smile. Perhaps to all who +thought that they had a chance of being chosen the selection was a +relief, as none could be jealous of the pretty child, who, at the king's +order, made her way forward to the front, and took her seat in a chair +placed between the king and queen. The girl colored brightly; but she +had heard so much of tourneys and jousts that she knew what was her +duty. She had been sitting far back on the previous day, and the +apprentice, when brought up before the king, was too far below for her +to see his features. She now recognized him. + +"Sir knights," she said in a loud, clear, childish voice, "you will both +do your duty to-day and show yourselves worthy cavaliers. Methinks that, +as queen of the tourney, I should be neutral between you, but as one of +you carries my gage in his helm, my good wishes must needs go with him; +but bright eyes will be fixed on you both, and may well stir you to +deeds of valor." + +So saying, she resumed her seat with a pretty air of dignity. + +"Why, sweetheart," the king said, "how is it that this 'prentice lad +knows your name, and how is it that he wears your gage, for I know that +the young Pembroke wears the glove of the Earl of Surrey's daughter?" + +"He saved my life, sir, mine and my mother's," the child said, "and I +told him he should be my true knight, and gave him my bracelet, which +you see he wears in his helm." + +"I recall somewhat of the story," the king said, "and will question my +Lady Vernon further anon; but see, the combatants are filing off to +their places." + +With flags flying and trumpets blowing young Pembroke led his forces +into the castle. Each of his ten knights was followed by an esquire +bearing his banner, and each had ten men-at-arms under his immediate +order. Two of them, with twenty men, remained in the outwork beyond the +drawbridge. The rest took their station on the walls and towers, where a +platform had been erected running along three feet below the +battlements. The real men-at-arms with the machines of war now advanced, +and for a time worked the machines, which made pretense at casting great +stones and missiles at the walls. The assailants then moved forward and, +unslinging their bows, opened a heavy fire of arrows at the defenders, +who, in turn, replied with arrows and cross-bows. + +"The 'prentices shoot well," the king said; "by our lady, it would be +hot work for the defenders were the shafts but pointed! Even as it is +the knocks must be no child's play, for the arrows, although not +pointed, are all tipped with iron, without which, indeed, straight +shooting would be impossible." + +The return fire from the walls was feeble, and the king said, laughing, +"So far your knight, fair mistress, has it all his own way. I did not +reckon sufficiently upon the superiority of shooting of the London lads, +and, indeed, I know not that I ought not in fairness to order some of +the defenders off the walls, seeing that in warfare their numbers would +be rapidly thinned. See, the assailants are moving up the two towers +under shelter of the fire of the archers." + +By this time Aylmer, seeing that his followers could make no effectual +reply to the arrow fire, had ordered all, save the leaders in full +armor, to lie down behind the parapet. The assailants now gathered +thickly round each tower, as if they intended to attempt to cross by the +bridges, which could be let down from an opening in the tower level with +the top of the wall, while archers upon the summit shot fast and thick +among the defenders who were gathering to oppose them. + +"If the young Pembroke is wise," the king said, "he will make a strong +sally now and fall upon one or other of the parties." + +As he spoke there was a sudden movement on the part of the assailants, +who, leaving the foot of the towers, made a rush at the outwork in the +center. The instant they arrived they fell to work with axes upon the +palisades. Many were struck down by the blows dealt them by the +defenders, but others caught up the axes and in less than a minute +several of the palisades were cut down and the assailants poured in. The +defenders fought gallantly, but they were overpowered by numbers. Some +were struck down, others taken prisoners by main force, and the rest +driven across the drawbridge just as the gates were opened and Pembroke, +at the head of the defenders, swarmed out to their assistance. + +There was a desperate fight on the bridge, and it was well that the +armor was stout, and the arms that wielded the weapons had not yet +attained their full strength. Several were knocked off the bridge into +the moat, and these were, by the rules, obliged at once to retire and +take no further part in the contest. Walter and Ralph the smith fought +in front of their men, and hard as Pembroke and his followers struggled, +they could not drive them back a foot. The court party was galled by the +heavy fire of arrows kept up by the apprentices along the side of the +moat, and finding all his efforts to regain the earthwork useless, +Pembroke withdrew his forces into the castle, and in spite of the +efforts of the besiegers managed to close the gates in their faces. The +assailants, however, succeeded in severing the chains of the drawbridge +before it could be raised. + +From the tower above, the defenders now hurled over great stones, which +had been specially placed there for the purpose of destroying the +drawbridge should the earthwork be carried. The boards were soon +splintered, and the drawbridge was pronounced by the Earl of Talbot, who +was acting as judge, to be destroyed. The excitement of the spectators +was worked up to a great pitch while the conflict was going on, and the +citizens cheered lustily at the success of the apprentices. + +"That was gallantly done," the king said to Queen Philippa, "and the +leader of the assailants is a lad of rare mettle. Not a captain of my +army, no, not Sir Walter Manny himself, could have done it more +cleverly. You see, by placing his forces at the ends of the wall he drew +all the garrison thither to withstand the assaults from them, and thus +by his sudden movement he was able to carry the outwork before they +could recover from their surprise and come down to its aid. I am curious +to know what he will do next. What thinkst thou, Edward?" he asked his +son, who was standing by his side. + +"He will win the day," the young prince said; "and in faith, although +the others are my comrades, I should be glad to see it. He will make a +gallant knight, sir, one of these days, and remember he is engaged to +follow my banner, so you must not steal him from me. See, my liege, they +are taking planks and ladders to the outwork." + +"They are doing wrongly, then," the king said, "for even should they +bridge the moat where the drawbridge is, they cannot scale the wall +there, since the tower defends it, and the ladders are but long enough +to reach the lower wall. No, their leader has changed his mind: they are +taking the planks along the edge of the moat toward the tower on the +left, and will aid the assault by its bridge by a passage of the moat +there." + +It seemed, indeed, that this was the plan. While some of the assailants +kept up the arrow fire on the wall others mounted the tower, while a +party prepared to throw a bridge of planks across the moat. The bridge +from the tower was now lowered; but a shout of triumph rose from the +defenders when it was seen that by some mistake of the carpenters this +was too short, and when lowered did not reach within six feet of the +wall. + +"All the better," the king said, while the prince gave an angry +exclamation. "Accidents of this kind will happen, and give an +opportunity to a leader to show his resources. Doubtless he will carry +planks up to the tower and so connect the bridge and the wall." + +This, indeed, was what the assailants tried to do, while a party threw +planks across the moat, and rushing over placed ladders against the wall +and strove to climb. They strove in vain, however. The ladders were +thrown down as fast as they were placed, while the defenders, thickly +clustered on the walls, drove back those who tried to cross from the +tower. + +"I do not see the leader of the assailants," the prince said. + +"He has a white plume, but it may have been shorn off," the king said. +"Look, the young Pembroke is making a sortie!" + +From the sortie gate behind the tower the defenders now poured out, and +running down the edge of the moat fell upon the stormers. These, +however, received them with great steadiness, and while some continued +to attack the rest turned upon the garrison, and, headed by Ralph the +smith, drove them gradually back. + +"They fight well and steadily," the king said. "One would have thought +that they had reckoned on the sortie, so steadily did they receive it." + +As only a portion of the garrison had issued out, they were unable to +resist long the pressure of the apprentices, who drove them back step by +step to the sally-port, and pressing them hard endeavored to force their +way in at their heels. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE YOUNG ESQUIRE. + + +While the attention of the whole of the spectators and combatants was +fixed upon the struggle at the right-hand angle of the castle, a party +of twenty 'prentices suddenly leaped to their feet from among the broken +palisades of the outwork. Lying perdu there they had escaped the +attention of the spectators as well as of the defenders. The reason why +the assailants carried the planks and ladders to this spot was now +apparent. Only a portion had been taken on to the assault of the +right-hand tower; those who now rose to their feet lifted with them +planks and ladders, and at a rapid pace ran toward the left angle of the +castle, and reached that point before the attention of the few defenders +who remained on the wall there was attracted to them, so absorbed were +they in the struggle at the other angle. The moment that they saw the +new assailants they raised a shout of alarm, but the din of the combat, +the shouts of the leaders and men were so loud that their cries were +unheard. Two or three then hurried away at full speed to give the alarm, +while the others strove to repel the assault. Their efforts were in +vain. The planks were flung across the moat, the ladders placed in +position, and led by Walter the assailants sprang up and gained a +footing on the wall before the alarm was fairly given. A thundering +cheer from the spectators greeted the success of the assailants. +Springing along the wall they drove before them the few who strove to +oppose them, gained the central tower, and Walter, springing up to the +top, pulled down the banner of the defenders and placed that of the city +in its place. At this moment the defenders, awakened too late to the +ruse which had been played upon them, came swarming back along the wall +and strove to regain the central tower. In the confusion the assault by +the flying tower of the assailants was neglected, and at this point also +they gained a footing on the wall. The young nobles of the court, +furious at being outwitted, fought desperately to regain their lost +laurels. But the king rose from his seat and held up his hand. The +trumpeter standing below him sounded the arrest of arms, which was +echoed by two others who accompanied Earl Talbot, who had taken his +place on horseback close to the walls. At the sound swords dropped and +the din abruptly ceased, but the combatants stood glaring at each other, +their blood too heated to relinquish the fray readily. + +Already much damage had been done. In spite of armor and mail many +serious wounds had been inflicted, and some of the combatants had +already been carried senseless from the field. Some of the assailants +had been much shaken by being thrown backward from the ladders into the +moat, one or two were hurt to death; but as few tourneys took place +without the loss of several lives, this was considered but a small +amount of damage for so stoutly fought a _mêlée_, and the knowledge that +many were wounded, and some perhaps dying, in no way damped the +enthusiasm of the spectators, who cheered lustily for some minutes at +the triumph which the city had obtained. + +In the galleries occupied by the ladies and nobles of the court there +was a comparative silence. But brave deeds were appreciated in those +days, and although the ladies would far rather have seen the victory +incline the other way, yet they waved their handkerchiefs and clapped +their hands in token of their admiration at the success of an assault +which, at the commencement, appeared well-nigh hopeless. + +Lord Talbot rode up to the front of the royal pavilion. + +"I was about to stop the fight, sire, when you gave the signal. Their +blood was up, and many would have been killed had the combat continued. +But the castle was fairly won, the central tower was taken and the flag +pulled down, a footing had been gained at another point of the wall, and +the assailants had forced their way through the sally-port. Further +resistance was therefore hopeless, and the castle must be adjudged as +fairly and honorably captured." + +A renewed shout greeted the judge's decision. The king now ordered the +rival hosts to be mustered before him as before the battle, and when +this was done Earl Talbot conducted Walter up the broad steps in front +of the king's pavilion. Geoffrey Ward, who had, after fastening on +Walter's armor in the tent before the sports began, taken his place +among the guards at the foot of the royal pavilion, stepped forward and +removed Walter's helmet at the foot of the steps. + +"Young sir," the king said, "you have borne yourself right gallantly +to-day, and have shown that you possess the qualities which make a great +captain. I do my nobles no wrong when I say that not one of them could +have better planned and led the assault than you have done. Am I not +right, sirs?" and he looked round. + +A murmur of assent rose from the knights and nobles, and the king +continued: "I thought you vain and presumptuous in undertaking the +assault of a fort held by an equal number, many of whom are well +accustomed to war, while the lads who followed you were all untrained in +strife, but you have proved that your confidence in yourself was not +misplaced. The Earl of Talbot has adjudged you victor, and none can +doubt what the end of the strife would have been. Take this chain from +your king, who is glad to see that his citizens of London are able to +hold their own even against those of our court, than whom we may say no +braver exist in Europe. Kneel now to the queen of the tourney, who will +bestow upon you the chaplet which you have so worthily earned." + +Walter bent his knee before Edith Vernon. She rose to her feet, and with +an air of pretty dignity placed a chaplet of laurel leaves, wrought in +gold and clasped with a valuable ruby, on his head. + +"I present to you," she said, "the chaplet of victory, and am proud that +my gage should have been worn by one who has borne himself so bravely +and well. May a like success rest on all your undertakings, and may you +prove a good and valiant knight!" + +"Well said, Mistress Edith," Queen Philippa said, smiling. "You may well +be proud of your young champion. I too must have my gift," and drawing a +ring set with brilliants from her finger she placed it in Walter's hand. + +The lad now rose to his feet. "The prince, my son," the king said, "has +promised that you shall ride with his men-at-arms when he is old enough +to take the field. Should you choose to abandon your craft and do so +earlier I doubt not that one of my nobles, the brave Sir Walter Manny, +for example, will take you before that time." + +"That will I readily enough," Sir Walter said, "and glad to have so +promising a youth beneath my banner." + +"I would that you had been of gentle blood," the king said. + +"That makes no difference, sire," Sir Walter replied. "I will place him +among the young gentlemen, my pages and esquires, and am sure that they +will receive him as one of themselves." + +Geoffrey Ward had hitherto stood at the foot of the steps leading to the +royal pavilion, but doffing his cap he now ascended. "Pardon my +boldness, sire," he said to the king, "but I would fain tell you what +the lad himself has hitherto been ignorant of. He is not, as he +supposes, the son of Giles Fletcher, citizen and bowmaker, but is the +lawfully born son of Sir Roland Somers, erst of Westerham and Hythe, who +was killed in the troubles at the commencement of your majesty's reign. +His wife, Dame Alice, brought the child to Giles Fletcher, whose wife +had been her nurse, and dying left him in her care. Giles and his wife, +if called for, can vouch for the truth of this, and can give you proofs +of his birth." + +Walter listened with astonishment to Geoffrey's speech. A thrill of +pleasure rushed through his veins as he learned that he was of gentle +blood and might hope to aspire to a place among the knights of King +Edward's court. He understood now the pains which Geoffrey had bestowed +in seeing that he was perfected in warlike exercises, and why he and +Giles had encouraged rather than repressed his love for martial +exercises and his determination to abandon his craft and become a +man-at-arms when he reached man's estate. + +"Ah! is it so?" the king exclaimed. "I remember Sir Roland Somers, and +also that he was slain by Sir Hugh Spencer, who, as I heard on many +hands, acted rather on a private quarrel than, as he alleged, in my +interest, and there were many who avowed that the charges brought +against Sir Roland were unfounded. However, this matter must be inquired +into, and my high justiciar shall see Master Giles and his wife, hear +their evidence, and examine the proofs which they may bring forward. As +to the estates, they were granted to Sir Jasper Vernon and cannot be +restored. Nevertheless I doubt not that the youth will carve out for +himself a fortune with his sword. You are his master, I suppose. I would +fain pay you to cancel his apprenticeship. Sir Walter Manny has promised +to enroll him among his esquires." + +"I will cancel his indentures willingly, my liege," the armorer +answered, "and that without payment. The lad has been to me as a son, +and seeing his high spirit, and knowing the gentle blood running in his +veins, I have done my best so to teach him and so to put him in the way +of winning back his father's rank by his sword." + +"He hath gone far toward it already," the king said, "and methinks may +yet gain some share in his father's inheritance," and he glanced at +little Mistress Edith Vernon and then smiled at the queen. "Well, we +shall see," he went on. "Under Sir Walter Manny he will have brave +chances of distinguishing himself, and when my son takes the field, he +shall ride with him. But I am keeping the hosts waiting. Bring hither," +he said to Earl Talbot, "Clarence Aylmer." + +The young noble was led up to the king. "You have done well, Clarence; +though you have been worsted you fought bravely, but you were deceived +by a ruse which might have taken in a more experienced captain. I trust +that you will be friends with your adversary, who will be known to you +henceforth as Walter Somers, son of Sir Roland of that name, and who +will ride to the wars, whither you also are shortly bound, under the +standard of Sir Walter Manny." + +The cloud which had hung over the face of the young noble cleared. It +had indeed been a bitter mortification to him that he, the son of one of +the proudest of English nobles, should have been worsted by a London +apprentice, and it was a relief to him to find that his opponent was one +of knightly blood. He turned frankly to Walter and held out his hand. "I +greet you as a comrade, sir," he said, "and hope some day that in our +rivalry in the field I may do better than I have done to-day." + +"That is well spoken," the king said. Then he rose and in a loud voice +addressed the combatants, saying that all had borne themselves well and +bravely, and that he thanked them, not only for the rare pastime which +they had made, but for the courage and boldness which had been displayed +on both sides. So saying, he waved his hand as a token that the +proceedings were ended, and returned with the court to Westminster; +while the crowd of spectators overflowed the lists, those who had +friends in the apprentice array being anxious to know how they had +fared. That evening there was a banquet given by the lord mayor. Walter +was invited to be present, with Giles and Geoffrey, and many +complimentary things were said to him, and he was congratulated on the +prospects which awaited him. After dinner all the 'prentices who had +taken part in the sports filed through the hall and were each presented +with a gold piece by the lord mayor, in the name of the corporation, for +having so nobly sustained the renown of the city. + +After the entertainment was over Walter returned with Geoffrey to the +bowyer's house, and there heard from his two friends and Bertha the +details of his mother's life from the time that she had been a child, +and the story of her arrival with him, and her death. He had still +difficulty in believing that it was all true, that Giles and Bertha, +whom he had so long regarded as his father and mother, were only his +kind guardians, and that he was the scion of two noble families. Very +warmly and gratefully he thanked his three friends for the kindness +which they had shown to him, and vowed that no change of condition +should ever alter his feelings of affection toward them. It was not +until the late hour of nine o'clock that he said good-by to his +foster-parents, for he was next day to repair to the lodging of Sir +Walter Manny, who was to sail again before the week was out for the Low +Countries, from which he had only returned for a few days to have +private converse with the king on the state of matters there. His +friends would have delivered to him his mother's ring and other tokens +which she had left, but thought it better to keep these, with the other +proofs of his birth, until his claim was established to the satisfaction +of the lord justiciaries. + +The next morning early, when Walter descended the stairs, he found Ralph +Smith waiting for him. His face was strapped up with plaster and he wore +his arm in a sling, for his armor had been twice cut through as he led +his party in through the sally-port. + +"How goes it with you, Ralph?" Walter said. "Not much the worse, I hope, +for your hard knocks?" + +"Not a whit," Ralph replied cheerfully, "and I shall be all right again +before the week is out; but the leech made as much fuss over me as if I +had been a girl, just as though one was not accustomed to hard knocks in +a smithy. Those I got yesterday were not half so hard as that which you +gave me the day before. My head rings yet with the thought of it. But I +have not come to talk about myself. Is the story true which they tell of +you, Master Walter, that you are not the son of Giles the bowyer, but of +a great noble?" + +"Not of a great noble, Ralph, but of a gallant knight, which is just as +good. My father was killed when I was three years old, and my mother +brought me to Bertha, the wife of Giles the bowyer, who had been her +nurse in childhood. I had forgotten all that had passed, and deemed +myself the son of the good citizen, but since I have heard the truth my +memory has awakened somewhat, and I have a dim recollection of a lordly +castle and of my father and mother." + +"And they say, Walter, that you are going with Sir Walter Manny, with +the force which is just sailing to the assistance of Lady de Montford?" + +"That is so, Ralph, and the good knight has taken me among his esquires, +young as I am, although I might well have looked for nothing better than +to commence, for two years at least, as a page, seeing that I am but +eighteen now. Now I shall ride with him into the battles and shall have +as good a chance as the others of gaining honor and winning my spurs." + +"I have made up my mind that I will go with you, Master Walter, if you +will take me; each squire has a man-at-arms who serves him, and I will +give you good and faithful service if you will take me with you. I spoke +to the smith, my master, last night, when I heard the news, and as my +apprenticeship is out next week he was willing enough to give me the few +days which remain. Once out of my apprenticeship I may count to be a +man, and seeing that I am nineteen, and as I may say well grown of my +years, methinks I am fit for service as a man-at-arms, and I would +rather fight behind you than labor all my life in the smithy." + +"I shall be glad indeed, Ralph, to have you with me if such be really +your wish, and I do not think that Sir Walter Manny will say nay, for +they have been beating up for recruits through the kingdom, and we +proved yesterday that you have courage as well as strength. If he will +consent I should be glad indeed to have so brave a comrade with me, so +we may consider that settled, and if you will come down to Westminster, +to Sir Walter Manny's lodging, this afternoon, I will tell you what he +says touching the matter. You will, of course, need arms and armor." + +"I can provide that," Ralph replied, "seeing that his worshipful the +lord mayor bestowed upon me yesterday five gold pieces as the second in +command in the sports. I have already a steel cap and breast and back +pieces, which I have made for myself in hours of leisure, and warrant +will stand as hard a knock as the Frenchmen can give them." + +Going across into the city with Geoffrey, Walter purchased, with the +contents of the purse which the king had given him, the garments suited +for his new position. He was fortunate in obtaining some which fitted +him exactly. These had been made for a young esquire of the Earl of +Salisbury; but the tailor, when he heard from Geoffrey for whom they +were required, and the need for instant dispatch, parted with them to +Walter, saying that he for whom they were made could well wait a few +days, and that he would set his journeymen to work at once to make some +more of similar fit and fashion. + +Walter felt strange in his new attire, and by no means relished the +tightness of the garments, which was strictly demanded by the fashion of +the day. His long hose, one of which was of a deep maroon, the other a +bright yellow, came far up above the knee, then came a short pair of +trunks of similar colors divided in the middle. The tight-fitting +doublet was short and circled at the waist by a buff belt mounted in +silver, and was of the same colors as the hose and trunks. On his head +was a cap, peaked in front; this was of maroon, with a short erect +feather of yellow. The long-pointed shoes matched the rest of the +costume. There were three other suits similar in fashion, but different +in color; two like the first were of cloth, the third was of white and +blue silk, to be worn on grand occasions. + +"You look a very pretty figure, Walter," Geoffrey said, "and will be +able to hold your own among the young gallants of the court. If you lack +somewhat of courtly manners it will matter not at all, since you are +leaving so soon for the wars. The dress sets off your figure, which is +fully two years in advance of your age, seeing that hard work has +widened you out and thickened your muscles. I need not tell you, lad, +not to be quarrelsome, for that was never your way; but just at first +your companions may try some jests with you, as is always the manner of +young men with new-comers, but take them in a good spirit, and be sure +that, seeing the strength of arm and skill which you showed yesterday +and the day before, none will care to push matters with you unduly." + +One of the journeymen accompanied Walter to Westminster to carry up from +the boat the valise with his clothes and the armor which he had worn in +the sports. Sir Walter received the lad with much kindness and +introduced him to his future companions. They were five in number; the +eldest was a man of some thirty years old, a Hainaulter, who had +accompanied Sir Walter Manny to England at the time when the latter +first came over as a young squire in the suit of the Princess Philippa. +He was devotedly attached to the knight, his master, and although he +might several times have received the rank of knighthood for his bravery +in the field, he preferred remaining in his position as esquire and +faithful friend of his master. + +The other four were between the ages of nineteen and twenty-one, and all +belonged to the families of the highest nobility of England, it being +deemed a distinguished honor to be received as a squire by the most +gallant knight at the court of England. Their duties were, as Walter +soon learned, almost nominal, these being discharged almost exclusively +by John Mervaux. Two of the young esquires, Richard Coningsby and Edward +Clifford, had fought in the _mêlée_, having been among the ten leaders +under Clarence Aylmer. They bore no malice for the defeat, but received +Walter with cordiality and kindness, as did the other young men. Walter +on his arrival acquainted the knight with Ralph's wish to follow him, +and requested permission for him to do so. This was readily granted, Sir +Walter Manny telling the lad that although esquires were supposed to +wait entirely upon themselves, to groom their horses, and keep their +armor and arms bright and in good order, yet, in point of fact, young +men of good families had the greater part of these duties performed for +them by a retainer who rode in the ranks of their master's following as +a man-at-arms. + +"The other esquires have each one of their father's retainers with them, +and I am glad that you should be in the same position. After you have +taken your mid-day meal you had best go across to the Earl of Talbot's +and inquire for the Lady Vernon, who is still staying with him. She told +me at the king's ball last night that she wished to have speech with +you, and I promised to acquaint you with her desire. By the way, dost +know aught of riding?" + +"I have learned to sit on a horse, Sir Walter," the lad answered. "My +good friend Geoffrey, the armorer, advised that I should learn, and +frequently hired from the horse dealer an animal for my use. I have +often backed half-broken horses which were brought up by graziers from +Kent and Sussex for use in the wars. Many of them abode at the hostels +at Southwark, and willingly enough granted me permission to ride their +horses until they were sold. Thus I have had a good deal of practice, +and that of a rough kind; and seeing that latterly the horses have, for +the most part, found it difficult to fling me when sitting barebacked +across them, I think I could keep my seat in the high-peaked saddles on +the most vicious, but I have had no practice at tilting, or at the ring, +or other knightly exercises." + +"That matters not at all," the knight said. "All these knightly +exercises which you speak of are good in time of peace, for they give +proficiency and steadiness, but in time of war he who can sit firmly in +his saddle and wield sword and battle-ax lustily and skillfully is equal +to the best; but never fear, when this expedition is over, and we have +time for such things, I will see that you are instructed in them. One +who has achieved so much martial skill as you have done at so early an +age will have little difficulty in acquiring what may be termed the +pastime of chivalry." + +Ralph arrived just as Walter was setting out. The latter presented him +to the knight, who spoke with praise of the gallantry which he had +displayed on the previous day, and then handed him over to John Mervaux, +with instructions to enroll him as a man-at-arms among his followers, to +inform him of his duties, and to place him with those who attended upon +the other esquires. + +After seeing Ralph disposed of, Walter went across to the Earl of Talbot +and was again conducted to the presence of Dame Vernon. + +"You have changed since we met last, young sir," she said with a smile, +"though it is but a month since. Then you were a 'prentice boy, now you +are an esquire of Sir Walter Manny, and on the highway to distinction. +That you will win it I am well assured, since one who risked his life to +rescue a woman and child whose very names were unknown to him is sure to +turn out a noble and valiant knight. I little thought, when my daughter +called you her knight, that in so short a time you might become an +aspirant to that honor. I hope that you do not look askance at us, now +that you know I am in possession of the lands of your parents. Such +changes of land, you know, often occur, but now I know who you are, I +would that the estates bestowed upon Sir Jasper had belonged to some +other than you; however, I trust that you will hold no grudge against +us, and that you may win as fair an estate by the strength of your arm +and the king's favor." + +"Assuredly I feel no grudge, madam," Walter replied, "and since the +lands were forfeited, I am pleased that of all people they should have +gone to one so kind and so fair as yourself." + +"What, learning to be a flatterer already!" Dame Vernon laughed. "You +are coming on fast, and I predict great things from you. And now, Edith, +lay aside that sampler you are pretending to be so busy upon and speak +to this knight of yours." + +Edith laid down her work and came forward. She was no longer the +dignified little queen of the tournament, but a laughing, bright-faced +girl. + +"I don't see that you are changed," she said, "except in your dress. You +speak softly and naturally, just as you used to do, and not a bit like +those little court fops, Uncle Talbot's pages. I am afraid you will not +be my knight any more, now that you are going to get great honors at the +war; for I heard my Uncle Talbot tell my lady mother that he was sure +you would gain great credit for yourself." + +"I shall be always your knight," Walter said earnestly; "I told you I +should, and I never break my word. That is," he went on, coloring, "if +Dame Vernon makes no objection, as she well might." + +"If I did not object before, Walter," she said, smiling, "why should I +do so now?" + +"It is different, my lady; before, it was somewhat of a jest, a sort of +childish play on the part of Mistress Edith, though so far as I was +concerned it was no play, but sober earnest." + +"It needs no permission from me," Dame Vernon replied, "for you to wear +my daughter's colors. Any knight may proclaim any lady he chooses the +mistress of his heart, and a reigning beauty will often have a dozen +young knights who wear her colors. However, I am well content that one +who has done me such great service and who has shown such high promise +should be the first to wear the gage of my little daughter, and if in +after-years your life fulfills the promise of your youth, and you remain +true to her gage, there is none among all the youths of the court whom I +would so gladly see at her feet. Remember," she said as Walter was about +to speak, "her hand will not be at my disposal, but at that of the king. +His majesty is wont to bestow the hands of his wards upon those who most +distinguish themselves in the field. You have already attracted his +royal attention and commendation. Under Sir Walter Manny you will be +sure of opportunities of distinguishing yourself, and the king may well +be glad some day at once to reward your services and to repair a cruel +injustice by bestowing upon you the hand of the heiress of your father's +lands. If I mistake not, such a thought has even now crossed his +majesty's mind, unless I misinterpreted a glance which yesterday passed +between him and our sweet queen. I need not tell you to speak of your +hopes to none, but let them spur you to higher exertions and nobler +efforts. Loving my little Edith as I do, I naturally consider the prize +to be a high one. I have often been troubled by the thought that her +hand may be some day given to one by years or temper unsuited for her, +and it will be a pleasure to me henceforth to picture her future +connected with one who is, I am sure, by heart and nature fitted for +her. And now, farewell, young sir. May God protect you in the field, and +may you carry in the battle which awaits you the gage of my daughter as +fairly and successfully as you did in the mimic fray of yesterday!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +OFF TO THE WARS. + + +Two days later Walter started with Sir Walter Manny, with a large number +of knights, squires, men-at-arms, and archers, for the Orwell. Walter +was mounted, as were the other squires and men-at-arms, and indeed many +of the archers. Ralph Smith, in the attire of a man-at-arms, rode +behind. + +Walter was in the highest spirits. A brilliant career was open to him +under the most favorable circumstances; he had already distinguished +himself, and had gained the attention of the highest personages in the +realm, his immediate lord was one of the bravest and most chivalrous +knights in Europe, and he had to sustain and encourage him the hopes +that Lady Vernon had given him of regaining some day the patrimony of +his father. It was a satisfaction to him that he was as well born as +those who surrounded him, and his purse was as well lined as any in the +company. Although he had spent the largess which had been bestowed upon +him at the tournament in procuring clothes fitted for his rank, he was +yet abundantly supplied with money, for both Geoffrey Ward and Giles +Fletcher, having no children of their own and being both well-to-do +men, had insisted upon his accepting a sum which would enable him to +make a good appearance with the best. + +A large number of squires followed the banner of Sir Walter Manny. The +records of the time show that the barons were generally accompanied in +the field by almost as many squires as men-at-arms. The former were men +of good family, sons of knights and nobles, aspirants for the honor of +knighthood, and sons of the smaller gentry. Many were there from pure +love of a life of excitement and adventure, others in fulfillment of the +feudal tenure by which all land was then held, each noble and landowner +being obliged to furnish so many knights, squires, men-at-arms, and +archers, in accordance with the size of his holding. The squires fought +in the field in the front rank of the men-at-arms, save those who, like +Walter, were attached to the person of their leader, and who in the +field fought behind him or bore his orders to the companies under his +banner. + +In the field all drew pay, and it may be interesting in the present day +to know what were the rates for which our forefathers risked their +lives. They were as follows: Each horse archer received 6 deniers, each +squire 12 deniers or 1 sol, each knight 2 sols, each knight banneret 4 +sols; 20 sols went to the pound, and although the exact value of money +in those days relative to that which it bears at the present time is +doubtful, it may be placed at twelve times the present value. Therefore +each horse archer received an equivalent to 6_s._ a day, each squire +12_s._, each knight 24_s._, and each knight banneret 48_s._ per day. + +Upon their arrival at the Orwell, where many troops from other parts had +been gathered, the expedition at once embarked on board the numerous +ships which had been collected. As that in which Sir Walter sailed also +carried several of his knights there was not room for all his young +esquires, and Walter and the three other juniors were told off into +another ship. She was a smaller vessel than most of those which composed +the expedition, and only carried twelve men-at-arms and as many archers, +together with the four young squires, and a knight, Sir John Powis, who +was in command of the whole. + +"Your craft is but a small one," the knight said to the captain. + +"She is small, but she is fast," the latter answered. "She would sail +round and round the best part of the fleet. I had her built according to +my own fancy. Small though she be, I warrant you she will be one of the +first to arrive at Hennebon, and the sooner the better say I, since I am +but paid by the trip, and would fain be back again at my regular work. +It pays better carrying merchants' goods between London and Holland than +taking his majesty's troops over to France." + +"Your speed will not be of much avail," Sir John Powis said, "seeing +that the fleet will keep together." + +"Yes, I know that is the order," the captain answered; "but accidents +happen sometimes, you know"--and his eye twinkled. "Vessels get +separated from fleets. If they happen to be slow ones, so much the worse +for those on board; if they happen to be fast ones, so much the better, +seeing that those they carry will arrive long before their comrades, and +may be enabled to gain credit and renown while the others are whistling +for a wind in mid-ocean. However, we shall see." + +The next morning the fleet sailed from the Orwell. It contained 620 +men-at-arms, among whom were many of the noblest and bravest of the +country, and 6,000 picked archers in the pay of the king. The whole were +commanded by Sir Walter. The scene was a very gay one. The banners of +the nobles and knights floated from the lofty poops, and the sun shone +on bright armor and steel weapons. Walter, who had never seen the sea +before, was delighted. The wind was fair, and the vessels glided +smoothly along over the sea. At evening the knight and his four young +companions gathered in the little cabin, for it was in the first week in +March, and the night was cold. + +"Will you please tell me, Sir John," Walter said to the knight, "the +merits of this quarrel in which we are going to fight? I know that we +are going in aid of the Countess of Montford; but why she is in a sore +strait I know not." + +"The matter is a mixed one, Walter, and it requires a herald to tell you +all the subtleties of it. John III., Duke of Brittany, was present with +his liege lord, Philip of Valois, in the last war with England, on the +border of the Low Country. When the English retired from before Tournay +Philip dismissed his nobles. The Duke of Burgundy was taken ill, and +died at Caen, in Normandy, on the 30th of April, 1341. Arthur II., his +father, had been twice married. By his first wife he had three sons, +John, Guy, and Peter. John and Peter left no issue. Guy, who is also +dead, left a daughter, Joan. By his second wife, Jolande de Dieux, Duke +Arthur had one son, John, Count of Montford. Thus it happened that when +Duke John died his half-brother, the Count of Montford, and Joan, +daughter of his second brother Guy, were all that survived of the +family. These were the rival claimants for the vacant dukedom. In +England we have but one law of succession, which rules through the whole +land. In France it is different. There the law of succession depends +entirely upon the custom of the county, dukedom, or lordship, which is +further affected both by the form of grant by which the territory was +conveyed to its first feudal possessors and by the mode in which the +province had been acquired by the kings of France. This is important, as +upon these circumstances alone it depended whether the son or the +granddaughter of Arthur II. should inherit the dukedom. + +"Joan claimed the duchy as the daughter of the elder brother. The Salic +law of France, which barred females from the right of succession, and +in virtue of which Philip of Valois succeeded to the throne instead of +King Edward, certainly did not obtain in Brittany. Duke John regarded +Joan as his heiress, and married her to Charles of Blois, nephew of the +King of France, thus strengthening her in her position; and he also +induced the provincial parliament of Brittany to acknowledge her husband +as his successor in the dukedom. Altogether it would seem that right is +upon Joan's side; but, on the other hand, the Count of Montford is the +son of Jolande, a great heiress in Brittany. He is an active and +energetic noble. The Bretons love not too close a connection with +France, and assuredly prefer to be ruled by a duke whom they regard as +one of themselves rather than by Charles of Blois, nephew of the French +king. Directly Duke John was dead the Count of Montford claimed the +inheritance. Assuming the title of duke he rode to Nantes, where the +citizens did him homage, and then proceeded to Limoges with a large +train of men-at-arms, and there took possession of the immense treasures +which the late duke had accumulated in the course of a long and tranquil +reign. With these sinews of war at his command he returned to Nantes, +where he had left his wife the countess, who was a sister of the Count +of Flanders. He immediately invited the nobility of Brittany to a grand +banquet, but only one knight of any renown presented himself at the +feast, the rest all holding aloof. With the wealth of which he had +possessed himself he levied large forces and took the field. He first +marched against Brest, where the garrison, commanded by Walter de +Clisson, refused to acknowledge him. After three days' hard fighting the +place was taken. Rennes was next besieged, and presently surrendered. +Other towns fell into his hands, and so far as Brittany was concerned +all opposition, except in one or two fortresses, ceased. In the mean +while Charles of Blois sought assistance from his uncle the King of +France; the Count de Montford, therefore, crossed to England and +besought the aid of King Edward, and did homage to him as King of +France. Edward, on his part, promised to assist him. The fact that +Philip was sure to espouse the opposite side was in itself sufficient to +decide him; besides which, the dukes of Brittany have always been in a +special way connected with England and bear the English title of Earl of +Richmond. + +"Believing that his journey, which had been a secret one, was unknown to +the King of France, De Montford went boldly to Paris, where he had been +summoned by the king to an assembly of peers called to decide upon the +succession. He found, however, that Philip had already obtained news of +his journey to England. His manner convinced De Montford that it was +unsafe to remain in Paris, and he secretly made his escape. Fifteen days +afterward the peers gave judgment in favor of Charles of Blois. The +Dukes of Normandy, Burgundy, and Bourbon, the Counts of Alençon, Eu, and +Guisnes, and many other French nobles, prepared to lead an army into +the field to support Charles, and the king added a body of 3,000 Genoese +mercenaries in his pay. + +"Knowing the storm that was preparing to break upon him, De Montford put +every town and castle in a state of defense. He himself, confiding in +the affection of the inhabitants of Nantes, remained in that city, while +his wife repaired to Rennes. + +"The Duke of Normandy advanced from Angiers with an army of 5,000 +men-at-arms and a numerous infantry, and after capturing the castle of +Chantoceaux marched to Nantes and laid siege to the city. A sortie was +made by the besieged, led by Henry de Leon, but, being attacked by the +whole of the French army, they were driven back into the town, a great +many of the citizens being killed. A warm altercation took place between +Henry de Leon and De Montford, who attributed to him the evil result of +the sortie. The result was that a large number of the citizens whose +friends had been captured by the French conspired to deliver up the +place to Charles of Blois, and Henry de Leon also entered into private +negotiations with the Duke of Normandy. De Montford, finding that he +could rely neither upon the citizens nor the soldiers, surrendered to +the duke on condition that his life was spared. He was sent to Paris, +where he still remains a prisoner. Winter was coming on, and after +putting Nantes in a fresh state of defense and leaving Charles of Blois +there, the Duke of Normandy dismissed his forces, engaging them to +reassemble in the spring. Had he pushed on at once he would have +experienced no resistance, so great was the panic which the surrender of +Nantes and the capture of De Montford had caused among the latter's +partisans. + +"In Rennes especially the deepest despondency was felt. The countess, +however, showed the greatest courage and firmness. Showing herself, with +her infant in her arms, she appealed to the citizens, and by her +courageous bearing inspired them with new hopes. Having restored heart +at Rennes she traveled from garrison to garrison throughout the +province, and filled all with vigor and resolution. Feeling, however, +the hopelessness of her struggle against all France, she dispatched Sir +Almeric de Clisson, who had lately joined her party, to England, to ask +the aid which the king had promised. He arrived a month since, and, as +you see, our brave king has not been long in dispatching us to her aid; +and now, youngsters, to bed, for methinks that the sea is rougher than +it was and that the wind is getting up." + +"Ay, that is it," the captain, who heard the knight's closing words, +exclaimed. "We are in for a storm, and a heavy one, or my name is not +Timothy Martin, and though with plenty of sea-room the Kitty makes not +much ado about a storm more or less, it's a very different thing in the +middle of a fleet of lubberly craft, which may run one down at any time. +I shall edge out of them as soon as I can, you may be sure." + +Before morning a serious gale was blowing, and for the next three or +four days Walter and his companions knew nothing of what was going on. +Then the storm abated, and they staggered out from their cabin. The sea +was still high, but the sun shone brightly overhead. In front of them +the land was visible. They looked round, but to their astonishment not a +sail was in sight. + +"Why, where is the fleet?" Walter exclaimed in astonishment. + +"Snug in the Thames, I reckon," the captain said. "Soon after the storm +came on one of the sailors pretended he saw the lights of recall on the +admiral's ship; but I was too busy to look that way; I had enough to do +to look after the safety of the ship. Anyhow, I saw no more of them." + +"And what land is that ahead?" Walter asked. + +"That is Brittany, young sir, and before nightfall we shall be in the +port of Hennebon; as to the others, it may be days and it may be weeks +before they arrive." + +The lads were not sorry at the chance which had taken them to their +destination before their companions and had given them a chance of +distinguishing themselves. Late in the afternoon the ship dropped anchor +off the castle of Hennebon, and Sir John Powis and his following were +conveyed in the ship's boats to shore. The countess received them most +graciously, and was delighted at the news that so strong a force was on +its way to her aid. + +"In the absence of Sir Walter Manny, madam, I place myself and my men at +your orders. Our horses will be landed the first thing in the morning, +and we will then ride whithersoever you may bid us." + +"Thanks, Sir John," the countess replied. "In that case I would that you +ride by Rennes, toward which the army of the Duke of Normandy is already +advancing. The garrison there is commanded by Sir William of Caddoudal, +a good and valiant knight." + +The horses were landed on the following morning, and accompanied by the +four young squires and the men-at-arms, and followed by the twenty +archers on foot, Sir John Powis set out for Rennes. They arrived there, +but just in time, for the assailants were closing round the city. They +were received with the greatest cordiality by the governor, who assigned +apartments to Sir John and the squires, and lodged the men-at-arms and +archers near them. + +In a day or two the whole of the French army came up, and the siege +commenced. Sir John Powis, his own request, was posted with his men for +the defense of a portion of the wall which was especially open to the +assaults of the enemy. These soon commenced in earnest, and the Genoese +and Spanish mercenaries endeavored to carry the place by assault. +Sometimes one point would be attacked, at others points far distant. +Covered by the fire of the French cross-bowmen, the Spaniards and +Germans came on to the assault, carrying ladders, with which they +strove to climb the walls, but the defenders plied them so vigorously +with quarrels from their cross-bows and flights of arrows that they +frequently desisted before reaching the walls. When they pushed on, and +strove to ascend, their luck was no better. Great stones were hurled +down, and boiling oil poured upon them. The ladders were flung back, and +many crushed by the fall, and in none of the assaults did they gain any +footing in the town. Machines were used, but these were not sufficiently +powerful to batter down the walls, and at the end of April the city was +as far from being captured as it was on the day of the commencement of +the siege. + +Walter bore his full share in the fighting, but he had no opportunity of +especially distinguishing himself, although Sir John several times +commended him for his coolness when the bolts of the cross-bowmen and +the stones from the machines were flying most thickly. But although as +yet uninjured by the enemy's attacks, the prospect of the city holding +out was not bright. The burghers, who had at first fought valiantly, +were soon wearied of the strife, and of the hardships it entailed upon +them. The siege had continued but a short time when they began to murmur +loudly. The force under the command of the governor was but a small one, +and it would have been impossible for him to resist the will of the +whole population. For a time his exhortations and entreaties were +attended with success, and the burghers returned to their positions on +the walls; but each time the difficulty became greater, and it was clear +to Caddoudal and Sir John Powis that ere long the citizens would +surrender the place in spite of them. The English knight was furious at +the cowardliness of the citizens, and proposed to the governor to summon +twenty of the leading burghers, and to hang them as a lesson to the +others; but the governor shook his head. + +"I have but two hundred men on whom I can rely, including your +following, Sir John. We could not keep down the inhabitants for an hour; +and were we to try to do so, they would open the gates and let in the +French. No; I fear that we must await the end." + +The following morning Sir John was awoke with the news that in the night +Caddoudal had been seized and thrown into prison by the burghers, and +that a deputation of citizens had already gone out through the gate to +treat with the Duke of Normandy for the surrender of the city. + +The English knight was furious, but with his little band he could do +nothing, especially as he found that a strong guard of burghers had been +placed at the door of the apartments occupied by him and the esquires, +and he was informed that he must consider himself a prisoner until the +conclusion of the negotiations. + +Cowardly and faithless as the burghers of Rennes showed themselves to +be, they nevertheless stipulated with the Duke of Normandy, as one of +the conditions of the surrender, that Caddoudal, Sir John Powis, and +the troops under them should be permitted to pass through the French +lines and go whithersoever they would. These terms were accepted. At +mid-day the governor was released, and he with his men-at-arms and the +band of Englishmen filed out from the city gate, and took their way +unmolested through the lines of the French army to Hennebon. + +They had been for a month in ignorance of all that had passed outside +the walls, and had from day to day been eagerly looking for the arrival +of Sir Walter Manny with his army to their relief. Once past the French +lines they inquired of the peasantry, and heard to their surprise that +the English fleet had not yet arrived. + +"We were in luck indeed," Walter said to his companions, "that Captain +Timothy Martin was in a hurry to get back to his tradings with the +Flemings. Had he not been so we should all this time have been kicking +our heels and fretting on board a ship." + +On nearing Hennebon, Sir William Caddoudal, with Sir John Powis and the +squires, rode forward and met the countess. They were the first bearers +of the news of the surrender of Rennes, and the countess was filled with +consternation at the intelligence. However, after her first burst of +indignation and regret had passed, she put a brave face on it. + +"They shall meet with another reception at Hennebon," she said. "This +is but a small place, and my garrison here, and the soldiers you have +brought, will well-nigh outnumber the burghers; and we need have no fear +of such faint-heartedness as that which has given Nantes and Rennes into +the hands of my enemy. The English aid cannot tarry long. Until it come +we can assuredly hold the place." + +All was now bustle in Hennebon. Sir John Powis took charge of a part of +the walls, and busied himself with his men in placing the machines in +position, and in preparing for defense. The countess, attired in armor, +rode through the streets haranguing the townspeople. She urged the men +to fight till the last, and bade the women and girls cut short their +dresses so that they could the better climb the steps to the top of the +walls, and that one and all should carry up stones, chalk, and baskets +of lime to be cast down upon the assailants. Animated by her words and +gestures, the townspeople set to work, and all vied with each other, +from the oldest to the youngest, in carrying up stores of missiles to +the walls. Never did Hennebon present such a scene of life and bustle. +It seemed like an ant-hill which a passer-by has disturbed. + +Absorbed in their work, none had time to think of the dangers which +threatened them, and a stranger would rather have thought from their +cheerful and animated countenances that they were preparing for a great +_fête_ than for a siege by an army to which the two chief towns in +Brittany had succumbed. + +[Illustration: THE CITIZENS PREPARE TO DEFEND HENNEBON.--Page 140.] + +Ere long the French army was seen approaching. The soldiers, who had +been laboring with the rest, buckled on their armor. The citizens +gathered on the walls to hurl down the piles of stones which had been +collected, and all prepared for the assault. + +"Sir John Powis," the countess said, "I pray you to grant me one of your +esquires, who may attend me while I ride about, and may bear my messages +for me. He will not be idle, nor will he escape his share of the +dangers; for, believe me, I do not intend to hide myself while you and +your brave soldiers are fighting for me." + +"Willingly, lady," Sir John answered. "Here is Walter Somers, the son of +a good knight, and himself brave and prudent beyond his years; he will, +I am sure, gladly devote himself to your service." + +The French, encouraged by their successes, thought that it would be a +comparatively easy task to capture so small a place as Hennebon, and as +soon as their camp was pitched they moved forward to the attack. + +"Come with me, Master Somers," the countess said. "I will mount to one +of the watch-towers, where we may see all that passes." + +Walter followed her, and marveled to see the lightness and agility with +which the heroic countess, although clad in armor, mounted the rickety +ladders to the summit of the watch-tower. The French were pressing +forward to the assault; their cross-bowmen opened a heavy fire upon the +walls, which was answered by the shafts of the little party of English +bowmen. These did much execution, for the English archers shot far +harder and straighter than those of France, and it was only the best +armor which could keep out their cloth-yard shafts. So small a body, +however, could not check the advance of so large a force, and the French +swarmed up to the very foot of the walls. + +"Well done, my men!" the countess exclaimed, clapping her hands as a +shower of heavy rocks fell among the mass of the assailants, who were +striving to plant their ladders, crushing many in their fall; "but you +are not looking, Master Somers. What is it that you see in yonder camp +to withdraw your attention from such a fight?" + +"I am thinking, countess, that the French have left their camp +altogether unguarded, and that if a body of horse could make a circuit +and fall upon it, the camp, with all its stores, might be destroyed +before they could get back to save it." + +"You are right, young sir," the countess exclaimed, "and it shall be +done forthwith." + +So saying, she descended the stairs rapidly and mounted her horse, which +stood at the foot of the tower; then riding through the town, she +collected a party of about three hundred men, bidding all she met mount +their horses and join her at the gate on the opposite side to that on +which the assault was taking place. Such as had no horses she ordered to +take them from those in her own stables. Walter was mounted on one of +the best of the count's chargers. Immediately the force was collected, +the gate was opened and the countess rode forth at their head. Making a +considerable _détour_, the party rode without being observed into the +rear of the French camp. Here only a few servants and horse-boys were +found; these were at once killed or driven out; then all dismounting, +set fire to the tents and stores; and ere the French were aware of what +was going on, the whole of their camp was in flames. As soon as the +conflagration was perceived, the French commanders drew off their men +from the attack, and all ran at full speed toward the camp. + +"We cannot regain the town," the countess said; "we will ride to Auray +at full speed, and reënter the castle when best we may." + +Don Louis of Spain, who with a considerable following was fighting in +the French ranks, hearing from the flying camp-followers that the +countess herself was at the head of the party which had destroyed the +camp, instantly mounted, and with a large number of horsemen set off in +hot pursuit. A few of the countess' party who were badly mounted were +overtaken and slain, but the rest arrived safely at Auray, when the +gates were shut in the face of their pursuers. + +The blow was a heavy one for the besiegers, but they at once proceeded +to build huts, showing that they had no intention of relinquishing the +siege. Spies were sent from Auray, and these reported that the new camp +was established on the site of the old one, and that the French +evidently intended to renew the attack upon the side on which they had +first commenced, leaving the other side almost unwatched. + +Accordingly, on the fifth day after leaving the town the countess +prepared to return. Except Walter, none were informed of her intention, +as she feared that news might be taken to the French camp by friends of +Charles of Blois; but as soon as it was nightfall, and the gates were +shut, the trumpet sounded to horse. In a few minutes the troop assembled +in the market-place, and the countess, accompanied by Walter, placing +herself at their head, rode out from the town. The strictest silence was +observed. On nearing the town all were directed to dismount, to tear up +the horse-cloths, and to muffle the feet of their horses. Then the +journey was resumed, and so careless was the watch kept by the French +that they passed through the sentries unobserved, and reached in safety +the gate from which they had issued. As they neared it they were +challenged from the walls, and a shout of joy was heard when Walter +replied that the countess herself was present. The gates were opened and +the party entered. The news of their return rapidly ran through the +town, and the inhabitants, hastily attiring themselves, ran into the +streets, filled with joy. Much depression had been felt during her +absence, and few had entertained hopes that she would be able to reënter +the town. She had brought with her from Auray two hundred men, in +addition to the party that had sallied out. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE SIEGE OF HENNEBON. + + +The besiegers of Hennebon were greatly discouraged at the success of the +enterprise of the countess. They had already attempted several desperate +assaults, but had each time been repulsed with very heavy loss. They now +sent to Rennes for twelve of the immense machines used in battering +walls, which had been left behind there on a false report of the +weakness of Hennebon. Pending the arrival of these, Charles of Blois +with one division of the army marched away to attack Auray, leaving Don +Louis to carry on the siege with a force considered amply sufficient to +compel its surrender after the arrival of the battering machines. + +In a few days these arrived and were speedily set to work, and immense +masses of stone were hurled at the walls. + +Walter continued to act as the countess' especial squire. She had +informed Sir William Caddoudal and Sir John Powis that it was at his +suggestion that she had made the sudden attack upon the French camp, and +he had gained great credit thereby. + +The effect of the new machines was speedily visible. The walls crumbled +under the tremendous blows, and although the archers harassed by their +arrows the men working them, the French speedily erected screens which +sheltered them from their fire. The spirits of the defenders began to +sink rapidly, as they saw that in a very short time great breaches would +be made in the walls, and that all the horrors and disasters of a city +taken by assault awaited them. The Bishop of Quimper, who was within the +walls, entered into secret negotiations with his nephew, Henry de Leon, +who had gone over to the enemy after the surrender of Nantes, and was +now with the besieging army. The besiegers, delighted to find an ally +within the walls who might save them from the heavy losses which an +assault would entail upon them, at once embraced his offers, and +promised him a large recompense if he would bring over the other +commanders and nobles. The wily bishop set to work, and the consequences +were soon visible. Open grumbling broke forth at the hardships which +were endured, and at the prospect of the wholesale slaughter which would +attend a storm when all hope of a successful resistance was at an end. + +"I fear, Walter," Sir John said one morning, "that the end is at hand. +On all sides submission is spoken of, and all that I can say to keep up +their spirits is useless. Upon our own little band we can rely, but I +doubt if outside them a single determined man is to be found in the +town. In vain do I speak of the arrival of Sir Walter Manny. Nearly +ninety days have elapsed since we sailed, and all hope of his coming is +gone. I point out to them that contrary winds have been blowing, and +that at any moment he may arrive; but they will not hear me. The bishop +has gained over the whole of them by his promises that none shall be +molested in property or estate should they surrender." + +"It is sad to see the countess," Walter replied; "she who has shown such +high spirit throughout the siege now does nothing but weep, for she +knows that with her and her child in the hands of the French the cause +of the count is lost. If she could carry off the child by sea she would +not so much care for the fall of the town, but the French ships lie +thick round the port, and there is no hope of breaking through." + +Two days later the conspiracy came to a head, and the people, assembling +round the countess' house, clamored for surrender. The breaches were +open and the enemy might pour in at any time and put all to the sword. +The countess begged for a little further delay, but in vain, and +withdrew to the turret where she had for so many weary weeks watched the +horizon, in hopes of seeing the sails of the approaching fleet. Walter +was at the time with Sir John Powis on the walls. Presently a large body +of French were seen approaching headed by Henry de Leon, who summoned +the town to surrender. Many standing on the walls shouted that the gates +should be thrown open; but Sir John returned for answer that he must +consult the countess, and that upon her answer must depend whether he +and his men would defend the breach until the last. + +"Come with me, Walter," he said, "we must fain persuade the countess. If +she says no, we Englishmen will die in the breach; but though ready to +give my life for so brave a lady, I own that it is useless to fight +longer. Save our own little band not one in the town will lift a sword +again. Such resistance as we can offer will but inflame them to fury, +and all the horrors of a sack will be inflicted upon the inhabitants. +There she is, poor lady, on the turret, gazing, as usual, seaward." + +Suddenly they saw her throw up her arms, and then turning toward the +city she cried as she perceived the English knight, "I see them! I see +them! The English fleet are coming!" + +"Run up, Walter," Sir John exclaimed, "maybe the countess is distraught +with her sorrows." + +Walter dashed up to the turret, and looking seaward beheld rising over +the horizon a number of masts. + +"Hurrah! Sir John," he shouted, "we are saved, the English fleet is in +sight." + +Many others heard the shout, and the tidings ran like lightning through +the town. In wild excitement the people ran to the battlements and +roofs, and with cheering and clapping of hands hailed the appearance of +the still far-distant fleet. The church bells rang out joyfully and the +whole town was wild with excitement. + +The Bishop of Quimper, finding that his plans were frustrated, gathered +around him some of those who had taken a leading part in the intrigue. +These, leaving the city by a gate at which they had placed some of their +own faction to open it to the French, issued out and made their way to +the assailants' camp, to give news of the altered situation. Don Louis +at once ordered an attack to be made with his whole force, in hopes of +capturing the place before the arrival of the English succor. But, +animated by their new hopes, those so lately despondent and ready to +yield manned the breaches and repulsed with great slaughter all attempts +on the part of the French to carry them. While the struggle was still +going on, the countess, aided by the wives of the burghers, busied +herself in preparing a sumptuous feast in honor of her deliverers who +were fast approaching, their ships impelled by a strong and favorable +breeze. The vessels of the French hastily drew off, and the English +fleet sailed into the port hailed by the cheers of the inhabitants. The +countess herself received Sir Walter Manny on his landing, and the +townspeople vied with each other in offering hospitality to the +men-at-arms and archers. + +"Ah! Sir John Powis," Sir Walter exclaimed, "what, are you here? I had +given you up for lost. We thought you had gone down in the gale the +night you started." + +"We were separated from the fleet, Sir Walter, but the master held on, +and we arrived here four days after we put out. We took part in the +siege of Rennes, and have since done our best to aid the countess here." + +"And their best has been much," the countess said; "not to say how +bravely they have fought upon the walls, it is to Sir John and his +little band that I owe it that the town was not surrendered days ago. +They alone remained steadfast when all others fell away, and it is due +to them that I am still able, as mistress of this town, to greet you on +your arrival. Next to Sir John himself, my thanks are due to your young +esquire, Walter Somers, who has cheered and stood by me, and to whose +suggestions I owe it that I was able at the first to sally out and +destroy the French camp while they were attacking the walls, and so +greatly hindered their measures against the town. And now, sir, will you +follow me? I have prepared for you and your knights such a banquet of +welcome as our poor means will allow, and my townspeople will see that +good fare is set before your soldiers." + +That evening there was high feasting in the town, although the crash of +the heavy stones cast by the French machines against the walls never +ceased. Early the next morning Sir Walter Manny made a survey of the +place and of the disposition of the enemy, and proposed to his knights +to sally forth at once and destroy the largest of the enemy's machines, +which had been brought up close to the walls. In a few minutes the +knights were armed and mounted. Three hundred knights and esquires were +to take part in the sortie; they were to be followed by a strong body of +men-at-arms. + +As soon as the gates were opened a number of archers issued out, and +taking their place at the edge of the moat, poured a rain of arrows upon +the men working the machine and those guarding it. Most of these took to +flight at once; the remainder were cut down by the men-at-arms, who at +once proceeded to hew the machine in pieces with the axes with which +they were provided. Sir Walter himself and his mounted companions dashed +forward to the nearer tents of the French camps, cut down all who +opposed them, and setting fire to the huts retired toward the city. + +By this time the French were thoroughly alarmed, and numbers of knights +and men-at-arms dashed after the little body of English cavalry. These +could have regained the place in safety, but in the chivalrous spirit of +the time they disdained to retire without striking a blow. Turning their +horses, therefore, and laying their lances in rest, they charged the +pursuing French. + +For a few minutes the conflict was desperate and many on both sides were +overthrown; then, as large reënforcements were continually arriving to +the French, Sir Walter called off his men and retired slowly. On +reaching the moat he halted his forces. The knights wheeled and +presented a firm face to the enemy, covering the entrance of their +followers into the gate. The French chivalry thundered down upon the +little body, but were met by a storm of arrows from the archers lining +the moat. Many knights were struck through the bars of their vizors or +the joints of their mail. The horses, though defended by iron trappings, +fell dead under them, or, maddened by pain, dashed wildly through the +ranks, carrying confusion with them, and the French commanders, seeing +how heavy were their losses, called off their men from the assault. Sir +Walter Manny with his party remained without the gate until the enemy +had reëntered their camp, and then rode into the town amid the +acclamations of the inhabitants, the countess herself meeting her +deliverers at the gate and kissing each, one after the other, in token +of her gratitude and admiration. + +The arrival of the reënforcements and the proof of skill and vigor given +by the English leader, together with the terror caused by the terrible +effect of the English arrows, shook the resolution of Don Louis and his +troops. Deprived of half their force by the absence of Charles of Blois, +it was thought prudent by the leaders to withdraw at once, and the third +morning after the arrival of Sir Walter Manny the siege was raised, and +the French marched to join Charles of Blois before the castle of Auray. + +Even with the reënforcements brought by Sir Walter Manny, the forces of +the Countess of Montford were still so greatly inferior to those of the +divisions of the French army that they could not hope to cope with them +in the field until the arrival of the main English army, which the King +of England himself was to bring over shortly. Accordingly the French +laid siege to and captured many small towns and castles. Charles of +Blois continued the siege of Auray, and directed Don Louis with his +division to attack the town of Dinan. On his way the Spaniard captured +the small fortress of Conquet and put the garrison to the sword. Sir +Walter Manny, in spite of the inferiority of his force, sallied out to +relieve it, but it was taken before his arrival, and Don Louis had +marched away to Dinan, leaving a small garrison in Conquet. It was again +captured by Sir Walter, but finding it indefensible he returned with the +whole of his force to Hennebon. Don Louis captured Dinan and then +besieged Guerande. Here he met with a vigorous resistance, but carried +it by storm, and gave it up to be pillaged by his soldiers. He now sent +back to Charles of Blois the greater part of the French troops who +accompanied him, and embarked with the Genoese and Spanish, 8,000 in +number, and sailed to Quimperlé, a rich and populous town in Lower +Brittany. + +Anchoring in the River Leita he disembarked his troops, and leaving a +guard to protect the vessels marched to the interior, plundering and +burning, and from time to time dispatching his booty to swell the +immense mass which he brought in his ships from the sack of Guerande. + +Quimperlé lies but a short distance from Hennebon, and Sir Walter Manny +with Almeric de Clisson, a number of English knights, and a body of +English archers, in all three thousand men, embarked in the ships in +the port, and entering the Leita captured the enemy's fleet and all his +treasure. The English then landed, and dividing into three bodies, set +out in search of the enemy. + +The English columns marched at a short distance apart so as to be able +to give each other assistance in case of attack. The news of the English +approach soon reached the Spaniards, who were gathered in a solid body, +for the enraged country people, armed with clubs and bills, hung on +their flanks and cut off any stragglers who left the main body. Don +Louis at once moved toward the sea-coast, and coming in sight of one of +the English divisions, charged it with his whole force. + +The English fought desperately, but the odds of seven to one were too +great, and they would have been overpowered had not the other two +divisions arrived on the spot and fallen upon the enemy's flanks. After +a severe and prolonged struggle the Genoese and Spaniards were +completely routed. The armed peasantry slew every fugitive they could +overtake, and of the 7,000 men with whom Don Louis commenced the battle +only 300 accompanied him in his flight to Rennes, the troops of Sir +Walter and De Clisson pursuing him to the very gates of that city. Sir +Walter marched back with his force to the ships, but finding the wind +unfavorable returned to Hennebon by land, capturing by the way the +castle of Goy la Forèt. Their return was joyfully welcomed, not only for +the victory which they had achieved, but because the enemy was again +drawing near to the town. Auray had fallen. The brave garrison, after +existing for some time upon the flesh of their horses, had endeavored to +cut their way through the besiegers. Most of them were killed in the +attempt, but a few escaped and made their way to Hennebon. + +Vannes, an important town, and Carhaix quickly surrendered, and the +French force was daily receiving considerable reënforcements. This arose +from the fact that large numbers of French nobles and knights had, with +their followers, taken part with Alfonso, King of Castile and Leon, in +his war with the Moors. This had just terminated with the expulsion of +the latter from Spain, and the French knights and nobles on their way +home for the most part joined at once in the war which their countrymen +were waging in Bretagne. + +Seeing the great force which was gathering for a fresh siege of +Hennebon, Sir Walter Manny and the Countess of Montford sent an urgent +message to King Edward for further support. The king was not yet ready, +but at the beginning of August he dispatched a force under the command +of the Earl of Northampton and Robert of Artois. It consisted of +twenty-seven knights bannerets and 2,000 men-at-arms. Before, however, +it could reach Hennebon the second siege of that city had begun. Charles +of Blois had approached it with a far larger army than that with which +he had on the first occasion sat down before it. Hennebon was, however, +much better prepared than at first for resistance. The walls had been +repaired, provisions and military stores laid up, and machines +constructed. The garrison was very much larger, and was commanded by one +of the most gallant knights of the age, and the citizens beheld +undaunted the approach of the great French army. + +Four days after the French had arrived before Hennebon they were joined +by Don Louis, who had been severely wounded in the fight near Quimperlé, +and had lain for six weeks at Rennes. Sixteen great engines at once +began to cast stones against the walls, but Sir Walter caused sand-bags +to be lowered, and so protected the walls from the attack that little +damage was done. The garrison, confident in their powers to resist, +taunted the assailants from the walls, and specially enraged the +Spaniards and Don Louis by allusions to the defeat at Quimperlé. + +So furious did the Spanish prince become that he took a step +unprecedented in those days of chivalry. He one morning entered the tent +of Charles of Blois, where a number of French nobles were gathered, and +demanded a boon in requital of all his services. Charles at once +assented, when, to his surprise and horror, Prince Louis demanded that +two English knights, Sir John Butler and Sir Hubert Frisnoy, who had +been captured in the course of the campaign and were kept prisoners at +Faouet, should be delivered to him to be executed. "These English," he +said, "have pursued, discomforted, and wounded me, and have killed the +nephew whom I loved so well, and as I have none other mode of vengeance +I will cut off their heads before their companions who lie within those +walls." + +Charles of Blois and his nobles were struck with amazement and horror at +the demand, and used every means in their power to turn the savage +prince from his purpose, but in vain. They pointed out to him that his +name would be dishonored in all countries where the laws of chivalry +prevailed by such a deed, and besought him to choose some other boon. +Don Louis refused to yield, and Charles of Blois, finding no alternative +between breaking his promise and delivering his prisoners, at last +agreed to his request. + +The prisoners were sent for, and were informed by Don Louis himself of +their approaching end. At first they could not believe that he was in +earnest, for such a proceeding was so utterly opposed to the spirit of +the times that it seemed impossible to them. Finding that he was in +earnest they warned him of the eternal stain which such a deed would +bring upon his name. The Spaniard, however, was unmoved either by their +words or by the entreaties of the French nobles, but told them that he +would give them a few hours to prepare for death, and that they should +be executed in sight of the walls after the usual dinner hour of the +army. + +In those days sieges were not conducted in the strict manner in which +they are at present, and non-combatants passed without difficulty to and +fro between town and camp. The news, therefore, of what was intended +speedily reached the garrison, whom it filled with indignation and +horror. A council was immediately called, and Sir Walter Manny proposed +a plan, which was instantly adopted. + +Without loss of time Almeric de Clisson issued forth from the great gate +of Hennebon, accompanied by 300 men-at-arms and 1,000 archers. The +latter took post at once along the edge of the ditches. The men-at-arms +rode straight for the enemy's camp, which was undefended, the whole army +being within their tents at dinner. Dashing into their midst the English +and Breton men-at-arms began to overthrow the tents and to spear all +that were in them. Not knowing the extent of the danger or the smallness +of the attacking force, the French knights sprang up from table, +mounted, and rode to encounter the assailants. + +For some time these maintained their ground against all assaults until, +finding that the whole army was upon them, Almeric de Clisson gave order +for his troop to retire slowly upon the town. Fighting every step of the +ground and resisting obstinately the repeated onslaught of the French, +Clisson approached the gate. Here he was joined by the archers, who with +bent bows prepared to resist the advance of the French. As it now +appeared that the garrison were prepared to give battle outside the +walls, the whole French army prepared to move against them. + +In the mean time Sir Walter Manny, with 100 men-at-arms and 500 horse +archers, issued by a sally-port on the other side of the town, and with +all speed rode round to the rear of the French camp. There he found none +to oppose him save servants and camp-followers, and making his way +straight to the tent of Charles of Blois, where the two knights were +confined, he soon freed them from their bonds. They were mounted without +wasting a moment's time upon two spare horses, and turning again the +whole party rode back toward Hennebon, and had reached the postern gate +before the fugitives from the camp reached the French commanders and +told them what had happened. + +Seeing that he was now too late, because of De Clisson's sortie, Charles +of Blois recalled his army from the attack, in which he could only have +suffered heavily from the arrows of the archers and the missiles from +the walls. The same day, he learned from some prisoners captured in the +sortie, of the undiminished spirit of the garrison, and that Hennebon +was amply supplied by provisions brought by sea. His own army was +becoming straitened by the scarcity of supplies in the country round; he +therefore determined at once to raise the siege, and to besiege some +place where he would encounter less serious resistance. + +Accordingly next morning he drew off his army and marched to Carhaix. + +Shortly afterward the news came that the Earl of Northampton and Robert +of Artois, with their force, had sailed, and Don Louis, with the Genoese +and other Italian mercenaries, started to intercept them with a large +fleet. The fleets met off the island of Guernsey, and a severe +engagement took place, which lasted till night. During the darkness a +tremendous storm burst upon them and the combatants separated. The +English succeeded in making their way to Brittany and landed near +Vannes. The Spaniards captured four small ships which had been separated +in the storm from their consorts, but did not succeed in regaining the +coast of Brittany, being driven south by the storm as far as Spain. The +Earl of Northampton at once laid siege to Vannes, and Sir Walter Manny +moved with every man that could be spared from Hennebon to assist him. + +As it was certain that the French army would press forward with all +speed to relieve the town, it was decided to lose no time in battering +the walls, but to attempt to carry it at once by assault. The walls, +however, were so strong that there seemed little prospect of success +attending such an attempt, and a plan was therefore determined upon by +which the enemy might be thrown off their guard. The assault commenced +at three points in the early morning and was continued all day. No great +vigor, however, was shown in these attempts, which were repulsed at all +points. + +At nightfall the assailants drew off to their camp, and Oliver de +Clisson, who commanded the town, suffered his weary troops to quit the +walls and to seek for refreshment and repose. The assailants, however, +did not disarm, but after a sufficient time had elapsed to allow the +garrison to lay aside their armor two strong parties attacked the +principal gates of the town, while Sir Walter Manny and the Earl of +Oxford moved round to the opposite side with ladders for an escalade. +The plan was successful. The garrison, snatching up their arms, hurried +to repel their attack upon the gates, every man hastening in that +direction. Sir Walter Manny with his party were therefore enabled to +mount the walls unobserved and make their way into the town; here they +fell upon the defenders in the rear, and the sudden onslaught spread +confusion and terror among them. The parties at the gates forced their +way in and joined their friends, and the whole of the garrison were +killed or taken prisoners, save a few, including Oliver Clisson, who +made their escape by sally-ports. Robert of Artois, with the Earl of +Stafford, was left with a garrison to hold the town. The Earl of +Salisbury, with four thousand men, proceeded to lay siege to Rennes, and +Sir Walter Manny hastened back to Hennebon. + +Some of Sir Walter's men formed part of the garrison of Vannes, and +among these was Sir John Powis with a hundred men-at-arms. + +The knight had been so pleased with Walter's coolness and courage at the +siege at Hennebon that he requested Sir Walter to leave him with him at +Vannes. "It is possible," he said to Walter, "that we may have fighting +here. Methinks that Sir Walter would have done better to leave a +stronger force. The town is a large one, and the inhabitants +ill-disposed toward us. Oliver Clisson and the French nobles will feel +their honor wounded at the way in which we outwitted them, and will +likely enough make an effort to regain the town. However, Rennes and +Hennebon are not far away, and we may look for speedy aid from the Earl +of Salisbury and Sir Walter should occasion arise." + +Sir John's previsions were speedily verified. Oliver Clisson and his +friends were determined to wipe out their defeat and scattered through +the country, raising volunteers from among the soldiery in all the +neighboring towns and castles, and a month after Vannes was taken they +suddenly appeared before the town with an army of 12,000 men, commanded +by Beaumanoir, Marshal of Bretagne for Charles of Blois. The same +reasons which had induced the Earl of Northampton to decide upon a +speedy assault instead of the slow process of breaching the walls, +actuated the French in pursuing the same course, and, divided into a +number of storming parties, the army advanced at once to the assault on +the walls. The little garrison prepared for the defense. + +"The outlook is bad, Walter," Sir John Powis said. "These men approach +with an air of resolution which shows that they are bent upon success. +They outnumber us by twelve to one, and it is likely enough that the +citizens may rise and attack us in the rear. They have been ordered to +bring the stones for the machines to the walls, but not one has laid his +hand to the work. We must do our duty as brave men, my lad, but I doubt +me if yonder is not the last sun which we shall see. Furious as the +French are at our recent success here, you may be sure that little +quarter will be given." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +A PLACE OF REFUGE. + + +The French, excited to the utmost by the exhortations of their +commanders, and by their desire to wipe out the disgrace of the easy +capture of Vannes by the English, advanced with ardor to the assault, +and officers and men vied with each other in the valor which they +displayed. In vain did the garrison shower arrows and cross-bow bolts +among them, and pour down boiling oil and quicklime upon them as they +thronged at the foot of the wall. In vain were the ladders, time after +time, hurled back loaded with men upon the mass below. The efforts of +the men-at-arms to scale the defenses were seconded by their archers and +cross-bowmen, who shot such a storm of bolts that great numbers of the +defenders were killed. The assault was made at a score of different +points, and the garrison was too weak to defend all with success. Sir +John Powis and his party repulsed over and over again the efforts of the +assailants against that part of the wall intrusted to them, but at other +points the French gained a footing, and swarming up rushed along the +walls, slaying all whom they encountered. + +"All is lost," Sir John exclaimed; "let us fall back to the castle and +die fighting there." + +Descending from the wall the party made their way through the streets. +The French were already in the town; every house was closed and barred, +and from the upper windows the burghers hurled down stones and bricks +upon the fugitives, while parties of the French soldiers fell upon them +fiercely. Many threw down their arms and cried for quarter, but were +instantly slain. + +For awhile the streets were a scene of wild confusion; here and there +little knots of Englishmen stood together and defended themselves until +the last, others ran through the streets chased by their exulting foes, +some tried in vain to gain shelter in the houses. Sir John Powis' band +was soon broken and scattered, and their leader slain by a heavy stone +from a housetop. Walter fought his way blindly forward toward the +castle, although he well knew that no refuge would be found there. Ralph +Smith kept close beside him, leveling many of his assailants with the +tremendous blows of a huge mace. Somehow, Walter hardly knew how, they +made their way through their assailants and dashed in at the castle +gate. A crowd of their assailants were close upon their heels. Walter +glanced round; dashing across the court-yard he ran through some +passages into an inner yard, in which, as he knew, was the well. The +bucket hung at the windlass. + +"Catch hold, Ralph!" he exclaimed; "there is just a chance, and we may +as well be drowned as killed." They grasped the rope and jumped off. The +bucket began to descend with frightful velocity. Faster and faster it +went and yet it seemed a long time before they plunged into the water, +which was nigh a hundred feet below the surface. Fortunately the rope +was considerably longer than was necessary, and they sank many feet into +the water, still retaining their hold. Then clinging to the rope they +hauled themselves to the surface. + +"We cannot hold on here five minutes," Ralph exclaimed; "my armor is +dragging me down." + +"We will soon get rid of that," Walter said. "There go our helmets; now +I will hold on with one hand and help you to unbuckle your breast and +back pieces; you do the same for me." + +With great efforts they managed to rid themselves of their armor, and +then held on with ease to the rope. They hauled the bucket to the +surface and tied a knot in the slack of the rope, so that the bucket +hung four feet below the level of the water. Putting their feet in this, +they were able to stand with their heads above the surface without +difficulty. + +"This is a nice fix," Ralph exclaimed. "I think it would have been just +as well to have been killed at once. They are sure to find us here, and +if they don't we shall die of cold before to-morrow morning." + +"I don't think they will find us," Walter said cheerfully. "When they +have searched the castle thoroughly it may occur to some of them that +we have jumped down the well, but it will be no particular business of +any one to look for us, and they will all be too anxious to get at the +wine butts to trouble their heads about the matter; besides, it must be +a heavy job to wind up this bucket, and it is not likely there will be +such urgent need of water that any one will undertake the task." + +"But we are no better off if they don't," Ralph remarked, "for we must +die here if we are not hauled out. I suppose you don't intend to try and +climb that rope. I might do twenty feet or so on a pinch, but I could no +more get up to the top there than I could fly." + +"We must think it over," Walter rejoined; "where there is a will there's +a way, you know. We will take it by turns to watch that little patch of +light overhead; if we see any one looking down we must leave the bucket +and swim to the side without making the least noise. They may give a few +turns of the windlass to see if any one has hold of the rope below; be +sure you do not make the slightest splashing or noise, for the sound +would be heard above to a certainty." + +Ten minutes later they saw two heads appear above, and instantly +withdrew their feet from the bucket and made a stroke to the side, which +was but four feet distant, being careful as they did so that no motion +was imparted to the rope. Then, though it was too dark to see anything, +they heard the bucket lifted from the water. A minute later it fell back +again with a splash, then all was quiet. + +"We are safe now, and can take our place in the bucket. They are +satisfied that if we did jump down here we are drowned. And now we must +think about climbing up." + +"Ay, that will require a good deal of thinking," Ralph grumbled. + +For some time there was silence; then Walter said, "The first thing to +do is to cut off the slack of the rope; there are some twelve feet of +it. Then we will unwind the strands of that. There are five or six large +strands as far as I can feel; we will cut them up into lengths of about +a couple of feet, and we ought to be able to tie these to the rope in +such a way as not to slip down with our weight. If we tie them four feet +apart we can go up step by step; I don't see much difficulty about +that." + +"No," Ralph said much more cheerfully, "I should think that we could +manage that." + +They at once set to work. The rope was cut up and unraveled, and the +strands cut into pieces about two feet long. They then both set to work +trying to discover some way of fastening it by which it would not slip +down the rope. They made many fruitless attempts; each time that a +strand was fastened with a loop large enough for them to pass a leg +through, it slid down the rope when their weight was applied to it. At +last they succeeded in finding out a knot which would hold. This was +done by tying a knot close to one end of a piece of the strand, then +sufficient was left to form the loop, and the remainder was wound round +the rope in such away that the weight only served to tighten its hold. + +"Shall we begin at once?" Ralph said, when success was achieved. + +"No, we had better wait until nightfall. The vibration of the rope when +our weight once gets on it might be noticed by any one crossing the +court-yard." + +"Do you think we have sufficient bits of rope?" Ralph asked. + +"Just enough, I think," Walter replied; "there were six strands, and +each has made six pieces, so we have thirty-six. I know the well is +about a hundred feet deep, for the other day I heard some of the +soldiers who were drawing water grumbling over the labor required. So if +we put them three feet apart it will take thirty-three of them, which +will leave three over; but we had better place them a little over a yard +so as to make sure." + +In a short time the fading brightness of the circle of light far +overhead told them that twilight had commenced, and shortly afterward +they attached the first strand to the rope some three feet above the +water. + +"Now," Walter said, "I will go first, at any rate for a time. I must put +one leg through the loop, and sit, as it were, while I fasten the one +above, as I shall want both hands for the work. You will find it a good +deal easier to stand with your foot in the loop. If I get tired I will +fasten another loop by the side of that on which I am resting, so you +can come up and pass me. There is no hurry. It ought not to take up +above an hour, and it will not do for us to get to the top until the +place becomes a little quiet. To-night they are sure to be drinking and +feasting over their victory until late." + +They now set to work, and step by step mounted the rope. They found the +work less arduous than they had expected. The rope was dry, and the +strands held tightly to it. Two or three times they changed places, +resting in turn from their work; but in less than two hours from the +time they made the first loop Walter's head and shoulders appeared above +the level of the court-yard. He could hear sounds of shouting and +singing within the castle, and knew that a great feast was going on. +Descending a step or two he held parley with Ralph. + +"I think, perhaps, it will be better to sally out at once. Everyone is +intent on his own pleasure, and we shall have no difficulty in slipping +out of the castle unnoticed. All will be feasting and rioting in the +town, and so long as we do not brush against any one so that they may +feel our wet garments we are little likely to be noticed; besides, the +gates of the town will stand open late, for people from the villages +round will have come in to join in the revels." + +"I am ready to try it, Master Walter," Ralph replied, "for I ache from +head to foot with holding on to this rope. The sooner the better, say +I." + +In another minute both stood in the court-yard. It was a retired spot, +and none were passing. Going along the passage they issued into the main +yard. Here great fires were blazing, and groups of men sat round them +drinking and shouting. Many lay about in drunken sleep. + +"Stay where you are in the shade, Ralph. You had best lie down by the +foot of the wall. Any one who passes will think that you are in a +drunken sleep. I will creep forward and possess myself of the steel caps +of two of these drunkards, and if I can get a couple of cloaks so much +the better." + +There was no difficulty about the caps, and by dint of unbuckling the +cloaks and rolling their wearers gently over, Walter succeeded at last +in obtaining two of them. He also picked up a sword for Ralph--his own +still hung in its sheath--and then he joined his companion, and the two +putting on the steel caps and cloaks walked quietly to the gate. There +were none on guard, and they issued unmolested into the town. Here all +was revelry. Bonfires blazed in the streets. Hogsheads of wine, with the +heads knocked out, stood before many of the houses for all to help +themselves who wished. Drunken soldiers reeled along shouting snatches +of songs, and the burghers in the highest state of hilarity thronged the +ways. + +"First of all, Ralph, we will have a drink of wine, for I am chilled to +the bone." + +"Ay, and so am I," Ralph replied. "I got hot enough climbing that rope, +but now the cold has got hold of me again, and my teeth are chattering +in my head." + +Picking up one of the fallen vessels by a cask they dipped it in and +took a long draught of wine; then, turning off from the principal +streets, they made their way by quiet lanes down to one of the gates. To +their dismay they found that this was closed. The French commanders knew +that Sir Walter Manny or Salisbury might ere this be pressing forward to +relieve the town, and that, finding that it had fallen, they might +attempt to recapture it by a sudden attack. While permitting, therefore, +the usual license, after a successful assault, to the main body of their +forces, they had placed a certain number of their best troops on the +walls, giving them a handsome largess to make up for their loss of the +festivities. + +At first Walter and his friend feared that their retreat was cut off for +the night, but several other people presently arrived, and the officer +on guard said, coming out, "You must wait awhile; the last batch have +only just gone, and I cannot keep opening and closing the gate; in half +an hour I will let you out." + +Before that time elapsed some fifty or sixty people, anxious to return +to their villages, gathered round the gate. + +"Best lay aside your steel cap, Ralph, before we join them," Walter +said. "In the dim light of that lamp none will notice that we have no +head gear, but if it were to glint upon the steel cap the officer might +take us for deserters and question us as to who we are." + +Presently the officer came out from the guard-room again. There was a +forward movement of the little crowd, and Walter and Ralph closed in to +their midst. The gates were opened, and without any question the +villagers passed out, and the gates were shut instantly behind them. + +Walter and his comrade at once started at a brisk pace and walked all +night in the direction of Hennebon. Their clothes soon dried, and elated +at their escape from danger they struggled on briskly. When morning +broke they entered a wood, and lay there till evening, as they feared to +continue their journey lest they might fall into the hands of some +roving band of French horse. They were, too, dog-tired, and were asleep +a few minutes after they lay down. The sun was setting when they awoke, +and as soon as it was dark they resumed their journey. + +"I don't know what you feel, Master Walter, but I am well-nigh famished. +It is thirty-six hours since I swallowed a bit of food, just as the +French were moving to the attack. Hard blows I don't mind--I have been +used to it; but what with fighting, and being in the water for five or +six hours, and climbing up that endless rope, and walking all night on +an empty stomach, it does not suit me at all." + +"I feel ravenous too, Ralph, but there is no help for it. We shall eat +nothing till we are within the walls of Hennebon, and that will be by +daylight to-morrow if all goes well. Draw your belt an inch or two +tighter, it will help to keep out the wolf." + +They kept on all night, and in the morning saw to their delight the +towers of Hennebon in the distance. It was well that it was no further, +for both were so exhausted from want of food that they could with +difficulty drag their legs along. + +Upon entering the town Walter made his way at once to the quarters of +the leader. Sir Walter had just risen, and was delighted at the sight of +his esquire. + +"I had given you up for dead," he exclaimed. "By what miracle could you +have escaped? Are you alone?" + +"I have with me only my faithful follower, Ralph Smith, who is below; +but, Sir Walter, for mercy's sake order that some food be placed before +us, or we shall have escaped from the French only to die of hunger here. +We have tasted naught since the attack on Vannes began. Have any besides +us escaped?" + +"Lord Stafford contrived, with two or three others, to cut their way out +by a postern-gate, bringing with them Robert of Artois, who is +grievously wounded. None others, save you and your man-at-arms, have +made their way here." + +In a few minutes a cold capon, several manchets of bread, and a stoop of +wine were placed before Walter, while Ralph's wants were attended to +below. When he had satisfied his hunger the young esquire related his +adventures to Sir Walter and several other knights and nobles, who had +by this time gathered in the room. + +"In faith, Master Somers, you have got well out of your scrape," Sir +Walter exclaimed. "Had I been in your place I should assuredly have +perished, for I would a thousand times rather meet death sword in hand +than drop down into the deep hole of that well. And your brains served +you shrewdly in devising a method of escape. What say you, gentlemen?" + +All present joined in expressions of praise at the lad's coolness and +presence of mind. + +"You are doing well, young sir," the English leader went on, "and have +distinguished yourself on each occasion on which we have been engaged. I +shall be proud when the time comes to bestow upon you myself the order +of knighthood if our king does not take the matter off my hands." + +A little later Robert of Artois died of his wounds and disappointment at +the failure of his hopes. + +In October King Edward himself set sail with a great army, and landing +in Brittany early in November, marched forward through the country and +soon reduced Ploermel, Malestrail, Redon, and the rest of the province +in the vicinity of Vannes, and then laid siege to that town. As his +force was far more than sufficient for the siege, the Earls of Norfolk +and Warwick were dispatched in the direction of Nantes to reconnoiter +the country and clear it of any small bodies of the enemy they might +encounter. In the mean time Edward opened negotiations with many of the +Breton lords, who, seeing that such powerful aid had arrived for the +cause of the Countess of Montford, were easily persuaded to change +sides. Among them were the Lords of Clisson, Moheac, Machecoul, Retz, +and many others of less importance. + +The Count of Valentinois, who commanded the garrison of Vannes, +supported the siege with great courage and fortitude, knowing that +Charles of Blois and the King of France were collecting a great army for +his relief. Uniting their forces, they advanced toward the town. Before +the force of the French, 40,000 strong, the Earl of Norfolk had fallen +back and rejoined the king; but even after this junction the French +forces exceeded those of Edward fourfold. They advanced toward Vannes +and formed a large intrenched camp near that of the English, who thus, +while still besieging Vannes, were themselves inclosed by a vastly +superior force. The King of France himself arrived at the French camp. +The French, although so greatly superior, made no motion toward +attacking the English, but appeared bent upon either starving them out +or forcing them to attack the strongly intrenched position occupied by +the French. + +Provisions were indeed running short in the English camp, and the +arrival of supplies from England was cut off by a strong fleet under Don +Louis, which cruised off the coast and captured all vessels arriving +with stores. At this moment two legates, the Cardinal Bishop of Preneste +and the Cardinal Bishop of Tusculum, arrived from the pope and strove to +mediate between the two sovereigns and to bring about a cessation of +hostilities, pointing out to them the scandal and desolation which +their rivalry caused in Christendom, the waste of noble lives, the +devastation of once happy provinces, and the effusion of innocent blood. +Going from camp to camp they exhorted, prayed, and reproached the rival +sovereigns, urging that while Christians were shedding each other's +blood in vain, the infidels were daily waxing bolder and more insolent. +Their arguments would have been but of little use had either of the +monarchs felt sure of victory. King Edward, however, felt that his +position was growing desperate, for starvation was staring him in the +face, and only by a victory over an immensely superior force in a +strongly intrenched position could he extricate himself. Upon the part +of the French, however, circumstances were occurring which rendered them +anxious for a release from their position, for they were not without +their share of suffering. While the English army lay on a hill the +French camp was pitched on low ground. An unusually wet season had set +in with bitterly cold wind. The rain was incessant, a pestilence had +destroyed a vast number of their horses, and their encampment was +flooded. Their forces were therefore obliged to spread themselves over +the neighboring fields, and a sudden attack by the English might have +been fatal. + +Thus distress pressed upon both commanders, and the pope's legates found +their exertions at last crowned with success. A suspension of +hostilities was agreed to, and the Dukes of Burgundy and Bourbon on the +one side and the Earls of Lancaster, Northampton, and Salisbury on the +other met as commissioners and agreed to a convention by which a general +truce was to be made from the date of the treaty to the following +Michaelmas, and to be prolonged from that day for the full term of three +years. It was agreed that the truce should embrace not only the +sovereigns, but all the adherents of each of them. The truce was to hold +good in Brittany between all parties, and the city of Vannes was to be +given into the hand of the cardinals to dispose of as they chose. It was +specially provided that in the case of any of the adherents of either +party in the duchies of Gascony and Brittany waging war against each +other, neither of the monarchs should either directly or indirectly +meddle therewith, nor should the truce be at all broken thereby. + +Immediately the treaty was signed, on the 19th of January, 1343, the +King of France dismissed his army, and Edward sailed for England with +the greater part of his troops. The Countess of Montford and her son +accompanied him, and the possessions of her husband in Brittany were +left to the guardianship of her partisans, with a small but choice body +of English troops. + +The towns which had fallen into their hands and still remained were +Brest, Quimper-Corentin, Quimperlé, Redon, and Guerande; Vannes was +handed over to them by the cardinals, and Hennebon, of course, remained +in their possession. + +Walter returned to England with Sir Walter Manny, and on reaching London +was received with delight by his old friends Geoffrey Ward and Giles +Fletcher, who were never tired of listening to his tales of the wars. +Dame Vernon also received him with great kindness, and congratulated him +warmly upon the very favorable account which Sir Walter Manny had given +of his zeal and gallantry. + +The time now for awhile passed very quietly. Walter and the other young +squires practiced diligently, under the instructions of Sir Walter, at +knightly exercises. Walter learned to bear himself well on horseback and +to tilt in the ring. He was already a skillful swordsman, but he spared +no pains to improve himself with his weapons. The court was a gay one, +and Walter, as a favored esquire of one of the foremost knights there, +was admitted to all that took place. His courtly education, of course, +included dancing, and when he went down, as he often did, for a long +chat with his old friends, Geoffrey often said, laughing, that he was +growing such a fine gentleman that he hardly liked to sit in his +presence; but although changed in manner, Walter continued to be, as +before, a frank, manly young fellow, and free from the affectations +which were so general among the young men of the court. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A STORMY INTERVIEW. + + +Soon after Walter's return from France Dame Vernon returned to her +country estate, and a year passed before he again saw her. During this +time the truce which had been established between England and France had +remained unbroken. It was certain, however, that ere long the two powers +would again come to blows. The King of England had honorably observed +the terms of the treaty. Upon his return home he had entirely disbanded +his army and had devoted his whole attention to increasing the trade and +prosperity of the country. The measures which he took to do this were +not always popular with the people of England, for seeing how greatly +they excelled the English manufacturers Edward encouraged large numbers +of Flemings and other foreign workmen to settle in London, and gave them +many privileges to induce them to do so; this the populace strongly +resented. There was a strong ill-feeling against the Flemings and +serious popular riots took place, for the English traders and workmen +considered that these foreigners were taking the bread from their +mouths. The king, however, was wiser than his people, he saw that +although the English weavers were able to produce coarse cloths, yet +that all of the finer sort had to be imported from the Continent. He +deemed that in time the Flemings would teach their art to his subjects, +and that England would come to vie with the Low Countries in the quality +of her produce. Such was indeed afterward the case, and England gained +greatly by the importation of the industrious Flemings, just as she +afterward profited from the expulsion from France of tens of thousands +of Protestant workmen who brought here many of the manufactures of which +France had before the monopoly. The relations between England and the +Flemings were at this time very close, for the latter regarded England +as her protector against the ambition of the King of France. + +But while King Edward had laid aside all thought of war, such was not +the case with Philip of Valois. He had retired after the signature of +the treaty full of rage and humiliation; for hitherto in all their +struggles his English rival had had the better of him, and against +vastly superior forces had foiled all his efforts and had gained alike +glory and military advantage. King Edward had hardly set sail when +Philip began to break the terms of truce by inciting the adherents of +Charles of Blois to attack those of De Montford, and by rendering +assistance to them with money and men. He also left no means untried to +detach Flanders from its alliance with England. Several castles and +towns in Brittany were wrested from the partisans of De Montford, and +King Edward, after many remonstrances at the breaches of the conditions +of the truce, began again to make preparations for taking the field. +Several brilliant tournaments were held and every means were taken to +stir up the warlike spirit of the people. + +One day Walter had attended his lord to the palace and was waiting in +the anteroom with many other squires and gentlemen, while Sir Walter, +with some other noblemen, was closeted with the king, discussing the +means to be adopted for raising funds for a renewal of the war with +France, when a knight entered whom Walter had not previously seen at +court. + +"Who is that?" he asked one of his acquaintances; "methinks I know his +face, though it passes my memory to say where I have seen it." + +"He has been away from England for some two years," his friend answered. +"That is Sir James Carnegie; he is a cousin of the late Sir Jasper +Vernon; he left somewhat suddenly a short time after Dame Vernon had +that narrow escape from drowning that you wot of; he betook himself then +to Spain, where he has been fighting the Moors; he is said to be a +valiant knight, but otherwise he bears but an indifferent good +reputation." + +Walter remembered the face now; it was that of the knight he had seen +enter the hut of the river pirate on the Lambeth marshes. When released +from duty he at once made his way to the lodging of Dame Vernon. Walter +was now nineteen, for a year had elapsed since the termination of the +French war, and he was in stature and strength the match of most men, +while his skill at knightly exercises, as well as with the sword, was +recognized as preeminent among all the young esquires of the court. + +After the first greeting he said to Dame Vernon: "I think it right to +tell you, lady, that I have but now, in the king's anteroom, seen the +man who plotted against your life in the hut at Lambeth. His face is a +marked one and I could not mistake it. I hear that he is a cousin of +yours, one Sir James Carnegie, as you doubtless recognized from my +description of him. I came to tell you in order that you might decide +what my conduct should be. If you wish it so I will keep the secret in +my breast; but if you fear aught from him I will openly accuse him +before the king of the crime he attempted, and shall be ready to meet +him in the ordeal of battle should he claim it." + +"I have seen Sir James," Lady Vernon said. "I had a letter writ in a +feigned hand telling him that his handiwork in the plot against my life +was known, and warning him that, unless he left England, the proofs +thereof would be laid before justice. He at once sailed for Spain, +whence he has returned but a few days since. He does not know for +certain that I am aware of his plottings against us; but he must have +seen by my reception of him when he called that I no longer regard him +with the friendship which I formerly entertained. I have received a +message from him that he will call upon me this evening, and that he +trusts he will find me alone, as he would fain confer with me on private +matters. When I have learned his intentions I shall be the better able +to judge what course I had best adopt. I would fain, if it may be, let +the matter rest. Sir James has powerful interest, and I would not have +him for an open enemy if I can avoid it; besides, all the talk and +publicity which so grave an accusation against a knight, and he of mine +own family, would entail, would be very distasteful to me; but should I +find it necessary for the sake of my child, I shall not shrink from it. +I trust, however, that it will not come to that; but I shall not +hesitate, if need be, to let him know that I am acquainted with his evil +designs toward us. I will inform you of as much of our interview as it +is necessary that you should know." + +That evening Sir James Carnegie called upon Dame Vernon. "I would not +notice it the other day, fair cousin," he said, in return for her stiff +and ceremonious greeting; "but methinks that you are mightily changed in +your bearing toward me. I had looked on my return from my long +journeying for something of the sisterly warmth with which you once +greeted me, but I find you as cold and hard as if I had been altogether +a stranger to you. I would fain know in what way I have forfeited your +esteem." + +"I do not wish to enter into bygones, Sir James," the lady said, "and +would fain let the past sleep if you will let me. Let us, then, turn +without more ado to the private matters concerning which you wished to +speak with me." + +"If such is your mood, fair dame, I must needs fall in with it, though +in no way able to understand your allusion to the past, wherein my +conscience holds me guiltless of aught which could draw upon me your +disfavor. I am your nearest male relative, and as such would fain confer +with you touching the future of young Mistress Edith, your daughter. She +is now nigh thirteen years of age, and is the heiress of broad lands; is +it not time that she were betrothed to one capable of taking care of +them for her, and leading your vassals to battle in these troubled +times?" + +"Thanks, Sir James, for your anxiety about my child," Dame Vernon said +coldly. "She is a ward of the king. I am in no way anxious that an early +choice should be made for her; but our good Queen Philippa has promised +that, when the time shall come, his majesty shall not dispose of her +hand without my wishes being in some way consulted; and I have no doubt +that when the time shall come that she is of marriageable age--and I +would not that this should be before she has gained eighteen years, for +I like not the over young marriages which are now in fashion--a knight +may be found for her husband capable of taking care of her and her +possessions; but may I ask if, in so speaking to me, you have any one in +your mind's eye as a suitor for her hand?" + +"Your manner is not encouraging, certes; but I had my plan, which would, +I hoped, have met with your approval. I am the young lady's cousin, and +her nearest male relative; and although we are within the limited +degrees, there will be no difficulty in obtaining a dispensation from +Rome. I am myself passably well off, and some of the mortgages which I +had been forced to lay upon my estates have been cleared off during my +absence. I have returned home with some reputation, and with a goodly +sum gained in the wars with the Moors. I am older than my cousin, +certainly; but as I am still but thirty-two, this would not, I hope, be +deemed an obstacle, and methought that you would rather intrust her to +your affectionate cousin than to a stranger. The king has received me +very graciously, and would, I trust, offer no opposition to my suit were +it backed by your good-will." + +"I suppose, Sir James," Dame Vernon said, "that I should thank you for +the offer which you have made; but I can only reply, that while duly +conscious of the high honor you have done my daughter by your offer, I +would rather see her in her grave than wedded to you." + +The knight leaped from his seat with a fierce exclamation. "This is too +much," he exclaimed, "and I have a right to know why such an offer on my +part should be answered by disdain, and even insolence." + +[Illustration: DAME ALICE REVEALS SIR JAMES' VILLAINY.--Page 187.] + +"You have a right to know," Dame Vernon answered quietly, "and I will +tell you. I repeat that I would rather see my child in her grave than +wedded to a man who attempted to compass the murder of her and her +mother." + +"What wild words are these?" Sir James asked sternly. "What accusation +is this that you dare to bring against me?" + +"I repeat what I said, Sir James," Dame Alice replied quietly. "I know +that you plotted with the water pirates of Lambeth to upset our boat as +we came down the Thames; that you treacherously delayed us at Richmond +in order that we might not reach London before dark; and that by +enveloping me in a white cloak you gave a signal by which I might be +known to your creatures." + +The knight stood for a moment astounded. He was aware that the fact that +he had had some share in the outrage was known, and was not surprised +that his cousin was acquainted with the secret; but that she should know +all the details with which but one besides himself was, as he believed, +acquainted, completely stupefied him. He rapidly, however, recovered +himself. + +"I recall now," he said scornfully, "the evidence which was given before +the justices by some ragged city boy, to the effect that he had +overheard a few words of a conversation between some ruffian over in the +Lambeth marshes and an unknown person; but it is new to me indeed that +there was any suspicion that I was the person alluded to, still less +that a lady of my own family, in whose affection I believed, should +credit so monstrous an accusation." + +"I would that I could discredit it, Sir James," Dame Vernon said sadly; +"but the proofs were too strong for me. Much more of your conversation +than was narrated in court was overheard, and it was at my request that +the ragged boy, as you call him, kept silence." + +"And is it possible," the knight asked indignantly, "that you believed +the word of a fellow like this to the detriment of your kinsman? Why, in +any court of law the word of such a one as opposed to that of a knight +and gentleman of honor would not be taken for a moment." + +"You are mistaken, sir," Dame Vernon said haughtily. "You may remember, +in the first place, that the lad who overheard this conversation risked +his life to save me and my daughter from the consequences of the attack +which he heard planned; in the second place, he was no ragged lad, but +the apprentice of a well-known citizen; thirdly--and this is of +importance, since he has recognized you since your return, and is ready, +should I give him the word, to denounce you--he is no mere apprentice +boy, but is of gentle blood, seeing that he is the son of Sir Roland +Somers, the former possessor of the lands which I hold, and that he is +in high favor with the good knight Sir Walter Manny, whose esquire he +now is, and under whom he distinguished himself in the wars in France, +and is, as Sir Walter assures me, certain to win his spurs ere long. +Thus you see his bare word would be of equal value to your own, besides +the fact that his evidence does not rest upon mere assertion; but that +the man in the hut promised to do what you actually performed, namely, +to delay me at Richmond, and to wrap me in a white cloak in order that I +might be recognized by the river pirates." + +Sir James was silent. In truth, as he saw, the evidence was +overwhelmingly strong against him. After awhile he stammered out, "I +cannot deny that I was the man in question; but I swear to you that this +boy was mistaken, and that the scoundrel acted altogether beyond my +instructions, which were simply that he should board the boat and carry +you and your daughter away to a safe place." + +"And with what object, sir," Dame Vernon said contemptuously, "was I to +be thus taken away?" + +"I do not seek to excuse myself," the knight replied calmly, having now +recovered his self-possession, "for I own I acted wrongly and basely; +but in truth I loved you, and would fain have made you my wife. I knew +that you regarded me with only the calm affection of a kinswoman; but I +thought that were you in my power you would consent to purchase your +freedom with your hand. I know now that I erred greatly. I acknowledge +my fault, and that my conduct was base and unknightly, and my only +excuse is the great love I bore you." + +"And which," the lady said sarcastically, "you have now transferred to +my daughter. I congratulate you, Sir James, upon the possession of a +ready wit and an invention which does not fail you at a pinch, and of a +tongue which repeats unfalteringly any fable which your mind may +dictate. You do not, I suppose, expect me to believe the tale. Still, I +own that it is a well-devised one, and might, at a pinch, pass muster; +but fear not, Sir James. As hitherto I have kept silence as to the +author of the outrage committed upon me, so I have no intention of +proclaiming the truth now unless you force me to do so. Suffice that +both for myself and for my daughter I disclaim the honor of your hand. +So long as you offer no molestation to us, and abstain from troubling us +in any way, so long will my mouth be sealed; and I would fain bury in my +breast the memory of your offense. I will not give the world's tongue +occasion to wag by any open breach between kinsfolk, and shall therefore +in public salute you as an acquaintance, but under no pretense whatever +will I admit you to any future private interview. Now leave me, sir, and +I trust that your future life will show that you deeply regret the +outrage which in your greed for my husband's lands you were tempted to +commit." + +Without a word Sir James turned and left the room, white with shame and +anger, but with an inward sense of congratulation at the romance which +he had, on the spur of the moment, invented, and which would, he felt +sure, be accepted by the world as probable, in the event of the share he +had in the matter being made public, either upon the denunciation of +Dame Vernon or in any other manner. + +One determination, however, he made, and swore, to himself, that he +would bitterly avenge himself upon the youth whose interference had +thwarted his plans, and whose report to his kinswoman had turned her +mind against him. He, at any rate, should be put out of the way at the +first opportunity, and thus the only witness against himself be removed; +for Lady Vernon's own unsupported story would be merely her word against +his, and could be treated as the malicious fiction of an angry woman. + +The following day Dame Vernon sent for Walter, and informed him exactly +what had taken place. + +"Between Sir James and me," she said, "there is, you see, a truce. We +are enemies, but we agree to lay aside our arms for the time. But, +Walter, you must be on your guard. You know as well as I do how +dangerous this man is, and how good a cause he has to hate you. I would +not have divulged your name had I not known that the frequency of your +visits here and the encouragement which I openly give you as the future +suitor of my daughter, would be sure to come to his ears, and he would +speedily discover that it was you who saved our lives on the Thames and +gave your testimony before the justices as to the conversation in the +hut on the marshes. Thus I forestalled what he would in a few days have +learned." + +"I fear him not, lady," Walter said calmly. "I can hold mine own, I +hope, against him in arms, and having the patronage and friendship of +Sir Walter Manny I am above any petty malice. Nevertheless, I will hold +myself on my guard. I will, so far as possible, avoid any snare which he +may, as 'tis not unlikely, set for my life, and will, so far as I +honorably can, avoid any quarrel with which he may seek to saddle me." + +A few days later Walter again met Sir James Carnegie in the king's +anteroom, and saw at once, by the fixed look of hate with which he had +regarded him, that he had already satisfied himself of his identity. He +returned the knight's stare with a cold look of contempt. The knight +moved toward him and in a low tone said, "Beware, young sir, I have a +heavy reckoning against you, and James Carnegie never forgets debts of +that kind!" + +"I am warned, Sir James," Walter said calmly, but in the same low tone, +"and, believe me, I hold but very lightly the threats of one who does +not succeed even when he conspires against the lives of women and +children." + +Sir James started as if he had been struck. Then with a great effort he +recovered his composure, and, repeating the word "Beware!" walked across +to the other side of the chamber. + +The next day Walter went down the river and had a talk with his friend +Geoffrey. + +"You must beware, lad," the armorer said when he told him of the return +of Sir James Carnegie and the conversation which had taken place between +them. "This man is capable of anything, and careth not where he chooseth +his instruments. The man of the hut at Lambeth has never been caught +since his escape from Richmond Jail--thanks, doubtless, to the gold of +his employer--and, for aught we know, may still be lurking in the +marshes there, or in the purlieus of the city. He will have a grudge +against you as well as his employer, and in him Sir James would find a +ready instrument. He is no doubt connected, as before, with a gang of +water pirates and robbers, and it is not one sword alone that you would +have to encounter. I think not that you are in danger just at present, +for he would know that, in case of your murder, the suspicions of Dame +Vernon and of any others who may know the motive which he has in getting +rid of you would be excited, and he might be accused in having had a +share in your death. Still, it would be so hard to prove aught against +him that he may be ready to run the risk in order to rid himself of you. +Look here, Walter. What think you of this?" and the smith drew out from +a coffer a shirt of mail of finer work than Walter had ever before seen. + +"Ay, lad, I knew you would be pleased," he said in answer to Walter's +exclamation at the fineness of the workmanship. "I bought this a month +ago from a Jew merchant who had recently come from Italy. How he got it +I know not, but I doubt if it were honestly, or he would have demanded a +higher price than I paid him. He told me that it was made by the first +armorer in Milan, and was constructed especially for a cardinal of the +church, who had made many enemies by his evil deeds and could not sleep +for fear of assassination. At his death it came, the Jew said, into his +possession. I suppose some rascally attendant took it as a perquisite, +and, knowing not of its value, sold it for a few ducats to the Jew. +However, it is of the finest workmanship. It is, as you see, double, and +each link is made of steel so tough that no dagger or sword point will +pierce it. I put it on a block and tried the metal myself, and broke one +of my best daggers on it without a single link giving. Take it, lad. You +are welcome to it. I bought it with a special eye to you, thinking that +you might wear it under your armor in battle without greatly adding to +the weight; but for such dangers as threaten you now it is invaluable. +It is so light and soft that none will dream that you have it under your +doublet, and I warrant me it will hold you safe against the daggers of +Sir James' ruffians." + +Walter did not like taking a gift so valuable, for his apprenticeship as +an armorer had taught him the extreme rarity and costliness of so fine a +piece of work. Geoffrey, however, would not hear of his refusal, and +insisted on his then and there taking off his doublet and putting it on. +It fitted closely to the body, descending just below the hips, and +coming well up on the neck, while the arms extended to the wrists. + +"There!" the smith said with delight. "Now you are safe against sword or +dagger, save for a sweeping blow at the head, and that your sword can be +trusted to guard. Never take it off, Walter, save when you sleep; and +except when in your own bed, at Sir Walter Manny's, I should advise you +to wear it even at night. The weight is nothing, and it will not +incommode you. So long as this caitiff knight lives, your life will not +be safe. When he is dead you may hang up the shirt of mail with a light +heart." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +JACOB VAN ARTEVELDE. + + +King Edward found no difficulty in awakening the war spirit of England +anew, for the King of France, by an act of infamous treachery, in spite +of the solemn terms of the treaty, excited against himself the +indignation not only of England but of all Europe. Oliver de Clisson, +with fourteen other nobles of Brittany and Normandy, were arrested by +his order, taken to Paris, and without form of trial there decapitated. +This act of treachery and injustice aroused disgust and shame among the +French nobles, and murmurs and discontent spread throughout the whole +country. + +In Brittany numbers of the nobles fell off from the cause of Charles of +Blois, and King Edward hastened his preparations to avenge the butchery +of the adherents of the house of Montford. Philip, however, in defiance +of the murmurs of his own subjects, of the indignant remonstrances of +Edward, and even those of the pope, who was devoted to his cause, +continued the course he had begun, and a number of other nobles were +seized and executed. Godfrey of Harcourt alone, warned by the fate of +his companions, refused to obey the summons of the king to repair to +Paris, and fled to Brabant. His property in France was at once seized by +Philip; and Godfrey, finding that the Duke of Brabant would be unable to +shield him from Philip's vengeance, fled to the English court, and did +homage to Edward. + +On the 24th of April, 1345, Edward determined no longer to allow Philip +to continue to benefit by his constant violations of the truce, and +accordingly sent a defiance to the King of France. + +De Montford, who had just succeeded in escaping from his prison in +Paris, arrived at this moment in England, and shortly afterward set sail +with a small army under the command of the Earl of Northampton for +Brittany, while the Earl of Derby took his departure with a larger force +for the defense of Guienne. + +King Edward set about raising a large army, which he determined to lead +himself, but before passing over to France he desired to strengthen his +hold of Flanders. The constant intrigues of Philip there had exercised a +great effect. The count of that country was already strongly in his +interest, and it was only the influence of Jacob van Artevelde which +maintained the alliance with England. This man had, by his talent and +energy, gained an immense influence over his countrymen; but his +commanding position and ability had naturally excited the envy and +hatred of many of his fellow-citizens, among whom was the dean of the +weavers of Ghent, one Gerard Denis. The weavers were the most powerful +body in this city, and had always been noted for their turbulence and +faction; and on a Monday in the month of May, 1345, a great battle took +place in the market-place between them and the fullers, of whom 1,500 +were slain. This victory of the weavers strengthened the power of the +party hostile to Artevelde and the English connection; and the former +saw that unless he could induce his countrymen to take some +irretrievable step in favor of England they would ultimately fall back +into the arms of France. Accordingly he invited Edward to pass over with +a strong force into Flanders, where he would persuade the Flemings to +make the Prince of Wales their duke. King Edward at once accepted the +offer, and sailing from Sandwich on the 3d of July arrived in safety at +Sluys. His intention had been kept a profound secret, and his arrival +created the greatest surprise throughout Flanders. He did not disembark, +but received on board a ship with great honor and magnificence the +burgomasters of the various towns who appeared to welcome him. The king +had brought with him the Prince of Wales, now fifteen years old, who +wore a suit of black armor and was therefore called "the Black Prince." + +Walter Somers was on board the royal vessel. The Prince of Wales had not +forgotten the promise which he had six years before made to him, and had +asked Sir Walter Manny to allow him to follow under his banner. + +"You are taking my most trusty squire from me, prince," the knight +said; "for although I have many brave young fellows in my following, +there is not one whom I value so much as Walter Somers. It is but fair, +however, that you should have him, since you told me when I first took +him that he was to follow your banner when you were old enough to go to +the wars. You can rely upon him implicitly. He cares not for the +gayeties of which most young men of his age think so much. He is ever +ready for duty, and he possesses a wisdom and sagacity which will some +day make him a great leader." + +Walter was sorry to leave his patron, but the step was of course a great +advancement, and excited no little envy among his companions, for among +the young esquires of the Prince of Wales were the sons of many of the +noblest families of England. + +Sir Walter presented him on leaving with a heavy purse. "Your expenses +will be large," he said, "among so many young gallants, and you must do +credit to me as well as to yourself. The young prince is generous to a +fault, and as he holds you in high favor, both from his knowledge of you +and from my report, you will, I know, lack nothing when you are once +fairly embarked in his service; but it is needful that when you first +join you should be provided with many suits of courtly raiment of cloth +of gold and silk, which were not needed while you were in the service of +a simple knight like myself, but which must be worn by a companion of +the heir of England." + +Walter had hoped that Sir James Carnegie would have accompanied the +forces of either of the Earls of Northampton or Derby, but he found that +he had attached himself to the royal army. + +Ralph of course followed Walter's fortunes, and was now brilliant in the +appointments of the Prince of Wales' chosen body-guard of men-at-arms. + +The councils of all the great towns of Flanders assembled at Sluys, and +for several days great festivities were held. Then a great assembly was +held, and Van Artevelde rose and addressed his countrymen. He set forth +to them the virtues of the Prince of Wales, whose courtesy and bearing +had so captivated them; he pointed out the obligations which Flanders +was under toward King Edward, and the advantages which would arise from +a nearer connection with England. With this he contrasted the weakness +of their count, the many ills which his adherence to France had brought +upon the country, and the danger which menaced them should his power be +ever renewed. He then boldly proposed to them that they should at once +cast off their allegiance to the count and bestow the vacant coronet +upon the Prince of Wales, who, as Duke of Flanders, would undertake the +defense and government of the country with the aid of a Flemish council. + +This wholly unexpected proposition took the Flemish burghers by +surprise. Artevelde had calculated upon his eloquence and influence +carrying them away, but his power had diminished, and many of his +hearers had already been gained to the cause of France. The burgher +councils had for a long time had absolute power in their own towns, and +the prospect of a powerful prince at their head foredoomed a curtailment +of those powers. When Artevelde ceased, therefore, instead of the +enthusiastic shouts with which he hoped his oration would be greeted, a +confused murmur arose. At last several got up and said that, greatly +attached as they were to the king, much as they admired the noble young +prince proposed for their acceptance, they felt themselves unable to +give an answer upon an affair of such moment without consulting their +fellow-countrymen and learning their opinions. They therefore promised +that they would return on a certain day and give a decided answer. + +The Flemish burghers then took their leave. Van Artevelde, after a +consultation with the king, started at once to use his influence among +the various towns. + +After leaving the king he bade adieu to the Prince of Wales. "Would you +like," the young prince said, "that one of my esquires should ride with +you? His presence might show the people how entirely I am with you; and +should you have tidings to send me he could ride hither with them. I +have one with me who is prudent and wise, and who possesses all the +confidence of that wise and valiant knight, Sir Walter de Manny." + +"I will gladly take him, your royal highness," Van Artevelde said, "and +hope to dispatch him to you very shortly with the news that the great +towns of Flanders all gladly receive you as their lord." + +In a few minutes Walter had mounted his horse, accompanied by Ralph, +and, joining Van Artevelde, rode to Bruges. Here and at Ypres Van +Artevelde's efforts were crowned with success. His eloquence carried +away the people with him, and both these cities agreed to accept the +Prince of Wales as their lord; but the hardest task yet remained. Ghent +was the largest and most powerful of the Flemish towns, and here his +enemies were in the ascendant. Gerard Denis and the weavers had been +stirring up the people against him. All kinds of accusations had been +spread, and he was accused of robbing and selling his country. The news +of the hostile feeling of the population reached Van Artevelde, and he +dispatched Walter with the request to the king for a force of five +hundred English soldiers as a guard against his enemies. + +Had Artevelde asked for a large force Edward would have disembarked his +army and marched at their head into Ghent. As the rest of the country +was already won there can be little doubt that this step would at once +have silenced all opposition, and would have annexed Flanders to the +British crown. Van Artevelde, however, believed himself to be stronger +than he really was, and thought with a small party of soldiers he could +seize his principal opponents, and that the people would then rally +round him. + +Upon the arrival of the five hundred men he started for Ghent; but as he +feared that the gates would be shut if he presented himself with an +armed force, he left the soldiers in concealment a short distance from +the town and entered it, accompanied only by his usual suit. At his +invitation, however, Walter, followed of course by Ralph, rode beside +him. No sooner was he within the gates than Van Artevelde saw how strong +was the popular feeling against him. He had been accustomed to be +received with bows of reverence; now men turned aside as he approached, +or scowled at him from their doors. + +"Methinks, sir," Walter said, "that it would be wiser did we ride back, +and, joining the soldiers, enter at their head, or as that number would +be scarce sufficient should so large a town rise in tumult, to send to +King Edward for a larger force and await their coming. Even should they +shut the gates we can reduce the town, and as all the rest of Flanders +is with you, surely a short delay will not matter." + +"You know not these Flemings as well as I do," Van Artevelde replied; +"they are surly dogs, but they always listen to my voice, and are ready +enough to do my bidding. When I once speak to them you will see how they +will smooth their backs and do as I ask them." + +Walter said no more, but as he saw everywhere lowering brows from window +and doorway as they rode through the streets, he had doubts whether the +power of Van Artevelde's eloquence would have the magical potency he had +expected from it. + +When the party arrived at the splendid dwelling of the great demagogue, +messengers were instantly sent out to all his friends and retainers. A +hundred and forty persons soon assembled, and while Van Artevelde was +debating with them as to the best steps to be taken, Walter opened the +casement and looked out into the street. It was already crowded with the +people, whose silent and quiet demeanor seemed to bode no good. Arms +were freely displayed among them, and Walter saw men passing to and fro +evidently giving instructions. + +"I am sorry to disturb you, Master Artevelde," he said, returning to the +room where the council was being held, "but methinks that it would be +wise to bar the doors and windows, and to put yourself in a posture of +defense, for a great crowd is gathering without, for the most part +armed, and as it seems to me with evil intentions." + +A glance from the windows confirmed Walter's statements, and the doors +and windows were speedily barricaded. Before many minutes had elapsed +the tolling of bells in all parts of the town was heard, and down the +different streets leading toward the building large bodies of armed men +were seen making their way. + +"I had rather have to do with a whole French army, Master Walter," Ralph +said, as he stood beside him at an upper window looking down upon the +crowd, "than with these citizens of Ghent. Look at those men with +bloody axes and stained clothes. Doubtless those are the skinners and +butchers. Didst ever see such a ferocious band of savages? Listen to +their shouts. Death to Van Artevelde! Down with the English alliance! I +thought our case was a bad one when the French poured over the walls +into Vannes, but methinks it is a hundred times worse now." + +"We got out of that scrape, Ralph, and I hope we shall get out of this, +but as you say the prospect is black enough. See, the butchers are +hammering at the door with their pole-axes. Let us go down and aid in +the defense." + +"I am ready," Ralph said, "but I shall fight with a lighter heart if you +could fix upon some plan for us to adopt when the rabble break in. That +they will do so I regard as certain, seeing that the house is not built +for purposes of defense, but has numerous broad windows on the +ground-floor by which assuredly they will burst their way in." + +"Wait a moment then, Ralph; let us run up to the top story and see if +there be any means of escape along the roofs." + +The house stood detached from the others, but on one side was separated +from that next to it only by a narrow lane, and as the upper stories +projected beyond those below, the windows were but six feet distant from +those on the opposite side of the way. + +"See," Walter said, "there is a casement in the room to our left there +which is open; let us see if it is tenanted." + +Going into the next room they went to the window and opened it. It +exactly faced the casement opposite, and so far as they could see the +room was unoccupied. + +"It were easy to put a plank across," Ralph said. + +"We must not do that," Walter answered. "The mob are thick in the lane +below--what a roar comes up from their voices!--and a plank would be +surely seen, and we should be killed there as well as here. No, we must +get on to the sill and spring across; the distance is not great, and the +jump would be nothing were it not that the casements are so low. It must +be done as lightly and quickly as possible, and we may not then be seen +from below. Now leave the door open that we may make no mistake as to +the room, and come along, for by the sound the fight is hot below." + +Running down the stairs Walter and Ralph joined in the defense. Those in +the house knew that they would meet with no mercy from the infuriated +crowd, and each fought with the bravery of despair. Although there were +many windows to be defended, and at each the mob attacked desperately, +the assaults were all repulsed. Many indeed of the defenders were struck +down by the pikes and pole-axes, but for a time they beat back the +assailants whenever they attempted to enter. + +The noise was prodigious. The alarm-bells of the town were all ringing +and the shouts of the combatants were drowned in the hoarse roar of the +surging crowd without. + +Seeing that however valiant was the defense the assailants must in the +end prevail, and feeling sure that his enemies would have closed the +city gates and thus prevented the English without from coming to his +assistance, Van Artevelde ascended to an upper story and attempted to +address the crowd. His voice was drowned in the roar. In vain he +gesticulated and made motions imploring them to hear him, but all was +useless, and the courage of the demagogue deserted him and he burst into +tears at the prospect of death. Then he determined to try and make his +escape to the sanctuary of a church close by, and was descending the +stairs when a mighty crash below, the clashing of steel, shouts, and +cries, told that the mob had swept away one of the barricades and were +pouring into the house. + +"Make for the stairs," Walter shouted, "and defend yourselves there." +But the majority of the defenders, bewildered by the inrush of the +enemy, terrified at their ferocious aspect and terrible axes, had no +thought of continuing the resistance. A few, getting into corners, +resisted desperately to the end; others threw down their arms and +dropping on their knees cried for mercy, but all were ruthlessly +slaughtered. + +Keeping close together Walter and Ralph fought their way to the foot of +the stairs, and closely pursued by a band of the skinners headed by +Gerard Denis, ran up. + +Upon the first landing stood a man paralyzed with terror. On seeing him +a cry of ferocious triumph rose from the mob. As nothing could be done +to aid him Walter and his follower rushed by without stopping. There was +a pause in the pursuit, and glancing down from the upper gallery Walter +saw Van Artevelde in the hands of the mob, each struggling to take +possession of him; then a man armed with a great ax pushed his way among +them, and swinging it over his head struck Van Artevelde dead to the +floor. His slayer was Gerard Denis himself. + +Followed by Ralph, Walter sprang through the open door into the chamber +they had marked, and closed the door behind them. Then Walter, saying, +"I will go first, Ralph; I can help you in should you miss your spring," +mounted on the sill of the casement. + +Short as was the distance the leap was extremely difficult, for neither +casement was more than three feet high. Walter was therefore obliged to +stoop low and to hurl himself head forward across the gulf. He succeeded +in the attempt, shooting clear through the casement on to the floor +beyond. Instantly he picked himself up and went to Ralph's assistance. +The latter, taller and more bulky, had greater difficulty in the task, +and only his shoulders arrived through the window. Walter seized him, +and aided him at once to scramble in, and they closed the casement +behind them. + +"It was well we took off our armor, Ralph; its pattern would have been +recognized in an instant." + +Walter had thrown off his helmet as he bounded up the stairs, and both +he and his companion had rid themselves of their heavy armor. + +"I would give a good deal," he said, "for two bourgeois jerkins, even +were they as foul as those of the skinners. This is a woman's +apartment," he added, looking round, "and nothing here will cover my six +feet of height, to say nothing of your four inches extra. Let us peep +into some of the other rooms. This is, doubtless, the house of some +person of importance, and in the upper floor we may find some clothes of +servants or retainers." + +They were not long in their search. The next room was a large one, and +contained a number of pallet beds, and hanging from pegs on the walls +were jerkins, mantles, and other garments, evidently belonging to the +retainers of the house. Walter and Ralph were not long in +transmogrifying their appearance, and had soon the air of two +respectable serving-men in a Flemish household. + +"But how are we to descend?" Ralph asked. "We can hardly hope to walk +down the stairs and make our escape without being seen, especially as +the doors will all be barred and bolted, seeing the tumult which is +raging outside." + +"It all depends whether our means of escape are suspected," Walter +replied. "I should scarce think that they would be. The attention of our +pursuers was wholly taken up by Van Artevelde, and some minutes must +have passed before they followed us. No doubt they will search every +place in the house, and all within it will by this time have been +slaughtered. But they will scarce organize any special search for us. +All will be fully occupied with the exciting events which have taken +place, and as the casement by which we entered is closed it is scarcely +likely to occur to any one that we have escaped by that means. I will +listen first if the house is quiet. If so, we will descend and take +refuge in some room below, where there is a better chance of concealment +than here. Put the pieces of armor into that closet so that they may not +catch the eye of any who may happen to come hither. The day is already +closing. In half an hour it will be nightfall. Then we will try and make +our way out." + +Listening at the top of the stairs they could hear voices below; but as +the gallery was quiet and deserted they made their way a floor lower, +and seeing an open door entered it. Walter looked from the window. + +"There is a back yard below," he said, "with a door opening upon a +narrow lane. We are now upon the second story, and but some twenty-five +feet above the ground. We will not risk going down through the house, +which could scarce be accomplished without detection, but will at once +tear up into strips the coverings of the bed, and will make a rope by +which we may slip down into the court-yard as soon as it is dark. We +must hope that none will come up before that time; but, indeed, all will +be so full of the news of the events which have happened that it is +scarce likely that any will come above at present." + +The linen sheets and coverings were soon cut up and knotted together in +a rope. By the time that this was finished the darkness was closing in, +and after waiting patiently for a few minutes they lowered the rope and +slid down into the yard. Quietly they undid the bolts of the gate and +issued into the lane. The mantles were provided with hoods, as few of +the lower class of Flemings wore any other head-covering. + +Drawing these hoods well over their heads so as to shade their faces, +the two sallied out from the lane. They were soon in one of the +principal streets, which was crowded with people. Bands of weavers, +butchers, skinners, and others were parading the streets shouting and +singing in honor of their victory and of the downfall and death of him +whom they had but a few days before regarded as the mainstay of +Flanders. Many of the better class of burghers stood in groups in the +streets and talked in low and rather frightened voices of the +consequences which the deed of blood would bring upon the city. On the +one hand, Edward might march upon it with his army to avenge the murder +of his ally. Upon the other hand, they were now committed to France. +Their former ruler would return, and all the imposts and burdens against +which they had rebelled would again be laid upon the city. + +"What shall we do now?" Ralph asked, "for assuredly there will be no +issue by the gates." + +"We must possess ourselves of a length of rope, if possible, and make +our escape over the wall. How to get one I know not, for the shops are +all closed, and even were it not so I could not venture in to purchase +any, for my speech would betray us at once. Let us separate, and each +see whether he can find what we want. We will meet again at the entrance +to this church in an hour's time. One or the other of us may find what +we seek." + +Walter searched in vain. Wherever he saw the door of a yard open he +peered in, but in no case could he see any signs of rope. At the end of +the hour he returned to their rendezvous. Ralph was already there. + +"I have found nothing, Ralph. Have you had better fortune?" + +"That have I, Master Walter, and was back nigh an hour since. Scarce had +I left you when in a back street I came upon a quiet hostelry, and in +the court-yard were standing half a dozen teams of cattle. Doubtless +their owners had brought hay or corn into the city, and when the tumult +arose and the gates were closed found themselves unable to escape. The +masters were all drinking within, so without more ado I cut off the +ropes which served as traces for the oxen, and have them wound round my +body under my mantle. There must be twenty yards at least, and as each +rope is strong enough to hold double our weight there will be no +difficulty in lowering ourselves from the walls." + +"You have done well indeed, Ralph," Walter said. "Let us make our way +thither at once. Every one is so excited in the city that, as yet, there +will be but few guards upon the wall. The sooner, therefore, that we +attempt to make our escape the better." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE WHITE FORD. + + +They made their way without interruption to the wall. This they found, +as they expected, entirely deserted, although, no doubt, guards had been +posted at the gates. The Flemings, however, could have felt no fear of +an attack by so small a force as the five hundred English whom they knew +to be in the neighborhood. + +Walter and his companion soon knotted the ropes together and lowered +themselves into the moat. A few strokes took them to the other side, and +scrambling out, they made their way across the country to the spot where +the English had been posted. They found the Earl of Salisbury, who +commanded, in a great state of uneasiness. No message had reached him +during the day. He had heard the alarm-bells of the city ring, and a +scout who had gone forward returned with the news that the gates were +closed and the drawbridges raised, and that a strong body of men manned +the walls. + +"Your news is indeed bad," he said, when Walter related to him the +events which had taken place in the town. "This will altogether derange +the king's plans. Now that his ally is killed, I fear that his hopes of +acquiring Flanders for England will fall to the ground. It is a thousand +pities that he listened to Van Artevelde and allowed him to enter Ghent +alone. Had his majesty landed, as he wished, and made a progress through +the country, the prince receiving the homage of all the large towns, we +could then very well have summoned Ghent as standing alone against all +Flanders. The citizens then would, no doubt, have gladly opened their +gates and received the prince, and if they had refused we would have +made short work of them. However, as it has turned out, it is as well +that we did not enter the town with the Fleming, for against so large +and turbulent a population we should have had but little chance. And +now, Master Somers, we will march at once for Sluys and bear the news to +the king, and you shall tell me as we ride thither how you and your +man-at-arms managed to escape with whole skins from such a tumult." + +The king was much grieved when he heard of the death of Artevelde, and +held a council with his chief leaders. At first, in his indignation and +grief, he was disposed to march upon Ghent and to take vengeance for the +murder of his ally, but after a time calmer counsels prevailed. + +The Flemings were still in rebellion against their count, who was the +friend of France. Were the English to attack Ghent they would lose the +general good-will of the Flemings, and would drive them into the arms of +France, while, if matters were left alone, the effect of the popular +outburst which had caused the death of Artevelde would die away, and +motives of interest and the fear of France would again drive them into +the arms of England. The expedition therefore returned to England, and +there the king, in a proclamation to his people, avoided all allusion to +the death of his ally, but simply stated that he had been waited upon by +the councils of all the Flemish towns, and that their faithful obedience +to himself, as legitimate King of France, was established upon a firmer +basis than ever. + +This course had the effect which he had anticipated from it. The people +of Flanders perceived the danger and disadvantage which must accrue to +their trade from any permanent disagreement with England. They were +convinced by the events which soon afterward happened in France that the +King of England had more power than Philip of Valois, and could, if he +chose, punish severely any breach of faith toward him. They therefore +sent over commissioners to express their grief and submission. The death +of Artevelde was represented as the act of a frantic mob, and severe +fines were imposed upon the leaders of the party who slew him, and +although the principal towns expressed their desire still to remain +under the rule of the Count of Flanders, they suggested that the ties +which bound them to England should be strengthened by the marriage of +Louis, eldest son of the count, to one of Edward's daughters. More than +this, they offered to create a diversion for the English forces acting +in Guienne and Gascony by raising a strong force and expelling the +French garrisons still remaining in some parts of the country. This was +done. Hugo of Hastings was appointed by the king captain-general in +Flanders, and with a force of English and Flemings did good service by +expelling the French from Termond and several other towns. + +The character of Jacob van Artevelde has had but scant justice done to +it by most of the historians of the time. These, living in an age of +chivalry, when noble blood and lofty deeds were held in extraordinary +respect, had little sympathy with the brewer of Ghent, and deemed it +contrary to the fitness of things that the chivalry of France should +have been defied and worsted by mere mechanics and artisans. But there +can be no doubt that Artevelde was a very great man. He may have been +personally ambitious, but he was a true patriot. He had great military +talents. He completely remodeled and wonderfully improved the internal +administration of the country, and raised its commerce, manufactures, +and agriculture to a pitch which they had never before reached. After +his death his memory was esteemed and revered by the Flemings, who long +submitted to the laws he had made, and preserved his regulations with +scrupulous exactitude. + +Edward now hastened to get together a great army. Every means were +adopted to raise money and to gather stores, and every man between +sixteen and sixty south of the Trent was called upon to take up arms +and commanded to assemble at Portsmouth in the middle of Lent. A +tremendous tempest, however, scattered the fleet collected to carry the +expedition, a great many of the ships were lost, and it was not until +the middle of July, 1346, that it sailed from England. It consisted of +about five hundred ships and ten thousand sailors, and carried four +thousand men-at-arms, ten thousand archers, twelve thousand Welsh, and +six thousand Irish. + +This seems but a small army considering the efforts which had been made; +but it was necessary to leave a considerable force behind for the +defense of the Scottish frontier, and England had already armies in +Guienne and Brittany. Lionel, Edward's second son, was appointed regent +during his father's absence. On board Edward's own ship were Godfrey of +Harcourt and the Prince of Wales. Walter, as one of the personal squires +of the prince, was also on board. + +The prince had been greatly interested in the details of Walter's escape +from Van Artevelde's house, the king himself expressed his approval of +his conduct, and Walter was generally regarded as one of the most +promising young aspirants at the court. His modesty and good temper +rendered him a general favorite, and many even of the higher nobles +noticed him by their friendly attentions, for it was felt that he stood +so high in the good-will of the prince that he might some day become a +person of great influence with him, and one whose good-will would be +valuable. + +It was generally supposed, when the fleet started, that Guienne was +their destination, but they had not gone far when a signal was made to +change the direction in which they were sailing and to make for La Hogue +in Normandy. Godfrey of Harcourt had great influence in that province, +and his persuasions had much effect in determining the king to direct +his course thither. There was the further advantage that the King of +France, who was well aware of the coming invasion, would have made his +preparations to receive him in Guienne. Furthermore, Normandy was the +richest and most prosperous province in France. It had for a long time +been untouched by war, and offered great abundance of spoil. It had made +itself particularly obnoxious to the English by having recently made an +offer to the King of France to fit out an expedition and conquer England +with its own resources. + +The voyage was short and favorable, and the expedition landed at La +Hogue, on the small peninsula of Cotentin, without opposition. Six days +were spent at La Hogue disembarking the men, horses, and stores, and +baking bread for the use of the army on the march. A detachment advanced +and pillaged and burned Barfleur and Cherbourg and a number of small +towns and castles. + +In accordance with custom, at the commencement of the campaign a court +was held, at which the Prince of Wales was dubbed a knight by his +father. A similar honor was bestowed upon a number of other young +aspirants, among whom was Walter Somers, who had been highly +recommended for that honor to the king by Sir Walter Manny. + +The force was now formed into three divisions--the one commanded by the +king himself, the second by the Earl of Warwick, and the third by +Godfrey of Harcourt. The Earl of Arundel acted as lord high constable, +and the Earl of Huntingdon, who was in command of the fleet, followed +the army along the sea-coast. Valognes, Carentan, and St. Lo were +captured without difficulty, and the English army advanced by rapid +marches upon Caen, plundering the country for six or seven leagues on +each side of the line of march. An immense quantity of booty was +obtained. + +As soon as the news of Edward's landing in Normandy reached Paris, +Philip dispatched the Count d'Eu, Constable of France, with the Count of +Tankerville and six hundred men-at-arms, to oppose Edward at Caen. The +Bishop of Bayeux had thrown himself into that city, which was already +garrisoned by three hundred Genoese. The town was not defensible, and +the only chance of resistance was by opposing the passage of the river +Horn, which flowed between the suburbs and the city. The bridge was +barricaded, strong wooden towers were erected, and such was the +confidence of the inhabitants and their leaders that Edward's promise of +protection for the person and property of the citizens was rejected with +scorn, and the whole male population joined the garrison in the defense +of the bridge. Marching through the deserted suburbs the English army +attacked the bridge with such vehemence that although the enemy defended +the barricades gallantly they were speedily forced, and the English +poured into the town. Before the first fury of the attack was over near +five thousand persons were slain. The Count of Tankerville, one hundred +and forty knights, and as many squires were made prisoners. The plunder +was so enormous as to be sufficient to cover the whole expenses of the +expedition, and this with the booty which had been previously acquired +was placed on board ship and dispatched to England, while the king +marched forward with his army. At Lisieux he was met by two cardinals +sent by the pope to negotiate a truce; but Edward had learned the +fallacy of truces made with King Philip, and declined to enter into +negotiations. Finding that Rouen had been placed in a state of defense +and could not be taken without a long siege, he left it behind him and +marched along the valley of the Eure, gathering rich booty at every +step. + +But while he was marching forward a great army was gathering in his +rear. The Count of Harcourt, brother of Godfrey, called all Normandy to +arms. Every feudal lord and vassal answered to the summons, and before +Edward reached the banks of the Seine a formidable army had assembled. + +The whole of the vassals of France were gathering by the orders of the +king at St. Denis. The English fleet had now left the coast, and Edward +had only the choice of retreating through Normandy into Brittany or of +attempting to force the passage of the Seine, and to fight his way +through France to Flanders. He chose the latter alternative, and marched +along the left bank of the river toward Paris, seeking in vain to find a +passage. The enemy followed him step by step on the opposite bank, and +all the bridges were broken down and the fords destroyed. + +Edward marched on, burning the towns and ravaging the country until he +reached Poissy. The bridge was as usual destroyed, but the piles on +which it stood were still standing, and he determined to endeavor to +cross here. He accordingly halted for five days, but dispatched troops +in all directions, who burned and ravaged to the very gates of Paris. +The villages of St. Germain, St. Cloud, Bourg la Reine, and many others +within sight of the walls were destroyed, and the capital itself thrown +into a state of terror and consternation. Godfrey of Harcourt was the +first to cross the river, and with the advance-guard of English fell +upon a large body of the burghers of Amiens, and after a severe fight +defeated them, killing over five hundred. The king himself with his +whole force passed on the 16th of August. + +Philip, with his army, quitted St. Denis when he heard that the English +army had passed the Seine, and by parallel marches endeavored to +interpose between it and the borders of Flanders. As his force was every +hour increasing he dispatched messengers to Edward offering him battle +within a few days on condition that he would cease to ravage the +country; but Edward declined the proposal, saying that Philip himself by +breaking down the bridges had avoided a battle as long as he could, but +that whenever he was ready to give battle he would accept the challenge. +During the whole march the armies were within a few leagues of each +other, and constant skirmishes took place between bodies detached from +the hosts. + +In some of these skirmishes Walter took part, as he and the other newly +made knights were burning to distinguish themselves. Every day the +progress of the army became more difficult, as the country people +everywhere rose against them, and several times attempted to make a +stand, but were defeated with great loss. The principal towns were found +deserted, and even Poix, which offered great capabilities of defense, +had been left unguarded. Upon the English entering, the burghers offered +to pay a large ransom to save the town from plunder. The money was to be +delivered as soon as the English force had withdrawn, and Walter Somers +was ordered by the king to remain behind with a few men-at-arms to +receive the ransom. + +No sooner had the army departed than the burghers, knowing that the +French army was close behind, changed their minds, refused to pay the +ransom, and fell upon the little body of men-at-arms. Although taken +quite by surprise by this act of treachery Walter instantly rallied his +men, although several had been killed at the first onslaught. He, with +Ralph and two or three of the stanchest men, covered the retreat of the +rest through the streets, making desperate charges upon the body of +armed burghers pressing upon them. Ralph fought as usual with a mace of +prodigious weight, and the terror of his blows in no slight degree +enabled the party to reach the gate in safety, but Walter had no idea of +retreating further. He dispatched one of his followers to gallop at full +speed to overtake the rear-guard of the army, which was still but two +miles distant, while with the rest he formed a line across the gate and +resisted all the attempts of the citizens to expel them. + +The approach to the gate was narrow, and the overwhelming number of the +burghers were therefore of little avail. Walter had dismounted his force +and all fought on foot, and although sorely pressed they held their +ground until Lords Cobham and Holland, with their followers, rode up. +Then the tide of war was turned, the town was plundered and burned, and +great numbers of the inhabitants slain. Walter gained great credit for +holding the gate, for had he been driven out, the town could have +resisted, until the arrival of Louis, all assaults of the English. + +The river Somme now barred the passage of Edward. Most of the bridges +had been destroyed, and those remaining were so strongly fortified that +they could not be forced. + +The position of the English was now very critical. On one flank and in +front were impassable rivers. The whole country was in arms against +them, and on their rear and flank pressed a hostile army fourfold their +strength. The country was swampy and thinly populated, and flour and +provisions were only obtained with great difficulty. Edward, on finding +from the reports of his marshals who had been sent to examine the +bridges, that no passage across the river could be found, turned and +marched down the river toward the sea, halting for the night at +Oisemont. + +Here, a great number of peasantry attempted a defense, but were easily +defeated and a number of prisoners taken. Late in the evening the Earl +of Warwick, who had pushed forward as far as Abbeville and St. Valery, +returned with the news that the passages at those places were as +strongly guarded as elsewhere, but that he had learned from a peasant +that a ford existed somewhere below Abbeville, although the man was +himself ignorant of its position. + +Edward at once called the prisoners belonging to that part of the +country before him, and promised to any one who would tell him where the +ford lay his freedom and that of twenty of his companions. A peasant +called Gobin Agase stepped forward and offered to show the ford, where +at low tide twelve men could cross abreast. It was, he said, called La +Blanche Tache. + +Edward left Oisemont at midnight and reached the ford at daylight. The +river, however, was full and the army had to wait impatiently for low +tide. When they arrived there no enemy was to be seen on the opposite +bank, but before the water fell sufficiently for a passage to be +attempted, Sir Godemar du Fay with twelve thousand men, sent by King +Philip, who was aware of the existence of the ford, arrived on the +opposite side. + +The enterprise was a difficult one indeed, for the water, even at low +tide, is deep. Godemar du Fay, however, threw away part of his advantage +by advancing into the stream. The English archers lined the banks, and +poured showers of arrows into the ranks of the enemy, while the Genoese +bowmen on their side were able to give comparatively little assistance +to the French. + +King Edward shouted to his knights, "Let those who love me follow me," +and spurred his horse into the water. Behind him followed his most +valiant knights, and Walter, riding close to the Prince of Wales, was +one of the foremost. + +The French resisted valiantly and a desperate battle took place on the +narrow ford, but the impetuosity of the English prevailed, and step by +step they drove the French back to the other side of the river. The +whole army poured after their leaders, and the French were soon entirely +routed and fled, leaving two thousand men-at-arms dead on the field. + +King Edward, having now freed himself from the difficulties which had +encompassed him on the other side of the river, prepared to choose a +ground to give battle to the whole French army. + +Louis had advanced slowly, feeling confident that the English would be +unable to cross the river, and that he should catch them hemmed in by +it. His mortification and surprise on finding, when he approached La +Blanche Tache, that twelve thousand men had been insufficient to hold a +ford by which but twelve could cross abreast, and that his enemy had +escaped from his grasp, were great. The tide had now risen again, and he +was obliged to march on to Abbeville and cross the river there. + +King Edward now advanced into the forest of Cressy. + +Hugh de le Spencer, with a considerable force, was dispatched to Crotoy, +which he carried by assault after a severe conflict, in which four +thousand of the French men-at-arms were slain. The capture of this city +removed all danger of want from the army, for large stores of wine and +meal were found there, and Sir Hugh at once sent off a supply to the +tired army in the field. + +The possession of Crotoy and the mouth of the Somme would have now +rendered it easy for the English monarch to have transported his troops +to England, and to have returned triumphant after the accomplishment of +his extraordinary and most successful march through France. The army, +however, was elated by the many great successes it had won, he was now +in Ponthieu, which was one of his own fiefs, and he determined to make a +stand in spite of the immense superiority of the enemy. + +Next morning, then--Friday, the 25th of August, 1346--he dispatched the +Earl of Warwick, with Godfrey of Harcourt and Lord Cobham, to examine +the ground and choose a site for a battle. + +The plan of the fight was drawn out by the king and his councilors, and +the king yielded to the Black Prince the chief place of danger and +honor, placing with him the Earl of Warwick, Sir John Chandos, and many +of his best knights. + +The ground which had been chosen for the battle was an irregular slope +between the forest of Cressy and the river Maie near the little village +of Canchy. The slope looked toward the south and east, from which +quarters the enemy was expected to arrive, and some slight defenses were +added to the natural advantages of the ground. + +On the night of the 25th all the principal leaders of the British host +were entertained by King Edward. Next morning mass was celebrated, and +the king, the prince, and many knights and nobles received the +sacrament, after which the trumpets sounded, and the army marched to +take up its position. Its numbers are variously estimated, but the best +account puts it at about thirty thousand men, which, considering that +thirty-two thousand had crossed the Channel to La Hogue, is probably +about the force which would have been present, allowing that two +thousand had fallen in the various actions or had died from disease. + +The division of the Black Prince consisted of eight hundred men-at-arms, +four thousand archers, and six thousand Welsh foot. The archers, as +usual, were placed in front, supported by the light troops of Wales and +the men-at-arms; on his left was the second division, commanded by the +Earls of Arundel and Northampton; its extreme left rested on Canchy and +the river, and it was further protected by a deep ditch; this corps was +about seven thousand strong. + +The king himself took up his position on a knoll of rising ground +surmounted by a windmill, and twelve thousand men under his personal +command were placed here in reserve. + +In the rear of the prince's division an inclosure of stakes was formed; +in this, guarded by a small body of archers, were ranged the wagons and +baggage of the army, together with all the horses, the king having +determined that the knights and men-at-arms on his side should fight on +foot. + +When the army had taken up its position, the king, mounted on a small +palfrey, with a white staff in his hand, rode from rank to rank +exhorting his soldiers to do their duty gallantly. It was nearly noon +before he had passed through all the lines, and permission was then +given to the soldiers to fall out from their ranks and to take +refreshments while waiting for the coming of the enemy. This was +accordingly done, the men eating and drinking at their ease and lying +down in their ranks on the soft grass, with their steel caps and their +bows or pikes beside them. + +In the mean time the French had, on their side, been preparing for the +battle. Philip had crossed the Somme at Abbeville late on Thursday +afternoon, and remained there next day, marshaling the large +reënforcements which were hourly arriving. His force now considerably +exceeded one hundred thousand men, the number with which he had marched +from Amiens three days previously. + +Friday was the Festival of St. Louis, and that evening Philip gave a +splendid banquet to the whole of the nobles of his army. + +On the following morning the king, accompanied by his brother the Count +D'Alençon, the old King of Bohemia and his son, the King of Rome, the +Duke of Lorraine, the Count of Blois, the Count of Flanders, and a great +number of other feudal princes, heard mass at the abbey, and then +marched with his great army toward Cressy. He moved but slowly in order +to give time to all the forces scattered over the neighborhood to come +up, and four knights, headed by one of the King of Bohemia's officers, +went forward to reconnoiter the English position. They approached within +very short distance of the English lines and gained a very exact +knowledge of the position, the English taking no measures to interrupt +the reconnaissance. They returned with the information they had +gathered, and the leader of the party, Le Moyne de Basele, one of the +most judicious officers of his time, strongly advised the king to halt +his troops, pointing out that as it was evident the English were ready +to give battle, and as they were fresh and vigorous, while the French +were wearied and hungry, it would be better to encamp and give battle +the next morning. + +Philip saw the wisdom of the advice and ordered his two marshals, the +Lord of St. Venant and Charles de Montmorency, to command a halt. They +instantly spurred off, one to the front and the other to the rear, +commanding the leaders to halt their banners. Those in advance at once +obeyed, but those behind still pressed on, declaring that they would not +halt until they were in the front line. All wanted to be first, in order +to obtain their share of the honor and glory of defeating the English. +Those in front, seeing the others still coming on, again pressed +forward, and thus, in spite of the efforts of the king and his marshals, +the French nobles with their followers pressed forward in confusion, +until, passing through a small wood, they found themselves suddenly in +the presence of the English army. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +CRESSY. + + +The surprise of the French army at finding themselves in the presence of +the English was so great that the first line recoiled in confusion. +Those marching up from behind imagined that they had been already +engaged and repulsed by the English, and the disorder spread through the +whole army, and was increased by the common people, who had crowded to +the field in immense numbers from the whole country round to see the +battle and share in the plunder of the English camp. + +From King Edward's position on the rising ground he could see the +confusion which prevailed in the French ranks, and small as were his +forces, he would probably have obtained an easy victory by ordering a +sudden charge upon them. The English, however, being dismounted, but +small results would have followed the scattering of the great host of +the French. The English army therefore remained immovable, except that +the soldiers rose from the ground, and taking their places in the ranks, +awaited the onslaught of the enemy. + +King Philip himself now arrived on the field, and his hatred for the +English led him at once to disregard the advice which had been given him +and to order the battle to commence as soon as possible. + +The army was divided into four bodies, of which Philip commanded one, +the Count D'Alençon the second, the King of Bohemia the third, and the +Count of Savoy the fourth. Besides these were a band of fifteen thousand +mercenaries, Genoese cross-bowmen, who were now ordered to pass between +the ranks of cavalry and to clear the ground of the English archers, who +were drawn up in the usual form in which they fought--namely, in very +open order, line behind line, the men standing alternately, so that each +had ample room to use his bow and to fire over the heads of those in +front. The formation was something that of a harrow, and, indeed, +exactly resembled that in which the Roman archers fought, and was called +by them a quincunx. + +The Genoese had marched four leagues beneath a hot sun loaded with their +armor and heavy cross-bows, and they remonstrated against the order, +urging that they were in no condition to do good service without some +repose. The Count D'Alençon, furious at their hesitation, ordered them +up, but as they advanced a terrible thunderstorm, with torrents of rain, +broke over the armies, and wetting the cords of the cross-bows rendered +many of them unserviceable. At length the cross-bowmen were arranged in +front, while behind them were the vast body of French cavalry, and the +order was given for the battle to begin. + +The Genoese advanced with loud shouts, but the English archers paid no +attention to the noise, but waited calmly for the attack. At this moment +the sun, now approaching the west, shone out brightly between the clouds +behind the English, its rays streaming full in the faces of the French. +The Genoese were now within distance, and began to discharge their +quarrels at their impassive enemies, but as they opened fire the English +archers drew their bows from the cases which had protected them from the +rain, and stepping forward poured their arrows among the Genoese. The +cross-bowmen were smitten as with a storm, numbers were struck in the +face and other unprotected parts, and they were instantly thrown into +confusion, and casting away their cross-bows they recoiled in disorder +among the horsemen behind them. + +Philip, passionate and cruel as ever, instead of trying to rally the +Genoese, ordered the cavalry behind them to fall upon them, and the +men-at-arms at once plunged in among the disordered mass of the +cross-bowmen, and a wild scene of carnage and confusion ensued, the +English archers continuing to pour their unerring arrows into the midst. +The Count D'Alençon, who was behind, separated his division into two +bodies, and swept round on one side himself, while the Count of Flanders +did the same on the other to attack the Prince of Wales in more regular +array. Taking a circuitous route, D'Alençon appeared upon a rising +ground on the flank of the archers of the Black Prince, and thus, +avoiding their arrows, charged down with his cavalry upon the eight +hundred men-at-arms gathered round the Black Prince, while the Count of +Flanders attacked on the other flank. + +Nobly did the flower of English chivalry withstand the shock of the +French, and the prince himself and the highest nobles and simple +men-at-arms fought side by side. None gave way a foot. + +In vain the French, with impetuous charges, strove to break through the +mass of steel. The spear-heads were cleft off with sword and battle-ax, +and again and again men and horses recoiled from the unbroken line. Each +time the French retired the English ranks were formed anew, and as +attack followed attack a pile of dead rose around them. The Count +D'Alençon and the Duke of Lorraine were among the first who fell. The +young Count of Blois, finding that he could not ride through the wall of +steel, dismounted with his knights and fought his way on foot toward the +banner of the Prince of Wales. For a time the struggle was desperate, +and the young prince, with his household knights, was for a time +well-nigh beaten back. + +Walter, fighting close beside the prince, parried more than one blow +intended for him, and the prince himself slew the Count of Blois, whose +followers all fell around him. The Count of Flanders was also slain, and +confusion began to reign among the assailants, whose leaders had now +all fallen. Philip himself strove to advance with his division into the +fight, but the struggle between the Genoese and the men-at-arms was +still continuing, and the very multitude of his troops in the narrow and +difficult field which the English had chosen for the battle embarrassed +his movements. + +Charles of Luxembourg, King of the Romans, and afterward Emperor of +Germany, son of the old King of Bohemia, with a large body of German and +French cavalry, now assailed the English archers, and in spite of their +flights of arrows came to close quarters, and cutting their way through +them joined in the assault upon the men-at-arms of the Black Prince. +Nearly forty thousand men were now pressing round the little body, and +the Earls of Northampton and Arundel moved forward with their divisions +to his support, while the Earl of Warwick, who was with the prince, +dispatched Sir Thomas of Norwich to the king, who still remained with +his powerful reserve, to ask for aid. + +"Sir Thomas," demanded the king, "is my son killed, overthrown, or +wounded beyond help?" + +"Not so, sire," replied the knight, "but he is in a rude fight, and much +needs your aid." + +"Go back, Sir Thomas, to those who sent you, and tell them from me that +whatsoever happens they require no aid from me so long as my son is in +life. Tell them also that I command them to let the boy win his spurs, +for, God willing, the day shall be his, and the honor shall rest with +him and those into whose charge I have given him." + +The prince and those around him were filled with fresh ardor when they +received this message. Each man redoubled his efforts to repel the +forces that were incessantly poured down upon them by the French. On all +sides these pressed around them, striving desperately, but ever in vain, +to break through the solid ranks of the English. The French men-at-arms +suffered, moreover, terribly from the attacks of the Welsh infantry. +These men, clad in thick leather jerkins, nimble of foot, accustomed to +a life of activity, were armed with shortened lances and knives, and +mingled fearlessly among the confused mass of French cavalry, creeping +beneath the horses' bellies, standing up when they got a chance, and +stabbing horses and men with their knives and pikes. Many were trampled +upon or struck down, but numbering, as they did, six thousand, they +pervaded the whole mass of the enemy, and did terrible execution, adding +in no small degree to the confusion caused by the shower of arrows from +the archers within the circle of the men-at-arms. The instant a French +knight fell, struck from his horse with a battle-ax or arrow, or by the +fall of a wounded steed, the half-wild Welsh were upon him and slew him +before he could regain his feet. + +The slaughter was immense. The Count of Harcourt, with his nephew the +Count D'Aumale and his two gallant sons, fell together, and at last +Charles of Luxembourg, seeing his banner down, his troops routed, his +friends slain, and the day irreparably lost, and being himself severely +wounded in three places, turned his horse and fled, casting off his rich +emblazoned surcoat to avoid recognition. In the mean time Prince +Charles' father, the veteran King of Bohemia, once one of the most +famous warriors of Europe, but now old and blind, sat on horseback at a +little distance from the fight; the knights around him told him the +events as they happened, and the old monarch soon saw that the day was +lost. He asked them for tidings of his son Charles of Luxembourg, but +they were forced to reply that the banner of the King of the Romans was +no longer in sight, but that, doubtless, he was somewhere engaged in the +_mêlée_. + +"Lords," said the old man, "you are my vassals, my friends, and my +companions, and on this day I command and beseech you to lead me forward +so far that I may deal one blow of my sword in the battle." + +His faithful friends obeyed him, a number of knights arranged themselves +around him, and lest they should lose him in the fight they tied their +horses together by the bridles and charged down into the fray. Advancing +directly against the banner of the Prince of Wales, the blind monarch +was carried into the midst of the thickest strife. There the little +group of knights fought gallantly, and after the battle was over the +bodies of the king and his friends were found lying together, their dead +horses still linked by the bridles. + +During this terrible battle, which had been raging since three o'clock, +Philip had made strenuous efforts to aid his troops engaged in the front +by continually sending fresh bodies to the assault. It was now growing +dark, terror and confusion had already spread among the French, and many +were flying in all directions, and the unremitting showers of English +arrows still flew like hail among their ranks. As the king made his way +forward, surrounded by his personal attendants, to take part himself in +the fight, his followers fell thick around him, and his horse was slain +by an arrow. John of Hainault, who had remained by his side during the +whole day, mounted him upon a fresh horse and urged him to fly, as the +day was lost. Philip, however, persisted, and made his way into the +_mêlée_, where he fought for some time with extreme courage, until +almost all around him were slain, the royal standard-bearer killed, and +himself wounded in two places. John of Hainault then seized his bridle, +exclaiming, "Come away, sire, it is full time; do not throw your life +away foolishly; if you have lost this day you will win another," and so +almost forced the unwilling king from the field. Philip, accompanied by +the lords of Montmorency, Beaujeu, Aubigny, and Mansault, with John of +Hainault and sixty men-at-arms, rode to the Castle of Broye, and there +halted for a few hours. At midnight he again set out, and in the morning +arrived safely at Amiens. + +The Black Prince held his station until night without yielding a single +step to all the efforts of the French. Gradually, however, the +assailants became less and less numerous, the banners disappeared, and +the shouts of the leaders and the clang of arms died away, and the +silence which prevailed over the field at once announced that the +victory was complete and the enemy in full flight. An immense number of +torches were now lighted through the English lines, and the king, +quitting for the first time his station on the hill, came down to +embrace his gallant son. Edward and his host rejoiced in a spirit of +humility over the victory. No songs of triumph, no feastings or +merriment were permitted, but a solemn service of the Church was held, +and the king and his soldiers offered their thanks to God for the +victory he had given them. The English army lay all night under arms, +and a number of scattered parties of the French wandering about in the +darkness entered the lines and were slain or taken prisoners. + +The dawn of the next morning was thick and foggy, and intelligence +coming in that a large body of the enemy were advancing upon them, the +Earls of Northampton, Warwick, and Norfolk, with five hundred +men-at-arms and two thousand archers, went out to reconnoiter, and came +in the misty twilight upon an immense force composed of the citizens of +Beauvais, Rouen, and some other towns, led by the Grand Prior of France +and the Archbishop of Rouen, who were approaching the field. + +By some extraordinary accident they had not met any of the fugitives +flying from Cressy, and were ignorant that a battle had been fought. +The English charged them at once. Their advance-guard, consisting of +burghers, was easily overthrown. The second division, which was composed +of men-at-arms, fought bravely, but was unable to withstand the charge +of the triumphant English, and was completely broken and defeated. The +grand prior was killed and a vast number of his followers slain or +captured. During the whole of the morning detached parties from Edward's +army scoured the country, dispersing and slaughtering bands of French +who still remained together, and toward night the Earl of Northampton +returned to the camp with the news that no enemy remained in the +vicinity that could offer a show of resistance to the English force. + +It is said that a far greater number of French were killed upon the +second day than upon the first. This can be accounted for by the fact +that on the first day but a small portion of the English army were +engaged, and that upon the second the English were fresh and vigorous, +and their enemies exhausted and dispirited. + +The greater number of the French nobles and knights who fell died in +their attempt to break through the Black Prince's array. Besides the +King of Bohemia, nine sovereign princes and eighty great nobles were +killed, with twelve hundred knights, fifteen hundred men-at-arms, and +thirty thousand foot; while on the English side only three knights and a +small number of men-at-arms and infantry were killed. The body of the +King of Bohemia and those of the other great leaders were carried in +solemn pomp to the Abbey of Maintenay. Edward himself and his son +accompanied them as mourners. + +On the Monday following Edward marched with his army against Calais, and +summoned the town to surrender. John of Vienne, who commanded the +garrison, refused to comply with the demand. The fortifications of the +town were extremely strong and the garrison numerous, and Edward +perceived that an assault would be very unlikely to succeed, and would +entail great loss, while a repulse would have dimmed the luster of the +success which he had gained. He therefore determined to reduce it by +famine, and the troops were set to work to build huts. So permanently +and strongly were these constructed that it seemed to the enemy that +King Edward was determined to remain before Calais even should he have +to stay there for ten years. + +Proclamations were issued in England and Flanders inviting traders to +establish stores and to bring articles of trade of all kinds, and in a +short time a complete town sprang up which was named by Edward New-Town +the Bold. The English fleet held complete possession of the sea, cutting +off the besieged from all succor by ship, and enabling abundant supplies +for the army to be brought from England and Flanders. Strong parties +were sent out in all directions. The northern provinces of France were +scoured, and the army was amply provided with necessaries and even +luxuries. + +After the first terrible shock caused by the crushing defeat of Cressy, +King Philip began at once to take measures for the relief of Calais, and +made immense efforts again to put a great army in the field. He +endeavored by all means in his power to gain fresh allies. The young +Count of Flanders, who at the death of his father at Cressy was sixteen +years of age, was naturally even more hostile to the English than the +late prince had been, and he strove to win over his subjects to the +French alliance, while Philip made them magnificent offers if they would +join him. The Flemings, however, remained stanch to the English +alliance, and held their prince in duress until he at last consented to +marry the daughter of Edward. A week before the date fixed for the +nuptials, however, he managed to escape from the vigilance of his guards +when out hawking, and fled to the court of France. + +In Scotland, Philip was more successful, and David Bruce, instead of +employing the time given him by the absence of Edward with his armies in +driving out the English garrisons from the strong places they still held +in Scotland, raised an army of fifty thousand men and marched across the +border into England plundering and ravaging. Queen Philippa, however, +raising an army, marched against him, and the Scotch were completely +defeated at Neville's Cross, fifteen thousand being killed and their +king himself taken prisoner. + +Walter's conduct at the battle of Cressy gained him still further the +favor of the Black Prince. The valor with which he had fought was +conspicuous even on a field where all fought gallantly, and the prince +felt that more than once he would have been smitten down had not +Walter's sword interposed. Ralph too had fought with reckless bravery, +and many French knights and gentlemen had gone down before the +tremendous blows of his heavy mace, against which the stoutest armor +availed nothing. After the battle the prince offered to make him an +esquire in spite of the absence of gentle blood in his veins, but Ralph +declined the honor. + +"An it please you, Sir Prince," he said, "but I should feel more +comfortable among the men-at-arms, my fellows. In the day of battle I +trust that I should do no discredit to my squirehood, but at other times +I should feel woefully out of my element, and should find naught for my +hands to do; therefore, if it so pleases your royal highness, I would +far rather remain a simple man-at-arms." + +Ralph did not, however, refuse the heavy purse which the prince gave +him, although indeed he, as well as all the soldiers, was well supplied +with money, so great were the spoils which the army had gathered in its +march before Cressy, and which they now swept off in their raids among +the northern provinces of France. + +One evening Walter was returning from a banquet at the pavilion of the +Prince of Wales, with Ralph as usual following at a little distance, +when from a corner of the street a man darted suddenly out and struck a +dagger with all his force between his shoulders. Well was it for Walter +that he had taken Geoffrey's advice, and had never laid aside the shirt +of mail, night or day. Fine as was its temper, two or three links of the +outer fold were broken, but the point did not penetrate the second fold, +and the dagger snapped in the hand of the striker. The force of the +sudden blow, however, hurled Walter to the ground. With a loud cry Ralph +rushed forward. The man instantly fled. Ralph pursued him but a short +distance and then hastened back to Walter. + +"Are you hurt, Sir Walter?" he exclaimed. + +"In no way, Ralph, thanks to my shirt of mail. Well, indeed, was it for +me that I was wearing it or I should assuredly have been a dead man. I +had almost begun to forget that I was a threatened man; but I shall be +on guard for the future." + +"I wish I had followed the fellow," Ralph said. "I would not have slain +him could I have helped it, but would have left it for the hangman to +extort from him the name of his employer; but, in truth, he struck so +hard, and you fell so straight before the blow, that I feared the mail +had given way, and that you were sorely wounded if not killed. You have +oft told me that I was over-careful of you, but you see that I was not +careful enough; however, you may be assured that if another attempt be +made those who attempt it shall not get off scot-free. Do you think of +laying a complaint before the provost against him you suspect?" + +"It would be useless, Ralph. We may have suspicion of the man from whom +the blow came, but have no manner of proof. It might have been done by +any ruffian camp-follower, who struck the blow only with the hope of +carrying off my chain and purse. The camp swarms with such fellows, and +we have no clew which could lead to his detection, unless," he added, +stooping and picking up a piece of steel which lay at his feet, "this +broken dagger may some day furnish us with one. No; we will say naught +about it. Sir James Carnegie is not now in camp, having left a week +since on business in England. We exchange no words when we meet, but I +heard that he had been called away. Fortunately the young prince likes +him not, and I therefore have seldom occasion to meet him. I have no +doubt that he credits me with the disfavor in which he is held by the +prince; but I have never even mentioned his name before him, and the +prince's misliking is but the feeling which a noble and generous heart +has, as though by instinct, against one who is false and treacherous. At +the same time we must grant that this traitor knight is a bold and +fearless man-at-arms; he fought well at La Blanche Tache and Cressy, and +he is much liked and trusted by my Lord of Northampton, in whose +following he mostly rides; 'tis a pity that one so brave should have so +foul and treacherous a heart. Here we are at my hut, and you can sleep +soundly to-night, Ralph, for there is little fear that the fellow, who +has failed to-night, will repeat his attempt for some time. He thinks, +no doubt, that he has killed me, for with a blow so strongly struck he +would scarce have felt the snapping of the weapon, and is likely enough +already on board one of the ships which ply to and fro from England on +his way to acquaint his employer that I am removed from his path." + +The next morning Walter mentioned to the Black Prince the venture which +had befallen him, and the narrow escape he had had of his life. The +prince was extremely exasperated, and gave orders that an inquisition +should be made through the camp, and that all men found there not being +able to give a good account of themselves as having reasonable and +lawful calling there should be forthwith put on board ship and sent to +England. He questioned Walter closely whether he deemed that this attack +was for the purpose of plunder only, or whether he had any reason to +believe that he had private enemies. + +"There is a knight who is evilly disposed toward me, your highness," +Walter said; "but seeing that I have no proof whatever that he had a +hand in this affair, however strongly I may suspect it, I would fain, +with your leave, avoid mentioning his name." + +"But think you that there is any knight in this camp capable of so foul +an action?" + +"I have had proofs, your highness, that he is capable of such an act; +but in this matter my tongue is tied, as the wrong he attempted was not +against myself, but against others who have so far forgiven him that +they would fain the matter should drop. He owes me ill-will, seeing that +I am aware of his conduct, and that it was my intervention which caused +his schemes to fail. Should this attempt against me be repeated it can +scarce be the effect of chance, but would show premeditated design, and +I would then, both in defense of my own life, and because I think that +such deeds should not go unpunished, not hesitate to name him to you, +and if proof be wanting to defy him to open combat." + +"I regret, Sir Walter, that your scruples should hinder you from at once +denouncing him; but seeing how grave a matter it is to charge a knight +with so foul a crime, I will not lay stress upon you; but be assured +that should any repetition of the attempt be made I shall take the +matter in hand, and will see that this caitiff knight receives his +deserts." + +A short time afterward Walter accompanied the prince in an excursion +which he made with a portion of the army, sweeping the French provinces +as far as the river Somme. Upon their way back they passed through the +village of Près, hard by which stood a small castle. It was situate some +forty miles from Calais, and standing upon rising ground it commanded a +very extensive view over the country. + +"What say you, Sir Walter?" the prince said to the young knight who was +riding near him. "That castle would make a good advanced post, and a +messenger riding in could bring news of any large movements of the +enemy." Walter assented. + +"Then, Sir Walter, I name you its chatelain. I shall be sorry to lose +your good company; but the post is one of peril, and I know that you are +ever longing to distinguish yourself. Take forty men-at-arms and sixty +archers. With that force you may make shift to resist any attack until +help reaches you from camp. You may be sure that I shall not be slack in +spurring to your rescue should you be assailed." + +Walter received the proposal with delight. He was weary of the monotony +of life in New Town, and this post, in which vigilance and activity +would be required, was just to his taste; so, taking the force named by +the prince, with a store of provision, he drew off from the column and +entered the castle. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE SIEGE OF A FORTALICE. + + +Walter's first step on assuming the command was to examine thoroughly +into the capabilities of defense of the place, to see that the well was +in good order, and the supply of water ample, and to send out a foraging +party, which, driving in a number of beasts and some cart-loads of +forage, would supply his garrison for some time. The castle he found was +less strong than it looked. The walls were lightly built, and were +incapable of withstanding any heavy battering. The moat was dry, and the +flanking towers badly placed, and affording little protection to the +faces of the walls; however, the extent of the defenses was small, and +Walter felt confident that with the force at his command he could resist +any sudden attack, unless made in overwhelming force, so that all the +faces of the wall could be assaulted at the same time. He had a large +number of great stones brought in to pile against the gate, while others +were brought into the central keep, similarly to defend the door should +the outer wall be carried. He appointed Ralph as his lieutenant, and +every day, leaving him in charge of the castle, rode through the +country for many miles round, with twenty men-at-arms, to convince +himself that no considerable force of the enemy were approaching. These +reconnaissances were not without some danger and excitement, for several +times bodies of the country people, armed with scythes, axes, and +staves, tried to intercept them on their return to the castle, and once +or twice Walter and his men had to fight their way through their +opponents. Contrary to the custom of the times, Walter gave orders to +his men not to slay any when resistance had ceased. + +"They are but doing what we ourselves should do did French garrisons +hold our castles at home, and I deem them in no way to be blamed for the +efforts which they make to slay us. In self-defense, of course, we must +do our best, and must kill in order that we may not ourselves be slain; +but when they are once routed, let them go to their homes. Poor people, +the miseries which this war has brought upon them are great, and there +is no wonder that they hate us." + +This leniency on Walter's part was not without good effect. When the +country people found that the garrison of the castle of Près did not +carry fire and sword through the villages around, that they took only +sufficient for their needs, and behaved with courtesy to all, their +animosity to a great extent subsided. No longer did the women and +children of the little villages fly to the woods when they saw the gleam +of Walter's approaching spears, but remained at their avocations, and +answered willingly enough the questions which he asked them as to +whether they had heard aught of the movements of French troops. So far +as possible, Walter refrained from seizing the cattle or stores of grain +of the poorer classes, taking such as he needed from the lands of the +wealthy proprietors, all of whom had left the country, and were either +with the French army or sheltering in Paris. Five of his best mounted +men Walter chose as messengers, and one rode each day to New Town with +the news which had been gathered, returning on the following day, and +then resting his horse for three days before again setting out. + +Night and day sentries were placed on the walls, for although Walter +heard nothing of any body gathering in his immediate vicinity, a force +might at any moment issue from Amiens and appear suddenly before the +place. Such was indeed what really took place, and at daybreak one +morning Walter was aroused by the news that the sentinels saw a large +body of men rapidly approaching. The horse of the messenger next on duty +stood, as usual, saddled and bridled in readiness, and without a +moment's delay Walter ordered the man to mount and ride to the prince, +and to give news that the castle was assailed, but by how large a force +he could not as yet say. + +The instant the messenger had started through the gates Walter ascended +to the walls; he saw at once that the party was a strong one; for +although still at some distance, and but dimly seen in the gray morning +light, he judged that it must contain at least a thousand men-at-arms. +At this moment a call from the sentry on the other side of the castle +was heard, and hastening thither, Walter saw that another body nearly as +numerous as the first were approaching from the side of Calais, having +made a _détour_ so as to place themselves between the castle and the +army, to which news would naturally be sent of their coming. Walter +watched his messenger, who had now ridden half a mile toward the +approaching body. Suddenly he saw him turn his horse and ride off at +right angles to the road. + +"He sees them," he said, "and is going to try to ride round them. I fear +that there is but little hope of his escaping, seeing that they are +between him and Calais, and that assuredly some among them must be as +well or better mounted than himself." As he spoke a party of horsemen +were seen to detach themselves from the flank of the French column and +to gallop off at full speed to intercept the messenger; the latter +diverged more and more from his course, but he was constantly headed off +by his pursuers, and at last, seeing the impossibility of getting +through them, he again turned his horse's head and galloped off toward +the castle, which he reached a few hundred yards only in advance of his +foes. + +"I could not help it, Sir Walter," he said as he galloped in at the +gate. "I found that although Robin is fast, some of those horsemen had +the turn of speed of me, and that it was impossible that I could get +through; so deeming that I should do more service by coming to strike a +blow here than by having my throat cut out in the fields, I made the +best of my way back." + +"Quite right, Martin!" Walter said. "I should have been grieved had you +thrown your life away needlessly. I saw from the first that your escape +was cut off. And now, men, each to his place; but first pile up the +stones against the gate, and then let each man take a good meal, for it +is like enough to be long before we get a chance of doing so again." + +Again ascending to the walls, Walter saw that the first body of +men-at-arms he had perceived was followed at a distance by a strong +force of footmen having with them some large wagons. + +"I fear," he said to Ralph, "that they have brought machines with them +from Amiens, and in that case they will not be long in effecting a +breach, for doubtless they know that the walls are but weak. We shall +have to fight stoutly, for it may be days before the news of our leaguer +reaches the camp. However, I trust that the prince will, by to-morrow +night, when he finds that two days have elapsed without the coming of my +usual messenger, suspect that we are besieged and will sally forth to +our assistance. And now let us to breakfast, for we shall need all our +strength to-day, and you may be sure that the French will lose no time +in attacking, seeing that assistance may shortly arrive from Calais." + +There were but few preparations to be made. Each man had had his post +assigned to him on the walls in case of an attack, and piles of stones +had been collected in readiness to cast down upon the heads of those +attempting an assault. Caldrons were carried up to the walls and filled +with water, and great fires were lighted under them. In half an hour the +French infantry had reached the spot, but another two hours elapsed +before any hostile movement was made, the leaders of the assailants +giving their men that time to rest after their long march. Then a stir +was visible among them, and they were seen to form in four columns, each +about a thousand strong, which advanced simultaneously against opposite +sides of the castle. + +As soon as their intentions were manifest Walter divided his little +force, and these, gathering in four groups upon the walls, prepared to +resist the assault. To four of his most trusty men-at-arms he assigned +the command of these parties, he himself and Ralph being thus left free +to give their aid where it was most needed. + +The assailants were well provided with scaling ladders, and advanced +with a number of cross-bowmen in front, who speedily opened a hot fire +on the walls. Walter ordered his archers to bide their time, and not to +fire a shot till certain that every shaft would tell. They accordingly +waited until the French arrived within fifty yards of the wall, when +the arrows began to rain among them with deadly effect; scarce one but +struck its mark--the face of an enemy. Even the closed visors of the +knights and chief men-at-arms did not avail to protect their wearers; +the shafts pierced between the bars or penetrated the slits left open +for sight, and many fell slain by the first volley. But their numbers +were far too great to allow the columns being checked by the fire of so +small a number of archers; the front ranks, indeed, pressed forward more +eagerly than before, being anxious to reach the foot of the wall, where +they would be in comparative shelter from the arrows. + +The archers disturbed themselves in no way at the reaching of the wall +by the heads of the columns; but continued to shoot fast and true into +the mass behind them, and as these were, for the most part, less +completely armed than their leaders, numbers fell under the fire of the +sixty English bowmen. It was the turn of the men-at-arms now. +Immediately the assailants poured into the dry moat and sought to raise +their ladders the men-at-arms hurled down the masses of stones piled in +readiness, while some poured buckets of boiling water over them. In +spite of the loss they were suffering the French raised their ladders, +and covering their heads with their shields the leaders strove to gain +the walls. As they did so some of the archers took post in the flanking +towers, and as with uplifted arms the assailants climbed the ladders, +the archers smote them above the joints of their armor beneath the +armpits, while the men-at-arms with pike and battle-ax hewed down those +who reached the top of the ladders. Walter and Ralph hastened from point +to point encouraging the men and joining in the defense where the +pressure was hottest; and at last, after two hours of vain effort and +suffering great loss, the assailants drew off and the garrison had +breathing-time. + +"Well done, my men!" Walter said cheeringly; "they have had a lesson +which they will remember, and if so be that they have brought with them +no machines we may hold out against them for any time." + +It was soon manifest, however, that along with the scaling ladders the +enemy had brought one of their war-machines. Men were seen dragging +massive beams of timber toward the walls, and one of the wagons was +drawn forward and upset on its side at a distance of sixty yards from +the wall not, however, without those who drew it suffering much from the +arrows of the bowmen. Behind the shelter thus formed the French began to +put together the machine, whose beams soon raised themselves high above +the wagon. + +In the mean time groups of men dragged great stones laid upon a sort of +hand sledge to the machine, and late in the afternoon it began to cast +its missiles against the wall. Against these Walter could do little. He +had no sacks, which, filled with earth, he might have lowered to cover +the part of the walls assailed, and beyond annoying those working the +machines by flights of arrows shot high in the air, so as to descend +point downward among them, he could do nothing. + +The wall crumbled rapidly beneath the blows of the great stones, and +Walter saw that by the following morning a breach would be effected. +When night fell he called his men together and asked if any would +volunteer to carry news through the enemy to the prince. The enterprise +seemed well-nigh hopeless, for the French, as if foreseeing that +such an attempt might be made, had encamped in a complete circle +round the castle, as was manifest by the position of their fires. +Several men stepped forward, and Walter chose three light and active +men--archers--to attempt the enterprise. These stripped off their steel +caps and breast-pieces, so that they might move more quickly, and when +the French fires burned low and all was quiet save the creak of the +machine and the dull heavy blows of the stones against the wall, the +three men were lowered by ropes at different points, and started on +their enterprise. A quarter of an hour later the garrison heard shouts +and cries, and knew that a vigilant watch had been set by the French, +and that one, if not all, of their friends had fallen into their hands. +All night long the machine continued to play. + +An hour before daylight, when he deemed that the enemy's vigilance would +be relaxed, Walter caused himself with Ralph and twelve of his +men-at-arms to be lowered by ropes from the wall. Each rope had a loop +at the bottom in which one foot was placed, and knots were tied in order +to give a better grasp for the hands. They were lowered at a short +distance from the spot at which the machine was at work; all were armed +with axes, and they made their way unperceived until within a few yards +of the wagon. Then there was a cry of alarm, and in a moment they rushed +forward among the enemy. The men working the machine were instantly cut +down, and Walter and his party fell upon the machine, cutting the ropes +and smashing the wheels and pulleys and hewing away at the timber +itself. In a minute or two, however, they were attacked by the enemy, +the officer in command having bade a hundred men lie down to sleep close +behind the machine in case the garrison should attempt a sortie. Walter +called upon Ralph and four of the men-at-arms to stand beside him while +the others continued their work of destruction. The French came up in a +tumultuous body, but standing so far apart that they could wield their +axes, the English dealt such destruction among their first assailants +that these for a time recoiled. As fresh numbers came up, encouraged by +their leader they renewed the attack, and in spite of the most +tremendous efforts Walter and his party were driven back. By this time, +however, so much damage had been done to the machine that it would be +some hours before it could be repaired, even if spare ropes and other +appliances had been brought with it from Amiens; so that, reënforced by +the working party, Walter was again able to hold his ground, and after +repulsing a fresh onslaught of the enemy he gave the word for his men to +retire at full speed. + +The French were so surprised by the sudden disappearance of their foes +that it was a moment or two before they started in pursuit, and Walter +and his men had gained some thirty yards before the pursuit really +commenced. + +The night was a dark one, and they considerably increased this advantage +before they reached the foot of the wall, where the ropes were hanging. + +"Have each of you found his rope?" Walter asked. + +As soon as an affirmative answer was given he placed his foot in the +loop and shouted to the men above to draw up, and before the enraged +enemy could reach the spot the whole party were already some yards above +their heads. The archers opened fire upon the French, doing, in spite of +the darkness, considerable execution, for the men had snatched up their +arms at the sudden alarm, and had joined the fray in such haste that +many of them had not had time to put on their steel caps. There was +noise and bustle in the enemy's camp, for the whole force were now under +arms, and in their anger at the sudden blow which had been struck them, +some bodies of men even moved forward toward the walls as if they +intended to renew the assault of the previous day; but the showers of +arrows with which they were greeted cooled their ardor, and they +presently retired out of reach of bow-shot. There was a respite now for +the besiegers. No longer every few minutes did a heavy stone strike the +walls. + +The morning's light enabled the defenders of the castle to see the +extent of the damage which the battering machine had effected. None too +soon had they put a stop to its work, for had it continued its +operations another hour or two would have effected a breach. + +Already large portions of the wall facing it had fallen, and other +portions were so seriously damaged that a few more blows would have +leveled them. + +"At any rate," Walter said to Ralph, "we have gained a respite; but even +now I fear that if the Black Prince comes not until to-morrow he will +arrive too late." + +The French, apparently as well aware as the garrison of the necessity +for haste, labored at the repair of the machine. Bodies of men started +to cut down trees to supply the place of the beams which had been +rendered useless. Scarcely had the assault ceased when horsemen were +dispatched in various directions to seek for fresh ropes, and by dint of +the greatest exertions the machine was placed in position to renew its +attack shortly after noon. + +By two o'clock several large portions of the damaged wall had fallen, +and the _débris_ formed a slope by which an assaulting column could rush +to the bridge. As soon as this was manifest the French force formed for +the assault and rushed forward in solid column. + +Walter had made the best preparation possible for the defense. In the +courtyard behind the breach his men had since morning been driving a +circle of piles, connected by planks fastened to them. These were some +five feet high, and along the top and in the face next to the breach +sharp-pointed spikes and nails had been driven, rendering it difficult +in the extreme for any one to climb over. As the column of the +assailants approached Walter placed his archers on the walls on either +side of the breach, while he himself, with his men-at-arms, took his +station in the gap and faced the coming host. The breach was some ten +yards wide, but it was only for about half this width that the mound of +broken stones rendered it possible for their enemies to assault, +consequently there was but a space of some fifteen feet in width to be +defended. Regardless of the flights of arrows, the French, headed by +their knights and squires, advanced to the assault, and clambering up +the rough stones attacked the defenders. + +Walter, with Ralph and three of his best men-at-arms, stood in the front +line and received the first shock of the assault. The roughness and +steepness of the mound prevented the French from attacking in regular +order, and the very eagerness of the knights and squires who came first +in contact with their enemies was a hindrance to them. When the columns +were seen gathering for the assault Walter had scattered several barrels +full of oil and tar which he found in the cellars over the mound in +front of the breach, rendering it greasy and slippery, and causing the +assailants to slip and stagger and many to fall as they pressed forward +to the assault. Before the fight commenced he had encouraged his +soldiers by recalling to them how a mere handful of men had at Cressy +withstood for hours the desperate efforts of the whole of the French +army to break through their line, and all were prepared to fight to the +death. + +The struggle was a desperate one. Served by their higher position, and +by the difficulties which the French encountered from the slipperiness +of the ground and their own fierce ardor to attack, Walter and his +little band for a long time resisted every effort. He with his sword and +Ralph with his heavy mace did great execution, and they were nobly +seconded by their men-at-arms. As fast as one fell another took his +place. The breach in front of them was cumbered with dead and red with +blood. Still the French poured upward in a wave, and the sheer weight of +their numbers and the fatigue caused by the tremendous exertions the +defenders were making began to tell. Step by step the English were +driven back, and Walter saw that the defense could not much longer be +continued. He bade one of his men-at-arms at once order the archers to +cease firing, and, leaving the walls, to take refuge in the keep, and +thence to open fire upon the French as they poured through the breach. + +When he found that this movement had been accomplished Walter bade the +men-at-arms fall back gradually. A gap had been left in the wooden fence +sufficient for one at a time to pass, and through this the men-at-arms +retired one by one to the keep until only Walter and five others were +left. With these Walter flung himself suddenly upon the assailants and +forced them a few feet down the slope. Then he gave the word, and all +sprang back, and leaping down from the wall into the court-yard ran +through the barrier, Walter and Ralph being the last to pass as the +French with exulting shouts leaped down from the breach. + +There was another fierce fight at the barrier. Walter left Ralph to +defend this with a few men-at-arms while he saw that all was in +readiness for closing the door rapidly in the keep. Then he ran back +again. He was but just in time. Ralph indeed could for a long time have +held the narrow passage, but the barriers themselves were yielding. The +French were pouring in through the breach, and as those behind could not +see the nature of the obstacle which arrested the advance of their +companions they continued to push forward, and by their weight pressed +those in front against the spikes in the barrier. Many perished +miserably on these. Others, whose armor protected them from this fate, +were crushed to death by the pressure; but this was now so great that +the timbers were yielding. Walter, seeing that in another moment they +would be leveled, gave the word, sprang back with Ralph and his party, +and entered the keep just as with a crash the barrier fell and the +French poured in a crowd into the court-yard. Bolting the door the +defenders of the keep piled against it the stones which had been laid in +readiness. + +The door was on the first floor, and was approached by a narrow flight +of stone steps, up which but two abreast could advance. In their first +fury the French poured up these steps, but from the loop-holes which +commanded it the English bowmen shot so hard that their arrows pierced +the strongest armor. Smitten through visor and armor, numbers of the +bravest of the assailants fell dead. Those who gained the top of the +steps were assailed by showers of boiling oil from an upper chamber +which projected over the door, and whose floor was pierced for this +purpose, while from the top of the keep showers of stones were poured +down. After losing great numbers in this desperate effort at assault the +French drew off for awhile, while their leaders held council as to the +best measures to be taken for the capture of the keep. + +After a time Walter from the summit saw several bodies of men detach +themselves from the crowd still without the castle and proceed into the +country. Two hours later they were seen returning laden with trunks of +trees. These were dragged through the breach, and were, in spite of the +efforts of the archers and of the men-at-arms with their stones, placed +so as to form a sort of penthouse against one side of the keep. Numbers +of the soldiers now poured up with sacks and all kinds of vessels which +they had gathered from the surrounding villages, filled with earth. This +was thrown over the beams until it filled all the crevices between them +and formed a covering a foot thick, so that neither boiling oil nor +water poured from above could penetrate to injure those working beneath +its shelter. When all was ready a strong body armed with picks and +crowbars entered the penthouse and began to labor to cut away the wall +of the keep itself. + +"Their commander knows his business," Walter said, "and the device is an +excellent one. We can do nothing, and it only depends upon the strength +of the wall how long we can hold out. The masonry is by no means good, +and before nightfall, unless aid comes, there will be naught for us but +death or surrender." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +A PRISONER. + + +As long as it was light an anxious lookout was kept from the top of the +keep toward Calais. There was nothing to be done. The besiegers who had +entered the walls were ensconced in the various buildings in the +court-yard or placed behind walls so as to be out of arrow-shot from +above, and were in readiness to repel any sortie which might be made to +interfere with the work going on under the penthouse. But no sortie was +possible, for to effect this it would be necessary to remove the stones +from the door, and before this could be accomplished the besiegers would +have rallied in overwhelming force, nor could a sortie have effected +anything beyond the slaying of the men actually engaged in the work. The +beams of the penthouse were too strong and too heavily weighted with +earth to be removed, and the attempt would only have entailed useless +slaughter. The penthouse was about forty feet in length, and the +assailants were piercing three openings, each of some six feet in width, +leaving two strong supporting pillars between them. Anxiously the +garrison within listened to the sounds of work, which became louder and +louder as the walls crumbled before the stroke of pickax and crowbar. + +"I shall hold out until the last moment," Walter said to Ralph, "in +hopes of relief, but before they burst in I shall sound a parley. To +resist further would be a vain sacrifice of life." + +Presently a movement could be seen among the stones, and then almost +simultaneously two apertures appeared. The chamber into which the +openings were made was a large one, being used as the common room of the +garrison. Here twenty archers and the remaining men-at-arms--of whom +nearly one-half had fallen in the defense of the breach--were gathered, +and the instant the orifices appeared the archers began to send their +arrows through them. Then Walter ascended to another chamber, and +ordered the trumpeter to sound a parley. + +The sound was repeated by the assailants' trumpeter. + +"Who commands the force?" Walter asked. + +"I, Guy, Count of Evreux." + +"I am Sir Walter Somers," the young knight continued. "I wish to ask +terms for the garrison." + +"You must surrender unconditionally," the count replied from the +court-yard. "In ten minutes we shall have completely pierced your walls, +and you will be at our mercy." + +"You may pierce our walls," Walter replied, "but it will cost you many +lives before you force your way in; we will defend the hold from floor +to floor, and you know how desperate men can fight. It will cost you +scores of lives before you win your way to the summit of this keep; but +if I have your knightly word that the lives of all within these walls +shall be spared, then will I open the doors and lay down our arms." + +A consultation took place between the leaders below. There was truth in +Walter's words that very many lives would be sacrificed before the +resistance of so gallant a garrison could be overcome. Every minute was +of importance, for it was possible that at any moment aid might arrive +from Calais, and that the table would be turned upon the besiegers. +Therefore, after a short parley among themselves, the count replied: + +"You have fought as a gallant knight and gentleman, Sir Walter Somers, +and have wrought grievous harm upon my leading. I should grieve that so +brave a knight should lose his life in a useless resistance. Therefore I +agree to your terms, and swear upon my knightly honor that upon your +surrendering yourselves prisoners of war, the lives of all within these +walls shall be spared." + +Walter at once gave the order. The stones were removed and the door +thrown open, and leading his men Walter descended the steps into the +court-yard, which was now illuminated with torches, and handed his sword +to the Count of Evreux. + +"You promised me, count," a tall knight standing by his side said, "that +if he were taken alive, the commander of this castle should be my +prisoner." + +"I did so, Sir Philip Holbeaut. When you proposed this adventure to me, +and offered to place your following at my command, I agreed to the +request you made me; but mind," he said sternly, "my knightly word has +been given for his safety. See that he receives fair and gentle +treatment at your hand. I would not that aught should befall so brave a +knight." + +"I seek him no harm," the knight said angrily; "but I know that he is +one of the knights of the Black Prince's own suit, and that his ransom +will be freely paid, and as my coffers are low from the expenses of the +war, I would fain replenish them at the expense of the English prince." + +"I said not that I doubted you, Sir Philip," the count said calmly; "but +as the knight surrendered on my word, it was needful that I should warn +you to treat him as I myself should do did he remain in my hands, and to +give him fair treatment until duly ransomed." + +"I should be glad, count," Walter said, "if you will suffer me to take +with me as companion in my captivity this man-at-arms. He is strongly +attached to me, and we have gone through many perils together; it will +lighten my captivity to have him by my side." + +"Surely I will do so, Sir Walter, and wish that your boon had been a +larger one. The rest I will take back with me to Amiens, there to hold +until exchanged for some of those who at various times have fallen into +your king's hands. And now to work, men; lose not a moment in stripping +the castle of all that you choose to carry away, then apply fire to the +storehouses, granaries, and the hold itself. I would not that it +remained standing to serve as an outpost for the English." + +The horses were brought from the stables. Walter and Ralph took their +horses by the bridle, and followed Sir Philip Holbeaut through the now +open gates of the castle to the spot where the horses of the besiegers +were picketed. The knight and his own men-at-arms, who had at the +beginning of the day numbered a hundred and fifty, but who were now +scarcely two thirds of that strength, at once mounted with their +prisoners, and rode off from the castle. A few minutes later a glare of +light burst out from behind them. The count's orders had been obeyed; +fire had been applied to the stores of forage, and soon the castle of +Près was wrapped in flames. + +"I like not our captor's manner," Ralph said to Walter as they rode +along side by side. + +"I agree with you, Ralph. I believe that the reason which he gave the +count for his request was not a true one, though, indeed, I can see no +other motive which he could have for seeking to gain possession of me. +Sir Philip, although a valiant knight, bears but an indifferent +reputation. I have heard that he is a cruel master to his serfs, and +that when away fighting in Germany he behaved so cruelly to the +peasantry that even the Germans, who are not nice in their modes of +warfare, cried out against him. It is an evil fortune that has thrown +us into his hands; still, although grasping and avaricious, he can +hardly demand for a simple knight any inordinate ransom. The French +themselves would cry out did he do so, seeing that so large a number of +their own knights are in our hands, and that the king has ample powers +of retaliation; however, we need not look on the dark side. It is not +likely that our captivity will be a long one, for the prince, who is the +soul of generosity, will not haggle over terms, but will pay my ransom +as soon as he hears into whose hands I have fallen, while there are +scores of men-at-arms prisoners whom he can exchange for you. Doubtless +Sir Philip will send you over as soon as he arrives at his castle, with +one of his own followers, to treat for my ransom." + +After riding for some hours the troop halted their weary horses in a +wood, and lighting fires, cooked their food, and then lay down until +morning. Sir Philip exchanged but few words with his captive; as, having +removed his helm, he sat by the fire, Walter had an opportunity of +seeing his countenance. It did not belie his reputation. His face had a +heavy and brutal expression which was not decreased by the fashion of +his hair, which was cut quite short, and stood up without parting all +over his bullet-shaped head; he had a heavy and bristling mustache which +was cut short in a line with his lips. + +[Illustration: "THIS IS A DUNGEON FOR A FELON," HE EXCLAIMED.--Page +273.] + +"It is well," Walter thought to himself, "that it is my ransom rather +than my life which is dear to that evil-looking knight; for, assuredly, +he is not one to hesitate did fortune throw a foe into his hands." + +At daybreak the march was resumed, and was continued until they reached +the castle of Sir Philip Holbeaut, which stood on a narrow tongue of +land formed by a sharp bend of the Somme. + +On entering the castle the knight gave an order to his followers, and +the prisoners were at once led to a narrow cell beneath one of the +towers. Walter looked round indignantly when he arrived there. + +"This is a dungeon for a felon," he exclaimed, "not the apartment for a +knight who has been taken captive in fair fight. Tell your master that +he is bound to award me honorable treatment, and that unless he removes +me instantly from this dungeon to a proper apartment, and treats me with +all due respect and courtesy, I will, when I regain my liberty, proclaim +him a dishonored knight." + +The men-at-arms made no reply; but, locking the door behind them, left +the prisoners alone. + +"What can this mean, Ralph?" Walter exclaimed. "We are in the lowest +dungeon, and below the level of the river. See how damp are the walls, +and the floor is thick with slimy mud. The river must run but just below +that loop-hole, and in times of flood probably enters here." + +Philip of Holbeaut, on dismounting, ascended to an upper chamber, where +a man in the dress of a well-to-do citizen was sitting. + +"Well, Sir Philip," he exclaimed, rising to his feet as the other +entered, "what news?" + +"The news is bad," the knight growled. "This famous scheme of yours has +cost me fifty of my best men. I would I had had nothing to do with it." + +"But this Walter Somers," the other exclaimed, "what of him? He has not +escaped, surely! The force which marched from Amiens was large enough to +have eaten him and his garrison." + +"He has not escaped," the knight replied. + +"Then he is killed!" the other said eagerly. + +"No; nor is he killed. He is at present a prisoner in a dungeon below, +together with a stout knave whom he begged might accompany him until +ransomed." + +"All is well, then," the other exclaimed. "Never mind the loss of your +men. The money which I have promised you for this business will hire you +two hundred such knaves; but why didst not knock him on the head at +once?" + +"It was not so easy to knock him on the head," Sir Philip growled. "It +cost us five hundred men to capture the outer walls, and to have fought +our way into the keep, held as it was by men who would have contested +every foot of the ground, was not a job for which any of us had much +stomach, seeing what the first assaults had cost us; so the count took +them all to quarter. The rest he carried with him to Amiens; but their +leader, according to the promise which he made me, he handed over to me +as my share of the day's booty, giving me every charge that he should +receive good and knightly treatment." + +"Which, no doubt, you will observe," the other said, with an ugly laugh. + +"It is a bad business," the knight exclaimed angrily, "and were it not +for our friendship in Spain, and the memory of sundry deeds which we did +together, not without profit to our purses, I would rather that you were +thrown over the battlements into the river than I had taken a step in +this business. However, none can say that Philip of Holbeaut ever +deserted a friend who had proved true to him, not to mention that the +sum which you promised me for my aid in this matter will, at the present +time, prove wondrously convenient. Yet I foresee that it will bring me +into trouble with the Count of Evreux. Ere many days a demand will come +for the fellow to be delivered on ransom." + +"And what will you say?" the other asked. + +"I shall say what is the truth," the knight replied, "though I may add +something that is not wholly so. I shall say that he was drowned in the +Somme. I shall add that it happened as he was trying to make his escape, +contrary to the parole he had given; but in truth he will be drowned in +the dungeon in which I have placed him, which has rid me of many a +troublesome prisoner before now. The river is at ordinary times but two +feet below the loop-hole; and when its tide is swelled by rain it often +rises above the sill, and then there is an end of any one within. They +can doubt my word; but there are not many who would care to do so +openly; none who would do so for the sake of an unknown English knight. +And as for any complaints on the part of the Black Prince, King Philip +has shown over and over again how little the complaints of Edward +himself move him." + +"It were almost better to knock him on the head at once," the other said +thoughtfully; "the fellow has as many lives as a cat." + +"If he had as many as nine cats," the knight replied, "it would not +avail him. But I will have no violence. The water will do your work as +well as a poniard, and I will not have it said, even among such ruffians +as mine, that I slew a captured knight. The other will pass as an +accident, and I care not what my men may think as long as they can say +nothing for a surety. The count may storm as much as he will, and may +even lay a complaint against me before the king; but in times like the +present, even a simple knight who can lead two hundred good fighting men +into the field is not to be despised, and the king is likely to be +easily satisfied with my replies to any question that may be raised. +Indeed, it would seem contrary to reason that I should slay a captive +against whom I have no cause of quarrel, and so forfeit the ransom which +I should get for him." + +"But suppose that a messenger should come offering ransom before the +river happens to rise?" + +"Then I shall anticipate matters, and shall say that what I know will +happen has already taken place. Do not be uneasy, Sir James. You have my +word in the matter, and now I have gone so far, I shall carry it +through. From the moment when I ordered him into that dungeon his fate +was sealed, and in truth, when I gave the order I did so to put an end +to the indecision in which my mind had been all night. Once in there he +could not be allowed to come out alive, for his report of such treatment +would do me more harm among those of my own station in France than any +rumors touching his end could do. It is no uncommon affair for one to +remove an enemy from one's path; but cruelty to a knightly prisoner +would be regarded with horror. Would you like to have a look at him?" + +The other hesitated. "No," he replied. "Against him personally I have no +great grudge. He has thwarted my plans, and stands now grievously in the +way of my making fresh ones; but as he did so from no ill-will toward +myself, but as it were by hazard, I have no personal hatred toward him, +though I would fain remove him from my path. Besides, I tell you fairly, +that even in that dungeon where you have thrown him I shall not feel +that he is safe until you send me word that he is dead. He has twice +already got out of scrapes when other men would have been killed. Both +at Vannes and at Ghent he escaped in a marvelous way; and but a few +weeks since, by the accident of his having a coat of mail under his +doublet he saved his life from as fair a blow as ever was struck. +Therefore I would not that he knew aught of my having a hand in this +matter, for if after having seen me he made his escape I could never +show my face in England again. I should advise you to bid three or four +men always enter his cell together, for he and that man-at-arms who +follows him like a shadow are capable of playing any desperate trick to +escape." + +"That matter is easily enough managed," Sir Philip said grimly, "by no +one entering the dungeon at all. The river may be slow of rising, though +in sooth the sky looks overcast now, and it is already at its usual +winter level; and whether he dies from lack of water or from a too +abundant supply matters but little to me; only, as I told you, I will +give no orders for him to be killed. Dost remember that Jew we carried +off from Seville and kept without water until he agreed to pay us a +ransom which made us both rich for six months? That was a rare haul, and +I would that rich Jews were plentiful in this country." + +"Yes, those were good times," the other said, "although I own that I +have not done badly since the war began, having taken a count and three +knights prisoners, and put them to ransom, and having reaped a goodly +share of plunder from your French burghers, else indeed I could not have +offered you so round a sum to settle this little matter for me. There +are not many French knights who have earned a count's ransom in the +present war. And now I will take horse; here is one-half of the sum I +promised you, in gold nobles. I will send you the remainder on the day +when I get news from you that the matter is finished." + +"Have your money ready in a week's time," the knight replied, taking the +bag of gold which the other placed on the table, "for by that time you +will hear from me. I hope this will not be the last business which we +may do together; there ought to be plenty of good chances in a war like +this. Any time that you can send me word of an intended foray by a small +party under a commander whose ransom would be a high one I will share +what I get with you; and similarly I will let you know of any rich prize +who may be pounced upon on the same terms." + +"Agreed!" the other said. "We may do a good business together in that +way. But you lie too far away. If you move up as near as you can to +Calais and let me know your whereabout, so that I could send or ride to +you in a few hours, we might work together with no small profit." + +"I will take the field as soon as this affair of yours is settled," the +knight replied; "and the messenger who brings you the news shall tell +you where I may be found. And now, while your horse is being got ready, +let us drink a stoop of wine together in memory of old times, though, +for myself, these wines of ours are poor and insipid beside the fiery +juice of Spain." + +While this conversation, upon which their fate so much depended, had +been going on, Walter and Ralph had been discussing the situation, and +had arrived at a tolerably correct conclusion. + +"This conduct on the part of this brutal French knight, Ralph, is so +strange that methinks it cannot be the mere outcome of his passions or +of hate against me as an Englishman, but of some deeper motive; and we +were right in thinking that in bargaining for my person with the Count +of Evreux it was more than my ransom which he sought. Had that been his +only object he would never have thrown us into this noisome dungeon, for +my report of such treatment would bring dishonor upon him in the eyes of +every knight and noble in France as well as in England. It must be my +life he aims at, although what grudge he can have against me it passes +me to imagine. It may be that at Cressy or elsewhere some dear relative +of his may have fallen by my sword; and yet were it so, men nourish no +grudge for the death of those killed in fair fight. But this boots not +at present. It is enough for us that it is my life which he aims at, and +I fear, Ralph, that yours must be included with mine, since he would +never let a witness escape to carry the foul tale against him. This +being so, the agreement on which I surrendered is broken, and I am free +to make my escape if I can, and methinks the sooner that be attempted +the better. So let us to work to plan how we may best get out of this +place. After our escape from that well at Vannes we need not despair +about breaking out from this dungeon of Holbeaut." + +"We might overpower the guard who brings our food," Ralph said. + +"There is that chance," Walter rejoined, "but I think it is a poor one. +They may be sure that this dishonorable treatment will have rendered us +desperate, and they will take every precaution and come well armed. It +may be, too, that they will not come at all, but that they intend us to +die of starvation, or perchance to be drowned by the floods, which it is +easy to see often make their way in here. No, our escape, if escape +there be, must be made through that loop-hole above. Were that bar +removed methinks it is wide enough for us to squeeze through. Doubtless +such a hazard has not occurred to them, seeing that it is nigh twelve +feet above the floor and that a single man could by no possibility reach +it, but with two of us there is no difficulty. Now, Ralph, do you stand +against the wall. I will climb upon your shoulders and standing there +can reach the bar and so haul myself up and look out." + +This was soon done, and Walter, seizing the bar, hauled himself up so +that he could see through the loop-hole. + +"It is as I thought," he said. "The waters of the Somme are but a foot +below the level of this window; the river is yellow and swollen, and a +few hours' heavy rain would bring it above the level of this sill. Stand +steady, Ralph, I am coming down again." + +When he reached the ground he said: + +"Take off your belt, Ralph; if we buckle that and mine together, passing +it round the bar, it will make a loop upon which we can stand at the +window and see how best we can loosen the bar. Constantly wet as it is, +it is likely that the mortar will have softened, in which case we shall +have little difficulty in working it out." + +The plan was at once put into execution; the belts were fastened +together, and Walter standing on Ralph's shoulders passed one end around +the bar and buckled it to the other, thus making a loop some three feet +in length; putting a foot in this he was able to stand easily at the +loop-hole. + +"It is put in with mortar at the top, Ralph, and the mortar has rotted +with the wet, but at the bottom lead was poured in when the bar was set +and this must be scooped out before it can be moved. Fortunately the +knight gave no orders to his men to remove our daggers when we were +thrust in here, and these will speedily dig out the lead; but I must +come down first, for the strap prevents my working at the foot of the +bar. We must tear off a strip of our clothing and make a shift to fasten +the strap half-way up the bar so as not to slip down with our weight." + +In order to accomplish this Walter had to stand upon Ralph's head to +gain additional height. He presently, after several attempts, succeeded +in fixing the strap firmly against the bar half-way up, and then placing +one knee in the loop and putting an arm through the bar to steady +himself, he set to work at the lead. The sharp point of the dagger +quickly cut out that near the surface, but further down the hole +narrowed and the task was much more difficult. Several times Ralph +relieved him at the work, but at last it was accomplished, and the bar +was found to move slightly when they shook it. There now remained only +to loosen the cement above, and this was a comparatively easy task; it +crumbled quickly before the points of their daggers, and the bar was +soon free to move. + +"Now," Walter said, "we have to find out whether the bar was first put +in from below or from above; one hole or the other must be a good deal +deeper than the iron, so that it was either shoved up or pushed down +until the other end could get under or over the other hole. I should +think most likely the hole is below, as if they held up the bar against +the top, when the lead was poured in it would fill up the space; so we +will first of all try to lift it. I must stand on your head again to +enable me to be high enough to try this." + +"My head is strong enough, I warrant," Ralph replied, "but I will fold +up my jerkin, and put on it, for in truth you hurt me somewhat when you +were tying the strap to the bar." + +All Walter's efforts did not succeed in raising the bar in the +slightest, and he therefore concluded that it had been inserted here and +lifted while the space was filled with lead. "It is best so," he said; +"we should have to cut away the stone either above or below, and can +work much better below. Now I will put my knee in the strap again and +set to work. The stone seems greatly softened by the wet, and will yield +to our daggers readily enough. It is already getting dark, and as soon +as we have finished we can start." + +As Walter had discovered, the stone was rotten with the action of the +weather, and although as they got deeper it became much harder, it +yielded to the constant chipping with their daggers, and in two hours +Ralph, who at the moment happened to be engaged, announced to Walter +that his dagger found its way under the bottom of the bar. The groove +was soon made deep enough for the bar to be moved out; but another +hour's work was necessary, somewhat further to enlarge the upper hole, +so as to allow the bar to have sufficient play. Fortunately it was only +inserted about an inch and a half in the stone, and the amount to be cut +away to give it sufficient play was therefore not large. Then at last +all was ready for their flight. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE CAPTURE OF CALAIS. + + +When the bar was once ready for removal the captives delayed not a +minute, for although it was now so late that there was little chance of +a visit being paid them, it was just possible that such might be the +case, and that it might occur to the knight that it would be safer to +separate them. + +"Now, Ralph, do you go first, since I am lighter and can climb up by +means of the strap, which you can hold from above; push the bar out and +lay it down quietly in the thickness of the wall. A splash might attract +the attention of the sentries, though I doubt whether it would, for the +wind is high and the rain falling fast. Unbuckle the strap before you +move the bar, as otherwise it might fall and I should have difficulty in +handing it to you again. Now, I am steady against the wall." + +Ralph seized the bar and with a great effort pushed the bottom from him. +It moved through the groove without much difficulty, but it needed a +great wrench to free the upper end. However, it was done, and laying it +quietly down he pulled himself up and thrust himself through the +loop-hole. It was a desperate struggle to get through, for it was only +just wide enough for his head to pass, and he was so squarely built that +his body with difficulty followed. The wall was four feet wide, and as +the loop-hole widened considerably without, there was, when he had once +passed through from the inside, space enough for him to kneel down and +lower one end of the strap to Walter. The latter speedily climbed up, +and getting through the slit with much less trouble than Ralph had +experienced--for although in height and width of shoulder he was his +equal, he was less in depth than his follower--he joined him in the +opening, Ralph sitting with his feet in the water in order to make room +for him. + +The dungeon was upon the western side of the castle, and consequently +the stream would be with them in making for shore. It was pitch-dark, +but they knew that the distance they would have to swim could not exceed +forty or fifty yards. + +"Keep along close by the wall, Ralph. If we once get out in the stream +we might lose our way; we will skirt the wall until it ends, then there +is a cut, for as you saw when we entered, the moat runs right across +this neck. If we keep a bit further down and then land we shall be +fairly beyond the outworks." + +Ralph slipped down into the water, and followed by Walter swam along at +the foot of the wall. They had already been deprived of their armor, but +had luckily contrived to retain their daggers in their belts, which +they had again girdled on before entering the water. The stream hurried +them rapidly along, and they had only to keep themselves afloat. They +were soon at the corner of the castle. A few strokes further and they +again felt the wall which lined the moat. The stream still swept them +along, they felt the masonry come to an end, and bushes and shrubs lined +the bank. They were beyond the outer defenses of the castle. Still a +little further they proceeded down the stream in order to prevent the +possibility of any noise they might make in scrambling up being heard by +the sentinels on the outer postern. Then when they felt quite safe they +grasped the bushes, and speedily climbed the bank. Looking back at the +castle they saw lights still burning there. Short as was the time they +had been in the water they were both chilled to the bone, for it was the +month of February, and the water was bitterly cold. + +"It cannot be more than nine o'clock now," Walter said, "for it is not +more than four hours since darkness fell. They are not likely to visit +the dungeon before eight or nine to-morrow, so we can rely upon twelve +hours' start, and if we make the best of our time we ought to be far on +our way by then, though in truth it is not fast traveling on a night +like this through a strange country. I would that the stars were +shining. However, the direction of the wind and rain will be a guide to +us, and we shall soon strike the road we traveled yesterday, and can +follow that till morning." + +They were not long before they found the track, and then started at a +brisk pace along it. All night they struggled on through wind and rain +until the first dawn enabled them to see the objects in the surrounding +country; and making for the forest which extended to within a mile of +the road, they entered deep into its shelter, and there, utterly +exhausted, threw themselves down on the wet ground. After a few hours of +uneasy sleep they woke, and taking their place near the edge of the +forest watched for the passage of any party which might be in pursuit, +but until nightfall none came along. + +"They have not discovered our flight," Ralph said at last, "or they +would have passed long before this. Sir Philip doubtless imagines that +we are drowned. The water was within a few inches of the sill when we +started, and must soon have flooded the dungeon; and did he trouble to +look in the morning, which is unlikely enough seeing that he would be +sure of our fate, he would be unable to descend the stairs, and could +not reach to the door, and so discover that the bar had been removed. +No; whatever his motive may have been in compassing my death, he is +doubtless satisfied that he has attained it, and we need have no further +fear of pursuit from him. The rain has ceased, and I think that it will +be a fine night; we will walk on, and if we come across a barn will make +free to enter it, and stripping off our clothing to dry, will sleep in +the hay, and pursue our journey in the morning. From our travel-stained +appearance any who may meet us will take us for two wayfarers going to +take service in the army at Amiens." + +It was not until nearly midnight that they came upon such a place as +they sought, then after passing a little village they found a shed +standing apart. Entering it they found that it was tenanted by two cows. +Groping about they presently came upon a heap of forage, and taking off +their outer garments lay down on this, covering themselves thickly with +it. The shed was warm and comfortable and they were soon asleep, and +awaking at daybreak they found that their clothes had dried somewhat. +The sun was not yet up when they started, but it soon rose, and ere noon +their garments had dried, and they felt for the first time comfortable. +They met but few people on the road, and these passed them with the +ordinary salutations. + +They had by this time left Amiens on the right, and by nightfall were +well on their way toward Calais. Early in the morning they had purchased +some bread at a village through which they passed; Walter's +Norman-French being easily understood, and exciting no surprise or +suspicion. At nightfall they slept in a shed within a mile of the ruins +of the castle of Près, and late next evening entered the English +encampment at New Town. After going to his tent, where he and Ralph +changed their garments and partook of a hearty meal, Walter proceeded to +the pavilion of the prince, who hailed his entrance with the greatest +surprise. + +"Why, Sir Walter," he exclaimed, "what good saint has brought you here? +I have but an hour since received a message from the Count of Evreux to +the effect that you were a prisoner in the hands of Sir Philip de +Holbeaut, with whom I must treat for your ransom. I was purporting to +send off a herald to-morrow to ask at what sum he held you; and now you +appear in flesh and blood before us! But first, before you tell us your +story, I must congratulate you on your gallant defense of the Castle of +Près, which is accounted by all as one of the most valiant deeds of the +war. When two days passed without a messenger from you coming hither, I +feared that you were beleaguered, and started that evening with six +hundred men-at-arms. We arrived at daybreak, to find only a smoking +ruin. Luckily among the crowd of dead upon the breach we found one of +your men-at-arms who still breathed, and after some cordial had been +given him, and his wounds stanched, he was able to tell us the story of +the siege. But it needed not his tale to tell us how stanchly you had +defended the castle, for the hundreds of dead who lay outside of the +walls, and still more the mass who piled the breach, and the many who +lay in the castle yard spoke for themselves of the valor with which the +castle had been defended. As the keep was gutted by fire, and the man +could tell us naught of what had happened after he had been stricken +down at the breach, we knew not whether you and your brave garrison had +perished in the flames. We saw the penthouse beneath which they had +labored to cut through the wall, but the work had ceased before the +holes were large enough for entry, and we hoped that you might have seen +that further resistance was in vain, and have made terms for your lives; +indeed we heard from the country people that certain prisoners had been +taken to Amiens. I rested one day at Près, and the next rode back here, +and forthwith dispatched a herald to the Count of Evreux at Amiens +asking for news of the garrison; but now he has returned with word that +twenty-four men-at-arms and fifty-eight archers are prisoners in the +count's hands, and that he is ready to exchange them against an equal +number of French prisoners; but that you, with a man-at-arms, were in +the keeping of Sir Philip of Holbeaut, with whom I must treat for your +ransom. And now tell me how it is that I see you here. Has your captor, +confiding in your knightly word to send him the sum agreed upon, allowed +you to return? Tell me the sum and my treasurer shall to-morrow pay it +over to a herald, who shall carry it to Holbeaut." + +"Thanks, your royal highness, for your generosity," Walter replied, "but +there is no ransom to be paid." + +And he then proceeded to narrate the incidents of his captivity at +Holbeaut and his escape from the castle. His narration was frequently +interrupted by exclamations of surprise and indignation from the prince +and the knights present. + +"Well, this well-nigh passes all belief," the prince exclaimed when he +had concluded. "It is an outrage upon all laws of chivalry and honor. +What could have induced this caitiff knight, instead of treating you +with courtesy and honor until your ransom arrived, to lodge you in a +foul dungeon, where, had you not made your escape, your death would have +been brought about that very night by the rising water? Could it be, +think you, that his brain is distraught by some loss or injury which may +have befallen him at our hands during the war and worked him up to a +blind passion of hatred against all Englishmen?" + +"I think not that, your royal highness," Walter replied. "His manner was +cool and deliberate, and altogether free from any signs of madness. +Moreover, it would seem that he had specially marked me down beforehand, +since, as I have told you, he had bargained with the Count of Evreux for +the possession of my person should I escape with life at the capture of +the castle. It seems rather as if he must have had some private enmity +against me, although what the cause may be I cannot imagine, seeing that +I have never, to my knowledge, before met him, and have only heard his +name by common report." + +"Whatever be the cause," the prince said, "we will have satisfaction for +it, and I will beg the king, my father, to write at once to Philip of +Valois protesting against the treatment that you have received, and +denouncing Sir Philip of Holbeaut as a base and dishonored knight, whom, +should he fall into our hands, we will commit at once to the hangman." + +Upon the following day Walter was called before the king, and related to +him in full the incidents of the siege and of his captivity and escape; +and the same day King Edward sent off a letter to Philip of Valois +denouncing Sir Philip Holbeaut as a dishonored knight, and threatening +retaliation upon the French prisoners in his hands. + +A fortnight later an answer was received from the King of France saying +that he had inquired into the matter, and had sent a seneschal, who had +questioned Sir Philip Holbeaut and some of the men-at-arms in the +castle, and that he found that King Edward had been grossly imposed upon +by a fictitious tale. Sir Walter Somers had, he found, been treated with +all knightly courtesy, and believing him to be an honorable knight and +true to his word, but slight watch had been kept over him. He had basely +taken advantage of this trust, and with the man-at-arms with him had +escaped from the castle in order to avoid payment of his ransom, and had +now invented these gross and wicked charges against Sir Philip Holbeaut +as a cloak to his own dishonor. + +Walter was furious when he heard the contents of this letter, and the +king and Black Prince were no less indignant. Although they doubted him +not for a moment, Walter begged that Ralph might be brought before them +and examined strictly as to what had taken place, in order that they +might see that his statements tallied exactly with those he had made. + +When this had been done Walter obtained permission from the king to +dispatch a cartel to Sir Philip de Holbeaut denouncing him as a perjured +and dishonored knight and challenging him to meet him in mortal conflict +at any time and place that he might name. At the same time the king +dispatched a letter to Philip of Valois saying that the statements of +the French knight and his followers were wholly untrue, and begging that +a time might be appointed for the meeting of the two knights in the +lists. + +To this King Philip replied that he had ordered all private quarrels in +France to be laid aside during the progress of the war, and that so long +as an English foot remained upon French soil he would give no +countenance to his knights throwing away the lives which they owed to +France in private broils. + +"You must wait, Sir Walter, you see," the king said, "until you may +perchance meet him in the field of battle. In the mean time, to show how +lightly I esteem the foul charge brought against you, and how much I +hold and honor the bravery which you showed in defending the castle +which my son the prince intrusted to you, as well as upon other +occasions, I hereby promote you to the rank of knight banneret." + +Events now passed slowly before Calais. Queen Philippa and many of her +ladies crossed the Channel and joined her husband, and these added much +to the gayety of the life in camp. The garrison at Calais was, it was +known, in the sorest straits for the want of food, and at last the news +came that the King of France, with a huge army of two hundred thousand +men, was moving to its relief. They had gathered at Hesdin, at which +rendezvous the king had arrived in the early part of April; but it was +not until the 27th of July that the whole army was collected, and +marching by slow steps advanced toward the English position. + +King Edward had taken every precaution to guard all the approaches to +the city. The ground was in most places too soft and sandy to admit of +the construction of defensive works; but the fleet was drawn up close +inshore to cover the line of sand-hills by the sea with arrows and war +machines, while the passages of the marshes, which extended for a +considerable distance round the town, were guarded by the Earl of +Lancaster and a body of chosen troops, while the other approaches to the +city were covered by the English camp. + +The French reconnoitering parties found no way open to attack the +English unless under grievous disadvantages. The Cardinals of Tusculum, +St. John, and St. Paul endeavored to negotiate terms of peace, and +commissioners on both sides met. The terms offered by Philip were, +however, by no means so favorable as Edward, after his own victorious +operations and those of his armies in Brittany and Guienne, had a right +to expect, and the negotiations were broken off. + +The following day the French king sent in a message to Edward saying +that he had examined the ground in every direction in order to advance +and give battle, but had found no means of doing so. He therefore +summoned the king to come forth from the marshy ground in which he was +encamped and to fight in the open plain; and he offered to send four +French knights, who, with four English of the same rank, should choose a +fair plain in the neighborhood, according to the usages of chivalry. +Edward had little over thirty thousand men with him; but the same +evening that Philip's challenge was received a body of seventeen +thousand Flemings and English, detached from an army which had been +doing good service on the borders of Flanders, succeeded in passing +round the enemy's host and in effecting a junction with the king's army. +Early the next morning, after having consulted with his officers, Edward +returned an answer to the French king, saying that he agreed to his +proposal, and inclosed a safe-conduct for any four French knights who +might be appointed to arrange with the same number of English the place +of battle. + +The odds were indeed enormous, the French being four to one; but Edward, +after the success of Cressy, which had been won by the Black Prince's +division, which bore a still smaller proportion to the force engaging +it, might well feel confident in the valor of his troops. His envoys, on +arriving at the French camp, found that Philip had apparently changed +his mind. He declined to discuss the matter with which they were +charged, and spoke only of the terms upon which Edward would be willing +to raise the siege of Calais. As they had no authority on this subject +the English knights returned to their camp, where the news was received +with great disappointment, so confident did all feel in their power to +defeat the huge host of the French. But even greater was the +astonishment the next morning, when, before daylight, the tents of the +French were seen in one great flame, and it was found that the king and +all his host were retreating at full speed. The Earls of Lancaster and +Northampton, with a large body of horse, at once started in pursuit, and +harassed the retreating army on its march toward Amiens. + +No satisfactory reasons ever have been assigned for this extraordinary +step on the part of the French king. He had been for months engaged in +collecting a huge army, and he had now an opportunity of fighting the +English in a fair field with a force four times as great as their own. +The only means indeed of accounting for his conduct is by supposing him +affected by temporary aberration of mind, which many other facts in his +history render not improbable. The fits of rage so frequently recorded +of him border upon madness, and a number of strange actions highly +detrimental to his own interests which he committed can only be +accounted for as the acts of a diseased mind. This view has been to some +extent confirmed by the fact that less than half a century afterward +insanity declared itself among his descendants. + +A few hours after the departure of the French the French standard was +lowered on the walls of Calais, and news was brought to Edward that the +governor was upon the battlements and desired to speak with some +officers of the besieging army. Sir Walter Manny and Lord Bisset were +sent to confer with him, and found that his object was to obtain the +best terms he could. The English knights, knowing the determination of +the king on the subject, were forced to tell him that no possibility +existed of conditions being granted, but that the king demanded their +unconditional surrender, reserving to himself entirely the right whom to +pardon and whom to put to death. + +The governor remonstrated on the severe terms, and said that rather than +submit to them he and his soldiers would sally out and die sword in +hand. Sir Walter Manny found the king inexorable. The strict laws of war +in those days justified the barbarous practice of putting to death the +garrison of a town captured under such circumstances. Calais had been +for many years a nest of pirates, and vessels issuing from its port had +been a scourge to the commerce of England and Flanders, and the king was +fully determined to punish it severely. Sir Walter Manny interceded long +and boldly, and represented to the king that none of his soldiers would +willingly defend a town on his behalf from the day on which he put to +death the people of Calais, as beyond doubt the French would retaliate +in every succeeding siege. The other nobles and knights joined their +entreaties to those of Sir Walter Manny, and the king finally consented +to yield in some degree. He demanded that six of the most notable +burghers of the town, with bare heads and feet, and with ropes about +their necks and the keys of the fortress in their hands, should deliver +themselves up for execution. On these conditions he agreed to spare the +rest. With these terms Sir Walter Manny returned to Sir John of Vienne. + +The governor left the battlements, and proceeding to the market-place +ordered the bell to be rung. The famished and despairing citizens +gathered, a haggard crowd, to hear their doom. A silence followed the +narration of the hard conditions of surrender by the governor, and sobs +and cries alone broke the silence which succeeded. Then Eustace St. +Pierre, the wealthiest and most distinguished of the citizens, came +forward and offered himself as one of the victims, saying, "Sad pity and +shame would it be to let all of our fellow-citizens die of famine or the +sword when means could be found to save them." John of Aire, James and +Peter de Vissant, and another whose name has not come down to us, +followed his example, and stripping to their shirts set out for the +camp, Sir John of Vienne, who, from a late wound, was unable to walk, +riding at their head on horseback. The whole population accompanied them +weeping bitterly until they came to the place where Sir Walter Manny was +awaiting them. Here the crowd halted, and the knight, promising to do +his best to save them, led them to the tent where the king had +assembled all his nobles around him. When the tidings came that the +burghers of Calais had arrived, Edward issued out with his retinue, +accompanied by Queen Philippa and the Black Prince. + +"Behold, sire," Sir Walter Manny said, "the representatives of the town +of Calais!" + +The king made no reply while John of Vienne surrendered his sword and, +kneeling with the burghers, said: "Gentle lord and king, behold, we six, +who were once the greatest citizens and merchants of Calais, bring you +the keys of the town and castle, and give ourselves up to your pleasure, +placing ourselves in the state in which you see us by our own free will +to save the rest of the people of the city, who have already suffered +many ills. We pray you, therefore, to have pity and mercy upon us for +the sake of your high nobleness." + +All present were greatly affected at this speech, and at the aspect of +men who thus offered their lives for their fellow-citizens. The king's +countenance alone remained unchanged, and he ordered them to be taken to +instant execution. Then Sir Walter Manny and all the nobles with tears +besought the king to have mercy, not only for the sake of the citizens, +but for that of his own fame, which would be tarnished by so cruel a +deed. + +"Silence, Sir Walter!" cried the king. "Let the executioner be called. +The men of Calais have put to death so many of my subjects that I will +also put these men to death." + +At this moment Queen Philippa, who had been weeping bitterly, cast +herself upon her knees before the king. "Oh, gentle lord," she cried, +"since I have repassed the seas to see you I have neither asked nor +required anything at your hand; now, then, I pray you humbly, and +require as a boon, that for the sake of the Son of Mary, and for love of +me, you take these men to mercy." + +The king stood for a moment in silence, and then said: + +"Ah! lady, I would that you had been otherwhere than here; but you beg +of me so earnestly I must not refuse you, though I grant your prayer +with pain. I give them to you; take them, and do your will." + +Then the queen rose from her knees, and bidding the burghers rise, she +caused clothing and food to be given them, and sent them away free. + +Sir Walter Manny, with a considerable body of men-at-arms, now took +possession of the town of Calais. The anger of the king soon gave way to +better feelings; all the citizens, without exception, were fed by his +bounty. Such of them as preferred to depart instead of swearing fealty +to the English monarch were allowed to carry away what effects they +could bear upon their persons, and were conducted in safety to the +French town of Guisnes. Eustace de St. Pierre was granted almost all the +possessions he had formerly held in Calais, and also a considerable +pension; and he and all who were willing to remain were well and kindly +treated. The number was large, for the natural indignation which they +felt at their base desertion by the French king induced very many of the +citizens to remain and become subjects of Edward. The king issued a +proclamation inviting English traders and others to come across and take +up their residence in Calais, bestowing upon them the houses and lands +of the French who had left. Very many accepted the invitation, and +Calais henceforth and for some centuries became virtually an English +town. + +A truce was now, through the exertions of the pope's legates, made +between England and France, the terms agreed on being very similar to +those of the previous treaty; and when all his arrangements were +finished Edward returned with his queen to England, having been absent +eighteen months, during which time an almost unbroken success had +attended his arms, and the English name had reached a position of +respect and honor in the eyes of Europe far beyond that at which it +previously stood. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE BLACK DEATH. + + +The court at Westminster during the few months which followed the +capture of Calais was the most brilliant in Europe. Tournaments and +_fêtes_ followed each other in rapid succession, and to these knights +came from all parts. So great was the reputation of King Edward that +deputies came from Germany, where the throne was now vacant, to offer +the crown of that kingdom to him. The king declined the offer, for it +would have been impossible indeed for him to have united the German +crown with that of England, which he already held, and that of France, +which he claimed. + +Some months after his return to England the Black Prince asked his +father as a boon that the hand of his ward Edith Vernon should be +bestowed upon the prince's brave follower Sir Walter Somers, and as +Queen Philippa, in the name of the lady's mother, seconded the request, +the king at once acceded to it. Edith was now sixteen, an age at which, +in those days, a young lady was considered to be marriageable, and the +wedding took place with great pomp and ceremony at Westminster, the +king himself giving away the bride, and bestowing, as did the prince +and Queen Philippa, many costly presents upon the young couple. After +taking part in several of the tournaments, Walter went with his bride +and Dame Vernon down to their estates, and were received with great +rejoicing by the tenantry, the older of whom well remembered Walter's +father and mother, and were rejoiced at finding that they were again to +become the vassals of one of the old family. Dame Vernon was greatly +loved by her tenantry; but the latter had looked forward with some +apprehension to the marriage of the young heiress, as the character of +the knight upon whom the king might bestow her hand would greatly affect +the happiness and well-being of his tenants. + +Sir James Carnegie had not returned to England after the fall of Calais; +he perceived that he was in grave disfavor with the Black Prince, and +guessed, as was the case, that some suspicion had fallen on him in +reference to the attack upon Walter in the camp, and to the strange +attempt which had been made to destroy him by Sir Philip Holbeaut. He +had, therefore, for a time taken service with the Count of Savoy, and +was away from England, to the satisfaction of Walter and Dame Vernon, +when the marriage took place; for he had given proofs of such a +malignity of disposition that both felt that although his succession to +the estates was now hopelessly barred, yet that he might at any moment +attempt some desperate deed to satisfy his feeling of disappointment and +revenge. + +In spite of the gayety of the court of King Edward a cloud hung over the +kingdom; for it was threatened by a danger far more terrible than any +combination of foes--a danger from which no gallantry upon the part of +her king or warriors availed anything. With a slow and terrible march +the enemy was advancing from the East, where countless hosts had been +slain. India, Arabia, Syria, and Armenia had been well-nigh depopulated. +In no country which the dread foe had invaded had less than two-thirds +of the population been slain; in some nine-tenths had perished. All +sorts of portents were reported to have accompanied its appearance in +the East, where it was said showers of serpents had fallen, strange and +unknown insects had appeared in the atmosphere, and clouds of sulphurous +vapor had issued from the earth and enveloped whole provinces and +countries. For two or three years the appearance of this scourge had +been heralded by strange atmospheric disturbances; heavy rains and +unusual floods, storms of thunder and lightning of unheard-of violence, +hail-showers of unparalleled duration and severity, had everywhere been +experienced, while in Italy and Germany violent earthquake shocks had +been felt, and that at places where no tradition existed of previous +occurrences of the same kind. + +From Asia it had spread to Africa and to Europe, affecting first the +sea-shores and creeping inland by the course of the rivers. Greece first +felt its ravages, and Italy was not long in experiencing them. In +Venice more than one hundred thousand persons perished in a few months, +and thence spreading over the whole peninsula, not a town escaped the +visitation. At Florence sixty thousand people were carried off, and at +Lucca and Genoa, in Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica it raged with equal +violence. France was assailed by way of Provence, and Avignon suffered +especially. Of the English college at that place not an individual was +left, and one hundred and twenty persons died in a single day in that +small city. Paris lost upward of fifty thousand of its inhabitants, +while ninety thousand were swept away in Lubeck, and one million two +hundred thousand died within a year of its first appearance in Germany. + +In England the march of the pestilence westward was viewed with deep +apprehension, and the approaching danger was brought home to the people +by the death of the Princess Joan, the king's second daughter. She was +affianced to Peter, the heir to the throne of Spain; and the bride, who +had not yet accomplished her fourteenth year, was sent over to Bordeaux +with a considerable train of attendants in order to be united there to +her promised husband. Scarcely had she reached Bordeaux when she was +attacked by the pestilence and died in a few hours. + +A few days later the news spread through the country that the disease +had appeared almost simultaneously at several of the seaports in the +south-west of England. Thence with great rapidity it spread through the +kingdom; proceeding through Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire it broke out +in London, and the ravages were no less severe than they had been on the +Continent, the very lowest estimate being that two-thirds of the +population were swept away. Most of those attacked died within a few +hours of the seizure. If they survived for two days they generally +rallied, but even then many fell into a state of coma from which they +never awoke. + +No words can describe the terror and dismay caused by this the most +destructive plague of which there is any record in history. No remedies +were of the slightest avail against it; flight was impossible, for the +loneliest hamlets suffered as severely as crowded towns, and frequently +not a single survivor was left. Men met the pestilence in various moods: +the brave with fortitude, the pious with resignation, the cowardly and +turbulent with outbursts of despair and fury. Among the lower classes +the wildest rumors gained credence. Some assigned the pestilence to +witchcraft, others declared that the waters of the wells and streams had +been poisoned. Serious riots occurred in many places, and great numbers +of people fell victims to the fury of the mob under the suspicion of +being connected in some way with the ravages of the pestilence. The +Jews, ever the objects of popular hostility, engendered by ignorance and +superstition, were among the chief sufferers. Bands of marauders +wandered through the county plundering the houses left empty by the +death of all their occupants, and from end to end death and suffering +were universal. + +Although all classes had suffered heavily the ravages of the disease +were, as is always the case, greater among the poor than among the rich, +the unsanitary conditions of their life and their coarser and commoner +food rendering them more liable to its influence; no rank, however, was +exempted, and no less than three Archbishops of Canterbury were carried +off in succession by the pestilence within a year of its appearance. + +During the months which succeeded his marriage Sir Walter Somers lived +quietly and happily with his wife at Westerham. It was not until late in +the year that the plague approached the neighborhood. Walter had +determined to await its approach there. He had paid a few short visits +to the court, where every effort was made by continuous gayety to keep +up the spirits of the people and prevent them from brooding over the +approaching pestilence; but when it was at hand Walter and his wife +agreed that they would rather share the lot of their tenants, whom their +presence and example might support and cheer in their need, than return +to face it in London. One morning when they were at breakfast a +frightened servant brought in the news that the disease had appeared in +the village, that three persons had been taken ill on the previous +night, that two had already died, and that several others had sickened. + +"The time has come, my children," Dame Vernon said calmly, "the danger +so long foreseen is at hand, now let us face it as we agreed to do. It +has been proved that flight is useless, since nowhere is there escape +from the plague; here, at least, there shall be no repetition of the +terrible scenes we have heard of elsewhere, where the living have fled +in panic and allowed the stricken to die unattended. We have already +agreed that we will set the example to our people by ourselves going +down and administering to the sick." + +"It is hard," Walter said, rising and pacing up and down the room, "to +let Edith go into it." + +"Edith will do just the same as you do," his wife said firmly. "Were it +possible that all in this house might escape, there might be a motive +for turning coward, but seeing that no household is spared, there is, as +we agreed, greater danger in flying from the pestilence than facing it +firmly." + +Walter sighed. + +"You are right," he said, "but it wrings my heart to see you place +yourself in danger." + +"Were we out of danger here, Walter, it might be so," Edith replied +gently; "but since there is no more safety in the castle than in the +cottage, we must face death whether it pleases us or not, and it were +best to do so bravely." + +"So be it," Walter said; "may the God of heaven watch over us all! Now, +mother, do you and Edith busy yourselves in preparing broths, +strengthening drinks, and medicaments. I will go down at once to the +village and see how matters stand there and who are in need. We have +already urged upon all our people to face the danger bravely, and if die +they must, to die bravely like Christians, and not like coward dogs. +When you have prepared your soups and cordials come down and meet me in +the village, bringing Mabel and Janet, your attendants, to carry the +baskets." + +Ralph, who was now installed as major-domo in the castle, at once set +out with Walter. They found the village in a state of panic. Women were +sitting crying despairingly at their doors. Some were engaged in packing +their belongings in carts preparatory to flight, some wandered aimlessly +about wringing their hands, while others went to the church, whose bells +were mournfully tolling the dirge of the departed. Walter's presence +soon restored something like order and confidence; his resolute tone +cheered the timid and gave hope to the despairing. Sternly he rebuked +those preparing to fly, and ordered them instantly to replace their +goods in their houses. Then he went to the priest and implored him to +cause the tolling of the bell to cease. + +"There is enough," he said, "in the real danger present to appall even +the bravest, and we need no bell to tell us that death is among us. The +dismal tolling is enough to unnerve the stoutest heart, and if we ring +for all who die its sounds will never cease while the plague is among +us; therefore, father, I implore you to discontinue it. Let there be +services held daily in the church, but I beseech you strive in your +discourses to cheer the people rather than to depress them, and to dwell +more upon the joys that await those who die as Christian men and women +than upon the sorrows of those who remain behind. My wife and mother +will anon be down in the village and will strive to cheer and comfort +the people, and I look to you for aid in this matter." + +The priest, who was naturally a timid man, nevertheless nerved himself +to carry out Walter's suggestions, and soon the dismal tones of the bell +ceased to be heard in the village. + +Walter dispatched messengers to all the outlying farms desiring his +tenants to meet him that afternoon at the castle in order that measures +might be concerted for common aid and assistance. An hour later Dame +Vernon and Edith came down and visited all the houses where the plague +had made its appearance, distributing their soups, and by cheering and +comforting words raising the spirits of the relatives of the sufferers. + +The names of all the women ready to aid in the general work of nursing +were taken down, and in the afternoon at the meeting at the castle the +full arrangements were completed. Work was to be carried on as usual in +order to occupy men's minds and prevent them from brooding over the +ravages of the plague. Information of any case that occurred was to be +sent to the castle, where soups and medicines were to be obtained. +Whenever more assistance was required than could be furnished by the +inmates of a house another woman was to be sent to aid. Boys were told +off as messengers to fetch food and other matters as required from the +castle. + +So, bravely and firmly, they prepared to meet the pestilence; it spread +with terrible severity. Scarce a house which did not lose some of its +inmates, while in others whole families were swept away. All day Walter +and his wife and Dame Vernon went from house to house, and although they +could do nothing to stem the progress of the pestilence, their presence +and example supported the survivors and prevented the occurrence of any +of the panic and disorder which in most places accompanied it. + +The castle was not exempt from the scourge. First some of the domestics +were seized, and three men and four women died. Walter himself was +attacked, but he took it lightly, and three days after the seizure +passed into a state of convalescence. Dame Vernon was next attacked, and +expired six hours after the commencement of the seizure. Scarcely was +Walter upon his feet than Ralph, who had not for a moment left his +bedside, was seized, but he too, after being at death's door for some +hours, turned the corner. Lastly Edith sickened. + +By this time the scourge had done its worst in the village, and +three-fifths of the population had been swept away. All the male +retainers in the castle had died, and the one female who survived was +nursing her dying mother in the village. Edith's attack was a very +severe one. Walter, alone now, for Ralph, although convalescent, had not +yet left his bed, sat by his wife's bedside a prey to anxiety and grief; +for although she had resisted the first attack she was now, thirty-six +hours after it had seized her, fast sinking. Gradually her sight and +power of speech faded, and she sank into the state of coma which was the +prelude of death, and lay quiet and motionless, seeming as if life had +already departed. + +Suddenly Walter was surprised by the sound of many heavy feet ascending +the stairs. He went out into the anteroom to learn the cause of this +strange tumult, when five armed men, one of whom was masked, rushed into +the room. Walter caught up his sword from the table. + +"Ruffians," he exclaimed, "how dare you thus desecrate the abode of +death?" + +Without a word the men sprang upon him. For a minute he defended himself +against their attacks, but he was still weak, his guard was beaten down, +and a blow felled him to the ground. + +"Now settle her," the masked man exclaimed, and the band rushed into the +adjoining room. They paused, however, at the door at the sight of the +lifeless figure on the couch. + +"We are saved that trouble," one said, "we have come too late." + +The masked figure approached the couch and bent over the figure. + +"Yes," he said, "she is dead, and so much the better." + +Then he returned with the others to Walter. + +"He breathes yet," he said. "He needs a harder blow than that you gave +him to finish him. Let him lie here for awhile, while you gather your +booty together, then we will carry him off. There is scarcely a soul +alive in the country round, and none will note us as we pass. I would +not dispatch him here, seeing that his body would be found with wounds +upon it, and even in these times some inquiry might be made; therefore +it were best to finish him elsewhere. When he is missed it will be +supposed that he went mad at the death of his wife, and has wandered out +and died, maybe in the woods, or has drowned himself in a pond or +stream. Besides, I would that before he dies he should know what hand +has struck the blow, and that my vengeance, which he slighted and has +twice escaped, has overtaken him at last." + +After ransacking the principal rooms and taking all that was valuable, +the band of marauders lifted the still insensible body of Walter, and +carrying it downstairs flung it across a horse. One of the ruffians +mounted behind it, and the others also getting into their saddles the +party rode away. + +They were mistaken, however, in supposing that the Lady Edith was dead. +She was indeed very nigh the gates of death, and had it not been for the +disturbance would assuredly have speedily entered them. The voice of her +husband raised in anger, the clash of steel, followed by the heavy +fall, had awakened her deadened brain. Consciousness had at once +returned to her, but as yet no power of movement. As at a great distance +she had heard the words of those who entered her chamber, and had +understood their import. More and more distinctly she heard their +movements about the room as they burst open her caskets and appropriated +her jewels, but it was not until silence was restored that the gathering +powers of life asserted themselves; then with a sudden rush the blood +seemed to course through her veins, her eyes opened, and her tongue was +loosed, and with a scream she sprang up and stood by the side of her +bed. + +Sustained as by a supernatural power she hurried into the next room. A +pool of blood on the floor showed her that what she had heard had not +been a dream or the fiction of a disordered brain. Snatching up a cloak +of her husband's which lay on a couch, she wrapped it round her, and +with hurried steps made her way along the passages until she reached the +apartment occupied by Ralph. The latter sprang up in bed with a cry of +astonishment. He had heard but an hour before from Walter that all hope +was gone, and thought for an instant that the appearance was an +apparition from the dead. The ghastly pallor of the face, the eyes +burning with a strange light, the flowing hair, and disordered +appearance of the girl might well have alarmed one living in even less +superstitious times, and Ralph began to cross himself hastily and to +mutter a prayer, when recalled to himself by the sound of Edith's +voice. + +"Quick, Ralph!" she said, "arise and clothe yourself. Hasten, for your +life. My lord's enemies have fallen upon him and wounded him grievously, +even if they have not slain him, and have carried him away. They would +have slain me also had they not thought I was already dead. Arise and +mount, summon every one still alive in the village, and follow these +murderers. I will pull the alarm-bell of the castle." + +Ralph sprang from his bed as Edith left. He had heard the sound of many +footsteps in the knight's apartments, but had deemed them those of the +priest and his acolytes come to administer the last rites of the Church +to his dying mistress. Rage and anxiety for his master gave strength to +his limbs. He threw on a few clothes and rushed down to the stables, +where the horses stood with great piles of forage and pails of water +before them, placed there two days before, by Walter, when their last +attendant died. Without waiting to saddle it, Ralph sprang upon the back +of one of the animals, and taking the halters of four others started at +a gallop down to the village. + +His news spread like wildfire, for the ringing of the alarm-bell of the +castle had drawn all to their doors and prepared them for something +strange. Some of the men had already taken their arms and were making +their way up to the castle when they met Ralph. There were but five men +in the village who had altogether escaped the pestilence; others had +survived its attacks, but were still weak. Horses there were in plenty. +The five men mounted at once, with three others who, though still weak, +were able to ride. + +So great was the excitement that seven women who had escaped the disease +armed themselves with their husbands' swords and leaped on horseback, +declaring that, women though they were, they would strike a blow for +their beloved lord, who had been as an angel in the village during the +plague. Thus it was scarcely more than ten minutes after the marauders +had left the castle before a motley band, fifteen strong, headed by +Ralph, rode off in pursuit, while some of the women of the village +hurried up to the castle to comfort Edith with the tidings that the +pursuit had already commenced. Fortunately a lad in the fields had +noticed the five men ride away from the castle, and was able to point +out the direction they had taken. + +At a furious gallop Ralph and his companions tore across the country. +Mile after mile was passed. Once or twice they gained news from laborers +in the field of the passage of those before them, and knew that they +were on the right track. They had now entered a wild and sparsely +inhabited country. It was broken and much undulated, so that although +they knew that the band they were pursuing were but a short distance +ahead, they had not yet caught sight of them, and they hoped that, +having no reason to dread any immediate pursuit, these would soon +slacken their pace. This expectation was realized, for on coming over a +brow they saw the party halted at a turf-burner's cottage in the hollow +below. Three of the men had dismounted; two of them were examining the +hoof of one of the horses, which had apparently cast a shoe or trodden +upon a stone. Ralph had warned his party to make no sound when they came +upon the fugitives. The sound of the horses' hoofs was deadened by the +turf, and they were within a hundred yards of the marauders before they +were perceived; then Ralph uttered a shout, and brandishing their swords +the party rode down at a headlong gallop. + +The dismounted men leaped into their saddles and galloped off at full +speed, but their pursuers were now close upon them. Ralph and two of his +companions, who were mounted upon Walter's best horses, gained upon them +at every stride. Two of them were overtaken and run through. + +The man who bore Walter before him, finding himself being rapidly +overtaken, threw his burden on to the ground just as the leader of the +party had checked his horse and was about to deliver a sweeping blow at +the insensible body. + +With a curse at his follower for ridding himself of it, he again +galloped on. The man's act was unavailing to save himself, for he was +overtaken and cut down before he had ridden many strides; then Ralph and +his party instantly reined up to examine the state of Walter, and the +two survivors of the band of murderers continued their flight +unmolested. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +BY LAND AND SEA. + + +Walter was raised from the ground, water was fetched from the cottage, +and the blood washed from his head by Ralph, aided by two of the women. +It had at once been seen that he was still living, and Ralph on +examining the wound joyfully declared that no great harm was done. + +"Had Sir Walter been strong and well," he said, "such a clip as this +would not have knocked him from his feet, but he would have answered it +with a blow such as I have often seen him give in battle; but he was but +barely recovering and was as weak as a girl. He is unconscious from loss +of blood and weakness. I warrant me that when he opens his eyes and +hears that the Lady Edith had risen from her bed and came to send me to +his rescue, joy will soon bring the blood into his cheeks again. Do one +of you run to the hut and see if they have any cordial waters; since the +plague has been raging there are few houses but have laid in a provision +in case the disease should seize them." + +The man soon returned with a bottle of cordial water compounded of +rosemary, lavender, and other herbs. By this time Walter had opened his +eyes. The cordial was poured down his throat, and he was presently able +to speak. + +"Be of good cheer, Sir Walter," Ralph said; "three of your rascally +assailants lie dead, and the other two have fled; but I have better news +still for you. Lady Edith, who you told me lay unconscious and dying, +has revived. The din of the conflict seems to have reached her ears and +recalled her to life, and the dear lady came to my room with the news +that you were carried off, and then, while I was throwing on my clothes, +roused the village to your assistance by ringing the alarm bell. Rarely +frightened I was when she came in, for methought at first it was her +spirit." + +The good news, as Ralph had predicted, effectually roused Walter, and +rising to his feet he declared himself able to mount and ride back at +once. Ralph tried to persuade him to wait until they had formed a litter +of boughs, but Walter would not allow it. + +"I would not tarry an instant," he said, "for Edith will be full of +anxiety until I return. Why, Ralph, do you think that I am a baby? Why, +you yourself were but this morning unable to walk across the room, and +here you have been galloping and fighting on my behalf." + +"In faith," Ralph said, smiling, "until now I had forgotten that I had +been ill." + +"You have saved my life, Ralph, you and my friends here, whom I thank +with all my heart for what they have done. I will speak more to them +another time, now I must ride home with all speed." + +[Illustration: LADY EDITH'S LAST EFFORT.--Page 321.] + +Walter now mounted; Ralph took his place on one side of him, and one of +his tenants on the other, lest he should be seized with faintness; then +at a hand-gallop they started back for the castle. + +Several women of the village had, when they left, hurried up to the +castle. They found Edith lying insensible by the rope of the alarm-bell, +having fainted when she had accomplished her object. They presently +brought her round; as she was now suffering only from extreme weakness, +she was laid on a couch, and cordials and some soup were given to her. +One of the women took her place at the highest window to watch for the +return of any belonging to the expedition. + +Edith felt hopeful as to the result, for she thought that their +assailants would not have troubled to carry away the body of Walter had +not life remained in it, and she was sure that Ralph would press them so +hotly that sooner or later the abductors would be overtaken. + +An hour and a half passed, and then the woman from above ran down with +the news that she could see three horsemen galloping together toward the +castle, with a number of others following in confused order behind. + +"Then they have found my lord," Edith exclaimed joyfully, "for Ralph +would assuredly not return so quickly had they not done so. 'Tis a good +sign that they are galloping, for had they been bearers of ill news they +would have returned more slowly; look out again and see if they are +bearing one among them." + +The woman, with some of her companions, hastened away, and in two or +three minutes ran down with the news that Sir Walter himself was one of +the three leading horsemen. In a few minutes Edith was clasped in her +husband's arms, and their joy, restored as they were from the dead to +each other, was indeed almost beyond words. + +The plague now abated fast in Westerham, only two or three more persons +being attacked by it. + +As soon as Edith was sufficiently recovered to travel Walter proceeded +with her to London and there laid before the king and prince a complaint +against Sir James Carnegie for his attempt upon their lives. Even in the +trance in which she lay Edith had recognized the voice which had once +been so familiar to her. Walter, too, was able to testify against him, +for the rough jolting on horseback had for awhile restored his +consciousness, and he had heard words spoken, before relapsing into +insensibility from the continued bleeding of his wound, which enabled +him to swear to Sir James Carnegie as one of his abductors. + +The king instantly ordered the arrest of the knight, but he could not be +found; unavailing search was made in every direction, and as nothing +could be heard of him it was concluded that he had left the kingdom. He +was proclaimed publicly a false and villainous knight, his estates were +confiscated to the crown, and he himself was outlawed. Then Walter and +his wife returned home and did their best to assist their tenants in +struggling through the difficulties entailed through the plague. + +So terrible had been the mortality that throughout England there was a +lack of hands for field work, crops rotted in the ground because there +were none to harvest them, and men able to work demanded twenty times +the wages which had before been paid. So great was the trouble from this +source that an ordinance was passed by parliament enacting that severe +punishment should be dealt upon all who demanded wages above the +standard price, and even more severe penalties inflicted upon those who +should consent to pay higher wages. It was, however, many years before +England recovered from the terrible blow which had been dealt her from +the pestilence. + +While Europe had been ravaged by pestilence the adherents of France and +England had continued their struggle in Brittany in spite of the terms +of the truce, and this time King Edward was the first open aggressor, +granting money and assistance to the free companies, who pillaged and +plundered in the name of England. The truce expired at the end of 1348, +but was continued for short periods. It was, however, evident that both +parties were determined ere long to recommence hostilities. The French +collected large forces in Artois and Picardy, and Edward himself +proceeded to Sandwich to organize there another army for the invasion of +France. + +Philip determined to strike the first blow, and, before the conclusion +of the truce, to regain possession of Calais. This town was commanded by +a Lombard officer named Almeric of Pavia. Free communication existed, in +consequence of the truce, between Calais and the surrounding country, +and Jeffrey de Charny, the Governor of St. Omer, and one of the +commissioners especially appointed to maintain the truce, opened +communications with the Lombard captain. Deeming that like most +mercenaries he would be willing to change sides should his interest to +do so be made clear, he offered him a large sum of money to deliver the +castle to the French. + +The Lombard at once agreed to the project. Jeffrey de Charny arranged to +be within a certain distance of the town on the night of the 1st of +January, bringing with him sufficient forces to master all opposition if +the way was once opened to the interior of the town. It was further +agreed that the money was to be paid over by a small party of French who +were to be sent forward for the purpose of examining the castle, in +order to insure the main body against treachery. As a hostage for the +security of the detachment, the son of the governor was to remain in the +hands of the French without, until the safe return of the scouting +party. + +Several weeks elapsed between the conclusion of the agreement and the +date fixed for its execution, and in the mean time the Lombard, either +from remorse or from a fear of the consequences which might arise from a +detection of the plot before its execution, or from the subsequent +vengeance of the English king, disclosed the whole transaction to +Edward. + +The king bade him continue to carry out his arrangements with De Charny, +leaving it to him to counteract the plot. Had he issued orders for the +rapid assembly of the army the French would have taken alarm. He +therefore sent private messengers to a number of knights and gentlemen +of Kent and Sussex to meet him with their retainers at Dover on the 31st +of December. + +Walter was one of those summoned, and although much surprised at the +secrecy with which he was charged, and of such a call being made while +the truce with France still existed, he repaired to Dover on the day +named, accompanied by Ralph and by twenty men, who were all who remained +capable of bearing arms on the estate. + +He found the king himself with the Black Prince at Dover, where they had +arrived that day. Sir Walter Manny was in command of the force, which +consisted in all of three hundred men-at-arms and six hundred archers. A +number of small boats had been collected, and at mid-day on the 1st of +January the little expedition started, and arrived at Calais after +nightfall. + +In the chivalrous spirit of the times the king determined that Sir +Walter Manny should continue in command of the enterprise; he and the +Black Prince, disguised as simple knights, fighting under his banner. + +In the mean time a considerable force had been collected at St. Omer, +where a large number of knights and gentlemen obeyed the summons of +Jeffrey de Charny. On the night appointed they marched for Calais, in +number five hundred lances and a corresponding number of footmen. They +reached the river and bridge of Nieullay a little after midnight, and +messengers were sent on to the governor, who was prepared to receive +them. On their report De Charny advanced still nearer to the town, +leaving the bridge and passages to the river guarded by a large body of +cross-bowmen under the command of the Lord de Fiennes and a number of +other knights. At a little distance from the castle he was met by +Almeric de Pavia, who yielded his son as a hostage according to his +promise, calculating, as was the case, that he would be recaptured by +the English. Then having received the greater portion of the money +agreed upon, he led a party of the French over the castle to satisfy +them of his sincerity. Upon receiving their report that all was quiet De +Charny detached twelve knights and a hundred men-at-arms to take +possession of the castle, while he himself waited at one of the gates of +the town with the principal portion of his force. + +No sooner had the French entered the castle than the drawbridge was +raised. The English soldiers poured out from their places of +concealment, and the party which had entered the castle were forced to +lay down their arms. In the mean time the Black Prince issued with a +small body of troops from a gate near the sea, while De Manny, with the +king under his banner, marched by the sally-port which led into the +fields. A considerable detachment of the division was dispatched to +dislodge the enemy at the bridge of Nieullay, and the rest, joining the +party of the Black Prince, advanced rapidly upon the force of Jeffrey de +Charny, which, in point of numbers, was double their own strength. + +Although taken in turn by surprise, the French prepared steadily for the +attack. De Charny ordered them all to dismount and to shorten their +lances to pikes five feet in length. The English also dismounted, and +rushing forward on foot a furious contest commenced. The ranks of both +parties were soon broken in the darkness, and the combatants separating +into groups, a number of separate battles raged around the different +banners. + +For some hours the fight was continued with unabating obstinacy on both +sides. The king and the Black Prince fought with immense bravery, their +example encouraging even those of their soldiers who were ignorant of +the personality of the knights who were everywhere in front of the +combat. King Edward himself several times crossed swords with the famous +Eustace de Ribaumont, one of the most gallant knights in France. At +length toward daybreak the king, with only thirty companions, found +himself again opposed to De Ribaumont, with a greatly superior force, +and the struggle was renewed between them. + +Twice the king was beaten down on one knee by the thundering blows of +the French knight, twice he rose and renewed the attack, until De +Charny, seeing Sir Walter Manny's banner, beside which Edward fought, +defended by so small a force, also bore down to the attack, and in the +struggle Edward was separated from his opponent. + +The combat now became desperate round the king, and Sir Guy Brian, who +bore De Manny's standard, though one of the strongest and most gallant +knights of the day, could scarce keep the banner erect. Still Edward +fought on, and in the excitement of the moment, forgetting his +_incognito_, he accompanied each blow with his customary +war-cry--"Edward, St. George! Edward, St. George!" At that battle-cry, +which told the French men-at-arms that the King of England was himself +opposed to them, they recoiled for a moment. The shout too reached the +ears of the Prince of Wales, who had been fighting with another group. +Calling his knights around him he fell upon the rear of De Charny's +party and quickly cleared a space around the king. + +The fight was now everywhere going against the French, and the English +redoubling their efforts the victory was soon complete, and scarcely one +French knight left the ground alive and free. In the struggle Edward +again encountered De Ribaumont, who, separated from him by the charge of +De Charny, had not heard the king's war-cry. The conflict between them +was a short one. The French knight saw that almost all his companions +were dead or captured, his party completely defeated, and all prospects +of escape cut off. He therefore soon dropped the point of his sword and +surrendered to his unknown adversary. In the mean time the troops which +had been dispatched to the bridge of Nieullay had defeated the French +forces left to guard the passage and clear the ground toward St. Omer. + +Early in the morning Edward entered Calais in triumph, taking with him +thirty French nobles as prisoners, while two hundred more remained dead +on the field. That evening a great banquet was held, at which the French +prisoners were present. The king presided at the banquet, and the French +nobles were waited upon by the Black Prince and his knights. After the +feast was concluded the king bestowed on De Ribaumont the chaplet of +pearls which he wore round his crown, hailing him as the most gallant of +the knights who had that day fought, and granting him freedom to return +at once to his friends, presenting him with two horses, and a purse to +defray his expenses to the nearest French town. + +De Charny was afterward ransomed, and after his return to France +assembled a body of troops and attacked the castle which Edward had +bestowed upon Almeric of Pavia, and capturing the Lombard, carried him +to St. Omer, and had him there publicly flayed alive as a punishment for +his treachery. + +Walter had as usual fought by the side of the Prince of Wales throughout +the battle of Calais, and had much distinguished himself for his valor. +Ralph was severely wounded in the fight, but was able a month later to +rejoin Walter in England. + +The battle of Calais and the chivalrous bearing of the king created +great enthusiasm and delight in England, and did much to rouse the +people from the state of grief into which they had been cast by the +ravages of the plague. The king did his utmost to maintain the spirit +which had been evoked, and the foundation of the order of the Garter, +and the erection of a splendid chapel at Windsor, and its dedication, +with great ceremony, to St. George, the patron saint of England, still +further raised the renown of the court of Edward throughout Europe as +the center of the chivalry of the age. + +Notwithstanding many treaties which had taken place, and the near +alliance which had been well-nigh carried out between the royal families +of England and Spain, Spanish pirates had never ceased to carry on a +series of aggressions upon the English vessels trading in the Bay of +Biscay. Ships were every day taken, and the crews cruelly butchered in +cold blood. Edward's remonstrances proved vain, and when threats of +retaliation were held out by Edward, followed by preparations to carry +those threats into effect, Pedro the Cruel, who had now succeeded to +the throne of Spain, dispatched strong reënforcements to the fleet which +had already swept the English Channel. + +The great Spanish fleet sailed north, and capturing on its way a number +of English merchantmen, put into Sluys, and prepared to sail back in +triumph with the prizes and merchandise it had captured. Knowing, +however, that Edward was preparing to oppose them, the Spaniards filled +up their complement of men, strengthened themselves by all sorts of the +war machines then in use, and started on their return for Spain with one +of the most powerful armadas that had ever put to sea. + +Edward had collected on the coast of Sussex a fleet intended to oppose +them, and had summoned all the military forces of the south of England +to accompany him; and as soon as he heard that the Spaniards were about +to put to sea he set out for Winchelsea, where the fleet was collected. + +The queen accompanied him to the sea-coast, and the Black Prince, now in +his twentieth year, was appointed to command one of the largest of the +English vessels. + +The fleet put to sea when they heard that the Spaniards had started, and +the hostile fleets were soon in sight of each other. The number of +fighting men on board the Spanish ships was ten times those of the +English, and their vessels were of vastly superior size and strength. +They had, moreover, caused their ships to be fitted at Sluys with large +wooden towers, which furnished a commanding position to their +cross-bowmen. The wind was direct in their favor, and they could have +easily avoided the contest, but, confiding in their enormously superior +force, they sailed boldly forward to the attack. + +The king himself led the English line, and directing his vessel toward a +large Spanish ship, endeavored to run her down. The shock was +tremendous, but the enemy's vessel was stronger as well as larger than +that of the king; and as the two ships recoiled from each other it was +found that the water was rushing into the English vessel, and that she +was rapidly sinking. The Spaniard passed on in the confusion, but the +king ordered his ship to be instantly laid alongside another which was +following her, and to be firmly lashed to her. Then with his knights he +sprang on board the Spaniard, and after a short but desperate fight cut +down or drove the crew overboard. The royal standard was hoisted on the +prize, the sinking English vessel was cast adrift, and the king sailed +on to attack another adversary. + +The battle now raged on all sides. The English strove to grapple with +and board the enemy, while the Spaniards poured upon them a shower of +bolts and quarrels from their cross-bows, hurled immense masses of stone +from their military engines, and, as they drew alongside, cast into them +heavy bars of iron, which pierced holes in the bottom of the ship. + +Walter was on board the ship commanded by the Black Prince. This had +been steered toward one of the largest and most important of the Spanish +vessels. As they approached, the engines poured their missiles into +them. Several great holes were torn in the sides of the ship, which was +already sinking as she came alongside her foe. + +"We must do our best, Sir Walter," the prince exclaimed, "for if we do +not capture her speedily our ship will assuredly sink beneath our feet." + +The Spaniard stood far higher above the water than the English ship, and +the Black Prince and his knights in vain attempted to climb her sides, +while the seamen strove with pumps and buckets to keep the vessel +afloat. Every effort was in vain. The Spaniard's men-at-arms lined the +bulwarks, and repulsed every effort made by the English to climb up +them, while those on the towers rained down showers of bolts and arrows +and masses of iron and stone. The situation was desperate, when the Earl +of Lancaster, passing by in his ship, saw the peril to which the prince +was exposed, and, ranging up on the other side of the Spaniard, strove +to board her there. The attention of the Spaniards being thus +distracted, the prince and his companions made another desperate effort, +and succeeded in winning their way on to the deck of the Spanish ship +just as their own vessel sank beneath their feet; after a few minutes' +desperate fighting the Spanish ship was captured. + +The English were now everywhere getting the best of their enemies. Many +of the Spanish vessels had been captured or sunk, and after the fight +had raged for some hours, the rest began to disperse and seek safety in +flight. The English vessel commanded by Count Robert of Namur had toward +night engaged a Spanish vessel of more than twice its own strength. His +adversaries, seeing that the day was lost, set all sail, but looking +upon the little vessel beside them as a prey to be taken possession of +at their leisure, they fastened it tightly to their sides by the +grappling-irons, and spreading all sail, made away. The count and his +men were unable to free themselves, and were being dragged away, when a +follower of the count named Hennekin leaped suddenly on board the +Spanish ship. With a bound he reached the mast, and with a single blow +with his sword cut the halyards which supported the main-sail. The sail +fell at once. The Spaniards rushed to the spot to repair the disaster +which threatened to delay their ship. The count and his followers, +seeing the bulwarks of the Spanish vessel for the moment unguarded, +poured in, and after a furious conflict captured the vessel. By this +time twenty-four of the enemy's vessels had been taken, the rest were +either sunk or in full flight, and Edward at once returned to the +English shore. + +The fight had taken place within sight of land, and Queen Philippa, from +the windows of the abbey, which stood on rising ground, had seen the +approach of the vast Spanish fleet, and had watched the conflict until +night fell. She remained in suspense as to the result until the king +himself, with the Black Prince and Prince John, afterward known as John +of Gaunt, who, although but ten years of age, had accompanied the Black +Prince in his ship, rode up with the news of the victory. + +This great sea-fight was one of the brightest and most honorable in the +annals of English history, for not even in the case of that other great +Spanish Armada which suffered defeat in English waters were the odds so +immense or the victory so thorough and complete. The result of the fight +was that after some negotiations a truce of twenty years was concluded +with Spain. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +POITIERS. + + +After the great sea-fight at the end of August, 1350, England had peace +for some years. Philip of France had died a week before that battle, and +had been succeeded by his son John, Duke of Normandy. Upon the part of +both countries there was an indisposition to renew the war, for their +power had been vastly crippled by the devastations of the plague. This +was followed by great distress and scarcity, owing to the want of labor +to till the fields. The truce was therefore continued from time to time; +the pope strove to convert the truce into a permanent peace, and on the +28th of August, 1354, a number of the prelates and barons of England, +with full power to arrange terms of peace, went to Avignon, where they +were met by the French representatives. The powers committed to the +English commissioners show that Edward was at this time really desirous +of making a permanent peace with France; but the French ambassadors +raised numerous and unexpected difficulties, and after lengthened +negotiations the conference was broken off. + +The truce came to an end in June, 1355, and great preparations were +made on both sides for the war. The King of England strained every +effort to furnish and equip an army which was to proceed with the Black +Prince to Aquitaine, of which province his father had appointed him +governor, and in November the prince sailed for Bordeaux with the +advance-guard of his force. Sir Walter Somers accompanied him. During +the years which had passed since the plague he had resided principally +upon his estates, and had the satisfaction of seeing that his tenants +escaped the distress which was general through the country. He had been +in the habit of repairing to London to take part in the tournaments and +other festivities; but both he and Edith preferred the quiet country +life to a continued residence at court. Two sons had now been born to +him, and fond as he was of the excitement and adventure of war, it was +with deep regret that he obeyed the royal summons, and left his house +with his retainers, consisting of twenty men-at-arms and thirty archers, +to join the prince. + +Upon the Black Prince's landing at Bordeaux he was joined by the Gascon +lords, the vassals of the English crown, and for three months marched +through and ravaged the districts adjoining, the French army, although +greatly superior in force, offering no effectual resistance. Many towns +were taken, and he returned at Christmas to Bordeaux after a campaign +attended by a series of unbroken successes. + +The following spring the war recommenced, and a diversion was effected +by the Duke of Lancaster, who was in command of Brittany, joining his +forces with those of the King of Navarre and many of the nobles of +Normandy, while King Edward crossed to Calais and kept a portion of the +French army occupied there. The Black Prince, leaving the principal part +of his forces under the command of the Earl of Albret to guard the +territory already acquired against the attack of the French army under +the Count of Armagnac, marched with two thousand picked men-at-arms and +six thousand archers into Auvergne, and thence turning into Berry, +marched to the gates of Bourges. + +The King of France was now thoroughly alarmed, and issued a general call +to all his vassals to assemble on the Loire. The Prince of Wales, +finding immense bodies of men closing in around him, fell back slowly, +capturing and leveling to the ground the strong castle of Romorentin. + +The King of France was now hastening forward, accompanied by his four +sons, one hundred and forty nobles with banners, twenty thousand +men-at-arms, and an immense force of infantry. Vast accessions of forces +joined him each day, and on the 17th of September he occupied a position +between the Black Prince and Guienne. The first intimation that either +the Black Prince or the King of France had of their close proximity to +each other was an accidental meeting between a small foraging force of +the English and three hundred French horse, under the command of the +Counts of Auxerre and Joigny, the Marshal of Burgundy, and the Lord of +Chatillon. The French hotly pursued the little English party, and on +emerging from some low bushes found themselves in the midst of the +English camp, where all were taken prisoners. From them the Black Prince +learned that the King of France was within a day's march. + +The prince dispatched the Captal de Buch with two hundred men-at-arms to +reconnoiter the force and position of the enemy, and these coming upon +the rear of the French army just as they were about to enter Poitiers, +dashed among them and took some prisoners. The King of France thus first +learned that the enemy he was searching for was actually six miles in +his rear. The Captal de Buch and his companions returned to the Black +Prince, and confirmed the information obtained from the prisoners that +the King of France, with an army at least eight times as strong as his +own, lay between him and Poitiers. + +The position appeared well-nigh desperate, but the prince and his most +experienced knights at once reconnoitered the country to choose the best +ground upon which to do battle. An excellent position was chosen. It +consisted of rising ground commanding the country toward Poitiers, and +naturally defended by the hedges of a vineyard. It was only accessible +from Poitiers by a sunken road flanked by banks and fences, and but wide +enough to admit of four horsemen riding abreast along it. The ground on +either side of this hollow way was rough and broken so as to impede the +movements even of infantry, and to render the maneuvers of a large body +of cavalry nearly impracticable. On the left of the position was a +little hamlet called Maupertuis. Here on the night of Saturday, the 17th +of September, the prince encamped, and early next morning made his +dispositions for the battle. His whole force was dismounted and occupied +the high ground; a strong body of archers lined the hedges on either +side of the sunken road; the main body of archers were drawn up in their +usual formation on the hillside, their front covered by the hedge of the +vineyard, while behind them the men-at-arms were drawn up. + +The King of France divided his army into three divisions, each +consisting of sixteen thousand mounted men-at-arms besides infantry, +commanded respectively by the Duke of Orleans, the king's brother, the +dauphin, and the king himself. With the two royal princes were the most +experienced of the French commanders. In the mean time De Ribaumont, +with three other French knights, reconnoitered the English position, and +on their return with their report strongly advised that as large bodies +of cavalry would be quite useless owing to the nature of the ground, the +whole force should dismount, except three hundred picked men destined to +break the line of English archers and a small body of German horse to +act as a reserve. + +Just as the King of France was about to give orders for the advance, the +Cardinal of Perigord arrived in his camp, anxious to stop, if possible, +the effusion of blood. He hurried to the King of France. + +"You have here, sire," he said, "the flower of all the chivalry of your +realm assembled against a mere handful of English, and it will be far +more honorable and profitable for you to have them in your power without +battle than to risk such a noble array in uncertain strife. I pray you, +then, in the name of God, to let me ride on to the Prince of Wales, to +show him his peril, and to exhort him to peace." + +"Willingly, my lord," the king replied; "but above all things be quick." + +The cardinal at once hastened to the English camp; he found the Black +Prince in the midst of his knights ready for battle, but by no means +unwilling to listen to proposals for peace. His position was indeed most +perilous. In his face was an enormously superior army, and he was, +moreover, threatened by famine; even during the two preceding days his +army had suffered from a great scarcity of forage, and its provisions +were almost wholly exhausted. The French force was sufficiently numerous +to blockade him in his camp, and he knew that did they adopt that course +he must surrender unconditionally, since were he forced to sally out and +attack the French no valor could compensate for the immense disparity of +numbers. He therefore replied at once to the cardinal's application that +he was ready to listen to any terms by which his honor and that of his +companions would be preserved. + +The cardinal returned to the King of France, and with much entreaty +succeeded in obtaining a truce until sunrise on the following morning. +The soldiers returned to their tents, and the cardinal rode backward and +forward between the armies, beseeching the King of France to moderate +his demands, and the Black Prince to submit to the evil fortune which +had befallen him; but on the one side the king looked upon the victory +certain, and on the other the Black Prince thought that there was at +least a hope of success should the French attack him. All, therefore, +that the cardinal could obtain from him was an offer to resign all he +had captured in his expedition, towns, castles, and prisoners, and to +take an oath not to bear arms again against France for seven years. This +proposal fell so far short of the demands of the French king that +pacification soon appeared hopeless. + +Early on the Monday morning the cardinal once more sought the presence +of the French king, but found John inflexible; while some of the +leaders, who had viewed with the strongest disapproval his efforts to +snatch what they regarded as certain victory from their hands, gave him +a peremptory warning not to show himself again in their lines. + +The prelate then bore the news of his failure to the Prince of Wales. +"Fair son," he said, "do the best you can, for you must needs fight, as +I can find no means of peace or amnesty with the King of France." + +"Be it so, good father," the prince replied; "it is our full resolve to +fight, and God will aid the right." + +The delay which had occurred had not been without advantages for the +British army, although the shortness of provisions was greatly felt. +Every effort had been made to strengthen the position. Deep trenches had +been dug and palisades erected around it, and the carts and baggage +train had all been moved round so as to form a protection on the weakest +side of the camp, where also a rampart had been constructed. + +Upon a careful examination of the ground it was found that the hill on +the right side of the camp was less difficult than had been supposed, +and that the dismounted men-at-arms who lay at its foot under the +command of the dauphin would find little difficulty in climbing it to +the assault. The prince therefore gave orders that three hundred +men-at-arms and three hundred mounted archers should make a circuit from +the rear round the base of the hill, in order to pour in upon the flank +of the dauphin's division as soon as they became disordered in the +ascent. The nature of the ground concealed this maneuver from the +enemies' view, and the Captal de Buch, who was in command of the party, +gained unperceived the cover of a wooded ravine within a few hundred +yards of the left flank of the enemy. By the time that all these +dispositions were complete the huge French array was moving forward. The +Black Prince, surrounded by his knights, viewed them approaching. + +"Fair lords," he said, "though we be so few against that mighty power of +enemies, let us not be dismayed, for strength and victory lie not in +multitudes, but in those to whom God give them. If he will the day be +ours, then the highest glory of this world will be given to us. If we +die, I have the noble lord, my father, and two fair brothers, and you +have each of you many a good friend who will avenge us well; thus, then, +I pray you fight well this day, and if it please God and St. George I +will also do the part of a good knight." + +The prince then chose Sir John Chandos and Sir James Audley to remain by +his side during the conflict in order to afford him counsel in case of +need. Audley, however, pleaded a vow which he had made long before, to +be the first in battle should he ever be engaged under the command of +the King of England or any of his children. The prince at once acceded +to his request to be allowed to fight in the van, and Audley, +accompanied by four chosen squires, took his place in front of the +English line of battle. Not far from him, also in advance of the line, +was Sir Eustace d'Ambrecicourt on horseback, also eager to distinguish +himself. + +As Sir James rode off the prince turned to Walter. "As Audley must needs +fight as a knight-errant, Sir Walter Somers, do you take your place by +my side, for there is no more valiant knight in my army than you have +often proved yourself to be." + +Three hundred chosen French men-at-arms, mounted on the strongest +horses, covered with steel armor, led the way under the command of the +Maréchals d'Audeham and De Clermont; while behind them were a large body +of German cavalry under the Counts of Nassau, Saarbruck, and Nidau, to +support them in their attack on the English archers. On the right was +the Duke of Orleans with sixteen thousand men-at-arms; on the left the +dauphin and his two brothers with an equal force; while King John +himself led on the rear-guard. + +When the three hundred _élite_ of the French army reached the narrow way +between the hedges, knowing that these were lined with archers they +charged through at a gallop to fall upon the main body of bowmen +covering the front of the English men-at-arms. The moment they were +fairly in the hollow road the British archers rose on either side to +their feet and poured such a flight of arrows among them that in an +instant all was confusion and disarray. Through every joint and crevice +of the armor of knights and horses the arrows found their way, and the +lane was almost choked with the bodies of men and horses. A considerable +number, nevertheless, made their way through and approached the first +line of archers beyond. + +Here they were met by Sir James Audley, who, with his four squires, +plunged into their ranks and overthrew the Maréchal d'Audeham, and then +fought his way onward. Regardless of the rest of the battle he pressed +ever forward, until at the end of the day, wounded in a hundred places +and fainting from loss of blood, he fell from his horse almost at the +gates of Poitiers, and was borne from the field by the four faithful +squires who had fought beside him throughout the day. + +Less fortunate was Sir Eustace d'Ambrecicourt, who spurred headlong upon +the German cavalry. A German knight rode out to meet him, and in the +shock both were dishorsed, but before Sir Eustace could recover his seat +he was borne down to the ground by four others of the enemy, and was +bound and carried captive to the rear. + +In the mean time the English archers kept up their incessant hail of +arrows upon the band under the French marshals. The English men-at-arms +passed through the gaps purposely left in the line of archers and drove +back the front rank of the enemy upon those following, chasing them +headlong down the hollow road again. The few survivors of the French +force, galloping back, carried confusion into the advancing division of +the dauphin. Before order was restored the Captal de Buch with his six +hundred men issued forth from his place of concealment and charged +impetuously down on the left flank of the dauphin. + +The French, shaken in front by the retreat of their advance-guard, were +thrown into extreme confusion by this sudden and unexpected charge. The +horse archers with the captal poured their arrows into the mass, while +the shafts of the main body of the archers on the hill hailed upon them +without ceasing. + +The rumor spread among those in the French rear, who were unable to see +what was going forward, that the day was already lost, and many began to +fly. Sir John Chandos marked the confusion which had set in, and he +exclaimed to the prince: + +"Now, sir, ride forward, and the day is yours. Let us charge right over +upon your adversary, the King of France, for there lies the labor and +the feat of the day. Well do I know that his great courage will never +let him fly, but, God willing, he shall be well encountered." + +"Forward, then, John Chandos," replied the prince. "You shall not see me +tread one step back, but ever in advance. Bear on my banner. God and St. +George be with us!" + +The horses of the English force were all held in readiness by their +attendants close in their rear. Every man sprang into his saddle, and +with leveled lances the army bore down the hill against the enemy, while +the Captal de Buch forced his way through the struggling ranks of the +French to join them. + +To these two parties were opposed the whole of the German cavalry, the +division of the dauphin, now thinned by flight, and a strong force under +the Constable de Brienne, Duke of Athens. The first charge of the +English was directed against the Germans, the remains of the marshal's +forces, and that commanded by the constable. The two bodies of cavalry +met with a tremendous shock, raising their respective war-cries, "Denis +Mount Joye!" and "St. George Guyenne!" Lances were shivered, and horses +and men rolled over, but the German horse were borne down in every +direction by the charge of the English chivalry. The Counts of Nassau +and Saarbruck were taken, and the rest driven down the hill in utter +confusion. The division of the Duke of Orleans, a little further down +the hill to the right, were seized with a sudden panic, and sixteen +thousand men-at-arms, together with their commander, fled without +striking a blow. + +Having routed the French and German cavalry in advance, the English now +fell upon the dauphin's division. This had been already confused by the +attacks of the Captal de Buch, and when its leaders beheld the complete +rout of the marshals and the Germans, and saw the victorious force +galloping down upon them, the responsibility attached to the charge of +the three young princes overcame their firmness. The Lords of Landas, +Vaudenay, and St. Venant, thinking the battle lost, hurried the princes +from the field, surrounded by eight hundred lances, determined to place +them at a secure distance, and then to return and fight beside the king. + +The retreat of the princes at once disorganized the force, but though +many fled a number of the nobles remained scattered over the field +fighting in separate bodies with their own retainers gathered under +their banners. Gradually these fell back and took post on the left of +the French king's division. The constable and the Duke of Bourbon with +a large body of knights and men-at-arms also opposed a firm front to the +advance of the English. + +The king saw with indignation one of his divisions defeated and the +other in coward flight, but his forces were still vastly superior to +those of the English, and ordering his men to dismount, he prepared to +receive their onset. The English now gathered their forces, which had +been scattered in combat, and again advanced to the fight. The archers +as usual heralded this advance with showers of arrows, which shook the +ranks of the French and opened the way for the cavalry. These dashed in, +and the ranks of the two armies became mixed, and each man fought hand +to hand. The French king fought on foot with immense valor and bravery, +as did his nobles. The Dukes of Bourbon and Athens, the Lords of Landas, +Argenton, Chambery, Joinville, and many others stood and died near the +king. + +Gradually the English drove back their foes. The French forces became +cut up into groups or confined into narrow spaces. Knight after knight +fell around the king. De Ribaumont fell near him. Jeffrey de Charny, +who, as one of the most valiant knights in the army, had been chosen to +bear the French standard, the oriflamme, never left his sovereign's +side, and as long as the sacred banner floated over his head John would +not believe the day was lost. At length, however, Jeffrey de Charny was +killed, and the oriflamme fell. John, surrounded on every side by foes +who pressed forward to make him prisoner, still kept clear the space +immediately around himself and his little son with his battle-ax; but at +last he saw that further resistance would only entail the death of both, +and he then surrendered to Denis de Montbec, a knight of Artois. + +The battle was now virtually over. The French banners and pennons had +disappeared, and nothing was seen save the dead and dying, groups of +prisoners, and parties of fugitives flying over the country. Chandos now +advised the prince to halt. His banner was pitched on the summit of a +little mound. The trumpets blew to recall the army from the pursuit, and +the prince, taking off his helmet, drank with the little body of knights +who accompanied him some wine brought from his former encampment. + +The two marshals of the English army, the Earls of Warwick and Suffolk, +were among the first to return at the call of the trumpet. Hearing that +King John had certainly not left the field of battle, though they knew +not whether he was dead or taken, the prince at once dispatched the Earl +of Warwick and Lord Cobham to find and protect him if still alive. They +soon came upon a mass of men-at-arms, seemingly engaged in an angry +quarrel. On riding up they found that the object of strife was the King +of France, who had been snatched from the hands of Montbec, and was +being claimed by a score of men as his prisoner. The Earl of Warwick +and Lord Cobham instantly made their way through the mass, and +dismounting, saluted the captive monarch with the deepest reverence, and +keeping back the multitude led him to the Prince of Wales. The latter +bent his knee before the king, and calling for wine, presented the cup +with his own hands to the unfortunate monarch. + +The battle was over by noon, but it was evening before all the pursuing +parties returned, and the result of the victory was then fully known. +With less than eight thousand men the English had conquered far more +than sixty thousand. On the English side two thousand men-at-arms and +fifteen hundred archers had fallen. Upon the French side eleven thousand +men-at-arms, besides an immense number of footmen, had been killed. A +king, a prince, an archbishop, thirteen counts, sixty-six barons, and +more than two thousand knights were prisoners in the hands of the +English, with a number of other soldiers, who raised the number of +captives to double that of their conquerors. All the baggage of the +French army was taken, and as the barons of France had marched to the +field feeling certain of victory, and the rich armor of the prisoners +became immediately the property of the captors, immense stores of +valuable ornaments of all kinds, especially jeweled baldrics, enriched +the meanest soldier among the conquerors. + +The helmet which the French king had worn, which bore a small coronet of +gold beneath the crest, was delivered to the Prince of Wales, who sent +it off at once to his father as the best trophy of the battle he could +offer him. + +Its receipt was the first intimation which Edward III. received of the +great victory. + +As the prince had no means of providing for the immense number of +prisoners, the greater portion were set at liberty upon their taking an +oath to present themselves at Bordeaux by the ensuing Christmas in order +either to pay the ransom appointed or to again yield themselves as +prisoners. + +Immediately the battle was over Edward sent for the gallant Sir James +Audley, who was brought to him on his litter by his esquires, and the +prince, after warmly congratulating him on the honor that he had that +day won as the bravest knight in the army, assigned him an annuity of +five hundred marks a year. + +No sooner was Audley taken to his own tent than he called round him +several of his nearest relations and friends, and then and there made +over to his four gallant attendants, without power of recall, the gift +which the prince had bestowed upon him. The prince was not to be +outdone, however, in liberality, and on hearing that Audley had assigned +his present to the brave men who had so gallantly supported him in the +fight, he presented Sir James with another annuity of six hundred marks +a year. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE JACQUERIE. + + +On the evening after the battle of Poitiers, a splendid entertainment +was served in the tent of the Prince of Wales to the King of France and +all the principal prisoners. John with his son and six of his highest +nobles were seated at a table raised above the rest, and the prince +himself waited as page upon the French king. John in vain endeavored to +persuade the prince to be seated; the latter refused, saying that it was +his pleasure as well as his duty to wait upon one who had shown himself +to be the best and bravest knight in the French army. The example of the +Black Prince was contagious, and the English vied with each other in +generous treatment of their prisoners. All were treated as friends, and +that night an immense number of knights and squires were admitted to +ransom on such terms as had never before been known. The captors simply +required their prisoners to declare in good faith what they could afford +to pay without pressing themselves too hard, "for they did not wish," +they said, "to ransom knights or squires on terms which would prevent +them from maintaining their station in society, from serving their +lords, or from riding forth in arms to advance their name and honor." + +Upon the following morning solemn thanksgivings were offered up on the +field of battle for the glorious victory. Then the English army, +striking its tents, marched back toward Bordeaux. They were unmolested +upon this march, for although the divisions of the dauphin and the Duke +of Orleans had now reunited, and were immensely superior in numbers to +the English, encumbered as the latter were, moreover, with prisoners and +booty, the tremendous defeat which they had suffered, and still more the +capture of the king, paralyzed the French commanders, and the English +reached Bordeaux without striking another blow. + +Not long after they reached that city the Cardinal of Perigord and +another legate presented themselves to arrange peace, and these +negotiations went on throughout the winter. The prince had received full +powers from his father, and his demands were very moderate; but in spite +of this no final peace could be arranged, and the result of the +conference was the proclamation of a truce, to last for two years from +the following Easter. + +During the winter immense numbers of the prisoners who had gone at large +upon patrol came in and paid their ransoms, as did the higher nobles who +had been taken prisoners, and the whole army was greatly enriched. At +the end of April the prince returned to England with King John. The +procession through the streets of London was a magnificent one, the +citizens vying with each other in decorating their houses in honor of +the victor of Poitiers, who, simply dressed, rode on a small black horse +by the side of his prisoner, who was splendidly attired, and mounted on +a superb white charger. The king received his royal prisoner in state in +the great hall of his palace at Westminster, and did all in his power to +alleviate the sorrows of his condition. The splendid palace of the +Savoy, with gardens extending to the Thames, was appointed for his +residence, and every means was taken to soften his captivity. + +During the absence of the Black Prince in Guienne the king had been +warring in Scotland. Here his success had been small, as the Scotch had +retreated before him, wasting the country. David Bruce, the rightful +king, was a prisoner in England, and Baliol, a descendant of the rival +of Robert Bruce, had been placed upon the throne. As Edward passed +through Roxburgh he received from Baliol a formal cession of all his +rights and titles to the throne of Scotland, and in return for this +purely nominal gift he bestowed an annual income upon Baliol, who lived +and died a pensioner of England. After Edward's return to England +negotiations were carried on with the Scots, and a treaty was signed by +which a truce for ten years was established between the two countries, +and the liberation of Bruce was granted on a ransom of one hundred +thousand marks. + +The disorganization into which France had been thrown by the capture of +its king increased rather than diminished. Among all classes men strove +in the absence of a repressive power to gain advantages and privileges. +Serious riots occurred in many parts, and the demagogues of Paris, +headed by Stephen Marcel, and Robert le Coq, Bishop of Leon, set at +defiance the dauphin and the ministers and lieutenant of the king. +Massacre and violence stained the streets of Paris with blood. General +law, public order, and private security were all lost. Great bodies of +brigands devastated the country, and the whole of France was thrown into +confusion. So terrible was the disorder that the inhabitants of every +village were obliged to fortify the ends of their streets and keep watch +and ward as in the cities. The proprietors of land on the banks of +rivers spent the nights in boats moored in the middle of the stream, and +in every house and castle throughout the land men remained armed as if +against instant attack. + +Then arose the terrible insurrection known as the Jacquerie. For +centuries the peasantry of France had suffered under a bondage to which +there had never been any approach in England. Their lives and liberties +were wholly at the mercy of their feudal lords. Hitherto no attempt at +resistance had been possible; but the tremendous defeat of the French at +Poitiers by a handful of English aroused the hope among the serfs that +the moment for vengeance had come. The movement began among a handful of +peasants in the neighborhood of St. Leu and Claremont. These declared +that they would put to death all the gentlemen in the land. The cry +spread through the country. The serfs, armed with pikes, poured out from +every village, and a number of the lower classes from the towns joined +them. Their first success was an attack upon a small castle. They burned +down the gates and slew the knight to whom it belonged, with his wife +and children of all ages. Their numbers rapidly increased. Castle after +castle was taken and stormed, palaces and houses leveled to the ground; +fire, plunder, and massacre swept through the fairest provinces of +France. The peasants vied with each other in inventing deaths of +fiendish cruelty and outrage upon every man, woman, and child of the +better classes who fell into their hands. + +Owing to the number of nobles who had fallen at Cressy and Poitiers, and +of those still captives in England, very many of their wives and +daughters remained unprotected, and these were the especial victims of +the fiendish malignity of the peasantry. Separated in many bands, the +insurgents marched through the Beauvoisis, Soissonois, and Vermandois; +and as they approached, a number of unprotected ladies of the highest +families in France fled to Meaux, where they remained under the guard of +the young Duke of Orleans and a handful of men-at-arms. + +After the conclusion of the peace at Bordeaux, Sir Walter Somers had +been dispatched on a mission to some of the German princes, with whom +the king was in close relations. The business was not of an onerous +nature, but Walter had been detained for some time over it. He spent a +pleasant time in Germany, where, as an emissary of the king and one of +the victors of Poitiers, the young English knight was made much of. When +he set out on his return he joined the Captal de Buch, who, ever +thirsting for adventure, had on the conclusion of the truce gone to +serve in a campaign in Germany; with him was the French Count de Foix, +who had been also serving throughout the campaign. + +On entering France from the Rhine the three knights were shocked at the +misery and ruin which met their eyes on all sides. Every castle and +house throughout the country, of a class superior to those of the +peasants, was destroyed, and tales of the most horrible outrages and +murders met their ears. + +"I regret," the Count de Foix said earnestly, "that I have been away +warring in Germany, for it is clear that every true knight is wanted at +home to crush down these human wolves." + +"Methinks," the captal rejoined, "that France will do well to invite the +chivalry of all other countries to assemble and aid to put down this +horrible insurrection." + +"Ay," the count said bitterly; "but who is to speak in the name of +France? The dauphin is powerless, and the virtual government is in the +hands of Marcel and other ambitious traitors who hail the doings of the +Jacquerie with delight, for these mad peasants are doing their work of +destroying the knights and nobles." + +The villages through which they passed were deserted save by women, and +in the small towns the people of the lower class scowled threateningly +at the three knights; but they with their following of forty +men-at-arms, of whom five were followers of Walter, fifteen of the +captal, and twenty of the Count de Foix, ventured not to proceed beyond +evil glances. + +"I would," De Foix said, "that these dogs would but lift a hand against +us. By St. Stephen, we would teach them a rough lesson!" + +His companions were of the same mind, for all were excited to fury by +the terrible tales which they heard. All these stories were new to them, +for although rumors had reached Germany of the outbreak of a peasant +insurrection in France, the movement had but just begun when they +started. As far as the frontier they had traveled leisurely, but they +had hastened their pace more and more as they learned how sore was the +strait of the nobles and gentry of the country, and how grievously every +good sword was needed. When they reached Chalons they heard much fuller +particulars than had before reached them, and learned that the Duchess +of Normandy, the Duchess of Orleans, and near three hundred ladies had +sought refuge in Meaux, and that they were there guarded but by a +handful of men-at-arms under the Duke of Orleans, while great bands of +serfs were pouring in from all parts of the country round to massacre +them. + +Meaux is eighty miles from Chalons, but the three knights determined to +press onward with all speed in hopes of averting the catastrophe. +Allowing their horses an hour or two to rest, they rode forward, and +pressing on without halt or delay, save such as was absolutely needed by +the horses, they arrived at Meaux late the following night, and found to +their delight that the insurgents, although swarming in immense numbers +round the town, had not yet attacked it. + +The arrival of the three knights and their followers was greeted with +joy by the ladies. They, with their guard, had taken up their position +in the market-house and market-place, which were separated from the rest +of the town by the river Marne, which flows through the city. A +consultation was at once held, and it being found that the Duke of +Orleans had but twenty men-at-arms with him, it was determined that it +was impossible to defend the city walls, but that upon the following +morning they would endeavor to cut their way with the ladies through the +peasant hosts. In the night, however, an uproar was heard in the city. +The burghers had risen and had opened the gates to the peasants, who now +poured in in thousands. Every hour increased their numbers. + +The market-place was besieged in the morning, and an hour or two +afterward a large body of the ruffians of Paris, under the command of a +brutal grocer named Pierre Gille, arrived to swell their ranks. + +The attack on the market-house continued, and the Duke of Orleans held +a consultation with the three knights. It was agreed that against such a +host of enemies the market-place could not long be defended, and that +their best hope lay in sallying out and falling upon the assailants. +Accordingly the men-at-arms were drawn up in order, with the banners of +the Duke of Orleans and the Count de Foix and the pennons of the captal +and Sir Walter Somers displayed, the gates were opened, and with leveled +lances the little party rode out. Hitherto nothing had been heard save +yells of anticipated triumph and fierce imprecations and threats against +the defenders from the immense multitude without; but the appearance of +the orderly ranks of the knights and men-at-arms as they issued through +the gate struck a silence of fear through the mass. + +Without an instant's delay the knights and men-at-arms, with leveled +lances, charged into the multitude. A few attempted to fight, but more +strove to fly, as the nobles and their followers, throwing away their +lances, fell upon them with sword and battle-ax. Jammed up in the narrow +streets of a small walled town, overthrowing and impeding each other in +their efforts to escape, trampled down by the heavy horses of the +men-at-arms, and hewn down by their swords and battle-axes, the +insurgents fell in vast numbers. Multitudes succeeded in escaping +through the gates into the fields; but here they were followed by the +knights and their retainers, who continued charging among them and +slaying till utter weariness compelled them to cease from the pursuit +and return to Meaux. Not less than seven thousand of the insurgents had +been slain by the four knights and fifty men, for ten had been left +behind to guard the gates of the market-place. + +History has no record of so vast a slaughter by so small a body of men. +This terrific punishment put a summary end to the Jacquerie. Already in +other parts several bodies had been defeated, and their principal +leader, Caillet, with three thousand of his followers, slain near +Clermont. But the defeat at Meaux was the crushing blow which put an end +to the insurrection. + +On their return to the town the knights executed a number of the +burghers who had joined the peasants, and the greater part of the town +was burned to the ground as a punishment for having opened the gates to +the peasants and united with them. + +The knights and ladies then started for Paris. On nearing the city they +found that it was threatened by the forces of the dauphin. Marcel had +strongly fortified the town, and with his ally, the infamous King of +Navarre, bade defiance to the royal power. However, the excesses of the +demagogue had aroused against him the feeling of all the better class of +the inhabitants. The King of Navarre, who was ready at all times to +break his oath and betray his companions, marched his army out of the +town and took up a position outside the walls. He then secretly +negotiated peace with the Duke of Normandy, by which he agreed to yield +to their fate Marcel and twelve of the most obnoxious burghers, while at +the same time he persuaded Marcel that he was still attached to his +interest. Marcel, however, was able to bid higher than the Duke of +Normandy, and he entered into a new treaty with the treacherous king, by +which he stipulated to deliver the city into his hands during the night. +Every one within the walls, except the partisans of Marcel, upon whose +doors a mark was to be placed, were to be put to death indiscriminately, +and the King of Navarre was to be proclaimed King of France. + +Fortunately Pepin des Essarts and John de Charny, two loyal knights who +were in Paris, obtained information of a few minutes before the time +appointed for its execution. Arming themselves instantly, and collecting +a few followers, they rushed to the houses of the chief conspirators, +but found them empty, Marcel and his companions having already gone to +the gates. Passing by the hotel-de-ville, the knights entered, snatched +down the royal banner which was kept there, and unfurling it mounted +their horses and rode through the streets, calling all men to arms. They +reached the Port St. Antoine just at the moment when Marcel was in the +act of opening it in order to give admission to the Navarrese. When he +heard the shouts he tried with his friends to make his way into the +bastile, but his retreat was intercepted, and a severe and bloody +struggle took place between the two parties. Stephen Marcel, however, +was himself slain by Sir John de Charny, and almost all his principal +companions fell with him. The inhabitants then threw open their gates +and the Duke of Normandy entered. + +Walter Somers had, with his companions, joined the army of the duke and +placed his sword at his disposal; but when the French prince entered +Paris without the necessity of fighting, he took leave of him, and with +the captal returned to England. Rare, indeed, were the jewels which +Walter brought home to his wife, for the three hundred noble ladies +rescued at Meaux from dishonor and death had insisted upon bestowing +tokens of their regard and gratitude upon the rescuers, and as many of +them belonged to the richest as well as the noblest families in France, +the presents which Walter thus received from the grateful ladies were of +immense value. + +He was welcomed by the king and Prince of Wales with great honor, for +the battle at Meaux had excited the admiration and astonishment of all +Europe. The Jacquerie was considered as a common danger in all civilized +countries; for if successful it might have spread far beyond the +boundaries of France, and constituted a danger to chivalry, and indeed +to society universally. + +Thus King Edward gave the highest marks of his satisfaction to the +captal and Walter, added considerable grants of land to the estates of +the latter, and raised him to the dignity of Baron Somers of Westerham. + +It has always been a matter of wonder that King Edward did not take +advantage of the utter state of confusion and anarchy which prevailed in +France to complete his conquest of that country, which there is no +reasonable doubt he could have effected with ease. Civil war and strife +prevailed throughout France; famine devastated it; and without leaders +or concord, dispirited and impoverished by defeat, France could have +offered no resistance to such an army as England could have placed in +the field. The only probable supposition is that at heart he doubted +whether the acquisition of the crown of France was really desirable, or +whether it could be permanently maintained should it be gained. To the +monarch of a county prosperous, flourishing, and contented the object of +admiration throughout Europe, the union with distracted and divided +France could be of no benefit. Of military glory he had gained enough to +content any man, and some of the richest provinces of France were +already his. Therefore it may well be believed that, feeling secure very +many years must elapse before France could again become dangerous, he +was well content to let matters continue as they were. + +King John still remained a prisoner in his hands, for the princes and +nobles of France were too much engaged in broils and civil wars to think +of raising the money for his ransom, and Languedoc was the only province +of France which made any effort whatever toward so doing. War still +raged between the dauphin and the King of Navarre. + +At the conclusion of the two years' truce Edward, with the most +splendidly equipped army which had ever left England, marched through +the length and breadth of France. Nowhere did he meet with any +resistance in the field. He marched under the walls of Paris, but took +no steps to lay siege to that city, which would have fallen an easy prey +to his army had he chosen to capture it. That he did not do so is +another proof that he had no desire to add France to the possessions of +the English crown. At length, by the efforts of the pope, a peace was +agreed upon, by which France yielded all Aquitaine and the town of +Calais to England as an absolute possession, and not as a fief of the +crown of France; while the English king surrendered all his captures in +Normandy and Brittany and abandoned his claim to the crown of France. +With great efforts the French raised a portion of the ransom demanded +for the king, and John returned to France after four years of captivity. + +At the commencement of 1363 Edward the Black Prince was named Prince of +Aquitaine, and that province was bestowed upon him as a gift by the +king, subject only to liege homage and an annual tribute of one ounce of +gold. The prince took with him to his new possessions many of the +knights and nobles who had served with him, and offered to Walter a high +post in the government of the province if he would accompany him. This +Walter begged to be excused from doing. Two girls had now been added to +his family, and he was unwilling to leave his happy home unless the +needs of war called him to the prince's side. He therefore remained +quietly at home. + +When King John returned to France, four of the French princes of the +blood-royal had been given as hostages for the fulfillment of the treaty +of Bretigny. They were permitted to reside at Calais and were at liberty +to move about as they would, and even to absent themselves from the town +for three days at a time whensoever they might choose. The Duke of +Anjou, the king's second son, basely took advantage of this liberty to +escape, in direct violation of his oath. The other hostages followed his +example. + +King John, himself the soul of honor, was intensely mortified at this +breach of faith on the part of his sons, and after calling together the +States-general at Amiens to obtain the subsidies necessary for paying +the remaining portion of his ransom, he himself, with a train of two +hundred officers and their followers, crossed to England to make excuses +to Edward for the treachery of the princes. Some historians represent +the visit as a voluntary returning into captivity; but this was not so. +The English king had accepted the hostages in his place and was +responsible for their safe-keeping, and had no claim upon the French +monarch because they had taken advantage of the excess of confidence +with which they had been treated. That the coming of the French king was +not in any way regarded as a return into captivity is shown by the fact +that he was before starting furnished by Edward with letters of +safe-conduct, by which his secure and unobstructed return to his own +country was expressly stipulated, and he was received by Edward as an +honored guest and friend, and his coming was regarded as an honor and an +occasion for festivity by all England. + +At the same time that John was in London the King of Cyprus, the King of +Denmark, and the King of Scotland were also there, and the meeting of +four monarchs in London was the occasion of extraordinary festivities +and rejoicing, the king and his royal guests being several times +entertained at sumptuous banquets by the lord mayor, the ex-mayor, Henry +Pickard, and several of the aldermen. + +Six weeks after John's arrival in London he was seized with illness at +the palace of the Savoy, and died on the 8th of April, 1364. The +dauphin, Charles, now succeeded him as Charles V., and the war between +the houses of Navarre and Valois was carried on with greater fury than +ever. The armies of Navarre were commanded by the Captal de Buch, who +was a distant relation of the king; while those of Charles were headed +by the Maréchal de Boucicault and Bertrand du Guesclin, one of the most +gallant of the French knights. A great battle was fought near Cocherel. +Contrary to the orders of the captal, his army, which consisted +principally of adventurers, descended from the strong position he had +chosen, and gave battle in the plain. They were completely defeated and +the captal himself taken prisoner. + +In Brittany John of Montford and Charles of Blois had renewed their +struggle, and King Charles, seeing the danger of Brittany falling into +the hands of De Montford, who was a close ally of England, interfered in +favor of Charles of Blois, and sent Du Guesclin to his assistance. + +This was a breach of the treaty of Bretigny, and De Montford at once +sent to the Black Prince for assistance. The prince did not treat the +conduct of Charles as a breach of the treaty, and took no part himself +in the war, but permitted Sir John Chandos, who was a personal friend of +De Montford, to go to his aid. De Montford's army, after the arrival of +Chandos with a force of two hundred spears, amounted to but sixteen +hundred men-at-arms and from eight hundred to nine hundred archers, +while Charles of Blois had four thousand men-at-arms and a proportionate +number of infantry. De Montford tried to negotiate. He offered to divide +the dukedom, and to agree that in case he died childless it should +revert to the family of Charles. Charles, however, refused all terms, +even to grant his adversary's request to put off the battle until the +morrow, so as to avoid violating the Sabbath; and having given orders +that all prisoners taken in the battle should be hung, he advanced upon +De Montford. + +Both forces were divided in four bodies. The first on De Montford's side +was commanded by Sir Robert Knolles, the second by Oliver de Clisson, +the third by Chandos and De Montford, the fourth by Sir Hugh de +Calverley. Du Guesclin led the front division of Charles' army, the +Counts of Auxerre and Joigny the second, Charles himself the third, and +the Lords of Roye and Rieux the reserve. The ducal arms of Brittany were +displayed on both sides. + +By slow degrees the two armies closed with each other in deadly strife. +Both parties had dismounted and fought on foot with lances shortened to +five feet. Du Guesclin and his division attacked that of Knolles. +Auxerre fell upon De Clisson, while the divisions of the two rival +princes closed with each other. After desperate fighting numbers +prevailed. De Montford was driven back, but Calverley advanced to his +aid, fell upon the rear of the French, threw them into disorder, and +then having rallied De Montford's men, retired to his former position in +readiness to give succor again where it might be needed. + +In the mean time Clisson had been engaged in a desperate struggle with +the Count of Auxerre, but was obtaining no advantage. Clisson himself +had received the blow of a battle-ax which had dashed in the visor of +his helmet and blinded forever one of his eyes. He was still leading his +men, but the enemies' superior numbers were pressing him back, when +Chandos, the instant the assistance of Calverley had relieved De +Montford's division, perceiving his danger, drew off a few men-at-arms, +and with them fell upon the rear of the Count of Auxerre, and dashing +all who opposed him to the ground with his battle-ax, cleft his way to +the very center of the enemy. Pressed by De Clisson in front and broken +by the sudden attack of Chandos in the rear, the French division gave +way in every direction. Auxerre was desperately wounded, and he and De +Joigny both taken prisoners. + +Chandos then returned to De Montford, who had gallantly followed up the +advantage gained by the confusion into which Charles' division had been +thrown by the attack of Calverley. Charles was routed, he himself struck +down and slain by an English soldier, and the division defeated with +great slaughter. De Montford's whole force now gathered round Du +Guesclin's division, which now alone remained, and after fighting +gallantly until all hope was gone, the brave French knight and his +companions yielded themselves as prisoners. + +The battle of Auray terminated the struggle between the houses of Blois +and Montford. More than one thousand French men-at-arms died on the +field of battle, among whom were many of the noblest in Brittany. Two +counts, twenty-seven lords, and fifteen hundred men-at-arms were made +prisoners. De Montford now took possession of the whole of Brittany, and +at the suggestion of King Edward himself did homage to Charles V. for +the duchy, which he afterward ruled with wisdom. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +VICTORY AND DEATH. + + +While the Black Prince was with difficulty governing his province of +Aquitaine, where the mutual jealousies of the English and native +officers caused continual difficulties, King Edward turned all his +attention to advancing the prosperity of England. He fostered trade, +commerce, and learning, was a munificent patron of the two universities, +and established such order and regularity in his kingdom that England +was the admiration of all Europe. Far different was the state of France. +The cessation of the wars with England and the subsequent disbandment of +troops had thrown upon their own resources great numbers of men who had +been so long engaged in fighting that they had no other trade to turn +to. The conclusion of the struggle in Brittany after the battle of Auray +and the death of Charles of Blois still further added to the number, and +these men gathered in bands, some of which were headed by men of +knightly rank, and scattered through France plundering the country and +extracting heavy sums from the towns. + +These "great companies," as they were called, exceeded fifty thousand +men in number, and as almost all were trained soldiers they set the king +and his nobles at defiance, and were virtually masters of France. The +most tempting offers were made to them to lay down their arms, and the +pope sent legates threatening excommunication, but the great companies +laughed alike at promises and threats. At last a way of deliverance +opened to France. Pedro, named the Cruel, of Castile, had alienated his +people by his cruelty, and had defeated and driven into exile his +half-brother, Henry of Transtamare, who headed an insurrection against +him. Pedro put to death numbers of the nobles of Castile, despoiled the +King of Arragon, who had given aid to his brother, plundered and +insulted the clergy, and allied himself with the Moors. + +His quarrel with the clergy was the cause of his ruin. The pope summoned +him to appear before him at Avignon to answer to the crimes laid to his +charge. Pedro refused to attend, and the pope at once excommunicated +him. The King of Arragon and Henry of Transtamare were then summoned to +Avignon, and a treaty of alliance was concluded between them, and the +pope declared the throne of Castile vacant owing to the excommunication +of Pedro, and appointed Henry to it. + +These measures would have troubled Pedro little had it not been that +France groaned under the great companies, and the French king and the +pontiff at once entered into negotiations with them to support Henry in +his war against his brother. It was necessary that a leader in whom the +companies should have confidence should be chosen, and Du Guesclin, +still a prisoner of Chandos, who had captured him at Auray, was +selected, and the pope, the King of France, and Don Henry paid between +them the one hundred thousand francs demanded for his ransom. Du +Guesclin on his release negotiated with the leaders of the great +companies, and as the pope and king promised them large gratuities they +agreed to march upon Spain. They were joined by a great number of French +knights and men-at-arms. + +The expedition was under the nominal command of John of Bourbon, but the +real guidance was in the hands of Du Guesclin. As the army marched past +Avignon they worked upon the terrors of the pope until he paid them two +hundred thousand francs in gold. France was filled with joy at the +prospect of a riddance of the free companies which had so long been a +prey upon them. They were, too, eager to avenge upon the cruel King of +Spain the murder of his queen, who was a princess of France. The same +feeling animated the people of Aquitaine, and Calverley, D'Ambrecicourt, +Sir Walter Hewitt, Sir John Devereux, Sir John Neville, and several +other distinguished knights, with a large train of men-at-arms, joined +the adventurers. The great army moved through Arragon, whose king in +every way facilitated their progress. As they entered Castile the whole +people declared in favor of Henry, and Pedro, deserted by all, fled to +Bordeaux and besought aid from the Prince of Wales. + +Between Pedro and the English court a firm alliance had existed from the +time when the former so nearly married the Princess Joan, and +immediately the king heard of the expedition against him he issued +orders that no English knights should take part in it. The order, +however, came too late. The English knights had already marched into +Spain with Du Guesclin. As for the English who formed no inconsiderable +portion of the great companies, they had already declined to obey the +king when, at the instance of the pope and the King of France, he had +ordered them to disband. + +On Pedro's arrival at Bordeaux with his three daughters and his son, +they were kindly received by the Black Prince, courtesy and kindness to +those in misfortune being among the leading characteristics of his +nature. Pedro, cruel and ruthless as he was, was a man of great +eloquence and insinuating manners, and giving his own version of +affairs, he completely won over the prince, who felt himself, moreover, +bound in some degree to support him, inasmuch as he, an ally of England, +had been dethroned by an army composed partly of English. Pedro made the +most magnificent promises to the prince in return for his aid, ceding +him the whole of the province of Biscay, and agreeing to pay the British +troops engaged in his service when he regained his throne, the Black +Prince engaging to pay them in the mean time. + +King Edward aided his son by raising an army in England, which sailed +for Bordeaux under the command of the prince's brother, John of Gaunt, +Duke of Lancaster. Walter formed part of this expedition. The king had +issued his writs to him and other barons of the southern counties, and +the Black Prince had himself written to ask him to join him, in memory +of their former deeds of arms together. + +As it was now some years since he had taken the field, Walter did not +hesitate, but with thirty retainers, headed by Ralph, joined the army of +John of Gaunt. + +The Black Prince's first step was to endeavor to recall the Englishmen +of the free companies, estimated to amount to at least thirty thousand +men. The news that he was taking up arms and would himself command the +army caused Calverley and the whole of the other English knights to +return at once, and ten thousand of the English men-at-arms with the +great companies also left Don Henry and marched to Aquitaine. The road +led through the territory of the King of Navarre, and the Black Prince +advanced fifty-six thousand florins of gold to pay this grasping and +treacherous king for the right of passage of the army. + +By Christmas, 1366, the preparations were complete, but the severity of +the weather delayed the advance for some weeks. Fresh difficulties were +encountered with Charles the Bad, of Navarre, who, having obtained the +price for the passage, had now opened negotiations with Don Henry, and +the governors of the frontier towns refused to allow Sir Hugh Calverley +and the free companions, who formed the advance, to pass. These were +not, however, the men to stand on ceremony, and without hesitation they +attacked and captured the towns, when the King of Navarre at once +apologized for his officers, and renewed his engagements. As, however, +the Black Prince had received intelligence that he had formed a plan for +attacking the English as they passed through the terrible pass of +Roncesvalles, he compelled him to accompany the army. The invitation was +couched in language which was friendly, but would yet admit of no +denial. + +On the 17th of February the English army, thirty thousand strong, +reached the pass. It marched in three divisions, the first commanded by +the Duke of Lancaster and Lord Chandos, the second by the Black Prince, +the third by the King of Majorca and the Count of Armagnac. The +divisions crossed over on different days, for the pass was encumbered by +snow and the obstacles were immense. Upon the day when the prince's +division were passing a storm burst upon them, and it was with the +greatest difficulty that they succeeded in crossing. On the 20th of +February, however, all arrived safe on the other side of the Pyrenees. +Du Guesclin, who, seeing the storm which was approaching from Aquitaine, +had returned to France and levied a French army, was nigh at hand, and +kept within a few miles of the English army as it advanced, avoiding an +engagement until the arrival of Don Henry, who was marching to join him +with the great companies and sixty thousand Spanish troops. + +Du Guesclin kept up secret communications with the King of Navarre, who +was still forced to accompany the English army. The latter accordingly +went out from the camp under pretense of hunting and was captured by a +detachment of French troops. + +On the 1st of April, the Spanish army having joined the French, the +Black Prince sent letters to Don Henry, urging him in mild but dignified +language to return to obedience, and to resign the throne he had +usurped, offering at the same time to act as mediator between him and +his brother, and to do all in his power to remove differences and +abuses. Henry, confident in his strength, replied haughtily and prepared +for battle. + +The forces were extremely unequal. The Black Prince had under him thirty +thousand men; while under Don Henry were three thousand men-at-arms on +mail-clad horses, twenty thousand men-at-arms on horses not so +protected, six thousand light cavalry, ten thousand cross-bowmen, and +sixty thousand foot armed with spear and sword. + +The night before the battle the Black Prince lodged in the little +village of Navarretta, which had been deserted by its inhabitants. +Walter had been his close companion since he started, and occupied the +same lodging with him in the village. + +"This reminds me," the prince said, "of the day before Cressy. They +outnumber us by more than three to one." + +"There were greater odds still," Walter replied, "at Poitiers, and I +doubt not that we shall make as good an example of them." + +"They are more doughty adversaries," the prince replied. "There are nigh +twenty thousand English in their ranks--all veterans in war--and they +are led by Du Guesclin, who is a host in himself." + +"Their very numbers will be a hindrance to them," Walter replied +cheerfully; "and never did I see a better army than that which you have +under you. I would we were fighting for a better man, for Don Pedro is +to my mind treacherous as well as cruel. He promises fairly, but I doubt +if when he has gained his end he will keep his promises. He speaks +fairly and smoothly, but his deeds are at variance with his words." + +"It may be, my lord," the prince replied, "that I am somewhat of your +opinion, and that I regret I so quickly committed myself to his cruse. +However, he was my father's ally, and having fulfilled all his +engagements had a right to demand our assistance. I am a bad hand, +Walter, at saying no to those who beseech me." + +"It is so, Sir Prince," Walter said bluntly. "Would that your heart had +been a less generous one, for your nobleness of disposition is ever +involving you in debts which hamper you sorely, and cause more trouble +to you than all your enemies!" + +"That is true enough," the Black Prince said with a sigh. "Since I was a +boy I have ever been harassed with creditors; and though all Aquitaine +is mine, I verily believe that there is not a man in my father's +dominions who is so harassed and straitened for money as I." + +"And yet," Walter said, smiling, "no sooner do you get it than you give +it away." + +"Ah!" the prince laughed, "I cannot deny it. It is so much pleasanter to +give than to pay that I can never find heart to balk myself. I am ever +surrounded by suitors. Some have lost estates in my cause, others have +rendered brilliant services in the field, some have burdened themselves +with debts to put their retainers in arms--all have pleas to urge, and +for the life of me I cannot say them nay. I trust, though," he added +more seriously, "that Don Pedro will fulfill his promises to pay my +army. I have bound myself to my soldiers for their wages, besides +advancing large sums to Pedro, and if he keeps not his engagements I +shall indeed be in a sore strait." + +"There is one thing," Walter said; "if he fail to keep his promises, we +will not fail to oblige him to do so. If we win a kingdom for him, we +can snatch it from him again." + +"We have not won it yet," the prince said. + +"We will do so to-morrow," Walter rejoined confidently. "I hope the +fortunes of the day may bring me face to face with Du Guesclin. I am +thrice as strong as when I fought at Cressy, and I should like to try +my hand against this doughty champion." + +The next morning the two armies prepared for battle, the Black Prince +dividing his army as before. The divisions were commanded as in the +passage of the Pyrenees, and each numbered ten thousand men. + +Don Henry had also divided his force in three parts. In the first +division, commanded by Du Guesclin, were four thousand veteran French +knights and men-at-arms with eight thousand foot soldiers; the second +was led by the prince's brother, Don Tillo, with sixteen thousand horse; +while he himself commanded the third, in which were a multitude of +soldiers, making up the gross total of one hundred thousand men. + +As on the night preceding the battle of Poitiers, the English army had +lain down supperless. Soon after midnight the trumpets sounded, and the +troops soon moved forward. At sunrise the prince and his forces reached +the summit of a little hill, whence was visible the approaching host of +Spain. The first division, under the Duke of Lancaster and Lord Chandos, +immediately quickened its pace and charged the division of Du Guesclin, +which received it with great steadiness, and a desperate conflict +ensued. The Black Prince charged the division of Don Tillo, which gave +way at the first attack, and its commander, with two thousand horse, at +once fled. The remainder of the division resisted for some time, but was +unable to withstand the steady advance of the English, who without much +difficulty dispersed and scattered it from the field. The King of +Majorca now joined his division with that of the Black Prince, and the +two advanced against the great division led by Don Henry. + +The Spanish slingers opened upon the advancing force and for a time +annoyed them greatly, but when the English archers arrived within +bow-shot and opened fire they speedily dispersed the slingers, and the +men-at-arms on both sides advanced to the attack. The conflict was long +and desperate, and both sides fought with great gallantry and +determination. Don Pedro--who, although vicious and cruel, was +brave--fought in the ranks as a common soldier, frequently cutting his +way into the midst of the Spaniards, and shouting to Don Henry to cross +swords with him. Henry on his part fought with great valor, although, as +he had the burden of command upon him, he was less able to distinguish +himself by acts of personal prowess. Though fighting in the thickest of +the press, he never lost his grasp of the general purpose of the battle. +Three times, when his troops wavered before the assaults of the Black +Prince and his knights, he rallied them and renewed the fight. + +While this battle was raging, a not less obstinate fight was proceeding +between the divisions of Lancaster and Du Guesclin. For a long time +victory was doubtful, and indeed inclined toward the side of the French. +The ranks of both parties were broken, and all were fighting in a +confused mass, when, in the midst of the _mêlée_, a body of French and +Spaniards poured in upon the banner of Chandos. He was struck to the +ground, and a gigantic Castilian knight flung himself upon him and +strove to slay him as he held him down. Chandos had lost sword and +battle-ax, but drawing his dagger, he held with one hand his opponent's +sword-arm, and at last, after repeated strokes with his dagger, he found +an undefended part of his armor and pierced him with his dagger to the +hilt. The Spaniard relaxed his hold, and Chandos, throwing him off, +struggled to his feet and rejoined his friends, who had thought him +dead. They now fought with more enthusiasm than ever, and at last, +driving back the main body of the French knights, isolated a body of +some sixty strong, and forced them to surrender. Among these were Du +Guesclin himself, the Marshal d'Audenham, and the Bigue de Vilaines. + +As these were the leaders of the division, the main body lost spirit and +fought feebly, and were soon completely routed by Lancaster and Chandos. +These now turned their attention to the other part of the field, where +the battle was still raging, and charged down upon the flank of Don +Henry's army, which was already wavering. The Spaniards gave way at once +on every side, and ere long the whole were scattered in headlong rout, +hotly pursued by the English. The greater portion fled toward the town +of Najarra, where they had slept the previous night, and here vast +quantities were slaughtered by the English and Gascons. A number of +prisoners were taken and the palace and town sacked. The pursuit was +kept up the whole day, and it was not until evening that the leaders +began once more to assemble round the banner of the Prince of Wales. +Among the last who arrived was Don Pedro himself. Springing from his +charger he grasped the hand of the Prince of Wales, thanking him for his +victory, which he felt would restore him to his throne. + +"Give thanks and praise to God, and not to me," the prince replied, "for +from him, and not from me, you have received victory." + +About eight thousand men fell in the battle, the loss of the English, +French, and Spaniards being nearly equal; but many thousands of the +latter fell in the pursuit, and as many more were drowned in endeavoring +to cross the river Ebro. Don Henry escaped after fighting till the last, +and reaching the French territory in safety took refuge in the papal +court of Avignon. + +Upon the morning after the battle Don Pedro requested the Black Prince +to give him up all the Castilian prisoners, in order that he might put +them to death. The prince, however, was always opposed to cruelty, and +asked and obtained as a boon to himself that the lives of all the +Spanish prisoners, with the exception of one whose conduct had been +marked with peculiar treachery, should be spared, and even induced Pedro +to pardon them altogether on their swearing fealty to him. Even Don +Sancho, Pedro's brother, who had fought at Najarra under Don Henry, was +received and embraced by Pedro at the request of the Prince of Wales. +The city of Burgos at once opened its gates, and the rest of the country +followed its example, and resumed its allegiance to Pedro, who remounted +his throne without further resistance. + +As Walter had fought by the side of the Black Prince his desire to cross +swords with Du Guesclin was not satisfied; but his valor during the day +won for him the warm approbation of the prince. Opposed to them were +many of the great companies, and these men, all experienced soldiers and +many of them Englishmen, had fought with great stubbornness. Walter had +singled out for attack a banner bearing the cognizance of a raven. The +leader of this band, who was known as the Knight of the Raven, had won +for himself a specially evil notoriety in France by the ferocity of his +conduct. Wherever his band went they had swept the country, and the most +atrocious tortures had been inflicted on all well-to-do persons who had +fallen into their hands, to extract from them the secret of buried +hoards or bonds, entailing upon them the loss of their last penny. + +The Knight of the Raven himself was said to be as brave as he was cruel, +and several nobles who had attempted to oppose his band had been +defeated and slain by him. He was known to be English, but his name was +a mystery; and the Black Prince and his knights had long wished to +encounter a man who was a disgrace alike to chivalry and the English +name. When, therefore, Walter saw his banner in the king's division he +urged his horse toward it, and, followed by Ralph and some thirty +men-at-arms, hewed his way through the crowd until he was close to the +banner. + +A knight in gray armor spurred forward to meet him, and a desperate +conflict took place. Never had Walter crossed swords with a stouter +adversary, and his opponent fought with as much vehemence and fury as if +the sight of Walter's banner, which Ralph carried behind him, had +aroused in him a frenzy of rage and hate. In guarding his head from one +of his opponent's sweeping blows Walter's sword shivered at the hilt; +but before the Gray Knight could repeat the blow Walter snatched his +heavy battle-ax from his saddle. The knight reined back his horse for an +instant and imitated his example, and with these heavy weapons the fight +was renewed. The Knight of the Raven had lost by the change, for +Walter's great strength stood him in good stead, and presently with a +tremendous blow he beat down his opponent's ax and cleft through his +helmet almost to the chin. + +The knight fell dead from his horse, and Walter, with his band, pressing +on, carried confusion into the ranks of his followers. When these had +been defeated Walter rode back with Ralph to the spot where the Knight +of the Raven had fallen. + +"Take off his helmet, Ralph. Let me see his face. Methinks I recognized +his voice, and he fought as if he knew and hated me." + +[Illustration: THE END OF A RECREANT KNIGHT.--Page 386.] + +Ralph removed the helmet. + +"It is as I thought," Walter said; "it is Sir James Carnegie, a recreant +and villain knight and foul enemy of mine, a disgrace to his name and +rank, but a brave man. So long as he lived I could never say that my +life was safe from his machinations. Thank God, there is an end of him +and his evil doings!" + +Walter was twice wounded in the fight, but upon neither occasion +seriously, and he was soon able to take part in the tournaments and +games which the Prince of Wales instituted partly to keep his men +employed, partly for the amusement of the citizens of Burgos, outside +whose walls his army lay encamped. + +The prince was now obliged to remind the king of his promise to pay his +troops; but nothing was further from the mind of the treacherous monarch +than to carry out the promises which he had made in exile. He dared not, +however, openly avow his intentions, but trusting to the chapter of +accidents, he told the prince that at Burgos he could not collect a +sufficient sum; but if the army would march into Leon and take up their +quarters near Valladolid, he himself would proceed to Seville, and would +as soon as possible collect the money which he had bound himself to +furnish. The plan was adopted. Edward marched his troops to Valladolid, +and Don Pedro went to Seville. + +Some time passed on without the arrival of the promised money, and the +prince was impatient to return to Aquitaine. Don Henry had gathered a +force in France, secretly assisted by the French king, and had made an +inroad into Aquitaine, where he obtained several successes, and was +joined by many of the disinterested nobles of that province. + +"You were right," the prince said to Walter one day; "this treacherous +king, who owes his kingdom to us, intends to break his plighted word. I +know not what to do; my men are clamorous for their pay, and I am unable +to satisfy them. Don Pedro still sends fair promises, and although I +believe in my heart that he has no intention of keeping them, yet I can +hardly march against him as an enemy, for, however far from the truth it +may be, his pretext that the treasury has been emptied by his brother, +and that in the disturbed state of the kingdom no money can be obtained, +may yet be urged as valid." + +Scarcely had the army encamped before Valladolid when a terrible +pestilence attacked the army. For a while all questions of pay were +forgotten, and consternation and dismay seized the troops. Neither rank +nor station was of avail, and the leaders suffered as severely as the +men. Every day immense numbers died, and so sudden were the attacks, and +so great the mortality, that the soldiers believed that Don Pedro had +poisoned the wells in order to rid himself of the necessity of +fulfilling his obligations. + +The Black Prince himself was prostrated and lay for some time between +life and death. A splendid constitution enabled him to pull through, but +he arose from his bed enfeebled and shattered, and although for some +years he lived on, he received his death-blow at Valladolid. His +personal strength never came to him again, and even his mind was dulled +and the brightness of his intellect dimmed from the effects of the +fever. When he recovered sufficiently to inquire into the state of his +forces, he was filled with sorrow and dismay. Four-fifths of the number +were either dead or so weakened as to be useless for service again. The +prince wrote urgently to Don Pedro for the money due; but the king knew +that the English were powerless now, and replied that he had not been +able to collect the money, but would forward it to Aquitaine, if the +prince would return there with his army. Edward knew that he lied, but +with only six thousand or seven thousand men, many of whom were +enfeebled by disease, he was not in a position to force the claim, or to +punish the base and ungrateful king. Again, therefore, he turned his +face north. + +Charles of Navarre had now allied himself with Don Henry, and refused to +allow the remnants of the army to pass through his dominions, although +he granted permission to the prince himself and his personal attendants +and friends. The southern route was barred by the King of Arragon, also +an ally of Don Henry; but with him the prince was more successful. He +had a personal interview with the monarch, and so influenced him that he +not only obtained permission for his troops to pass through his +dominions, but detached him from his alliance with Don Henry and +induced him to enter into a friendly treaty with Pedro. + +A greater act of magnanimity was never performed. In spite of the base +ingratitude with which he had been treated, and the breach of faith +which saddled him with enormous liabilities and debts, which weighed him +down and imbittered the rest of his life, Edward remained faithful to +the cause of his father's ally, and did his best to maintain him in the +position which English valor had won for him. He himself with a few +companions passed through Navarre, and arrived safely in Bordeaux, where +his wife awaited him, and where he was received with rejoicings and +festivities in honor of his glorious campaign in Spain. + +His health was now irreparably injured. Troubles came thick upon him in +Aquitaine, and he had no longer the energy to repress them. Risings took +place in all directions, and the King of France renewed the war. In +addition to his own troubles from the debts he had incurred and the +enemies who rose against him, he was further shaken by the death of his +mother Philippa, whom he tenderly loved. His friend Chandos, too, was +killed in a skirmish. Unhappily, while thus weakened in mind and body +the treachery of the bishop and people of Limoges, who, having bound +themselves by innumerable promises to him, surrendered their city to the +French, caused him to commit the one act of cruelty which sullied the +brightness of an otherwise unspotted career, for at the recapture of the +town he bade his soldiers give no quarter. + +This act, although common enough at the time, is so opposed to the +principles of mercy and humanity which throughout all the previous acts +of his life distinguished the conduct of the Black Prince that it cannot +be doubted that his brain was affected by the illness which was fast +hurrying him to the grave. Shortly afterward he returned to England and +busied himself in arranging the affairs of the kingdom, which his +father's failing health had permitted to fall into disorder. For the +remaining four years of life he lived in seclusion, and sank on the 8th +of June, 1376. + +Walter, Lord Somers, returned home after the conclusion of the campaign +in Spain, and rode no more to the wars. + +Giles Fletcher and his wife had died some years before, but the good +citizen Geoffrey the armorer, when he grew into years, abandoned his +calling and took up his abode at Westerham Castle to the time of his +death. + +In the wars which afterward occurred with France, Walter was represented +in the field by his sons, who well sustained the high reputation which +their father had borne as a good and valiant knight. He and his wife +lived to a green old age, reverenced and beloved by their tenants and +retainers, and died surrounded by their descendants to the fourth +generation. + + +THE END. + + + + +THE HENTY SERIES FOR BOYS + +Uniform Cloth Binding. 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A. Henty</title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; } + + + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; text-indent:0; + font-size: 0.75em; text-align: right; color: #b0b0b0;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 85%;} + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, St. George for England, by G. A. Henty</h1> +<pre> +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 <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: St. George for England</p> +<p> A Tale of Cressy and Poitiers</p> +<p>Author: G. A. Henty</p> +<p>Release Date: January 8, 2011 [eBook #34886]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ST. GEORGE FOR ENGLAND***</p> +<p> </p> +<h4>E-text prepared by Charlene Taylor, Graeme Mackreth,<br /> + and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br /> + from page images generously made available by<br /> + Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries<br /> + (<a href="http://www.archive.org/details/toronto">http://www.archive.org/details/toronto</a>)</h4> +<p> </p> +<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10"> + <tr> + <td valign="top"> + Note: + </td> + <td> + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries. See + <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/stgeorgeforengla00hentuoft"> + http://www.archive.org/details/stgeorgeforengla00hentuoft</a> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus001.jpg" alt="cover"/> +</p> + +<p class="center" style="margin-top: 5em;"> +<img src="images/illus002.jpg" alt="assassination"/> <br /> +<span class="smcap">Attempted Assassination of Sir Walter.</span></p> + +<h1 style="margin-top: 5em;">ST. GEORGE FOR ENGLAND:</h1> + + +<h3>A TALE OF CRESSY AND POITIERS.</h3> + + +<h2>By G. A. HENTY,</h2> + + +<p class='center'><i>Author of "With Clive in India," "Under Drake's Flag," "The Young +Carthaginian," "Bonnie Prince Charlie," etc., etc</i>.</p> + + +<p style="margin-top: 5em;" class='center'><i>EIGHT PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS BY GORDON BROWNE.</i></p> + +<p style="margin-top: 10em;" class='center'><small> +NEW YORK:<br /> +A. L. BURT, PUBLISHER.</small> +</p> + + + +<h2 style="margin-top: 10em;">PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">My Dear Lads</span>:</p> + +<p>You may be told perhaps that there is no good to be obtained from tales +of fighting and bloodshed—that there is no moral to be drawn from such +histories. Believe it not. War has its lessons as well as Peace. You +will learn from tales like this that determination and enthusiasm can +accomplish marvels, that true courage is generally accompanied by +magnanimity and gentleness, and that if not in itself the very highest +of virtues, it is the parent of almost all the others, since but few of +them can be practiced without it. The courage of our forefathers has +created the greatest empire in the world around a small and in itself +insignificant island; if this empire is ever lost, it will be by the +cowardice of their descendants.</p> + +<p>At no period of her history did England stand so high in the eyes of +Europe as in the time whose events are recorded in this volume. A +chivalrous king and an even more chivalrous prince had infected the +whole people with their martial spirit, and the result was that their +armies were for a time invincible, and the most astonishing successes +were gained against numbers which would appear overwhelming. The +victories of Cressy and Poitiers may be to some extent accounted for by +superior generalship and discipline on the part of the conquerors; but +this will not account for the great naval victory over the Spanish fleet +off the coast of Sussex, a victory even more surprising and won against +greater odds than was that gained in the same waters centuries later +over the Spanish Armada. The historical facts of the story are all drawn +from Froissart and other contemporary historians, as collated and +compared by Mr. James in his carefully written history. They may +therefore be relied upon as accurate in every important particular.</p> + +<p style="margin-left: 15em;"> +Yours sincerely,</p> +<p style="margin-left: 25em;"> +G. A. HENTY. +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +<p style="margin-left: 20em;"> + +<a href="#CHAPTER_I"><b>CHAPTER I.</b></a> +<br /> +A Wayfarer <br /> +<br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II"><b>CHAPTER II.</b></a><br /> + +The Hut in the Marshes <br /> +<br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III"><b>CHAPTER III.</b></a><br /> + +A Thwarted Plot <br /> +<br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><b>CHAPTER IV.</b></a><br /> + +A Knight's Chain <br /> +<br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V"><b>CHAPTER V.</b></a><br /> + +The City Games <br /> +<br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><b>CHAPTER VI.</b></a><br /> + +The Mêlée <br /> +<br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><b>CHAPTER VII.</b></a><br /> + +The Young Esquire <br /> +<br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><b>CHAPTER VIII.</b></a><br /> + +Off to the Wars <br /> +<br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><b>CHAPTER IX.</b></a><br /> + +The Siege of Hennebon <br /> +<br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X"><b>CHAPTER X.</b></a><br /> + +A Place of Refuge <br /> +<br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI"><b>CHAPTER XI.</b></a><br /> + +A Stormy Interview <br /> +<br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII"><b>CHAPTER XII.</b></a><br /> + +Jacob van Artevelde <br /> +<br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII"><b>CHAPTER XIII.</b></a><br /> + +The White Ford <br /> +<br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV"><b>CHAPTER XIV.</b></a><br /> + +Cressy <br /> +<br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV"><b>CHAPTER XV.</b></a><br /> + +The Siege of a Fortalice <br /> +<br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI"><b>CHAPTER XVI.</b></a><br /> + +A Prisoner <br /> +<br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII"><b>CHAPTER XVII.</b></a><br /> + +The Capture of Calais <br /> +<br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII"><b>CHAPTER XVIII.</b></a><br /> + +The Black Death <br /> +<br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX"><b>CHAPTER XIX.</b></a><br /> + +By Land and Sea <br /> +<br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XX"><b>CHAPTER XX.</b></a><br /> + +Poitiers <br /> +<br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXI"><b>CHAPTER XXI.</b></a><br /> + +The Jacquerie <br /> +<br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXII"><b>CHAPTER XXII.</b></a><br /> + +Victory and Death <br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="ST_GEORGE_FOR_ENGLAND" id="ST_GEORGE_FOR_ENGLAND"></a>ST. GEORGE FOR ENGLAND.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<p class='center'>A Wayfarer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + + +<p>It was a bitterly cold night in the month of November, 1330. The rain +was pouring heavily, when a woman, with a child in her arms, entered the +little village of Southwark. She had evidently come from a distance, for +her dress was travel-stained and muddy. She tottered rather than walked, +and when, upon her arrival at the gateway on the southern side of London +Bridge, she found that the hour was past and the gates closed for the +night, she leaned against the wall with a faint groan of exhaustion and +disappointment.</p> + +<p>After remaining, as if in doubt, for some time, she feebly made her way +into the village. Here were many houses of entertainment, for travelers +like herself often arrived too late to enter the gates, and had to abide +outside for the night. Moreover, house rent was dear within the walls of +the crowded city, and many, whose business brought them to town, found +it cheaper to take up their abode in the quiet hostels of Southwark +rather than to stay<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> in the more expensive inns within the walls. The +lights came out brightly from many of the casements, with sounds of +boisterous songs and laughter. The woman passed these without a pause. +Presently she stopped before a cottage, from which a feeble light alone +showed that it was tenanted.</p> + +<p>She knocked at the door. It was opened by a pleasant-faced man of some +thirty years old.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I am a wayfarer," the woman answered feebly. "Canst take me and my +child in for the night?"</p> + +<p>"You have made a mistake," the man said; "this is no inn. Further up the +road there are plenty of places where you can find such accommodation as +you lack."</p> + +<p>"I have passed them," the woman said, "but all seemed full of +roisterers. I am wet and weary, and my strength is nigh spent. I can pay +thee, good fellow, and I pray you as a Christian to let me come in and +sleep before your fire for the night. When the gates are open in the +morning I will go; for I have a friend within the city who will, +methinks, receive me."</p> + +<p>The tone of voice, and the addressing of himself as good fellow, at once +convinced the man that the woman before him was no common wayfarer.</p> + +<p>"Come in," he said; "Geoffrey Ward is not a man to shut his doors in a +woman's face on a night like this, nor does he need payment for such +small hospitality. Come hither, Madge!" he shouted; and at his voice a +woman came down from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> upper chamber. "Sister," he said, "this is a +wayfarer who needs shelter for the night; she is wet and weary. Do you +take her up to your room and lend her some dry clothing; then make her a +cup of warm posset, which she needs sorely. I will fetch an armful of +fresh rushes from the shed and strew them here. I will sleep in the +smithy. Quick, girl," he said sharply; "she is fainting with cold and +fatigue." And as he spoke he caught the woman as she was about to fall, +and laid her gently on the ground. "She is of better station than she +seems," he said to his sister; "like enough some poor lady whose husband +has taken part in the troubles; but that is no business of ours. Quick, +Madge, and get these wet things off her; she is soaked to the skin. I +will go round to the Green Dragon and will fetch a cup of warm cordial, +which I warrant me will put fresh life into her."</p> + +<p>So saying, he took down his flat cap from its peg on the wall and went +out, while his sister at once proceeded to remove the drenched garments +and to rub the cold hands of the guest until she recovered +consciousness. When Geoffrey Ward returned, the woman was sitting in a +settle by the fireside, dressed in a warm woolen garment belonging to +his sister. Madge had thrown fresh wood on the fire, which was blazing +brightly now. The woman drank the steaming beverage which her host +brought with him. The color came faintly again into her cheeks.</p> + +<p>"I thank you, indeed," she said, "for your kind<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span>ness. Had you not taken +me in I think I should have died at your door, for indeed I could go no +further; and though I hold not to life, yet would I fain live until I +have delivered my boy into the hands of those who will be kind to him, +and this will, I trust, be to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Say naught about it," Geoffrey answered. "Madge and I are right glad to +have been of service to you. It would be a poor world indeed if one +could not give a corner of one's fireside to a fellow-creature on such a +night as this, especially when that fellow-creature is a woman with a +child. Poor little chap! he looks right well and sturdy, and seems to +have taken no ill from his journey."</p> + +<p>"Truly, he is well and sturdy," the mother said, looking at him proudly; +"indeed. I have been almost wishing to-day that he were lighter by a few +pounds, for in truth I am not used to carry him far, and his weight has +sorely tried me. His name is Walter, and I trust," she added, looking at +the powerful figure of her host, "that he will grow up as straight and +as stalwart as yourself." The child, who was about three years old, was +indeed an exceedingly fine little fellow, as he sat, in one scanty +garment, in his mother's lap, gazing with round eyes at the blazing +fire; and the smith thought how pretty a picture the child and mother +made. She was a fair, gentle-looking girl some twenty-two years old, and +it was easy enough to see now from her delicate features and soft, +shapely hands that she had never been accustomed to toil.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And now," the smith said, "I will e'en say good-night. The hour is +late, and I shall be having the watch coming along to know why I keep a +fire so long after the curfew. Should you be a stranger in the city, I +will gladly act as your guide in the morning to the friends whom you +seek, that is, should they be known to me; but if not, we shall +doubtless find them without difficulty."</p> + +<p>So saying, the smith retired to his bed of rushes in the smithy, and +soon afterward the tired visitor, with her baby, lay down on the rushes +in front of the fire, for in those days none of the working or artisan +class used beds, which were not indeed, for centuries afterward, in +usage by the common people.</p> + +<p>In the morning Geoffrey Ward found that his guest desired to find one +Giles Fletcher, a maker of bows.</p> + +<p>"I know him well," the smith said. "There are many who do a larger +business, and hold their heads higher, but Giles Fletcher is well +esteemed as a good workman, whose wares can be depended upon. It is +often said of him that did he take less pains he would thrive more; but +he handles each bow that he makes as if he loved it, and finishes and +polishes each with his own hand. Therefore he doeth not so much trade as +those who are less particular with their wares, for he hath to charge a +high price to be able to live. But none who have ever bought his bows +have regretted the silver which they cost. Many and many a gross of +arrow-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span>heads have I sold him, and he is well-nigh as particular in their +make as he is over the spring and temper of his own bows. Many a +friendly wrangle have I had with him over their weight and finish, and +it is not many who find fault with my handiwork, though I say it myself; +and now, madam, I am at your service."</p> + +<p>During the night the wayfarer's clothes had been dried. The cloak was of +rough quality, such as might have been used by a peasant woman; but the +rest, though of somber color, were of good material and fashion. Seeing +that her kind entertainers would be hurt by the offer of money, the lady +contented herself with thanking Madge warmly, and saying that she hoped +to come across the bridge one day with Dame Fletcher; then, under the +guidance of Geoffrey, who insisted on carrying the boy, she set out from +the smith's cottage. They passed under the outer gate and across the +bridge, which later on was covered with a double line of houses and +shops, but was now a narrow structure. Over the gateway across the +river, upon pikes, were a number of heads and human limbs. The lady +shuddered as she looked up.</p> + +<p>"It is an ugly sight," the smith said, "and I can see no warrant for +such exposure of the dead. There are the heads of Wallace, of three of +Robert Bruce's brothers, and of many other valiant Scotsmen who fought +against the king's grandfather some twenty years back. But after all +they fought for their country, just as Harold and our ancestors<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> against +the Normans under William, and I think it a foul shame that men who have +done no other harm should be beheaded, still less that their heads and +limbs should be stuck up there gibbering at all passers-by. There are +over a score of them, and every fresh trouble adds to their number; but +pardon me," he said suddenly as a sob from the figure by his side called +his attention from the heads on the top of the gateway, "I am rough and +heedless in speech, as my sister Madge does often tell me, and it may +well be that I have said something which wounded you."</p> + +<p>"You meant no ill," the lady replied; "it was my own thoughts and +troubles which drew tears from me; say not more about it, I pray you."</p> + +<p>They passed under the gateway, with its ghastly burden, and were soon in +the crowded streets of London. High overhead the houses extended, each +story advancing beyond that below it until the occupiers of the attics +could well-nigh shake hands across. They soon left the more crowded +streets, and turning to the right, after ten minutes' walking, the smith +stopped in front of a bowyer shop near Aldgate.</p> + +<p>"This is the shop," he said, "and there is Giles Fletcher himself trying +the spring and pull of one of his bows. Here I will leave you, and will +one of these days return to inquire if your health has taken aught of +harm by the rough buffeting of the storm of yester-even."</p> + +<p>So saying he handed the child to its mother, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> with a wave of the +hand took his leave, not waiting to listen to the renewed thanks which +his late guest endeavored to give him.</p> + +<p>The shop was open in front, a projecting penthouse sheltered it from the +weather; two or three bows lay upon a wide shelf in front, and several +large sheaves of arrows tied together stood by the wall. A powerful man +of some forty years old was standing in the middle of the shop with a +bent bow in his arm, taking aim at a spot in the wall. Through an open +door three men could be seen in an inner workshop cutting and shaping +the wood for bows. The bowyer looked round as his visitor entered the +shop, and then, with a sudden exclamation, lowered the bow.</p> + +<p>"Hush, Giles!" the lady exclaimed; "it is I, but name no names; it were +best that none knew me here."</p> + +<p>The craftsman closed the door of communication into the inner room. "My +Lady Alice," he exclaimed in a low tone, "you here, and in such a +guise?"</p> + +<p>"Surely it is I," the lady sighed, "although sometimes I am well-nigh +inclined to ask myself whether it be truly I or not, or whether this be +not all a dreadful dream."</p> + +<p>"I had heard but vaguely of your troubles," Giles Fletcher said, "but +hoped that the rumors were false. Ever since the Duke of Kent was +executed the air has been full of rumors. Then came news of the killing +of Mortimer and of the imprisonment of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> king's mother, and it was +said that many who were thought to be of her party had been attacked and +slain, and I heard——" And there he stopped.</p> + +<p>"You heard rightly, good Giles, it is all true. A week after the slaying +of Mortimer a band of knights and men-at-arms arrived at our castle and +demanded admittance in the king's name. Sir Roland refused, for he had +news that many were taking up arms, but it was useless. The castle was +attacked and, after three days' fighting, was taken. Roland was killed, +and I was cast out with my child. Afterward they repented that they had +let me go, and searched far and wide for me; but I was hidden in the +cottage of a wood-cutter. They were too busy in hunting down others whom +they proclaimed to be enemies of the king, as they had wrongfully said +of Roland, who had but done his duty faithfully to Queen Isabella, and +was assuredly no enemy of her son, although he might well be opposed to +the weak and indolent king, his father. However, when the search relaxed +I borrowed the cloak of the good man's wife and set out for London, +whither I have traveled on foot, believing that you and Bertha would +take me in and shelter me in my great need."</p> + +<p>"Ay, that will we willingly," Giles said. "Was not Bertha your nurse? +and to whom should you come if not to her? But will it please you to +mount the stairs? for Bertha will not forgive me if I keep you talking +down here. What a joy it will be to her to see you again!"</p> + +<p>So saying, Giles led the way to the apartment<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> above. There was a scream +of surprise and joy from his wife, and then Giles quietly withdrew +downstairs again, leaving the women to cry in each other's arms.</p> + +<p>A few days later Geoffrey Ward entered the shop of Giles Fletcher.</p> + +<p>"I have brought you twenty score of arrow-heads, Master Giles," he said. +"They have been longer in hand than is usual with me, but I have been +pressed. And how goes it with the lady whom I brought to your door last +week?"</p> + +<p>"But sadly, Master Ward, very sadly, as I told you when I came across to +thank you again in her name and my own for your kindness to her. She was +but in poor plight after her journey; poor thing, she was little +accustomed to such wet and hardship, and doubtless they took all the +more effect because she was low in spirit and weakened with much +grieving. That night she was taken with a sort of fever, hot and cold by +turns, and at times off her head. Since then she has lain in a high +fever and does not know even my wife; her thoughts ever go back to the +storming of the castle, and she cries aloud and begs them to spare her +lord's life. It is pitiful to hear her. The leech gives but small hope +for her life, and in troth, Master Ward, methinks that God would deal +most gently with her were he to take her. Her heart is already in her +husband's grave, for she was ever of a most loving and faithful nature. +Here there would be little comfort for her—she would fret that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> her boy +would never inherit the lands of his father; and although she knows well +enough that she would be always welcome here, and that Bertha would +serve her as gladly and faithfully as ever she did when she was her +nurse, yet she could not but greatly feel the change. She was tenderly +brought up, being, as I told you last week, the only daughter of Sir +Harold Broome. Her brother, who but a year ago became lord of +Broomecastle at the death of his father, was one of the queen's men, and +it was he, I believe, who brought Sir Roland Somers to that side. He was +slain on the same night as Mortimer, and his lands, like those of Sir +Roland, have been seized by the crown. The child upstairs is by right +heir to both estates, seeing that his uncle died unmarried. They will +doubtless be conferred upon those who have aided the young king in +freeing himself from his mother's domination, for which, indeed, +although I lament that Lady Alice should have suffered so sorely in the +doing of it, I blame him not at all. He is a noble prince and will make +us a great king, and the doings of his mother have been a shame to us +all. However, I meddle not in politics. If the poor lady dies, as +methinks is well-nigh certain, Bertha and I will bring up the boy as our +own. I have talked it over with my wife, and so far she and I are not of +one mind. I think it will be best to keep him in ignorance of his birth +and lineage, since the knowledge cannot benefit him, and will but render +him discontented with his lot and make him disinclined to take to my +calling,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> in which he might otherwise earn a living and rise to be a +respected citizen. But Bertha hath notions. You have not taken a wife to +yourself, Master Geoffrey, or you would know that women oft have fancies +which wander widely from hard facts, and she says she would have him +brought up as a man-at-arms, so that he may do valiant deeds, and win +back some day the title and honor of his family."</p> + +<p>Geoffrey Ward laughed. "Trust a woman for being romantic," he said. +"However, Master Fletcher, you need not for the present trouble about +the child's calling, even should its mother die. At any rate, whether he +follows your trade, or whether the blood in his veins leads him to take +to martial deeds, the knowledge of arms may well be of use to him, and I +promise you that such skill as I have I will teach him when he grows old +enough to wield sword and battle-ax. As you know I may, without +boasting, say that he could scarce have a better master, seeing that I +have for three years carried away the prize for the best sword-player at +the sports. Methinks the boy will grow up into a strong and stalwart +man, for he is truly a splendid lad. As to archery, he need not go far +to learn it, since your apprentice, Will Parker, last year won the prize +as the best marksman in the city bounds. Trust me, if his tastes lie +that way we will between us turn him out a rare man-at-arms. But I must +stand gossiping no longer; the rumors that we are likely ere long to +have war with France have rarely bettered my trade. Since the wars in +Scotland<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> men's arms have rusted somewhat, and my two men are hard at +work mending armor, and fitting swords to hilts, and forging pike-heads. +You see I am a citizen, though I dwell outside the bounds, because house +rent is cheaper and I get my charcoal without paying the city dues. So I +can work somewhat lower than those in the walls, and I have good custom +from many in Kent, who know that my arms are of as good temper as those +turned out by any craftsman in the city."</p> + +<p>Giles Fletcher's anticipations as to the result of his guest's illness +turned out to be well founded. The fever abated, but left her prostrate +in strength. For a few weeks she lingered; but she seemed to have little +hold of life, and to care not whether she lived or died. So gradually +she faded away.</p> + +<p>"I know you will take care of my boy as if he were your own, Bertha," +she said one day, "and you and your husband will be far better +protectors for him than I should have been had I lived. Teach him to be +honest and true. It were better, methinks, that he grew up thinking you +his father and mother, for otherwise he may grow discontented with his +lot; but this I leave with you, and you must speak or keep silent +according as you see his disposition and mind. If he is content to +settle down to a peaceful life here, say naught to him which would +unsettle his mind; but if Walter turn out to have an adventurous +disposition, then tell him as much as you think fit of his history, not +encouraging him to hope to recover his father's lands and mine, for +that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> can never be, seeing that before that time can come they would +have been enjoyed for many years by others; but that he may learn to +bear himself bravely and gently, as becomes one of good blood."</p> + +<p>A few days later Lady Alice breathed her last, and at her own request +was buried quietly and without pomp, as if she had been a child of the +bowman, a plain stone, with the name "Dame Alice Somers," marking the +grave.</p> + +<p>The boy grew and throve until at fourteen years old there was no +stronger or sturdier lad of his age within the city bounds. Giles had +caused him to be taught to read and write, accomplishments which were +common among the citizens, although they were until long afterward rare +among the warlike barons. The greater part of his time, however, was +spent in sports with lads of his own age in Moorfields beyond the walls. +The war with France was now raging, and as was natural, the boys in +their games imitated the doings of their elders, and mimic battles, +ofttimes growing into earnest, were fought between the lads of the +different wards. Walter Fletcher, as he was known among his +play-fellows, had by his strength and courage won for himself the proud +position of captain of the boys of the ward of Aldgate.</p> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus011.jpg" alt="forge"/> <br /> + +<span class="smcap">Walter in the Armorer's Forge.</span>—Page 14.</p> + +<p>Geoffrey Ward had kept his word, and had already begun to give the lad +lessons in the use of arms. When not engaged otherwise Walter would, +almost every afternoon, cross London Bridge and would spend hours in the +armorer's forge.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> Geoffrey's business had grown, for the war had +caused a great demand for arms, and he had now six men working in the +forge. As soon as the boy could handle a light tool Geoffrey allowed him +to work, and although not able to wield the heavy sledge, Walter was +able to do much of the finer work. Geoffrey encouraged him in this, as, +in the first place, the use of the tools greatly strengthened the boy's +muscles, and gave him an acquaintance with arms. Moreover, Geoffrey was +still a bachelor, and he thought that the boy, whom he as well as Giles +had come to love as a son, might, should he not take up the trade of +war, prefer the occupation of an armorer to that of a bow maker, in +which case he would take him some day as his partner in the forge. After +work was over and the men had gone away Geoffrey would give the lad +instructions in the use of the arms at which he had been at work, and so +quick and strong was he that he rapidly acquired their use, and Geoffrey +foresaw that he would one day, should his thoughts turn that way, prove +a mighty man-at-arms.</p> + +<p>It was the knowledge which he acquired from Geoffrey which had much to +do with Walter's position among his comrades. The skill and strength +which he had acquired in wielding the hammer, and by practice with the +sword, rendered him a formidable opponent with the sticks, which formed +the weapons in the mimic battles, and indeed not a few were the +complaints which were brought before Giles Fletcher of bruises and hurts +caused by him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You are too turbulent, Walter," the bowyer said one day when a +haberdasher from the ward of Aldersgate came to complain that his son's +head had been badly cut by a blow with a club from Walter Fletcher. "You +are always getting into trouble, and are becoming the terror of other +boys. Why do you not play more quietly? The feuds between the boys of +different wards are becoming a serious nuisance, and many injuries have +been inflicted. I hear that the matter has been mentioned in the Common +Council, and that there is a talk of issuing an order that no boy not +yet apprenticed to a trade shall be allowed to carry a club, and that +any found doing so shall be publicly whipped."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to be turbulent," Walter said; "but if the Aldersgate boys +will defy us, what are we to do? I don't hit harder than I can help, and +if Jonah Harris would leave his head unguarded I could not help hitting +it."</p> + +<p>"I tell you it won't do, Walter," Giles said. "You will be getting +yourself into sore trouble. You are growing too masterful altogether, +and have none of the quiet demeanor and peaceful air which becomes an +honest citizen. In another six months you will be apprenticed, and then +I hope we shall hear no more of these doings."</p> + +<p>"My father is talking of apprenticing me, Master Geoffrey," Walter said +that evening. "I hope that you will, as you were good enough to promise, +talk with him about apprenticing me to your craft rather<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> than to his. I +should never take to the making of bows, though, indeed, I like well to +use them; and Will Parker, who is teaching me, says that I show rare +promise; but it would never be to my taste to stand all day sawing, and +smoothing, and polishing. One bow is to me much like another, though my +father holds that there are rare differences between them; but it is a +nobler craft to work on iron, and next to using arms the most pleasant +thing surely is to make them. One can fancy what good blows the sword +will give and what hard knocks the armor will turn aside; but some day, +Master Geoffrey, when I have served my time, I mean to follow the army. +There is always work there for armorers to do, and sometimes at a pinch +they may even get their share of fighting."</p> + +<p>Walter did not venture to say that he would prefer to be a man-at-arms, +for such a sentiment would be deemed as outrageous in the ears of a +quiet city craftsman as would the proposal of the son of such a man +nowadays to enlist as a soldier. The armorer smiled; he knew well enough +what was in Walter's mind. It had cost Geoffrey himself a hard struggle +to settle down to a craft, and he deemed it but natural that with the +knightly blood flowing in Walter's veins he should long to distinguish +himself in the field. He said nothing of this, however, but renewed his +promise to speak to Giles Fletcher, deeming that a few years passed in +his forge would be the best preparation which Walter could have for a +career as a soldier.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<p class='center'>THE HUT IN THE MARSHES.</p> + + +<p>A week later a party of knights and court gallants, riding across the +fields without the walls, checked their horses to look at a struggle +which was going on between two parties of boys. One, which was +apparently the most powerful, had driven the other off from a heap of +rubbish which had been carried without the walls. Each party had a flag +attached to a stick, and the boys were armed with clubs such as those +carried by the apprentice boys. Many of them carried mimic shields made +of wood, and had stuffed their flat caps with wool or shavings, the +better to protect their heads from blows. The smaller party had just +been driven from the heap, and their leader was urging them to make +another effort to regain it.</p> + +<p>"That is a gallant-looking lad, and a sturdy, my Lord de Vaux," a boy of +about ten years of age said. "He bears himself like a young knight, and +he has had some hard knocks, for, see, the blood is streaming down his +face. One would scarcely expect to see these varlets of the city playing +so roughly."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The citizens have proved themselves sturdy fighters before now, my +prince," the other said; "they are ever independent, and hold to their +rights even against the king. The contingent which the city sends to the +wars bears itself as well as those of any of the barons."</p> + +<p>"See!" the boy interrupted, "they are going to charge again. The leader +has himself seized the flag and has swung his shield behind him, just as +a knight might do if leading the stormers against a place of strength. +Let us stop till we see the end of it."</p> + +<p>With a shout of "Aldgate! Aldgate!" the leader of the assailants dashed +forward, followed by his comrades, and with a rush reached the top of +the heap.</p> + +<p>"Well done!" the young prince exclaimed, clapping his hands. "See how he +lays about him with that club of his. There, he has knocked down the +leader of the defenders as if his club had been a battle-ax. Well done, +young sir, well done! But his followers waver. The others are too strong +for them. Stand, you cowards, rally round your leader!" And in his +enthusiasm the young prince urged his horse forward to the scene of +conflict.</p> + +<p>But the assailants were mastered; few of them could gain the top of the +heap, and those who did so were beaten back from it by the defenders. +Heavy blows were exchanged, and blood flowed freely from many of their +heads and faces, for in those days boys thought less than they do now +of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> hard knocks, and manliness and courage were considered the first of +virtues. Their leader, however, still stood his ground on the crest, +though hardly pressed on all sides, and used his club both to strike and +parry with a skill which aroused the warmest admiration on the part of +the prince. In vain his followers attempted to come to his rescue; each +time they struggled up the heap they were beaten back again by those on +the crest.</p> + +<p>"Yield thee prisoner," the assailants of their leader shouted, and the +prince in his excitement echoed the cry. The lad, however, heard or +heeded them not. He still kept his flag aloft in his left hand. With a +sudden spring he struck down one of his opponents, plucked up their flag +from the ground, and then fought his way back through his foes to the +edge of the battle ground; then a heavy blow struck him on the temple, +and, still holding the flags, he rolled senseless to the foot of the +heap. The defenders with shouts of triumph were rushing down, when the +prince urged his horse forward.</p> + +<p>"Cease!" he said authoritatively. "Enough has been done, my young +masters, and the sport is becoming a broil."</p> + +<p>Hitherto the lads, absorbed in their strife, had paid but little heed to +the party of onlookers; but at the word they at once arrested their +arms, and, baring their heads, stood still in confusion.</p> + +<p>"No harm is done," the prince said, "though your sport is of the +roughest; but I fear that your leader is hurt, he moves not; lift his +head from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> ground." The boy was indeed still insensible. "My lords," +the prince said to the knights who had now ridden up, "I fear that this +boy is badly hurt; he is a gallant lad, and has the spirit of a true +knight in him, citizen's son though he be. My Lord de Vaux, will you bid +your squire ride at full speed to the Tower and tell Master Roger, the +leech, to come here with all haste, and to bring such nostrums as may be +needful for restoring the boy to life?"</p> + +<p>The Tower was but half a mile distant, but before Master Roger arrived +Walter had already recovered consciousness, and was just sitting up when +the leech hurried up to the spot.</p> + +<p>"You have arrived too late, Master Roger," the prince said; "but I doubt +not that a dose of your cordials may yet be of use, for he is still +dazed, and the blow he got would have cracked his skull had it been a +thin one."</p> + +<p>The leech poured some cordial from a vial into a small silver cup and +held it to the boy's lips. It was potent and nigh took his breath away; +but when he had drunk it he struggled to his feet, looking ashamed and +confused when he saw himself the center of attention of so many knights +of the court.</p> + +<p>"What is thy name, good lad?" the prince asked.</p> + +<p>"I am known as Walter Fletcher."</p> + +<p>"You are a brave lad," the prince said, "and if you bear you as well as +a man as you did but now, I would wish no better to ride beside me in +the day of battle. Should the time ever come when you tire<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> of the +peaceable life of a citizen and wish to take service in the wars, go to +the Tower and ask boldly for the Prince of Wales, and I will enroll you +among my own men-at-arms, and I promise you that you shall have your +share of fighting as stark as that of the assault of yon heap. Now, my +lords, let us ride on; I crave your pardon for having so long detained +you."</p> + +<p>Walter was some days before he could again cross London Bridge to inform +his friend Geoffrey of the honor which had befallen him of being +addressed by the Prince of Wales. During the interval he was forced to +lie abed, and he was soundly rated by Master Giles for again getting +into mischief. Geoffrey was far more sympathetic, and said: "Well, +Walter, although I would not that Gaffer Giles heard me say so, I think +you have had a piece of rare good fortune. It may be that you may never +have cause to recall the young prince's promise to him; but should you +some day decide to embrace the calling of arms, you could wish for +nothing better than to ride behind the Prince of Wales. He is, by all +accounts, of a most noble and generous disposition, and is said, young +as he is, to be already highly skilled in arms. Men say that he will be +a wise king and a gallant captain, such a one as a brave soldier might +be proud to follow; and as the king will be sure to give him plenty of +opportunities of distinguishing himself, those who ride with him may be +certain of a chance of doing valorous deeds. I will go across the bridge +to-morrow, and will have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> a talk with Master Fletcher. The sooner you +are apprenticed the sooner you will be out of your time; and since Madge +married eight years since I have been lonely in the house and shall be +glad to have you with me."</p> + +<p>Geoffrey Ward found his friend more ready to accede to his request that +Walter should be apprenticed to him than he had expected. The bowyer, +indeed, was a quiet man, and the high spirits and somewhat turbulent +disposition of his young charge gave him so much uneasiness that he was +not sorry the responsibility of keeping him in order should be +undertaken by Geoffrey. Moreover, he could not but agree with the +argument that the promise of the Prince of Wales offered a more +favorable opportunity for Walter to enter upon the career of arms, and +so, perhaps, some day to win his way back to rank and honors than could +have been looked for. Therefore, on the following week Walter was +indentured to the armorer, and, as was usual at the time, left his abode +in Aldgate and took up his residence with his master. He threw himself +with his whole heart into the work, and by the time he was fifteen was +on the way to become a skillful craftsman. His frame and muscles +developed with labor, and he was now able to swing all save the very +heaviest hammers in the shop. He had never abated in his practice at +arms, and every day when work was over he and his master had a long bout +together with cudgel or quarter-staff, sword or ax. Walter, of course, +used light weapons, but so quick<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> was he with them that Geoffrey Ward +acknowledged that he needed to put out all his skill to hold his own +with his pupil. But it was not alone with Geoffrey that Walter had an +opportunity of learning the use of arms. Whenever a soldier, returned +from the wars, came to have a weapon repaired by the armorer, he would +be sure of an invitation to come in in the evening and take a stoup of +ale, and tell of the battles and sieges he had gone through, and in the +course of the evening would be asked to have a bout of arms with the +young apprentice, whom Geoffrey represented as being eager to learn how +to use the sword as well as how to make it.</p> + +<p>Thus Walter became accustomed to different styles of fighting, but found +that very few, indeed, of their visitors were nearly so well skilled +with their arms as his master. Some of the soldiers were mortified at +finding themselves unable to hold their own with a boy; others would +take their reverses in good part and would come again, bringing with +them some comrade known to be particularly skilled with his weapons, to +try the temper of the armorer's apprentice. At the age of fifteen Walter +had won the prize at the sports, both for the best cudgel play and for +the best sword-and-buckler play among the apprentices, to the great +disgust of many who had almost reached the age of manhood and were just +out of their time.</p> + +<p>On Sundays Walter always spent the day with Giles Fletcher and his wife, +going to mass with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> them and walking in the fields, where, after +service, the citizens much congregated. Since Walter had gone to work he +had taken no part in the fights and frolics of his former comrades; he +was, in fact, far too tired at the end of his day's work to have any +desire to do aught but to sit and listen to the tales of the wars, of +the many old soldiers who pervaded the country. Some of these men were +disabled by wounds or long service, but the greater portion were idle +scamps, who cared not for the hard blows and sufferings of a campaign, +liking better to hang about taverns drinking, at the expense of those to +whom they related fabulous tales of the gallant actions they had +performed. Many, too, wandered over the country, sometimes in twos or +threes, sometimes in larger bands, robbing and often murdering travelers +or attacking lonely houses. When in one part or another their ill deeds +became too notorious, the sheriffs would call out a posse of men and +they would be hunted down like wild beasts. It was not, however, easy to +catch them, for great tracts of forests still covered a large portion of +the country and afforded them shelter.</p> + +<p>In the country round London these pests were very numerous, for here, +more than anywhere else, was there a chance of plunder. The swamps on +the south side of the river had especially evil reputation. From +Southwark to Putney stretched a marshy country over which, at high +tides, the river frequently flowed. Here and there were wretched huts, +difficult of access and affording good hiding-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>places for those pursued +by justice, since searchers could be seen approaching a long way off, +and escape could be made by paths across the swamp known only to the +dwellers there, and where heavily armed men dared not follow. Further +south, in the wild country round Westerham, where miles of heath and +forest stretched away in all directions, was another noted place where +the robber vagrants mustered thickly, and the Sheriff of Kent had much +trouble with them.</p> + +<p>The laws in those days were extremely severe, and death was the penalty +of those caught plundering. The extreme severity of the laws, however, +operated in favor of its breakers, since the sympathy of the people who +had little to lose was with them, and unless caught red-handed in the +act they could generally escape, since none save those who had +themselves been robbed would say aught that would place the pursuers on +their traces, or give testimony which would cost the life of a +fellow-creature. The citizens of London were loud in their complaints +against the discharged soldiers, for it was upon them that the loss +mainly fell, and it was on their petitions to the king that the sheriffs +of Middlesex and Hertford, Essex, Surrey, and Kent, were generally +stirred up to put down the ill-doers.</p> + +<p>Sometimes these hunts were conducted in a wholesale way, and the whole +posse of a county would be called out. Then all found within its limits +who had not land or visible occupation were collected. Any against whom +charges could be brought home<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> were hung without more ado, and the rest +were put on board ship and sent across the sea to the army. Sometimes, +when they found the country becoming too hot for them, these men would +take service with some knight or noble going to the war, anxious to take +with him as strong a following as might be, and not too particular as to +the character of his soldiers.</p> + +<p>Walter, being of an adventurous spirit, was sometimes wont of a summer +evening, when his work was done, to wander across the marshes, taking +with him his bow and arrows, and often bringing home a wild duck or two +which he had shot in the pools. More than once surly men had accosted +him, and had threatened to knock him on the head if they again found him +wandering that way; but Walter laughed at their threats, and seeing that +though but an apprentice lad, he might be able to send an arrow as +straight to the mark as another, they were content to leave him alone.</p> + +<p>One day when he was well-nigh in the heart of the swamp of Lambeth he +saw a figure making his way across. The hour was already late and the +night was falling, and the appearance of the man was so different from +that of the usual denizens of the swamp that Walter wondered what his +business there might be. Scarcely knowing why he did so, Walter threw +himself down among some low brushwood and watched the approaching +figure. When he came near he recognized the face, and saw, to his +surprise, that it was a knight who had but the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> day before stopped at +the armorer's shop to have two rivets put in his hauberk. He had +particularly noticed him, because of the arrogant manner in which he +spoke. Walter had himself put in the rivets, and had thought, as he +buckled on the armor again, how unpleasant a countenance was that of its +wearer. He was a tall and powerful man, and would have been handsome had +not his eyes been too closely set together; his nose was narrow, and the +expression of his face reminded Walter of a hawk. He had now laid aside +his helmet, and his figure was covered with a long cloak.</p> + +<p>"He is up to no good," Walter said to himself, "for what dealings could +a knight honestly have with the ruffians who haunt these swamps? It is +assuredly no business of mine, but it may lead to an adventure, and I +have had no real fun since I left Aldgate. I will follow and see if I +can get to the bottom of the mystery."</p> + +<p>When he came close to the spot where Walter was lying the knight paused +and looked round as if uncertain of his way. For four or five minutes he +stood still, and then gave a shout of "Humphrey!" at the top of his +voice. It was answered by a distant "Halloo!" and looking in the +direction from which the answer had come, Walter saw a figure appear +above some bushes some four hundred yards distant. The knight at once +directed his steps in that direction, and Walter crept cautiously after +him.</p> + +<p>"A pest upon these swamps and quagmires," the knight said angrily as he +neared the other. "Why<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> didst not meet me and show me the way through, +as before?"</p> + +<p>"I thought that as you had come once you would be able to find your way +hither again," the man said. "Had I thought that you would have missed +it I would have come ten times as far, rather than have had my name +shouted all over the country. However, there is no one to hear, did you +shout thrice as loud, so no harm is done."</p> + +<p>"I thought I saw a figure a short time since," the knight said.</p> + +<p>The man looked round in all directions.</p> + +<p>"I see none," he said, "and you may have been mistaken, for the light is +waning fast. It were ill for any one I caught prying about here. But +come in, sir knight; my hovel is not what your lordship is accustomed +to, but we may as well talk there as here beneath the sky."</p> + +<p>The two men disappeared from Walter's sight. The latter in much surprise +crept forward, but until he reached the spot where he had last seen the +speakers he was unable to account for their disappearance. Then he saw +that the spot, although apparently a mere clump of bushes no higher than +the surrounding country, was really an elevated hummock of ground. Any +one might have passed close to the bushes without suspecting that aught +lay among them. In the center, however, the ground had been cut away, +and a low doorway, almost hidden by the bushes, gave access into a +half-subterranean hut; the roof was formed of an old boat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> turned bottom +upward, and this had been covered with brown turf. It was an excellent +place of concealment, as searchers might have passed within a foot of +the bushes without suspecting that aught lay concealed within them.</p> + +<p>"A clever hiding-place," Walter thought to himself. "No wonder the posse +search these swamps in vain. This is the lowest and wettest part of the +swamp, and would be but lightly searched, for none would suspect that +there was a human habitation among these brown ditches and stagnant +pools."</p> + +<p>To his disappointment the lad could hear nothing of the conversation +which was going on within the hut. The murmur of voices came to his ear, +but no words were audible; however, he remained patiently, thinking that +perhaps as they came out a word might be said which would give him a +clew to the object of the mysterious interview between a knight and one +who was evidently a fugitive from justice.</p> + +<p>His patience was rewarded. In the half-hour which he waited the night +had fallen, and a thick fog which was rising over the swamps rendered it +difficult to discern anything at the distance of a few paces.</p> + +<p>"You are quite sure that you can manage it?" a voice said as the two men +issued from the hut.</p> + +<p>"There is no difficulty in managing it," the other replied, "if the boat +is punctual to the hour named. It will be getting dusk then, and if one +boat runs into another no one need be surprised. Such accidents will +happen."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span></p> + +<p>"They will be here just before nightfall," the other said, "and you will +know the boat by the white mantle the lady will wear. The reward will be +fifty pieces of gold, of which you have received ten as earnest. You can +trust me, and if the job be well done I shall take no count of the +earnest-money."</p> + +<p>"You may consider it as good as done," the other replied. "If the boat +is there the matter is settled. Now I will lead you back across the +swamps. I would not give much for your life if you tried to find the way +alone. Who would have thought when you got me off from being hung, after +that little affair at Bruges, that I should be able to make myself +useful to your worship?"</p> + +<p>"You may be sure," the knight replied, "that it was just because I +foresaw that you might be useful that I opened the doors of your cell +that night. It is always handy in times like these to be able to lay +one's hand on a man whom you can hang if you choose to open your mouth."</p> + +<p>"Did it not strike you, sir knight, that it might enter my mind that it +would be very advisable for me to free myself from one who stands toward +me in that relation?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly it did," the knight replied; "but as I happen to be able to +make it for your interest to serve me, that matter did not trouble me. I +knew better than to bring money into this swamp of yours, when I might +be attacked by half a dozen ruffians like yourself; and I took the +precaution of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> informing Peter, the captain of my men-at-arms, of the +spot to which I was going, bidding him, in case I came not back, to set +a hue-and-cry on foot and hunt down all who might be found here, with +the especial description of your worthy self."</p> + +<p>Walter could hear no more; he had taken off his shoes and followed them +at a distance, and their voices still acted as a guide to him through +the swamp. But he feared to keep too close, as, although the darkness +would conceal his figure, he might at any moment tread in a pool or +ditch, and so betray his presence. Putting his foot each time to the +ground with the greatest caution, he moved quietly after them. They +spoke little more, but their heavy footsteps on the swampy ground were a +sufficient guidance for him. At last these ceased suddenly. A few words +were spoken, and then he heard returning steps. He drew aside a few feet +and crouched down, saw a dim figure pass through the mist, and then +resumed his way.</p> + +<p>The ground was firmer now, and, replacing his shoes, he walked briskly +on. As he neared the higher ground along which the road ran he heard two +horsemen galloping away in the distance. He now turned his face east, +and after an hour's walking he reached the armorer's.</p> + +<p>"Why, Walter, you are late," the smith said. "The men are in bed this +hour or more, and I myself can scarce keep awake. Where hast thou been, +my boy?"</p> + +<p>"I have been in the swamps and lost my way," Walter replied.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is a bad neighborhood, lad, and worse are the people who live there. +If I had my way the whole posse should be called out, and the marshes +searched from end to end, and all found there should be knocked on the +head and thrown into their own ditches. There would be no fear of any +honest man coming to his end thereby; but now to bed, lad. You can tell +me all about it to-morrow; but we have a rare day's work before us, and +the fire must be alight at daybreak."</p> + +<p>On his way back Walter had debated with himself whether to inform his +master of what had happened. He was, however, bent upon having an +adventure on his own account, and it was a serious thing in those days +for an apprentice lad to bring an accusation against a noble. The city +would not indeed allow even an apprentice to be overridden, and although +Geoffrey Ward's forge stood beyond the city walls it was yet within the +liberties, the city allowing its craftsmen to open shops just outside +the gates, and to enjoy the same privileges as if dwelling actually +within the walls.</p> + +<p>On the following afternoon Walter asked leave to cease work an hour +earlier than usual, as he wished to go across into the city. The armorer +was surprised, since this was the first time that such a thing had +happened since the lad had worked for him.</p> + +<p>"What are you up to, Walter?—some mischief, I will be bound. Go, lad; +you have worked so steadily that you have well earned more than an +hour's holiday should you want it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span></p> + +<p>Walter crossed the bridge, and seeking out four or five of his old +companions, begged them to bring their bows and clubs and rejoin him at +the stairs by London Bridge. To their laughing inquiries whether he +meant to go a-shooting of fish, he told them to ask no questions until +they joined him. As soon as work was over the boys gathered at the +steps, where Walter had already engaged a boat. There were some mocking +inquiries from the watermen standing about as to where they were going +shooting. Walter answered with some light chaff, and, two of the party +taking oars, they started up the river.</p> + +<p>"Now I will tell you what we are bent on," Walter said. "From some words +I overheard I believe that some of the ruffians over in the marshes are +this evening going to make an attack upon a boat with a lady in it +coming down the river. We will be on the spot, and can give them a +reception such as they do not expect."</p> + +<p>"Do you know who the lady is, Walter?"</p> + +<p>"I have not the least idea. I only caught a few words, and may be wrong; +still it will do no harm should I be mistaken."</p> + +<p>The tide was running down strongly, for there had been a good deal of +rain during the preceding week, and all night it had poured heavily. It +was fine now, but the stream was running down thick and turbid, and it +needed all the boys' efforts to force the wherry against it. They rowed +by turns; all were fairly expert at the exercise, for in those<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> days the +Thames was at once the great highway and playground of London. To the +wharves below the bridge ships brought the rich merchandise of Italy and +the Low Countries; while from above, the grain needed for the wants of +the great city was floated down in barges from the west.</p> + +<p>Passing the Temple, the boys rowed along by the green banks and fields +as far as Westminster, which at that time was almost a rival of the +city, for here were the abbey and great monastery; here were the king's +palace and court, and the houses of many of his nobles. Then they went +along by the low shores of Millbank, keeping a sharp lookout for boats +going down with the stream. It was already getting dark, for Walter had +not allowed for the strength of the stream, and he was full of anxiety +lest he should arrive too late.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<p class='center'>A THWARTED PLOT.</p> + + +<p>A boat was rowing rapidly down the stream. It had passed the village of +Chelsea, and the men were doing their best to reach their destination at +Westminster before nightfall. Two men were rowing; in the stern sat a +lady with a girl of about eleven years old. A woman, evidently a +servant, sat beside the lady, while behind, steering the boat, was an +elderly retainer.</p> + +<p>"It is getting dark," the lady said; "I would that my Cousin James had +not detained us so long at Richmond, and then after all he was unable to +accompany us. I like not being out on the river so late."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed, my lady," the woman replied; "I have heard tell lately much +of the doings of the river pirates. They say that boats are often picked +up, stove in and broken, and that none know what had become of their +occupants, and that bodies, gashed and hewn, are often found floating in +the river."</p> + +<p>"How horrible," the girl said; "your tale makes me shiver, Martha; I +would you had said nothing about it till we were on land again."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Do not be afraid, Edith," the lady said cheerfully; "we shall soon be +safe at Westminster."</p> + +<p>There were now only two or three boats to be seen on the river. They +were nearing the end of their journey now, and the great pile of the +abbey could be seen through the darkness. A boat with several men in it +was seen rowing across the river toward the Lambeth side. It was +awkwardly managed.</p> + +<p>"Look out!" the steersman of the boat coming down stream shouted; "you +will run into us if you don't mind."</p> + +<p>An order was given in the other boat, the men strained to their oars, +and in an instant the boat ran with a crash into the side of the other, +cutting it down to the water's edge. For a minute there was a wild scene +of confusion; the women shrieked, the watermen shouted, and, thinking +that it was an accident, strove, as the boat sank from under them, to +climb into that which had run them down. They were speedily undeceived. +One was sunk by a heavy blow with an oar, the other was stabbed with a +dagger, while the assailants struck fiercely at the old man and the +women.</p> + +<p>At this moment, however, a third boat made its appearance on the scene, +its occupants uttering loud shouts. As they rowed toward the spot their +approach was heralded by a shower of arrows. Two of the ruffians were +struck—one fell over mortally wounded, the other sank down into the +boat.</p> + +<p>"Row, men, row," their leader shouted, "or we shall all be taken."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> + +<p>Again seizing their oars, the rowers started at full speed toward the +Lambeth shore. The arrows of their pursuers still fell among them, two +more of their number being wounded before they reached the opposite +shore. The pursuit was not continued, the new-comers ceasing to row at +the spot where the catastrophe had taken place. Walter stood up in the +boat and looked round. A floating oar, a stretcher, and a sheep-skin +which had served as a cushion alone floated.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there was a choking cry heard a few yards down stream, and +Walter leaped into the river. A few strokes took him to the side of the +girl, and he found, on throwing his arm around her, that she was still +clasped in her mother's arms. Seizing them both, Walter shouted to his +comrades. They had already turned the boat's head and in a minute were +alongside.</p> + +<p>It was a difficult task to get the mother and child on board, as the +girl refused to loose her hold. It was, however, accomplished, and the +child sat still and quiet by Walter's side, while his comrades +endeavored to stanch the blood which was flowing from a severe wound in +her mother's head. When they had bound it up they rubbed her hands, and +by the time they had reached the steps at Westminster the lady opened +her eyes. For a moment she looked bewildered, and then, on glancing +round, she gave a low cry of delight at seeing her child sitting by +Walter's side.</p> + +<p>On reaching the steps the boys handed her over<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> to the care of the +watermen there, who soon procured a litter and carried her, she being +still too weak to walk, to the dwelling of the Earl of Talbot, where she +said she was expected. The apprentices rowed back to London Bridge, +elated at the success of their enterprise, but regretting much that they +had arrived too late to hinder the outrage, or to prevent the escape of +its perpetrators.</p> + +<p>Walter on his return home related the whole circumstance to his master.</p> + +<p>"I would you had told me, Walter," the latter said, "since we might have +taken precautions which would have prevented this foul deed from taking +place. However, I can understand your wanting to accomplish the +adventure without my aid; but we must think now what had best be said +and done. As the lady belongs to the court, there is sure to be a fine +pother about the matter, and you and all who were there will be examined +touching your share of the adventure, and how you came to be upon the +spot. The others will, of course, say that they were there under your +direction; and we had best think how much of your story you had better +tell."</p> + +<p>"Why should I not tell it all?" Walter asked indignantly.</p> + +<p>"You should never tell a lie, Walter; but in days like these it is safer +sometimes not to tell more than is necessary. It is a good rule in life, +my boy, to make no more enemies than may be needful. This knight, who is +doubtless a great villain, has maybe<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> powerful friends, and it is as +well, if it can be avoided, that you should not embroil yourself with +these. Many a man has been knocked on the head or stabbed on a dark +night, because he could not keep his tongue from wagging. 'Least said, +the sooner mended,' is a good proverb; but I will think it over +to-night, and tell you in the morning."</p> + +<p>When they met again in the workshop the armorer said: "Clean yourself up +after breakfast, Walter, and put on your best clothes. I will go with +you before the mayor, and then you shall tell him your story. There is +sure to be a stir about it before the day is done. As we walk thither we +can settle how much of your story it is good to tell."</p> + +<p>On their way over the bridge Geoffrey told Walter that he thought he had +better tell the whole story exactly as it had occurred, concealing only +the fact that he had recognized the knight's face. "You had best, too," +he said, "mention naught about the white cloak. If we can catch the man +of the hut in the swamp, likely enough the rack will wring from him the +name of his employer, and in that case, if you are brought up as a +witness against him you will of course say that you recognize his face; +but 'tis better that the accusation should not come from you. No great +weight would be given to the word of a 'prentice boy as against that of +a noble. It is as bad for earthen pots to knock against brass ones as it +is for a yeoman in a leathern jerkin to stand up against a knight in +full armor."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But unless the lady knows her enemy she may fall again into his +snares."</p> + +<p>"I have thought of that," Geoffrey said, "and we will take measures to +prevent it."</p> + +<p>"But how can we prevent it?" Walter asked, surprised.</p> + +<p>"We must find out who this knight may be, which should, methinks, not be +difficult. Then we will send to him a message that his share in this +night's work is known to several, and that if any harm should ever again +be attempted against the lady or her daughter, he shall be denounced +before King Edward himself as the author of the wrong. I trust, however, +that we may capture the man of the swamp, and that the truth may be +wrung from him."</p> + +<p>By this time they had arrived at the guildhall, and making their way +into the court, Geoffrey demanded private speech with the lord mayor.</p> + +<p>"Can you not say in open court what is your business?" the lord mayor +asked.</p> + +<p>"I fear that if I did it would defeat the ends of justice."</p> + +<p>Retiring with the chief magistrate into an inner room, Geoffrey desired +Walter to tell his story. This he did, ending by saying that he +regretted much that he had not at once told his master what he had +heard; but that, although he deemed evil was intended, he did not know +that murder was meant, and thought it but concerned the carrying off of +some damsel, and that this he had intended, by the aid of his comrades, +to prevent.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You have done well, Master Walter, since that be your name," the +magistrate said. "That you might have done better is true, for had you +acted otherwise you might have prevented murder from being done. Still +one cannot expect old heads upon young shoulders. Give me the names of +those who were with you, for I shall doubtless receive a message from +Westminster this morning to know if I have heard aught of the affair. In +the mean time we must take steps to secure these pirates of the marsh. +The ground is across the river, and lies out of my jurisdiction."</p> + +<p>"It is for that reason," Geoffrey said, "that I wished that the story +should be told to you privately, since the men concerned might well have +sent a friend to the court to hear if aught was said which might +endanger them."</p> + +<p>"I will give you a letter to a magistrate of Surrey, and he will +dispatch some constables under your guidance to catch these rascals. I +fear there have been many murders performed by them lately besides that +in question, and you will be doing a good service to the citizens by +aiding in the capture of these men."</p> + +<p>"I will go willingly," the smith assented.</p> + +<p>"I will at once send off a messenger on horseback," the lord mayor said, +after a moment's thought. "It will be quicker. I will tell the justice +that if he will come to the meeting of the roads on Kensington Common, +at seven this evening, you will be there with your apprentice to act as +a guide."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I will," the armorer said, "and will bring with me two or three of my +men who are used to hard blows, for, to tell you the truth, I have no +great belief in the valor of constables, and we may meet with a stout +resistance."</p> + +<p>"So be it," the lord mayor said; "and luck be with you, for these men +are the scourges of the river."</p> + +<p>That evening the armorer shut up his shop sooner than usual, and +accompanied by Walter and four of his workmen, all carrying stout oaken +cudgels, with hand-axes in their girdles, started along the lonely road +to Kensington. Half an hour after their arrival the magistrate, with ten +men, rode up. He was well pleased at the sight of the reënforcement +which awaited him, for the river pirates might be expected to make a +desperate resistance. Geoffrey advised a halt for a time until it should +be well-nigh dark, as the marauders might have spies set to give notice +should strangers enter the marsh.</p> + +<p>They started before it was quite dark, as Walter doubted whether he +should be able to lead them straight to the hut after the night had +completely fallen. He felt, however, tolerably sure of his locality, for +he had noticed that two trees grew on the edge of the swamp just at the +spot where he had left it. He had no difficulty in finding these, and at +once led the way. The horses of the magistrate and his followers were +left in charge of three of their number.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You are sure you are going right?" the magistrate said to Walter. "The +marsh seems to stretch everywhere, and we might well fall into a +quagmire, which would swallow us all up."</p> + +<p>"I am sure of my way," Walter answered; "see, yonder clump of bushes, +which you can just observe above the marsh, a quarter of a mile away, is +the spot where the house of their leader is situated."</p> + +<p>With strict injunctions that not a word was to be spoken until the bush +was surrounded, and that all were to step noiselessly and with caution, +the party moved forward. It was now nearly dark, and as they approached +the hut, sounds of laughter and revelry were heard.</p> + +<p>"They are celebrating their success in a carouse," Geoffrey said. "We +shall catch them nicely in a trap."</p> + +<p>When they came close a man who was sitting just at the low mouth of the +hut suddenly sprang to his feet and shouted, "Who goes there?" He had +apparently been placed as sentry, but had joined in the potations going +on inside, and had forgotten to look round from time to time to see that +none were approaching.</p> + +<p>At his challenge the whole party rushed forward, and as they reached the +hut the men from within came scrambling out, sword in hand. For two or +three minutes there was a sharp fight, and had the constables been alone +they would have been defeated, for they were outnumbered and the pirates +were desperate.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> + +<p>The heavy clubs of the armorers decided the fight. One or two of the +band alone succeeded in breaking through, the rest were knocked down and +bound; not, however, until several severe wounds had been inflicted on +their assailants.</p> + +<p>When the fray was over, it was found that nine prisoners had been +captured. Some of these were stunned by the blows which the smiths had +dealt them, and two or three were badly wounded; all were more or less +injured in the struggle. When they recovered their senses they were made +to get on their feet, and with their hands tied securely behind them, +were marched between a double line of their captors off the marsh.</p> + +<p>"Thanks for your services," the justice said when they had gained the +place where they had left their horses. "Nine of my men shall tie each +one of these rascals to their stirrups by halters round their necks, and +we will give them a smart run into Richmond, where we will lodge them in +the jail. Tomorrow is Sunday; on Monday they will be brought before me, +and I shall want the evidence of Master Walter Fletcher and of those who +were in the boat with him as to what took place on the river. Methinks +the evidence on that score, and the resistance which they offered us +this evening, will be sufficient to put a halter round their necks; but +from what I have heard by the letter which the lord mayor sent me, there +are others higher in rank concerned in the affair; doubtless we shall +find means to make these ruffians speak."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span></p> + +<p>Accordingly, at the justice's orders, halters were placed round the +necks of the prisoners, the other ends being attached to the saddles, +and the party set off at a pace which taxed to the utmost the strength +of the wounded men. Geoffrey and his party returned in high spirits to +Southwark.</p> + +<p>On the Monday Walter went over to Richmond, accompanied by the armorers +and by the lads who had been in the boat with him. The nine ruffians, +strongly guarded, were brought up in the justice room. Walter first gave +his evidence, and related how he had overheard a portion of the +conversation which led him to believe that an attack would be made upon +the boat coming down the river.</p> + +<p>"Can you identify either of the prisoners as being the man whom you saw +at the door of the hut?"</p> + +<p>"No," Walter said. "When I first saw him I was too far off to make out +his face. When he left the hut it was dark."</p> + +<p>"Should you know the other man, the one who was addressed as sir knight, +if you saw him again?"</p> + +<p>"I should," Walter replied. He then gave an account of the attack upon +the boat, but said that in the suddenness of the affair and the growing +darkness he noticed none of the figures distinctly enough to recognize +them again. Two or three of the other apprentices gave similar testimony +as to the attack.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> + +<p>A gentleman then presented himself, and gave his name as Sir William de +Hertford. He said that he had come at the request of the Lady Alice +Vernon, who was still suffering from the effects of the wound and +immersion. She had requested him to say that at some future occasion she +would appear to testify, but that in the confusion and suddenness of the +attack she had noticed no faces in the boat which assailed them, and +could identify none concerned in the affair.</p> + +<p>The justice who had headed the attack on the hut then gave his evidence +as to that affair, the armorer also relating the incidents of the +conflict.</p> + +<p>"The prisoners will be committed for trial," the justice said. "At +present there is no actual proof that any of them were concerned in this +murderous outrage beyond the fact that they were taken in the place +where it was planned. The suspicion is strong that some at least were +engaged in it. Upon the persons of all of them were valuable daggers, +chains, and other ornaments, which could not have been come by honestly, +and I doubt not that they form part of the gang which has so long been a +terror to peaceful travelers alike by the road and river, and it may be +that some who have been robbed will be able to identify the articles +taken upon them. They are committed for trial: firstly, as having been +concerned in the attack upon Dame Alice Vernon; secondly, as being +notorious ill-livers and robbers; thirdly, as having resisted lawful +arrest by the king's officers. The greatest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> criminal in the affair is +not at present before me, but it may be that from such information as +Dame Vernon may be able to furnish, and from such confessions as justice +will be able to wring from the prisoners, he will at the trial stand +beside his fellows."</p> + +<p>Walter returned to town with his companions. On reaching the armorer's +they found a retainer of the Earl of Talbot awaiting them, with the +message that the Lady Alice Vernon wished the attendance of Walter +Fletcher, whose name she had learned from the lord mayor as that of the +lad to whom she and her daughter owed their lives, at noon on the +following day, at the residence of the Earl of Talbot.</p> + +<p>"That is the worst of an adventure," Walter said crossly, after the +retainer had departed. "One can't have a bit of excitement without being +sent for, and thanked, and stared at. I would rather fight the best +swordsman in the city than have to go down to the mansion of Earl Talbot +with my cap in my hand."</p> + +<p>Geoffrey laughed. "You must indeed have your cap in your hand, Walter; +but you need not bear yourself in that spirit. The 'prentice of a London +citizen may have just as much honest pride and independence as the +proudest earl at Westminster; but carry not independence too far. +Remember that if you yourself had received a great service you would be +hurt if the donor refused to receive your thanks; and it would be +churlish<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> indeed were you to put on sullen looks, or to refuse to accept +any present which the lady whose life you have saved may make you. It is +strange, indeed, that it should be Dame Vernon, whose husband, Sir +Jasper Vernon, received the fiefs of Westerham and Hyde."</p> + +<p>"Why should it be curious that it is she?" Walter asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" Geoffrey said rather confusedly. "I was not thinking—that is—I +mean that it is curious because Bertha Fletcher was for years a +dependent on the family of Sir Roland Somers, who was killed in the +troubles when the king took the reins of government in his hands, and +his lands, being forfeit, were given to Sir Jasper Vernon, who aided the +king in that affair."</p> + +<p>"I wish you would tell me about that," Walter said. "How was it that +there was any trouble as to King Edward having kingly authority?"</p> + +<p>"It happened in this way," Geoffrey said. "King Edward II., his father, +was a weak prince, governed wholly by favorites and unable to hold in +check the turbulent barons. His queen, Isabella of France, sister of the +French king, a haughty and ambitious woman, determined to snatch the +reins of power from the indolent hands of her husband, and after a visit +to her brother she returned with an army from Hainault in order to +dethrone him. She was accompanied by her eldest son, and after a short +struggle the king was dethroned. He had but few friends, and men thought +that under the young<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> Edward, who had already given promise of virtue +and wisdom, some order might be introduced into the realm. He was +crowned Edward III., thus, at the early age of fifteen, usurping the +throne of his father. The real power, however, remained with Isabella, +who was president of the council of regency, and who, in her turn, was +governed by her favorite Mortimer. England soon found that the change +which had been made was far from beneficial. The government was by turns +weak and oppressive. The employment of foreign troops was regarded with +the greatest hostility by the people, and the insolence of Mortimer +alienated the great barons. Finally, the murder of the dethroned king +excited throughout the kingdom a feeling of horror and loathing against +the queen.</p> + +<p>"All this feeling, however, was confined to her, Edward, who was but a +puppet in her hands, being regarded with affection and pity. Soon after +his succession the young king was married to our queen, Philippa of +Hainault, who is as good as she is beautiful, and who is loved from one +end of the kingdom to the other. I can tell you, the city was a sight to +see when she entered with the king. Such pageants and rejoicing were +never known. They were so young, he not yet sixteen and she but +fourteen, and yet to bear on their shoulders the weight of the state. A +braver-looking lad and a fairer girl mine eyes never looked on. It was +soon after this that the events arose which led to the war with France, +but this is too long a tale for me to tell you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> now. The Prince of Wales +was born on the 15th of June, 1330, two years after the royal marriage.</p> + +<p>"So far the king had acquiesced quietly in the authority of his mother, +but he now paid a visit to France, and doubtless the barons around him +there took advantage of his absence from her tutelage to shake her +influence over his mind; and at the same time a rising took place at +home against her authority. This was suppressed, and the Earl of Kent, +the king's uncle, was arrested and executed by Isabella. This act of +severity against his uncle no doubt hastened the prince's determination +to shake off the authority of his haughty mother and to assume the reins +of government himself. The matter, however, was not easy to accomplish. +Mortimer having the whole of the royal revenue at his disposal, had +attached to himself by ties of interest a large number of barons, and +had in his pay nearly two hundred knights and a large body of +men-at-arms. Thus it was no easy matter to arrest him. It was determined +that the deed should be done at the meeting of the parliament at +Nottingham. Here Mortimer appeared with Isabella in royal pomp. They +took up their abode at the castle, while the king and other members of +the royal family were obliged to content themselves with an inferior +place of residence.</p> + +<p>"The gates of the castle were locked at sunset, and the keys brought by +the constable, Sir William Eland, and handed to the queen herself. This +knight was a loyal and gallant gentleman, and regarded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> Mortimer with no +affection, and when he received the king's commands to assist the barons +charged to arrest him he at once agreed to do so. He was aware of the +existence of a subterranean communication leading from the interior of +the castle to the outer country, and by this, on the night of the 19th +of October, 1330, he led nine resolute knights—the Lords Montague, +Suffolk, Stafford, Molins, and Clinton, with three brothers of the name +of Bohun, and Sir John Nevil—into the heart of the castle. Mortimer was +found surrounded by a number of his friends. On the sudden entry of the +knights known to be hostile to Mortimer his friends drew their swords, +and a short but desperate fight took place. Many were wounded, and Sir +Hugh Turpleton and Richard Monmouth were slain. Mortimer was carried to +London, and was tried and condemned by parliament, and executed for +felony and treason. Several of his followers were executed, and others +were attacked in their strongholds and killed; among these was Sir +Roland Somers.</p> + +<p>"Queen Isabella was confined in Castle Risings, where she still remains +a prisoner. Such, Walter, were the troubles which occurred when King +Edward first took up the reins of power in this realm; and now, let's to +supper, for I can tell you that my walk to Kingston has given me a +marvelous appetite. We have three or four hours' work yet before we go +to bed, for that Milan harness was promised for the morrow, and the +repairs are too delicate for me to intrust it to the men. It is good to +assist the law,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> but this work of attending as a witness makes a +grievous break in the time of a busy man. It is a pity, Walter, that +your mind is so set on soldiering, for you would have made a marvelous +good craftsman. However, I reckon that after you have seen a few years +of fighting in France, and have got some of your wild blood let out, you +will be glad enough to settle down here with me; as you know, our +profits are good and work plentiful; and did I choose I might hold mine +head higher than I do among the citizens; and you, if you join me, may +well aspire to a place in the common council, ay, and even to an +alderman's gown, in which case I may yet be addressing you as the very +worshipful my lord mayor."</p> + +<p>"Pooh!" Walter laughed; "a fig for your lord mayors! I would a thousand +times rather be a simple squire in the following of our young prince."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<p class='center'>A KNIGHT'S CHAIN</p> + + +<p>The following morning Walter put on the sober russet dress which he wore +on Sundays and holidays, for gay colors were not allowed to the +apprentices, and set out for Westminster. Although he endeavored to +assume an air of carelessness and ease as he approached the dwelling of +Earl Talbot, he was very far from feeling comfortable, and wished in his +heart that his master had accompanied him on his errand. Half a dozen +men-at-arms were standing on the steps of the mansion, who looked with +haughty surprise at the young apprentice.</p> + +<p>"Dame Alice Vernon has sent to express her desire to have speech with +me," he said quietly, "and I would fain know if she can receive me."</p> + +<p>"Here, Dikon," one of the men cried to another within the hall. "This is +the lad you were sent to fetch yesterday. I wondered much who the city +apprentice was who, with such an assured air, marched up to the door; +but if what thou sayest be true, that he saved the life of Dame Vernon +and her little daughter, he must be a brave lad, and would be more in +place among men and soldiers than in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> serving wares behind the counter +of a fat city tradesman."</p> + +<p>"I serve behind no counter," Walter said indignantly. "I am an armorer, +and mayhap can use arms as well as make them."</p> + +<p>There was a laugh among the men at the boy's sturdy self-assertion, and +then the man named Dikon said:</p> + +<p>"Come along, lad. I will take you to Dame Vernon at once. She is +expecting you; and, my faith, it would not be safe to leave you standing +here long, for I see you would shortly be engaged in splitting the +weasands of my comrades."</p> + +<p>There was another roar of laughter from the men, and Walter, somewhat +abashed, followed his conductor into the house. Leading him through the +hall and along several corridors, whose spaciousness and splendor quite +overpowered the young apprentice, he handed him over to a waiting-woman, +who ushered him into an apartment where Dame Vernon was reclining on a +couch. Her little daughter was sitting upon a low stool beside her, and +upon seeing Walter she leaped to her feet, clapping her hands.</p> + +<p>"Oh! mother, this is the boy that rescued us out of the river."</p> + +<p>The lady looked with some surprise at the lad. She had but a faint +remembrance of the events which occurred between the time when she +received a blow from the sword of one of her assailants and that when +she found herself on a couch in the abode of her kinsman; and when she +had been told that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> she had been saved by a city apprentice, she had +pictured to herself a lad of a very different kind to him who now stood +before her.</p> + +<p>Walter was now nearly sixteen years old. His frame was very powerful and +firmly knit. His dark-brown hair was cut short, but, being somewhat +longer than was ordinary with the apprentices, fell with a slight wave +back on his forehead. His bearing was respectful, and at the same time +independent. There was none of that confusion which might be expected on +the part of a lad from the city in the presence of a lady of rank. His +dark, heavy eyebrows, resolute mouth, and square chin gave an expression +of sternness to his face, which was belied by the merry expression of +his eyes and the bright smile when he was spoken to.</p> + +<p>"I have to thank you, young sir," she said, holding out her hand, which +Walter, after the custom of the time, raised to his lips, bending upon +one knee as he did so, "for the lives of myself and my daughter, which +would surely have been lost had you not jumped over to save us."</p> + +<p>"I am glad that I arrived in time to be of aid," Walter said frankly; +"but indeed I am rather to be blamed than praised, for had I, when I +heard the plotting against the safety of the boat, told my master of it, +as I should have done, instead of taking the adventure upon mine own +shoulders, doubtless a boat would have been sent up in time to prevent +the attack from taking place. Therefore, instead of being praised for +having arrived a little too late,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> I should be rated for not having come +there in time."</p> + +<p>Dame Vernon smiled.</p> + +<p>"Although you may continue to insist that you are to blame, this does +not alter the fact that you have saved our lives. Is there any way in +which I can be useful to you? Are you discontented with your state? for, +in truth, you look as if Nature had intended you for a gallant soldier +rather than a city craftsman. Earl Talbot, who is my uncle, would, I am +sure, receive you into his following should you so choose it, and I +would gladly pay for the canceling of your indentures."</p> + +<p>"I thank you, indeed, lady, for your kind offices," Walter said +earnestly; "for the present I am well content to remain at my craft, +which is that of an armorer, until, at any rate, I have gained such +manly strength and vigor as would fit me for a man-at-arms, and my good +master, Geoffrey Ward, will, without payment received, let me go when I +ask that grace of him."</p> + +<p>"Edith, go and look from the window at the boats passing along the +river; and now," she went on as the girl had obeyed her orders, "I would +fain ask you more about the interview you overheard in the marshes. Sir +William de Hertford told me of the evidence that you had given before +the justice. It is passing strange that he who incited the other to the +deed should have been by him termed 'Sir Knight.' Maybe it was merely a +nickname among his fellows."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Before I speak, lady," Walter said quietly, "I would fain know whether +you wish to be assured of the truth. Sometimes, they say, it is wiser to +remain in ignorance; at other times forewarned is forearmed. Frankly, I +did not tell all I know before the court, deeming that peradventure you +might wish to see me, and that I could then tell the whole to your +private ear, should you wish to know it, and you could then bid me +either keep silence or proclaim all I knew when the trial of these +evil-doers comes on."</p> + +<p>"You seem to me to be wise beyond your years, young sir," the lady said.</p> + +<p>"The wisdom is not mine, lady, but my master's. I took counsel with him, +and acted as he advised me."</p> + +<p>"I would fain know all," the lady said. "I have already strange +suspicions of one from whom assuredly I looked not for such evil +designs. It will grieve me to be convinced that the suspicions are well +founded; but it will be better to know the truth than to remain in a +state of doubt."</p> + +<p>"The person, then, was a knight, for I had seen him before when he came +in knightly harness into my master's shop to have two rivets put into +his hauberk. I liked not his face then, and should have remembered it +anywhere. I knew him at once when I saw him. He was a dark-faced knight, +handsome, and yet with features which reminded me of a hawk."</p> + +<p>Dame Vernon gave a little exclamation, which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> assured the lad that she +recognized the description.</p> + +<p>"You may partly know, lady, whether it is he whom you suppose, for he +said that he would detain your boat so that it should not come along +until dark, and, moreover, he told them that they would know the boat +since you would be wrapped in a white mantle."</p> + +<p>The lady sat for some time with her face hidden in her hands.</p> + +<p>"It is as I feared," she said at last, "and it grieves me to the heart +to think that one who, although not so nearly related in blood, I +regarded as a brother, should have betrayed me to death. My mind is +troubled indeed, and I know not what course I shall take, whether to +reveal this dreadful secret or to conceal it."</p> + +<p>"I may say, madam," Walter said earnestly, "that should you wish the +matter to remain a secret, you may rely upon it that I will tell no more +at the trial than I revealed yesterday; but I would remind you that +there is a danger that the leader of yon ruffians, who is probably alone +acquainted with the name of his employer, may, under the influence of +the torture, reveal it."</p> + +<p>"That fear is for the present past, since a messenger arrived from +Kingston but a few minutes since, saying that yester even, under the +threat of torture, the prisoners had pointed out the one among their +number who was their chief. This morning, however, it was found that the +warder<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> who had charge of them had been bribed; he was missing from his +post, and the door of the cell wherein the principal villain had been +immured, apart from the others, was opened, and he had escaped."</p> + +<p>"Then," Walter said, "it is now open to you to speak or be silent as you +will. You will pardon my forwardness if I say that my master, in talking +the matter over with me, suggested that this evil knight might be scared +from attempting any future enterprise against you were he informed that +it was known to several persons that he was the author of this outrage, +and that if any further attempts were at any time made against you, the +proofs of his crime would be laid before the king."</p> + +<p>"Thanks, good lad," the lady said, "for your suggestion. Should I decide +to keep the matter secret, I will myself send him a message to that +effect, in such guise that he would not know whence it comes. And now, I +would fain reward you for what you have done for us; and," she went on, +seeing a flush suddenly mount upon the lad's face as he made a half-step +backward, "before I saw you, had thought of offering you a purse of +gold, which, although it would but poorly reward your services, would +yet have proved useful to you when the time came for you to start as a +craftsman on your own account; but now that I have seen you, I feel that +although there are few who think themselves demeaned by accepting gifts +of money in reward for services, you would rather my gratitude took<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +some other form. It can only do that of offering you such good services +that I can render with Earl Talbot, should you ever choose the +profession of arms; and in the mean time, as a memento of the lives you +have saved, you will, I am sure, not refuse this chain," and she took a +very handsome one of gold from her neck, "the more so since it was the +gift of her majesty, our gracious queen, to myself. She will, I am sure, +acquit me of parting with her gift when I tell her that I transferred it +to one who had saved the lives of myself and my daughter, and who was +too proud to accept other acknowledgment."</p> + +<p>Coloring deeply, and with tears in his eyes at the kindness and +thoughtful consideration of the lady, Walter knelt on one knee before +her, and she placed round his neck the long gold chain which she had +been wearing.</p> + +<p>"It is a knight's chain," the lady said, smiling, "and was part of the +spoil gained by King Edward from the French. Maybe," she added kindly, +"it will be worn by a knight again. Stranger things have happened, you +know."</p> + +<p>Walter flushed again with pleasure.</p> + +<p>"Maybe, lady," he said modestly, "even apprentices have their dreams, +and men-at-arms may always hope, by deeds of valor, to attain a knight's +spurs even though they may not be of noble blood or have served as page +and squire to a baron; but whether as a 'prentice or soldier, I hope I +shall never do discredit to your gift."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Edith, come here," Dame Vernon said, "I have done talking now. And what +are you going to give this brave knight of ours who saved us from +drowning?"</p> + +<p>The girl looked thoughtfully at Walter. "I don't think you would care +for presents," she said; "and you look as if a sword or a horse would +suit you better than a girl's gift. And yet I should like to give you +something, such as ladies give their knights who have done brave deeds +for them. It must be something quite my own, and you must take it as a +keepsake. What shall it be, mamma?"</p> + +<p>"Give him the bracelet which your cousin gave you last week," her mother +said; "I would rather that you did not keep it, and I know you are not +very fond of him."</p> + +<p>"I can't bear him," the girl said earnestly, "and I wish he would not +kiss me; he always looks as if he were going to bite, and I will gladly +give his bracelet to this brave boy."</p> + +<p>"Very well, Edith, fetch the bracelet from that coffer in the corner."</p> + +<p>The girl went to the coffer and brought out the little bracelet; then +she approached Walter.</p> + +<p>"You must go down on your knee," she said; "true knights always do that +to receive their lady's gifts. Now hold out your hand. There," she went +on in a pretty imperious way, "take this gage as a reward of your valor, +and act ever as a true knight in the service of your lady."</p> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus003.jpg" alt="gage"/> <br /> +"<span class="smcap">Take this gage as a reward of your +valor.</span>"—Page 62</p> + +<p>Bending down she dropped a kiss upon Walter's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> glowing cheek, and +then, half-frightened at her own temerity, ran back to her mother's +side.</p> + +<p>"And now," Dame Vernon went on, "will you thank your five comrades for +their service in the matter, and give them each two gold pieces to spend +as they will?"</p> + +<p>"He is a noble lad," Dame Vernon had said to herself when Walter had +taken his leave. "Would he had been the son of one of the nobles of the +court! It might have been then, if he had distinguished himself in war, +as he would surely do, that the king might have assigned Edith to him. +As her lord and guardian he is certain to give her hand as a reward for +valor in the field, and it may well be to a man with whom she would be +less happy than with this 'prentice lad; but there, I need not be +troubling myself about a matter which is five or six years distant yet. +Still, the thought that Edith is a ward of the crown, and that her hand +must go where the king wills, often troubles me. However, I have a good +friend in the queen, who will, I know, exert what influence she has in +getting me a good husband for my child. But even for myself I have some +fears, since the king hinted, when last he saw me, that it was time I +looked out for another mate, for that the vassals of Westerham and Hyde +needed a lord to lead them in the field. However, I hope that my answer +that they were always at his service under the leading of my Cousin +James will suffice for him. Now, what am I to do in that matter? Who +would have thought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> that he so coveted my lands that he would have slain +me and Edith to possess himself of them? His own lands are thrice as +broad as mine, though men say that he has dipped deeply into them and +owes much money to the Jews. He is powerful and has many friends, and +although Earl Talbot would stand by me, yet the unsupported word of an +apprentice boy were but poor evidence on which to charge a powerful +baron of such a crime as this. It were best, methinks, to say naught +about it, but to bury the thought in my own heart. Nevertheless, I will +not fail to take the precaution which the lad advised, and to let Sir +James know that there are some who have knowledge of his handiwork. I +hear he crosses the seas to-morrow to join the army, and it may be long +ere he return. I shall have plenty of time to consider how I had best +shape my conduct toward him on his return; but assuredly he shall never +be friendly with me again or frighten Edith with his kisses."</p> + +<p>"Well, Walter, has it been such a dreadful business as you expected?" +the armorer asked the lad when he reëntered the shop. "The great folks +have not eaten you, at any rate."</p> + +<p>"It has not been dreadful," Walter replied with a smile, "though I own +that it was not pleasant when I first arrived at the great mansion; but +the lady put me quite at my ease, and she talked to me for some time, +and finally she bestowed on me this chain, which our lady, the queen, +had herself given her."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is a knight's chain and a heavy one," Geoffrey said, examining it, +"of Genoese work, I reckon, and worth a large sum. It will buy you +harness when you go to the wars."</p> + +<p>"I would rather fight in the thickest <i>mêlée</i> in a cloth doublet," +Walter said indignantly, "than part with a single link of it."</p> + +<p>"I did but jest, Walter," Geoffrey said, laughing; "but as you will not +sell it, and you cannot wear it, you had best give it me to put aside in +my strong coffer until you get of knightly rank."</p> + +<p>"Lady Vernon said," the lad replied, "that she hoped one day it might +again belong to a knight; and if I live," he added firmly, "it shall."</p> + +<p>"Oh! she has been putting these ideas into your head; nice notions truly +for a London apprentice! I shall be laying a complaint before the lord +mayor against Dame Vernon, for unsettling the mind of my apprentice and +setting him above his work. And the little lady, what said she? Did she +give you her colors and bid you wear them at a tourney?"</p> + +<p>Walter colored hotly.</p> + +<p>"Ah! I have touched you," laughed the armorer; "come now, out with the +truth. My lad," he added more gravely, "there is no shame in it; you +know that I have always encouraged your wishes to be a soldier, and have +done my best to render you as good a one as any who draws sword 'neath +the king's banner, and assuredly I would not have taken all these pains +with you did I think that you were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> always to wear an iron cap and trail +a pike. I too, lad, hope some day to see you a valiant knight, and have +reasons that you wot not of for my belief that it will be so. No man +rises to rank and fame any the less quickly because he thinks that +bright eyes will grow brighter at his success."</p> + +<p>"But, Geoffrey, you are talking surely at random. The Lady Edith Vernon +is but a child; a very beautiful child," he added reverently, "and such +that when she grows up the bravest knight in England might be proud to +win. What folly for me, the son of a city bowyer, and as yet but an +apprentice, to raise mine eyes so high!"</p> + +<p>"The higher one looks the higher one goes," the armorer said +sententiously. "You aspire some day to become a knight, you may well +aspire also to win the hand of Mistress Edith Vernon. She is five years +younger than yourself, and you will be twenty-two when she is seventeen. +You have time to make your way yet, and I tell you, though why it +matters not, that I would rather you set your heart on winning Mistress +Edith Vernon than any other heiress of broad lands in merry England. You +have saved her life, and so have made the first step and a long one. Be +ever brave, gentle, and honorable, and, I tell you, you need not +despair; and now, lad, we have already lost too much time in talking; +let us to our work."</p> + +<p>That evening Walter recalled to Geoffrey his promise to tell him the +causes which had involved England in so long and bloody a war with +France.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is a tangled skein," Geoffrey said, "and you must follow me +carefully. First, with a piece of chalk I will draw upon the wall the +pedigree of the royal line of France from Philip downward, and then you +will see how it is that our King Edward and Philip of Valois came to be +rival claimants to the throne of France.</p> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus010.jpg" alt="tree"/> +</p> + + + + +<p>"Now, you see that our King Edward is nephew of Charles le Bel, the last +King of France, while Philip of Valois is only nephew of Philip le Bel, +the father of Charles. Edward is consequently in the direct line, and +had Isabella been a man instead of a woman his right to the throne would +be unquestionable. In France, however, there is a law, called the Salic +law, which excludes females from the throne; but it is maintained by +many learned in the law, that although a female is held to be +incompetent to reign because from her sex she cannot lead<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> her armies to +battle, yet she no way forfeits otherwise her rights, and that her son +is therefore the heir to the throne. If this contention, which is held +by all English jurists, and by many in France also, be well founded, +Edward is the rightful King of France. Philip of Valois contends that +the Salic law not only bars a female from ascending the throne, but also +destroys all her rights, and that the succession goes not to her sons, +but to the next heir male; in which case, of course, Philip is rightful +king. It is not for me to say which view is the right one, but certainly +the great majority of those who have been consulted have decided that, +according to ancient law and usage, the right lies with Edward. But in +these matters 'right is not always might.' Had Isabella married a French +noble instead of an English king it is probable that her son's claims to +the throne would have been allowed without dispute, but her son is King +of England, and the French nobles prefer being ruled by one of +themselves to becoming united with England under one king.</p> + +<p>"At the time of the death of the last king, Edward was still but a boy +under the tuition of his mother, Philip was a man, and upon the spot, +therefore he was able to win support by his presence and promises, and +so it came that the peers of France declared Philip of Valois to be +their rightful monarch. Here in England, at a parliament held at +Northampton, the rights of Edward were discussed and asserted, and the +Bishops of Worcester and Coventry were dispatched to Paris to protest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +against the validity of Philip's nomination. As, however, the country +was not in a position to enforce the claim of their young king by arms, +Philip became firmly seated as King of France, and having shown great +energy in at once marching against and repressing the people of +Flanders, who were in a state of rebellion against their count, one of +the feudatories of the French crown, the nobles were well satisfied with +their choice, and no question as to his right was ever henceforth raised +in France. As soon as the rebellion in Flanders was crushed, Philip +summoned the King of England to do homage for Aquitaine, Ponthieu, and +Montreuil, fiefs held absolutely from the crown of France. Such a +proceeding placed Edward and his council in a great embarrassment. In +case of a refusal the whole of the possessions of the crown in France +might be declared forfeited and be seized, while England was in no +condition to defend them; on the other hand, the fact of doing homage to +Philip of Valois would be a sort of recognition of his right to the +throne he had assumed. Had Edward then held the reins of power in his +hands, there can be little doubt that he would at once have refused, and +would have called out the whole strength of England to enforce his +claim. The influence of Isabella and Mortimer was, however, +all-powerful, and it was agreed that Edward should do homage as a public +act, making a private reservation in secret to his own councilors, +taking exception to the right of Philip.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Edward crossed to France and journeyed to Amiens, where Philip with a +brilliant court awaited him, and on the appointed day they appeared +together in the cathedral. Here Edward, under certain protestations, did +homage for his French estates, leaving certain terms and questions open +for the consideration of his council. For some time the matter remained +in this shape; but honest men cannot but admit that King Edward did, by +his action at the time, acknowledge Philip to be King of France, and +that he became his vassal for his estates there; but, as has happened +scores of times before, and will no doubt happen scores of times again, +vassals, when they become powerful enough, throw off their allegiance to +their feudal superiors, and so the time came to King Edward.</p> + +<p>"After the death of Mortimer and the imprisonment of Isabella, the king +gave rein to his taste for military sports. Tournaments were held at +Dartford and other places, one in Westcheape. What a sight was that, to +be sure! For three days the king, with fourteen of his knights, held the +list against all comers, and in the sight of the citizens and the ladies +of the court jousted with knights who came hither from all parts of +Europe. I was there each day, and the sight was a grand one, though +England was well-nigh thrown into mourning by an accident which took +place. The gallery in which the queen and her attendants were viewing +the sports had been badly erected, and in the height of the contests it +gave way. The queen and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> her ladies were in great peril, being thrown +from a considerable height, and a number of persons were severely +injured. The king, who was furious at the danger to which the queen had +been exposed, would have hung upon the spot the master workman whose +negligence had caused the accident, but the queen went on her knees +before him and begged his life of the king. The love of Edward for +warlike exercises caused England to be regarded as the most chivalrous +court in Europe, and the frequent tournaments aroused to the utmost the +spirits of the people and prepared them for the war with France. But of +the events of that war I will tell you some other night. It is time now +for us to betake us to our beds."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<p class='center'>THE CITY GAMES.</p> + + +<p>The next evening the armorer, at Walter's request, continued his +narrative.</p> + +<p>"Soon after the tournament we began to fight again with Scotland. For +some years we had had peace with that country, and under the regency a +marriage was made between David, King of Scotland, son of Robert the +Bruce, with the Princess Joan, sister to our king, and a four years' +truce was agreed to."</p> + +<p>"But why should we always be fighting with Scotland?" Walter asked.</p> + +<p>"That is more than I can tell you, Walter. We were peaceful enough with +them until the days of Edward I.; but he set up some claim to the throne +of Scotland, the rights of which neither I nor any one else, so far as I +know, have ever been able to make out. The fact was he was strong, and +thought that he could conquer Scotland. The quarrels between her +nobles—most of them were allied by blood with our own and held +possessions in both kingdoms—gave Edward an excuse to interfere. +Scotland was conquered easily enough, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> it was a hard task to hold +it. Sir William Wallace kept the country in a turmoil for many years, +being joined by all the common people. He inflicted one heavy defeat +upon us at Stirling, but receiving no support from the nobles he was +defeated at Falkirk, and some years afterward was captured and executed +here. His head you may see any day over London Bridge. As he fought only +for his country and had ever refused allegiance to our king, it seems to +me that his fate was a cruel one. Then, when all appeared quiet, Robert +Bruce raised Scotland again and was crowned king. There was war for many +years, but at last, at Bannockburn, he inflicted such a defeat upon us +as we have never had before. After that there were skirmishes and +excursions, but Edward II. was a weak prince, and it seemed that the +marriage of David and the Princess Joan would bring about a permanent +peace between the two countries; but it was not to be so.</p> + +<p>"Many of the English nobles held claims by marriage or grants upon lands +in Scotland. They had, of course, been driven from these when the +English were turned out by Bruce. By the terms of the marriage treaty in +1328 it was agreed that they should be reinstated. It was a foolish +clause, because it was plain that the King of Scotland could not take +these lands again from the Scotch nobles who had possession of them, +many of them being well-nigh as powerful as himself. At this time Edward +Baliol, son of the great rival of Robert Bruce, was in England. He still +claimed the throne<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> of Scotland as his right. Round him gathered a +number of the English nobles who claimed lands in Scotland. The king +offered no hindrance to the gathering of this force, for I doubt not +that he was glad to see dissension in Scotland, which might give him +some such pretext for interference as that which Edward I. had seized to +possess himself of that country. At first Baliol was successful and was +crowned at Scone, but he was presently defeated and driven out of +Scotland. The Scots now made an eruption across the frontier as a +retaliation for Edward's having permitted Baliol to gather a force here +for his war against Bruce. King Edward was on the point of starting for +Ireland, and he at once hastened north. He defeated the Scots at Halidon +Hill, captured Berwick, and placed Baliol upon the throne. Bruce fled to +France, where he was supported and encouraged by the French king.</p> + +<p>"The ill-feeling between Edward and Philip of Valois had gone on +increasing ever since the former had been compelled to take the oath of +allegiance to the latter, but outwardly the guise of friendship was kept +up, and negotiations went on between the two courts for a marriage +between the little Prince of Wales and Joanna, daughter of the French +king.</p> + +<p>"The aid which Philip gave to Bruce increased the bad feeling, and +Edward retaliated for Philip's patronage of Bruce by receiving with the +greatest honor and courtesy Robert of Artois, a great feuda<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>tory of +France, who had been banished by King Philip. For a time, although both +countries were preparing for war, peace was not broken, as Edward's +hands were full in Scotland, where Baliol having bestowed immense +possessions upon the English nobles who had assisted him, the country +again rose in favor of Bruce. During the three years that followed King +Edward was obliged several times to go to Scotland to support Baliol, +who held the crown as his feudal vassal. He was always successful in the +field, but directly his army recrossed the frontier the Scotch rose +again. In 1330 a new crusade was preached, and in October of that year +King Philip solemnly received the cross and collected an immense army +nominally for the recovery of Jerusalem. Whether his intentions were +honest or not I cannot say, but certainly King Edward considered that +Philip's real aim in creating so great an army was to attack England. +Whether this was so or not would need a wiser head than mine, Walter, to +tell. Certainly Philip of Valois invited Edward to coöperate with him in +the crusade. The king in reply stated his belief that the preparations +were intended for war in Europe rather than in Asia; but that if the +King of France would agree to conclude a firm league of amity between +the two countries, to restore the castles and towns of Aquitaine, whose +surrender had been frequently promised, but never carried out, and would +bind himself by oath to give no assistance, direct or indirect, to +Scotland, he would join him in his war for the delivery of the Holy +Land.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I must say that King Edward's demands were reasonable, for it was clear +that he could not march away from England with his whole force and leave +Baliol unsupported against the assaults of his Scotch enemies, aided by +France. Philip was willing to accede to the first two conditions; but in +regard to the third positively declined treating until David Bruce +should be restored to the throne of his father. Now, had the French king +openly supported Bruce from the first, none could have said that his +conduct in befriending a dethroned monarch was aught but noble and +generous; but he had all along answered Edward's complaints of the aid +afforded by Frenchmen to the Bruce by denials that he himself supported +him; and this declaration in his favor now certainly seemed to show that +he had at last determined openly to throw off the veil, and that his +great army was really collected against England. Robert of Artois +craftily seized a moment when the king's indignation against Philip was +at the highest. At a great banquet held by King Edward, at which all his +warlike nobles were present, Robert entered, preceded by two noble +maidens carrying a heron, which, as you know, Walter, is considered the +most cowardly of birds. Then in loud tones he called upon the knights +present each to swear on the bird to perform some deed of chivalrous +daring. First he presented it to King Edward himself, giving him to +understand that he regarded him but as little braver than the heron for +resigning without a blow the fair heritage of France.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The moment was well chosen, for Edward was smarting under the answer he +had just received from Philip. He at once rose and took an oath to enter +France in arms; to wait there a month in order to give Philip time to +offer him battle, and to accept the combat, even should the French +outnumber him ten to one. Every knight present followed the example of +the king, and so the war with France, which had been for years a mere +question of time, was at last suddenly decided upon. You yourself, +Walter, can remember the preparations which were made throughout +England: men were enrolled and arms prepared. We armorers were busy +night and day, and every man felt that his own honor, as well as that of +the country, was concerned in winning for King Edward the heritage of +which he had been unlawfully robbed by the King of France.</p> + +<p>"On the 17th of March, 1337, at the parliament at Westminster, the king +created the little prince, then seven years of age, Duke of Cornwall; +and the prince immediately, in exercise of his new dignity, bestowed +upon twenty of the most distinguished aspirants the honor of knighthood. +Immense supplies were voted by the parliaments held at Nottingham, +Westminster, and Northampton. Half the wool shorn in the summer +following was granted to the king, with a variety of other taxes, +customs, and duties. The revenues of all the foreign priories in +England, a hundred and ten in number, were appropriated to the crown. +Provisions of bacon,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> wheat, and oats were granted, and the king pawned +his own jewels, and even the crown itself, to hire soldiers and purchase +him allies on the Continent. So great did the scarcity of money become +in the country that all goods fell to less than half their value. Thus a +vast army was raised, and with this King Edward prepared to try his +strength with France.</p> + +<p>"Philip on his part was making great preparations. While Edward had +purchased the assistance of many of the German nobles Philip raised +large armaments in the maritime states of Italy. Spain also contributed +a number of naval adventurers, and squadrons were fitted out by his +vassals on the sea-coasts of Normandy, Brittany, and Picardy. King +Edward had crossed over into Belgium, and after vast delays in +consequence of the slowness of the German allies, at last prepared to +enter France at the end of September, 1339. Such, my lad, is the story, +as far as I know, of the beginning of that war with France which is now +raging, and whose events you know as well as I do, seeing that they are +all of late occurrence. So far, although the English have had the best +of it, and have sorely mauled the French both in the north and south, we +have not gained any such advantages as would lead to a belief that there +is any likelihood of an early termination, or that King Edward will +succeed for a long time in winning back his inheritance of the throne of +France.</p> + +<p>"There is no doubt that the war weighs heavily<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> upon the people at +large. The taxes are doubled, and the drain of men is heavy. We +armorers, of course, have a busy time of it, and all trades which have +to do with the furnishing of an army flourish exceedingly. Moreover, men +of metal and valor have an opportunity of showing what they are composed +of, and England rings with the tales of martial deeds. There are some, +Walter, who think that peace is the greatest of blessings, and in some +ways, lad, they are no doubt right; but there are many compensations in +war. It brings out the noble qualities; it raises men to think that +valor and fortitude and endurance and honor are qualities which are +something above the mere huckstering desire for getting money, and for +ignoble ease and comfort. Some day it may be that the world will change, +and that war may become a thing of the past; but to my mind, boy, I +doubt whether men will be any happier or better for it. The priests, no +doubt, would tell you otherwise; but then you see I am an armorer, and +so perhaps am hardly a fair judge on the matter, seeing that without +wars my craft would come to an end."</p> + +<p>Walter remained in thought for some time. "It seems to me, Master +Geoffrey, that while wars may suit strong and courageous men, women +would rejoice were such things to be at an end."</p> + +<p>"Women suffer most from wars, no doubt," Geoffrey said, "and yet do you +mark that they are more stirred by deeds of valor and chivalry than are +we men; that they are ever ready to bestow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> their love upon those who +have won honor and glory in war, even although the next battle may leave +them widows. This has been always somewhat of a marvel to me; but I +suppose that it is human nature, and that admiration for deeds of valor +and bravery is ingrained in the heart of man, and will continue until +such times come that the desire for wealth, which is ever on the +increase, has so seized all men that they will look with distaste upon +everything which can interfere with the making of money, and will regard +the man who amasses gold by trading as a higher type than he who does +valiant deeds in battle."</p> + +<p>"Surely that can never be," Walter said indignantly.</p> + +<p>"There is no saying," the armorer answered; "at any rate, Walter, it +will matter little to you or to me, for many generations must pass +before such a state of things can come about."</p> + +<p>Two days later Walter, who had been across into the city, returned in a +state of excitement.</p> + +<p>"What do you think, Geoffrey? The king, with the Prince of Wales and all +his court, are coming to the games next month. They say that the king +himself will adjudge the prizes, and there is to be a grand +assault-at-arms between ten of the 'prentices with a captain, and an +equal number of sons of nobles and knights."</p> + +<p>"That will be rare," Geoffrey Ward exclaimed; "but there will be some +broken limbs, and maybe worse. These assaults-at-arms seldom end +without<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> two or three being killed. However, you youngsters will not hit +as hard as trained knights; and if the armor be good, no great damage +should be done."</p> + +<p>"Do you think that I shall be one of the ten?" Walter asked anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Just as if you did not know you would," Geoffrey replied, laughing. +"Did you not win the prize for sword-play last year? and twelve months +have added much to the strength of your arm, to say nothing of your +skill with weapons. If you win this year again—and it will be strange +if you do not—you are like enough to be chosen captain. You will have +tough fighting, I can tell you, for all these young aspirants to +knighthood will do their best to show themselves off before the king and +queen. The fight is not to take place on horseback, I hope; for if so, +it will be settled as soon as it begins."</p> + +<p>"No, it is to be on foot; and the king himself is to give orders as to +the fighting."</p> + +<p>"You had best get out that helmet and coat of mail of yours," Geoffrey +said. "I warrant me that there will be none of finer make or truer metal +in the tourney, seeing that I made them specially for you. They are +light, and yet strong enough to withstand a blow from the strongest arm. +I tried them hard, and will warrant them proof, but you had best see to +the rivets and fastenings. They had a rough handling last year, and you +have not worn them since. There are some other pieces that I must put in +hand at once, seeing that in such a <i>mêlée</i> you must be covered from +head to foot."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p> + +<p>For the next week nothing was talked of in London but the approaching +sports, and the workmen were already engaged in the erection of the +lists and pavilions in the fields between the walls and Westminster. It +was reported that the king would add valuable prizes to those given to +the winners by the city, that there would be jousting on horseback by +the sons of the court nobles, and that the young Prince of Wales would +himself ride.</p> + +<p>The king had once before taken part in the city sports, and with ten of +the citizens had held his own against an equal number of knights. This +was at the commencement of his reign; but the accident to the queen's +stand had so angered him that he had not again been present at the +sports, and his reappearance now was considered to be an act of approval +of the efforts which the city had made to aid him in the war, and as an +introduction of the young prince to the citizens.</p> + +<p>When the day arrived there was a general flocking out of the citizens to +the lists. The scene was a picturesque one; the weather was bright and +warm; the fields were green; and Westminster, as well as London, sent +out large numbers to the scene. The citizens were all in their best; +their garments were for the most part of sober colors—russet, murrey, +brown, and gray. Some, indeed, of the younger and wealthier merchants +adopted somewhat of the fashion of the court, wearing their shoes long +and pointed and their garments parti-colored. The line of division was +down the center of the body<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> one leg, arm, and half the body would be +blue, the other half russet or brown. The ladies' dresses were similarly +divided. Mingling with the citizens, as they strolled to and fro upon +the sward, were the courtiers. These wore the brightest colors, and +their shoes were so long that the points were looped up to the knees +with little gold chains to enable them to walk. The ladies wore +head-dresses of prodigious height, culminating in two points; and from +these fell, sweeping to the ground, streamers of silk or lighter +material. Cloths of gold and silver, rich furs, silks, and velvets were +worn both by men and women.</p> + +<p>None who saw the nobles of the court walking in garments so tight that +they could scarce move, with their long parti-colored hose, their silk +hoods buttoned under the chin, their hair braided down their back, would +have thought that these were the most warlike and courageous of knights, +men whose personal prowess and gallantry were the admiration of Europe. +Their hair was generally cut close upon the forehead, and the beard was +suffered to grow, but was kept trimmed a moderate length. Many of the +ladies had the coat of arms of their family embroidered upon their +dresses, giving them the appearance of heralds' tabards. Almost all wore +gold or silver girdles, with embroidered pouches, and small daggers.</p> + +<p>Thus the appearance of the crowd who moved about among the fields near +the lists was varied and brilliant indeed. Their demeanor was quiet, +for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> the London merchants deemed a grave demeanor to belong to their +calling and the younger men and apprentices restrained their spirits in +the presence of their superiors. For their special amusement, and in +order, perhaps, to keep them from jostling too freely against the court +gallants and ladies, the city authorities had appointed popular sports +such as pleased the rougher classes; and bull-baiting, cock-fighting, +wrestling for a ram, pitching the bar, and hand-ball, were held in a +field some distance away. Here a large portion of the artisans and +apprentices amused themselves until the hour when the king and queen +were to arrive at their pavilion and the contests were to commence.</p> + +<p>Presently a sound of trumpets was heard, and the royal procession was +seen moving up from Westminster. Then the minor sports were abandoned; +the crowd gathered round the large fenced-in space, and those who, by +virtue of rank or position in the city, had places in the various +stands, took their places there.</p> + +<p>There was a flourish of trumpets as the king and queen appeared in front +of their pavilion, accompanied by the Prince of Wales and many of the +nobles of the court, and a shout of welcome arose from the crowd. The +shooting at a mark at once began. The preliminary trials had been shot +off upon the preceding day, and the six chosen bowmen now took their +places.</p> + +<p>Walter had not entered for the prizes at archery. He had on previous +years shot well; but since he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> had fully determined to become a +man-at-arms he had given up archery, for which, indeed, his work at the +forge and his exercises at arms when the fires were out left him but +little time. The contest was a close one, and when it was over the +winner was led by the city marshal to the royal pavilion, where the +queen bestowed upon him a silver arrow, and the king added a purse of +money. Then there were several combats with quarter-staff and broadsword +between men who had served among the contingents sent by the city to aid +the king in his wars. Some good sword-play was shown and many stout +blows exchanged, two or three men were badly hurt, and the king and all +present were mightily pleased with the stoutness with which they fought.</p> + +<p>The apprentices then came forward to compete for the prizes for +sword-play. They wore light iron caps and shirts of thickly quilted +leather, and fought with blunted swords, for the city fathers deemed +wisely that with these weapons they could equally show their skill, and +that with sharpened swords not only would severe wounds be given, but +bad blood would be created between the apprentices of the various wards. +Each ward sent its champion to the contest, and as these fought in +pairs, loud was the shouting which rose from their comrades at each blow +given or warded, and even the older citizens joined sometimes in the +shouting and took a warm interest in the champions of their respective +wards.</p> + +<p>The iron caps had stout cheek-pieces which de<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span>fended the sides of the +face and neck, for even a blunted sword can deliver a terrible blow if +it fall upon the naked flesh. It took a long time to get through the +combats; the pairs were drawn by lot and fought until the king decided +which was the superior. Some were speedily beaten; at other times the +contests were long and severe. It was generally thought by the +apprentices that the final contest lay between Walter Fletcher of +Aldgate and Ralph Smith of Ludgate. The former was allowed to be +superior in the use of his weapon, but the latter was also skillful, was +two years older, and greatly superior in strength. He had not taken part +in the contest in the preceding year, as he had been laid up with a hurt +in his hand which he had got in his employment as a smith, and the lads +of Ludgate were confident that he would turn the tables upon the +champion of the eastern ward. Both had defeated with ease the various +opponents whom they had met, but it chanced that they had not drawn +together until the last round, when they remained alone to struggle for +the first and second prizes.</p> + +<p>The interest in the struggle had increased with each round, and wagers +were freely laid upon the result. According to custom the two champions +had laid aside their leathern shirts and had donned mail armor, for it +was considered that the crowning contest between the two picked young +swordsmen of the city would be a severe one, and greater protection to +the limbs was needed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> + +<p>Before taking their places they were led up to the royal pavilion, where +they were closely inspected by the king and his nobles.</p> + +<p>"You are sure that this man is still an apprentice?" the king asked the +lord mayor, who was seated next to him; "he has the appearance of a +man-at-arms, and a stout one too; the other is a likely stripling, and +is, as I have seen, marvelously dexterous with his sword, but he is but +a boy while the other is a grown man."</p> + +<p>"He is an apprentice, my liege, although his time will be up in a few +days, while the other has yet three years to serve, but he works for an +armorer, and is famed through the city, boy as he is, for his skill with +weapons."</p> + +<p>After a few words to each, exhorting them to do their best in the sight +of the queen and her ladies, the king dismissed them.</p> + +<p>"I know the young one now!" the Prince of Wales said, clapping his hands +as the apprentices turned away to take their places. "My Lord Talbot, I +will wager a gold chain with you upon the smaller of the two."</p> + +<p>"I will take your wager," the noble answered; "but I am by no means sure +that I shall win it, for I have watched your champion closely, and the +downright blows which he struck would seem to show that he has the +muscle and strength of a man, though still but a boy."</p> + +<p>The event justified the Prince of Wales' confidence; at the commencement +of the struggle Ralph<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> Smith tried to beat down his opponent by sheer +strength as he had done his prior opponents, but to his surprise he +found that all his efforts could not break down his opponent's guard. +Walter indeed did not appear to take advantage of his superior lightness +and activity, but to prefer to prove that in strength as well as skill +he was equal to his antagonist. In the latter respect there was no +comparison, for as soon as the smith began to relax his rain of blows +Walter took the offensive and with a sweeping blow, given with all his +strength, broke down his opponent's guard and smote him with such force +upon his steel cap that, blunted as the sword was, it clove through the +iron, and stretched the smith senseless on the ground. A loud shout +broke from the assemblage. The marshal came up to Walter, and removing +his helmet, led him to the royal pavilion, while Ralph was carried to a +tent near, where a leech attended to his wound.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<p class='center'>THE MELEE.</p> + + +<p>"You have won your prize stoutly and well, sir 'prentice," the king +said. "I should not have deemed it possible that one of your age could +have smitten such a blow, and right glad should I be of a few hundred +lads of your mettle to follow me against the French. What is your +calling?"</p> + +<p>"I am an armorer, my liege," Walter answered.</p> + +<p>"An you are as good at mending armor as you are at marring it," the king +said, "you will be a rare craftsman one of these days. 'Tis a rare pity +so promising a swordsman should be lost to our army. Wouldst like to +change your calling, boy, and take to that of arms?"</p> + +<p>"It is my hope to do so, sir," Walter answered modestly, "and his grace +the Prince of Wales has already promised me that I shall some day ride +behind him to the wars."</p> + +<p>"Ah! Edward," the king ejaculated, "how is this? Have you been already +enlisting a troop for the wars?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," the young prince replied, "but one day, now some four years +since, when I was riding with my Lord Talbot and others in the fields<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +near the Tower, I did see this lad lead his play-fellows to the assault +of an earthen castle held by others, and he fought so well and gallantly +that assuredly no knight could have done better, until he was at last +stricken senseless, and when he recovered I told him that should he +choose to be a man-at-arms I would enlist him in my following to the +wars."</p> + +<p>The king laughed.</p> + +<p>"I deemed not that the lads of the city indulged in such rough sports; +but I wonder not, seeing that the contingent which my good city of +London furnishes me is ever one of the best in my army. We shall see the +lad at work again to-morrow and will then talk more of it. Now let us +bestow upon him the prize that he has so well earned."</p> + +<p>Walter bent on one knee, and the queen handed to him a sword of the best +Spanish steel, which was the prize given by the city to the victor. The +king handed him a heavy purse of gold pieces, saying:</p> + +<p>"This may aid in purchasing your freedom."</p> + +<p>Walter bowed deeply and murmured some words of thanks, and was then led +off by the marshal. After this many of the young nobles of the court +jousted on horseback, ran at the ring, and performed other feats of +knightly exercise to the great pleasure of the multitude. The marshal on +leading Walter away said to him, "You will be captain of the city band +to-morrow, and I must therefore tell you what the king purports. He has +prepared a surprise for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> the citizens, and the present show will be +different to anything ever before seen in London. Both to show them +somewhat of the sieges which are taking place on the borders of France +and the Low Countries, in which Sir Walter Manny and many other gallant +knights have so greatly distinguished themselves, and as an exercise for +the young nobles he has determined that there shall be a castle erected. +It will be built of wood, with battlements and towers, with a moat +outside. As soon as the lists are over a large number of workmen will +commence its erection; the pieces are all sawn and prepared. There will +be machines, ladders, and other appliances. The ten champions on either +side will fight as knights; you will have a hundred apprentices as +men-at-arms, and the court party will have an equal number of young +esquires. You, as winner of to-day's tourney, will have the choice of +defense or attack. I should advise you to take the defense, since it is +easier and requires less knowledge of war, and many of the other party +have accompanied their fathers and masters in the field and have seen +real sieges carried out."</p> + +<p>"Can you show me a plan of the castle," Walter said, "if it be not +contrary to the rules, in order that I may think over to-night the plan +of fighting to-morrow?"</p> + +<p>"Here it is," the marshal said. "You see the walls are two hundred feet +long and twelve feet in height, with a tower at the end and one over the +gateway in the center six feet high. There is a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> drawbridge defended by +an outwork of palisades six feet high. The moat will be a dry one, +seeing that we have no means of filling it with water, but it will be +supposed to be full, and must be crossed on planks or bridges. Two small +towers on wheels will be provided, which may be run up to the edge of +the moat, and will be as high as the top of the towers."</p> + +<p>"Surely they cannot make all this before morning?" Walter said.</p> + +<p>"They will do so," the marshal replied. "The castle has been put +together in the king's court-yard, and the pieces are all numbered. Two +hundred carpenters will labor all night at it, besides a party of +laborers for the digging of the moat. It will be a rare show, and will +delight both the citizens and the ladies of the court, for such a thing +has never before been attempted. But the king grudges not the expense +which it will cost him, seeing that spectacles of this kind do much to +arouse the warlike spirit of the people. Here is a list of the various +implements which will be provided, only it is understood that the +mangonels and arblasts will not be provided with missiles, seeing that +many would assuredly be killed by them. They will be employed, however, +to show the nature of the work, and parties of men-at-arms will be told +off to serve them. Cross-bows and arrows will be used, but the weapons +will be blunted. You will see that there are ladders, planks for making +bridges, long hooks for hauling men down from the wall, beams for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +battering down the gate, axes for cutting down the palisades, and all +other weapons. The ten who will serve under you as knights have already +been nominated, and the city will furnish them with full armor. For the +others, the apprentices of each ward will choose sufficient +representatives to make up the hundred who will fight as men-at-arms; +these will wear steel caps and breast-pieces, with leather jerkins, and +vizors to protect their faces, for even a blunted arrow or a wooden +quarrel might well kill if it struck true."</p> + +<p>On leaving the marshal Walter joined Giles Fletcher and Geoffrey Ward, +who warmly congratulated him upon his success. He informed them of the +spectacle which the king had prepared for the amusement of the citizens +on the morrow.</p> + +<p>"In faith," Geoffrey said, "the idea is a good one, and promises rare +sport, but it will be rough, and we may expect many broken limbs, for it +will be no joke to be thrown down with a ladder from a wall even twelve +feet high, and there will be the depth of the moat besides."</p> + +<p>"That will only be two feet," Walter said, "for so it is marked on the +plan."</p> + +<p>"And which do you mean to take, Walter, the attack or the defense? +Methinks the king has erred somewhat in making the forces equal, for +assuredly the besiegers should outnumber the besieged by fully three to +one to give them a fair chance of success."</p> + +<p>"I shall take the assault," Walter answered;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> "there is more to be done +that way than in the defense. When we get home, Geoffrey, we will look +at the plans, and see what may be the best manner of assault."</p> + +<p>Upon examining the plan that evening they found that the wall was +continued at an angle at either end for a distance of some twenty feet +back so as to give a postern gate behind each of the corner towers +through which a sortie might be made. Geoffrey and Walter talked the +matter over, and together contrived a plan of operation for the +following day.</p> + +<p>"You will have one great advantage," Geoffrey said. "The apprentices are +all accustomed to the use of the bow, while the young nobles will know +but little of that weapon; therefore your shooting will be far +straighter and truer, and even a blunt-headed arrow drawn from the +shoulder will hit so smart a blow that those on the wall will have +difficulty in withstanding them."</p> + +<p>After the talk was ended Walter again crossed London Bridge, and made +his way to Ludgate, where he found his late antagonist, whose head had +been plastered up and was little the worse for the conflict.</p> + +<p>"There is no ill-will between us, I hope," Walter said, holding out his +hand.</p> + +<p>"None in the world," the young smith said frankly.</p> + +<p>He was a good tempered-looking young giant, with closely cropped hair, +light-blue eyes, and a pleasant but somewhat heavy face.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My faith! but what a blow was that you gave me! why, one would think +that your muscles were made of steel. I thought that I could hit a good +downright blow, seeing that I have been hammering at the anvil for the +last seven years; but strike as I would I could not beat down your +guard, while mine went down as if it had been a feather before yours. I +knew, directly that I had struck the first blow, and felt how firm was +your defense, that it was all up with me, knowing that in point of skill +I had no chance whatever with you."</p> + +<p>"I am glad to see that you bear no malice, Ralph," Walter said, "and +hope that we shall be great friends henceforth, that is, if you will +take me as such, seeing that you are just out of your apprenticeship, +while I am not yet half-through mine. But I have come to talk to you +about to-morrow. Have you heard that there is to be a mimic siege?"</p> + +<p>"I have heard about it," Ralph said. "The city is talking of nothing +else. The news was published at the end of the sports. It will be rare +fun, surely."</p> + +<p>"It will be pretty rough fun," Walter replied; "and I should not be much +surprised if some lives are lost; but this is always so in a tournament; +and if knights and nobles are ready to be killed, we apprentices need +not fear to hazard our lives. But now as to to-morrow. I, as the winner +to-day, am to be the leader of the party, and you, as second, will of +course be captain under me. Now I want to explain to you exactly what I +propose to do, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> to arrange with you as to your share in the +business."</p> + +<p>The young smith listened attentively to Walter's explanation, and, when +he had done, exclaimed admiringly: "Why, Walter, you seem to be made for +a general. How did it all come to you, lad? I should never have thought +of such a scheme."</p> + +<p>"I talked it over with my master," Walter said, "and the idea is his as +much as mine. I wonder if it will do?"</p> + +<p>"It is sure to do," the smith said enthusiastically. "The castle is as +good as taken."</p> + +<p>The next day all London poured out to the scene of the sports, and the +greatest admiration and wonder were expressed at the castle, which had +risen, as if by magic, in the night. It was built at one end of the +lists, which had been purposely placed in a hollow, so that a great +number of people besides those in the pavilions could obtain a view from +the surrounding slopes. The castle was substantially built of heavy +timber painted gray, and looked at a little distance as if constructed +of stone. A flag floated from the central tower, and the building looked +so formidable that the general opinion was freely expressed that the +task of the assailants, whoever they might be—for at present this was +unknown—was quite impossible. At ten o'clock the king and his court +arrived. After they had taken their places the two bands, headed by +their leaders, advanced from the lower end of the lists, and drew up in +front of the royal pavilion. The leaders took<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> their places in front. +Behind them stood the ten chosen followers, all of whom, as well as +their chiefs, were incased in full armor. Behind, on one side, were one +hundred apprentices, on the other, one hundred esquires, all attired as +men-at-arms. The court party were led by Clarence Aylmer, son of the +Earl of Pembroke. His companions were all young men of noble family, +aspirants for the order of knighthood. They were, for the most part, +somewhat older than the apprentices, but as the latter consisted chiefly +of young men nearly out of their term the difference was not great. +Walter's armor was a suit which the armorer had constructed a year +previously for a young knight who had died before the armor could be +delivered. Walter had wondered more than once why Geoffrey did not +endeavor to sell it elsewhere, for although not so decorated and inlaid +as many of the suits of Milan armor, it was constructed of the finest +steel, and the armorer had bestowed special care upon its manufacture, +as the young knight's father had long been one of his best customers. +Early that morning Geoffrey had brought it to his room and had told him +to wear it instead of that lent by the city.</p> + +<p>"But I fear it will get injured," Walter had urged. "I shall not spare +myself, you know, Geoffrey, and the blows will be hard ones."</p> + +<p>"The more need for good armor, Walter. These city suits are made for +show rather than use. You may be sure that young Pembroke and his band +will fight their hardest rather than suffer defeat at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> hands of +those whom they consider as a band of city varlets."</p> + +<p>Before issuing from the tent where he and his companions had put on +their mail, Walter carefully fastened in the front of his helmet a tiny +gold bracelet. Upon taking their places before the pavilion the king +ordered the two leaders to advance, and addressed them and the multitude +in the following words:</p> + +<p>"Brave leaders, and you, my people, I have contrived the pastime to-day +that I may show you on a mimic scale the deeds which my brave soldiers +are called upon to perform in France. It is more specially suited for +the combatants of to-day, since one party have had but small opportunity +of acquiring skill on horseback. Moreover, I wish to teach the lesson +that fighting on foot is as honorable as fighting on horseback, for it +has now been proved, and sometimes to our cost, in Scotland, that +footmen can repulse even the bravest chivalry. To-day each party will +fight his best. Remember that, even in the heat of conflict, matters +must not be carried to an extreme. Those cut off from their friends will +be accounted prisoners, as will those who, being overpowered, throw down +their arms. Any wounded on either side will not be accounted as +prisoners, but may retire with honor from the field. You," he said, +looking at Walter, "as the conqueror of yesterday, have the choice of +either the attack or defense; but I should advise you to take the +latter, seeing that it is easier to defend a fortress than to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> assault +it. Many of your opponents have already gained credit in real warfare, +while you and your following are new to it. Therefore, in order to place +the defense on fair terms with the assault, I have ordered that both +sides shall be equal in numbers."</p> + +<p>"If your liege will permit me," Walter said, bowing, "I would fain take +the assault. Methinks that, with my following, I could do better thus +than in defense."</p> + +<p>The king looked somewhat displeased.</p> + +<p>"As you will," he said coldly; "but I fear that this will somewhat mar +the effect of the spectacle, seeing that you will have no chance +whatever against an equal force, more accustomed to war than your party, +and occupying so superior a position. However," he went on, seeing that +Walter made no sign of changing his mind, "as you have chosen, so be it; +and now it is for you to choose the lady who shall be queen of the +tourney and shall deliver the prizes to the victors. Look round you; +there are many fair faces, and it is for you to choose among them."</p> + +<p>Smiles passed between many of the courtly dames and ladies at the choice +that was to be made among them by the apprentice lad; and they thought +that he would be sorely puzzled at such a duty. Walter, however, did not +hesitate an instant. He ran his eye over the crowd of ladies in the +royal gallery, and soon saw the object of his search.</p> + +<p>"Since I have your majesty's permission," he said,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> "I choose, as queen +of the tournament, Mistress Edith Vernon."</p> + +<p>There was a movement of surprise and a general smile. Perhaps to all who +thought that they had a chance of being chosen the selection was a +relief, as none could be jealous of the pretty child, who, at the king's +order, made her way forward to the front, and took her seat in a chair +placed between the king and queen. The girl colored brightly; but she +had heard so much of tourneys and jousts that she knew what was her +duty. She had been sitting far back on the previous day, and the +apprentice, when brought up before the king, was too far below for her +to see his features. She now recognized him.</p> + +<p>"Sir knights," she said in a loud, clear, childish voice, "you will both +do your duty to-day and show yourselves worthy cavaliers. Methinks that, +as queen of the tourney, I should be neutral between you, but as one of +you carries my gage in his helm, my good wishes must needs go with him; +but bright eyes will be fixed on you both, and may well stir you to +deeds of valor."</p> + +<p>So saying, she resumed her seat with a pretty air of dignity.</p> + +<p>"Why, sweetheart," the king said, "how is it that this 'prentice lad +knows your name, and how is it that he wears your gage, for I know that +the young Pembroke wears the glove of the Earl of Surrey's daughter?"</p> + +<p>"He saved my life, sir, mine and my mother's," the child said, "and I +told him he should be my true<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> knight, and gave him my bracelet, which +you see he wears in his helm."</p> + +<p>"I recall somewhat of the story," the king said, "and will question my +Lady Vernon further anon; but see, the combatants are filing off to +their places."</p> + +<p>With flags flying and trumpets blowing young Pembroke led his forces +into the castle. Each of his ten knights was followed by an esquire +bearing his banner, and each had ten men-at-arms under his immediate +order. Two of them, with twenty men, remained in the outwork beyond the +drawbridge. The rest took their station on the walls and towers, where a +platform had been erected running along three feet below the +battlements. The real men-at-arms with the machines of war now advanced, +and for a time worked the machines, which made pretense at casting great +stones and missiles at the walls. The assailants then moved forward and, +unslinging their bows, opened a heavy fire of arrows at the defenders, +who, in turn, replied with arrows and cross-bows.</p> + +<p>"The 'prentices shoot well," the king said; "by our lady, it would be +hot work for the defenders were the shafts but pointed! Even as it is +the knocks must be no child's play, for the arrows, although not +pointed, are all tipped with iron, without which, indeed, straight +shooting would be impossible."</p> + +<p>The return fire from the walls was feeble, and the king said, laughing, +"So far your knight, fair mis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span>tress, has it all his own way. I did not +reckon sufficiently upon the superiority of shooting of the London lads, +and, indeed, I know not that I ought not in fairness to order some of +the defenders off the walls, seeing that in warfare their numbers would +be rapidly thinned. See, the assailants are moving up the two towers +under shelter of the fire of the archers."</p> + +<p>By this time Aylmer, seeing that his followers could make no effectual +reply to the arrow fire, had ordered all, save the leaders in full +armor, to lie down behind the parapet. The assailants now gathered +thickly round each tower, as if they intended to attempt to cross by the +bridges, which could be let down from an opening in the tower level with +the top of the wall, while archers upon the summit shot fast and thick +among the defenders who were gathering to oppose them.</p> + +<p>"If the young Pembroke is wise," the king said, "he will make a strong +sally now and fall upon one or other of the parties."</p> + +<p>As he spoke there was a sudden movement on the part of the assailants, +who, leaving the foot of the towers, made a rush at the outwork in the +center. The instant they arrived they fell to work with axes upon the +palisades. Many were struck down by the blows dealt them by the +defenders, but others caught up the axes and in less than a minute +several of the palisades were cut down and the assailants poured in. The +defenders fought gallantly, but they were overpowered by numbers.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> Some +were struck down, others taken prisoners by main force, and the rest +driven across the drawbridge just as the gates were opened and Pembroke, +at the head of the defenders, swarmed out to their assistance.</p> + +<p>There was a desperate fight on the bridge, and it was well that the +armor was stout, and the arms that wielded the weapons had not yet +attained their full strength. Several were knocked off the bridge into +the moat, and these were, by the rules, obliged at once to retire and +take no further part in the contest. Walter and Ralph the smith fought +in front of their men, and hard as Pembroke and his followers struggled, +they could not drive them back a foot. The court party was galled by the +heavy fire of arrows kept up by the apprentices along the side of the +moat, and finding all his efforts to regain the earthwork useless, +Pembroke withdrew his forces into the castle, and in spite of the +efforts of the besiegers managed to close the gates in their faces. The +assailants, however, succeeded in severing the chains of the drawbridge +before it could be raised.</p> + +<p>From the tower above, the defenders now hurled over great stones, which +had been specially placed there for the purpose of destroying the +drawbridge should the earthwork be carried. The boards were soon +splintered, and the drawbridge was pronounced by the Earl of Talbot, who +was acting as judge, to be destroyed. The excitement of the spectators +was worked up to a great pitch while the conflict was going on, and the +citizens cheered lustily at the success of the apprentices.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That was gallantly done," the king said to Queen Philippa, "and the +leader of the assailants is a lad of rare mettle. Not a captain of my +army, no, not Sir Walter Manny himself, could have done it more +cleverly. You see, by placing his forces at the ends of the wall he drew +all the garrison thither to withstand the assaults from them, and thus +by his sudden movement he was able to carry the outwork before they +could recover from their surprise and come down to its aid. I am curious +to know what he will do next. What thinkst thou, Edward?" he asked his +son, who was standing by his side.</p> + +<p>"He will win the day," the young prince said; "and in faith, although +the others are my comrades, I should be glad to see it. He will make a +gallant knight, sir, one of these days, and remember he is engaged to +follow my banner, so you must not steal him from me. See, my liege, they +are taking planks and ladders to the outwork."</p> + +<p>"They are doing wrongly, then," the king said, "for even should they +bridge the moat where the drawbridge is, they cannot scale the wall +there, since the tower defends it, and the ladders are but long enough +to reach the lower wall. No, their leader has changed his mind: they are +taking the planks along the edge of the moat toward the tower on the +left, and will aid the assault by its bridge by a passage of the moat +there."</p> + +<p>It seemed, indeed, that this was the plan. While some of the assailants +kept up the arrow fire on the wall others mounted the tower, while a +party pre<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span>pared to throw a bridge of planks across the moat. The bridge +from the tower was now lowered; but a shout of triumph rose from the +defenders when it was seen that by some mistake of the carpenters this +was too short, and when lowered did not reach within six feet of the +wall.</p> + +<p>"All the better," the king said, while the prince gave an angry +exclamation. "Accidents of this kind will happen, and give an +opportunity to a leader to show his resources. Doubtless he will carry +planks up to the tower and so connect the bridge and the wall."</p> + +<p>This, indeed, was what the assailants tried to do, while a party threw +planks across the moat, and rushing over placed ladders against the wall +and strove to climb. They strove in vain, however. The ladders were +thrown down as fast as they were placed, while the defenders, thickly +clustered on the walls, drove back those who tried to cross from the +tower.</p> + +<p>"I do not see the leader of the assailants," the prince said.</p> + +<p>"He has a white plume, but it may have been shorn off," the king said. +"Look, the young Pembroke is making a sortie!"</p> + +<p>From the sortie gate behind the tower the defenders now poured out, and +running down the edge of the moat fell upon the stormers. These, +however, received them with great steadiness, and while some continued +to attack the rest turned upon the garrison, and, headed by Ralph the +smith, drove them gradually back.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span></p> + +<p>"They fight well and steadily," the king said. "One would have thought +that they had reckoned on the sortie, so steadily did they receive it."</p> + +<p>As only a portion of the garrison had issued out, they were unable to +resist long the pressure of the apprentices, who drove them back step by +step to the sally-port, and pressing them hard endeavored to force their +way in at their heels.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<p class='center'>THE YOUNG ESQUIRE.</p> + + +<p>While the attention of the whole of the spectators and combatants was +fixed upon the struggle at the right-hand angle of the castle, a party +of twenty 'prentices suddenly leaped to their feet from among the broken +palisades of the outwork. Lying perdu there they had escaped the +attention of the spectators as well as of the defenders. The reason why +the assailants carried the planks and ladders to this spot was now +apparent. Only a portion had been taken on to the assault of the +right-hand tower; those who now rose to their feet lifted with them +planks and ladders, and at a rapid pace ran toward the left angle of the +castle, and reached that point before the attention of the few defenders +who remained on the wall there was attracted to them, so absorbed were +they in the struggle at the other angle. The moment that they saw the +new assailants they raised a shout of alarm, but the din of the combat, +the shouts of the leaders and men were so loud that their cries were +unheard. Two or three then hurried away at full speed to give the alarm, +while the others strove to repel the assault.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> Their efforts were in +vain. The planks were flung across the moat, the ladders placed in +position, and led by Walter the assailants sprang up and gained a +footing on the wall before the alarm was fairly given. A thundering +cheer from the spectators greeted the success of the assailants. +Springing along the wall they drove before them the few who strove to +oppose them, gained the central tower, and Walter, springing up to the +top, pulled down the banner of the defenders and placed that of the city +in its place. At this moment the defenders, awakened too late to the +ruse which had been played upon them, came swarming back along the wall +and strove to regain the central tower. In the confusion the assault by +the flying tower of the assailants was neglected, and at this point also +they gained a footing on the wall. The young nobles of the court, +furious at being outwitted, fought desperately to regain their lost +laurels. But the king rose from his seat and held up his hand. The +trumpeter standing below him sounded the arrest of arms, which was +echoed by two others who accompanied Earl Talbot, who had taken his +place on horseback close to the walls. At the sound swords dropped and +the din abruptly ceased, but the combatants stood glaring at each other, +their blood too heated to relinquish the fray readily.</p> + +<p>Already much damage had been done. In spite of armor and mail many +serious wounds had been inflicted, and some of the combatants had +already been carried senseless from the field. Some of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> assailants +had been much shaken by being thrown backward from the ladders into the +moat, one or two were hurt to death; but as few tourneys took place +without the loss of several lives, this was considered but a small +amount of damage for so stoutly fought a <i>mêlée</i>, and the knowledge that +many were wounded, and some perhaps dying, in no way damped the +enthusiasm of the spectators, who cheered lustily for some minutes at +the triumph which the city had obtained.</p> + +<p>In the galleries occupied by the ladies and nobles of the court there +was a comparative silence. But brave deeds were appreciated in those +days, and although the ladies would far rather have seen the victory +incline the other way, yet they waved their handkerchiefs and clapped +their hands in token of their admiration at the success of an assault +which, at the commencement, appeared well-nigh hopeless.</p> + +<p>Lord Talbot rode up to the front of the royal pavilion.</p> + +<p>"I was about to stop the fight, sire, when you gave the signal. Their +blood was up, and many would have been killed had the combat continued. +But the castle was fairly won, the central tower was taken and the flag +pulled down, a footing had been gained at another point of the wall, and +the assailants had forced their way through the sally-port. Further +resistance was therefore hopeless, and the castle must be adjudged as +fairly and honorably captured."</p> + +<p>A renewed shout greeted the judge's decision. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> king now ordered the +rival hosts to be mustered before him as before the battle, and when +this was done Earl Talbot conducted Walter up the broad steps in front +of the king's pavilion. Geoffrey Ward, who had, after fastening on +Walter's armor in the tent before the sports began, taken his place +among the guards at the foot of the royal pavilion, stepped forward and +removed Walter's helmet at the foot of the steps.</p> + +<p>"Young sir," the king said, "you have borne yourself right gallantly +to-day, and have shown that you possess the qualities which make a great +captain. I do my nobles no wrong when I say that not one of them could +have better planned and led the assault than you have done. Am I not +right, sirs?" and he looked round.</p> + +<p>A murmur of assent rose from the knights and nobles, and the king +continued: "I thought you vain and presumptuous in undertaking the +assault of a fort held by an equal number, many of whom are well +accustomed to war, while the lads who followed you were all untrained in +strife, but you have proved that your confidence in yourself was not +misplaced. The Earl of Talbot has adjudged you victor, and none can +doubt what the end of the strife would have been. Take this chain from +your king, who is glad to see that his citizens of London are able to +hold their own even against those of our court, than whom we may say no +braver exist in Europe. Kneel now to the queen of the tourney, who will +bestow upon you the chaplet which you have so worthily earned."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p> + +<p>Walter bent his knee before Edith Vernon. She rose to her feet, and with +an air of pretty dignity placed a chaplet of laurel leaves, wrought in +gold and clasped with a valuable ruby, on his head.</p> + +<p>"I present to you," she said, "the chaplet of victory, and am proud that +my gage should have been worn by one who has borne himself so bravely +and well. May a like success rest on all your undertakings, and may you +prove a good and valiant knight!"</p> + +<p>"Well said, Mistress Edith," Queen Philippa said, smiling. "You may well +be proud of your young champion. I too must have my gift," and drawing a +ring set with brilliants from her finger she placed it in Walter's hand.</p> + +<p>The lad now rose to his feet. "The prince, my son," the king said, "has +promised that you shall ride with his men-at-arms when he is old enough +to take the field. Should you choose to abandon your craft and do so +earlier I doubt not that one of my nobles, the brave Sir Walter Manny, +for example, will take you before that time."</p> + +<p>"That will I readily enough," Sir Walter said, "and glad to have so +promising a youth beneath my banner."</p> + +<p>"I would that you had been of gentle blood," the king said.</p> + +<p>"That makes no difference, sire," Sir Walter replied. "I will place him +among the young gentlemen, my pages and esquires, and am sure that they +will receive him as one of themselves."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p> + +<p>Geoffrey Ward had hitherto stood at the foot of the steps leading to the +royal pavilion, but doffing his cap he now ascended. "Pardon my +boldness, sire," he said to the king, "but I would fain tell you what +the lad himself has hitherto been ignorant of. He is not, as he +supposes, the son of Giles Fletcher, citizen and bowmaker, but is the +lawfully born son of Sir Roland Somers, erst of Westerham and Hythe, who +was killed in the troubles at the commencement of your majesty's reign. +His wife, Dame Alice, brought the child to Giles Fletcher, whose wife +had been her nurse, and dying left him in her care. Giles and his wife, +if called for, can vouch for the truth of this, and can give you proofs +of his birth."</p> + +<p>Walter listened with astonishment to Geoffrey's speech. A thrill of +pleasure rushed through his veins as he learned that he was of gentle +blood and might hope to aspire to a place among the knights of King +Edward's court. He understood now the pains which Geoffrey had bestowed +in seeing that he was perfected in warlike exercises, and why he and +Giles had encouraged rather than repressed his love for martial +exercises and his determination to abandon his craft and become a +man-at-arms when he reached man's estate.</p> + +<p>"Ah! is it so?" the king exclaimed. "I remember Sir Roland Somers, and +also that he was slain by Sir Hugh Spencer, who, as I heard on many +hands, acted rather on a private quarrel than, as he alleged, in my +interest, and there were many who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> avowed that the charges brought +against Sir Roland were unfounded. However, this matter must be inquired +into, and my high justiciar shall see Master Giles and his wife, hear +their evidence, and examine the proofs which they may bring forward. As +to the estates, they were granted to Sir Jasper Vernon and cannot be +restored. Nevertheless I doubt not that the youth will carve out for +himself a fortune with his sword. You are his master, I suppose. I would +fain pay you to cancel his apprenticeship. Sir Walter Manny has promised +to enroll him among his esquires."</p> + +<p>"I will cancel his indentures willingly, my liege," the armorer +answered, "and that without payment. The lad has been to me as a son, +and seeing his high spirit, and knowing the gentle blood running in his +veins, I have done my best so to teach him and so to put him in the way +of winning back his father's rank by his sword."</p> + +<p>"He hath gone far toward it already," the king said, "and methinks may +yet gain some share in his father's inheritance," and he glanced at +little Mistress Edith Vernon and then smiled at the queen. "Well, we +shall see," he went on. "Under Sir Walter Manny he will have brave +chances of distinguishing himself, and when my son takes the field, he +shall ride with him. But I am keeping the hosts waiting. Bring hither," +he said to Earl Talbot, "Clarence Aylmer."</p> + +<p>The young noble was led up to the king. "You have done well, Clarence; +though you have been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> worsted you fought bravely, but you were deceived +by a ruse which might have taken in a more experienced captain. I trust +that you will be friends with your adversary, who will be known to you +henceforth as Walter Somers, son of Sir Roland of that name, and who +will ride to the wars, whither you also are shortly bound, under the +standard of Sir Walter Manny."</p> + +<p>The cloud which had hung over the face of the young noble cleared. It +had indeed been a bitter mortification to him that he, the son of one of +the proudest of English nobles, should have been worsted by a London +apprentice, and it was a relief to him to find that his opponent was one +of knightly blood. He turned frankly to Walter and held out his hand. "I +greet you as a comrade, sir," he said, "and hope some day that in our +rivalry in the field I may do better than I have done to-day."</p> + +<p>"That is well spoken," the king said. Then he rose and in a loud voice +addressed the combatants, saying that all had borne themselves well and +bravely, and that he thanked them, not only for the rare pastime which +they had made, but for the courage and boldness which had been displayed +on both sides. So saying, he waved his hand as a token that the +proceedings were ended, and returned with the court to Westminster; +while the crowd of spectators overflowed the lists, those who had +friends in the apprentice array being anxious to know how they had +fared. That evening there was a banquet given by the lord mayor. Walter +was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> invited to be present, with Giles and Geoffrey, and many +complimentary things were said to him, and he was congratulated on the +prospects which awaited him. After dinner all the 'prentices who had +taken part in the sports filed through the hall and were each presented +with a gold piece by the lord mayor, in the name of the corporation, for +having so nobly sustained the renown of the city.</p> + +<p>After the entertainment was over Walter returned with Geoffrey to the +bowyer's house, and there heard from his two friends and Bertha the +details of his mother's life from the time that she had been a child, +and the story of her arrival with him, and her death. He had still +difficulty in believing that it was all true, that Giles and Bertha, +whom he had so long regarded as his father and mother, were only his +kind guardians, and that he was the scion of two noble families. Very +warmly and gratefully he thanked his three friends for the kindness +which they had shown to him, and vowed that no change of condition +should ever alter his feelings of affection toward them. It was not +until the late hour of nine o'clock that he said good-by to his +foster-parents, for he was next day to repair to the lodging of Sir +Walter Manny, who was to sail again before the week was out for the Low +Countries, from which he had only returned for a few days to have +private converse with the king on the state of matters there. His +friends would have delivered to him his mother's ring and other tokens +which she had left, but thought it better to keep these,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> with the other +proofs of his birth, until his claim was established to the satisfaction +of the lord justiciaries.</p> + +<p>The next morning early, when Walter descended the stairs, he found Ralph +Smith waiting for him. His face was strapped up with plaster and he wore +his arm in a sling, for his armor had been twice cut through as he led +his party in through the sally-port.</p> + +<p>"How goes it with you, Ralph?" Walter said. "Not much the worse, I hope, +for your hard knocks?"</p> + +<p>"Not a whit," Ralph replied cheerfully, "and I shall be all right again +before the week is out; but the leech made as much fuss over me as if I +had been a girl, just as though one was not accustomed to hard knocks in +a smithy. Those I got yesterday were not half so hard as that which you +gave me the day before. My head rings yet with the thought of it. But I +have not come to talk about myself. Is the story true which they tell of +you, Master Walter, that you are not the son of Giles the bowyer, but of +a great noble?"</p> + +<p>"Not of a great noble, Ralph, but of a gallant knight, which is just as +good. My father was killed when I was three years old, and my mother +brought me to Bertha, the wife of Giles the bowyer, who had been her +nurse in childhood. I had forgotten all that had passed, and deemed +myself the son of the good citizen, but since I have heard the truth my +memory has awakened some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span>what, and I have a dim recollection of a lordly +castle and of my father and mother."</p> + +<p>"And they say, Walter, that you are going with Sir Walter Manny, with +the force which is just sailing to the assistance of Lady de Montford?"</p> + +<p>"That is so, Ralph, and the good knight has taken me among his esquires, +young as I am, although I might well have looked for nothing better than +to commence, for two years at least, as a page, seeing that I am but +eighteen now. Now I shall ride with him into the battles and shall have +as good a chance as the others of gaining honor and winning my spurs."</p> + +<p>"I have made up my mind that I will go with you, Master Walter, if you +will take me; each squire has a man-at-arms who serves him, and I will +give you good and faithful service if you will take me with you. I spoke +to the smith, my master, last night, when I heard the news, and as my +apprenticeship is out next week he was willing enough to give me the few +days which remain. Once out of my apprenticeship I may count to be a +man, and seeing that I am nineteen, and as I may say well grown of my +years, methinks I am fit for service as a man-at-arms, and I would +rather fight behind you than labor all my life in the smithy."</p> + +<p>"I shall be glad indeed, Ralph, to have you with me if such be really +your wish, and I do not think that Sir Walter Manny will say nay, for +they have been beating up for recruits through the kingdom, and we +proved yesterday that you have courage as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> well as strength. If he will +consent I should be glad indeed to have so brave a comrade with me, so +we may consider that settled, and if you will come down to Westminster, +to Sir Walter Manny's lodging, this afternoon, I will tell you what he +says touching the matter. You will, of course, need arms and armor."</p> + +<p>"I can provide that," Ralph replied, "seeing that his worshipful the +lord mayor bestowed upon me yesterday five gold pieces as the second in +command in the sports. I have already a steel cap and breast and back +pieces, which I have made for myself in hours of leisure, and warrant +will stand as hard a knock as the Frenchmen can give them."</p> + +<p>Going across into the city with Geoffrey, Walter purchased, with the +contents of the purse which the king had given him, the garments suited +for his new position. He was fortunate in obtaining some which fitted +him exactly. These had been made for a young esquire of the Earl of +Salisbury; but the tailor, when he heard from Geoffrey for whom they +were required, and the need for instant dispatch, parted with them to +Walter, saying that he for whom they were made could well wait a few +days, and that he would set his journeymen to work at once to make some +more of similar fit and fashion.</p> + +<p>Walter felt strange in his new attire, and by no means relished the +tightness of the garments, which was strictly demanded by the fashion of +the day. His long hose, one of which was of a deep maroon,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> the other a +bright yellow, came far up above the knee, then came a short pair of +trunks of similar colors divided in the middle. The tight-fitting +doublet was short and circled at the waist by a buff belt mounted in +silver, and was of the same colors as the hose and trunks. On his head +was a cap, peaked in front; this was of maroon, with a short erect +feather of yellow. The long-pointed shoes matched the rest of the +costume. There were three other suits similar in fashion, but different +in color; two like the first were of cloth, the third was of white and +blue silk, to be worn on grand occasions.</p> + +<p>"You look a very pretty figure, Walter," Geoffrey said, "and will be +able to hold your own among the young gallants of the court. If you lack +somewhat of courtly manners it will matter not at all, since you are +leaving so soon for the wars. The dress sets off your figure, which is +fully two years in advance of your age, seeing that hard work has +widened you out and thickened your muscles. I need not tell you, lad, +not to be quarrelsome, for that was never your way; but just at first +your companions may try some jests with you, as is always the manner of +young men with new-comers, but take them in a good spirit, and be sure +that, seeing the strength of arm and skill which you showed yesterday +and the day before, none will care to push matters with you unduly."</p> + +<p>One of the journeymen accompanied Walter to Westminster to carry up from +the boat the valise with his clothes and the armor which he had worn<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> in +the sports. Sir Walter received the lad with much kindness and +introduced him to his future companions. They were five in number; the +eldest was a man of some thirty years old, a Hainaulter, who had +accompanied Sir Walter Manny to England at the time when the latter +first came over as a young squire in the suit of the Princess Philippa. +He was devotedly attached to the knight, his master, and although he +might several times have received the rank of knighthood for his bravery +in the field, he preferred remaining in his position as esquire and +faithful friend of his master.</p> + +<p>The other four were between the ages of nineteen and twenty-one, and all +belonged to the families of the highest nobility of England, it being +deemed a distinguished honor to be received as a squire by the most +gallant knight at the court of England. Their duties were, as Walter +soon learned, almost nominal, these being discharged almost exclusively +by John Mervaux. Two of the young esquires, Richard Coningsby and Edward +Clifford, had fought in the <i>mêlée</i>, having been among the ten leaders +under Clarence Aylmer. They bore no malice for the defeat, but received +Walter with cordiality and kindness, as did the other young men. Walter +on his arrival acquainted the knight with Ralph's wish to follow him, +and requested permission for him to do so. This was readily granted, Sir +Walter Manny telling the lad that although esquires were supposed to +wait entirely upon themselves, to groom their horses, and keep their +armor and arms bright<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> and in good order, yet, in point of fact, young +men of good families had the greater part of these duties performed for +them by a retainer who rode in the ranks of their master's following as +a man-at-arms.</p> + +<p>"The other esquires have each one of their father's retainers with them, +and I am glad that you should be in the same position. After you have +taken your mid-day meal you had best go across to the Earl of Talbot's +and inquire for the Lady Vernon, who is still staying with him. She told +me at the king's ball last night that she wished to have speech with +you, and I promised to acquaint you with her desire. By the way, dost +know aught of riding?"</p> + +<p>"I have learned to sit on a horse, Sir Walter," the lad answered. "My +good friend Geoffrey, the armorer, advised that I should learn, and +frequently hired from the horse dealer an animal for my use. I have +often backed half-broken horses which were brought up by graziers from +Kent and Sussex for use in the wars. Many of them abode at the hostels +at Southwark, and willingly enough granted me permission to ride their +horses until they were sold. Thus I have had a good deal of practice, +and that of a rough kind; and seeing that latterly the horses have, for +the most part, found it difficult to fling me when sitting barebacked +across them, I think I could keep my seat in the high-peaked saddles on +the most vicious, but I have had no practice at tilting, or at the ring, +or other knightly exercises."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That matters not at all," the knight said. "All these knightly +exercises which you speak of are good in time of peace, for they give +proficiency and steadiness, but in time of war he who can sit firmly in +his saddle and wield sword and battle-ax lustily and skillfully is equal +to the best; but never fear, when this expedition is over, and we have +time for such things, I will see that you are instructed in them. One +who has achieved so much martial skill as you have done at so early an +age will have little difficulty in acquiring what may be termed the +pastime of chivalry."</p> + +<p>Ralph arrived just as Walter was setting out. The latter presented him +to the knight, who spoke with praise of the gallantry which he had +displayed on the previous day, and then handed him over to John Mervaux, +with instructions to enroll him as a man-at-arms among his followers, to +inform him of his duties, and to place him with those who attended upon +the other esquires.</p> + +<p>After seeing Ralph disposed of, Walter went across to the Earl of Talbot +and was again conducted to the presence of Dame Vernon.</p> + +<p>"You have changed since we met last, young sir," she said with a smile, +"though it is but a month since. Then you were a 'prentice boy, now you +are an esquire of Sir Walter Manny, and on the highway to distinction. +That you will win it I am well assured, since one who risked his life to +rescue a woman and child whose very names were unknown to him is sure to +turn out a noble and valiant knight.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> I little thought, when my daughter +called you her knight, that in so short a time you might become an +aspirant to that honor. I hope that you do not look askance at us, now +that you know I am in possession of the lands of your parents. Such +changes of land, you know, often occur, but now I know who you are, I +would that the estates bestowed upon Sir Jasper had belonged to some +other than you; however, I trust that you will hold no grudge against +us, and that you may win as fair an estate by the strength of your arm +and the king's favor."</p> + +<p>"Assuredly I feel no grudge, madam," Walter replied, "and since the +lands were forfeited, I am pleased that of all people they should have +gone to one so kind and so fair as yourself."</p> + +<p>"What, learning to be a flatterer already!" Dame Vernon laughed. "You +are coming on fast, and I predict great things from you. And now, Edith, +lay aside that sampler you are pretending to be so busy upon and speak +to this knight of yours."</p> + +<p>Edith laid down her work and came forward. She was no longer the +dignified little queen of the tournament, but a laughing, bright-faced +girl.</p> + +<p>"I don't see that you are changed," she said, "except in your dress. You +speak softly and naturally, just as you used to do, and not a bit like +those little court fops, Uncle Talbot's pages. I am afraid you will not +be my knight any more, now that you are going to get great honors at the +war; for I heard my Uncle Talbot tell my lady mother that he was sure +you would gain great credit for yourself."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I shall be always your knight," Walter said earnestly; "I told you I +should, and I never break my word. That is," he went on, coloring, "if +Dame Vernon makes no objection, as she well might."</p> + +<p>"If I did not object before, Walter," she said, smiling, "why should I +do so now?"</p> + +<p>"It is different, my lady; before, it was somewhat of a jest, a sort of +childish play on the part of Mistress Edith, though so far as I was +concerned it was no play, but sober earnest."</p> + +<p>"It needs no permission from me," Dame Vernon replied, "for you to wear +my daughter's colors. Any knight may proclaim any lady he chooses the +mistress of his heart, and a reigning beauty will often have a dozen +young knights who wear her colors. However, I am well content that one +who has done me such great service and who has shown such high promise +should be the first to wear the gage of my little daughter, and if in +after-years your life fulfills the promise of your youth, and you remain +true to her gage, there is none among all the youths of the court whom I +would so gladly see at her feet. Remember," she said as Walter was about +to speak, "her hand will not be at my disposal, but at that of the king. +His majesty is wont to bestow the hands of his wards upon those who most +distinguish themselves in the field. You have already attracted his +royal attention and commendation. Under Sir Walter Manny you will be +sure of opportunities of distinguishing yourself, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> king may well +be glad some day at once to reward your services and to repair a cruel +injustice by bestowing upon you the hand of the heiress of your father's +lands. If I mistake not, such a thought has even now crossed his +majesty's mind, unless I misinterpreted a glance which yesterday passed +between him and our sweet queen. I need not tell you to speak of your +hopes to none, but let them spur you to higher exertions and nobler +efforts. Loving my little Edith as I do, I naturally consider the prize +to be a high one. I have often been troubled by the thought that her +hand may be some day given to one by years or temper unsuited for her, +and it will be a pleasure to me henceforth to picture her future +connected with one who is, I am sure, by heart and nature fitted for +her. And now, farewell, young sir. May God protect you in the field, and +may you carry in the battle which awaits you the gage of my daughter as +fairly and successfully as you did in the mimic fray of yesterday!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<p class='center'>OFF TO THE WARS.</p> + + +<p>Two days later Walter started with Sir Walter Manny, with a large number +of knights, squires, men-at-arms, and archers, for the Orwell. Walter +was mounted, as were the other squires and men-at-arms, and indeed many +of the archers. Ralph Smith, in the attire of a man-at-arms, rode +behind.</p> + +<p>Walter was in the highest spirits. A brilliant career was open to him +under the most favorable circumstances; he had already distinguished +himself, and had gained the attention of the highest personages in the +realm, his immediate lord was one of the bravest and most chivalrous +knights in Europe, and he had to sustain and encourage him the hopes +that Lady Vernon had given him of regaining some day the patrimony of +his father. It was a satisfaction to him that he was as well born as +those who surrounded him, and his purse was as well lined as any in the +company. Although he had spent the largess which had been bestowed upon +him at the tournament in procuring clothes fitted for his rank, he was +yet abundantly supplied with money, for both Geoffrey Ward and Giles +Fletcher,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> having no children of their own and being both well-to-do +men, had insisted upon his accepting a sum which would enable him to +make a good appearance with the best.</p> + +<p>A large number of squires followed the banner of Sir Walter Manny. The +records of the time show that the barons were generally accompanied in +the field by almost as many squires as men-at-arms. The former were men +of good family, sons of knights and nobles, aspirants for the honor of +knighthood, and sons of the smaller gentry. Many were there from pure +love of a life of excitement and adventure, others in fulfillment of the +feudal tenure by which all land was then held, each noble and landowner +being obliged to furnish so many knights, squires, men-at-arms, and +archers, in accordance with the size of his holding. The squires fought +in the field in the front rank of the men-at-arms, save those who, like +Walter, were attached to the person of their leader, and who in the +field fought behind him or bore his orders to the companies under his +banner.</p> + +<p>In the field all drew pay, and it may be interesting in the present day +to know what were the rates for which our forefathers risked their +lives. They were as follows: Each horse archer received 6 deniers, each +squire 12 deniers or 1 sol, each knight 2 sols, each knight banneret 4 +sols; 20 sols went to the pound, and although the exact value of money +in those days relative to that which it bears at the present time is +doubtful, it may be placed at twelve<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> times the present value. Therefore +each horse archer received an equivalent to 6<i>s.</i> a day, each squire +12<i>s.</i>, each knight 24<i>s.</i>, and each knight banneret 48<i>s.</i> per day.</p> + +<p>Upon their arrival at the Orwell, where many troops from other parts had +been gathered, the expedition at once embarked on board the numerous +ships which had been collected. As that in which Sir Walter sailed also +carried several of his knights there was not room for all his young +esquires, and Walter and the three other juniors were told off into +another ship. She was a smaller vessel than most of those which composed +the expedition, and only carried twelve men-at-arms and as many archers, +together with the four young squires, and a knight, Sir John Powis, who +was in command of the whole.</p> + +<p>"Your craft is but a small one," the knight said to the captain.</p> + +<p>"She is small, but she is fast," the latter answered. "She would sail +round and round the best part of the fleet. I had her built according to +my own fancy. Small though she be, I warrant you she will be one of the +first to arrive at Hennebon, and the sooner the better say I, since I am +but paid by the trip, and would fain be back again at my regular work. +It pays better carrying merchants' goods between London and Holland than +taking his majesty's troops over to France."</p> + +<p>"Your speed will not be of much avail," Sir John Powis said, "seeing +that the fleet will keep together."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, I know that is the order," the captain answered; "but accidents +happen sometimes, you know"—and his eye twinkled. "Vessels get +separated from fleets. If they happen to be slow ones, so much the worse +for those on board; if they happen to be fast ones, so much the better, +seeing that those they carry will arrive long before their comrades, and +may be enabled to gain credit and renown while the others are whistling +for a wind in mid-ocean. However, we shall see."</p> + +<p>The next morning the fleet sailed from the Orwell. It contained 620 +men-at-arms, among whom were many of the noblest and bravest of the +country, and 6,000 picked archers in the pay of the king. The whole were +commanded by Sir Walter. The scene was a very gay one. The banners of +the nobles and knights floated from the lofty poops, and the sun shone +on bright armor and steel weapons. Walter, who had never seen the sea +before, was delighted. The wind was fair, and the vessels glided +smoothly along over the sea. At evening the knight and his four young +companions gathered in the little cabin, for it was in the first week in +March, and the night was cold.</p> + +<p>"Will you please tell me, Sir John," Walter said to the knight, "the +merits of this quarrel in which we are going to fight? I know that we +are going in aid of the Countess of Montford; but why she is in a sore +strait I know not."</p> + +<p>"The matter is a mixed one, Walter, and it requires a herald to tell you +all the subtleties of it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> John III., Duke of Brittany, was present with +his liege lord, Philip of Valois, in the last war with England, on the +border of the Low Country. When the English retired from before Tournay +Philip dismissed his nobles. The Duke of Burgundy was taken ill, and +died at Caen, in Normandy, on the 30th of April, 1341. Arthur II., his +father, had been twice married. By his first wife he had three sons, +John, Guy, and Peter. John and Peter left no issue. Guy, who is also +dead, left a daughter, Joan. By his second wife, Jolande de Dieux, Duke +Arthur had one son, John, Count of Montford. Thus it happened that when +Duke John died his half-brother, the Count of Montford, and Joan, +daughter of his second brother Guy, were all that survived of the +family. These were the rival claimants for the vacant dukedom. In +England we have but one law of succession, which rules through the whole +land. In France it is different. There the law of succession depends +entirely upon the custom of the county, dukedom, or lordship, which is +further affected both by the form of grant by which the territory was +conveyed to its first feudal possessors and by the mode in which the +province had been acquired by the kings of France. This is important, as +upon these circumstances alone it depended whether the son or the +granddaughter of Arthur II. should inherit the dukedom.</p> + +<p>"Joan claimed the duchy as the daughter of the elder brother. The Salic +law of France, which barred females from the right of succession, and +in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> virtue of which Philip of Valois succeeded to the throne instead of +King Edward, certainly did not obtain in Brittany. Duke John regarded +Joan as his heiress, and married her to Charles of Blois, nephew of the +King of France, thus strengthening her in her position; and he also +induced the provincial parliament of Brittany to acknowledge her husband +as his successor in the dukedom. Altogether it would seem that right is +upon Joan's side; but, on the other hand, the Count of Montford is the +son of Jolande, a great heiress in Brittany. He is an active and +energetic noble. The Bretons love not too close a connection with +France, and assuredly prefer to be ruled by a duke whom they regard as +one of themselves rather than by Charles of Blois, nephew of the French +king. Directly Duke John was dead the Count of Montford claimed the +inheritance. Assuming the title of duke he rode to Nantes, where the +citizens did him homage, and then proceeded to Limoges with a large +train of men-at-arms, and there took possession of the immense treasures +which the late duke had accumulated in the course of a long and tranquil +reign. With these sinews of war at his command he returned to Nantes, +where he had left his wife the countess, who was a sister of the Count +of Flanders. He immediately invited the nobility of Brittany to a grand +banquet, but only one knight of any renown presented himself at the +feast, the rest all holding aloof. With the wealth of which he had +possessed himself he levied large forces and took the field. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> first +marched against Brest, where the garrison, commanded by Walter de +Clisson, refused to acknowledge him. After three days' hard fighting the +place was taken. Rennes was next besieged, and presently surrendered. +Other towns fell into his hands, and so far as Brittany was concerned +all opposition, except in one or two fortresses, ceased. In the mean +while Charles of Blois sought assistance from his uncle the King of +France; the Count de Montford, therefore, crossed to England and +besought the aid of King Edward, and did homage to him as King of +France. Edward, on his part, promised to assist him. The fact that +Philip was sure to espouse the opposite side was in itself sufficient to +decide him; besides which, the dukes of Brittany have always been in a +special way connected with England and bear the English title of Earl of +Richmond.</p> + +<p>"Believing that his journey, which had been a secret one, was unknown to +the King of France, De Montford went boldly to Paris, where he had been +summoned by the king to an assembly of peers called to decide upon the +succession. He found, however, that Philip had already obtained news of +his journey to England. His manner convinced De Montford that it was +unsafe to remain in Paris, and he secretly made his escape. Fifteen days +afterward the peers gave judgment in favor of Charles of Blois. The +Dukes of Normandy, Burgundy, and Bourbon, the Counts of Alençon, Eu, and +Guisnes, and many other French nobles, prepared to lead an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> army into +the field to support Charles, and the king added a body of 3,000 Genoese +mercenaries in his pay.</p> + +<p>"Knowing the storm that was preparing to break upon him, De Montford put +every town and castle in a state of defense. He himself, confiding in +the affection of the inhabitants of Nantes, remained in that city, while +his wife repaired to Rennes.</p> + +<p>"The Duke of Normandy advanced from Angiers with an army of 5,000 +men-at-arms and a numerous infantry, and after capturing the castle of +Chantoceaux marched to Nantes and laid siege to the city. A sortie was +made by the besieged, led by Henry de Leon, but, being attacked by the +whole of the French army, they were driven back into the town, a great +many of the citizens being killed. A warm altercation took place between +Henry de Leon and De Montford, who attributed to him the evil result of +the sortie. The result was that a large number of the citizens whose +friends had been captured by the French conspired to deliver up the +place to Charles of Blois, and Henry de Leon also entered into private +negotiations with the Duke of Normandy. De Montford, finding that he +could rely neither upon the citizens nor the soldiers, surrendered to +the duke on condition that his life was spared. He was sent to Paris, +where he still remains a prisoner. Winter was coming on, and after +putting Nantes in a fresh state of defense and leaving Charles of Blois +there, the Duke of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> Normandy dismissed his forces, engaging them to +reassemble in the spring. Had he pushed on at once he would have +experienced no resistance, so great was the panic which the surrender of +Nantes and the capture of De Montford had caused among the latter's +partisans.</p> + +<p>"In Rennes especially the deepest despondency was felt. The countess, +however, showed the greatest courage and firmness. Showing herself, with +her infant in her arms, she appealed to the citizens, and by her +courageous bearing inspired them with new hopes. Having restored heart +at Rennes she traveled from garrison to garrison throughout the +province, and filled all with vigor and resolution. Feeling, however, +the hopelessness of her struggle against all France, she dispatched Sir +Almeric de Clisson, who had lately joined her party, to England, to ask +the aid which the king had promised. He arrived a month since, and, as +you see, our brave king has not been long in dispatching us to her aid; +and now, youngsters, to bed, for methinks that the sea is rougher than +it was and that the wind is getting up."</p> + +<p>"Ay, that is it," the captain, who heard the knight's closing words, +exclaimed. "We are in for a storm, and a heavy one, or my name is not +Timothy Martin, and though with plenty of sea-room the Kitty makes not +much ado about a storm more or less, it's a very different thing in the +middle of a fleet of lubberly craft, which may run one down at any time. +I shall edge out of them as soon as I can, you may be sure."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span></p> + +<p>Before morning a serious gale was blowing, and for the next three or +four days Walter and his companions knew nothing of what was going on. +Then the storm abated, and they staggered out from their cabin. The sea +was still high, but the sun shone brightly overhead. In front of them +the land was visible. They looked round, but to their astonishment not a +sail was in sight.</p> + +<p>"Why, where is the fleet?" Walter exclaimed in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Snug in the Thames, I reckon," the captain said. "Soon after the storm +came on one of the sailors pretended he saw the lights of recall on the +admiral's ship; but I was too busy to look that way; I had enough to do +to look after the safety of the ship. Anyhow, I saw no more of them."</p> + +<p>"And what land is that ahead?" Walter asked.</p> + +<p>"That is Brittany, young sir, and before nightfall we shall be in the +port of Hennebon; as to the others, it may be days and it may be weeks +before they arrive."</p> + +<p>The lads were not sorry at the chance which had taken them to their +destination before their companions and had given them a chance of +distinguishing themselves. Late in the afternoon the ship dropped anchor +off the castle of Hennebon, and Sir John Powis and his following were +conveyed in the ship's boats to shore. The countess received them most +graciously, and was delighted at the news that so strong a force was on +its way to her aid.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span></p> + +<p>"In the absence of Sir Walter Manny, madam, I place myself and my men at +your orders. Our horses will be landed the first thing in the morning, +and we will then ride whithersoever you may bid us."</p> + +<p>"Thanks, Sir John," the countess replied. "In that case I would that you +ride by Rennes, toward which the army of the Duke of Normandy is already +advancing. The garrison there is commanded by Sir William of Caddoudal, +a good and valiant knight."</p> + +<p>The horses were landed on the following morning, and accompanied by the +four young squires and the men-at-arms, and followed by the twenty +archers on foot, Sir John Powis set out for Rennes. They arrived there, +but just in time, for the assailants were closing round the city. They +were received with the greatest cordiality by the governor, who assigned +apartments to Sir John and the squires, and lodged the men-at-arms and +archers near them.</p> + +<p>In a day or two the whole of the French army came up, and the siege +commenced. Sir John Powis, his own request, was posted with his men for +the defense of a portion of the wall which was especially open to the +assaults of the enemy. These soon commenced in earnest, and the Genoese +and Spanish mercenaries endeavored to carry the place by assault. +Sometimes one point would be attacked, at others points far distant. +Covered by the fire of the French cross-bowmen, the Spaniards and +Germans came on to the assault, carrying ladders,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> with which they +strove to climb the walls, but the defenders plied them so vigorously +with quarrels from their cross-bows and flights of arrows that they +frequently desisted before reaching the walls. When they pushed on, and +strove to ascend, their luck was no better. Great stones were hurled +down, and boiling oil poured upon them. The ladders were flung back, and +many crushed by the fall, and in none of the assaults did they gain any +footing in the town. Machines were used, but these were not sufficiently +powerful to batter down the walls, and at the end of April the city was +as far from being captured as it was on the day of the commencement of +the siege.</p> + +<p>Walter bore his full share in the fighting, but he had no opportunity of +especially distinguishing himself, although Sir John several times +commended him for his coolness when the bolts of the cross-bowmen and +the stones from the machines were flying most thickly. But although as +yet uninjured by the enemy's attacks, the prospect of the city holding +out was not bright. The burghers, who had at first fought valiantly, +were soon wearied of the strife, and of the hardships it entailed upon +them. The siege had continued but a short time when they began to murmur +loudly. The force under the command of the governor was but a small one, +and it would have been impossible for him to resist the will of the +whole population. For a time his exhortations and entreaties were +attended with success, and the burghers returned to their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> positions on +the walls; but each time the difficulty became greater, and it was clear +to Caddoudal and Sir John Powis that ere long the citizens would +surrender the place in spite of them. The English knight was furious at +the cowardliness of the citizens, and proposed to the governor to summon +twenty of the leading burghers, and to hang them as a lesson to the +others; but the governor shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I have but two hundred men on whom I can rely, including your +following, Sir John. We could not keep down the inhabitants for an hour; +and were we to try to do so, they would open the gates and let in the +French. No; I fear that we must await the end."</p> + +<p>The following morning Sir John was awoke with the news that in the night +Caddoudal had been seized and thrown into prison by the burghers, and +that a deputation of citizens had already gone out through the gate to +treat with the Duke of Normandy for the surrender of the city.</p> + +<p>The English knight was furious, but with his little band he could do +nothing, especially as he found that a strong guard of burghers had been +placed at the door of the apartments occupied by him and the esquires, +and he was informed that he must consider himself a prisoner until the +conclusion of the negotiations.</p> + +<p>Cowardly and faithless as the burghers of Rennes showed themselves to +be, they nevertheless stipulated with the Duke of Normandy, as one of +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> conditions of the surrender, that Caddoudal, Sir John Powis, and +the troops under them should be permitted to pass through the French +lines and go whithersoever they would. These terms were accepted. At +mid-day the governor was released, and he with his men-at-arms and the +band of Englishmen filed out from the city gate, and took their way +unmolested through the lines of the French army to Hennebon.</p> + +<p>They had been for a month in ignorance of all that had passed outside +the walls, and had from day to day been eagerly looking for the arrival +of Sir Walter Manny with his army to their relief. Once past the French +lines they inquired of the peasantry, and heard to their surprise that +the English fleet had not yet arrived.</p> + +<p>"We were in luck indeed," Walter said to his companions, "that Captain +Timothy Martin was in a hurry to get back to his tradings with the +Flemings. Had he not been so we should all this time have been kicking +our heels and fretting on board a ship."</p> + +<p>On nearing Hennebon, Sir William Caddoudal, with Sir John Powis and the +squires, rode forward and met the countess. They were the first bearers +of the news of the surrender of Rennes, and the countess was filled with +consternation at the intelligence. However, after her first burst of +indignation and regret had passed, she put a brave face on it.</p> + +<p>"They shall meet with another reception at Hen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span>nebon," she said. "This +is but a small place, and my garrison here, and the soldiers you have +brought, will well-nigh outnumber the burghers; and we need have no fear +of such faint-heartedness as that which has given Nantes and Rennes into +the hands of my enemy. The English aid cannot tarry long. Until it come +we can assuredly hold the place."</p> + +<p>All was now bustle in Hennebon. Sir John Powis took charge of a part of +the walls, and busied himself with his men in placing the machines in +position, and in preparing for defense. The countess, attired in armor, +rode through the streets haranguing the townspeople. She urged the men +to fight till the last, and bade the women and girls cut short their +dresses so that they could the better climb the steps to the top of the +walls, and that one and all should carry up stones, chalk, and baskets +of lime to be cast down upon the assailants. Animated by her words and +gestures, the townspeople set to work, and all vied with each other, +from the oldest to the youngest, in carrying up stores of missiles to +the walls. Never did Hennebon present such a scene of life and bustle. +It seemed like an ant-hill which a passer-by has disturbed.</p> + +<p>Absorbed in their work, none had time to think of the dangers which +threatened them, and a stranger would rather have thought from their +cheerful and animated countenances that they were preparing for a great +<i>fête</i> than for a siege by an army to which the two chief towns in +Brittany had succumbed.</p> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus004.jpg" alt="hennebon"/> <br /> +<span class="smcap">The Citizens Prepare to Defend Hennebon.</span>—Page +140.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span>Ere long the French army was seen approaching. The soldiers, who had +been laboring with the rest, buckled on their armor. The citizens +gathered on the walls to hurl down the piles of stones which had been +collected, and all prepared for the assault.</p> + +<p>"Sir John Powis," the countess said, "I pray you to grant me one of your +esquires, who may attend me while I ride about, and may bear my messages +for me. He will not be idle, nor will he escape his share of the +dangers; for, believe me, I do not intend to hide myself while you and +your brave soldiers are fighting for me."</p> + +<p>"Willingly, lady," Sir John answered. "Here is Walter Somers, the son of +a good knight, and himself brave and prudent beyond his years; he will, +I am sure, gladly devote himself to your service."</p> + +<p>The French, encouraged by their successes, thought that it would be a +comparatively easy task to capture so small a place as Hennebon, and as +soon as their camp was pitched they moved forward to the attack.</p> + +<p>"Come with me, Master Somers," the countess said. "I will mount to one +of the watch-towers, where we may see all that passes."</p> + +<p>Walter followed her, and marveled to see the lightness and agility with +which the heroic countess, although clad in armor, mounted the rickety +ladders to the summit of the watch-tower. The French were pressing +forward to the assault; their cross-bowmen opened a heavy fire upon the +walls, which was answered by the shafts of the little party<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> of English +bowmen. These did much execution, for the English archers shot far +harder and straighter than those of France, and it was only the best +armor which could keep out their cloth-yard shafts. So small a body, +however, could not check the advance of so large a force, and the French +swarmed up to the very foot of the walls.</p> + +<p>"Well done, my men!" the countess exclaimed, clapping her hands as a +shower of heavy rocks fell among the mass of the assailants, who were +striving to plant their ladders, crushing many in their fall; "but you +are not looking, Master Somers. What is it that you see in yonder camp +to withdraw your attention from such a fight?"</p> + +<p>"I am thinking, countess, that the French have left their camp +altogether unguarded, and that if a body of horse could make a circuit +and fall upon it, the camp, with all its stores, might be destroyed +before they could get back to save it."</p> + +<p>"You are right, young sir," the countess exclaimed, "and it shall be +done forthwith."</p> + +<p>So saying, she descended the stairs rapidly and mounted her horse, which +stood at the foot of the tower; then riding through the town, she +collected a party of about three hundred men, bidding all she met mount +their horses and join her at the gate on the opposite side to that on +which the assault was taking place. Such as had no horses she ordered to +take them from those in her own stables. Walter was mounted on one of +the best of the count's chargers. Immediately the force was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> collected, +the gate was opened and the countess rode forth at their head. Making a +considerable <i>détour</i>, the party rode without being observed into the +rear of the French camp. Here only a few servants and horse-boys were +found; these were at once killed or driven out; then all dismounting, +set fire to the tents and stores; and ere the French were aware of what +was going on, the whole of their camp was in flames. As soon as the +conflagration was perceived, the French commanders drew off their men +from the attack, and all ran at full speed toward the camp.</p> + +<p>"We cannot regain the town," the countess said; "we will ride to Auray +at full speed, and reënter the castle when best we may."</p> + +<p>Don Louis of Spain, who with a considerable following was fighting in +the French ranks, hearing from the flying camp-followers that the +countess herself was at the head of the party which had destroyed the +camp, instantly mounted, and with a large number of horsemen set off in +hot pursuit. A few of the countess' party who were badly mounted were +overtaken and slain, but the rest arrived safely at Auray, when the +gates were shut in the face of their pursuers.</p> + +<p>The blow was a heavy one for the besiegers, but they at once proceeded +to build huts, showing that they had no intention of relinquishing the +siege. Spies were sent from Auray, and these reported that the new camp +was established on the site of the old one, and that the French +evidently intended<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> to renew the attack upon the side on which they had +first commenced, leaving the other side almost unwatched.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, on the fifth day after leaving the town the countess +prepared to return. Except Walter, none were informed of her intention, +as she feared that news might be taken to the French camp by friends of +Charles of Blois; but as soon as it was nightfall, and the gates were +shut, the trumpet sounded to horse. In a few minutes the troop assembled +in the market-place, and the countess, accompanied by Walter, placing +herself at their head, rode out from the town. The strictest silence was +observed. On nearing the town all were directed to dismount, to tear up +the horse-cloths, and to muffle the feet of their horses. Then the +journey was resumed, and so careless was the watch kept by the French +that they passed through the sentries unobserved, and reached in safety +the gate from which they had issued. As they neared it they were +challenged from the walls, and a shout of joy was heard when Walter +replied that the countess herself was present. The gates were opened and +the party entered. The news of their return rapidly ran through the +town, and the inhabitants, hastily attiring themselves, ran into the +streets, filled with joy. Much depression had been felt during her +absence, and few had entertained hopes that she would be able to reënter +the town. She had brought with her from Auray two hundred men, in +addition to the party that had sallied out.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<p class='center'>THE SIEGE OF HENNEBON.</p> + + +<p>The besiegers of Hennebon were greatly discouraged at the success of the +enterprise of the countess. They had already attempted several desperate +assaults, but had each time been repulsed with very heavy loss. They now +sent to Rennes for twelve of the immense machines used in battering +walls, which had been left behind there on a false report of the +weakness of Hennebon. Pending the arrival of these, Charles of Blois +with one division of the army marched away to attack Auray, leaving Don +Louis to carry on the siege with a force considered amply sufficient to +compel its surrender after the arrival of the battering machines.</p> + +<p>In a few days these arrived and were speedily set to work, and immense +masses of stone were hurled at the walls.</p> + +<p>Walter continued to act as the countess' especial squire. She had +informed Sir William Caddoudal and Sir John Powis that it was at his +suggestion that she had made the sudden attack upon the French camp, and +he had gained great credit thereby.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p> + +<p>The effect of the new machines was speedily visible. The walls crumbled +under the tremendous blows, and although the archers harassed by their +arrows the men working them, the French speedily erected screens which +sheltered them from their fire. The spirits of the defenders began to +sink rapidly, as they saw that in a very short time great breaches would +be made in the walls, and that all the horrors and disasters of a city +taken by assault awaited them. The Bishop of Quimper, who was within the +walls, entered into secret negotiations with his nephew, Henry de Leon, +who had gone over to the enemy after the surrender of Nantes, and was +now with the besieging army. The besiegers, delighted to find an ally +within the walls who might save them from the heavy losses which an +assault would entail upon them, at once embraced his offers, and +promised him a large recompense if he would bring over the other +commanders and nobles. The wily bishop set to work, and the consequences +were soon visible. Open grumbling broke forth at the hardships which +were endured, and at the prospect of the wholesale slaughter which would +attend a storm when all hope of a successful resistance was at an end.</p> + +<p>"I fear, Walter," Sir John said one morning, "that the end is at hand. +On all sides submission is spoken of, and all that I can say to keep up +their spirits is useless. Upon our own little band we can rely, but I +doubt if outside them a single determined man is to be found in the +town. In vain do<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> I speak of the arrival of Sir Walter Manny. Nearly +ninety days have elapsed since we sailed, and all hope of his coming is +gone. I point out to them that contrary winds have been blowing, and +that at any moment he may arrive; but they will not hear me. The bishop +has gained over the whole of them by his promises that none shall be +molested in property or estate should they surrender."</p> + +<p>"It is sad to see the countess," Walter replied; "she who has shown such +high spirit throughout the siege now does nothing but weep, for she +knows that with her and her child in the hands of the French the cause +of the count is lost. If she could carry off the child by sea she would +not so much care for the fall of the town, but the French ships lie +thick round the port, and there is no hope of breaking through."</p> + +<p>Two days later the conspiracy came to a head, and the people, assembling +round the countess' house, clamored for surrender. The breaches were +open and the enemy might pour in at any time and put all to the sword. +The countess begged for a little further delay, but in vain, and +withdrew to the turret where she had for so many weary weeks watched the +horizon, in hopes of seeing the sails of the approaching fleet. Walter +was at the time with Sir John Powis on the walls. Presently a large body +of French were seen approaching headed by Henry de Leon, who summoned +the town to surrender. Many standing on the walls shouted that the gates +should be thrown open; but Sir John re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span>turned for answer that he must +consult the countess, and that upon her answer must depend whether he +and his men would defend the breach until the last.</p> + +<p>"Come with me, Walter," he said, "we must fain persuade the countess. If +she says no, we Englishmen will die in the breach; but though ready to +give my life for so brave a lady, I own that it is useless to fight +longer. Save our own little band not one in the town will lift a sword +again. Such resistance as we can offer will but inflame them to fury, +and all the horrors of a sack will be inflicted upon the inhabitants. +There she is, poor lady, on the turret, gazing, as usual, seaward."</p> + +<p>Suddenly they saw her throw up her arms, and then turning toward the +city she cried as she perceived the English knight, "I see them! I see +them! The English fleet are coming!"</p> + +<p>"Run up, Walter," Sir John exclaimed, "maybe the countess is distraught +with her sorrows."</p> + +<p>Walter dashed up to the turret, and looking seaward beheld rising over +the horizon a number of masts.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah! Sir John," he shouted, "we are saved, the English fleet is in +sight."</p> + +<p>Many others heard the shout, and the tidings ran like lightning through +the town. In wild excitement the people ran to the battlements and +roofs, and with cheering and clapping of hands hailed the appearance of +the still far-distant fleet. The church bells rang out joyfully and the +whole town was wild with excitement.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Bishop of Quimper, finding that his plans were frustrated, gathered +around him some of those who had taken a leading part in the intrigue. +These, leaving the city by a gate at which they had placed some of their +own faction to open it to the French, issued out and made their way to +the assailants' camp, to give news of the altered situation. Don Louis +at once ordered an attack to be made with his whole force, in hopes of +capturing the place before the arrival of the English succor. But, +animated by their new hopes, those so lately despondent and ready to +yield manned the breaches and repulsed with great slaughter all attempts +on the part of the French to carry them. While the struggle was still +going on, the countess, aided by the wives of the burghers, busied +herself in preparing a sumptuous feast in honor of her deliverers who +were fast approaching, their ships impelled by a strong and favorable +breeze. The vessels of the French hastily drew off, and the English +fleet sailed into the port hailed by the cheers of the inhabitants. The +countess herself received Sir Walter Manny on his landing, and the +townspeople vied with each other in offering hospitality to the +men-at-arms and archers.</p> + +<p>"Ah! Sir John Powis," Sir Walter exclaimed, "what, are you here? I had +given you up for lost. We thought you had gone down in the gale the +night you started."</p> + +<p>"We were separated from the fleet, Sir Walter, but the master held on, +and we arrived here four<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> days after we put out. We took part in the +siege of Rennes, and have since done our best to aid the countess here."</p> + +<p>"And their best has been much," the countess said; "not to say how +bravely they have fought upon the walls, it is to Sir John and his +little band that I owe it that the town was not surrendered days ago. +They alone remained steadfast when all others fell away, and it is due +to them that I am still able, as mistress of this town, to greet you on +your arrival. Next to Sir John himself, my thanks are due to your young +esquire, Walter Somers, who has cheered and stood by me, and to whose +suggestions I owe it that I was able at the first to sally out and +destroy the French camp while they were attacking the walls, and so +greatly hindered their measures against the town. And now, sir, will you +follow me? I have prepared for you and your knights such a banquet of +welcome as our poor means will allow, and my townspeople will see that +good fare is set before your soldiers."</p> + +<p>That evening there was high feasting in the town, although the crash of +the heavy stones cast by the French machines against the walls never +ceased. Early the next morning Sir Walter Manny made a survey of the +place and of the disposition of the enemy, and proposed to his knights +to sally forth at once and destroy the largest of the enemy's machines, +which had been brought up close to the walls. In a few minutes the +knights were armed and mounted. Three hundred knights and esquires<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> were +to take part in the sortie; they were to be followed by a strong body of +men-at-arms.</p> + +<p>As soon as the gates were opened a number of archers issued out, and +taking their place at the edge of the moat, poured a rain of arrows upon +the men working the machine and those guarding it. Most of these took to +flight at once; the remainder were cut down by the men-at-arms, who at +once proceeded to hew the machine in pieces with the axes with which +they were provided. Sir Walter himself and his mounted companions dashed +forward to the nearer tents of the French camps, cut down all who +opposed them, and setting fire to the huts retired toward the city.</p> + +<p>By this time the French were thoroughly alarmed, and numbers of knights +and men-at-arms dashed after the little body of English cavalry. These +could have regained the place in safety, but in the chivalrous spirit of +the time they disdained to retire without striking a blow. Turning their +horses, therefore, and laying their lances in rest, they charged the +pursuing French.</p> + +<p>For a few minutes the conflict was desperate and many on both sides were +overthrown; then, as large reënforcements were continually arriving to +the French, Sir Walter called off his men and retired slowly. On +reaching the moat he halted his forces. The knights wheeled and +presented a firm face to the enemy, covering the entrance of their +followers into the gate. The French chivalry thundered down upon the +little body, but were met by a storm of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> arrows from the archers lining +the moat. Many knights were struck through the bars of their vizors or +the joints of their mail. The horses, though defended by iron trappings, +fell dead under them, or, maddened by pain, dashed wildly through the +ranks, carrying confusion with them, and the French commanders, seeing +how heavy were their losses, called off their men from the assault. Sir +Walter Manny with his party remained without the gate until the enemy +had reëntered their camp, and then rode into the town amid the +acclamations of the inhabitants, the countess herself meeting her +deliverers at the gate and kissing each, one after the other, in token +of her gratitude and admiration.</p> + +<p>The arrival of the reënforcements and the proof of skill and vigor given +by the English leader, together with the terror caused by the terrible +effect of the English arrows, shook the resolution of Don Louis and his +troops. Deprived of half their force by the absence of Charles of Blois, +it was thought prudent by the leaders to withdraw at once, and the third +morning after the arrival of Sir Walter Manny the siege was raised, and +the French marched to join Charles of Blois before the castle of Auray.</p> + +<p>Even with the reënforcements brought by Sir Walter Manny, the forces of +the Countess of Montford were still so greatly inferior to those of the +divisions of the French army that they could not hope to cope with them +in the field until the arrival of the main English army, which the King +of Eng<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span>land himself was to bring over shortly. Accordingly the French +laid siege to and captured many small towns and castles. Charles of +Blois continued the siege of Auray, and directed Don Louis with his +division to attack the town of Dinan. On his way the Spaniard captured +the small fortress of Conquet and put the garrison to the sword. Sir +Walter Manny, in spite of the inferiority of his force, sallied out to +relieve it, but it was taken before his arrival, and Don Louis had +marched away to Dinan, leaving a small garrison in Conquet. It was again +captured by Sir Walter, but finding it indefensible he returned with the +whole of his force to Hennebon. Don Louis captured Dinan and then +besieged Guerande. Here he met with a vigorous resistance, but carried +it by storm, and gave it up to be pillaged by his soldiers. He now sent +back to Charles of Blois the greater part of the French troops who +accompanied him, and embarked with the Genoese and Spanish, 8,000 in +number, and sailed to Quimperlé, a rich and populous town in Lower +Brittany.</p> + +<p>Anchoring in the River Leita he disembarked his troops, and leaving a +guard to protect the vessels marched to the interior, plundering and +burning, and from time to time dispatching his booty to swell the +immense mass which he brought in his ships from the sack of Guerande.</p> + +<p>Quimperlé lies but a short distance from Hennebon, and Sir Walter Manny +with Almeric de Clisson, a number of English knights, and a body of +English archers, in all three thousand men, embarked in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> ships in +the port, and entering the Leita captured the enemy's fleet and all his +treasure. The English then landed, and dividing into three bodies, set +out in search of the enemy.</p> + +<p>The English columns marched at a short distance apart so as to be able +to give each other assistance in case of attack. The news of the English +approach soon reached the Spaniards, who were gathered in a solid body, +for the enraged country people, armed with clubs and bills, hung on +their flanks and cut off any stragglers who left the main body. Don +Louis at once moved toward the sea-coast, and coming in sight of one of +the English divisions, charged it with his whole force.</p> + +<p>The English fought desperately, but the odds of seven to one were too +great, and they would have been overpowered had not the other two +divisions arrived on the spot and fallen upon the enemy's flanks. After +a severe and prolonged struggle the Genoese and Spaniards were +completely routed. The armed peasantry slew every fugitive they could +overtake, and of the 7,000 men with whom Don Louis commenced the battle +only 300 accompanied him in his flight to Rennes, the troops of Sir +Walter and De Clisson pursuing him to the very gates of that city. Sir +Walter marched back with his force to the ships, but finding the wind +unfavorable returned to Hennebon by land, capturing by the way the +castle of Goy la Forèt. Their return was joyfully welcomed, not only for +the victory which they had achieved, but because the enemy was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> again +drawing near to the town. Auray had fallen. The brave garrison, after +existing for some time upon the flesh of their horses, had endeavored to +cut their way through the besiegers. Most of them were killed in the +attempt, but a few escaped and made their way to Hennebon.</p> + +<p>Vannes, an important town, and Carhaix quickly surrendered, and the +French force was daily receiving considerable reënforcements. This arose +from the fact that large numbers of French nobles and knights had, with +their followers, taken part with Alfonso, King of Castile and Leon, in +his war with the Moors. This had just terminated with the expulsion of +the latter from Spain, and the French knights and nobles on their way +home for the most part joined at once in the war which their countrymen +were waging in Bretagne.</p> + +<p>Seeing the great force which was gathering for a fresh siege of +Hennebon, Sir Walter Manny and the Countess of Montford sent an urgent +message to King Edward for further support. The king was not yet ready, +but at the beginning of August he dispatched a force under the command +of the Earl of Northampton and Robert of Artois. It consisted of +twenty-seven knights bannerets and 2,000 men-at-arms. Before, however, +it could reach Hennebon the second siege of that city had begun. Charles +of Blois had approached it with a far larger army than that with which +he had on the first occasion sat down before it. Hennebon was, however, +much better prepared than at first for resist<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span>ance. The walls had been +repaired, provisions and military stores laid up, and machines +constructed. The garrison was very much larger, and was commanded by one +of the most gallant knights of the age, and the citizens beheld +undaunted the approach of the great French army.</p> + +<p>Four days after the French had arrived before Hennebon they were joined +by Don Louis, who had been severely wounded in the fight near Quimperlé, +and had lain for six weeks at Rennes. Sixteen great engines at once +began to cast stones against the walls, but Sir Walter caused sand-bags +to be lowered, and so protected the walls from the attack that little +damage was done. The garrison, confident in their powers to resist, +taunted the assailants from the walls, and specially enraged the +Spaniards and Don Louis by allusions to the defeat at Quimperlé.</p> + +<p>So furious did the Spanish prince become that he took a step +unprecedented in those days of chivalry. He one morning entered the tent +of Charles of Blois, where a number of French nobles were gathered, and +demanded a boon in requital of all his services. Charles at once +assented, when, to his surprise and horror, Prince Louis demanded that +two English knights, Sir John Butler and Sir Hubert Frisnoy, who had +been captured in the course of the campaign and were kept prisoners at +Faouet, should be delivered to him to be executed. "These English," he +said, "have pursued, discomforted, and wounded me, and have killed the +nephew<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> whom I loved so well, and as I have none other mode of vengeance +I will cut off their heads before their companions who lie within those +walls."</p> + +<p>Charles of Blois and his nobles were struck with amazement and horror at +the demand, and used every means in their power to turn the savage +prince from his purpose, but in vain. They pointed out to him that his +name would be dishonored in all countries where the laws of chivalry +prevailed by such a deed, and besought him to choose some other boon. +Don Louis refused to yield, and Charles of Blois, finding no alternative +between breaking his promise and delivering his prisoners, at last +agreed to his request.</p> + +<p>The prisoners were sent for, and were informed by Don Louis himself of +their approaching end. At first they could not believe that he was in +earnest, for such a proceeding was so utterly opposed to the spirit of +the times that it seemed impossible to them. Finding that he was in +earnest they warned him of the eternal stain which such a deed would +bring upon his name. The Spaniard, however, was unmoved either by their +words or by the entreaties of the French nobles, but told them that he +would give them a few hours to prepare for death, and that they should +be executed in sight of the walls after the usual dinner hour of the +army.</p> + +<p>In those days sieges were not conducted in the strict manner in which +they are at present, and non-combatants passed without difficulty to and +fro between town and camp. The news, therefore, of what<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> was intended +speedily reached the garrison, whom it filled with indignation and +horror. A council was immediately called, and Sir Walter Manny proposed +a plan, which was instantly adopted.</p> + +<p>Without loss of time Almeric de Clisson issued forth from the great gate +of Hennebon, accompanied by 300 men-at-arms and 1,000 archers. The +latter took post at once along the edge of the ditches. The men-at-arms +rode straight for the enemy's camp, which was undefended, the whole army +being within their tents at dinner. Dashing into their midst the English +and Breton men-at-arms began to overthrow the tents and to spear all +that were in them. Not knowing the extent of the danger or the smallness +of the attacking force, the French knights sprang up from table, +mounted, and rode to encounter the assailants.</p> + +<p>For some time these maintained their ground against all assaults until, +finding that the whole army was upon them, Almeric de Clisson gave order +for his troop to retire slowly upon the town. Fighting every step of the +ground and resisting obstinately the repeated onslaught of the French, +Clisson approached the gate. Here he was joined by the archers, who with +bent bows prepared to resist the advance of the French. As it now +appeared that the garrison were prepared to give battle outside the +walls, the whole French army prepared to move against them.</p> + +<p>In the mean time Sir Walter Manny, with 100 men-at-arms and 500 horse +archers, issued by a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> sally-port on the other side of the town, and with +all speed rode round to the rear of the French camp. There he found none +to oppose him save servants and camp-followers, and making his way +straight to the tent of Charles of Blois, where the two knights were +confined, he soon freed them from their bonds. They were mounted without +wasting a moment's time upon two spare horses, and turning again the +whole party rode back toward Hennebon, and had reached the postern gate +before the fugitives from the camp reached the French commanders and +told them what had happened.</p> + +<p>Seeing that he was now too late, because of De Clisson's sortie, Charles +of Blois recalled his army from the attack, in which he could only have +suffered heavily from the arrows of the archers and the missiles from +the walls. The same day, he learned from some prisoners captured in the +sortie, of the undiminished spirit of the garrison, and that Hennebon +was amply supplied by provisions brought by sea. His own army was +becoming straitened by the scarcity of supplies in the country round; he +therefore determined at once to raise the siege, and to besiege some +place where he would encounter less serious resistance.</p> + +<p>Accordingly next morning he drew off his army and marched to Carhaix.</p> + +<p>Shortly afterward the news came that the Earl of Northampton and Robert +of Artois, with their force, had sailed, and Don Louis, with the Genoese +and other Italian mercenaries, started to intercept<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> them with a large +fleet. The fleets met off the island of Guernsey, and a severe +engagement took place, which lasted till night. During the darkness a +tremendous storm burst upon them and the combatants separated. The +English succeeded in making their way to Brittany and landed near +Vannes. The Spaniards captured four small ships which had been separated +in the storm from their consorts, but did not succeed in regaining the +coast of Brittany, being driven south by the storm as far as Spain. The +Earl of Northampton at once laid siege to Vannes, and Sir Walter Manny +moved with every man that could be spared from Hennebon to assist him.</p> + +<p>As it was certain that the French army would press forward with all +speed to relieve the town, it was decided to lose no time in battering +the walls, but to attempt to carry it at once by assault. The walls, +however, were so strong that there seemed little prospect of success +attending such an attempt, and a plan was therefore determined upon by +which the enemy might be thrown off their guard. The assault commenced +at three points in the early morning and was continued all day. No great +vigor, however, was shown in these attempts, which were repulsed at all +points.</p> + +<p>At nightfall the assailants drew off to their camp, and Oliver de +Clisson, who commanded the town, suffered his weary troops to quit the +walls and to seek for refreshment and repose. The assailants, however, +did not disarm, but after a sufficient time<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> had elapsed to allow the +garrison to lay aside their armor two strong parties attacked the +principal gates of the town, while Sir Walter Manny and the Earl of +Oxford moved round to the opposite side with ladders for an escalade. +The plan was successful. The garrison, snatching up their arms, hurried +to repel their attack upon the gates, every man hastening in that +direction. Sir Walter Manny with his party were therefore enabled to +mount the walls unobserved and make their way into the town; here they +fell upon the defenders in the rear, and the sudden onslaught spread +confusion and terror among them. The parties at the gates forced their +way in and joined their friends, and the whole of the garrison were +killed or taken prisoners, save a few, including Oliver Clisson, who +made their escape by sally-ports. Robert of Artois, with the Earl of +Stafford, was left with a garrison to hold the town. The Earl of +Salisbury, with four thousand men, proceeded to lay siege to Rennes, and +Sir Walter Manny hastened back to Hennebon.</p> + +<p>Some of Sir Walter's men formed part of the garrison of Vannes, and +among these was Sir John Powis with a hundred men-at-arms.</p> + +<p>The knight had been so pleased with Walter's coolness and courage at the +siege at Hennebon that he requested Sir Walter to leave him with him at +Vannes. "It is possible," he said to Walter, "that we may have fighting +here. Methinks that Sir Walter would have done better to leave a +stronger force. The town is a large one, and the inhabitants<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> +ill-disposed toward us. Oliver Clisson and the French nobles will feel +their honor wounded at the way in which we outwitted them, and will +likely enough make an effort to regain the town. However, Rennes and +Hennebon are not far away, and we may look for speedy aid from the Earl +of Salisbury and Sir Walter should occasion arise."</p> + +<p>Sir John's previsions were speedily verified. Oliver Clisson and his +friends were determined to wipe out their defeat and scattered through +the country, raising volunteers from among the soldiery in all the +neighboring towns and castles, and a month after Vannes was taken they +suddenly appeared before the town with an army of 12,000 men, commanded +by Beaumanoir, Marshal of Bretagne for Charles of Blois. The same +reasons which had induced the Earl of Northampton to decide upon a +speedy assault instead of the slow process of breaching the walls, +actuated the French in pursuing the same course, and, divided into a +number of storming parties, the army advanced at once to the assault on +the walls. The little garrison prepared for the defense.</p> + +<p>"The outlook is bad, Walter," Sir John Powis said. "These men approach +with an air of resolution which shows that they are bent upon success. +They outnumber us by twelve to one, and it is likely enough that the +citizens may rise and attack us in the rear. They have been ordered to +bring the stones for the machines to the walls, but not one has laid his +hand to the work. We must do<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> our duty as brave men, my lad, but I doubt +me if yonder is not the last sun which we shall see. Furious as the +French are at our recent success here, you may be sure that little +quarter will be given."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<p class='center'>A PLACE OF REFUGE.</p> + + +<p>The French, excited to the utmost by the exhortations of their +commanders, and by their desire to wipe out the disgrace of the easy +capture of Vannes by the English, advanced with ardor to the assault, +and officers and men vied with each other in the valor which they +displayed. In vain did the garrison shower arrows and cross-bow bolts +among them, and pour down boiling oil and quicklime upon them as they +thronged at the foot of the wall. In vain were the ladders, time after +time, hurled back loaded with men upon the mass below. The efforts of +the men-at-arms to scale the defenses were seconded by their archers and +cross-bowmen, who shot such a storm of bolts that great numbers of the +defenders were killed. The assault was made at a score of different +points, and the garrison was too weak to defend all with success. Sir +John Powis and his party repulsed over and over again the efforts of the +assailants against that part of the wall intrusted to them, but at other +points the French gained a footing, and swarming up rushed along the +walls, slaying all whom they encountered.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span></p> + +<p>"All is lost," Sir John exclaimed; "let us fall back to the castle and +die fighting there."</p> + +<p>Descending from the wall the party made their way through the streets. +The French were already in the town; every house was closed and barred, +and from the upper windows the burghers hurled down stones and bricks +upon the fugitives, while parties of the French soldiers fell upon them +fiercely. Many threw down their arms and cried for quarter, but were +instantly slain.</p> + +<p>For awhile the streets were a scene of wild confusion; here and there +little knots of Englishmen stood together and defended themselves until +the last, others ran through the streets chased by their exulting foes, +some tried in vain to gain shelter in the houses. Sir John Powis' band +was soon broken and scattered, and their leader slain by a heavy stone +from a housetop. Walter fought his way blindly forward toward the +castle, although he well knew that no refuge would be found there. Ralph +Smith kept close beside him, leveling many of his assailants with the +tremendous blows of a huge mace. Somehow, Walter hardly knew how, they +made their way through their assailants and dashed in at the castle +gate. A crowd of their assailants were close upon their heels. Walter +glanced round; dashing across the court-yard he ran through some +passages into an inner yard, in which, as he knew, was the well. The +bucket hung at the windlass.</p> + +<p>"Catch hold, Ralph!" he exclaimed; "there is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> just a chance, and we may +as well be drowned as killed." They grasped the rope and jumped off. The +bucket began to descend with frightful velocity. Faster and faster it +went and yet it seemed a long time before they plunged into the water, +which was nigh a hundred feet below the surface. Fortunately the rope +was considerably longer than was necessary, and they sank many feet into +the water, still retaining their hold. Then clinging to the rope they +hauled themselves to the surface.</p> + +<p>"We cannot hold on here five minutes," Ralph exclaimed; "my armor is +dragging me down."</p> + +<p>"We will soon get rid of that," Walter said. "There go our helmets; now +I will hold on with one hand and help you to unbuckle your breast and +back pieces; you do the same for me."</p> + +<p>With great efforts they managed to rid themselves of their armor, and +then held on with ease to the rope. They hauled the bucket to the +surface and tied a knot in the slack of the rope, so that the bucket +hung four feet below the level of the water. Putting their feet in this, +they were able to stand with their heads above the surface without +difficulty.</p> + +<p>"This is a nice fix," Ralph exclaimed. "I think it would have been just +as well to have been killed at once. They are sure to find us here, and +if they don't we shall die of cold before to-morrow morning."</p> + +<p>"I don't think they will find us," Walter said cheerfully. "When they +have searched the castle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> thoroughly it may occur to some of them that +we have jumped down the well, but it will be no particular business of +any one to look for us, and they will all be too anxious to get at the +wine butts to trouble their heads about the matter; besides, it must be +a heavy job to wind up this bucket, and it is not likely there will be +such urgent need of water that any one will undertake the task."</p> + +<p>"But we are no better off if they don't," Ralph remarked, "for we must +die here if we are not hauled out. I suppose you don't intend to try and +climb that rope. I might do twenty feet or so on a pinch, but I could no +more get up to the top there than I could fly."</p> + +<p>"We must think it over," Walter rejoined; "where there is a will there's +a way, you know. We will take it by turns to watch that little patch of +light overhead; if we see any one looking down we must leave the bucket +and swim to the side without making the least noise. They may give a few +turns of the windlass to see if any one has hold of the rope below; be +sure you do not make the slightest splashing or noise, for the sound +would be heard above to a certainty."</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later they saw two heads appear above, and instantly +withdrew their feet from the bucket and made a stroke to the side, which +was but four feet distant, being careful as they did so that no motion +was imparted to the rope. Then, though it was too dark to see anything, +they heard the bucket lifted from the water. A minute later it fell back +again with a splash, then all was quiet.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We are safe now, and can take our place in the bucket. They are +satisfied that if we did jump down here we are drowned. And now we must +think about climbing up."</p> + +<p>"Ay, that will require a good deal of thinking," Ralph grumbled.</p> + +<p>For some time there was silence; then Walter said, "The first thing to +do is to cut off the slack of the rope; there are some twelve feet of +it. Then we will unwind the strands of that. There are five or six large +strands as far as I can feel; we will cut them up into lengths of about +a couple of feet, and we ought to be able to tie these to the rope in +such a way as not to slip down with our weight. If we tie them four feet +apart we can go up step by step; I don't see much difficulty about +that."</p> + +<p>"No," Ralph said much more cheerfully, "I should think that we could +manage that."</p> + +<p>They at once set to work. The rope was cut up and unraveled, and the +strands cut into pieces about two feet long. They then both set to work +trying to discover some way of fastening it by which it would not slip +down the rope. They made many fruitless attempts; each time that a +strand was fastened with a loop large enough for them to pass a leg +through, it slid down the rope when their weight was applied to it. At +last they succeeded in finding out a knot which would hold. This was +done by tying a knot close to one end of a piece of the strand, then +sufficient was left to form the loop, and the remainder was wound round +the rope in such<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> away that the weight only served to tighten its hold.</p> + +<p>"Shall we begin at once?" Ralph said, when success was achieved.</p> + +<p>"No, we had better wait until nightfall. The vibration of the rope when +our weight once gets on it might be noticed by any one crossing the +court-yard."</p> + +<p>"Do you think we have sufficient bits of rope?" Ralph asked.</p> + +<p>"Just enough, I think," Walter replied; "there were six strands, and +each has made six pieces, so we have thirty-six. I know the well is +about a hundred feet deep, for the other day I heard some of the +soldiers who were drawing water grumbling over the labor required. So if +we put them three feet apart it will take thirty-three of them, which +will leave three over; but we had better place them a little over a yard +so as to make sure."</p> + +<p>In a short time the fading brightness of the circle of light far +overhead told them that twilight had commenced, and shortly afterward +they attached the first strand to the rope some three feet above the +water.</p> + +<p>"Now," Walter said, "I will go first, at any rate for a time. I must put +one leg through the loop, and sit, as it were, while I fasten the one +above, as I shall want both hands for the work. You will find it a good +deal easier to stand with your foot in the loop. If I get tired I will +fasten another loop by the side of that on which I am resting, so you +can come up and pass me. There is no hurry. It<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> ought not to take up +above an hour, and it will not do for us to get to the top until the +place becomes a little quiet. To-night they are sure to be drinking and +feasting over their victory until late."</p> + +<p>They now set to work, and step by step mounted the rope. They found the +work less arduous than they had expected. The rope was dry, and the +strands held tightly to it. Two or three times they changed places, +resting in turn from their work; but in less than two hours from the +time they made the first loop Walter's head and shoulders appeared above +the level of the court-yard. He could hear sounds of shouting and +singing within the castle, and knew that a great feast was going on. +Descending a step or two he held parley with Ralph.</p> + +<p>"I think, perhaps, it will be better to sally out at once. Everyone is +intent on his own pleasure, and we shall have no difficulty in slipping +out of the castle unnoticed. All will be feasting and rioting in the +town, and so long as we do not brush against any one so that they may +feel our wet garments we are little likely to be noticed; besides, the +gates of the town will stand open late, for people from the villages +round will have come in to join in the revels."</p> + +<p>"I am ready to try it, Master Walter," Ralph replied, "for I ache from +head to foot with holding on to this rope. The sooner the better, say +I."</p> + +<p>In another minute both stood in the court-yard. It was a retired spot, +and none were passing. Going along the passage they issued into the main +yard.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> Here great fires were blazing, and groups of men sat round them +drinking and shouting. Many lay about in drunken sleep.</p> + +<p>"Stay where you are in the shade, Ralph. You had best lie down by the +foot of the wall. Any one who passes will think that you are in a +drunken sleep. I will creep forward and possess myself of the steel caps +of two of these drunkards, and if I can get a couple of cloaks so much +the better."</p> + +<p>There was no difficulty about the caps, and by dint of unbuckling the +cloaks and rolling their wearers gently over, Walter succeeded at last +in obtaining two of them. He also picked up a sword for Ralph—his own +still hung in its sheath—and then he joined his companion, and the two +putting on the steel caps and cloaks walked quietly to the gate. There +were none on guard, and they issued unmolested into the town. Here all +was revelry. Bonfires blazed in the streets. Hogsheads of wine, with the +heads knocked out, stood before many of the houses for all to help +themselves who wished. Drunken soldiers reeled along shouting snatches +of songs, and the burghers in the highest state of hilarity thronged the +ways.</p> + +<p>"First of all, Ralph, we will have a drink of wine, for I am chilled to +the bone."</p> + +<p>"Ay, and so am I," Ralph replied. "I got hot enough climbing that rope, +but now the cold has got hold of me again, and my teeth are chattering +in my head."</p> + +<p>Picking up one of the fallen vessels by a cask<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> they dipped it in and +took a long draught of wine; then, turning off from the principal +streets, they made their way by quiet lanes down to one of the gates. To +their dismay they found that this was closed. The French commanders knew +that Sir Walter Manny or Salisbury might ere this be pressing forward to +relieve the town, and that, finding that it had fallen, they might +attempt to recapture it by a sudden attack. While permitting, therefore, +the usual license, after a successful assault, to the main body of their +forces, they had placed a certain number of their best troops on the +walls, giving them a handsome largess to make up for their loss of the +festivities.</p> + +<p>At first Walter and his friend feared that their retreat was cut off for +the night, but several other people presently arrived, and the officer +on guard said, coming out, "You must wait awhile; the last batch have +only just gone, and I cannot keep opening and closing the gate; in half +an hour I will let you out."</p> + +<p>Before that time elapsed some fifty or sixty people, anxious to return +to their villages, gathered round the gate.</p> + +<p>"Best lay aside your steel cap, Ralph, before we join them," Walter +said. "In the dim light of that lamp none will notice that we have no +head gear, but if it were to glint upon the steel cap the officer might +take us for deserters and question us as to who we are."</p> + +<p>Presently the officer came out from the guard-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span>room again. There was a +forward movement of the little crowd, and Walter and Ralph closed in to +their midst. The gates were opened, and without any question the +villagers passed out, and the gates were shut instantly behind them.</p> + +<p>Walter and his comrade at once started at a brisk pace and walked all +night in the direction of Hennebon. Their clothes soon dried, and elated +at their escape from danger they struggled on briskly. When morning +broke they entered a wood, and lay there till evening, as they feared to +continue their journey lest they might fall into the hands of some +roving band of French horse. They were, too, dog-tired, and were asleep +a few minutes after they lay down. The sun was setting when they awoke, +and as soon as it was dark they resumed their journey.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what you feel, Master Walter, but I am well-nigh famished. +It is thirty-six hours since I swallowed a bit of food, just as the +French were moving to the attack. Hard blows I don't mind—I have been +used to it; but what with fighting, and being in the water for five or +six hours, and climbing up that endless rope, and walking all night on +an empty stomach, it does not suit me at all."</p> + +<p>"I feel ravenous too, Ralph, but there is no help for it. We shall eat +nothing till we are within the walls of Hennebon, and that will be by +daylight to-morrow if all goes well. Draw your belt an inch or two +tighter, it will help to keep out the wolf."</p> + +<p>They kept on all night, and in the morning saw<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> to their delight the +towers of Hennebon in the distance. It was well that it was no further, +for both were so exhausted from want of food that they could with +difficulty drag their legs along.</p> + +<p>Upon entering the town Walter made his way at once to the quarters of +the leader. Sir Walter had just risen, and was delighted at the sight of +his esquire.</p> + +<p>"I had given you up for dead," he exclaimed. "By what miracle could you +have escaped? Are you alone?"</p> + +<p>"I have with me only my faithful follower, Ralph Smith, who is below; +but, Sir Walter, for mercy's sake order that some food be placed before +us, or we shall have escaped from the French only to die of hunger here. +We have tasted naught since the attack on Vannes began. Have any besides +us escaped?"</p> + +<p>"Lord Stafford contrived, with two or three others, to cut their way out +by a postern-gate, bringing with them Robert of Artois, who is +grievously wounded. None others, save you and your man-at-arms, have +made their way here."</p> + +<p>In a few minutes a cold capon, several manchets of bread, and a stoop of +wine were placed before Walter, while Ralph's wants were attended to +below. When he had satisfied his hunger the young esquire related his +adventures to Sir Walter and several other knights and nobles, who had +by this time gathered in the room.</p> + +<p>"In faith, Master Somers, you have got well out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> of your scrape," Sir +Walter exclaimed. "Had I been in your place I should assuredly have +perished, for I would a thousand times rather meet death sword in hand +than drop down into the deep hole of that well. And your brains served +you shrewdly in devising a method of escape. What say you, gentlemen?"</p> + +<p>All present joined in expressions of praise at the lad's coolness and +presence of mind.</p> + +<p>"You are doing well, young sir," the English leader went on, "and have +distinguished yourself on each occasion on which we have been engaged. I +shall be proud when the time comes to bestow upon you myself the order +of knighthood if our king does not take the matter off my hands."</p> + +<p>A little later Robert of Artois died of his wounds and disappointment at +the failure of his hopes.</p> + +<p>In October King Edward himself set sail with a great army, and landing +in Brittany early in November, marched forward through the country and +soon reduced Ploermel, Malestrail, Redon, and the rest of the province +in the vicinity of Vannes, and then laid siege to that town. As his +force was far more than sufficient for the siege, the Earls of Norfolk +and Warwick were dispatched in the direction of Nantes to reconnoiter +the country and clear it of any small bodies of the enemy they might +encounter. In the mean time Edward opened negotiations with many of the +Breton lords, who, seeing that such powerful aid had arrived for the +cause of the Countess of Montford, were easily persuaded to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> change +sides. Among them were the Lords of Clisson, Moheac, Machecoul, Retz, +and many others of less importance.</p> + +<p>The Count of Valentinois, who commanded the garrison of Vannes, +supported the siege with great courage and fortitude, knowing that +Charles of Blois and the King of France were collecting a great army for +his relief. Uniting their forces, they advanced toward the town. Before +the force of the French, 40,000 strong, the Earl of Norfolk had fallen +back and rejoined the king; but even after this junction the French +forces exceeded those of Edward fourfold. They advanced toward Vannes +and formed a large intrenched camp near that of the English, who thus, +while still besieging Vannes, were themselves inclosed by a vastly +superior force. The King of France himself arrived at the French camp. +The French, although so greatly superior, made no motion toward +attacking the English, but appeared bent upon either starving them out +or forcing them to attack the strongly intrenched position occupied by +the French.</p> + +<p>Provisions were indeed running short in the English camp, and the +arrival of supplies from England was cut off by a strong fleet under Don +Louis, which cruised off the coast and captured all vessels arriving +with stores. At this moment two legates, the Cardinal Bishop of Preneste +and the Cardinal Bishop of Tusculum, arrived from the pope and strove to +mediate between the two sovereigns and to bring about a cessation of +hostilities, pointing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> out to them the scandal and desolation which +their rivalry caused in Christendom, the waste of noble lives, the +devastation of once happy provinces, and the effusion of innocent blood. +Going from camp to camp they exhorted, prayed, and reproached the rival +sovereigns, urging that while Christians were shedding each other's +blood in vain, the infidels were daily waxing bolder and more insolent. +Their arguments would have been but of little use had either of the +monarchs felt sure of victory. King Edward, however, felt that his +position was growing desperate, for starvation was staring him in the +face, and only by a victory over an immensely superior force in a +strongly intrenched position could he extricate himself. Upon the part +of the French, however, circumstances were occurring which rendered them +anxious for a release from their position, for they were not without +their share of suffering. While the English army lay on a hill the +French camp was pitched on low ground. An unusually wet season had set +in with bitterly cold wind. The rain was incessant, a pestilence had +destroyed a vast number of their horses, and their encampment was +flooded. Their forces were therefore obliged to spread themselves over +the neighboring fields, and a sudden attack by the English might have +been fatal.</p> + +<p>Thus distress pressed upon both commanders, and the pope's legates found +their exertions at last crowned with success. A suspension of +hostilities was agreed to, and the Dukes of Burgundy and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> Bourbon on the +one side and the Earls of Lancaster, Northampton, and Salisbury on the +other met as commissioners and agreed to a convention by which a general +truce was to be made from the date of the treaty to the following +Michaelmas, and to be prolonged from that day for the full term of three +years. It was agreed that the truce should embrace not only the +sovereigns, but all the adherents of each of them. The truce was to hold +good in Brittany between all parties, and the city of Vannes was to be +given into the hand of the cardinals to dispose of as they chose. It was +specially provided that in the case of any of the adherents of either +party in the duchies of Gascony and Brittany waging war against each +other, neither of the monarchs should either directly or indirectly +meddle therewith, nor should the truce be at all broken thereby.</p> + +<p>Immediately the treaty was signed, on the 19th of January, 1343, the +King of France dismissed his army, and Edward sailed for England with +the greater part of his troops. The Countess of Montford and her son +accompanied him, and the possessions of her husband in Brittany were +left to the guardianship of her partisans, with a small but choice body +of English troops.</p> + +<p>The towns which had fallen into their hands and still remained were +Brest, Quimper-Corentin, Quimperlé, Redon, and Guerande; Vannes was +handed over to them by the cardinals, and Hennebon, of course, remained +in their possession.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p> + +<p>Walter returned to England with Sir Walter Manny, and on reaching London +was received with delight by his old friends Geoffrey Ward and Giles +Fletcher, who were never tired of listening to his tales of the wars. +Dame Vernon also received him with great kindness, and congratulated him +warmly upon the very favorable account which Sir Walter Manny had given +of his zeal and gallantry.</p> + +<p>The time now for awhile passed very quietly. Walter and the other young +squires practiced diligently, under the instructions of Sir Walter, at +knightly exercises. Walter learned to bear himself well on horseback and +to tilt in the ring. He was already a skillful swordsman, but he spared +no pains to improve himself with his weapons. The court was a gay one, +and Walter, as a favored esquire of one of the foremost knights there, +was admitted to all that took place. His courtly education, of course, +included dancing, and when he went down, as he often did, for a long +chat with his old friends, Geoffrey often said, laughing, that he was +growing such a fine gentleman that he hardly liked to sit in his +presence; but although changed in manner, Walter continued to be, as +before, a frank, manly young fellow, and free from the affectations +which were so general among the young men of the court.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<p class='center'>A STORMY INTERVIEW.</p> + + +<p>Soon after Walter's return from France Dame Vernon returned to her +country estate, and a year passed before he again saw her. During this +time the truce which had been established between England and France had +remained unbroken. It was certain, however, that ere long the two powers +would again come to blows. The King of England had honorably observed +the terms of the treaty. Upon his return home he had entirely disbanded +his army and had devoted his whole attention to increasing the trade and +prosperity of the country. The measures which he took to do this were +not always popular with the people of England, for seeing how greatly +they excelled the English manufacturers Edward encouraged large numbers +of Flemings and other foreign workmen to settle in London, and gave them +many privileges to induce them to do so; this the populace strongly +resented. There was a strong ill-feeling against the Flemings and +serious popular riots took place, for the English traders and workmen +considered that these foreigners were taking the bread from their +mouths. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> king, however, was wiser than his people, he saw that +although the English weavers were able to produce coarse cloths, yet +that all of the finer sort had to be imported from the Continent. He +deemed that in time the Flemings would teach their art to his subjects, +and that England would come to vie with the Low Countries in the quality +of her produce. Such was indeed afterward the case, and England gained +greatly by the importation of the industrious Flemings, just as she +afterward profited from the expulsion from France of tens of thousands +of Protestant workmen who brought here many of the manufactures of which +France had before the monopoly. The relations between England and the +Flemings were at this time very close, for the latter regarded England +as her protector against the ambition of the King of France.</p> + +<p>But while King Edward had laid aside all thought of war, such was not +the case with Philip of Valois. He had retired after the signature of +the treaty full of rage and humiliation; for hitherto in all their +struggles his English rival had had the better of him, and against +vastly superior forces had foiled all his efforts and had gained alike +glory and military advantage. King Edward had hardly set sail when +Philip began to break the terms of truce by inciting the adherents of +Charles of Blois to attack those of De Montford, and by rendering +assistance to them with money and men. He also left no means untried to +detach Flanders from its alliance with England. Several castles and +towns<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> in Brittany were wrested from the partisans of De Montford, and +King Edward, after many remonstrances at the breaches of the conditions +of the truce, began again to make preparations for taking the field. +Several brilliant tournaments were held and every means were taken to +stir up the warlike spirit of the people.</p> + +<p>One day Walter had attended his lord to the palace and was waiting in +the anteroom with many other squires and gentlemen, while Sir Walter, +with some other noblemen, was closeted with the king, discussing the +means to be adopted for raising funds for a renewal of the war with +France, when a knight entered whom Walter had not previously seen at +court.</p> + +<p>"Who is that?" he asked one of his acquaintances; "methinks I know his +face, though it passes my memory to say where I have seen it."</p> + +<p>"He has been away from England for some two years," his friend answered. +"That is Sir James Carnegie; he is a cousin of the late Sir Jasper +Vernon; he left somewhat suddenly a short time after Dame Vernon had +that narrow escape from drowning that you wot of; he betook himself then +to Spain, where he has been fighting the Moors; he is said to be a +valiant knight, but otherwise he bears but an indifferent good +reputation."</p> + +<p>Walter remembered the face now; it was that of the knight he had seen +enter the hut of the river pirate on the Lambeth marshes. When released +from duty he at once made his way to the lodging<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> of Dame Vernon. Walter +was now nineteen, for a year had elapsed since the termination of the +French war, and he was in stature and strength the match of most men, +while his skill at knightly exercises, as well as with the sword, was +recognized as preeminent among all the young esquires of the court.</p> + +<p>After the first greeting he said to Dame Vernon: "I think it right to +tell you, lady, that I have but now, in the king's anteroom, seen the +man who plotted against your life in the hut at Lambeth. His face is a +marked one and I could not mistake it. I hear that he is a cousin of +yours, one Sir James Carnegie, as you doubtless recognized from my +description of him. I came to tell you in order that you might decide +what my conduct should be. If you wish it so I will keep the secret in +my breast; but if you fear aught from him I will openly accuse him +before the king of the crime he attempted, and shall be ready to meet +him in the ordeal of battle should he claim it."</p> + +<p>"I have seen Sir James," Lady Vernon said. "I had a letter writ in a +feigned hand telling him that his handiwork in the plot against my life +was known, and warning him that, unless he left England, the proofs +thereof would be laid before justice. He at once sailed for Spain, +whence he has returned but a few days since. He does not know for +certain that I am aware of his plottings against us; but he must have +seen by my reception of him when he called that I no longer regard him +with the friendship which I formerly entertained. I have received a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> +message from him that he will call upon me this evening, and that he +trusts he will find me alone, as he would fain confer with me on private +matters. When I have learned his intentions I shall be the better able +to judge what course I had best adopt. I would fain, if it may be, let +the matter rest. Sir James has powerful interest, and I would not have +him for an open enemy if I can avoid it; besides, all the talk and +publicity which so grave an accusation against a knight, and he of mine +own family, would entail, would be very distasteful to me; but should I +find it necessary for the sake of my child, I shall not shrink from it. +I trust, however, that it will not come to that; but I shall not +hesitate, if need be, to let him know that I am acquainted with his evil +designs toward us. I will inform you of as much of our interview as it +is necessary that you should know."</p> + +<p>That evening Sir James Carnegie called upon Dame Vernon. "I would not +notice it the other day, fair cousin," he said, in return for her stiff +and ceremonious greeting; "but methinks that you are mightily changed in +your bearing toward me. I had looked on my return from my long +journeying for something of the sisterly warmth with which you once +greeted me, but I find you as cold and hard as if I had been altogether +a stranger to you. I would fain know in what way I have forfeited your +esteem."</p> + +<p>"I do not wish to enter into bygones, Sir James," the lady said, "and +would fain let the past sleep if<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> you will let me. Let us, then, turn +without more ado to the private matters concerning which you wished to +speak with me."</p> + +<p>"If such is your mood, fair dame, I must needs fall in with it, though +in no way able to understand your allusion to the past, wherein my +conscience holds me guiltless of aught which could draw upon me your +disfavor. I am your nearest male relative, and as such would fain confer +with you touching the future of young Mistress Edith, your daughter. She +is now nigh thirteen years of age, and is the heiress of broad lands; is +it not time that she were betrothed to one capable of taking care of +them for her, and leading your vassals to battle in these troubled +times?"</p> + +<p>"Thanks, Sir James, for your anxiety about my child," Dame Vernon said +coldly. "She is a ward of the king. I am in no way anxious that an early +choice should be made for her; but our good Queen Philippa has promised +that, when the time shall come, his majesty shall not dispose of her +hand without my wishes being in some way consulted; and I have no doubt +that when the time shall come that she is of marriageable age—and I +would not that this should be before she has gained eighteen years, for +I like not the over young marriages which are now in fashion—a knight +may be found for her husband capable of taking care of her and her +possessions; but may I ask if, in so speaking to me, you have any one in +your mind's eye as a suitor for her hand?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Your manner is not encouraging, certes; but I had my plan, which would, +I hoped, have met with your approval. I am the young lady's cousin, and +her nearest male relative; and although we are within the limited +degrees, there will be no difficulty in obtaining a dispensation from +Rome. I am myself passably well off, and some of the mortgages which I +had been forced to lay upon my estates have been cleared off during my +absence. I have returned home with some reputation, and with a goodly +sum gained in the wars with the Moors. I am older than my cousin, +certainly; but as I am still but thirty-two, this would not, I hope, be +deemed an obstacle, and methought that you would rather intrust her to +your affectionate cousin than to a stranger. The king has received me +very graciously, and would, I trust, offer no opposition to my suit were +it backed by your good-will."</p> + +<p>"I suppose, Sir James," Dame Vernon said, "that I should thank you for +the offer which you have made; but I can only reply, that while duly +conscious of the high honor you have done my daughter by your offer, I +would rather see her in her grave than wedded to you."</p> + +<p>The knight leaped from his seat with a fierce exclamation. "This is too +much," he exclaimed, "and I have a right to know why such an offer on my +part should be answered by disdain, and even insolence."</p> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus005.jpg" alt="villainy"/> <br /> +<span class="smcap">Dame Alice Reveals Sir James' Villainy.</span>—Page +187.</p> + +<p>"You have a right to know," Dame Vernon answered quietly, "and I will +tell you. I repeat that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> I would rather see my child in her grave than +wedded to a man who attempted to compass the murder of her and her +mother."</p> + +<p>"What wild words are these?" Sir James asked sternly. "What accusation +is this that you dare to bring against me?"</p> + +<p>"I repeat what I said, Sir James," Dame Alice replied quietly. "I know +that you plotted with the water pirates of Lambeth to upset our boat as +we came down the Thames; that you treacherously delayed us at Richmond +in order that we might not reach London before dark; and that by +enveloping me in a white cloak you gave a signal by which I might be +known to your creatures."</p> + +<p>The knight stood for a moment astounded. He was aware that the fact that +he had had some share in the outrage was known, and was not surprised +that his cousin was acquainted with the secret; but that she should know +all the details with which but one besides himself was, as he believed, +acquainted, completely stupefied him. He rapidly, however, recovered +himself.</p> + +<p>"I recall now," he said scornfully, "the evidence which was given before +the justices by some ragged city boy, to the effect that he had +overheard a few words of a conversation between some ruffian over in the +Lambeth marshes and an unknown person; but it is new to me indeed that +there was any suspicion that I was the person alluded to, still less +that a lady of my own family, in whose affection I believed, should +credit so monstrous an accusation."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I would that I could discredit it, Sir James," Dame Vernon said sadly; +"but the proofs were too strong for me. Much more of your conversation +than was narrated in court was overheard, and it was at my request that +the ragged boy, as you call him, kept silence."</p> + +<p>"And is it possible," the knight asked indignantly, "that you believed +the word of a fellow like this to the detriment of your kinsman? Why, in +any court of law the word of such a one as opposed to that of a knight +and gentleman of honor would not be taken for a moment."</p> + +<p>"You are mistaken, sir," Dame Vernon said haughtily. "You may remember, +in the first place, that the lad who overheard this conversation risked +his life to save me and my daughter from the consequences of the attack +which he heard planned; in the second place, he was no ragged lad, but +the apprentice of a well-known citizen; thirdly—and this is of +importance, since he has recognized you since your return, and is ready, +should I give him the word, to denounce you—he is no mere apprentice +boy, but is of gentle blood, seeing that he is the son of Sir Roland +Somers, the former possessor of the lands which I hold, and that he is +in high favor with the good knight Sir Walter Manny, whose esquire he +now is, and under whom he distinguished himself in the wars in France, +and is, as Sir Walter assures me, certain to win his spurs ere long. +Thus you see his bare word would be of equal value to your own, besides +the fact that his evidence does not rest upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> mere assertion; but that +the man in the hut promised to do what you actually performed, namely, +to delay me at Richmond, and to wrap me in a white cloak in order that I +might be recognized by the river pirates."</p> + +<p>Sir James was silent. In truth, as he saw, the evidence was +overwhelmingly strong against him. After awhile he stammered out, "I +cannot deny that I was the man in question; but I swear to you that this +boy was mistaken, and that the scoundrel acted altogether beyond my +instructions, which were simply that he should board the boat and carry +you and your daughter away to a safe place."</p> + +<p>"And with what object, sir," Dame Vernon said contemptuously, "was I to +be thus taken away?"</p> + +<p>"I do not seek to excuse myself," the knight replied calmly, having now +recovered his self-possession, "for I own I acted wrongly and basely; +but in truth I loved you, and would fain have made you my wife. I knew +that you regarded me with only the calm affection of a kinswoman; but I +thought that were you in my power you would consent to purchase your +freedom with your hand. I know now that I erred greatly. I acknowledge +my fault, and that my conduct was base and unknightly, and my only +excuse is the great love I bore you."</p> + +<p>"And which," the lady said sarcastically, "you have now transferred to +my daughter. I congratulate you, Sir James, upon the possession of a +ready wit and an invention which does not fail you at a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> pinch, and of a +tongue which repeats unfalteringly any fable which your mind may +dictate. You do not, I suppose, expect me to believe the tale. Still, I +own that it is a well-devised one, and might, at a pinch, pass muster; +but fear not, Sir James. As hitherto I have kept silence as to the +author of the outrage committed upon me, so I have no intention of +proclaiming the truth now unless you force me to do so. Suffice that +both for myself and for my daughter I disclaim the honor of your hand. +So long as you offer no molestation to us, and abstain from troubling us +in any way, so long will my mouth be sealed; and I would fain bury in my +breast the memory of your offense. I will not give the world's tongue +occasion to wag by any open breach between kinsfolk, and shall therefore +in public salute you as an acquaintance, but under no pretense whatever +will I admit you to any future private interview. Now leave me, sir, and +I trust that your future life will show that you deeply regret the +outrage which in your greed for my husband's lands you were tempted to +commit."</p> + +<p>Without a word Sir James turned and left the room, white with shame and +anger, but with an inward sense of congratulation at the romance which +he had, on the spur of the moment, invented, and which would, he felt +sure, be accepted by the world as probable, in the event of the share he +had in the matter being made public, either upon the denunciation of +Dame Vernon or in any other manner.</p> + +<p>One determination, however, he made, and swore,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> to himself, that he +would bitterly avenge himself upon the youth whose interference had +thwarted his plans, and whose report to his kinswoman had turned her +mind against him. He, at any rate, should be put out of the way at the +first opportunity, and thus the only witness against himself be removed; +for Lady Vernon's own unsupported story would be merely her word against +his, and could be treated as the malicious fiction of an angry woman.</p> + +<p>The following day Dame Vernon sent for Walter, and informed him exactly +what had taken place.</p> + +<p>"Between Sir James and me," she said, "there is, you see, a truce. We +are enemies, but we agree to lay aside our arms for the time. But, +Walter, you must be on your guard. You know as well as I do how +dangerous this man is, and how good a cause he has to hate you. I would +not have divulged your name had I not known that the frequency of your +visits here and the encouragement which I openly give you as the future +suitor of my daughter, would be sure to come to his ears, and he would +speedily discover that it was you who saved our lives on the Thames and +gave your testimony before the justices as to the conversation in the +hut on the marshes. Thus I forestalled what he would in a few days have +learned."</p> + +<p>"I fear him not, lady," Walter said calmly. "I can hold mine own, I +hope, against him in arms, and having the patronage and friendship of +Sir Walter Manny I am above any petty malice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> Nevertheless, I will hold +myself on my guard. I will, so far as possible, avoid any snare which he +may, as 'tis not unlikely, set for my life, and will, so far as I +honorably can, avoid any quarrel with which he may seek to saddle me."</p> + +<p>A few days later Walter again met Sir James Carnegie in the king's +anteroom, and saw at once, by the fixed look of hate with which he had +regarded him, that he had already satisfied himself of his identity. He +returned the knight's stare with a cold look of contempt. The knight +moved toward him and in a low tone said, "Beware, young sir, I have a +heavy reckoning against you, and James Carnegie never forgets debts of +that kind!"</p> + +<p>"I am warned, Sir James," Walter said calmly, but in the same low tone, +"and, believe me, I hold but very lightly the threats of one who does +not succeed even when he conspires against the lives of women and +children."</p> + +<p>Sir James started as if he had been struck. Then with a great effort he +recovered his composure, and, repeating the word "Beware!" walked across +to the other side of the chamber.</p> + +<p>The next day Walter went down the river and had a talk with his friend +Geoffrey.</p> + +<p>"You must beware, lad," the armorer said when he told him of the return +of Sir James Carnegie and the conversation which had taken place between +them. "This man is capable of anything, and careth not where he chooseth +his instruments. The man of the hut at Lambeth has never been caught +since<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> his escape from Richmond Jail—thanks, doubtless, to the gold of +his employer—and, for aught we know, may still be lurking in the +marshes there, or in the purlieus of the city. He will have a grudge +against you as well as his employer, and in him Sir James would find a +ready instrument. He is no doubt connected, as before, with a gang of +water pirates and robbers, and it is not one sword alone that you would +have to encounter. I think not that you are in danger just at present, +for he would know that, in case of your murder, the suspicions of Dame +Vernon and of any others who may know the motive which he has in getting +rid of you would be excited, and he might be accused in having had a +share in your death. Still, it would be so hard to prove aught against +him that he may be ready to run the risk in order to rid himself of you. +Look here, Walter. What think you of this?" and the smith drew out from +a coffer a shirt of mail of finer work than Walter had ever before seen.</p> + +<p>"Ay, lad, I knew you would be pleased," he said in answer to Walter's +exclamation at the fineness of the workmanship. "I bought this a month +ago from a Jew merchant who had recently come from Italy. How he got it +I know not, but I doubt if it were honestly, or he would have demanded a +higher price than I paid him. He told me that it was made by the first +armorer in Milan, and was constructed especially for a cardinal of the +church, who had made many enemies by his evil deeds and could not sleep +for fear of assassination. At his death it came,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> the Jew said, into his +possession. I suppose some rascally attendant took it as a perquisite, +and, knowing not of its value, sold it for a few ducats to the Jew. +However, it is of the finest workmanship. It is, as you see, double, and +each link is made of steel so tough that no dagger or sword point will +pierce it. I put it on a block and tried the metal myself, and broke one +of my best daggers on it without a single link giving. Take it, lad. You +are welcome to it. I bought it with a special eye to you, thinking that +you might wear it under your armor in battle without greatly adding to +the weight; but for such dangers as threaten you now it is invaluable. +It is so light and soft that none will dream that you have it under your +doublet, and I warrant me it will hold you safe against the daggers of +Sir James' ruffians."</p> + +<p>Walter did not like taking a gift so valuable, for his apprenticeship as +an armorer had taught him the extreme rarity and costliness of so fine a +piece of work. Geoffrey, however, would not hear of his refusal, and +insisted on his then and there taking off his doublet and putting it on. +It fitted closely to the body, descending just below the hips, and +coming well up on the neck, while the arms extended to the wrists.</p> + +<p>"There!" the smith said with delight. "Now you are safe against sword or +dagger, save for a sweeping blow at the head, and that your sword can be +trusted to guard. Never take it off, Walter, save when you sleep; and +except when in your own<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> bed, at Sir Walter Manny's, I should advise you +to wear it even at night. The weight is nothing, and it will not +incommode you. So long as this caitiff knight lives, your life will not +be safe. When he is dead you may hang up the shirt of mail with a light +heart."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<p class='center'>JACOB VAN ARTEVELDE.</p> + + +<p>King Edward found no difficulty in awakening the war spirit of England +anew, for the King of France, by an act of infamous treachery, in spite +of the solemn terms of the treaty, excited against himself the +indignation not only of England but of all Europe. Oliver de Clisson, +with fourteen other nobles of Brittany and Normandy, were arrested by +his order, taken to Paris, and without form of trial there decapitated. +This act of treachery and injustice aroused disgust and shame among the +French nobles, and murmurs and discontent spread throughout the whole +country.</p> + +<p>In Brittany numbers of the nobles fell off from the cause of Charles of +Blois, and King Edward hastened his preparations to avenge the butchery +of the adherents of the house of Montford. Philip, however, in defiance +of the murmurs of his own subjects, of the indignant remonstrances of +Edward, and even those of the pope, who was devoted to his cause, +continued the course he had begun, and a number of other nobles were +seized and executed. Godfrey of Harcourt alone, warned by the fate of +his companions, refused to obey the summons of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> the king to repair to +Paris, and fled to Brabant. His property in France was at once seized by +Philip; and Godfrey, finding that the Duke of Brabant would be unable to +shield him from Philip's vengeance, fled to the English court, and did +homage to Edward.</p> + +<p>On the 24th of April, 1345, Edward determined no longer to allow Philip +to continue to benefit by his constant violations of the truce, and +accordingly sent a defiance to the King of France.</p> + +<p>De Montford, who had just succeeded in escaping from his prison in +Paris, arrived at this moment in England, and shortly afterward set sail +with a small army under the command of the Earl of Northampton for +Brittany, while the Earl of Derby took his departure with a larger force +for the defense of Guienne.</p> + +<p>King Edward set about raising a large army, which he determined to lead +himself, but before passing over to France he desired to strengthen his +hold of Flanders. The constant intrigues of Philip there had exercised a +great effect. The count of that country was already strongly in his +interest, and it was only the influence of Jacob van Artevelde which +maintained the alliance with England. This man had, by his talent and +energy, gained an immense influence over his countrymen; but his +commanding position and ability had naturally excited the envy and +hatred of many of his fellow-citizens, among whom was the dean of the +weavers of Ghent, one Gerard Denis. The weavers were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> the most powerful +body in this city, and had always been noted for their turbulence and +faction; and on a Monday in the month of May, 1345, a great battle took +place in the market-place between them and the fullers, of whom 1,500 +were slain. This victory of the weavers strengthened the power of the +party hostile to Artevelde and the English connection; and the former +saw that unless he could induce his countrymen to take some +irretrievable step in favor of England they would ultimately fall back +into the arms of France. Accordingly he invited Edward to pass over with +a strong force into Flanders, where he would persuade the Flemings to +make the Prince of Wales their duke. King Edward at once accepted the +offer, and sailing from Sandwich on the 3d of July arrived in safety at +Sluys. His intention had been kept a profound secret, and his arrival +created the greatest surprise throughout Flanders. He did not disembark, +but received on board a ship with great honor and magnificence the +burgomasters of the various towns who appeared to welcome him. The king +had brought with him the Prince of Wales, now fifteen years old, who +wore a suit of black armor and was therefore called "the Black Prince."</p> + +<p>Walter Somers was on board the royal vessel. The Prince of Wales had not +forgotten the promise which he had six years before made to him, and had +asked Sir Walter Manny to allow him to follow under his banner.</p> + +<p>"You are taking my most trusty squire from me,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> prince," the knight +said; "for although I have many brave young fellows in my following, +there is not one whom I value so much as Walter Somers. It is but fair, +however, that you should have him, since you told me when I first took +him that he was to follow your banner when you were old enough to go to +the wars. You can rely upon him implicitly. He cares not for the +gayeties of which most young men of his age think so much. He is ever +ready for duty, and he possesses a wisdom and sagacity which will some +day make him a great leader."</p> + +<p>Walter was sorry to leave his patron, but the step was of course a great +advancement, and excited no little envy among his companions, for among +the young esquires of the Prince of Wales were the sons of many of the +noblest families of England.</p> + +<p>Sir Walter presented him on leaving with a heavy purse. "Your expenses +will be large," he said, "among so many young gallants, and you must do +credit to me as well as to yourself. The young prince is generous to a +fault, and as he holds you in high favor, both from his knowledge of you +and from my report, you will, I know, lack nothing when you are once +fairly embarked in his service; but it is needful that when you first +join you should be provided with many suits of courtly raiment of cloth +of gold and silk, which were not needed while you were in the service of +a simple knight like myself, but which must be worn by a companion of +the heir of England."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span></p> + +<p>Walter had hoped that Sir James Carnegie would have accompanied the +forces of either of the Earls of Northampton or Derby, but he found that +he had attached himself to the royal army.</p> + +<p>Ralph of course followed Walter's fortunes, and was now brilliant in the +appointments of the Prince of Wales' chosen body-guard of men-at-arms.</p> + +<p>The councils of all the great towns of Flanders assembled at Sluys, and +for several days great festivities were held. Then a great assembly was +held, and Van Artevelde rose and addressed his countrymen. He set forth +to them the virtues of the Prince of Wales, whose courtesy and bearing +had so captivated them; he pointed out the obligations which Flanders +was under toward King Edward, and the advantages which would arise from +a nearer connection with England. With this he contrasted the weakness +of their count, the many ills which his adherence to France had brought +upon the country, and the danger which menaced them should his power be +ever renewed. He then boldly proposed to them that they should at once +cast off their allegiance to the count and bestow the vacant coronet +upon the Prince of Wales, who, as Duke of Flanders, would undertake the +defense and government of the country with the aid of a Flemish council.</p> + +<p>This wholly unexpected proposition took the Flemish burghers by +surprise. Artevelde had calculated upon his eloquence and influence +carrying them away, but his power had diminished, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> many of his +hearers had already been gained to the cause of France. The burgher +councils had for a long time had absolute power in their own towns, and +the prospect of a powerful prince at their head foredoomed a curtailment +of those powers. When Artevelde ceased, therefore, instead of the +enthusiastic shouts with which he hoped his oration would be greeted, a +confused murmur arose. At last several got up and said that, greatly +attached as they were to the king, much as they admired the noble young +prince proposed for their acceptance, they felt themselves unable to +give an answer upon an affair of such moment without consulting their +fellow-countrymen and learning their opinions. They therefore promised +that they would return on a certain day and give a decided answer.</p> + +<p>The Flemish burghers then took their leave. Van Artevelde, after a +consultation with the king, started at once to use his influence among +the various towns.</p> + +<p>After leaving the king he bade adieu to the Prince of Wales. "Would you +like," the young prince said, "that one of my esquires should ride with +you? His presence might show the people how entirely I am with you; and +should you have tidings to send me he could ride hither with them. I +have one with me who is prudent and wise, and who possesses all the +confidence of that wise and valiant knight, Sir Walter de Manny."</p> + +<p>"I will gladly take him, your royal highness," Van Artevelde said, "and +hope to dispatch him to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> you very shortly with the news that the great +towns of Flanders all gladly receive you as their lord."</p> + +<p>In a few minutes Walter had mounted his horse, accompanied by Ralph, +and, joining Van Artevelde, rode to Bruges. Here and at Ypres Van +Artevelde's efforts were crowned with success. His eloquence carried +away the people with him, and both these cities agreed to accept the +Prince of Wales as their lord; but the hardest task yet remained. Ghent +was the largest and most powerful of the Flemish towns, and here his +enemies were in the ascendant. Gerard Denis and the weavers had been +stirring up the people against him. All kinds of accusations had been +spread, and he was accused of robbing and selling his country. The news +of the hostile feeling of the population reached Van Artevelde, and he +dispatched Walter with the request to the king for a force of five +hundred English soldiers as a guard against his enemies.</p> + +<p>Had Artevelde asked for a large force Edward would have disembarked his +army and marched at their head into Ghent. As the rest of the country +was already won there can be little doubt that this step would at once +have silenced all opposition, and would have annexed Flanders to the +British crown. Van Artevelde, however, believed himself to be stronger +than he really was, and thought with a small party of soldiers he could +seize his principal opponents, and that the people would then rally +round him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span></p> + +<p>Upon the arrival of the five hundred men he started for Ghent; but as he +feared that the gates would be shut if he presented himself with an +armed force, he left the soldiers in concealment a short distance from +the town and entered it, accompanied only by his usual suit. At his +invitation, however, Walter, followed of course by Ralph, rode beside +him. No sooner was he within the gates than Van Artevelde saw how strong +was the popular feeling against him. He had been accustomed to be +received with bows of reverence; now men turned aside as he approached, +or scowled at him from their doors.</p> + +<p>"Methinks, sir," Walter said, "that it would be wiser did we ride back, +and, joining the soldiers, enter at their head, or as that number would +be scarce sufficient should so large a town rise in tumult, to send to +King Edward for a larger force and await their coming. Even should they +shut the gates we can reduce the town, and as all the rest of Flanders +is with you, surely a short delay will not matter."</p> + +<p>"You know not these Flemings as well as I do," Van Artevelde replied; +"they are surly dogs, but they always listen to my voice, and are ready +enough to do my bidding. When I once speak to them you will see how they +will smooth their backs and do as I ask them."</p> + +<p>Walter said no more, but as he saw everywhere lowering brows from window +and doorway as they rode through the streets, he had doubts whether the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> +power of Van Artevelde's eloquence would have the magical potency he had +expected from it.</p> + +<p>When the party arrived at the splendid dwelling of the great demagogue, +messengers were instantly sent out to all his friends and retainers. A +hundred and forty persons soon assembled, and while Van Artevelde was +debating with them as to the best steps to be taken, Walter opened the +casement and looked out into the street. It was already crowded with the +people, whose silent and quiet demeanor seemed to bode no good. Arms +were freely displayed among them, and Walter saw men passing to and fro +evidently giving instructions.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to disturb you, Master Artevelde," he said, returning to the +room where the council was being held, "but methinks that it would be +wise to bar the doors and windows, and to put yourself in a posture of +defense, for a great crowd is gathering without, for the most part +armed, and as it seems to me with evil intentions."</p> + +<p>A glance from the windows confirmed Walter's statements, and the doors +and windows were speedily barricaded. Before many minutes had elapsed +the tolling of bells in all parts of the town was heard, and down the +different streets leading toward the building large bodies of armed men +were seen making their way.</p> + +<p>"I had rather have to do with a whole French army, Master Walter," Ralph +said, as he stood beside him at an upper window looking down upon the +crowd, "than with these citizens of Ghent.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> Look at those men with +bloody axes and stained clothes. Doubtless those are the skinners and +butchers. Didst ever see such a ferocious band of savages? Listen to +their shouts. Death to Van Artevelde! Down with the English alliance! I +thought our case was a bad one when the French poured over the walls +into Vannes, but methinks it is a hundred times worse now."</p> + +<p>"We got out of that scrape, Ralph, and I hope we shall get out of this, +but as you say the prospect is black enough. See, the butchers are +hammering at the door with their pole-axes. Let us go down and aid in +the defense."</p> + +<p>"I am ready," Ralph said, "but I shall fight with a lighter heart if you +could fix upon some plan for us to adopt when the rabble break in. That +they will do so I regard as certain, seeing that the house is not built +for purposes of defense, but has numerous broad windows on the +ground-floor by which assuredly they will burst their way in."</p> + +<p>"Wait a moment then, Ralph; let us run up to the top story and see if +there be any means of escape along the roofs."</p> + +<p>The house stood detached from the others, but on one side was separated +from that next to it only by a narrow lane, and as the upper stories +projected beyond those below, the windows were but six feet distant from +those on the opposite side of the way.</p> + +<p>"See," Walter said, "there is a casement in the room to our left there +which is open; let us see if it is tenanted."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span></p> + +<p>Going into the next room they went to the window and opened it. It +exactly faced the casement opposite, and so far as they could see the +room was unoccupied.</p> + +<p>"It were easy to put a plank across," Ralph said.</p> + +<p>"We must not do that," Walter answered. "The mob are thick in the lane +below—what a roar comes up from their voices!—and a plank would be +surely seen, and we should be killed there as well as here. No, we must +get on to the sill and spring across; the distance is not great, and the +jump would be nothing were it not that the casements are so low. It must +be done as lightly and quickly as possible, and we may not then be seen +from below. Now leave the door open that we may make no mistake as to +the room, and come along, for by the sound the fight is hot below."</p> + +<p>Running down the stairs Walter and Ralph joined in the defense. Those in +the house knew that they would meet with no mercy from the infuriated +crowd, and each fought with the bravery of despair. Although there were +many windows to be defended, and at each the mob attacked desperately, +the assaults were all repulsed. Many indeed of the defenders were struck +down by the pikes and pole-axes, but for a time they beat back the +assailants whenever they attempted to enter.</p> + +<p>The noise was prodigious. The alarm-bells of the town were all ringing +and the shouts of the combatants were drowned in the hoarse roar of the +surging crowd without.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span></p> + +<p>Seeing that however valiant was the defense the assailants must in the +end prevail, and feeling sure that his enemies would have closed the +city gates and thus prevented the English without from coming to his +assistance, Van Artevelde ascended to an upper story and attempted to +address the crowd. His voice was drowned in the roar. In vain he +gesticulated and made motions imploring them to hear him, but all was +useless, and the courage of the demagogue deserted him and he burst into +tears at the prospect of death. Then he determined to try and make his +escape to the sanctuary of a church close by, and was descending the +stairs when a mighty crash below, the clashing of steel, shouts, and +cries, told that the mob had swept away one of the barricades and were +pouring into the house.</p> + +<p>"Make for the stairs," Walter shouted, "and defend yourselves there." +But the majority of the defenders, bewildered by the inrush of the +enemy, terrified at their ferocious aspect and terrible axes, had no +thought of continuing the resistance. A few, getting into corners, +resisted desperately to the end; others threw down their arms and +dropping on their knees cried for mercy, but all were ruthlessly +slaughtered.</p> + +<p>Keeping close together Walter and Ralph fought their way to the foot of +the stairs, and closely pursued by a band of the skinners headed by +Gerard Denis, ran up.</p> + +<p>Upon the first landing stood a man paralyzed with terror. On seeing him +a cry of ferocious<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> triumph rose from the mob. As nothing could be done +to aid him Walter and his follower rushed by without stopping. There was +a pause in the pursuit, and glancing down from the upper gallery Walter +saw Van Artevelde in the hands of the mob, each struggling to take +possession of him; then a man armed with a great ax pushed his way among +them, and swinging it over his head struck Van Artevelde dead to the +floor. His slayer was Gerard Denis himself.</p> + +<p>Followed by Ralph, Walter sprang through the open door into the chamber +they had marked, and closed the door behind them. Then Walter, saying, +"I will go first, Ralph; I can help you in should you miss your spring," +mounted on the sill of the casement.</p> + +<p>Short as was the distance the leap was extremely difficult, for neither +casement was more than three feet high. Walter was therefore obliged to +stoop low and to hurl himself head forward across the gulf. He succeeded +in the attempt, shooting clear through the casement on to the floor +beyond. Instantly he picked himself up and went to Ralph's assistance. +The latter, taller and more bulky, had greater difficulty in the task, +and only his shoulders arrived through the window. Walter seized him, +and aided him at once to scramble in, and they closed the casement +behind them.</p> + +<p>"It was well we took off our armor, Ralph; its pattern would have been +recognized in an instant."</p> + +<p>Walter had thrown off his helmet as he bounded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> up the stairs, and both +he and his companion had rid themselves of their heavy armor.</p> + +<p>"I would give a good deal," he said, "for two bourgeois jerkins, even +were they as foul as those of the skinners. This is a woman's +apartment," he added, looking round, "and nothing here will cover my six +feet of height, to say nothing of your four inches extra. Let us peep +into some of the other rooms. This is, doubtless, the house of some +person of importance, and in the upper floor we may find some clothes of +servants or retainers."</p> + +<p>They were not long in their search. The next room was a large one, and +contained a number of pallet beds, and hanging from pegs on the walls +were jerkins, mantles, and other garments, evidently belonging to the +retainers of the house. Walter and Ralph were not long in +transmogrifying their appearance, and had soon the air of two +respectable serving-men in a Flemish household.</p> + +<p>"But how are we to descend?" Ralph asked. "We can hardly hope to walk +down the stairs and make our escape without being seen, especially as +the doors will all be barred and bolted, seeing the tumult which is +raging outside."</p> + +<p>"It all depends whether our means of escape are suspected," Walter +replied. "I should scarce think that they would be. The attention of our +pursuers was wholly taken up by Van Artevelde, and some minutes must +have passed before they followed us. No doubt they will search every +place in the house, and all within it will by this time have been +slaugh<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span>tered. But they will scarce organize any special search for us. +All will be fully occupied with the exciting events which have taken +place, and as the casement by which we entered is closed it is scarcely +likely to occur to any one that we have escaped by that means. I will +listen first if the house is quiet. If so, we will descend and take +refuge in some room below, where there is a better chance of concealment +than here. Put the pieces of armor into that closet so that they may not +catch the eye of any who may happen to come hither. The day is already +closing. In half an hour it will be nightfall. Then we will try and make +our way out."</p> + +<p>Listening at the top of the stairs they could hear voices below; but as +the gallery was quiet and deserted they made their way a floor lower, +and seeing an open door entered it. Walter looked from the window.</p> + +<p>"There is a back yard below," he said, "with a door opening upon a +narrow lane. We are now upon the second story, and but some twenty-five +feet above the ground. We will not risk going down through the house, +which could scarce be accomplished without detection, but will at once +tear up into strips the coverings of the bed, and will make a rope by +which we may slip down into the court-yard as soon as it is dark. We +must hope that none will come up before that time; but, indeed, all will +be so full of the news of the events which have happened that it is +scarce likely that any will come above at present."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span></p> + +<p>The linen sheets and coverings were soon cut up and knotted together in +a rope. By the time that this was finished the darkness was closing in, +and after waiting patiently for a few minutes they lowered the rope and +slid down into the yard. Quietly they undid the bolts of the gate and +issued into the lane. The mantles were provided with hoods, as few of +the lower class of Flemings wore any other head-covering.</p> + +<p>Drawing these hoods well over their heads so as to shade their faces, +the two sallied out from the lane. They were soon in one of the +principal streets, which was crowded with people. Bands of weavers, +butchers, skinners, and others were parading the streets shouting and +singing in honor of their victory and of the downfall and death of him +whom they had but a few days before regarded as the mainstay of +Flanders. Many of the better class of burghers stood in groups in the +streets and talked in low and rather frightened voices of the +consequences which the deed of blood would bring upon the city. On the +one hand, Edward might march upon it with his army to avenge the murder +of his ally. Upon the other hand, they were now committed to France. +Their former ruler would return, and all the imposts and burdens against +which they had rebelled would again be laid upon the city.</p> + +<p>"What shall we do now?" Ralph asked, "for assuredly there will be no +issue by the gates."</p> + +<p>"We must possess ourselves of a length of rope,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> if possible, and make +our escape over the wall. How to get one I know not, for the shops are +all closed, and even were it not so I could not venture in to purchase +any, for my speech would betray us at once. Let us separate, and each +see whether he can find what we want. We will meet again at the entrance +to this church in an hour's time. One or the other of us may find what +we seek."</p> + +<p>Walter searched in vain. Wherever he saw the door of a yard open he +peered in, but in no case could he see any signs of rope. At the end of +the hour he returned to their rendezvous. Ralph was already there.</p> + +<p>"I have found nothing, Ralph. Have you had better fortune?"</p> + +<p>"That have I, Master Walter, and was back nigh an hour since. Scarce had +I left you when in a back street I came upon a quiet hostelry, and in +the court-yard were standing half a dozen teams of cattle. Doubtless +their owners had brought hay or corn into the city, and when the tumult +arose and the gates were closed found themselves unable to escape. The +masters were all drinking within, so without more ado I cut off the +ropes which served as traces for the oxen, and have them wound round my +body under my mantle. There must be twenty yards at least, and as each +rope is strong enough to hold double our weight there will be no +difficulty in lowering ourselves from the walls."</p> + +<p>"You have done well indeed, Ralph," Walter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> said. "Let us make our way +thither at once. Every one is so excited in the city that, as yet, there +will be but few guards upon the wall. The sooner, therefore, that we +attempt to make our escape the better."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<p class='center'>THE WHITE FORD.</p> + + +<p>They made their way without interruption to the wall. This they found, +as they expected, entirely deserted, although, no doubt, guards had been +posted at the gates. The Flemings, however, could have felt no fear of +an attack by so small a force as the five hundred English whom they knew +to be in the neighborhood.</p> + +<p>Walter and his companion soon knotted the ropes together and lowered +themselves into the moat. A few strokes took them to the other side, and +scrambling out, they made their way across the country to the spot where +the English had been posted. They found the Earl of Salisbury, who +commanded, in a great state of uneasiness. No message had reached him +during the day. He had heard the alarm-bells of the city ring, and a +scout who had gone forward returned with the news that the gates were +closed and the drawbridges raised, and that a strong body of men manned +the walls.</p> + +<p>"Your news is indeed bad," he said, when Walter related to him the +events which had taken place in the town. "This will altogether derange +the king's plans. Now that his ally is killed, I fear that his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> hopes of +acquiring Flanders for England will fall to the ground. It is a thousand +pities that he listened to Van Artevelde and allowed him to enter Ghent +alone. Had his majesty landed, as he wished, and made a progress through +the country, the prince receiving the homage of all the large towns, we +could then very well have summoned Ghent as standing alone against all +Flanders. The citizens then would, no doubt, have gladly opened their +gates and received the prince, and if they had refused we would have +made short work of them. However, as it has turned out, it is as well +that we did not enter the town with the Fleming, for against so large +and turbulent a population we should have had but little chance. And +now, Master Somers, we will march at once for Sluys and bear the news to +the king, and you shall tell me as we ride thither how you and your +man-at-arms managed to escape with whole skins from such a tumult."</p> + +<p>The king was much grieved when he heard of the death of Artevelde, and +held a council with his chief leaders. At first, in his indignation and +grief, he was disposed to march upon Ghent and to take vengeance for the +murder of his ally, but after a time calmer counsels prevailed.</p> + +<p>The Flemings were still in rebellion against their count, who was the +friend of France. Were the English to attack Ghent they would lose the +general good-will of the Flemings, and would drive them into the arms of +France, while, if matters were left alone, the effect of the popular +outburst which had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> caused the death of Artevelde would die away, and +motives of interest and the fear of France would again drive them into +the arms of England. The expedition therefore returned to England, and +there the king, in a proclamation to his people, avoided all allusion to +the death of his ally, but simply stated that he had been waited upon by +the councils of all the Flemish towns, and that their faithful obedience +to himself, as legitimate King of France, was established upon a firmer +basis than ever.</p> + +<p>This course had the effect which he had anticipated from it. The people +of Flanders perceived the danger and disadvantage which must accrue to +their trade from any permanent disagreement with England. They were +convinced by the events which soon afterward happened in France that the +King of England had more power than Philip of Valois, and could, if he +chose, punish severely any breach of faith toward him. They therefore +sent over commissioners to express their grief and submission. The death +of Artevelde was represented as the act of a frantic mob, and severe +fines were imposed upon the leaders of the party who slew him, and +although the principal towns expressed their desire still to remain +under the rule of the Count of Flanders, they suggested that the ties +which bound them to England should be strengthened by the marriage of +Louis, eldest son of the count, to one of Edward's daughters. More than +this, they offered to create a diversion for the English forces acting +in Guienne and Gascony by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> raising a strong force and expelling the +French garrisons still remaining in some parts of the country. This was +done. Hugo of Hastings was appointed by the king captain-general in +Flanders, and with a force of English and Flemings did good service by +expelling the French from Termond and several other towns.</p> + +<p>The character of Jacob van Artevelde has had but scant justice done to +it by most of the historians of the time. These, living in an age of +chivalry, when noble blood and lofty deeds were held in extraordinary +respect, had little sympathy with the brewer of Ghent, and deemed it +contrary to the fitness of things that the chivalry of France should +have been defied and worsted by mere mechanics and artisans. But there +can be no doubt that Artevelde was a very great man. He may have been +personally ambitious, but he was a true patriot. He had great military +talents. He completely remodeled and wonderfully improved the internal +administration of the country, and raised its commerce, manufactures, +and agriculture to a pitch which they had never before reached. After +his death his memory was esteemed and revered by the Flemings, who long +submitted to the laws he had made, and preserved his regulations with +scrupulous exactitude.</p> + +<p>Edward now hastened to get together a great army. Every means were +adopted to raise money and to gather stores, and every man between +sixteen and sixty south of the Trent was called upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> to take up arms +and commanded to assemble at Portsmouth in the middle of Lent. A +tremendous tempest, however, scattered the fleet collected to carry the +expedition, a great many of the ships were lost, and it was not until +the middle of July, 1346, that it sailed from England. It consisted of +about five hundred ships and ten thousand sailors, and carried four +thousand men-at-arms, ten thousand archers, twelve thousand Welsh, and +six thousand Irish.</p> + +<p>This seems but a small army considering the efforts which had been made; +but it was necessary to leave a considerable force behind for the +defense of the Scottish frontier, and England had already armies in +Guienne and Brittany. Lionel, Edward's second son, was appointed regent +during his father's absence. On board Edward's own ship were Godfrey of +Harcourt and the Prince of Wales. Walter, as one of the personal squires +of the prince, was also on board.</p> + +<p>The prince had been greatly interested in the details of Walter's escape +from Van Artevelde's house, the king himself expressed his approval of +his conduct, and Walter was generally regarded as one of the most +promising young aspirants at the court. His modesty and good temper +rendered him a general favorite, and many even of the higher nobles +noticed him by their friendly attentions, for it was felt that he stood +so high in the good-will of the prince that he might some day become a +person of great influence with him, and one whose good-will would be +valuable.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was generally supposed, when the fleet started, that Guienne was +their destination, but they had not gone far when a signal was made to +change the direction in which they were sailing and to make for La Hogue +in Normandy. Godfrey of Harcourt had great influence in that province, +and his persuasions had much effect in determining the king to direct +his course thither. There was the further advantage that the King of +France, who was well aware of the coming invasion, would have made his +preparations to receive him in Guienne. Furthermore, Normandy was the +richest and most prosperous province in France. It had for a long time +been untouched by war, and offered great abundance of spoil. It had made +itself particularly obnoxious to the English by having recently made an +offer to the King of France to fit out an expedition and conquer England +with its own resources.</p> + +<p>The voyage was short and favorable, and the expedition landed at La +Hogue, on the small peninsula of Cotentin, without opposition. Six days +were spent at La Hogue disembarking the men, horses, and stores, and +baking bread for the use of the army on the march. A detachment advanced +and pillaged and burned Barfleur and Cherbourg and a number of small +towns and castles.</p> + +<p>In accordance with custom, at the commencement of the campaign a court +was held, at which the Prince of Wales was dubbed a knight by his +father. A similar honor was bestowed upon a number of other young +aspirants, among whom was Walter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> Somers, who had been highly +recommended for that honor to the king by Sir Walter Manny.</p> + +<p>The force was now formed into three divisions—the one commanded by the +king himself, the second by the Earl of Warwick, and the third by +Godfrey of Harcourt. The Earl of Arundel acted as lord high constable, +and the Earl of Huntingdon, who was in command of the fleet, followed +the army along the sea-coast. Valognes, Carentan, and St. Lo were +captured without difficulty, and the English army advanced by rapid +marches upon Caen, plundering the country for six or seven leagues on +each side of the line of march. An immense quantity of booty was +obtained.</p> + +<p>As soon as the news of Edward's landing in Normandy reached Paris, +Philip dispatched the Count d'Eu, Constable of France, with the Count of +Tankerville and six hundred men-at-arms, to oppose Edward at Caen. The +Bishop of Bayeux had thrown himself into that city, which was already +garrisoned by three hundred Genoese. The town was not defensible, and +the only chance of resistance was by opposing the passage of the river +Horn, which flowed between the suburbs and the city. The bridge was +barricaded, strong wooden towers were erected, and such was the +confidence of the inhabitants and their leaders that Edward's promise of +protection for the person and property of the citizens was rejected with +scorn, and the whole male population joined the garrison in the defense +of the bridge. Marching through the deserted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> suburbs the English army +attacked the bridge with such vehemence that although the enemy defended +the barricades gallantly they were speedily forced, and the English +poured into the town. Before the first fury of the attack was over near +five thousand persons were slain. The Count of Tankerville, one hundred +and forty knights, and as many squires were made prisoners. The plunder +was so enormous as to be sufficient to cover the whole expenses of the +expedition, and this with the booty which had been previously acquired +was placed on board ship and dispatched to England, while the king +marched forward with his army. At Lisieux he was met by two cardinals +sent by the pope to negotiate a truce; but Edward had learned the +fallacy of truces made with King Philip, and declined to enter into +negotiations. Finding that Rouen had been placed in a state of defense +and could not be taken without a long siege, he left it behind him and +marched along the valley of the Eure, gathering rich booty at every +step.</p> + +<p>But while he was marching forward a great army was gathering in his +rear. The Count of Harcourt, brother of Godfrey, called all Normandy to +arms. Every feudal lord and vassal answered to the summons, and before +Edward reached the banks of the Seine a formidable army had assembled.</p> + +<p>The whole of the vassals of France were gathering by the orders of the +king at St. Denis. The English fleet had now left the coast, and Edward +had only the choice of retreating through Nor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span>mandy into Brittany or of +attempting to force the passage of the Seine, and to fight his way +through France to Flanders. He chose the latter alternative, and marched +along the left bank of the river toward Paris, seeking in vain to find a +passage. The enemy followed him step by step on the opposite bank, and +all the bridges were broken down and the fords destroyed.</p> + +<p>Edward marched on, burning the towns and ravaging the country until he +reached Poissy. The bridge was as usual destroyed, but the piles on +which it stood were still standing, and he determined to endeavor to +cross here. He accordingly halted for five days, but dispatched troops +in all directions, who burned and ravaged to the very gates of Paris. +The villages of St. Germain, St. Cloud, Bourg la Reine, and many others +within sight of the walls were destroyed, and the capital itself thrown +into a state of terror and consternation. Godfrey of Harcourt was the +first to cross the river, and with the advance-guard of English fell +upon a large body of the burghers of Amiens, and after a severe fight +defeated them, killing over five hundred. The king himself with his +whole force passed on the 16th of August.</p> + +<p>Philip, with his army, quitted St. Denis when he heard that the English +army had passed the Seine, and by parallel marches endeavored to +interpose between it and the borders of Flanders. As his force was every +hour increasing he dispatched messengers to Edward offering him battle +within a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> few days on condition that he would cease to ravage the +country; but Edward declined the proposal, saying that Philip himself by +breaking down the bridges had avoided a battle as long as he could, but +that whenever he was ready to give battle he would accept the challenge. +During the whole march the armies were within a few leagues of each +other, and constant skirmishes took place between bodies detached from +the hosts.</p> + +<p>In some of these skirmishes Walter took part, as he and the other newly +made knights were burning to distinguish themselves. Every day the +progress of the army became more difficult, as the country people +everywhere rose against them, and several times attempted to make a +stand, but were defeated with great loss. The principal towns were found +deserted, and even Poix, which offered great capabilities of defense, +had been left unguarded. Upon the English entering, the burghers offered +to pay a large ransom to save the town from plunder. The money was to be +delivered as soon as the English force had withdrawn, and Walter Somers +was ordered by the king to remain behind with a few men-at-arms to +receive the ransom.</p> + +<p>No sooner had the army departed than the burghers, knowing that the +French army was close behind, changed their minds, refused to pay the +ransom, and fell upon the little body of men-at-arms. Although taken +quite by surprise by this act of treachery Walter instantly rallied his +men, although several had been killed at the first on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span>slaught. He, with +Ralph and two or three of the stanchest men, covered the retreat of the +rest through the streets, making desperate charges upon the body of +armed burghers pressing upon them. Ralph fought as usual with a mace of +prodigious weight, and the terror of his blows in no slight degree +enabled the party to reach the gate in safety, but Walter had no idea of +retreating further. He dispatched one of his followers to gallop at full +speed to overtake the rear-guard of the army, which was still but two +miles distant, while with the rest he formed a line across the gate and +resisted all the attempts of the citizens to expel them.</p> + +<p>The approach to the gate was narrow, and the overwhelming number of the +burghers were therefore of little avail. Walter had dismounted his force +and all fought on foot, and although sorely pressed they held their +ground until Lords Cobham and Holland, with their followers, rode up. +Then the tide of war was turned, the town was plundered and burned, and +great numbers of the inhabitants slain. Walter gained great credit for +holding the gate, for had he been driven out, the town could have +resisted, until the arrival of Louis, all assaults of the English.</p> + +<p>The river Somme now barred the passage of Edward. Most of the bridges +had been destroyed, and those remaining were so strongly fortified that +they could not be forced.</p> + +<p>The position of the English was now very critical. On one flank and in +front were impassable rivers.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> The whole country was in arms against +them, and on their rear and flank pressed a hostile army fourfold their +strength. The country was swampy and thinly populated, and flour and +provisions were only obtained with great difficulty. Edward, on finding +from the reports of his marshals who had been sent to examine the +bridges, that no passage across the river could be found, turned and +marched down the river toward the sea, halting for the night at +Oisemont.</p> + +<p>Here, a great number of peasantry attempted a defense, but were easily +defeated and a number of prisoners taken. Late in the evening the Earl +of Warwick, who had pushed forward as far as Abbeville and St. Valery, +returned with the news that the passages at those places were as +strongly guarded as elsewhere, but that he had learned from a peasant +that a ford existed somewhere below Abbeville, although the man was +himself ignorant of its position.</p> + +<p>Edward at once called the prisoners belonging to that part of the +country before him, and promised to any one who would tell him where the +ford lay his freedom and that of twenty of his companions. A peasant +called Gobin Agase stepped forward and offered to show the ford, where +at low tide twelve men could cross abreast. It was, he said, called La +Blanche Tache.</p> + +<p>Edward left Oisemont at midnight and reached the ford at daylight. The +river, however, was full and the army had to wait impatiently for low +tide.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> When they arrived there no enemy was to be seen on the opposite +bank, but before the water fell sufficiently for a passage to be +attempted, Sir Godemar du Fay with twelve thousand men, sent by King +Philip, who was aware of the existence of the ford, arrived on the +opposite side.</p> + +<p>The enterprise was a difficult one indeed, for the water, even at low +tide, is deep. Godemar du Fay, however, threw away part of his advantage +by advancing into the stream. The English archers lined the banks, and +poured showers of arrows into the ranks of the enemy, while the Genoese +bowmen on their side were able to give comparatively little assistance +to the French.</p> + +<p>King Edward shouted to his knights, "Let those who love me follow me," +and spurred his horse into the water. Behind him followed his most +valiant knights, and Walter, riding close to the Prince of Wales, was +one of the foremost.</p> + +<p>The French resisted valiantly and a desperate battle took place on the +narrow ford, but the impetuosity of the English prevailed, and step by +step they drove the French back to the other side of the river. The +whole army poured after their leaders, and the French were soon entirely +routed and fled, leaving two thousand men-at-arms dead on the field.</p> + +<p>King Edward, having now freed himself from the difficulties which had +encompassed him on the other side of the river, prepared to choose a +ground to give battle to the whole French army.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span></p> + +<p>Louis had advanced slowly, feeling confident that the English would be +unable to cross the river, and that he should catch them hemmed in by +it. His mortification and surprise on finding, when he approached La +Blanche Tache, that twelve thousand men had been insufficient to hold a +ford by which but twelve could cross abreast, and that his enemy had +escaped from his grasp, were great. The tide had now risen again, and he +was obliged to march on to Abbeville and cross the river there.</p> + +<p>King Edward now advanced into the forest of Cressy.</p> + +<p>Hugh de le Spencer, with a considerable force, was dispatched to Crotoy, +which he carried by assault after a severe conflict, in which four +thousand of the French men-at-arms were slain. The capture of this city +removed all danger of want from the army, for large stores of wine and +meal were found there, and Sir Hugh at once sent off a supply to the +tired army in the field.</p> + +<p>The possession of Crotoy and the mouth of the Somme would have now +rendered it easy for the English monarch to have transported his troops +to England, and to have returned triumphant after the accomplishment of +his extraordinary and most successful march through France. The army, +however, was elated by the many great successes it had won, he was now +in Ponthieu, which was one of his own fiefs, and he determined to make a +stand in spite of the immense superiority of the enemy.</p> + +<p>Next morning, then—Friday, the 25th of August,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> 1346—he dispatched the +Earl of Warwick, with Godfrey of Harcourt and Lord Cobham, to examine +the ground and choose a site for a battle.</p> + +<p>The plan of the fight was drawn out by the king and his councilors, and +the king yielded to the Black Prince the chief place of danger and +honor, placing with him the Earl of Warwick, Sir John Chandos, and many +of his best knights.</p> + +<p>The ground which had been chosen for the battle was an irregular slope +between the forest of Cressy and the river Maie near the little village +of Canchy. The slope looked toward the south and east, from which +quarters the enemy was expected to arrive, and some slight defenses were +added to the natural advantages of the ground.</p> + +<p>On the night of the 25th all the principal leaders of the British host +were entertained by King Edward. Next morning mass was celebrated, and +the king, the prince, and many knights and nobles received the +sacrament, after which the trumpets sounded, and the army marched to +take up its position. Its numbers are variously estimated, but the best +account puts it at about thirty thousand men, which, considering that +thirty-two thousand had crossed the Channel to La Hogue, is probably +about the force which would have been present, allowing that two +thousand had fallen in the various actions or had died from disease.</p> + +<p>The division of the Black Prince consisted of eight hundred men-at-arms, +four thousand archers, and six thousand Welsh foot. The archers, as +usual,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> were placed in front, supported by the light troops of Wales and +the men-at-arms; on his left was the second division, commanded by the +Earls of Arundel and Northampton; its extreme left rested on Canchy and +the river, and it was further protected by a deep ditch; this corps was +about seven thousand strong.</p> + +<p>The king himself took up his position on a knoll of rising ground +surmounted by a windmill, and twelve thousand men under his personal +command were placed here in reserve.</p> + +<p>In the rear of the prince's division an inclosure of stakes was formed; +in this, guarded by a small body of archers, were ranged the wagons and +baggage of the army, together with all the horses, the king having +determined that the knights and men-at-arms on his side should fight on +foot.</p> + +<p>When the army had taken up its position, the king, mounted on a small +palfrey, with a white staff in his hand, rode from rank to rank +exhorting his soldiers to do their duty gallantly. It was nearly noon +before he had passed through all the lines, and permission was then +given to the soldiers to fall out from their ranks and to take +refreshments while waiting for the coming of the enemy. This was +accordingly done, the men eating and drinking at their ease and lying +down in their ranks on the soft grass, with their steel caps and their +bows or pikes beside them.</p> + +<p>In the mean time the French had, on their side, been preparing for the +battle. Philip had crossed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> the Somme at Abbeville late on Thursday +afternoon, and remained there next day, marshaling the large +reënforcements which were hourly arriving. His force now considerably +exceeded one hundred thousand men, the number with which he had marched +from Amiens three days previously.</p> + +<p>Friday was the Festival of St. Louis, and that evening Philip gave a +splendid banquet to the whole of the nobles of his army.</p> + +<p>On the following morning the king, accompanied by his brother the Count +D'Alençon, the old King of Bohemia and his son, the King of Rome, the +Duke of Lorraine, the Count of Blois, the Count of Flanders, and a great +number of other feudal princes, heard mass at the abbey, and then +marched with his great army toward Cressy. He moved but slowly in order +to give time to all the forces scattered over the neighborhood to come +up, and four knights, headed by one of the King of Bohemia's officers, +went forward to reconnoiter the English position. They approached within +very short distance of the English lines and gained a very exact +knowledge of the position, the English taking no measures to interrupt +the reconnaissance. They returned with the information they had +gathered, and the leader of the party, Le Moyne de Basele, one of the +most judicious officers of his time, strongly advised the king to halt +his troops, pointing out that as it was evident the English were ready +to give battle, and as they were fresh and vigorous, while the French +were wearied and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> hungry, it would be better to encamp and give battle +the next morning.</p> + +<p>Philip saw the wisdom of the advice and ordered his two marshals, the +Lord of St. Venant and Charles de Montmorency, to command a halt. They +instantly spurred off, one to the front and the other to the rear, +commanding the leaders to halt their banners. Those in advance at once +obeyed, but those behind still pressed on, declaring that they would not +halt until they were in the front line. All wanted to be first, in order +to obtain their share of the honor and glory of defeating the English. +Those in front, seeing the others still coming on, again pressed +forward, and thus, in spite of the efforts of the king and his marshals, +the French nobles with their followers pressed forward in confusion, +until, passing through a small wood, they found themselves suddenly in +the presence of the English army.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<p class='center'>CRESSY.</p> + + +<p>The surprise of the French army at finding themselves in the presence of +the English was so great that the first line recoiled in confusion. +Those marching up from behind imagined that they had been already +engaged and repulsed by the English, and the disorder spread through the +whole army, and was increased by the common people, who had crowded to +the field in immense numbers from the whole country round to see the +battle and share in the plunder of the English camp.</p> + +<p>From King Edward's position on the rising ground he could see the +confusion which prevailed in the French ranks, and small as were his +forces, he would probably have obtained an easy victory by ordering a +sudden charge upon them. The English, however, being dismounted, but +small results would have followed the scattering of the great host of +the French. The English army therefore remained immovable, except that +the soldiers rose from the ground, and taking their places in the ranks, +awaited the onslaught of the enemy.</p> + +<p>King Philip himself now arrived on the field,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> and his hatred for the +English led him at once to disregard the advice which had been given him +and to order the battle to commence as soon as possible.</p> + +<p>The army was divided into four bodies, of which Philip commanded one, +the Count D'Alençon the second, the King of Bohemia the third, and the +Count of Savoy the fourth. Besides these were a band of fifteen thousand +mercenaries, Genoese cross-bowmen, who were now ordered to pass between +the ranks of cavalry and to clear the ground of the English archers, who +were drawn up in the usual form in which they fought—namely, in very +open order, line behind line, the men standing alternately, so that each +had ample room to use his bow and to fire over the heads of those in +front. The formation was something that of a harrow, and, indeed, +exactly resembled that in which the Roman archers fought, and was called +by them a quincunx.</p> + +<p>The Genoese had marched four leagues beneath a hot sun loaded with their +armor and heavy cross-bows, and they remonstrated against the order, +urging that they were in no condition to do good service without some +repose. The Count D'Alençon, furious at their hesitation, ordered them +up, but as they advanced a terrible thunderstorm, with torrents of rain, +broke over the armies, and wetting the cords of the cross-bows rendered +many of them unserviceable. At length the cross-bowmen were arranged in +front, while behind them were the vast<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> body of French cavalry, and the +order was given for the battle to begin.</p> + +<p>The Genoese advanced with loud shouts, but the English archers paid no +attention to the noise, but waited calmly for the attack. At this moment +the sun, now approaching the west, shone out brightly between the clouds +behind the English, its rays streaming full in the faces of the French. +The Genoese were now within distance, and began to discharge their +quarrels at their impassive enemies, but as they opened fire the English +archers drew their bows from the cases which had protected them from the +rain, and stepping forward poured their arrows among the Genoese. The +cross-bowmen were smitten as with a storm, numbers were struck in the +face and other unprotected parts, and they were instantly thrown into +confusion, and casting away their cross-bows they recoiled in disorder +among the horsemen behind them.</p> + +<p>Philip, passionate and cruel as ever, instead of trying to rally the +Genoese, ordered the cavalry behind them to fall upon them, and the +men-at-arms at once plunged in among the disordered mass of the +cross-bowmen, and a wild scene of carnage and confusion ensued, the +English archers continuing to pour their unerring arrows into the midst. +The Count D'Alençon, who was behind, separated his division into two +bodies, and swept round on one side himself, while the Count of Flanders +did the same on the other to attack the Prince of Wales in more regular +array. Taking a circuitous route,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> D'Alençon appeared upon a rising +ground on the flank of the archers of the Black Prince, and thus, +avoiding their arrows, charged down with his cavalry upon the eight +hundred men-at-arms gathered round the Black Prince, while the Count of +Flanders attacked on the other flank.</p> + +<p>Nobly did the flower of English chivalry withstand the shock of the +French, and the prince himself and the highest nobles and simple +men-at-arms fought side by side. None gave way a foot.</p> + +<p>In vain the French, with impetuous charges, strove to break through the +mass of steel. The spear-heads were cleft off with sword and battle-ax, +and again and again men and horses recoiled from the unbroken line. Each +time the French retired the English ranks were formed anew, and as +attack followed attack a pile of dead rose around them. The Count +D'Alençon and the Duke of Lorraine were among the first who fell. The +young Count of Blois, finding that he could not ride through the wall of +steel, dismounted with his knights and fought his way on foot toward the +banner of the Prince of Wales. For a time the struggle was desperate, +and the young prince, with his household knights, was for a time +well-nigh beaten back.</p> + +<p>Walter, fighting close beside the prince, parried more than one blow +intended for him, and the prince himself slew the Count of Blois, whose +followers all fell around him. The Count of Flanders was also slain, and +confusion began to reign among<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> the assailants, whose leaders had now +all fallen. Philip himself strove to advance with his division into the +fight, but the struggle between the Genoese and the men-at-arms was +still continuing, and the very multitude of his troops in the narrow and +difficult field which the English had chosen for the battle embarrassed +his movements.</p> + +<p>Charles of Luxembourg, King of the Romans, and afterward Emperor of +Germany, son of the old King of Bohemia, with a large body of German and +French cavalry, now assailed the English archers, and in spite of their +flights of arrows came to close quarters, and cutting their way through +them joined in the assault upon the men-at-arms of the Black Prince. +Nearly forty thousand men were now pressing round the little body, and +the Earls of Northampton and Arundel moved forward with their divisions +to his support, while the Earl of Warwick, who was with the prince, +dispatched Sir Thomas of Norwich to the king, who still remained with +his powerful reserve, to ask for aid.</p> + +<p>"Sir Thomas," demanded the king, "is my son killed, overthrown, or +wounded beyond help?"</p> + +<p>"Not so, sire," replied the knight, "but he is in a rude fight, and much +needs your aid."</p> + +<p>"Go back, Sir Thomas, to those who sent you, and tell them from me that +whatsoever happens they require no aid from me so long as my son is in +life. Tell them also that I command them to let the boy win his spurs, +for, God willing, the day shall be his, and the honor shall rest with +him and those into whose charge I have given him."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span></p> + +<p>The prince and those around him were filled with fresh ardor when they +received this message. Each man redoubled his efforts to repel the +forces that were incessantly poured down upon them by the French. On all +sides these pressed around them, striving desperately, but ever in vain, +to break through the solid ranks of the English. The French men-at-arms +suffered, moreover, terribly from the attacks of the Welsh infantry. +These men, clad in thick leather jerkins, nimble of foot, accustomed to +a life of activity, were armed with shortened lances and knives, and +mingled fearlessly among the confused mass of French cavalry, creeping +beneath the horses' bellies, standing up when they got a chance, and +stabbing horses and men with their knives and pikes. Many were trampled +upon or struck down, but numbering, as they did, six thousand, they +pervaded the whole mass of the enemy, and did terrible execution, adding +in no small degree to the confusion caused by the shower of arrows from +the archers within the circle of the men-at-arms. The instant a French +knight fell, struck from his horse with a battle-ax or arrow, or by the +fall of a wounded steed, the half-wild Welsh were upon him and slew him +before he could regain his feet.</p> + +<p>The slaughter was immense. The Count of Harcourt, with his nephew the +Count D'Aumale and his two gallant sons, fell together, and at last +Charles of Luxembourg, seeing his banner down, his troops routed, his +friends slain, and the day irreparably<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> lost, and being himself severely +wounded in three places, turned his horse and fled, casting off his rich +emblazoned surcoat to avoid recognition. In the mean time Prince +Charles' father, the veteran King of Bohemia, once one of the most +famous warriors of Europe, but now old and blind, sat on horseback at a +little distance from the fight; the knights around him told him the +events as they happened, and the old monarch soon saw that the day was +lost. He asked them for tidings of his son Charles of Luxembourg, but +they were forced to reply that the banner of the King of the Romans was +no longer in sight, but that, doubtless, he was somewhere engaged in the +<i>mêlée</i>.</p> + +<p>"Lords," said the old man, "you are my vassals, my friends, and my +companions, and on this day I command and beseech you to lead me forward +so far that I may deal one blow of my sword in the battle."</p> + +<p>His faithful friends obeyed him, a number of knights arranged themselves +around him, and lest they should lose him in the fight they tied their +horses together by the bridles and charged down into the fray. Advancing +directly against the banner of the Prince of Wales, the blind monarch +was carried into the midst of the thickest strife. There the little +group of knights fought gallantly, and after the battle was over the +bodies of the king and his friends were found lying together, their dead +horses still linked by the bridles.</p> + +<p>During this terrible battle, which had been rag<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span>ing since three o'clock, +Philip had made strenuous efforts to aid his troops engaged in the front +by continually sending fresh bodies to the assault. It was now growing +dark, terror and confusion had already spread among the French, and many +were flying in all directions, and the unremitting showers of English +arrows still flew like hail among their ranks. As the king made his way +forward, surrounded by his personal attendants, to take part himself in +the fight, his followers fell thick around him, and his horse was slain +by an arrow. John of Hainault, who had remained by his side during the +whole day, mounted him upon a fresh horse and urged him to fly, as the +day was lost. Philip, however, persisted, and made his way into the +<i>mêlée</i>, where he fought for some time with extreme courage, until +almost all around him were slain, the royal standard-bearer killed, and +himself wounded in two places. John of Hainault then seized his bridle, +exclaiming, "Come away, sire, it is full time; do not throw your life +away foolishly; if you have lost this day you will win another," and so +almost forced the unwilling king from the field. Philip, accompanied by +the lords of Montmorency, Beaujeu, Aubigny, and Mansault, with John of +Hainault and sixty men-at-arms, rode to the Castle of Broye, and there +halted for a few hours. At midnight he again set out, and in the morning +arrived safely at Amiens.</p> + +<p>The Black Prince held his station until night without yielding a single +step to all the efforts of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> the French. Gradually, however, the +assailants became less and less numerous, the banners disappeared, and +the shouts of the leaders and the clang of arms died away, and the +silence which prevailed over the field at once announced that the +victory was complete and the enemy in full flight. An immense number of +torches were now lighted through the English lines, and the king, +quitting for the first time his station on the hill, came down to +embrace his gallant son. Edward and his host rejoiced in a spirit of +humility over the victory. No songs of triumph, no feastings or +merriment were permitted, but a solemn service of the Church was held, +and the king and his soldiers offered their thanks to God for the +victory he had given them. The English army lay all night under arms, +and a number of scattered parties of the French wandering about in the +darkness entered the lines and were slain or taken prisoners.</p> + +<p>The dawn of the next morning was thick and foggy, and intelligence +coming in that a large body of the enemy were advancing upon them, the +Earls of Northampton, Warwick, and Norfolk, with five hundred +men-at-arms and two thousand archers, went out to reconnoiter, and came +in the misty twilight upon an immense force composed of the citizens of +Beauvais, Rouen, and some other towns, led by the Grand Prior of France +and the Archbishop of Rouen, who were approaching the field.</p> + +<p>By some extraordinary accident they had not met any of the fugitives +flying from Cressy, and were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> ignorant that a battle had been fought. +The English charged them at once. Their advance-guard, consisting of +burghers, was easily overthrown. The second division, which was composed +of men-at-arms, fought bravely, but was unable to withstand the charge +of the triumphant English, and was completely broken and defeated. The +grand prior was killed and a vast number of his followers slain or +captured. During the whole of the morning detached parties from Edward's +army scoured the country, dispersing and slaughtering bands of French +who still remained together, and toward night the Earl of Northampton +returned to the camp with the news that no enemy remained in the +vicinity that could offer a show of resistance to the English force.</p> + +<p>It is said that a far greater number of French were killed upon the +second day than upon the first. This can be accounted for by the fact +that on the first day but a small portion of the English army were +engaged, and that upon the second the English were fresh and vigorous, +and their enemies exhausted and dispirited.</p> + +<p>The greater number of the French nobles and knights who fell died in +their attempt to break through the Black Prince's array. Besides the +King of Bohemia, nine sovereign princes and eighty great nobles were +killed, with twelve hundred knights, fifteen hundred men-at-arms, and +thirty thousand foot; while on the English side only three knights and a +small number of men-at-arms and infantry<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> were killed. The body of the +King of Bohemia and those of the other great leaders were carried in +solemn pomp to the Abbey of Maintenay. Edward himself and his son +accompanied them as mourners.</p> + +<p>On the Monday following Edward marched with his army against Calais, and +summoned the town to surrender. John of Vienne, who commanded the +garrison, refused to comply with the demand. The fortifications of the +town were extremely strong and the garrison numerous, and Edward +perceived that an assault would be very unlikely to succeed, and would +entail great loss, while a repulse would have dimmed the luster of the +success which he had gained. He therefore determined to reduce it by +famine, and the troops were set to work to build huts. So permanently +and strongly were these constructed that it seemed to the enemy that +King Edward was determined to remain before Calais even should he have +to stay there for ten years.</p> + +<p>Proclamations were issued in England and Flanders inviting traders to +establish stores and to bring articles of trade of all kinds, and in a +short time a complete town sprang up which was named by Edward New-Town +the Bold. The English fleet held complete possession of the sea, cutting +off the besieged from all succor by ship, and enabling abundant supplies +for the army to be brought from England and Flanders. Strong parties +were sent out in all directions. The northern provinces of France were +scoured, and the army was amply provided with necessaries and even +luxuries.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span></p> + +<p>After the first terrible shock caused by the crushing defeat of Cressy, +King Philip began at once to take measures for the relief of Calais, and +made immense efforts again to put a great army in the field. He +endeavored by all means in his power to gain fresh allies. The young +Count of Flanders, who at the death of his father at Cressy was sixteen +years of age, was naturally even more hostile to the English than the +late prince had been, and he strove to win over his subjects to the +French alliance, while Philip made them magnificent offers if they would +join him. The Flemings, however, remained stanch to the English +alliance, and held their prince in duress until he at last consented to +marry the daughter of Edward. A week before the date fixed for the +nuptials, however, he managed to escape from the vigilance of his guards +when out hawking, and fled to the court of France.</p> + +<p>In Scotland, Philip was more successful, and David Bruce, instead of +employing the time given him by the absence of Edward with his armies in +driving out the English garrisons from the strong places they still held +in Scotland, raised an army of fifty thousand men and marched across the +border into England plundering and ravaging. Queen Philippa, however, +raising an army, marched against him, and the Scotch were completely +defeated at Neville's Cross, fifteen thousand being killed and their +king himself taken prisoner.</p> + +<p>Walter's conduct at the battle of Cressy gained him still further the +favor of the Black Prince. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> valor with which he had fought was +conspicuous even on a field where all fought gallantly, and the prince +felt that more than once he would have been smitten down had not +Walter's sword interposed. Ralph too had fought with reckless bravery, +and many French knights and gentlemen had gone down before the +tremendous blows of his heavy mace, against which the stoutest armor +availed nothing. After the battle the prince offered to make him an +esquire in spite of the absence of gentle blood in his veins, but Ralph +declined the honor.</p> + +<p>"An it please you, Sir Prince," he said, "but I should feel more +comfortable among the men-at-arms, my fellows. In the day of battle I +trust that I should do no discredit to my squirehood, but at other times +I should feel woefully out of my element, and should find naught for my +hands to do; therefore, if it so pleases your royal highness, I would +far rather remain a simple man-at-arms."</p> + +<p>Ralph did not, however, refuse the heavy purse which the prince gave +him, although indeed he, as well as all the soldiers, was well supplied +with money, so great were the spoils which the army had gathered in its +march before Cressy, and which they now swept off in their raids among +the northern provinces of France.</p> + +<p>One evening Walter was returning from a banquet at the pavilion of the +Prince of Wales, with Ralph as usual following at a little distance, +when from a corner of the street a man darted suddenly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> out and struck a +dagger with all his force between his shoulders. Well was it for Walter +that he had taken Geoffrey's advice, and had never laid aside the shirt +of mail, night or day. Fine as was its temper, two or three links of the +outer fold were broken, but the point did not penetrate the second fold, +and the dagger snapped in the hand of the striker. The force of the +sudden blow, however, hurled Walter to the ground. With a loud cry Ralph +rushed forward. The man instantly fled. Ralph pursued him but a short +distance and then hastened back to Walter.</p> + +<p>"Are you hurt, Sir Walter?" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"In no way, Ralph, thanks to my shirt of mail. Well, indeed, was it for +me that I was wearing it or I should assuredly have been a dead man. I +had almost begun to forget that I was a threatened man; but I shall be +on guard for the future."</p> + +<p>"I wish I had followed the fellow," Ralph said. "I would not have slain +him could I have helped it, but would have left it for the hangman to +extort from him the name of his employer; but, in truth, he struck so +hard, and you fell so straight before the blow, that I feared the mail +had given way, and that you were sorely wounded if not killed. You have +oft told me that I was over-careful of you, but you see that I was not +careful enough; however, you may be assured that if another attempt be +made those who attempt it shall not get off scot-free. Do you think of +laying a complaint before the provost against him you suspect?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It would be useless, Ralph. We may have suspicion of the man from whom +the blow came, but have no manner of proof. It might have been done by +any ruffian camp-follower, who struck the blow only with the hope of +carrying off my chain and purse. The camp swarms with such fellows, and +we have no clew which could lead to his detection, unless," he added, +stooping and picking up a piece of steel which lay at his feet, "this +broken dagger may some day furnish us with one. No; we will say naught +about it. Sir James Carnegie is not now in camp, having left a week +since on business in England. We exchange no words when we meet, but I +heard that he had been called away. Fortunately the young prince likes +him not, and I therefore have seldom occasion to meet him. I have no +doubt that he credits me with the disfavor in which he is held by the +prince; but I have never even mentioned his name before him, and the +prince's misliking is but the feeling which a noble and generous heart +has, as though by instinct, against one who is false and treacherous. At +the same time we must grant that this traitor knight is a bold and +fearless man-at-arms; he fought well at La Blanche Tache and Cressy, and +he is much liked and trusted by my Lord of Northampton, in whose +following he mostly rides; 'tis a pity that one so brave should have so +foul and treacherous a heart. Here we are at my hut, and you can sleep +soundly to-night, Ralph, for there is little fear that the fellow, who +has failed to-night, will repeat his attempt for some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> time. He thinks, +no doubt, that he has killed me, for with a blow so strongly struck he +would scarce have felt the snapping of the weapon, and is likely enough +already on board one of the ships which ply to and fro from England on +his way to acquaint his employer that I am removed from his path."</p> + +<p>The next morning Walter mentioned to the Black Prince the venture which +had befallen him, and the narrow escape he had had of his life. The +prince was extremely exasperated, and gave orders that an inquisition +should be made through the camp, and that all men found there not being +able to give a good account of themselves as having reasonable and +lawful calling there should be forthwith put on board ship and sent to +England. He questioned Walter closely whether he deemed that this attack +was for the purpose of plunder only, or whether he had any reason to +believe that he had private enemies.</p> + +<p>"There is a knight who is evilly disposed toward me, your highness," +Walter said; "but seeing that I have no proof whatever that he had a +hand in this affair, however strongly I may suspect it, I would fain, +with your leave, avoid mentioning his name."</p> + +<p>"But think you that there is any knight in this camp capable of so foul +an action?"</p> + +<p>"I have had proofs, your highness, that he is capable of such an act; +but in this matter my tongue is tied, as the wrong he attempted was not +against myself, but against others who have so far forgiven<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> him that +they would fain the matter should drop. He owes me ill-will, seeing that +I am aware of his conduct, and that it was my intervention which caused +his schemes to fail. Should this attempt against me be repeated it can +scarce be the effect of chance, but would show premeditated design, and +I would then, both in defense of my own life, and because I think that +such deeds should not go unpunished, not hesitate to name him to you, +and if proof be wanting to defy him to open combat."</p> + +<p>"I regret, Sir Walter, that your scruples should hinder you from at once +denouncing him; but seeing how grave a matter it is to charge a knight +with so foul a crime, I will not lay stress upon you; but be assured +that should any repetition of the attempt be made I shall take the +matter in hand, and will see that this caitiff knight receives his +deserts."</p> + +<p>A short time afterward Walter accompanied the prince in an excursion +which he made with a portion of the army, sweeping the French provinces +as far as the river Somme. Upon their way back they passed through the +village of Près, hard by which stood a small castle. It was situate some +forty miles from Calais, and standing upon rising ground it commanded a +very extensive view over the country.</p> + +<p>"What say you, Sir Walter?" the prince said to the young knight who was +riding near him. "That castle would make a good advanced post, and a +messenger riding in could bring news of any large movements of the +enemy." Walter assented.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then, Sir Walter, I name you its chatelain. I shall be sorry to lose +your good company; but the post is one of peril, and I know that you are +ever longing to distinguish yourself. Take forty men-at-arms and sixty +archers. With that force you may make shift to resist any attack until +help reaches you from camp. You may be sure that I shall not be slack in +spurring to your rescue should you be assailed."</p> + +<p>Walter received the proposal with delight. He was weary of the monotony +of life in New Town, and this post, in which vigilance and activity +would be required, was just to his taste; so, taking the force named by +the prince, with a store of provision, he drew off from the column and +entered the castle.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<p class='center'>THE SIEGE OF A FORTALICE.</p> + + +<p>Walter's first step on assuming the command was to examine thoroughly +into the capabilities of defense of the place, to see that the well was +in good order, and the supply of water ample, and to send out a foraging +party, which, driving in a number of beasts and some cart-loads of +forage, would supply his garrison for some time. The castle he found was +less strong than it looked. The walls were lightly built, and were +incapable of withstanding any heavy battering. The moat was dry, and the +flanking towers badly placed, and affording little protection to the +faces of the walls; however, the extent of the defenses was small, and +Walter felt confident that with the force at his command he could resist +any sudden attack, unless made in overwhelming force, so that all the +faces of the wall could be assaulted at the same time. He had a large +number of great stones brought in to pile against the gate, while others +were brought into the central keep, similarly to defend the door should +the outer wall be carried. He appointed Ralph as his lieutenant, and +every day, leaving him in charge<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> of the castle, rode through the +country for many miles round, with twenty men-at-arms, to convince +himself that no considerable force of the enemy were approaching. These +reconnaissances were not without some danger and excitement, for several +times bodies of the country people, armed with scythes, axes, and +staves, tried to intercept them on their return to the castle, and once +or twice Walter and his men had to fight their way through their +opponents. Contrary to the custom of the times, Walter gave orders to +his men not to slay any when resistance had ceased.</p> + +<p>"They are but doing what we ourselves should do did French garrisons +hold our castles at home, and I deem them in no way to be blamed for the +efforts which they make to slay us. In self-defense, of course, we must +do our best, and must kill in order that we may not ourselves be slain; +but when they are once routed, let them go to their homes. Poor people, +the miseries which this war has brought upon them are great, and there +is no wonder that they hate us."</p> + +<p>This leniency on Walter's part was not without good effect. When the +country people found that the garrison of the castle of Près did not +carry fire and sword through the villages around, that they took only +sufficient for their needs, and behaved with courtesy to all, their +animosity to a great extent subsided. No longer did the women and +children of the little villages fly to the woods when they saw the gleam +of Walter's approaching spears,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> but remained at their avocations, and +answered willingly enough the questions which he asked them as to +whether they had heard aught of the movements of French troops. So far +as possible, Walter refrained from seizing the cattle or stores of grain +of the poorer classes, taking such as he needed from the lands of the +wealthy proprietors, all of whom had left the country, and were either +with the French army or sheltering in Paris. Five of his best mounted +men Walter chose as messengers, and one rode each day to New Town with +the news which had been gathered, returning on the following day, and +then resting his horse for three days before again setting out.</p> + +<p>Night and day sentries were placed on the walls, for although Walter +heard nothing of any body gathering in his immediate vicinity, a force +might at any moment issue from Amiens and appear suddenly before the +place. Such was indeed what really took place, and at daybreak one +morning Walter was aroused by the news that the sentinels saw a large +body of men rapidly approaching. The horse of the messenger next on duty +stood, as usual, saddled and bridled in readiness, and without a +moment's delay Walter ordered the man to mount and ride to the prince, +and to give news that the castle was assailed, but by how large a force +he could not as yet say.</p> + +<p>The instant the messenger had started through the gates Walter ascended +to the walls; he saw at once that the party was a strong one; for +although still<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> at some distance, and but dimly seen in the gray morning +light, he judged that it must contain at least a thousand men-at-arms. +At this moment a call from the sentry on the other side of the castle +was heard, and hastening thither, Walter saw that another body nearly as +numerous as the first were approaching from the side of Calais, having +made a <i>détour</i> so as to place themselves between the castle and the +army, to which news would naturally be sent of their coming. Walter +watched his messenger, who had now ridden half a mile toward the +approaching body. Suddenly he saw him turn his horse and ride off at +right angles to the road.</p> + +<p>"He sees them," he said, "and is going to try to ride round them. I fear +that there is but little hope of his escaping, seeing that they are +between him and Calais, and that assuredly some among them must be as +well or better mounted than himself." As he spoke a party of horsemen +were seen to detach themselves from the flank of the French column and +to gallop off at full speed to intercept the messenger; the latter +diverged more and more from his course, but he was constantly headed off +by his pursuers, and at last, seeing the impossibility of getting +through them, he again turned his horse's head and galloped off toward +the castle, which he reached a few hundred yards only in advance of his +foes.</p> + +<p>"I could not help it, Sir Walter," he said as he galloped in at the +gate. "I found that although<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> Robin is fast, some of those horsemen had +the turn of speed of me, and that it was impossible that I could get +through; so deeming that I should do more service by coming to strike a +blow here than by having my throat cut out in the fields, I made the +best of my way back."</p> + +<p>"Quite right, Martin!" Walter said. "I should have been grieved had you +thrown your life away needlessly. I saw from the first that your escape +was cut off. And now, men, each to his place; but first pile up the +stones against the gate, and then let each man take a good meal, for it +is like enough to be long before we get a chance of doing so again."</p> + +<p>Again ascending to the walls, Walter saw that the first body of +men-at-arms he had perceived was followed at a distance by a strong +force of footmen having with them some large wagons.</p> + +<p>"I fear," he said to Ralph, "that they have brought machines with them +from Amiens, and in that case they will not be long in effecting a +breach, for doubtless they know that the walls are but weak. We shall +have to fight stoutly, for it may be days before the news of our leaguer +reaches the camp. However, I trust that the prince will, by to-morrow +night, when he finds that two days have elapsed without the coming of my +usual messenger, suspect that we are besieged and will sally forth to +our assistance. And now let us to breakfast, for we shall need all our +strength to-day, and you may be sure that the French will lose no time +in attack<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span>ing, seeing that assistance may shortly arrive from Calais."</p> + +<p>There were but few preparations to be made. Each man had had his post +assigned to him on the walls in case of an attack, and piles of stones +had been collected in readiness to cast down upon the heads of those +attempting an assault. Caldrons were carried up to the walls and filled +with water, and great fires were lighted under them. In half an hour the +French infantry had reached the spot, but another two hours elapsed +before any hostile movement was made, the leaders of the assailants +giving their men that time to rest after their long march. Then a stir +was visible among them, and they were seen to form in four columns, each +about a thousand strong, which advanced simultaneously against opposite +sides of the castle.</p> + +<p>As soon as their intentions were manifest Walter divided his little +force, and these, gathering in four groups upon the walls, prepared to +resist the assault. To four of his most trusty men-at-arms he assigned +the command of these parties, he himself and Ralph being thus left free +to give their aid where it was most needed.</p> + +<p>The assailants were well provided with scaling ladders, and advanced +with a number of cross-bowmen in front, who speedily opened a hot fire +on the walls. Walter ordered his archers to bide their time, and not to +fire a shot till certain that every shaft would tell. They accordingly +waited until the French arrived within fifty yards of the wall,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> when +the arrows began to rain among them with deadly effect; scarce one but +struck its mark—the face of an enemy. Even the closed visors of the +knights and chief men-at-arms did not avail to protect their wearers; +the shafts pierced between the bars or penetrated the slits left open +for sight, and many fell slain by the first volley. But their numbers +were far too great to allow the columns being checked by the fire of so +small a number of archers; the front ranks, indeed, pressed forward more +eagerly than before, being anxious to reach the foot of the wall, where +they would be in comparative shelter from the arrows.</p> + +<p>The archers disturbed themselves in no way at the reaching of the wall +by the heads of the columns; but continued to shoot fast and true into +the mass behind them, and as these were, for the most part, less +completely armed than their leaders, numbers fell under the fire of the +sixty English bowmen. It was the turn of the men-at-arms now. +Immediately the assailants poured into the dry moat and sought to raise +their ladders the men-at-arms hurled down the masses of stones piled in +readiness, while some poured buckets of boiling water over them. In +spite of the loss they were suffering the French raised their ladders, +and covering their heads with their shields the leaders strove to gain +the walls. As they did so some of the archers took post in the flanking +towers, and as with uplifted arms the assailants climbed the ladders, +the archers smote them above the joints of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> their armor beneath the +armpits, while the men-at-arms with pike and battle-ax hewed down those +who reached the top of the ladders. Walter and Ralph hastened from point +to point encouraging the men and joining in the defense where the +pressure was hottest; and at last, after two hours of vain effort and +suffering great loss, the assailants drew off and the garrison had +breathing-time.</p> + +<p>"Well done, my men!" Walter said cheeringly; "they have had a lesson +which they will remember, and if so be that they have brought with them +no machines we may hold out against them for any time."</p> + +<p>It was soon manifest, however, that along with the scaling ladders the +enemy had brought one of their war-machines. Men were seen dragging +massive beams of timber toward the walls, and one of the wagons was +drawn forward and upset on its side at a distance of sixty yards from +the wall not, however, without those who drew it suffering much from the +arrows of the bowmen. Behind the shelter thus formed the French began to +put together the machine, whose beams soon raised themselves high above +the wagon.</p> + +<p>In the mean time groups of men dragged great stones laid upon a sort of +hand sledge to the machine, and late in the afternoon it began to cast +its missiles against the wall. Against these Walter could do little. He +had no sacks, which, filled with earth, he might have lowered to cover +the part of the walls assailed, and beyond annoying those<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> working the +machines by flights of arrows shot high in the air, so as to descend +point downward among them, he could do nothing.</p> + +<p>The wall crumbled rapidly beneath the blows of the great stones, and +Walter saw that by the following morning a breach would be effected. +When night fell he called his men together and asked if any would +volunteer to carry news through the enemy to the prince. The enterprise +seemed well-nigh hopeless, for the French, as if foreseeing that such an +attempt might be made, had encamped in a complete circle round the +castle, as was manifest by the position of their fires. Several men +stepped forward, and Walter chose three light and active +men—archers—to attempt the enterprise. These stripped off their steel +caps and breast-pieces, so that they might move more quickly, and when +the French fires burned low and all was quiet save the creak of the +machine and the dull heavy blows of the stones against the wall, the +three men were lowered by ropes at different points, and started on +their enterprise. A quarter of an hour later the garrison heard shouts +and cries, and knew that a vigilant watch had been set by the French, +and that one, if not all, of their friends had fallen into their hands. +All night long the machine continued to play.</p> + +<p>An hour before daylight, when he deemed that the enemy's vigilance would +be relaxed, Walter caused himself with Ralph and twelve of his +men-at-arms to be lowered by ropes from the wall.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span> Each rope had a loop +at the bottom in which one foot was placed, and knots were tied in order +to give a better grasp for the hands. They were lowered at a short +distance from the spot at which the machine was at work; all were armed +with axes, and they made their way unperceived until within a few yards +of the wagon. Then there was a cry of alarm, and in a moment they rushed +forward among the enemy. The men working the machine were instantly cut +down, and Walter and his party fell upon the machine, cutting the ropes +and smashing the wheels and pulleys and hewing away at the timber +itself. In a minute or two, however, they were attacked by the enemy, +the officer in command having bade a hundred men lie down to sleep close +behind the machine in case the garrison should attempt a sortie. Walter +called upon Ralph and four of the men-at-arms to stand beside him while +the others continued their work of destruction. The French came up in a +tumultuous body, but standing so far apart that they could wield their +axes, the English dealt such destruction among their first assailants +that these for a time recoiled. As fresh numbers came up, encouraged by +their leader they renewed the attack, and in spite of the most +tremendous efforts Walter and his party were driven back. By this time, +however, so much damage had been done to the machine that it would be +some hours before it could be repaired, even if spare ropes and other +appliances had been brought with it from Amiens; so that,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> reënforced by +the working party, Walter was again able to hold his ground, and after +repulsing a fresh onslaught of the enemy he gave the word for his men to +retire at full speed.</p> + +<p>The French were so surprised by the sudden disappearance of their foes +that it was a moment or two before they started in pursuit, and Walter +and his men had gained some thirty yards before the pursuit really +commenced.</p> + +<p>The night was a dark one, and they considerably increased this advantage +before they reached the foot of the wall, where the ropes were hanging.</p> + +<p>"Have each of you found his rope?" Walter asked.</p> + +<p>As soon as an affirmative answer was given he placed his foot in the +loop and shouted to the men above to draw up, and before the enraged +enemy could reach the spot the whole party were already some yards above +their heads. The archers opened fire upon the French, doing, in spite of +the darkness, considerable execution, for the men had snatched up their +arms at the sudden alarm, and had joined the fray in such haste that +many of them had not had time to put on their steel caps. There was +noise and bustle in the enemy's camp, for the whole force were now under +arms, and in their anger at the sudden blow which had been struck them, +some bodies of men even moved forward toward the walls as if they +intended to renew the assault of the previous day; but the showers of +arrows with which they were greeted cooled their ardor, and they +presently<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> retired out of reach of bow-shot. There was a respite now for +the besiegers. No longer every few minutes did a heavy stone strike the +walls.</p> + +<p>The morning's light enabled the defenders of the castle to see the +extent of the damage which the battering machine had effected. None too +soon had they put a stop to its work, for had it continued its +operations another hour or two would have effected a breach.</p> + +<p>Already large portions of the wall facing it had fallen, and other +portions were so seriously damaged that a few more blows would have +leveled them.</p> + +<p>"At any rate," Walter said to Ralph, "we have gained a respite; but even +now I fear that if the Black Prince comes not until to-morrow he will +arrive too late."</p> + +<p>The French, apparently as well aware as the garrison of the necessity +for haste, labored at the repair of the machine. Bodies of men started +to cut down trees to supply the place of the beams which had been +rendered useless. Scarcely had the assault ceased when horsemen were +dispatched in various directions to seek for fresh ropes, and by dint of +the greatest exertions the machine was placed in position to renew its +attack shortly after noon.</p> + +<p>By two o'clock several large portions of the damaged wall had fallen, +and the <i>débris</i> formed a slope by which an assaulting column could rush +to the bridge. As soon as this was manifest the French force formed for +the assault and rushed forward in solid column.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span></p> + +<p>Walter had made the best preparation possible for the defense. In the +courtyard behind the breach his men had since morning been driving a +circle of piles, connected by planks fastened to them. These were some +five feet high, and along the top and in the face next to the breach +sharp-pointed spikes and nails had been driven, rendering it difficult +in the extreme for any one to climb over. As the column of the +assailants approached Walter placed his archers on the walls on either +side of the breach, while he himself, with his men-at-arms, took his +station in the gap and faced the coming host. The breach was some ten +yards wide, but it was only for about half this width that the mound of +broken stones rendered it possible for their enemies to assault, +consequently there was but a space of some fifteen feet in width to be +defended. Regardless of the flights of arrows, the French, headed by +their knights and squires, advanced to the assault, and clambering up +the rough stones attacked the defenders.</p> + +<p>Walter, with Ralph and three of his best men-at-arms, stood in the front +line and received the first shock of the assault. The roughness and +steepness of the mound prevented the French from attacking in regular +order, and the very eagerness of the knights and squires who came first +in contact with their enemies was a hindrance to them. When the columns +were seen gathering for the assault Walter had scattered several barrels +full of oil and tar which he found in the cellars over the mound in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> +front of the breach, rendering it greasy and slippery, and causing the +assailants to slip and stagger and many to fall as they pressed forward +to the assault. Before the fight commenced he had encouraged his +soldiers by recalling to them how a mere handful of men had at Cressy +withstood for hours the desperate efforts of the whole of the French +army to break through their line, and all were prepared to fight to the +death.</p> + +<p>The struggle was a desperate one. Served by their higher position, and +by the difficulties which the French encountered from the slipperiness +of the ground and their own fierce ardor to attack, Walter and his +little band for a long time resisted every effort. He with his sword and +Ralph with his heavy mace did great execution, and they were nobly +seconded by their men-at-arms. As fast as one fell another took his +place. The breach in front of them was cumbered with dead and red with +blood. Still the French poured upward in a wave, and the sheer weight of +their numbers and the fatigue caused by the tremendous exertions the +defenders were making began to tell. Step by step the English were +driven back, and Walter saw that the defense could not much longer be +continued. He bade one of his men-at-arms at once order the archers to +cease firing, and, leaving the walls, to take refuge in the keep, and +thence to open fire upon the French as they poured through the breach.</p> + +<p>When he found that this movement had been ac<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span>complished Walter bade the +men-at-arms fall back gradually. A gap had been left in the wooden fence +sufficient for one at a time to pass, and through this the men-at-arms +retired one by one to the keep until only Walter and five others were +left. With these Walter flung himself suddenly upon the assailants and +forced them a few feet down the slope. Then he gave the word, and all +sprang back, and leaping down from the wall into the court-yard ran +through the barrier, Walter and Ralph being the last to pass as the +French with exulting shouts leaped down from the breach.</p> + +<p>There was another fierce fight at the barrier. Walter left Ralph to +defend this with a few men-at-arms while he saw that all was in +readiness for closing the door rapidly in the keep. Then he ran back +again. He was but just in time. Ralph indeed could for a long time have +held the narrow passage, but the barriers themselves were yielding. The +French were pouring in through the breach, and as those behind could not +see the nature of the obstacle which arrested the advance of their +companions they continued to push forward, and by their weight pressed +those in front against the spikes in the barrier. Many perished +miserably on these. Others, whose armor protected them from this fate, +were crushed to death by the pressure; but this was now so great that +the timbers were yielding. Walter, seeing that in another moment they +would be leveled, gave the word, sprang back with Ralph and his party, +and entered the keep just as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span> with a crash the barrier fell and the +French poured in a crowd into the court-yard. Bolting the door the +defenders of the keep piled against it the stones which had been laid in +readiness.</p> + +<p>The door was on the first floor, and was approached by a narrow flight +of stone steps, up which but two abreast could advance. In their first +fury the French poured up these steps, but from the loop-holes which +commanded it the English bowmen shot so hard that their arrows pierced +the strongest armor. Smitten through visor and armor, numbers of the +bravest of the assailants fell dead. Those who gained the top of the +steps were assailed by showers of boiling oil from an upper chamber +which projected over the door, and whose floor was pierced for this +purpose, while from the top of the keep showers of stones were poured +down. After losing great numbers in this desperate effort at assault the +French drew off for awhile, while their leaders held council as to the +best measures to be taken for the capture of the keep.</p> + +<p>After a time Walter from the summit saw several bodies of men detach +themselves from the crowd still without the castle and proceed into the +country. Two hours later they were seen returning laden with trunks of +trees. These were dragged through the breach, and were, in spite of the +efforts of the archers and of the men-at-arms with their stones, placed +so as to form a sort of penthouse against one side of the keep. Numbers +of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> soldiers now poured up with sacks and all kinds of vessels which +they had gathered from the surrounding villages, filled with earth. This +was thrown over the beams until it filled all the crevices between them +and formed a covering a foot thick, so that neither boiling oil nor +water poured from above could penetrate to injure those working beneath +its shelter. When all was ready a strong body armed with picks and +crowbars entered the penthouse and began to labor to cut away the wall +of the keep itself.</p> + +<p>"Their commander knows his business," Walter said, "and the device is an +excellent one. We can do nothing, and it only depends upon the strength +of the wall how long we can hold out. The masonry is by no means good, +and before nightfall, unless aid comes, there will be naught for us but +death or surrender."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<p class='center'>A PRISONER.</p> + + +<p>As long as it was light an anxious lookout was kept from the top of the +keep toward Calais. There was nothing to be done. The besiegers who had +entered the walls were ensconced in the various buildings in the +court-yard or placed behind walls so as to be out of arrow-shot from +above, and were in readiness to repel any sortie which might be made to +interfere with the work going on under the penthouse. But no sortie was +possible, for to effect this it would be necessary to remove the stones +from the door, and before this could be accomplished the besiegers would +have rallied in overwhelming force, nor could a sortie have effected +anything beyond the slaying of the men actually engaged in the work. The +beams of the penthouse were too strong and too heavily weighted with +earth to be removed, and the attempt would only have entailed useless +slaughter. The penthouse was about forty feet in length, and the +assailants were piercing three openings, each of some six feet in width, +leaving two strong supporting pillars between them. Anxiously the +garrison within listened to the sounds of work, which became louder<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> and +louder as the walls crumbled before the stroke of pickax and crowbar.</p> + +<p>"I shall hold out until the last moment," Walter said to Ralph, "in +hopes of relief, but before they burst in I shall sound a parley. To +resist further would be a vain sacrifice of life."</p> + +<p>Presently a movement could be seen among the stones, and then almost +simultaneously two apertures appeared. The chamber into which the +openings were made was a large one, being used as the common room of the +garrison. Here twenty archers and the remaining men-at-arms—of whom +nearly one-half had fallen in the defense of the breach—were gathered, +and the instant the orifices appeared the archers began to send their +arrows through them. Then Walter ascended to another chamber, and +ordered the trumpeter to sound a parley.</p> + +<p>The sound was repeated by the assailants' trumpeter.</p> + +<p>"Who commands the force?" Walter asked.</p> + +<p>"I, Guy, Count of Evreux."</p> + +<p>"I am Sir Walter Somers," the young knight continued. "I wish to ask +terms for the garrison."</p> + +<p>"You must surrender unconditionally," the count replied from the +court-yard. "In ten minutes we shall have completely pierced your walls, +and you will be at our mercy."</p> + +<p>"You may pierce our walls," Walter replied, "but it will cost you many +lives before you force your way in; we will defend the hold from floor +to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> floor, and you know how desperate men can fight. It will cost you +scores of lives before you win your way to the summit of this keep; but +if I have your knightly word that the lives of all within these walls +shall be spared, then will I open the doors and lay down our arms."</p> + +<p>A consultation took place between the leaders below. There was truth in +Walter's words that very many lives would be sacrificed before the +resistance of so gallant a garrison could be overcome. Every minute was +of importance, for it was possible that at any moment aid might arrive +from Calais, and that the table would be turned upon the besiegers. +Therefore, after a short parley among themselves, the count replied:</p> + +<p>"You have fought as a gallant knight and gentleman, Sir Walter Somers, +and have wrought grievous harm upon my leading. I should grieve that so +brave a knight should lose his life in a useless resistance. Therefore I +agree to your terms, and swear upon my knightly honor that upon your +surrendering yourselves prisoners of war, the lives of all within these +walls shall be spared."</p> + +<p>Walter at once gave the order. The stones were removed and the door +thrown open, and leading his men Walter descended the steps into the +court-yard, which was now illuminated with torches, and handed his sword +to the Count of Evreux.</p> + +<p>"You promised me, count," a tall knight standing by his side said, "that +if he were taken alive, the commander of this castle should be my +prisoner."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I did so, Sir Philip Holbeaut. When you proposed this adventure to me, +and offered to place your following at my command, I agreed to the +request you made me; but mind," he said sternly, "my knightly word has +been given for his safety. See that he receives fair and gentle +treatment at your hand. I would not that aught should befall so brave a +knight."</p> + +<p>"I seek him no harm," the knight said angrily; "but I know that he is +one of the knights of the Black Prince's own suit, and that his ransom +will be freely paid, and as my coffers are low from the expenses of the +war, I would fain replenish them at the expense of the English prince."</p> + +<p>"I said not that I doubted you, Sir Philip," the count said calmly; "but +as the knight surrendered on my word, it was needful that I should warn +you to treat him as I myself should do did he remain in my hands, and to +give him fair treatment until duly ransomed."</p> + +<p>"I should be glad, count," Walter said, "if you will suffer me to take +with me as companion in my captivity this man-at-arms. He is strongly +attached to me, and we have gone through many perils together; it will +lighten my captivity to have him by my side."</p> + +<p>"Surely I will do so, Sir Walter, and wish that your boon had been a +larger one. The rest I will take back with me to Amiens, there to hold +until exchanged for some of those who at various times have fallen into +your king's hands. And now to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> work, men; lose not a moment in stripping +the castle of all that you choose to carry away, then apply fire to the +storehouses, granaries, and the hold itself. I would not that it +remained standing to serve as an outpost for the English."</p> + +<p>The horses were brought from the stables. Walter and Ralph took their +horses by the bridle, and followed Sir Philip Holbeaut through the now +open gates of the castle to the spot where the horses of the besiegers +were picketed. The knight and his own men-at-arms, who had at the +beginning of the day numbered a hundred and fifty, but who were now +scarcely two thirds of that strength, at once mounted with their +prisoners, and rode off from the castle. A few minutes later a glare of +light burst out from behind them. The count's orders had been obeyed; +fire had been applied to the stores of forage, and soon the castle of +Près was wrapped in flames.</p> + +<p>"I like not our captor's manner," Ralph said to Walter as they rode +along side by side.</p> + +<p>"I agree with you, Ralph. I believe that the reason which he gave the +count for his request was not a true one, though, indeed, I can see no +other motive which he could have for seeking to gain possession of me. +Sir Philip, although a valiant knight, bears but an indifferent +reputation. I have heard that he is a cruel master to his serfs, and +that when away fighting in Germany he behaved so cruelly to the +peasantry that even the Germans, who are not nice in their modes of +warfare, cried<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span> out against him. It is an evil fortune that has thrown +us into his hands; still, although grasping and avaricious, he can +hardly demand for a simple knight any inordinate ransom. The French +themselves would cry out did he do so, seeing that so large a number of +their own knights are in our hands, and that the king has ample powers +of retaliation; however, we need not look on the dark side. It is not +likely that our captivity will be a long one, for the prince, who is the +soul of generosity, will not haggle over terms, but will pay my ransom +as soon as he hears into whose hands I have fallen, while there are +scores of men-at-arms prisoners whom he can exchange for you. Doubtless +Sir Philip will send you over as soon as he arrives at his castle, with +one of his own followers, to treat for my ransom."</p> + +<p>After riding for some hours the troop halted their weary horses in a +wood, and lighting fires, cooked their food, and then lay down until +morning. Sir Philip exchanged but few words with his captive; as, having +removed his helm, he sat by the fire, Walter had an opportunity of +seeing his countenance. It did not belie his reputation. His face had a +heavy and brutal expression which was not decreased by the fashion of +his hair, which was cut quite short, and stood up without parting all +over his bullet-shaped head; he had a heavy and bristling mustache which +was cut short in a line with his lips.</p> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus006.jpg" alt="dungeon"/> <br /> + + <span class="smcap">"This is a dungeon for a felon," he +exclaimed.</span>—Page 273.]</p> + +<p>"It is well," Walter thought to himself, "that it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span> is my ransom rather +than my life which is dear to that evil-looking knight; for, assuredly, +he is not one to hesitate did fortune throw a foe into his hands."</p> + +<p>At daybreak the march was resumed, and was continued until they reached +the castle of Sir Philip Holbeaut, which stood on a narrow tongue of +land formed by a sharp bend of the Somme.</p> + +<p>On entering the castle the knight gave an order to his followers, and +the prisoners were at once led to a narrow cell beneath one of the +towers. Walter looked round indignantly when he arrived there.</p> + +<p>"This is a dungeon for a felon," he exclaimed, "not the apartment for a +knight who has been taken captive in fair fight. Tell your master that +he is bound to award me honorable treatment, and that unless he removes +me instantly from this dungeon to a proper apartment, and treats me with +all due respect and courtesy, I will, when I regain my liberty, proclaim +him a dishonored knight."</p> + +<p>The men-at-arms made no reply; but, locking the door behind them, left +the prisoners alone.</p> + +<p>"What can this mean, Ralph?" Walter exclaimed. "We are in the lowest +dungeon, and below the level of the river. See how damp are the walls, +and the floor is thick with slimy mud. The river must run but just below +that loop-hole, and in times of flood probably enters here."</p> + +<p>Philip of Holbeaut, on dismounting, ascended to an upper chamber, where +a man in the dress of a well-to-do citizen was sitting.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, Sir Philip," he exclaimed, rising to his feet as the other +entered, "what news?"</p> + +<p>"The news is bad," the knight growled. "This famous scheme of yours has +cost me fifty of my best men. I would I had had nothing to do with it."</p> + +<p>"But this Walter Somers," the other exclaimed, "what of him? He has not +escaped, surely! The force which marched from Amiens was large enough to +have eaten him and his garrison."</p> + +<p>"He has not escaped," the knight replied.</p> + +<p>"Then he is killed!" the other said eagerly.</p> + +<p>"No; nor is he killed. He is at present a prisoner in a dungeon below, +together with a stout knave whom he begged might accompany him until +ransomed."</p> + +<p>"All is well, then," the other exclaimed. "Never mind the loss of your +men. The money which I have promised you for this business will hire you +two hundred such knaves; but why didst not knock him on the head at +once?"</p> + +<p>"It was not so easy to knock him on the head," Sir Philip growled. "It +cost us five hundred men to capture the outer walls, and to have fought +our way into the keep, held as it was by men who would have contested +every foot of the ground, was not a job for which any of us had much +stomach, seeing what the first assaults had cost us; so the count took +them all to quarter. The rest he carried with him to Amiens; but their +leader, according to the promise which he made me, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> handed over to me +as my share of the day's booty, giving me every charge that he should +receive good and knightly treatment."</p> + +<p>"Which, no doubt, you will observe," the other said, with an ugly laugh.</p> + +<p>"It is a bad business," the knight exclaimed angrily, "and were it not +for our friendship in Spain, and the memory of sundry deeds which we did +together, not without profit to our purses, I would rather that you were +thrown over the battlements into the river than I had taken a step in +this business. However, none can say that Philip of Holbeaut ever +deserted a friend who had proved true to him, not to mention that the +sum which you promised me for my aid in this matter will, at the present +time, prove wondrously convenient. Yet I foresee that it will bring me +into trouble with the Count of Evreux. Ere many days a demand will come +for the fellow to be delivered on ransom."</p> + +<p>"And what will you say?" the other asked.</p> + +<p>"I shall say what is the truth," the knight replied, "though I may add +something that is not wholly so. I shall say that he was drowned in the +Somme. I shall add that it happened as he was trying to make his escape, +contrary to the parole he had given; but in truth he will be drowned in +the dungeon in which I have placed him, which has rid me of many a +troublesome prisoner before now. The river is at ordinary times but two +feet below the loop-hole; and when its tide is swelled by rain it often +rises above the sill, and then there is an end<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> of any one within. They +can doubt my word; but there are not many who would care to do so +openly; none who would do so for the sake of an unknown English knight. +And as for any complaints on the part of the Black Prince, King Philip +has shown over and over again how little the complaints of Edward +himself move him."</p> + +<p>"It were almost better to knock him on the head at once," the other said +thoughtfully; "the fellow has as many lives as a cat."</p> + +<p>"If he had as many as nine cats," the knight replied, "it would not +avail him. But I will have no violence. The water will do your work as +well as a poniard, and I will not have it said, even among such ruffians +as mine, that I slew a captured knight. The other will pass as an +accident, and I care not what my men may think as long as they can say +nothing for a surety. The count may storm as much as he will, and may +even lay a complaint against me before the king; but in times like the +present, even a simple knight who can lead two hundred good fighting men +into the field is not to be despised, and the king is likely to be +easily satisfied with my replies to any question that may be raised. +Indeed, it would seem contrary to reason that I should slay a captive +against whom I have no cause of quarrel, and so forfeit the ransom which +I should get for him."</p> + +<p>"But suppose that a messenger should come offering ransom before the +river happens to rise?"</p> + +<p>"Then I shall anticipate matters, and shall say<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> that what I know will +happen has already taken place. Do not be uneasy, Sir James. You have my +word in the matter, and now I have gone so far, I shall carry it +through. From the moment when I ordered him into that dungeon his fate +was sealed, and in truth, when I gave the order I did so to put an end +to the indecision in which my mind had been all night. Once in there he +could not be allowed to come out alive, for his report of such treatment +would do me more harm among those of my own station in France than any +rumors touching his end could do. It is no uncommon affair for one to +remove an enemy from one's path; but cruelty to a knightly prisoner +would be regarded with horror. Would you like to have a look at him?"</p> + +<p>The other hesitated. "No," he replied. "Against him personally I have no +great grudge. He has thwarted my plans, and stands now grievously in the +way of my making fresh ones; but as he did so from no ill-will toward +myself, but as it were by hazard, I have no personal hatred toward him, +though I would fain remove him from my path. Besides, I tell you fairly, +that even in that dungeon where you have thrown him I shall not feel +that he is safe until you send me word that he is dead. He has twice +already got out of scrapes when other men would have been killed. Both +at Vannes and at Ghent he escaped in a marvelous way; and but a few +weeks since, by the accident of his having a coat of mail under his +doublet he saved his life from as fair a blow as ever was struck. +Therefore<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> I would not that he knew aught of my having a hand in this +matter, for if after having seen me he made his escape I could never +show my face in England again. I should advise you to bid three or four +men always enter his cell together, for he and that man-at-arms who +follows him like a shadow are capable of playing any desperate trick to +escape."</p> + +<p>"That matter is easily enough managed," Sir Philip said grimly, "by no +one entering the dungeon at all. The river may be slow of rising, though +in sooth the sky looks overcast now, and it is already at its usual +winter level; and whether he dies from lack of water or from a too +abundant supply matters but little to me; only, as I told you, I will +give no orders for him to be killed. Dost remember that Jew we carried +off from Seville and kept without water until he agreed to pay us a +ransom which made us both rich for six months? That was a rare haul, and +I would that rich Jews were plentiful in this country."</p> + +<p>"Yes, those were good times," the other said, "although I own that I +have not done badly since the war began, having taken a count and three +knights prisoners, and put them to ransom, and having reaped a goodly +share of plunder from your French burghers, else indeed I could not have +offered you so round a sum to settle this little matter for me. There +are not many French knights who have earned a count's ransom in the +present war. And now I will take horse; here is one-half of the sum<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> I +promised you, in gold nobles. I will send you the remainder on the day +when I get news from you that the matter is finished."</p> + +<p>"Have your money ready in a week's time," the knight replied, taking the +bag of gold which the other placed on the table, "for by that time you +will hear from me. I hope this will not be the last business which we +may do together; there ought to be plenty of good chances in a war like +this. Any time that you can send me word of an intended foray by a small +party under a commander whose ransom would be a high one I will share +what I get with you; and similarly I will let you know of any rich prize +who may be pounced upon on the same terms."</p> + +<p>"Agreed!" the other said. "We may do a good business together in that +way. But you lie too far away. If you move up as near as you can to +Calais and let me know your whereabout, so that I could send or ride to +you in a few hours, we might work together with no small profit."</p> + +<p>"I will take the field as soon as this affair of yours is settled," the +knight replied; "and the messenger who brings you the news shall tell +you where I may be found. And now, while your horse is being got ready, +let us drink a stoop of wine together in memory of old times, though, +for myself, these wines of ours are poor and insipid beside the fiery +juice of Spain."</p> + +<p>While this conversation, upon which their fate so much depended, had +been going on, Walter and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span> Ralph had been discussing the situation, and +had arrived at a tolerably correct conclusion.</p> + +<p>"This conduct on the part of this brutal French knight, Ralph, is so +strange that methinks it cannot be the mere outcome of his passions or +of hate against me as an Englishman, but of some deeper motive; and we +were right in thinking that in bargaining for my person with the Count +of Evreux it was more than my ransom which he sought. Had that been his +only object he would never have thrown us into this noisome dungeon, for +my report of such treatment would bring dishonor upon him in the eyes of +every knight and noble in France as well as in England. It must be my +life he aims at, although what grudge he can have against me it passes +me to imagine. It may be that at Cressy or elsewhere some dear relative +of his may have fallen by my sword; and yet were it so, men nourish no +grudge for the death of those killed in fair fight. But this boots not +at present. It is enough for us that it is my life which he aims at, and +I fear, Ralph, that yours must be included with mine, since he would +never let a witness escape to carry the foul tale against him. This +being so, the agreement on which I surrendered is broken, and I am free +to make my escape if I can, and methinks the sooner that be attempted +the better. So let us to work to plan how we may best get out of this +place. After our escape from that well at Vannes we need not despair +about breaking out from this dungeon of Holbeaut."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We might overpower the guard who brings our food," Ralph said.</p> + +<p>"There is that chance," Walter rejoined, "but I think it is a poor one. +They may be sure that this dishonorable treatment will have rendered us +desperate, and they will take every precaution and come well armed. It +may be, too, that they will not come at all, but that they intend us to +die of starvation, or perchance to be drowned by the floods, which it is +easy to see often make their way in here. No, our escape, if escape +there be, must be made through that loop-hole above. Were that bar +removed methinks it is wide enough for us to squeeze through. Doubtless +such a hazard has not occurred to them, seeing that it is nigh twelve +feet above the floor and that a single man could by no possibility reach +it, but with two of us there is no difficulty. Now, Ralph, do you stand +against the wall. I will climb upon your shoulders and standing there +can reach the bar and so haul myself up and look out."</p> + +<p>This was soon done, and Walter, seizing the bar, hauled himself up so +that he could see through the loop-hole.</p> + +<p>"It is as I thought," he said. "The waters of the Somme are but a foot +below the level of this window; the river is yellow and swollen, and a +few hours' heavy rain would bring it above the level of this sill. Stand +steady, Ralph, I am coming down again."</p> + +<p>When he reached the ground he said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Take off your belt, Ralph; if we buckle that and mine together, passing +it round the bar, it will make a loop upon which we can stand at the +window and see how best we can loosen the bar. Constantly wet as it is, +it is likely that the mortar will have softened, in which case we shall +have little difficulty in working it out."</p> + +<p>The plan was at once put into execution; the belts were fastened +together, and Walter standing on Ralph's shoulders passed one end around +the bar and buckled it to the other, thus making a loop some three feet +in length; putting a foot in this he was able to stand easily at the +loop-hole.</p> + +<p>"It is put in with mortar at the top, Ralph, and the mortar has rotted +with the wet, but at the bottom lead was poured in when the bar was set +and this must be scooped out before it can be moved. Fortunately the +knight gave no orders to his men to remove our daggers when we were +thrust in here, and these will speedily dig out the lead; but I must +come down first, for the strap prevents my working at the foot of the +bar. We must tear off a strip of our clothing and make a shift to fasten +the strap half-way up the bar so as not to slip down with our weight."</p> + +<p>In order to accomplish this Walter had to stand upon Ralph's head to +gain additional height. He presently, after several attempts, succeeded +in fixing the strap firmly against the bar half-way up, and then placing +one knee in the loop and putting an arm through the bar to steady +himself, he set to work<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> at the lead. The sharp point of the dagger +quickly cut out that near the surface, but further down the hole +narrowed and the task was much more difficult. Several times Ralph +relieved him at the work, but at last it was accomplished, and the bar +was found to move slightly when they shook it. There now remained only +to loosen the cement above, and this was a comparatively easy task; it +crumbled quickly before the points of their daggers, and the bar was +soon free to move.</p> + +<p>"Now," Walter said, "we have to find out whether the bar was first put +in from below or from above; one hole or the other must be a good deal +deeper than the iron, so that it was either shoved up or pushed down +until the other end could get under or over the other hole. I should +think most likely the hole is below, as if they held up the bar against +the top, when the lead was poured in it would fill up the space; so we +will first of all try to lift it. I must stand on your head again to +enable me to be high enough to try this."</p> + +<p>"My head is strong enough, I warrant," Ralph replied, "but I will fold +up my jerkin, and put on it, for in truth you hurt me somewhat when you +were tying the strap to the bar."</p> + +<p>All Walter's efforts did not succeed in raising the bar in the +slightest, and he therefore concluded that it had been inserted here and +lifted while the space was filled with lead. "It is best so," he said; +"we should have to cut away the stone either above or below, and can +work much better below. Now I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> will put my knee in the strap again and +set to work. The stone seems greatly softened by the wet, and will yield +to our daggers readily enough. It is already getting dark, and as soon +as we have finished we can start."</p> + +<p>As Walter had discovered, the stone was rotten with the action of the +weather, and although as they got deeper it became much harder, it +yielded to the constant chipping with their daggers, and in two hours +Ralph, who at the moment happened to be engaged, announced to Walter +that his dagger found its way under the bottom of the bar. The groove +was soon made deep enough for the bar to be moved out; but another +hour's work was necessary, somewhat further to enlarge the upper hole, +so as to allow the bar to have sufficient play. Fortunately it was only +inserted about an inch and a half in the stone, and the amount to be cut +away to give it sufficient play was therefore not large. Then at last +all was ready for their flight.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<p class='center'>THE CAPTURE OF CALAIS.</p> + + +<p>When the bar was once ready for removal the captives delayed not a +minute, for although it was now so late that there was little chance of +a visit being paid them, it was just possible that such might be the +case, and that it might occur to the knight that it would be safer to +separate them.</p> + +<p>"Now, Ralph, do you go first, since I am lighter and can climb up by +means of the strap, which you can hold from above; push the bar out and +lay it down quietly in the thickness of the wall. A splash might attract +the attention of the sentries, though I doubt whether it would, for the +wind is high and the rain falling fast. Unbuckle the strap before you +move the bar, as otherwise it might fall and I should have difficulty in +handing it to you again. Now, I am steady against the wall."</p> + +<p>Ralph seized the bar and with a great effort pushed the bottom from him. +It moved through the groove without much difficulty, but it needed a +great wrench to free the upper end. However, it was done, and laying it +quietly down he pulled himself up and thrust himself through the +loop-hole. It<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span> was a desperate struggle to get through, for it was only +just wide enough for his head to pass, and he was so squarely built that +his body with difficulty followed. The wall was four feet wide, and as +the loop-hole widened considerably without, there was, when he had once +passed through from the inside, space enough for him to kneel down and +lower one end of the strap to Walter. The latter speedily climbed up, +and getting through the slit with much less trouble than Ralph had +experienced—for although in height and width of shoulder he was his +equal, he was less in depth than his follower—he joined him in the +opening, Ralph sitting with his feet in the water in order to make room +for him.</p> + +<p>The dungeon was upon the western side of the castle, and consequently +the stream would be with them in making for shore. It was pitch-dark, +but they knew that the distance they would have to swim could not exceed +forty or fifty yards.</p> + +<p>"Keep along close by the wall, Ralph. If we once get out in the stream +we might lose our way; we will skirt the wall until it ends, then there +is a cut, for as you saw when we entered, the moat runs right across +this neck. If we keep a bit further down and then land we shall be +fairly beyond the outworks."</p> + +<p>Ralph slipped down into the water, and followed by Walter swam along at +the foot of the wall. They had already been deprived of their armor, but +had luckily contrived to retain their daggers in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span> their belts, which +they had again girdled on before entering the water. The stream hurried +them rapidly along, and they had only to keep themselves afloat. They +were soon at the corner of the castle. A few strokes further and they +again felt the wall which lined the moat. The stream still swept them +along, they felt the masonry come to an end, and bushes and shrubs lined +the bank. They were beyond the outer defenses of the castle. Still a +little further they proceeded down the stream in order to prevent the +possibility of any noise they might make in scrambling up being heard by +the sentinels on the outer postern. Then when they felt quite safe they +grasped the bushes, and speedily climbed the bank. Looking back at the +castle they saw lights still burning there. Short as was the time they +had been in the water they were both chilled to the bone, for it was the +month of February, and the water was bitterly cold.</p> + +<p>"It cannot be more than nine o'clock now," Walter said, "for it is not +more than four hours since darkness fell. They are not likely to visit +the dungeon before eight or nine to-morrow, so we can rely upon twelve +hours' start, and if we make the best of our time we ought to be far on +our way by then, though in truth it is not fast traveling on a night +like this through a strange country. I would that the stars were +shining. However, the direction of the wind and rain will be a guide to +us, and we shall soon strike the road we traveled yesterday, and can +follow that till morning."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span></p> + +<p>They were not long before they found the track, and then started at a +brisk pace along it. All night they struggled on through wind and rain +until the first dawn enabled them to see the objects in the surrounding +country; and making for the forest which extended to within a mile of +the road, they entered deep into its shelter, and there, utterly +exhausted, threw themselves down on the wet ground. After a few hours of +uneasy sleep they woke, and taking their place near the edge of the +forest watched for the passage of any party which might be in pursuit, +but until nightfall none came along.</p> + +<p>"They have not discovered our flight," Ralph said at last, "or they +would have passed long before this. Sir Philip doubtless imagines that +we are drowned. The water was within a few inches of the sill when we +started, and must soon have flooded the dungeon; and did he trouble to +look in the morning, which is unlikely enough seeing that he would be +sure of our fate, he would be unable to descend the stairs, and could +not reach to the door, and so discover that the bar had been removed. +No; whatever his motive may have been in compassing my death, he is +doubtless satisfied that he has attained it, and we need have no further +fear of pursuit from him. The rain has ceased, and I think that it will +be a fine night; we will walk on, and if we come across a barn will make +free to enter it, and stripping off our clothing to dry, will sleep in +the hay, and pursue our journey in the morning. From our travel-stained +appearance any who may<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span> meet us will take us for two wayfarers going to +take service in the army at Amiens."</p> + +<p>It was not until nearly midnight that they came upon such a place as +they sought, then after passing a little village they found a shed +standing apart. Entering it they found that it was tenanted by two cows. +Groping about they presently came upon a heap of forage, and taking off +their outer garments lay down on this, covering themselves thickly with +it. The shed was warm and comfortable and they were soon asleep, and +awaking at daybreak they found that their clothes had dried somewhat. +The sun was not yet up when they started, but it soon rose, and ere noon +their garments had dried, and they felt for the first time comfortable. +They met but few people on the road, and these passed them with the +ordinary salutations.</p> + +<p>They had by this time left Amiens on the right, and by nightfall were +well on their way toward Calais. Early in the morning they had purchased +some bread at a village through which they passed; Walter's +Norman-French being easily understood, and exciting no surprise or +suspicion. At nightfall they slept in a shed within a mile of the ruins +of the castle of Près, and late next evening entered the English +encampment at New Town. After going to his tent, where he and Ralph +changed their garments and partook of a hearty meal, Walter proceeded to +the pavilion of the prince, who hailed his entrance with the greatest +surprise.</p> + +<p>"Why, Sir Walter," he exclaimed, "what good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> saint has brought you here? +I have but an hour since received a message from the Count of Evreux to +the effect that you were a prisoner in the hands of Sir Philip de +Holbeaut, with whom I must treat for your ransom. I was purporting to +send off a herald to-morrow to ask at what sum he held you; and now you +appear in flesh and blood before us! But first, before you tell us your +story, I must congratulate you on your gallant defense of the Castle of +Près, which is accounted by all as one of the most valiant deeds of the +war. When two days passed without a messenger from you coming hither, I +feared that you were beleaguered, and started that evening with six +hundred men-at-arms. We arrived at daybreak, to find only a smoking +ruin. Luckily among the crowd of dead upon the breach we found one of +your men-at-arms who still breathed, and after some cordial had been +given him, and his wounds stanched, he was able to tell us the story of +the siege. But it needed not his tale to tell us how stanchly you had +defended the castle, for the hundreds of dead who lay outside of the +walls, and still more the mass who piled the breach, and the many who +lay in the castle yard spoke for themselves of the valor with which the +castle had been defended. As the keep was gutted by fire, and the man +could tell us naught of what had happened after he had been stricken +down at the breach, we knew not whether you and your brave garrison had +perished in the flames. We saw the penthouse beneath which they had +labored to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span> cut through the wall, but the work had ceased before the +holes were large enough for entry, and we hoped that you might have seen +that further resistance was in vain, and have made terms for your lives; +indeed we heard from the country people that certain prisoners had been +taken to Amiens. I rested one day at Près, and the next rode back here, +and forthwith dispatched a herald to the Count of Evreux at Amiens +asking for news of the garrison; but now he has returned with word that +twenty-four men-at-arms and fifty-eight archers are prisoners in the +count's hands, and that he is ready to exchange them against an equal +number of French prisoners; but that you, with a man-at-arms, were in +the keeping of Sir Philip of Holbeaut, with whom I must treat for your +ransom. And now tell me how it is that I see you here. Has your captor, +confiding in your knightly word to send him the sum agreed upon, allowed +you to return? Tell me the sum and my treasurer shall to-morrow pay it +over to a herald, who shall carry it to Holbeaut."</p> + +<p>"Thanks, your royal highness, for your generosity," Walter replied, "but +there is no ransom to be paid."</p> + +<p>And he then proceeded to narrate the incidents of his captivity at +Holbeaut and his escape from the castle. His narration was frequently +interrupted by exclamations of surprise and indignation from the prince +and the knights present.</p> + +<p>"Well, this well-nigh passes all belief," the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> prince exclaimed when he +had concluded. "It is an outrage upon all laws of chivalry and honor. +What could have induced this caitiff knight, instead of treating you +with courtesy and honor until your ransom arrived, to lodge you in a +foul dungeon, where, had you not made your escape, your death would have +been brought about that very night by the rising water? Could it be, +think you, that his brain is distraught by some loss or injury which may +have befallen him at our hands during the war and worked him up to a +blind passion of hatred against all Englishmen?"</p> + +<p>"I think not that, your royal highness," Walter replied. "His manner was +cool and deliberate, and altogether free from any signs of madness. +Moreover, it would seem that he had specially marked me down beforehand, +since, as I have told you, he had bargained with the Count of Evreux for +the possession of my person should I escape with life at the capture of +the castle. It seems rather as if he must have had some private enmity +against me, although what the cause may be I cannot imagine, seeing that +I have never, to my knowledge, before met him, and have only heard his +name by common report."</p> + +<p>"Whatever be the cause," the prince said, "we will have satisfaction for +it, and I will beg the king, my father, to write at once to Philip of +Valois protesting against the treatment that you have received, and +denouncing Sir Philip of Holbeaut as a base and dishonored knight, whom, +should he fall<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> into our hands, we will commit at once to the hangman."</p> + +<p>Upon the following day Walter was called before the king, and related to +him in full the incidents of the siege and of his captivity and escape; +and the same day King Edward sent off a letter to Philip of Valois +denouncing Sir Philip Holbeaut as a dishonored knight, and threatening +retaliation upon the French prisoners in his hands.</p> + +<p>A fortnight later an answer was received from the King of France saying +that he had inquired into the matter, and had sent a seneschal, who had +questioned Sir Philip Holbeaut and some of the men-at-arms in the +castle, and that he found that King Edward had been grossly imposed upon +by a fictitious tale. Sir Walter Somers had, he found, been treated with +all knightly courtesy, and believing him to be an honorable knight and +true to his word, but slight watch had been kept over him. He had basely +taken advantage of this trust, and with the man-at-arms with him had +escaped from the castle in order to avoid payment of his ransom, and had +now invented these gross and wicked charges against Sir Philip Holbeaut +as a cloak to his own dishonor.</p> + +<p>Walter was furious when he heard the contents of this letter, and the +king and Black Prince were no less indignant. Although they doubted him +not for a moment, Walter begged that Ralph might be brought before them +and examined strictly as to what had taken place, in order that they +might<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span> see that his statements tallied exactly with those he had made.</p> + +<p>When this had been done Walter obtained permission from the king to +dispatch a cartel to Sir Philip de Holbeaut denouncing him as a perjured +and dishonored knight and challenging him to meet him in mortal conflict +at any time and place that he might name. At the same time the king +dispatched a letter to Philip of Valois saying that the statements of +the French knight and his followers were wholly untrue, and begging that +a time might be appointed for the meeting of the two knights in the +lists.</p> + +<p>To this King Philip replied that he had ordered all private quarrels in +France to be laid aside during the progress of the war, and that so long +as an English foot remained upon French soil he would give no +countenance to his knights throwing away the lives which they owed to +France in private broils.</p> + +<p>"You must wait, Sir Walter, you see," the king said, "until you may +perchance meet him in the field of battle. In the mean time, to show how +lightly I esteem the foul charge brought against you, and how much I +hold and honor the bravery which you showed in defending the castle +which my son the prince intrusted to you, as well as upon other +occasions, I hereby promote you to the rank of knight banneret."</p> + +<p>Events now passed slowly before Calais. Queen Philippa and many of her +ladies crossed the Channel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span> and joined her husband, and these added much +to the gayety of the life in camp. The garrison at Calais was, it was +known, in the sorest straits for the want of food, and at last the news +came that the King of France, with a huge army of two hundred thousand +men, was moving to its relief. They had gathered at Hesdin, at which +rendezvous the king had arrived in the early part of April; but it was +not until the 27th of July that the whole army was collected, and +marching by slow steps advanced toward the English position.</p> + +<p>King Edward had taken every precaution to guard all the approaches to +the city. The ground was in most places too soft and sandy to admit of +the construction of defensive works; but the fleet was drawn up close +inshore to cover the line of sand-hills by the sea with arrows and war +machines, while the passages of the marshes, which extended for a +considerable distance round the town, were guarded by the Earl of +Lancaster and a body of chosen troops, while the other approaches to the +city were covered by the English camp.</p> + +<p>The French reconnoitering parties found no way open to attack the +English unless under grievous disadvantages. The Cardinals of Tusculum, +St. John, and St. Paul endeavored to negotiate terms of peace, and +commissioners on both sides met. The terms offered by Philip were, +however, by no means so favorable as Edward, after his own victorious +operations and those of his armies in Brittany and Guienne, had a right +to expect, and the negotiations were broken off.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span></p> + +<p>The following day the French king sent in a message to Edward saying +that he had examined the ground in every direction in order to advance +and give battle, but had found no means of doing so. He therefore +summoned the king to come forth from the marshy ground in which he was +encamped and to fight in the open plain; and he offered to send four +French knights, who, with four English of the same rank, should choose a +fair plain in the neighborhood, according to the usages of chivalry. +Edward had little over thirty thousand men with him; but the same +evening that Philip's challenge was received a body of seventeen +thousand Flemings and English, detached from an army which had been +doing good service on the borders of Flanders, succeeded in passing +round the enemy's host and in effecting a junction with the king's army. +Early the next morning, after having consulted with his officers, Edward +returned an answer to the French king, saying that he agreed to his +proposal, and inclosed a safe-conduct for any four French knights who +might be appointed to arrange with the same number of English the place +of battle.</p> + +<p>The odds were indeed enormous, the French being four to one; but Edward, +after the success of Cressy, which had been won by the Black Prince's +division, which bore a still smaller proportion to the force engaging +it, might well feel confident in the valor of his troops. His envoys, on +arriving at the French camp, found that Philip had apparently changed +his mind. He declined to discuss the mat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span>ter with which they were +charged, and spoke only of the terms upon which Edward would be willing +to raise the siege of Calais. As they had no authority on this subject +the English knights returned to their camp, where the news was received +with great disappointment, so confident did all feel in their power to +defeat the huge host of the French. But even greater was the +astonishment the next morning, when, before daylight, the tents of the +French were seen in one great flame, and it was found that the king and +all his host were retreating at full speed. The Earls of Lancaster and +Northampton, with a large body of horse, at once started in pursuit, and +harassed the retreating army on its march toward Amiens.</p> + +<p>No satisfactory reasons ever have been assigned for this extraordinary +step on the part of the French king. He had been for months engaged in +collecting a huge army, and he had now an opportunity of fighting the +English in a fair field with a force four times as great as their own. +The only means indeed of accounting for his conduct is by supposing him +affected by temporary aberration of mind, which many other facts in his +history render not improbable. The fits of rage so frequently recorded +of him border upon madness, and a number of strange actions highly +detrimental to his own interests which he committed can only be +accounted for as the acts of a diseased mind. This view has been to some +extent confirmed by the fact that less than half a century afterward +insanity declared itself among his descendants.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span></p> + +<p>A few hours after the departure of the French the French standard was +lowered on the walls of Calais, and news was brought to Edward that the +governor was upon the battlements and desired to speak with some +officers of the besieging army. Sir Walter Manny and Lord Bisset were +sent to confer with him, and found that his object was to obtain the +best terms he could. The English knights, knowing the determination of +the king on the subject, were forced to tell him that no possibility +existed of conditions being granted, but that the king demanded their +unconditional surrender, reserving to himself entirely the right whom to +pardon and whom to put to death.</p> + +<p>The governor remonstrated on the severe terms, and said that rather than +submit to them he and his soldiers would sally out and die sword in +hand. Sir Walter Manny found the king inexorable. The strict laws of war +in those days justified the barbarous practice of putting to death the +garrison of a town captured under such circumstances. Calais had been +for many years a nest of pirates, and vessels issuing from its port had +been a scourge to the commerce of England and Flanders, and the king was +fully determined to punish it severely. Sir Walter Manny interceded long +and boldly, and represented to the king that none of his soldiers would +willingly defend a town on his behalf from the day on which he put to +death the people of Calais, as beyond doubt the French would retaliate +in every succeeding siege. The other nobles and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span> knights joined their +entreaties to those of Sir Walter Manny, and the king finally consented +to yield in some degree. He demanded that six of the most notable +burghers of the town, with bare heads and feet, and with ropes about +their necks and the keys of the fortress in their hands, should deliver +themselves up for execution. On these conditions he agreed to spare the +rest. With these terms Sir Walter Manny returned to Sir John of Vienne.</p> + +<p>The governor left the battlements, and proceeding to the market-place +ordered the bell to be rung. The famished and despairing citizens +gathered, a haggard crowd, to hear their doom. A silence followed the +narration of the hard conditions of surrender by the governor, and sobs +and cries alone broke the silence which succeeded. Then Eustace St. +Pierre, the wealthiest and most distinguished of the citizens, came +forward and offered himself as one of the victims, saying, "Sad pity and +shame would it be to let all of our fellow-citizens die of famine or the +sword when means could be found to save them." John of Aire, James and +Peter de Vissant, and another whose name has not come down to us, +followed his example, and stripping to their shirts set out for the +camp, Sir John of Vienne, who, from a late wound, was unable to walk, +riding at their head on horseback. The whole population accompanied them +weeping bitterly until they came to the place where Sir Walter Manny was +awaiting them. Here the crowd halted, and the knight, promising to do +his best to save<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span> them, led them to the tent where the king had +assembled all his nobles around him. When the tidings came that the +burghers of Calais had arrived, Edward issued out with his retinue, +accompanied by Queen Philippa and the Black Prince.</p> + +<p>"Behold, sire," Sir Walter Manny said, "the representatives of the town +of Calais!"</p> + +<p>The king made no reply while John of Vienne surrendered his sword and, +kneeling with the burghers, said: "Gentle lord and king, behold, we six, +who were once the greatest citizens and merchants of Calais, bring you +the keys of the town and castle, and give ourselves up to your pleasure, +placing ourselves in the state in which you see us by our own free will +to save the rest of the people of the city, who have already suffered +many ills. We pray you, therefore, to have pity and mercy upon us for +the sake of your high nobleness."</p> + +<p>All present were greatly affected at this speech, and at the aspect of +men who thus offered their lives for their fellow-citizens. The king's +countenance alone remained unchanged, and he ordered them to be taken to +instant execution. Then Sir Walter Manny and all the nobles with tears +besought the king to have mercy, not only for the sake of the citizens, +but for that of his own fame, which would be tarnished by so cruel a +deed.</p> + +<p>"Silence, Sir Walter!" cried the king. "Let the executioner be called. +The men of Calais have put to death so many of my subjects that I will +also put these men to death."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span></p> + +<p>At this moment Queen Philippa, who had been weeping bitterly, cast +herself upon her knees before the king. "Oh, gentle lord," she cried, +"since I have repassed the seas to see you I have neither asked nor +required anything at your hand; now, then, I pray you humbly, and +require as a boon, that for the sake of the Son of Mary, and for love of +me, you take these men to mercy."</p> + +<p>The king stood for a moment in silence, and then said:</p> + +<p>"Ah! lady, I would that you had been otherwhere than here; but you beg +of me so earnestly I must not refuse you, though I grant your prayer +with pain. I give them to you; take them, and do your will."</p> + +<p>Then the queen rose from her knees, and bidding the burghers rise, she +caused clothing and food to be given them, and sent them away free.</p> + +<p>Sir Walter Manny, with a considerable body of men-at-arms, now took +possession of the town of Calais. The anger of the king soon gave way to +better feelings; all the citizens, without exception, were fed by his +bounty. Such of them as preferred to depart instead of swearing fealty +to the English monarch were allowed to carry away what effects they +could bear upon their persons, and were conducted in safety to the +French town of Guisnes. Eustace de St. Pierre was granted almost all the +possessions he had formerly held in Calais, and also a considerable +pension; and he and all who were willing to remain were well and kindly +treated.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span> The number was large, for the natural indignation which they +felt at their base desertion by the French king induced very many of the +citizens to remain and become subjects of Edward. The king issued a +proclamation inviting English traders and others to come across and take +up their residence in Calais, bestowing upon them the houses and lands +of the French who had left. Very many accepted the invitation, and +Calais henceforth and for some centuries became virtually an English +town.</p> + +<p>A truce was now, through the exertions of the pope's legates, made +between England and France, the terms agreed on being very similar to +those of the previous treaty; and when all his arrangements were +finished Edward returned with his queen to England, having been absent +eighteen months, during which time an almost unbroken success had +attended his arms, and the English name had reached a position of +respect and honor in the eyes of Europe far beyond that at which it +previously stood.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<p class='center'>THE BLACK DEATH.</p> + + +<p>The court at Westminster during the few months which followed the +capture of Calais was the most brilliant in Europe. Tournaments and +<i>fêtes</i> followed each other in rapid succession, and to these knights +came from all parts. So great was the reputation of King Edward that +deputies came from Germany, where the throne was now vacant, to offer +the crown of that kingdom to him. The king declined the offer, for it +would have been impossible indeed for him to have united the German +crown with that of England, which he already held, and that of France, +which he claimed.</p> + +<p>Some months after his return to England the Black Prince asked his +father as a boon that the hand of his ward Edith Vernon should be +bestowed upon the prince's brave follower Sir Walter Somers, and as +Queen Philippa, in the name of the lady's mother, seconded the request, +the king at once acceded to it. Edith was now sixteen, an age at which, +in those days, a young lady was considered to be marriageable, and the +wedding took place with great pomp and ceremony at Westminster, the +king<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span> himself giving away the bride, and bestowing, as did the prince +and Queen Philippa, many costly presents upon the young couple. After +taking part in several of the tournaments, Walter went with his bride +and Dame Vernon down to their estates, and were received with great +rejoicing by the tenantry, the older of whom well remembered Walter's +father and mother, and were rejoiced at finding that they were again to +become the vassals of one of the old family. Dame Vernon was greatly +loved by her tenantry; but the latter had looked forward with some +apprehension to the marriage of the young heiress, as the character of +the knight upon whom the king might bestow her hand would greatly affect +the happiness and well-being of his tenants.</p> + +<p>Sir James Carnegie had not returned to England after the fall of Calais; +he perceived that he was in grave disfavor with the Black Prince, and +guessed, as was the case, that some suspicion had fallen on him in +reference to the attack upon Walter in the camp, and to the strange +attempt which had been made to destroy him by Sir Philip Holbeaut. He +had, therefore, for a time taken service with the Count of Savoy, and +was away from England, to the satisfaction of Walter and Dame Vernon, +when the marriage took place; for he had given proofs of such a +malignity of disposition that both felt that although his succession to +the estates was now hopelessly barred, yet that he might at any moment +attempt some desperate deed to satisfy his feeling of disappointment and +revenge.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span></p> + +<p>In spite of the gayety of the court of King Edward a cloud hung over the +kingdom; for it was threatened by a danger far more terrible than any +combination of foes—a danger from which no gallantry upon the part of +her king or warriors availed anything. With a slow and terrible march +the enemy was advancing from the East, where countless hosts had been +slain. India, Arabia, Syria, and Armenia had been well-nigh depopulated. +In no country which the dread foe had invaded had less than two-thirds +of the population been slain; in some nine-tenths had perished. All +sorts of portents were reported to have accompanied its appearance in +the East, where it was said showers of serpents had fallen, strange and +unknown insects had appeared in the atmosphere, and clouds of sulphurous +vapor had issued from the earth and enveloped whole provinces and +countries. For two or three years the appearance of this scourge had +been heralded by strange atmospheric disturbances; heavy rains and +unusual floods, storms of thunder and lightning of unheard-of violence, +hail-showers of unparalleled duration and severity, had everywhere been +experienced, while in Italy and Germany violent earthquake shocks had +been felt, and that at places where no tradition existed of previous +occurrences of the same kind.</p> + +<p>From Asia it had spread to Africa and to Europe, affecting first the +sea-shores and creeping inland by the course of the rivers. Greece first +felt its ravages, and Italy was not long in experiencing them. In<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span> +Venice more than one hundred thousand persons perished in a few months, +and thence spreading over the whole peninsula, not a town escaped the +visitation. At Florence sixty thousand people were carried off, and at +Lucca and Genoa, in Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica it raged with equal +violence. France was assailed by way of Provence, and Avignon suffered +especially. Of the English college at that place not an individual was +left, and one hundred and twenty persons died in a single day in that +small city. Paris lost upward of fifty thousand of its inhabitants, +while ninety thousand were swept away in Lubeck, and one million two +hundred thousand died within a year of its first appearance in Germany.</p> + +<p>In England the march of the pestilence westward was viewed with deep +apprehension, and the approaching danger was brought home to the people +by the death of the Princess Joan, the king's second daughter. She was +affianced to Peter, the heir to the throne of Spain; and the bride, who +had not yet accomplished her fourteenth year, was sent over to Bordeaux +with a considerable train of attendants in order to be united there to +her promised husband. Scarcely had she reached Bordeaux when she was +attacked by the pestilence and died in a few hours.</p> + +<p>A few days later the news spread through the country that the disease +had appeared almost simultaneously at several of the seaports in the +south-west of England. Thence with great rapidity it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span> spread through the +kingdom; proceeding through Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire it broke out +in London, and the ravages were no less severe than they had been on the +Continent, the very lowest estimate being that two-thirds of the +population were swept away. Most of those attacked died within a few +hours of the seizure. If they survived for two days they generally +rallied, but even then many fell into a state of coma from which they +never awoke.</p> + +<p>No words can describe the terror and dismay caused by this the most +destructive plague of which there is any record in history. No remedies +were of the slightest avail against it; flight was impossible, for the +loneliest hamlets suffered as severely as crowded towns, and frequently +not a single survivor was left. Men met the pestilence in various moods: +the brave with fortitude, the pious with resignation, the cowardly and +turbulent with outbursts of despair and fury. Among the lower classes +the wildest rumors gained credence. Some assigned the pestilence to +witchcraft, others declared that the waters of the wells and streams had +been poisoned. Serious riots occurred in many places, and great numbers +of people fell victims to the fury of the mob under the suspicion of +being connected in some way with the ravages of the pestilence. The +Jews, ever the objects of popular hostility, engendered by ignorance and +superstition, were among the chief sufferers. Bands of marauders +wandered through the county plunder<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span>ing the houses left empty by the +death of all their occupants, and from end to end death and suffering +were universal.</p> + +<p>Although all classes had suffered heavily the ravages of the disease +were, as is always the case, greater among the poor than among the rich, +the unsanitary conditions of their life and their coarser and commoner +food rendering them more liable to its influence; no rank, however, was +exempted, and no less than three Archbishops of Canterbury were carried +off in succession by the pestilence within a year of its appearance.</p> + +<p>During the months which succeeded his marriage Sir Walter Somers lived +quietly and happily with his wife at Westerham. It was not until late in +the year that the plague approached the neighborhood. Walter had +determined to await its approach there. He had paid a few short visits +to the court, where every effort was made by continuous gayety to keep +up the spirits of the people and prevent them from brooding over the +approaching pestilence; but when it was at hand Walter and his wife +agreed that they would rather share the lot of their tenants, whom their +presence and example might support and cheer in their need, than return +to face it in London. One morning when they were at breakfast a +frightened servant brought in the news that the disease had appeared in +the village, that three persons had been taken ill on the previous +night, that two had already died, and that several others had sickened.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The time has come, my children," Dame Vernon said calmly, "the danger +so long foreseen is at hand, now let us face it as we agreed to do. It +has been proved that flight is useless, since nowhere is there escape +from the plague; here, at least, there shall be no repetition of the +terrible scenes we have heard of elsewhere, where the living have fled +in panic and allowed the stricken to die unattended. We have already +agreed that we will set the example to our people by ourselves going +down and administering to the sick."</p> + +<p>"It is hard," Walter said, rising and pacing up and down the room, "to +let Edith go into it."</p> + +<p>"Edith will do just the same as you do," his wife said firmly. "Were it +possible that all in this house might escape, there might be a motive +for turning coward, but seeing that no household is spared, there is, as +we agreed, greater danger in flying from the pestilence than facing it +firmly."</p> + +<p>Walter sighed.</p> + +<p>"You are right," he said, "but it wrings my heart to see you place +yourself in danger."</p> + +<p>"Were we out of danger here, Walter, it might be so," Edith replied +gently; "but since there is no more safety in the castle than in the +cottage, we must face death whether it pleases us or not, and it were +best to do so bravely."</p> + +<p>"So be it," Walter said; "may the God of heaven watch over us all! Now, +mother, do you and Edith busy yourselves in preparing broths, +strengthening drinks, and medicaments. I will go down at once<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span> to the +village and see how matters stand there and who are in need. We have +already urged upon all our people to face the danger bravely, and if die +they must, to die bravely like Christians, and not like coward dogs. +When you have prepared your soups and cordials come down and meet me in +the village, bringing Mabel and Janet, your attendants, to carry the +baskets."</p> + +<p>Ralph, who was now installed as major-domo in the castle, at once set +out with Walter. They found the village in a state of panic. Women were +sitting crying despairingly at their doors. Some were engaged in packing +their belongings in carts preparatory to flight, some wandered aimlessly +about wringing their hands, while others went to the church, whose bells +were mournfully tolling the dirge of the departed. Walter's presence +soon restored something like order and confidence; his resolute tone +cheered the timid and gave hope to the despairing. Sternly he rebuked +those preparing to fly, and ordered them instantly to replace their +goods in their houses. Then he went to the priest and implored him to +cause the tolling of the bell to cease.</p> + +<p>"There is enough," he said, "in the real danger present to appall even +the bravest, and we need no bell to tell us that death is among us. The +dismal tolling is enough to unnerve the stoutest heart, and if we ring +for all who die its sounds will never cease while the plague is among +us; therefore, father, I implore you to discontinue it. Let there be +services<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span> held daily in the church, but I beseech you strive in your +discourses to cheer the people rather than to depress them, and to dwell +more upon the joys that await those who die as Christian men and women +than upon the sorrows of those who remain behind. My wife and mother +will anon be down in the village and will strive to cheer and comfort +the people, and I look to you for aid in this matter."</p> + +<p>The priest, who was naturally a timid man, nevertheless nerved himself +to carry out Walter's suggestions, and soon the dismal tones of the bell +ceased to be heard in the village.</p> + +<p>Walter dispatched messengers to all the outlying farms desiring his +tenants to meet him that afternoon at the castle in order that measures +might be concerted for common aid and assistance. An hour later Dame +Vernon and Edith came down and visited all the houses where the plague +had made its appearance, distributing their soups, and by cheering and +comforting words raising the spirits of the relatives of the sufferers.</p> + +<p>The names of all the women ready to aid in the general work of nursing +were taken down, and in the afternoon at the meeting at the castle the +full arrangements were completed. Work was to be carried on as usual in +order to occupy men's minds and prevent them from brooding over the +ravages of the plague. Information of any case that occurred was to be +sent to the castle, where soups and medicines were to be obtained. +Whenever more assistance was required than could be furnished by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span> the +inmates of a house another woman was to be sent to aid. Boys were told +off as messengers to fetch food and other matters as required from the +castle.</p> + +<p>So, bravely and firmly, they prepared to meet the pestilence; it spread +with terrible severity. Scarce a house which did not lose some of its +inmates, while in others whole families were swept away. All day Walter +and his wife and Dame Vernon went from house to house, and although they +could do nothing to stem the progress of the pestilence, their presence +and example supported the survivors and prevented the occurrence of any +of the panic and disorder which in most places accompanied it.</p> + +<p>The castle was not exempt from the scourge. First some of the domestics +were seized, and three men and four women died. Walter himself was +attacked, but he took it lightly, and three days after the seizure +passed into a state of convalescence. Dame Vernon was next attacked, and +expired six hours after the commencement of the seizure. Scarcely was +Walter upon his feet than Ralph, who had not for a moment left his +bedside, was seized, but he too, after being at death's door for some +hours, turned the corner. Lastly Edith sickened.</p> + +<p>By this time the scourge had done its worst in the village, and +three-fifths of the population had been swept away. All the male +retainers in the castle had died, and the one female who survived<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span> was +nursing her dying mother in the village. Edith's attack was a very +severe one. Walter, alone now, for Ralph, although convalescent, had not +yet left his bed, sat by his wife's bedside a prey to anxiety and grief; +for although she had resisted the first attack she was now, thirty-six +hours after it had seized her, fast sinking. Gradually her sight and +power of speech faded, and she sank into the state of coma which was the +prelude of death, and lay quiet and motionless, seeming as if life had +already departed.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Walter was surprised by the sound of many heavy feet ascending +the stairs. He went out into the anteroom to learn the cause of this +strange tumult, when five armed men, one of whom was masked, rushed into +the room. Walter caught up his sword from the table.</p> + +<p>"Ruffians," he exclaimed, "how dare you thus desecrate the abode of +death?"</p> + +<p>Without a word the men sprang upon him. For a minute he defended himself +against their attacks, but he was still weak, his guard was beaten down, +and a blow felled him to the ground.</p> + +<p>"Now settle her," the masked man exclaimed, and the band rushed into the +adjoining room. They paused, however, at the door at the sight of the +lifeless figure on the couch.</p> + +<p>"We are saved that trouble," one said, "we have come too late."</p> + +<p>The masked figure approached the couch and bent over the figure.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes," he said, "she is dead, and so much the better."</p> + +<p>Then he returned with the others to Walter.</p> + +<p>"He breathes yet," he said. "He needs a harder blow than that you gave +him to finish him. Let him lie here for awhile, while you gather your +booty together, then we will carry him off. There is scarcely a soul +alive in the country round, and none will note us as we pass. I would +not dispatch him here, seeing that his body would be found with wounds +upon it, and even in these times some inquiry might be made; therefore +it were best to finish him elsewhere. When he is missed it will be +supposed that he went mad at the death of his wife, and has wandered out +and died, maybe in the woods, or has drowned himself in a pond or +stream. Besides, I would that before he dies he should know what hand +has struck the blow, and that my vengeance, which he slighted and has +twice escaped, has overtaken him at last."</p> + +<p>After ransacking the principal rooms and taking all that was valuable, +the band of marauders lifted the still insensible body of Walter, and +carrying it downstairs flung it across a horse. One of the ruffians +mounted behind it, and the others also getting into their saddles the +party rode away.</p> + +<p>They were mistaken, however, in supposing that the Lady Edith was dead. +She was indeed very nigh the gates of death, and had it not been for the +disturbance would assuredly have speedily entered them. The voice of her +husband raised in anger,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span> the clash of steel, followed by the heavy +fall, had awakened her deadened brain. Consciousness had at once +returned to her, but as yet no power of movement. As at a great distance +she had heard the words of those who entered her chamber, and had +understood their import. More and more distinctly she heard their +movements about the room as they burst open her caskets and appropriated +her jewels, but it was not until silence was restored that the gathering +powers of life asserted themselves; then with a sudden rush the blood +seemed to course through her veins, her eyes opened, and her tongue was +loosed, and with a scream she sprang up and stood by the side of her +bed.</p> + +<p>Sustained as by a supernatural power she hurried into the next room. A +pool of blood on the floor showed her that what she had heard had not +been a dream or the fiction of a disordered brain. Snatching up a cloak +of her husband's which lay on a couch, she wrapped it round her, and +with hurried steps made her way along the passages until she reached the +apartment occupied by Ralph. The latter sprang up in bed with a cry of +astonishment. He had heard but an hour before from Walter that all hope +was gone, and thought for an instant that the appearance was an +apparition from the dead. The ghastly pallor of the face, the eyes +burning with a strange light, the flowing hair, and disordered +appearance of the girl might well have alarmed one living in even less +superstitious times, and Ralph began to cross himself hastily and to +mut<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span>ter a prayer, when recalled to himself by the sound of Edith's +voice.</p> + +<p>"Quick, Ralph!" she said, "arise and clothe yourself. Hasten, for your +life. My lord's enemies have fallen upon him and wounded him grievously, +even if they have not slain him, and have carried him away. They would +have slain me also had they not thought I was already dead. Arise and +mount, summon every one still alive in the village, and follow these +murderers. I will pull the alarm-bell of the castle."</p> + +<p>Ralph sprang from his bed as Edith left. He had heard the sound of many +footsteps in the knight's apartments, but had deemed them those of the +priest and his acolytes come to administer the last rites of the Church +to his dying mistress. Rage and anxiety for his master gave strength to +his limbs. He threw on a few clothes and rushed down to the stables, +where the horses stood with great piles of forage and pails of water +before them, placed there two days before, by Walter, when their last +attendant died. Without waiting to saddle it, Ralph sprang upon the back +of one of the animals, and taking the halters of four others started at +a gallop down to the village.</p> + +<p>His news spread like wildfire, for the ringing of the alarm-bell of the +castle had drawn all to their doors and prepared them for something +strange. Some of the men had already taken their arms and were making +their way up to the castle when they met Ralph. There were but five men +in the village who had altogether escaped the pestilence; others<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span> had +survived its attacks, but were still weak. Horses there were in plenty. +The five men mounted at once, with three others who, though still weak, +were able to ride.</p> + +<p>So great was the excitement that seven women who had escaped the disease +armed themselves with their husbands' swords and leaped on horseback, +declaring that, women though they were, they would strike a blow for +their beloved lord, who had been as an angel in the village during the +plague. Thus it was scarcely more than ten minutes after the marauders +had left the castle before a motley band, fifteen strong, headed by +Ralph, rode off in pursuit, while some of the women of the village +hurried up to the castle to comfort Edith with the tidings that the +pursuit had already commenced. Fortunately a lad in the fields had +noticed the five men ride away from the castle, and was able to point +out the direction they had taken.</p> + +<p>At a furious gallop Ralph and his companions tore across the country. +Mile after mile was passed. Once or twice they gained news from laborers +in the field of the passage of those before them, and knew that they +were on the right track. They had now entered a wild and sparsely +inhabited country. It was broken and much undulated, so that although +they knew that the band they were pursuing were but a short distance +ahead, they had not yet caught sight of them, and they hoped that, +having no reason to dread any immediate pursuit, these would soon +slacken their pace. This expectation was realized,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span> for on coming over a +brow they saw the party halted at a turf-burner's cottage in the hollow +below. Three of the men had dismounted; two of them were examining the +hoof of one of the horses, which had apparently cast a shoe or trodden +upon a stone. Ralph had warned his party to make no sound when they came +upon the fugitives. The sound of the horses' hoofs was deadened by the +turf, and they were within a hundred yards of the marauders before they +were perceived; then Ralph uttered a shout, and brandishing their swords +the party rode down at a headlong gallop.</p> + +<p>The dismounted men leaped into their saddles and galloped off at full +speed, but their pursuers were now close upon them. Ralph and two of his +companions, who were mounted upon Walter's best horses, gained upon them +at every stride. Two of them were overtaken and run through.</p> + +<p>The man who bore Walter before him, finding himself being rapidly +overtaken, threw his burden on to the ground just as the leader of the +party had checked his horse and was about to deliver a sweeping blow at +the insensible body.</p> + +<p>With a curse at his follower for ridding himself of it, he again +galloped on. The man's act was unavailing to save himself, for he was +overtaken and cut down before he had ridden many strides; then Ralph and +his party instantly reined up to examine the state of Walter, and the +two survivors of the band of murderers continued their flight +unmolested.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<p class='center'>BY LAND AND SEA.</p> + + +<p>Walter was raised from the ground, water was fetched from the cottage, +and the blood washed from his head by Ralph, aided by two of the women. +It had at once been seen that he was still living, and Ralph on +examining the wound joyfully declared that no great harm was done.</p> + +<p>"Had Sir Walter been strong and well," he said, "such a clip as this +would not have knocked him from his feet, but he would have answered it +with a blow such as I have often seen him give in battle; but he was but +barely recovering and was as weak as a girl. He is unconscious from loss +of blood and weakness. I warrant me that when he opens his eyes and +hears that the Lady Edith had risen from her bed and came to send me to +his rescue, joy will soon bring the blood into his cheeks again. Do one +of you run to the hut and see if they have any cordial waters; since the +plague has been raging there are few houses but have laid in a provision +in case the disease should seize them."</p> + +<p>The man soon returned with a bottle of cordial water compounded of +rosemary, lavender, and other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span> herbs. By this time Walter had opened his +eyes. The cordial was poured down his throat, and he was presently able +to speak.</p> + +<p>"Be of good cheer, Sir Walter," Ralph said; "three of your rascally +assailants lie dead, and the other two have fled; but I have better news +still for you. Lady Edith, who you told me lay unconscious and dying, +has revived. The din of the conflict seems to have reached her ears and +recalled her to life, and the dear lady came to my room with the news +that you were carried off, and then, while I was throwing on my clothes, +roused the village to your assistance by ringing the alarm bell. Rarely +frightened I was when she came in, for methought at first it was her +spirit."</p> + +<p>The good news, as Ralph had predicted, effectually roused Walter, and +rising to his feet he declared himself able to mount and ride back at +once. Ralph tried to persuade him to wait until they had formed a litter +of boughs, but Walter would not allow it.</p> + +<p>"I would not tarry an instant," he said, "for Edith will be full of +anxiety until I return. Why, Ralph, do you think that I am a baby? Why, +you yourself were but this morning unable to walk across the room, and +here you have been galloping and fighting on my behalf."</p> + +<p>"In faith," Ralph said, smiling, "until now I had forgotten that I had +been ill."</p> + +<p>"You have saved my life, Ralph, you and my friends here, whom I thank +with all my heart for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span> what they have done. I will speak more to them +another time, now I must ride home with all speed."</p> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus007.jpg" alt="last effort"/> <br /> + + <span class="smcap">Lady Edith's Last Effort.</span>—Page 321.</p> + +<p>Walter now mounted; Ralph took his place on one side of him, and one of +his tenants on the other, lest he should be seized with faintness; then +at a hand-gallop they started back for the castle.</p> + +<p>Several women of the village had, when they left, hurried up to the +castle. They found Edith lying insensible by the rope of the alarm-bell, +having fainted when she had accomplished her object. They presently +brought her round; as she was now suffering only from extreme weakness, +she was laid on a couch, and cordials and some soup were given to her. +One of the women took her place at the highest window to watch for the +return of any belonging to the expedition.</p> + +<p>Edith felt hopeful as to the result, for she thought that their +assailants would not have troubled to carry away the body of Walter had +not life remained in it, and she was sure that Ralph would press them so +hotly that sooner or later the abductors would be overtaken.</p> + +<p>An hour and a half passed, and then the woman from above ran down with +the news that she could see three horsemen galloping together toward the +castle, with a number of others following in confused order behind.</p> + +<p>"Then they have found my lord," Edith exclaimed joyfully, "for Ralph +would assuredly not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span> return so quickly had they not done so. 'Tis a good +sign that they are galloping, for had they been bearers of ill news they +would have returned more slowly; look out again and see if they are +bearing one among them."</p> + +<p>The woman, with some of her companions, hastened away, and in two or +three minutes ran down with the news that Sir Walter himself was one of +the three leading horsemen. In a few minutes Edith was clasped in her +husband's arms, and their joy, restored as they were from the dead to +each other, was indeed almost beyond words.</p> + +<p>The plague now abated fast in Westerham, only two or three more persons +being attacked by it.</p> + +<p>As soon as Edith was sufficiently recovered to travel Walter proceeded +with her to London and there laid before the king and prince a complaint +against Sir James Carnegie for his attempt upon their lives. Even in the +trance in which she lay Edith had recognized the voice which had once +been so familiar to her. Walter, too, was able to testify against him, +for the rough jolting on horseback had for awhile restored his +consciousness, and he had heard words spoken, before relapsing into +insensibility from the continued bleeding of his wound, which enabled +him to swear to Sir James Carnegie as one of his abductors.</p> + +<p>The king instantly ordered the arrest of the knight, but he could not be +found; unavailing search was made in every direction, and as nothing +could be heard of him it was concluded that he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span> left the kingdom. He +was proclaimed publicly a false and villainous knight, his estates were +confiscated to the crown, and he himself was outlawed. Then Walter and +his wife returned home and did their best to assist their tenants in +struggling through the difficulties entailed through the plague.</p> + +<p>So terrible had been the mortality that throughout England there was a +lack of hands for field work, crops rotted in the ground because there +were none to harvest them, and men able to work demanded twenty times +the wages which had before been paid. So great was the trouble from this +source that an ordinance was passed by parliament enacting that severe +punishment should be dealt upon all who demanded wages above the +standard price, and even more severe penalties inflicted upon those who +should consent to pay higher wages. It was, however, many years before +England recovered from the terrible blow which had been dealt her from +the pestilence.</p> + +<p>While Europe had been ravaged by pestilence the adherents of France and +England had continued their struggle in Brittany in spite of the terms +of the truce, and this time King Edward was the first open aggressor, +granting money and assistance to the free companies, who pillaged and +plundered in the name of England. The truce expired at the end of 1348, +but was continued for short periods. It was, however, evident that both +parties were determined ere long to recommence hostilities. The French +collected large forces in Artois and Picardy,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span> and Edward himself +proceeded to Sandwich to organize there another army for the invasion of +France.</p> + +<p>Philip determined to strike the first blow, and, before the conclusion +of the truce, to regain possession of Calais. This town was commanded by +a Lombard officer named Almeric of Pavia. Free communication existed, in +consequence of the truce, between Calais and the surrounding country, +and Jeffrey de Charny, the Governor of St. Omer, and one of the +commissioners especially appointed to maintain the truce, opened +communications with the Lombard captain. Deeming that like most +mercenaries he would be willing to change sides should his interest to +do so be made clear, he offered him a large sum of money to deliver the +castle to the French.</p> + +<p>The Lombard at once agreed to the project. Jeffrey de Charny arranged to +be within a certain distance of the town on the night of the 1st of +January, bringing with him sufficient forces to master all opposition if +the way was once opened to the interior of the town. It was further +agreed that the money was to be paid over by a small party of French who +were to be sent forward for the purpose of examining the castle, in +order to insure the main body against treachery. As a hostage for the +security of the detachment, the son of the governor was to remain in the +hands of the French without, until the safe return of the scouting +party.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span></p> + +<p>Several weeks elapsed between the conclusion of the agreement and the +date fixed for its execution, and in the mean time the Lombard, either +from remorse or from a fear of the consequences which might arise from a +detection of the plot before its execution, or from the subsequent +vengeance of the English king, disclosed the whole transaction to +Edward.</p> + +<p>The king bade him continue to carry out his arrangements with De Charny, +leaving it to him to counteract the plot. Had he issued orders for the +rapid assembly of the army the French would have taken alarm. He +therefore sent private messengers to a number of knights and gentlemen +of Kent and Sussex to meet him with their retainers at Dover on the 31st +of December.</p> + +<p>Walter was one of those summoned, and although much surprised at the +secrecy with which he was charged, and of such a call being made while +the truce with France still existed, he repaired to Dover on the day +named, accompanied by Ralph and by twenty men, who were all who remained +capable of bearing arms on the estate.</p> + +<p>He found the king himself with the Black Prince at Dover, where they had +arrived that day. Sir Walter Manny was in command of the force, which +consisted in all of three hundred men-at-arms and six hundred archers. A +number of small boats had been collected, and at mid-day on the 1st of +January the little expedition started, and arrived at Calais after +nightfall.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the chivalrous spirit of the times the king determined that Sir +Walter Manny should continue in command of the enterprise; he and the +Black Prince, disguised as simple knights, fighting under his banner.</p> + +<p>In the mean time a considerable force had been collected at St. Omer, +where a large number of knights and gentlemen obeyed the summons of +Jeffrey de Charny. On the night appointed they marched for Calais, in +number five hundred lances and a corresponding number of footmen. They +reached the river and bridge of Nieullay a little after midnight, and +messengers were sent on to the governor, who was prepared to receive +them. On their report De Charny advanced still nearer to the town, +leaving the bridge and passages to the river guarded by a large body of +cross-bowmen under the command of the Lord de Fiennes and a number of +other knights. At a little distance from the castle he was met by +Almeric de Pavia, who yielded his son as a hostage according to his +promise, calculating, as was the case, that he would be recaptured by +the English. Then having received the greater portion of the money +agreed upon, he led a party of the French over the castle to satisfy +them of his sincerity. Upon receiving their report that all was quiet De +Charny detached twelve knights and a hundred men-at-arms to take +possession of the castle, while he himself waited at one of the gates of +the town with the principal portion of his force.</p> + +<p>No sooner had the French entered the castle than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span> the drawbridge was +raised. The English soldiers poured out from their places of +concealment, and the party which had entered the castle were forced to +lay down their arms. In the mean time the Black Prince issued with a +small body of troops from a gate near the sea, while De Manny, with the +king under his banner, marched by the sally-port which led into the +fields. A considerable detachment of the division was dispatched to +dislodge the enemy at the bridge of Nieullay, and the rest, joining the +party of the Black Prince, advanced rapidly upon the force of Jeffrey de +Charny, which, in point of numbers, was double their own strength.</p> + +<p>Although taken in turn by surprise, the French prepared steadily for the +attack. De Charny ordered them all to dismount and to shorten their +lances to pikes five feet in length. The English also dismounted, and +rushing forward on foot a furious contest commenced. The ranks of both +parties were soon broken in the darkness, and the combatants separating +into groups, a number of separate battles raged around the different +banners.</p> + +<p>For some hours the fight was continued with unabating obstinacy on both +sides. The king and the Black Prince fought with immense bravery, their +example encouraging even those of their soldiers who were ignorant of +the personality of the knights who were everywhere in front of the +combat. King Edward himself several times crossed swords with the famous +Eustace de Ribaumont, one of the most gallant knights in France. At +length toward day<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span>break the king, with only thirty companions, found +himself again opposed to De Ribaumont, with a greatly superior force, +and the struggle was renewed between them.</p> + +<p>Twice the king was beaten down on one knee by the thundering blows of +the French knight, twice he rose and renewed the attack, until De +Charny, seeing Sir Walter Manny's banner, beside which Edward fought, +defended by so small a force, also bore down to the attack, and in the +struggle Edward was separated from his opponent.</p> + +<p>The combat now became desperate round the king, and Sir Guy Brian, who +bore De Manny's standard, though one of the strongest and most gallant +knights of the day, could scarce keep the banner erect. Still Edward +fought on, and in the excitement of the moment, forgetting his +<i>incognito</i>, he accompanied each blow with his customary +war-cry—"Edward, St. George! Edward, St. George!" At that battle-cry, +which told the French men-at-arms that the King of England was himself +opposed to them, they recoiled for a moment. The shout too reached the +ears of the Prince of Wales, who had been fighting with another group. +Calling his knights around him he fell upon the rear of De Charny's +party and quickly cleared a space around the king.</p> + +<p>The fight was now everywhere going against the French, and the English +redoubling their efforts the victory was soon complete, and scarcely one +French knight left the ground alive and free. In the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span> struggle Edward +again encountered De Ribaumont, who, separated from him by the charge of +De Charny, had not heard the king's war-cry. The conflict between them +was a short one. The French knight saw that almost all his companions +were dead or captured, his party completely defeated, and all prospects +of escape cut off. He therefore soon dropped the point of his sword and +surrendered to his unknown adversary. In the mean time the troops which +had been dispatched to the bridge of Nieullay had defeated the French +forces left to guard the passage and clear the ground toward St. Omer.</p> + +<p>Early in the morning Edward entered Calais in triumph, taking with him +thirty French nobles as prisoners, while two hundred more remained dead +on the field. That evening a great banquet was held, at which the French +prisoners were present. The king presided at the banquet, and the French +nobles were waited upon by the Black Prince and his knights. After the +feast was concluded the king bestowed on De Ribaumont the chaplet of +pearls which he wore round his crown, hailing him as the most gallant of +the knights who had that day fought, and granting him freedom to return +at once to his friends, presenting him with two horses, and a purse to +defray his expenses to the nearest French town.</p> + +<p>De Charny was afterward ransomed, and after his return to France +assembled a body of troops and attacked the castle which Edward had +bestowed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span> upon Almeric of Pavia, and capturing the Lombard, carried him +to St. Omer, and had him there publicly flayed alive as a punishment for +his treachery.</p> + +<p>Walter had as usual fought by the side of the Prince of Wales throughout +the battle of Calais, and had much distinguished himself for his valor. +Ralph was severely wounded in the fight, but was able a month later to +rejoin Walter in England.</p> + +<p>The battle of Calais and the chivalrous bearing of the king created +great enthusiasm and delight in England, and did much to rouse the +people from the state of grief into which they had been cast by the +ravages of the plague. The king did his utmost to maintain the spirit +which had been evoked, and the foundation of the order of the Garter, +and the erection of a splendid chapel at Windsor, and its dedication, +with great ceremony, to St. George, the patron saint of England, still +further raised the renown of the court of Edward throughout Europe as +the center of the chivalry of the age.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding many treaties which had taken place, and the near +alliance which had been well-nigh carried out between the royal families +of England and Spain, Spanish pirates had never ceased to carry on a +series of aggressions upon the English vessels trading in the Bay of +Biscay. Ships were every day taken, and the crews cruelly butchered in +cold blood. Edward's remonstrances proved vain, and when threats of +retaliation were held out by Edward, followed by preparations to carry +those threats into effect, Pedro the Cruel,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span> who had now succeeded to +the throne of Spain, dispatched strong reënforcements to the fleet which +had already swept the English Channel.</p> + +<p>The great Spanish fleet sailed north, and capturing on its way a number +of English merchantmen, put into Sluys, and prepared to sail back in +triumph with the prizes and merchandise it had captured. Knowing, +however, that Edward was preparing to oppose them, the Spaniards filled +up their complement of men, strengthened themselves by all sorts of the +war machines then in use, and started on their return for Spain with one +of the most powerful armadas that had ever put to sea.</p> + +<p>Edward had collected on the coast of Sussex a fleet intended to oppose +them, and had summoned all the military forces of the south of England +to accompany him; and as soon as he heard that the Spaniards were about +to put to sea he set out for Winchelsea, where the fleet was collected.</p> + +<p>The queen accompanied him to the sea-coast, and the Black Prince, now in +his twentieth year, was appointed to command one of the largest of the +English vessels.</p> + +<p>The fleet put to sea when they heard that the Spaniards had started, and +the hostile fleets were soon in sight of each other. The number of +fighting men on board the Spanish ships was ten times those of the +English, and their vessels were of vastly superior size and strength. +They had, moreover, caused their ships to be fitted at Sluys with large +wooden towers, which furnished a command<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span>ing position to their +cross-bowmen. The wind was direct in their favor, and they could have +easily avoided the contest, but, confiding in their enormously superior +force, they sailed boldly forward to the attack.</p> + +<p>The king himself led the English line, and directing his vessel toward a +large Spanish ship, endeavored to run her down. The shock was +tremendous, but the enemy's vessel was stronger as well as larger than +that of the king; and as the two ships recoiled from each other it was +found that the water was rushing into the English vessel, and that she +was rapidly sinking. The Spaniard passed on in the confusion, but the +king ordered his ship to be instantly laid alongside another which was +following her, and to be firmly lashed to her. Then with his knights he +sprang on board the Spaniard, and after a short but desperate fight cut +down or drove the crew overboard. The royal standard was hoisted on the +prize, the sinking English vessel was cast adrift, and the king sailed +on to attack another adversary.</p> + +<p>The battle now raged on all sides. The English strove to grapple with +and board the enemy, while the Spaniards poured upon them a shower of +bolts and quarrels from their cross-bows, hurled immense masses of stone +from their military engines, and, as they drew alongside, cast into them +heavy bars of iron, which pierced holes in the bottom of the ship.</p> + +<p>Walter was on board the ship commanded by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span> the Black Prince. This had +been steered toward one of the largest and most important of the Spanish +vessels. As they approached, the engines poured their missiles into +them. Several great holes were torn in the sides of the ship, which was +already sinking as she came alongside her foe.</p> + +<p>"We must do our best, Sir Walter," the prince exclaimed, "for if we do +not capture her speedily our ship will assuredly sink beneath our feet."</p> + +<p>The Spaniard stood far higher above the water than the English ship, and +the Black Prince and his knights in vain attempted to climb her sides, +while the seamen strove with pumps and buckets to keep the vessel +afloat. Every effort was in vain. The Spaniard's men-at-arms lined the +bulwarks, and repulsed every effort made by the English to climb up +them, while those on the towers rained down showers of bolts and arrows +and masses of iron and stone. The situation was desperate, when the Earl +of Lancaster, passing by in his ship, saw the peril to which the prince +was exposed, and, ranging up on the other side of the Spaniard, strove +to board her there. The attention of the Spaniards being thus +distracted, the prince and his companions made another desperate effort, +and succeeded in winning their way on to the deck of the Spanish ship +just as their own vessel sank beneath their feet; after a few minutes' +desperate fighting the Spanish ship was captured.</p> + +<p>The English were now everywhere getting the best of their enemies. Many +of the Spanish vessels<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</a></span> had been captured or sunk, and after the fight +had raged for some hours, the rest began to disperse and seek safety in +flight. The English vessel commanded by Count Robert of Namur had toward +night engaged a Spanish vessel of more than twice its own strength. His +adversaries, seeing that the day was lost, set all sail, but looking +upon the little vessel beside them as a prey to be taken possession of +at their leisure, they fastened it tightly to their sides by the +grappling-irons, and spreading all sail, made away. The count and his +men were unable to free themselves, and were being dragged away, when a +follower of the count named Hennekin leaped suddenly on board the +Spanish ship. With a bound he reached the mast, and with a single blow +with his sword cut the halyards which supported the main-sail. The sail +fell at once. The Spaniards rushed to the spot to repair the disaster +which threatened to delay their ship. The count and his followers, +seeing the bulwarks of the Spanish vessel for the moment unguarded, +poured in, and after a furious conflict captured the vessel. By this +time twenty-four of the enemy's vessels had been taken, the rest were +either sunk or in full flight, and Edward at once returned to the +English shore.</p> + +<p>The fight had taken place within sight of land, and Queen Philippa, from +the windows of the abbey, which stood on rising ground, had seen the +approach of the vast Spanish fleet, and had watched the conflict until +night fell. She remained in sus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span>pense as to the result until the king +himself, with the Black Prince and Prince John, afterward known as John +of Gaunt, who, although but ten years of age, had accompanied the Black +Prince in his ship, rode up with the news of the victory.</p> + +<p>This great sea-fight was one of the brightest and most honorable in the +annals of English history, for not even in the case of that other great +Spanish Armada which suffered defeat in English waters were the odds so +immense or the victory so thorough and complete. The result of the fight +was that after some negotiations a truce of twenty years was concluded +with Spain.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<p class='center'>POITIERS.</p> + + +<p>After the great sea-fight at the end of August, 1350, England had peace +for some years. Philip of France had died a week before that battle, and +had been succeeded by his son John, Duke of Normandy. Upon the part of +both countries there was an indisposition to renew the war, for their +power had been vastly crippled by the devastations of the plague. This +was followed by great distress and scarcity, owing to the want of labor +to till the fields. The truce was therefore continued from time to time; +the pope strove to convert the truce into a permanent peace, and on the +28th of August, 1354, a number of the prelates and barons of England, +with full power to arrange terms of peace, went to Avignon, where they +were met by the French representatives. The powers committed to the +English commissioners show that Edward was at this time really desirous +of making a permanent peace with France; but the French ambassadors +raised numerous and unexpected difficulties, and after lengthened +negotiations the conference was broken off.</p> + +<p>The truce came to an end in June, 1355, and great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</a></span> preparations were +made on both sides for the war. The King of England strained every +effort to furnish and equip an army which was to proceed with the Black +Prince to Aquitaine, of which province his father had appointed him +governor, and in November the prince sailed for Bordeaux with the +advance-guard of his force. Sir Walter Somers accompanied him. During +the years which had passed since the plague he had resided principally +upon his estates, and had the satisfaction of seeing that his tenants +escaped the distress which was general through the country. He had been +in the habit of repairing to London to take part in the tournaments and +other festivities; but both he and Edith preferred the quiet country +life to a continued residence at court. Two sons had now been born to +him, and fond as he was of the excitement and adventure of war, it was +with deep regret that he obeyed the royal summons, and left his house +with his retainers, consisting of twenty men-at-arms and thirty archers, +to join the prince.</p> + +<p>Upon the Black Prince's landing at Bordeaux he was joined by the Gascon +lords, the vassals of the English crown, and for three months marched +through and ravaged the districts adjoining, the French army, although +greatly superior in force, offering no effectual resistance. Many towns +were taken, and he returned at Christmas to Bordeaux after a campaign +attended by a series of unbroken successes.</p> + +<p>The following spring the war recommenced, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</a></span> a diversion was effected +by the Duke of Lancaster, who was in command of Brittany, joining his +forces with those of the King of Navarre and many of the nobles of +Normandy, while King Edward crossed to Calais and kept a portion of the +French army occupied there. The Black Prince, leaving the principal part +of his forces under the command of the Earl of Albret to guard the +territory already acquired against the attack of the French army under +the Count of Armagnac, marched with two thousand picked men-at-arms and +six thousand archers into Auvergne, and thence turning into Berry, +marched to the gates of Bourges.</p> + +<p>The King of France was now thoroughly alarmed, and issued a general call +to all his vassals to assemble on the Loire. The Prince of Wales, +finding immense bodies of men closing in around him, fell back slowly, +capturing and leveling to the ground the strong castle of Romorentin.</p> + +<p>The King of France was now hastening forward, accompanied by his four +sons, one hundred and forty nobles with banners, twenty thousand +men-at-arms, and an immense force of infantry. Vast accessions of forces +joined him each day, and on the 17th of September he occupied a position +between the Black Prince and Guienne. The first intimation that either +the Black Prince or the King of France had of their close proximity to +each other was an accidental meeting between a small foraging force of +the English and three hundred French horse, under the command of the +Counts of Auxerre and Joigny,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</a></span> the Marshal of Burgundy, and the Lord of +Chatillon. The French hotly pursued the little English party, and on +emerging from some low bushes found themselves in the midst of the +English camp, where all were taken prisoners. From them the Black Prince +learned that the King of France was within a day's march.</p> + +<p>The prince dispatched the Captal de Buch with two hundred men-at-arms to +reconnoiter the force and position of the enemy, and these coming upon +the rear of the French army just as they were about to enter Poitiers, +dashed among them and took some prisoners. The King of France thus first +learned that the enemy he was searching for was actually six miles in +his rear. The Captal de Buch and his companions returned to the Black +Prince, and confirmed the information obtained from the prisoners that +the King of France, with an army at least eight times as strong as his +own, lay between him and Poitiers.</p> + +<p>The position appeared well-nigh desperate, but the prince and his most +experienced knights at once reconnoitered the country to choose the best +ground upon which to do battle. An excellent position was chosen. It +consisted of rising ground commanding the country toward Poitiers, and +naturally defended by the hedges of a vineyard. It was only accessible +from Poitiers by a sunken road flanked by banks and fences, and but wide +enough to admit of four horsemen riding abreast along it. The ground on +either side of this hollow way was rough and broken<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</a></span> so as to impede the +movements even of infantry, and to render the maneuvers of a large body +of cavalry nearly impracticable. On the left of the position was a +little hamlet called Maupertuis. Here on the night of Saturday, the 17th +of September, the prince encamped, and early next morning made his +dispositions for the battle. His whole force was dismounted and occupied +the high ground; a strong body of archers lined the hedges on either +side of the sunken road; the main body of archers were drawn up in their +usual formation on the hillside, their front covered by the hedge of the +vineyard, while behind them the men-at-arms were drawn up.</p> + +<p>The King of France divided his army into three divisions, each +consisting of sixteen thousand mounted men-at-arms besides infantry, +commanded respectively by the Duke of Orleans, the king's brother, the +dauphin, and the king himself. With the two royal princes were the most +experienced of the French commanders. In the mean time De Ribaumont, +with three other French knights, reconnoitered the English position, and +on their return with their report strongly advised that as large bodies +of cavalry would be quite useless owing to the nature of the ground, the +whole force should dismount, except three hundred picked men destined to +break the line of English archers and a small body of German horse to +act as a reserve.</p> + +<p>Just as the King of France was about to give orders for the advance, the +Cardinal of Perigord<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</a></span> arrived in his camp, anxious to stop, if possible, +the effusion of blood. He hurried to the King of France.</p> + +<p>"You have here, sire," he said, "the flower of all the chivalry of your +realm assembled against a mere handful of English, and it will be far +more honorable and profitable for you to have them in your power without +battle than to risk such a noble array in uncertain strife. I pray you, +then, in the name of God, to let me ride on to the Prince of Wales, to +show him his peril, and to exhort him to peace."</p> + +<p>"Willingly, my lord," the king replied; "but above all things be quick."</p> + +<p>The cardinal at once hastened to the English camp; he found the Black +Prince in the midst of his knights ready for battle, but by no means +unwilling to listen to proposals for peace. His position was indeed most +perilous. In his face was an enormously superior army, and he was, +moreover, threatened by famine; even during the two preceding days his +army had suffered from a great scarcity of forage, and its provisions +were almost wholly exhausted. The French force was sufficiently numerous +to blockade him in his camp, and he knew that did they adopt that course +he must surrender unconditionally, since were he forced to sally out and +attack the French no valor could compensate for the immense disparity of +numbers. He therefore replied at once to the cardinal's application that +he was ready to listen to any terms by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</a></span> which his honor and that of his +companions would be preserved.</p> + +<p>The cardinal returned to the King of France, and with much entreaty +succeeded in obtaining a truce until sunrise on the following morning. +The soldiers returned to their tents, and the cardinal rode backward and +forward between the armies, beseeching the King of France to moderate +his demands, and the Black Prince to submit to the evil fortune which +had befallen him; but on the one side the king looked upon the victory +certain, and on the other the Black Prince thought that there was at +least a hope of success should the French attack him. All, therefore, +that the cardinal could obtain from him was an offer to resign all he +had captured in his expedition, towns, castles, and prisoners, and to +take an oath not to bear arms again against France for seven years. This +proposal fell so far short of the demands of the French king that +pacification soon appeared hopeless.</p> + +<p>Early on the Monday morning the cardinal once more sought the presence +of the French king, but found John inflexible; while some of the +leaders, who had viewed with the strongest disapproval his efforts to +snatch what they regarded as certain victory from their hands, gave him +a peremptory warning not to show himself again in their lines.</p> + +<p>The prelate then bore the news of his failure to the Prince of Wales. +"Fair son," he said, "do the best you can, for you must needs fight, as +I can find no means of peace or amnesty with the King of France."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Be it so, good father," the prince replied; "it is our full resolve to +fight, and God will aid the right."</p> + +<p>The delay which had occurred had not been without advantages for the +British army, although the shortness of provisions was greatly felt. +Every effort had been made to strengthen the position. Deep trenches had +been dug and palisades erected around it, and the carts and baggage +train had all been moved round so as to form a protection on the weakest +side of the camp, where also a rampart had been constructed.</p> + +<p>Upon a careful examination of the ground it was found that the hill on +the right side of the camp was less difficult than had been supposed, +and that the dismounted men-at-arms who lay at its foot under the +command of the dauphin would find little difficulty in climbing it to +the assault. The prince therefore gave orders that three hundred +men-at-arms and three hundred mounted archers should make a circuit from +the rear round the base of the hill, in order to pour in upon the flank +of the dauphin's division as soon as they became disordered in the +ascent. The nature of the ground concealed this maneuver from the +enemies' view, and the Captal de Buch, who was in command of the party, +gained unperceived the cover of a wooded ravine within a few hundred +yards of the left flank of the enemy. By the time that all these +dispositions were complete the huge French array was moving forward. The +Black Prince, surrounded by his knights, viewed them approaching.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Fair lords," he said, "though we be so few against that mighty power of +enemies, let us not be dismayed, for strength and victory lie not in +multitudes, but in those to whom God give them. If he will the day be +ours, then the highest glory of this world will be given to us. If we +die, I have the noble lord, my father, and two fair brothers, and you +have each of you many a good friend who will avenge us well; thus, then, +I pray you fight well this day, and if it please God and St. George I +will also do the part of a good knight."</p> + +<p>The prince then chose Sir John Chandos and Sir James Audley to remain by +his side during the conflict in order to afford him counsel in case of +need. Audley, however, pleaded a vow which he had made long before, to +be the first in battle should he ever be engaged under the command of +the King of England or any of his children. The prince at once acceded +to his request to be allowed to fight in the van, and Audley, +accompanied by four chosen squires, took his place in front of the +English line of battle. Not far from him, also in advance of the line, +was Sir Eustace d'Ambrecicourt on horseback, also eager to distinguish +himself.</p> + +<p>As Sir James rode off the prince turned to Walter. "As Audley must needs +fight as a knight-errant, Sir Walter Somers, do you take your place by +my side, for there is no more valiant knight in my army than you have +often proved yourself to be."</p> + +<p>Three hundred chosen French men-at-arms,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</a></span> mounted on the strongest +horses, covered with steel armor, led the way under the command of the +Maréchals d'Audeham and De Clermont; while behind them were a large body +of German cavalry under the Counts of Nassau, Saarbruck, and Nidau, to +support them in their attack on the English archers. On the right was +the Duke of Orleans with sixteen thousand men-at-arms; on the left the +dauphin and his two brothers with an equal force; while King John +himself led on the rear-guard.</p> + +<p>When the three hundred <i>élite</i> of the French army reached the narrow way +between the hedges, knowing that these were lined with archers they +charged through at a gallop to fall upon the main body of bowmen +covering the front of the English men-at-arms. The moment they were +fairly in the hollow road the British archers rose on either side to +their feet and poured such a flight of arrows among them that in an +instant all was confusion and disarray. Through every joint and crevice +of the armor of knights and horses the arrows found their way, and the +lane was almost choked with the bodies of men and horses. A considerable +number, nevertheless, made their way through and approached the first +line of archers beyond.</p> + +<p>Here they were met by Sir James Audley, who, with his four squires, +plunged into their ranks and overthrew the Maréchal d'Audeham, and then +fought his way onward. Regardless of the rest of the battle he pressed +ever forward, until at the end of the day, wounded in a hundred places +and faint<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</a></span>ing from loss of blood, he fell from his horse almost at the +gates of Poitiers, and was borne from the field by the four faithful +squires who had fought beside him throughout the day.</p> + +<p>Less fortunate was Sir Eustace d'Ambrecicourt, who spurred headlong upon +the German cavalry. A German knight rode out to meet him, and in the +shock both were dishorsed, but before Sir Eustace could recover his seat +he was borne down to the ground by four others of the enemy, and was +bound and carried captive to the rear.</p> + +<p>In the mean time the English archers kept up their incessant hail of +arrows upon the band under the French marshals. The English men-at-arms +passed through the gaps purposely left in the line of archers and drove +back the front rank of the enemy upon those following, chasing them +headlong down the hollow road again. The few survivors of the French +force, galloping back, carried confusion into the advancing division of +the dauphin. Before order was restored the Captal de Buch with his six +hundred men issued forth from his place of concealment and charged +impetuously down on the left flank of the dauphin.</p> + +<p>The French, shaken in front by the retreat of their advance-guard, were +thrown into extreme confusion by this sudden and unexpected charge. The +horse archers with the captal poured their arrows into the mass, while +the shafts of the main body of the archers on the hill hailed upon them +without ceasing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</a></span></p> + +<p>The rumor spread among those in the French rear, who were unable to see +what was going forward, that the day was already lost, and many began to +fly. Sir John Chandos marked the confusion which had set in, and he +exclaimed to the prince:</p> + +<p>"Now, sir, ride forward, and the day is yours. Let us charge right over +upon your adversary, the King of France, for there lies the labor and +the feat of the day. Well do I know that his great courage will never +let him fly, but, God willing, he shall be well encountered."</p> + +<p>"Forward, then, John Chandos," replied the prince. "You shall not see me +tread one step back, but ever in advance. Bear on my banner. God and St. +George be with us!"</p> + +<p>The horses of the English force were all held in readiness by their +attendants close in their rear. Every man sprang into his saddle, and +with leveled lances the army bore down the hill against the enemy, while +the Captal de Buch forced his way through the struggling ranks of the +French to join them.</p> + +<p>To these two parties were opposed the whole of the German cavalry, the +division of the dauphin, now thinned by flight, and a strong force under +the Constable de Brienne, Duke of Athens. The first charge of the +English was directed against the Germans, the remains of the marshal's +forces, and that commanded by the constable. The two bodies of cavalry +met with a tremendous shock, raising<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</a></span> their respective war-cries, "Denis +Mount Joye!" and "St. George Guyenne!" Lances were shivered, and horses +and men rolled over, but the German horse were borne down in every +direction by the charge of the English chivalry. The Counts of Nassau +and Saarbruck were taken, and the rest driven down the hill in utter +confusion. The division of the Duke of Orleans, a little further down +the hill to the right, were seized with a sudden panic, and sixteen +thousand men-at-arms, together with their commander, fled without +striking a blow.</p> + +<p>Having routed the French and German cavalry in advance, the English now +fell upon the dauphin's division. This had been already confused by the +attacks of the Captal de Buch, and when its leaders beheld the complete +rout of the marshals and the Germans, and saw the victorious force +galloping down upon them, the responsibility attached to the charge of +the three young princes overcame their firmness. The Lords of Landas, +Vaudenay, and St. Venant, thinking the battle lost, hurried the princes +from the field, surrounded by eight hundred lances, determined to place +them at a secure distance, and then to return and fight beside the king.</p> + +<p>The retreat of the princes at once disorganized the force, but though +many fled a number of the nobles remained scattered over the field +fighting in separate bodies with their own retainers gathered under +their banners. Gradually these fell back and took post on the left of +the French king's division. The constable and the Duke of Bourbon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</a></span> with +a large body of knights and men-at-arms also opposed a firm front to the +advance of the English.</p> + +<p>The king saw with indignation one of his divisions defeated and the +other in coward flight, but his forces were still vastly superior to +those of the English, and ordering his men to dismount, he prepared to +receive their onset. The English now gathered their forces, which had +been scattered in combat, and again advanced to the fight. The archers +as usual heralded this advance with showers of arrows, which shook the +ranks of the French and opened the way for the cavalry. These dashed in, +and the ranks of the two armies became mixed, and each man fought hand +to hand. The French king fought on foot with immense valor and bravery, +as did his nobles. The Dukes of Bourbon and Athens, the Lords of Landas, +Argenton, Chambery, Joinville, and many others stood and died near the +king.</p> + +<p>Gradually the English drove back their foes. The French forces became +cut up into groups or confined into narrow spaces. Knight after knight +fell around the king. De Ribaumont fell near him. Jeffrey de Charny, +who, as one of the most valiant knights in the army, had been chosen to +bear the French standard, the oriflamme, never left his sovereign's +side, and as long as the sacred banner floated over his head John would +not believe the day was lost. At length, however, Jeffrey de Charny was +killed, and the oriflamme fell. John,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[Pg 350]</a></span> surrounded on every side by foes +who pressed forward to make him prisoner, still kept clear the space +immediately around himself and his little son with his battle-ax; but at +last he saw that further resistance would only entail the death of both, +and he then surrendered to Denis de Montbec, a knight of Artois.</p> + +<p>The battle was now virtually over. The French banners and pennons had +disappeared, and nothing was seen save the dead and dying, groups of +prisoners, and parties of fugitives flying over the country. Chandos now +advised the prince to halt. His banner was pitched on the summit of a +little mound. The trumpets blew to recall the army from the pursuit, and +the prince, taking off his helmet, drank with the little body of knights +who accompanied him some wine brought from his former encampment.</p> + +<p>The two marshals of the English army, the Earls of Warwick and Suffolk, +were among the first to return at the call of the trumpet. Hearing that +King John had certainly not left the field of battle, though they knew +not whether he was dead or taken, the prince at once dispatched the Earl +of Warwick and Lord Cobham to find and protect him if still alive. They +soon came upon a mass of men-at-arms, seemingly engaged in an angry +quarrel. On riding up they found that the object of strife was the King +of France, who had been snatched from the hands of Montbec, and was +being claimed by a score of men as his prisoner. The Earl of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[Pg 351]</a></span> Warwick +and Lord Cobham instantly made their way through the mass, and +dismounting, saluted the captive monarch with the deepest reverence, and +keeping back the multitude led him to the Prince of Wales. The latter +bent his knee before the king, and calling for wine, presented the cup +with his own hands to the unfortunate monarch.</p> + +<p>The battle was over by noon, but it was evening before all the pursuing +parties returned, and the result of the victory was then fully known. +With less than eight thousand men the English had conquered far more +than sixty thousand. On the English side two thousand men-at-arms and +fifteen hundred archers had fallen. Upon the French side eleven thousand +men-at-arms, besides an immense number of footmen, had been killed. A +king, a prince, an archbishop, thirteen counts, sixty-six barons, and +more than two thousand knights were prisoners in the hands of the +English, with a number of other soldiers, who raised the number of +captives to double that of their conquerors. All the baggage of the +French army was taken, and as the barons of France had marched to the +field feeling certain of victory, and the rich armor of the prisoners +became immediately the property of the captors, immense stores of +valuable ornaments of all kinds, especially jeweled baldrics, enriched +the meanest soldier among the conquerors.</p> + +<p>The helmet which the French king had worn, which bore a small coronet of +gold beneath the crest, was delivered to the Prince of Wales, who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[Pg 352]</a></span> sent +it off at once to his father as the best trophy of the battle he could +offer him.</p> + +<p>Its receipt was the first intimation which Edward III. received of the +great victory.</p> + +<p>As the prince had no means of providing for the immense number of +prisoners, the greater portion were set at liberty upon their taking an +oath to present themselves at Bordeaux by the ensuing Christmas in order +either to pay the ransom appointed or to again yield themselves as +prisoners.</p> + +<p>Immediately the battle was over Edward sent for the gallant Sir James +Audley, who was brought to him on his litter by his esquires, and the +prince, after warmly congratulating him on the honor that he had that +day won as the bravest knight in the army, assigned him an annuity of +five hundred marks a year.</p> + +<p>No sooner was Audley taken to his own tent than he called round him +several of his nearest relations and friends, and then and there made +over to his four gallant attendants, without power of recall, the gift +which the prince had bestowed upon him. The prince was not to be +outdone, however, in liberality, and on hearing that Audley had assigned +his present to the brave men who had so gallantly supported him in the +fight, he presented Sir James with another annuity of six hundred marks +a year.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[Pg 353]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<p class='center'>THE JACQUERIE.</p> + + +<p>On the evening after the battle of Poitiers, a splendid entertainment +was served in the tent of the Prince of Wales to the King of France and +all the principal prisoners. John with his son and six of his highest +nobles were seated at a table raised above the rest, and the prince +himself waited as page upon the French king. John in vain endeavored to +persuade the prince to be seated; the latter refused, saying that it was +his pleasure as well as his duty to wait upon one who had shown himself +to be the best and bravest knight in the French army. The example of the +Black Prince was contagious, and the English vied with each other in +generous treatment of their prisoners. All were treated as friends, and +that night an immense number of knights and squires were admitted to +ransom on such terms as had never before been known. The captors simply +required their prisoners to declare in good faith what they could afford +to pay without pressing themselves too hard, "for they did not wish," +they said, "to ransom knights or squires on terms which would prevent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[Pg 354]</a></span> +them from maintaining their station in society, from serving their +lords, or from riding forth in arms to advance their name and honor."</p> + +<p>Upon the following morning solemn thanksgivings were offered up on the +field of battle for the glorious victory. Then the English army, +striking its tents, marched back toward Bordeaux. They were unmolested +upon this march, for although the divisions of the dauphin and the Duke +of Orleans had now reunited, and were immensely superior in numbers to +the English, encumbered as the latter were, moreover, with prisoners and +booty, the tremendous defeat which they had suffered, and still more the +capture of the king, paralyzed the French commanders, and the English +reached Bordeaux without striking another blow.</p> + +<p>Not long after they reached that city the Cardinal of Perigord and +another legate presented themselves to arrange peace, and these +negotiations went on throughout the winter. The prince had received full +powers from his father, and his demands were very moderate; but in spite +of this no final peace could be arranged, and the result of the +conference was the proclamation of a truce, to last for two years from +the following Easter.</p> + +<p>During the winter immense numbers of the prisoners who had gone at large +upon patrol came in and paid their ransoms, as did the higher nobles who +had been taken prisoners, and the whole army was greatly enriched. At +the end of April the prince returned to England with King John. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[Pg 355]</a></span> +procession through the streets of London was a magnificent one, the +citizens vying with each other in decorating their houses in honor of +the victor of Poitiers, who, simply dressed, rode on a small black horse +by the side of his prisoner, who was splendidly attired, and mounted on +a superb white charger. The king received his royal prisoner in state in +the great hall of his palace at Westminster, and did all in his power to +alleviate the sorrows of his condition. The splendid palace of the +Savoy, with gardens extending to the Thames, was appointed for his +residence, and every means was taken to soften his captivity.</p> + +<p>During the absence of the Black Prince in Guienne the king had been +warring in Scotland. Here his success had been small, as the Scotch had +retreated before him, wasting the country. David Bruce, the rightful +king, was a prisoner in England, and Baliol, a descendant of the rival +of Robert Bruce, had been placed upon the throne. As Edward passed +through Roxburgh he received from Baliol a formal cession of all his +rights and titles to the throne of Scotland, and in return for this +purely nominal gift he bestowed an annual income upon Baliol, who lived +and died a pensioner of England. After Edward's return to England +negotiations were carried on with the Scots, and a treaty was signed by +which a truce for ten years was established between the two countries, +and the liberation of Bruce was granted on a ransom of one hundred +thousand marks.</p> + +<p>The disorganization into which France had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[Pg 356]</a></span> been thrown by the capture of +its king increased rather than diminished. Among all classes men strove +in the absence of a repressive power to gain advantages and privileges. +Serious riots occurred in many parts, and the demagogues of Paris, +headed by Stephen Marcel, and Robert le Coq, Bishop of Leon, set at +defiance the dauphin and the ministers and lieutenant of the king. +Massacre and violence stained the streets of Paris with blood. General +law, public order, and private security were all lost. Great bodies of +brigands devastated the country, and the whole of France was thrown into +confusion. So terrible was the disorder that the inhabitants of every +village were obliged to fortify the ends of their streets and keep watch +and ward as in the cities. The proprietors of land on the banks of +rivers spent the nights in boats moored in the middle of the stream, and +in every house and castle throughout the land men remained armed as if +against instant attack.</p> + +<p>Then arose the terrible insurrection known as the Jacquerie. For +centuries the peasantry of France had suffered under a bondage to which +there had never been any approach in England. Their lives and liberties +were wholly at the mercy of their feudal lords. Hitherto no attempt at +resistance had been possible; but the tremendous defeat of the French at +Poitiers by a handful of English aroused the hope among the serfs that +the moment for vengeance had come. The movement began among a handful of +peasants in the neighborhood of St.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[Pg 357]</a></span> Leu and Claremont. These declared +that they would put to death all the gentlemen in the land. The cry +spread through the country. The serfs, armed with pikes, poured out from +every village, and a number of the lower classes from the towns joined +them. Their first success was an attack upon a small castle. They burned +down the gates and slew the knight to whom it belonged, with his wife +and children of all ages. Their numbers rapidly increased. Castle after +castle was taken and stormed, palaces and houses leveled to the ground; +fire, plunder, and massacre swept through the fairest provinces of +France. The peasants vied with each other in inventing deaths of +fiendish cruelty and outrage upon every man, woman, and child of the +better classes who fell into their hands.</p> + +<p>Owing to the number of nobles who had fallen at Cressy and Poitiers, and +of those still captives in England, very many of their wives and +daughters remained unprotected, and these were the especial victims of +the fiendish malignity of the peasantry. Separated in many bands, the +insurgents marched through the Beauvoisis, Soissonois, and Vermandois; +and as they approached, a number of unprotected ladies of the highest +families in France fled to Meaux, where they remained under the guard of +the young Duke of Orleans and a handful of men-at-arms.</p> + +<p>After the conclusion of the peace at Bordeaux, Sir Walter Somers had +been dispatched on a mission to some of the German princes, with whom +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[Pg 358]</a></span> king was in close relations. The business was not of an onerous +nature, but Walter had been detained for some time over it. He spent a +pleasant time in Germany, where, as an emissary of the king and one of +the victors of Poitiers, the young English knight was made much of. When +he set out on his return he joined the Captal de Buch, who, ever +thirsting for adventure, had on the conclusion of the truce gone to +serve in a campaign in Germany; with him was the French Count de Foix, +who had been also serving throughout the campaign.</p> + +<p>On entering France from the Rhine the three knights were shocked at the +misery and ruin which met their eyes on all sides. Every castle and +house throughout the country, of a class superior to those of the +peasants, was destroyed, and tales of the most horrible outrages and +murders met their ears.</p> + +<p>"I regret," the Count de Foix said earnestly, "that I have been away +warring in Germany, for it is clear that every true knight is wanted at +home to crush down these human wolves."</p> + +<p>"Methinks," the captal rejoined, "that France will do well to invite the +chivalry of all other countries to assemble and aid to put down this +horrible insurrection."</p> + +<p>"Ay," the count said bitterly; "but who is to speak in the name of +France? The dauphin is powerless, and the virtual government is in the +hands of Marcel and other ambitious traitors who hail the doings of the +Jacquerie with delight, for these mad peasants are doing their work of +destroying the knights and nobles."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[Pg 359]</a></span></p> + +<p>The villages through which they passed were deserted save by women, and +in the small towns the people of the lower class scowled threateningly +at the three knights; but they with their following of forty +men-at-arms, of whom five were followers of Walter, fifteen of the +captal, and twenty of the Count de Foix, ventured not to proceed beyond +evil glances.</p> + +<p>"I would," De Foix said, "that these dogs would but lift a hand against +us. By St. Stephen, we would teach them a rough lesson!"</p> + +<p>His companions were of the same mind, for all were excited to fury by +the terrible tales which they heard. All these stories were new to them, +for although rumors had reached Germany of the outbreak of a peasant +insurrection in France, the movement had but just begun when they +started. As far as the frontier they had traveled leisurely, but they +had hastened their pace more and more as they learned how sore was the +strait of the nobles and gentry of the country, and how grievously every +good sword was needed. When they reached Chalons they heard much fuller +particulars than had before reached them, and learned that the Duchess +of Normandy, the Duchess of Orleans, and near three hundred ladies had +sought refuge in Meaux, and that they were there guarded but by a +handful of men-at-arms under the Duke of Orleans, while great bands of +serfs were pouring in from all parts of the country round to massacre +them.</p> + +<p>Meaux is eighty miles from Chalons, but the three<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[Pg 360]</a></span> knights determined to +press onward with all speed in hopes of averting the catastrophe. +Allowing their horses an hour or two to rest, they rode forward, and +pressing on without halt or delay, save such as was absolutely needed by +the horses, they arrived at Meaux late the following night, and found to +their delight that the insurgents, although swarming in immense numbers +round the town, had not yet attacked it.</p> + +<p>The arrival of the three knights and their followers was greeted with +joy by the ladies. They, with their guard, had taken up their position +in the market-house and market-place, which were separated from the rest +of the town by the river Marne, which flows through the city. A +consultation was at once held, and it being found that the Duke of +Orleans had but twenty men-at-arms with him, it was determined that it +was impossible to defend the city walls, but that upon the following +morning they would endeavor to cut their way with the ladies through the +peasant hosts. In the night, however, an uproar was heard in the city. +The burghers had risen and had opened the gates to the peasants, who now +poured in in thousands. Every hour increased their numbers.</p> + +<p>The market-place was besieged in the morning, and an hour or two +afterward a large body of the ruffians of Paris, under the command of a +brutal grocer named Pierre Gille, arrived to swell their ranks.</p> + +<p>The attack on the market-house continued, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[Pg 361]</a></span> the Duke of Orleans held +a consultation with the three knights. It was agreed that against such a +host of enemies the market-place could not long be defended, and that +their best hope lay in sallying out and falling upon the assailants. +Accordingly the men-at-arms were drawn up in order, with the banners of +the Duke of Orleans and the Count de Foix and the pennons of the captal +and Sir Walter Somers displayed, the gates were opened, and with leveled +lances the little party rode out. Hitherto nothing had been heard save +yells of anticipated triumph and fierce imprecations and threats against +the defenders from the immense multitude without; but the appearance of +the orderly ranks of the knights and men-at-arms as they issued through +the gate struck a silence of fear through the mass.</p> + +<p>Without an instant's delay the knights and men-at-arms, with leveled +lances, charged into the multitude. A few attempted to fight, but more +strove to fly, as the nobles and their followers, throwing away their +lances, fell upon them with sword and battle-ax. Jammed up in the narrow +streets of a small walled town, overthrowing and impeding each other in +their efforts to escape, trampled down by the heavy horses of the +men-at-arms, and hewn down by their swords and battle-axes, the +insurgents fell in vast numbers. Multitudes succeeded in escaping +through the gates into the fields; but here they were followed by the +knights and their retainers, who continued charging among them and +slaying till utter weariness compelled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[Pg 362]</a></span> them to cease from the pursuit +and return to Meaux. Not less than seven thousand of the insurgents had +been slain by the four knights and fifty men, for ten had been left +behind to guard the gates of the market-place.</p> + +<p>History has no record of so vast a slaughter by so small a body of men. +This terrific punishment put a summary end to the Jacquerie. Already in +other parts several bodies had been defeated, and their principal +leader, Caillet, with three thousand of his followers, slain near +Clermont. But the defeat at Meaux was the crushing blow which put an end +to the insurrection.</p> + +<p>On their return to the town the knights executed a number of the +burghers who had joined the peasants, and the greater part of the town +was burned to the ground as a punishment for having opened the gates to +the peasants and united with them.</p> + +<p>The knights and ladies then started for Paris. On nearing the city they +found that it was threatened by the forces of the dauphin. Marcel had +strongly fortified the town, and with his ally, the infamous King of +Navarre, bade defiance to the royal power. However, the excesses of the +demagogue had aroused against him the feeling of all the better class of +the inhabitants. The King of Navarre, who was ready at all times to +break his oath and betray his companions, marched his army out of the +town and took up a position outside the walls. He then secretly +negotiated peace with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[Pg 363]</a></span> Duke of Normandy, by which he agreed to yield +to their fate Marcel and twelve of the most obnoxious burghers, while at +the same time he persuaded Marcel that he was still attached to his +interest. Marcel, however, was able to bid higher than the Duke of +Normandy, and he entered into a new treaty with the treacherous king, by +which he stipulated to deliver the city into his hands during the night. +Every one within the walls, except the partisans of Marcel, upon whose +doors a mark was to be placed, were to be put to death indiscriminately, +and the King of Navarre was to be proclaimed King of France.</p> + +<p>Fortunately Pepin des Essarts and John de Charny, two loyal knights who +were in Paris, obtained information of a few minutes before the time +appointed for its execution. Arming themselves instantly, and collecting +a few followers, they rushed to the houses of the chief conspirators, +but found them empty, Marcel and his companions having already gone to +the gates. Passing by the hotel-de-ville, the knights entered, snatched +down the royal banner which was kept there, and unfurling it mounted +their horses and rode through the streets, calling all men to arms. They +reached the Port St. Antoine just at the moment when Marcel was in the +act of opening it in order to give admission to the Navarrese. When he +heard the shouts he tried with his friends to make his way into the +bastile, but his retreat was intercepted, and a severe and bloody +struggle took place between the two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[Pg 364]</a></span> parties. Stephen Marcel, however, +was himself slain by Sir John de Charny, and almost all his principal +companions fell with him. The inhabitants then threw open their gates +and the Duke of Normandy entered.</p> + +<p>Walter Somers had, with his companions, joined the army of the duke and +placed his sword at his disposal; but when the French prince entered +Paris without the necessity of fighting, he took leave of him, and with +the captal returned to England. Rare, indeed, were the jewels which +Walter brought home to his wife, for the three hundred noble ladies +rescued at Meaux from dishonor and death had insisted upon bestowing +tokens of their regard and gratitude upon the rescuers, and as many of +them belonged to the richest as well as the noblest families in France, +the presents which Walter thus received from the grateful ladies were of +immense value.</p> + +<p>He was welcomed by the king and Prince of Wales with great honor, for +the battle at Meaux had excited the admiration and astonishment of all +Europe. The Jacquerie was considered as a common danger in all civilized +countries; for if successful it might have spread far beyond the +boundaries of France, and constituted a danger to chivalry, and indeed +to society universally.</p> + +<p>Thus King Edward gave the highest marks of his satisfaction to the +captal and Walter, added considerable grants of land to the estates of +the latter, and raised him to the dignity of Baron Somers of Westerham.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[Pg 365]</a></span></p> + +<p>It has always been a matter of wonder that King Edward did not take +advantage of the utter state of confusion and anarchy which prevailed in +France to complete his conquest of that country, which there is no +reasonable doubt he could have effected with ease. Civil war and strife +prevailed throughout France; famine devastated it; and without leaders +or concord, dispirited and impoverished by defeat, France could have +offered no resistance to such an army as England could have placed in +the field. The only probable supposition is that at heart he doubted +whether the acquisition of the crown of France was really desirable, or +whether it could be permanently maintained should it be gained. To the +monarch of a county prosperous, flourishing, and contented the object of +admiration throughout Europe, the union with distracted and divided +France could be of no benefit. Of military glory he had gained enough to +content any man, and some of the richest provinces of France were +already his. Therefore it may well be believed that, feeling secure very +many years must elapse before France could again become dangerous, he +was well content to let matters continue as they were.</p> + +<p>King John still remained a prisoner in his hands, for the princes and +nobles of France were too much engaged in broils and civil wars to think +of raising the money for his ransom, and Languedoc was the only province +of France which made any effort whatever toward so doing. War still +raged between the dauphin and the King of Navarre.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">[Pg 366]</a></span></p> + +<p>At the conclusion of the two years' truce Edward, with the most +splendidly equipped army which had ever left England, marched through +the length and breadth of France. Nowhere did he meet with any +resistance in the field. He marched under the walls of Paris, but took +no steps to lay siege to that city, which would have fallen an easy prey +to his army had he chosen to capture it. That he did not do so is +another proof that he had no desire to add France to the possessions of +the English crown. At length, by the efforts of the pope, a peace was +agreed upon, by which France yielded all Aquitaine and the town of +Calais to England as an absolute possession, and not as a fief of the +crown of France; while the English king surrendered all his captures in +Normandy and Brittany and abandoned his claim to the crown of France. +With great efforts the French raised a portion of the ransom demanded +for the king, and John returned to France after four years of captivity.</p> + +<p>At the commencement of 1363 Edward the Black Prince was named Prince of +Aquitaine, and that province was bestowed upon him as a gift by the +king, subject only to liege homage and an annual tribute of one ounce of +gold. The prince took with him to his new possessions many of the +knights and nobles who had served with him, and offered to Walter a high +post in the government of the province if he would accompany him. This +Walter begged to be excused from doing. Two girls had now been added to +his family, and he was unwilling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">[Pg 367]</a></span> to leave his happy home unless the +needs of war called him to the prince's side. He therefore remained +quietly at home.</p> + +<p>When King John returned to France, four of the French princes of the +blood-royal had been given as hostages for the fulfillment of the treaty +of Bretigny. They were permitted to reside at Calais and were at liberty +to move about as they would, and even to absent themselves from the town +for three days at a time whensoever they might choose. The Duke of +Anjou, the king's second son, basely took advantage of this liberty to +escape, in direct violation of his oath. The other hostages followed his +example.</p> + +<p>King John, himself the soul of honor, was intensely mortified at this +breach of faith on the part of his sons, and after calling together the +States-general at Amiens to obtain the subsidies necessary for paying +the remaining portion of his ransom, he himself, with a train of two +hundred officers and their followers, crossed to England to make excuses +to Edward for the treachery of the princes. Some historians represent +the visit as a voluntary returning into captivity; but this was not so. +The English king had accepted the hostages in his place and was +responsible for their safe-keeping, and had no claim upon the French +monarch because they had taken advantage of the excess of confidence +with which they had been treated. That the coming of the French king was +not in any way regarded as a return into captivity is shown by the fact +that he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">[Pg 368]</a></span> was before starting furnished by Edward with letters of +safe-conduct, by which his secure and unobstructed return to his own +country was expressly stipulated, and he was received by Edward as an +honored guest and friend, and his coming was regarded as an honor and an +occasion for festivity by all England.</p> + +<p>At the same time that John was in London the King of Cyprus, the King of +Denmark, and the King of Scotland were also there, and the meeting of +four monarchs in London was the occasion of extraordinary festivities +and rejoicing, the king and his royal guests being several times +entertained at sumptuous banquets by the lord mayor, the ex-mayor, Henry +Pickard, and several of the aldermen.</p> + +<p>Six weeks after John's arrival in London he was seized with illness at +the palace of the Savoy, and died on the 8th of April, 1364. The +dauphin, Charles, now succeeded him as Charles V., and the war between +the houses of Navarre and Valois was carried on with greater fury than +ever. The armies of Navarre were commanded by the Captal de Buch, who +was a distant relation of the king; while those of Charles were headed +by the Maréchal de Boucicault and Bertrand du Guesclin, one of the most +gallant of the French knights. A great battle was fought near Cocherel. +Contrary to the orders of the captal, his army, which consisted +principally of adventurers, descended from the strong position he had +chosen, and gave battle in the plain. They were completely defeated and +the captal himself taken prisoner.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">[Pg 369]</a></span></p> + +<p>In Brittany John of Montford and Charles of Blois had renewed their +struggle, and King Charles, seeing the danger of Brittany falling into +the hands of De Montford, who was a close ally of England, interfered in +favor of Charles of Blois, and sent Du Guesclin to his assistance.</p> + +<p>This was a breach of the treaty of Bretigny, and De Montford at once +sent to the Black Prince for assistance. The prince did not treat the +conduct of Charles as a breach of the treaty, and took no part himself +in the war, but permitted Sir John Chandos, who was a personal friend of +De Montford, to go to his aid. De Montford's army, after the arrival of +Chandos with a force of two hundred spears, amounted to but sixteen +hundred men-at-arms and from eight hundred to nine hundred archers, +while Charles of Blois had four thousand men-at-arms and a proportionate +number of infantry. De Montford tried to negotiate. He offered to divide +the dukedom, and to agree that in case he died childless it should +revert to the family of Charles. Charles, however, refused all terms, +even to grant his adversary's request to put off the battle until the +morrow, so as to avoid violating the Sabbath; and having given orders +that all prisoners taken in the battle should be hung, he advanced upon +De Montford.</p> + +<p>Both forces were divided in four bodies. The first on De Montford's side +was commanded by Sir Robert Knolles, the second by Oliver de Clisson, +the third by Chandos and De Montford, the fourth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">[Pg 370]</a></span> by Sir Hugh de +Calverley. Du Guesclin led the front division of Charles' army, the +Counts of Auxerre and Joigny the second, Charles himself the third, and +the Lords of Roye and Rieux the reserve. The ducal arms of Brittany were +displayed on both sides.</p> + +<p>By slow degrees the two armies closed with each other in deadly strife. +Both parties had dismounted and fought on foot with lances shortened to +five feet. Du Guesclin and his division attacked that of Knolles. +Auxerre fell upon De Clisson, while the divisions of the two rival +princes closed with each other. After desperate fighting numbers +prevailed. De Montford was driven back, but Calverley advanced to his +aid, fell upon the rear of the French, threw them into disorder, and +then having rallied De Montford's men, retired to his former position in +readiness to give succor again where it might be needed.</p> + +<p>In the mean time Clisson had been engaged in a desperate struggle with +the Count of Auxerre, but was obtaining no advantage. Clisson himself +had received the blow of a battle-ax which had dashed in the visor of +his helmet and blinded forever one of his eyes. He was still leading his +men, but the enemies' superior numbers were pressing him back, when +Chandos, the instant the assistance of Calverley had relieved De +Montford's division, perceiving his danger, drew off a few men-at-arms, +and with them fell upon the rear of the Count of Auxerre, and dashing +all who opposed him to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">[Pg 371]</a></span> ground with his battle-ax, cleft his way to +the very center of the enemy. Pressed by De Clisson in front and broken +by the sudden attack of Chandos in the rear, the French division gave +way in every direction. Auxerre was desperately wounded, and he and De +Joigny both taken prisoners.</p> + +<p>Chandos then returned to De Montford, who had gallantly followed up the +advantage gained by the confusion into which Charles' division had been +thrown by the attack of Calverley. Charles was routed, he himself struck +down and slain by an English soldier, and the division defeated with +great slaughter. De Montford's whole force now gathered round Du +Guesclin's division, which now alone remained, and after fighting +gallantly until all hope was gone, the brave French knight and his +companions yielded themselves as prisoners.</p> + +<p>The battle of Auray terminated the struggle between the houses of Blois +and Montford. More than one thousand French men-at-arms died on the +field of battle, among whom were many of the noblest in Brittany. Two +counts, twenty-seven lords, and fifteen hundred men-at-arms were made +prisoners. De Montford now took possession of the whole of Brittany, and +at the suggestion of King Edward himself did homage to Charles V. for +the duchy, which he afterward ruled with wisdom.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">[Pg 372]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<p class='center'>VICTORY AND DEATH.</p> + + +<p>While the Black Prince was with difficulty governing his province of +Aquitaine, where the mutual jealousies of the English and native +officers caused continual difficulties, King Edward turned all his +attention to advancing the prosperity of England. He fostered trade, +commerce, and learning, was a munificent patron of the two universities, +and established such order and regularity in his kingdom that England +was the admiration of all Europe. Far different was the state of France. +The cessation of the wars with England and the subsequent disbandment of +troops had thrown upon their own resources great numbers of men who had +been so long engaged in fighting that they had no other trade to turn +to. The conclusion of the struggle in Brittany after the battle of Auray +and the death of Charles of Blois still further added to the number, and +these men gathered in bands, some of which were headed by men of +knightly rank, and scattered through France plundering the country and +extracting heavy sums from the towns.</p> + +<p>These "great companies," as they were called, ex<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">[Pg 373]</a></span>ceeded fifty thousand +men in number, and as almost all were trained soldiers they set the king +and his nobles at defiance, and were virtually masters of France. The +most tempting offers were made to them to lay down their arms, and the +pope sent legates threatening excommunication, but the great companies +laughed alike at promises and threats. At last a way of deliverance +opened to France. Pedro, named the Cruel, of Castile, had alienated his +people by his cruelty, and had defeated and driven into exile his +half-brother, Henry of Transtamare, who headed an insurrection against +him. Pedro put to death numbers of the nobles of Castile, despoiled the +King of Arragon, who had given aid to his brother, plundered and +insulted the clergy, and allied himself with the Moors.</p> + +<p>His quarrel with the clergy was the cause of his ruin. The pope summoned +him to appear before him at Avignon to answer to the crimes laid to his +charge. Pedro refused to attend, and the pope at once excommunicated +him. The King of Arragon and Henry of Transtamare were then summoned to +Avignon, and a treaty of alliance was concluded between them, and the +pope declared the throne of Castile vacant owing to the excommunication +of Pedro, and appointed Henry to it.</p> + +<p>These measures would have troubled Pedro little had it not been that +France groaned under the great companies, and the French king and the +pontiff at once entered into negotiations with them to support Henry in +his war against his brother. It was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">[Pg 374]</a></span> necessary that a leader in whom the +companies should have confidence should be chosen, and Du Guesclin, +still a prisoner of Chandos, who had captured him at Auray, was +selected, and the pope, the King of France, and Don Henry paid between +them the one hundred thousand francs demanded for his ransom. Du +Guesclin on his release negotiated with the leaders of the great +companies, and as the pope and king promised them large gratuities they +agreed to march upon Spain. They were joined by a great number of French +knights and men-at-arms.</p> + +<p>The expedition was under the nominal command of John of Bourbon, but the +real guidance was in the hands of Du Guesclin. As the army marched past +Avignon they worked upon the terrors of the pope until he paid them two +hundred thousand francs in gold. France was filled with joy at the +prospect of a riddance of the free companies which had so long been a +prey upon them. They were, too, eager to avenge upon the cruel King of +Spain the murder of his queen, who was a princess of France. The same +feeling animated the people of Aquitaine, and Calverley, D'Ambrecicourt, +Sir Walter Hewitt, Sir John Devereux, Sir John Neville, and several +other distinguished knights, with a large train of men-at-arms, joined +the adventurers. The great army moved through Arragon, whose king in +every way facilitated their progress. As they entered Castile the whole +people declared in favor of Henry, and Pedro, deserted by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">[Pg 375]</a></span> all, fled to +Bordeaux and besought aid from the Prince of Wales.</p> + +<p>Between Pedro and the English court a firm alliance had existed from the +time when the former so nearly married the Princess Joan, and +immediately the king heard of the expedition against him he issued +orders that no English knights should take part in it. The order, +however, came too late. The English knights had already marched into +Spain with Du Guesclin. As for the English who formed no inconsiderable +portion of the great companies, they had already declined to obey the +king when, at the instance of the pope and the King of France, he had +ordered them to disband.</p> + +<p>On Pedro's arrival at Bordeaux with his three daughters and his son, +they were kindly received by the Black Prince, courtesy and kindness to +those in misfortune being among the leading characteristics of his +nature. Pedro, cruel and ruthless as he was, was a man of great +eloquence and insinuating manners, and giving his own version of +affairs, he completely won over the prince, who felt himself, moreover, +bound in some degree to support him, inasmuch as he, an ally of England, +had been dethroned by an army composed partly of English. Pedro made the +most magnificent promises to the prince in return for his aid, ceding +him the whole of the province of Biscay, and agreeing to pay the British +troops engaged in his service when he regained his throne, the Black +Prince engaging to pay them in the mean time.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">[Pg 376]</a></span></p> + +<p>King Edward aided his son by raising an army in England, which sailed +for Bordeaux under the command of the prince's brother, John of Gaunt, +Duke of Lancaster. Walter formed part of this expedition. The king had +issued his writs to him and other barons of the southern counties, and +the Black Prince had himself written to ask him to join him, in memory +of their former deeds of arms together.</p> + +<p>As it was now some years since he had taken the field, Walter did not +hesitate, but with thirty retainers, headed by Ralph, joined the army of +John of Gaunt.</p> + +<p>The Black Prince's first step was to endeavor to recall the Englishmen +of the free companies, estimated to amount to at least thirty thousand +men. The news that he was taking up arms and would himself command the +army caused Calverley and the whole of the other English knights to +return at once, and ten thousand of the English men-at-arms with the +great companies also left Don Henry and marched to Aquitaine. The road +led through the territory of the King of Navarre, and the Black Prince +advanced fifty-six thousand florins of gold to pay this grasping and +treacherous king for the right of passage of the army.</p> + +<p>By Christmas, 1366, the preparations were complete, but the severity of +the weather delayed the advance for some weeks. Fresh difficulties were +encountered with Charles the Bad, of Navarre, who, having obtained the +price for the passage, had now<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">[Pg 377]</a></span> opened negotiations with Don Henry, and +the governors of the frontier towns refused to allow Sir Hugh Calverley +and the free companions, who formed the advance, to pass. These were +not, however, the men to stand on ceremony, and without hesitation they +attacked and captured the towns, when the King of Navarre at once +apologized for his officers, and renewed his engagements. As, however, +the Black Prince had received intelligence that he had formed a plan for +attacking the English as they passed through the terrible pass of +Roncesvalles, he compelled him to accompany the army. The invitation was +couched in language which was friendly, but would yet admit of no +denial.</p> + +<p>On the 17th of February the English army, thirty thousand strong, +reached the pass. It marched in three divisions, the first commanded by +the Duke of Lancaster and Lord Chandos, the second by the Black Prince, +the third by the King of Majorca and the Count of Armagnac. The +divisions crossed over on different days, for the pass was encumbered by +snow and the obstacles were immense. Upon the day when the prince's +division were passing a storm burst upon them, and it was with the +greatest difficulty that they succeeded in crossing. On the 20th of +February, however, all arrived safe on the other side of the Pyrenees. +Du Guesclin, who, seeing the storm which was approaching from Aquitaine, +had returned to France and levied a French army, was nigh at hand, and +kept within a few miles of the English army as it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">[Pg 378]</a></span> advanced, avoiding an +engagement until the arrival of Don Henry, who was marching to join him +with the great companies and sixty thousand Spanish troops.</p> + +<p>Du Guesclin kept up secret communications with the King of Navarre, who +was still forced to accompany the English army. The latter accordingly +went out from the camp under pretense of hunting and was captured by a +detachment of French troops.</p> + +<p>On the 1st of April, the Spanish army having joined the French, the +Black Prince sent letters to Don Henry, urging him in mild but dignified +language to return to obedience, and to resign the throne he had +usurped, offering at the same time to act as mediator between him and +his brother, and to do all in his power to remove differences and +abuses. Henry, confident in his strength, replied haughtily and prepared +for battle.</p> + +<p>The forces were extremely unequal. The Black Prince had under him thirty +thousand men; while under Don Henry were three thousand men-at-arms on +mail-clad horses, twenty thousand men-at-arms on horses not so +protected, six thousand light cavalry, ten thousand cross-bowmen, and +sixty thousand foot armed with spear and sword.</p> + +<p>The night before the battle the Black Prince lodged in the little +village of Navarretta, which had been deserted by its inhabitants. +Walter had been his close companion since he started, and occupied the +same lodging with him in the village.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">[Pg 379]</a></span></p> + +<p>"This reminds me," the prince said, "of the day before Cressy. They +outnumber us by more than three to one."</p> + +<p>"There were greater odds still," Walter replied, "at Poitiers, and I +doubt not that we shall make as good an example of them."</p> + +<p>"They are more doughty adversaries," the prince replied. "There are nigh +twenty thousand English in their ranks—all veterans in war—and they +are led by Du Guesclin, who is a host in himself."</p> + +<p>"Their very numbers will be a hindrance to them," Walter replied +cheerfully; "and never did I see a better army than that which you have +under you. I would we were fighting for a better man, for Don Pedro is +to my mind treacherous as well as cruel. He promises fairly, but I doubt +if when he has gained his end he will keep his promises. He speaks +fairly and smoothly, but his deeds are at variance with his words."</p> + +<p>"It may be, my lord," the prince replied, "that I am somewhat of your +opinion, and that I regret I so quickly committed myself to his cruse. +However, he was my father's ally, and having fulfilled all his +engagements had a right to demand our assistance. I am a bad hand, +Walter, at saying no to those who beseech me."</p> + +<p>"It is so, Sir Prince," Walter said bluntly. "Would that your heart had +been a less generous one, for your nobleness of disposition is ever +involving you in debts which hamper you sorely, and cause more trouble +to you than all your enemies!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">[Pg 380]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That is true enough," the Black Prince said with a sigh. "Since I was a +boy I have ever been harassed with creditors; and though all Aquitaine +is mine, I verily believe that there is not a man in my father's +dominions who is so harassed and straitened for money as I."</p> + +<p>"And yet," Walter said, smiling, "no sooner do you get it than you give +it away."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" the prince laughed, "I cannot deny it. It is so much pleasanter to +give than to pay that I can never find heart to balk myself. I am ever +surrounded by suitors. Some have lost estates in my cause, others have +rendered brilliant services in the field, some have burdened themselves +with debts to put their retainers in arms—all have pleas to urge, and +for the life of me I cannot say them nay. I trust, though," he added +more seriously, "that Don Pedro will fulfill his promises to pay my +army. I have bound myself to my soldiers for their wages, besides +advancing large sums to Pedro, and if he keeps not his engagements I +shall indeed be in a sore strait."</p> + +<p>"There is one thing," Walter said; "if he fail to keep his promises, we +will not fail to oblige him to do so. If we win a kingdom for him, we +can snatch it from him again."</p> + +<p>"We have not won it yet," the prince said.</p> + +<p>"We will do so to-morrow," Walter rejoined confidently. "I hope the +fortunes of the day may bring me face to face with Du Guesclin. I am +thrice as strong as when I fought at Cressy, and I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">[Pg 381]</a></span> should like to try +my hand against this doughty champion."</p> + +<p>The next morning the two armies prepared for battle, the Black Prince +dividing his army as before. The divisions were commanded as in the +passage of the Pyrenees, and each numbered ten thousand men.</p> + +<p>Don Henry had also divided his force in three parts. In the first +division, commanded by Du Guesclin, were four thousand veteran French +knights and men-at-arms with eight thousand foot soldiers; the second +was led by the prince's brother, Don Tillo, with sixteen thousand horse; +while he himself commanded the third, in which were a multitude of +soldiers, making up the gross total of one hundred thousand men.</p> + +<p>As on the night preceding the battle of Poitiers, the English army had +lain down supperless. Soon after midnight the trumpets sounded, and the +troops soon moved forward. At sunrise the prince and his forces reached +the summit of a little hill, whence was visible the approaching host of +Spain. The first division, under the Duke of Lancaster and Lord Chandos, +immediately quickened its pace and charged the division of Du Guesclin, +which received it with great steadiness, and a desperate conflict +ensued. The Black Prince charged the division of Don Tillo, which gave +way at the first attack, and its commander, with two thousand horse, at +once fled. The remainder of the division resisted for some time, but was +unable to withstand the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">[Pg 382]</a></span> steady advance of the English, who without much +difficulty dispersed and scattered it from the field. The King of +Majorca now joined his division with that of the Black Prince, and the +two advanced against the great division led by Don Henry.</p> + +<p>The Spanish slingers opened upon the advancing force and for a time +annoyed them greatly, but when the English archers arrived within +bow-shot and opened fire they speedily dispersed the slingers, and the +men-at-arms on both sides advanced to the attack. The conflict was long +and desperate, and both sides fought with great gallantry and +determination. Don Pedro—who, although vicious and cruel, was +brave—fought in the ranks as a common soldier, frequently cutting his +way into the midst of the Spaniards, and shouting to Don Henry to cross +swords with him. Henry on his part fought with great valor, although, as +he had the burden of command upon him, he was less able to distinguish +himself by acts of personal prowess. Though fighting in the thickest of +the press, he never lost his grasp of the general purpose of the battle. +Three times, when his troops wavered before the assaults of the Black +Prince and his knights, he rallied them and renewed the fight.</p> + +<p>While this battle was raging, a not less obstinate fight was proceeding +between the divisions of Lancaster and Du Guesclin. For a long time +victory was doubtful, and indeed inclined toward the side of the French. +The ranks of both parties were broken, and all were fighting in a +confused mass,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">[Pg 383]</a></span> when, in the midst of the <i>mêlée</i>, a body of French and +Spaniards poured in upon the banner of Chandos. He was struck to the +ground, and a gigantic Castilian knight flung himself upon him and +strove to slay him as he held him down. Chandos had lost sword and +battle-ax, but drawing his dagger, he held with one hand his opponent's +sword-arm, and at last, after repeated strokes with his dagger, he found +an undefended part of his armor and pierced him with his dagger to the +hilt. The Spaniard relaxed his hold, and Chandos, throwing him off, +struggled to his feet and rejoined his friends, who had thought him +dead. They now fought with more enthusiasm than ever, and at last, +driving back the main body of the French knights, isolated a body of +some sixty strong, and forced them to surrender. Among these were Du +Guesclin himself, the Marshal d'Audenham, and the Bigue de Vilaines.</p> + +<p>As these were the leaders of the division, the main body lost spirit and +fought feebly, and were soon completely routed by Lancaster and Chandos. +These now turned their attention to the other part of the field, where +the battle was still raging, and charged down upon the flank of Don +Henry's army, which was already wavering. The Spaniards gave way at once +on every side, and ere long the whole were scattered in headlong rout, +hotly pursued by the English. The greater portion fled toward the town +of Najarra, where they had slept the previous night, and here vast +quantities were slaughtered by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">[Pg 384]</a></span> the English and Gascons. A number of +prisoners were taken and the palace and town sacked. The pursuit was +kept up the whole day, and it was not until evening that the leaders +began once more to assemble round the banner of the Prince of Wales. +Among the last who arrived was Don Pedro himself. Springing from his +charger he grasped the hand of the Prince of Wales, thanking him for his +victory, which he felt would restore him to his throne.</p> + +<p>"Give thanks and praise to God, and not to me," the prince replied, "for +from him, and not from me, you have received victory."</p> + +<p>About eight thousand men fell in the battle, the loss of the English, +French, and Spaniards being nearly equal; but many thousands of the +latter fell in the pursuit, and as many more were drowned in endeavoring +to cross the river Ebro. Don Henry escaped after fighting till the last, +and reaching the French territory in safety took refuge in the papal +court of Avignon.</p> + +<p>Upon the morning after the battle Don Pedro requested the Black Prince +to give him up all the Castilian prisoners, in order that he might put +them to death. The prince, however, was always opposed to cruelty, and +asked and obtained as a boon to himself that the lives of all the +Spanish prisoners, with the exception of one whose conduct had been +marked with peculiar treachery, should be spared, and even induced Pedro +to pardon them altogether on their swearing fealty to him. Even Don +Sancho, Pedro's brother, who had fought at Najarra under<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">[Pg 385]</a></span> Don Henry, was +received and embraced by Pedro at the request of the Prince of Wales. +The city of Burgos at once opened its gates, and the rest of the country +followed its example, and resumed its allegiance to Pedro, who remounted +his throne without further resistance.</p> + +<p>As Walter had fought by the side of the Black Prince his desire to cross +swords with Du Guesclin was not satisfied; but his valor during the day +won for him the warm approbation of the prince. Opposed to them were +many of the great companies, and these men, all experienced soldiers and +many of them Englishmen, had fought with great stubbornness. Walter had +singled out for attack a banner bearing the cognizance of a raven. The +leader of this band, who was known as the Knight of the Raven, had won +for himself a specially evil notoriety in France by the ferocity of his +conduct. Wherever his band went they had swept the country, and the most +atrocious tortures had been inflicted on all well-to-do persons who had +fallen into their hands, to extract from them the secret of buried +hoards or bonds, entailing upon them the loss of their last penny.</p> + +<p>The Knight of the Raven himself was said to be as brave as he was cruel, +and several nobles who had attempted to oppose his band had been +defeated and slain by him. He was known to be English, but his name was +a mystery; and the Black Prince and his knights had long wished to +encounter a man who was a disgrace alike to chivalry and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386">[Pg 386]</a></span> English +name. When, therefore, Walter saw his banner in the king's division he +urged his horse toward it, and, followed by Ralph and some thirty +men-at-arms, hewed his way through the crowd until he was close to the +banner.</p> + +<p>A knight in gray armor spurred forward to meet him, and a desperate +conflict took place. Never had Walter crossed swords with a stouter +adversary, and his opponent fought with as much vehemence and fury as if +the sight of Walter's banner, which Ralph carried behind him, had +aroused in him a frenzy of rage and hate. In guarding his head from one +of his opponent's sweeping blows Walter's sword shivered at the hilt; +but before the Gray Knight could repeat the blow Walter snatched his +heavy battle-ax from his saddle. The knight reined back his horse for an +instant and imitated his example, and with these heavy weapons the fight +was renewed. The Knight of the Raven had lost by the change, for +Walter's great strength stood him in good stead, and presently with a +tremendous blow he beat down his opponent's ax and cleft through his +helmet almost to the chin.</p> + +<p>The knight fell dead from his horse, and Walter, with his band, pressing +on, carried confusion into the ranks of his followers. When these had +been defeated Walter rode back with Ralph to the spot where the Knight +of the Raven had fallen.</p> + +<p>"Take off his helmet, Ralph. Let me see his face. Methinks I recognized +his voice, and he fought as if he knew and hated me."</p> + +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/illus008.jpg" alt="knight"/> <br /> + +<span class="smcap">The end of a Recreant Knight.</span>—Page 386.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387">[Pg 387]</a></span></p> + +<p>Ralph removed the helmet.</p> + +<p>"It is as I thought," Walter said; "it is Sir James Carnegie, a recreant +and villain knight and foul enemy of mine, a disgrace to his name and +rank, but a brave man. So long as he lived I could never say that my +life was safe from his machinations. Thank God, there is an end of him +and his evil doings!"</p> + +<p>Walter was twice wounded in the fight, but upon neither occasion +seriously, and he was soon able to take part in the tournaments and +games which the Prince of Wales instituted partly to keep his men +employed, partly for the amusement of the citizens of Burgos, outside +whose walls his army lay encamped.</p> + +<p>The prince was now obliged to remind the king of his promise to pay his +troops; but nothing was further from the mind of the treacherous monarch +than to carry out the promises which he had made in exile. He dared not, +however, openly avow his intentions, but trusting to the chapter of +accidents, he told the prince that at Burgos he could not collect a +sufficient sum; but if the army would march into Leon and take up their +quarters near Valladolid, he himself would proceed to Seville, and would +as soon as possible collect the money which he had bound himself to +furnish. The plan was adopted. Edward marched his troops to Valladolid, +and Don Pedro went to Seville.</p> + +<p>Some time passed on without the arrival of the promised money, and the +prince was impatient to return to Aquitaine. Don Henry had gathered a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388">[Pg 388]</a></span> +force in France, secretly assisted by the French king, and had made an +inroad into Aquitaine, where he obtained several successes, and was +joined by many of the disinterested nobles of that province.</p> + +<p>"You were right," the prince said to Walter one day; "this treacherous +king, who owes his kingdom to us, intends to break his plighted word. I +know not what to do; my men are clamorous for their pay, and I am unable +to satisfy them. Don Pedro still sends fair promises, and although I +believe in my heart that he has no intention of keeping them, yet I can +hardly march against him as an enemy, for, however far from the truth it +may be, his pretext that the treasury has been emptied by his brother, +and that in the disturbed state of the kingdom no money can be obtained, +may yet be urged as valid."</p> + +<p>Scarcely had the army encamped before Valladolid when a terrible +pestilence attacked the army. For a while all questions of pay were +forgotten, and consternation and dismay seized the troops. Neither rank +nor station was of avail, and the leaders suffered as severely as the +men. Every day immense numbers died, and so sudden were the attacks, and +so great the mortality, that the soldiers believed that Don Pedro had +poisoned the wells in order to rid himself of the necessity of +fulfilling his obligations.</p> + +<p>The Black Prince himself was prostrated and lay for some time between +life and death. A splendid constitution enabled him to pull through, but +he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">[Pg 389]</a></span> arose from his bed enfeebled and shattered, and although for some +years he lived on, he received his death-blow at Valladolid. His +personal strength never came to him again, and even his mind was dulled +and the brightness of his intellect dimmed from the effects of the +fever. When he recovered sufficiently to inquire into the state of his +forces, he was filled with sorrow and dismay. Four-fifths of the number +were either dead or so weakened as to be useless for service again. The +prince wrote urgently to Don Pedro for the money due; but the king knew +that the English were powerless now, and replied that he had not been +able to collect the money, but would forward it to Aquitaine, if the +prince would return there with his army. Edward knew that he lied, but +with only six thousand or seven thousand men, many of whom were +enfeebled by disease, he was not in a position to force the claim, or to +punish the base and ungrateful king. Again, therefore, he turned his +face north.</p> + +<p>Charles of Navarre had now allied himself with Don Henry, and refused to +allow the remnants of the army to pass through his dominions, although +he granted permission to the prince himself and his personal attendants +and friends. The southern route was barred by the King of Arragon, also +an ally of Don Henry; but with him the prince was more successful. He +had a personal interview with the monarch, and so influenced him that he +not only obtained permission for his troops to pass through his +dominions, but detached him from his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">[Pg 390]</a></span> alliance with Don Henry and +induced him to enter into a friendly treaty with Pedro.</p> + +<p>A greater act of magnanimity was never performed. In spite of the base +ingratitude with which he had been treated, and the breach of faith +which saddled him with enormous liabilities and debts, which weighed him +down and imbittered the rest of his life, Edward remained faithful to +the cause of his father's ally, and did his best to maintain him in the +position which English valor had won for him. He himself with a few +companions passed through Navarre, and arrived safely in Bordeaux, where +his wife awaited him, and where he was received with rejoicings and +festivities in honor of his glorious campaign in Spain.</p> + +<p>His health was now irreparably injured. Troubles came thick upon him in +Aquitaine, and he had no longer the energy to repress them. Risings took +place in all directions, and the King of France renewed the war. In +addition to his own troubles from the debts he had incurred and the +enemies who rose against him, he was further shaken by the death of his +mother Philippa, whom he tenderly loved. His friend Chandos, too, was +killed in a skirmish. Unhappily, while thus weakened in mind and body +the treachery of the bishop and people of Limoges, who, having bound +themselves by innumerable promises to him, surrendered their city to the +French, caused him to commit the one act of cruelty which sullied the +brightness of an otherwise unspotted career, for at the recapture of the +town he bade his soldiers give no quarter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">[Pg 391]</a></span></p> + +<p>This act, although common enough at the time, is so opposed to the +principles of mercy and humanity which throughout all the previous acts +of his life distinguished the conduct of the Black Prince that it cannot +be doubted that his brain was affected by the illness which was fast +hurrying him to the grave. Shortly afterward he returned to England and +busied himself in arranging the affairs of the kingdom, which his +father's failing health had permitted to fall into disorder. For the +remaining four years of life he lived in seclusion, and sank on the 8th +of June, 1376.</p> + +<p>Walter, Lord Somers, returned home after the conclusion of the campaign +in Spain, and rode no more to the wars.</p> + +<p>Giles Fletcher and his wife had died some years before, but the good +citizen Geoffrey the armorer, when he grew into years, abandoned his +calling and took up his abode at Westerham Castle to the time of his +death.</p> + +<p>In the wars which afterward occurred with France, Walter was represented +in the field by his sons, who well sustained the high reputation which +their father had borne as a good and valiant knight. He and his wife +lived to a green old age, reverenced and beloved by their tenants and +retainers, and died surrounded by their descendants to the fourth +generation.</p> + + +<p class='center'>THE END.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>THE HENTY SERIES FOR BOYS</h3> + +<p>Uniform Cloth Binding. Price $1.00.</p> + + +<p>"Wherever English is spoken one imagines that Mr. Henty's name is known. +One cannot enter a schoolroom or look at a boy's bookshelf without +seeing half a dozen of the famous volumes. Mr. Henty is no doubt the +most successful writer for boys, and the one to whose new volumes they +look forward every Christmas with most pleasure."—<i>Review of Reviews.</i></p> + +<p><b>Bonnie Prince Charlie</b>: A Tale of Fontenoy and Culloden. By <span class="smcap">G. A. +Henty</span>. With Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>With Clive in India</b>; or, The Beginnings of an Empire. By <span class="smcap">G. A. +Henty</span>. With Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>The Dragon and the Raven</b>; or, The Days of King Alfred. By <span class="smcap">G. A. +Henty</span>. With Illustrations by C.J. Staniland, R.I. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>The Young Carthaginian</b>: A Story of the Times of Hannibal. By <span class="smcap">G. A. +Henty</span>. With Illustrations by C.J. Staniland, R.I. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>The Lion of the North</b>: A Tale of Gustavus Adolphus and the Wars of +Religion. By <span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span>. With Illustrations by John Schönberg.</p> + +<p><b>With Lee in Virginia</b>: A Story of the American Civil War. By <span class="smcap">G. A. +Henty</span>. With Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>By England's Aid</b>; or, The Freeing of the Netherlands (1585-1604). By +<span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span>. With Illustrations by Alfred Pearse. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>By Pike and Dyke</b>: A Tale of the Rise of the Dutch Republic. By +<span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span>. With Illustrations by Maynard Brown. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>Captain Bayley's Heir</b>: A Tale of the Gold Fields of California. By +<span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span>. With Illustrations by H.M. Paget. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>Under Drake's Flag</b>: A Tale of the Spanish Main. By <span class="smcap">G. A. +Henty</span>. With Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>In Freedom's Cause</b>: A Story of Wallace and Bruce. By <span class="smcap">G. A. +Henty</span>. With Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>In the Reign of Terror</b>: The Adventures of a Westminster Boy. By +<span class="smcap">G. A. Henty</span>. With Illustrations by John Schönberg. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>True to the Old Flag</b>: A Tale of the American War of Independence. With +12 page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>With Wolfe in Canada</b>; or, The Winning of a Continent. With 12 page +Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>By Right of Conquest</b>; or, With Cortez in Mexico. With 6 page +Illustrations by W.S. Stacey. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>St. George for England</b>: A Tale of Cressy and Poitiers. With 8 page +Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>The Bravest of the Brave</b>: With Peterborough in Spain. With 8 page +Illustrations by H.M. Paget. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>For Name and Fame</b>; or, Through Afghan Passes. With 8 page +Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>The Cat of Bubastes</b>: A Story of Ancient Egypt. With 5 page +Illustrations by J.R. Weguelin. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>For the Temple</b>: A Tale of the Fall of Jerusalem. With 10 page +Illustrations by S.J. Solomon. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>The Lion of St. Mark</b>: A Story of Venice in the Fourteenth Century. +With 10 page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>By Sheer Pluck</b>: A Tale of the Ashanti War. With 8 page Illustrations +by Gordon Browne. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>A Final Reckoning</b>: A Tale of Bush Life in Australia. With 8 page +Illustrations by W.B. Wollen. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>Facing Death</b>: A Tale of the Coal Mines. With 8 page Illustrations by +Gordon Browne. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>Maori and Settler</b>: A Story of the New Zealand War. With 5 page +Illustrations by Alfred Pearse. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, <b>A. L. BURT, 97 Reade Street, New York</b>.</p> + + +<h3>Fireside Series for Girls.</h3> + +<p>Uniform Cloth Binding. Illustrated.</p> + +<p>A carefully selected series of books for girls, written by authors of +acknowledged reputation. The stories are deeply interesting in +themselves, and have a moral charm that emanates from the principal +characters; they teach without preaching, are of lively interest +throughout, and will win the hearts of all girl readers.</p> + + + +<p><b>Esther.</b> By <span class="smcap">Rosa Nouchette Carey</span>. Illustrated. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>A World of Girls: The Story of a School.</b> By <span class="smcap">L.T. Meade</span>. +Illustrated. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>The Heir of Redclyffe.</b> By <span class="smcap">Charlotte M. Yonge</span>. Illus. Price +$1.00.</p> + +<p><b>The Story of a Short Life.</b> By <span class="smcap">Juliana Horatia Ewing</span>. +Illustrated. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>A Sweet Girl Graduate.</b> By <span class="smcap">L.T. Meade</span>. Illustrated. Price +$1.00.</p> + +<p><b>Our Bessie.</b> By <span class="smcap">Rosa Nouchette Carey</span>. Illustrated. Price +$1.00.</p> + +<p><b>Six to Sixteen: A Story for Girls.</b> By <span class="smcap">Juliana Horatia Ewing</span>. +Illustrated. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>The Dove in the Eagle's Nest.</b> By <span class="smcap">Charlotte M. Yonge</span>. +Illustrated. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>Gianetta; A Girl's Story of Herself.</b> By <span class="smcap">Rosa Mulholland</span>. +Illustrated. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>Jan of the Windmill: A Story of the Plains.</b> By <span class="smcap">Juliana Horatia +Ewing</span>. Illustrated. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>Averil.</b> By <span class="smcap">Rosa Nouchette Carey</span>. Illustrated. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking-Glass.</b> Two volumes +in one. By <span class="smcap">Lewis Carroll</span>. Illustrated. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>Merle's Crusade.</b> By <span class="smcap">Rosa Nouchette Carey</span>. Illustrated. Price +$1.00.</p> + +<p><b>Girl Neighbors; or, The Old Fashion and the New.</b> By <span class="smcap">Sarah +Tytler</span>. Illustrated. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>Polly: A New Fashioned Girl.</b> By <span class="smcap">L.T. Meade</span>. Illus. Price +$1.00.</p> + +<p><b>Aunt Diana.</b> By <span class="smcap">Rosa N. Carey</span>. Illustrated. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>The Water Babies; A Fairy Tale for a Land-Baby.</b> By <span class="smcap">Charles +Kingsley</span>. Illustrated. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>At the Back of the North Wind.</b> By <span class="smcap">George Macdonald</span>. +Illustrated. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>The Chaplet of Pearls, or, The White and Black Ribaumont.</b> By +<span class="smcap">Charlotte M. Yonge</span>. Illustrated. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>The Days of Bruce: A Story of Scottish History.</b> By <span class="smcap">Grace +Aguilar</span>. Illustrated. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>The Palace Beautiful: A Story for Girls.</b> By <span class="smcap">L.T. Meade</span>. +Illustrated. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>Margery Merton's Girlhood.</b> By <span class="smcap">Alice Corkran</span>. Illus. Price +$1.00.</p> + +<p><b>Three Bright Girls: A Story of Chance and Mischance.</b> By <span class="smcap">Annie E. +Armstrong</span>. Illustrated. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>Pythia's Pupils: The Story of a School.</b> By <span class="smcap">Eva Hartner</span>. +Illustrated. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>The Lady of the Forest: A Story for Girls.</b> By <span class="smcap">L.T. Meade</span>. +Illustrated. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>Only a Girl: A Tale of Brittany.</b> By <span class="smcap">C.A. Jones</span>. Illus. Price +$1.00.</p> + +<p><b>Honor Bright; or, The Four-Leaved Shamrock.</b> By the author of Miss +Toosey's Mission. Illustrated. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><b>Under False Colors: A Story from Two Girls' Lives.</b> By <span class="smcap">Sarah +Doudney</span>. Illustrated. Price $1.00.</p> + +<p><i>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by +the publisher, A. L. BURT, 97 Reade Street, New York.</i></p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ST. 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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: St. George for England + A Tale of Cressy and Poitiers + + +Author: G. A. Henty + + + +Release Date: January 8, 2011 [eBook #34886] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ST. GEORGE FOR ENGLAND*** + + +E-text prepared by Charlene Taylor, Graeme Mackreth, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images +generously made available by Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries +(http://www.archive.org/details/toronto) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 34886-h.htm or 34886-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/34886/34886-h/34886-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/34886/34886-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries. See + http://www.archive.org/details/stgeorgeforengla00hentuoft + + + + + +ST. GEORGE FOR ENGLAND: + +A Tale of Cressy and Poitiers. + +by + +G.A. HENTY, + +Author of "With Clive in India," "Under Drake's Flag," "The Young +Carthaginian," "Bonnie Prince Charlie," etc., etc. + +Eight Page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. + + +[Illustration: ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF SIR WALTER.] + + + + + + + +New York: +A. L. Burt, Publisher. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +MY DEAR LADS: + +You may be told perhaps that there is no good to be obtained from tales +of fighting and bloodshed--that there is no moral to be drawn from such +histories. Believe it not. War has its lessons as well as Peace. You +will learn from tales like this that determination and enthusiasm can +accomplish marvels, that true courage is generally accompanied by +magnanimity and gentleness, and that if not in itself the very highest +of virtues, it is the parent of almost all the others, since but few of +them can be practiced without it. The courage of our forefathers has +created the greatest empire in the world around a small and in itself +insignificant island; if this empire is ever lost, it will be by the +cowardice of their descendants. + +At no period of her history did England stand so high in the eyes of +Europe as in the time whose events are recorded in this volume. A +chivalrous king and an even more chivalrous prince had infected the +whole people with their martial spirit, and the result was that their +armies were for a time invincible, and the most astonishing successes +were gained against numbers which would appear overwhelming. The +victories of Cressy and Poitiers may be to some extent accounted for by +superior generalship and discipline on the part of the conquerors; but +this will not account for the great naval victory over the Spanish fleet +off the coast of Sussex, a victory even more surprising and won against +greater odds than was that gained in the same waters centuries later +over the Spanish Armada. The historical facts of the story are all drawn +from Froissart and other contemporary historians, as collated and +compared by Mr. James in his carefully written history. They may +therefore be relied upon as accurate in every important particular. + + +Yours sincerely, + + G. A. HENTY. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + PAGE + + CHAPTER I. + A Wayfarer 1 + + CHAPTER II. + The Hut in the Marshes 18 + + CHAPTER III. + A Thwarted Plot 36 + + CHAPTER IV. + A Knight's Chain 54 + + CHAPTER V. + The City Games 72 + + CHAPTER VI. + The Melee 89 + + CHAPTER VII. + The Young Esquire 107 + + CHAPTER VIII. + Off to the Wars 126 + + CHAPTER IX. + The Siege of Hennebon 145 + + CHAPTER X. + A Place of Refuge 164 + + CHAPTER XI. + A Stormy Interview 180 + + CHAPTER XII. + Jacob van Artevelde 196 + + CHAPTER XIII. + The White Ford 214 + + CHAPTER XIV. + Cressy 232 + + CHAPTER XV. + The Siege of a Fortalice 250 + + CHAPTER XVI. + A Prisoner 267 + + CHAPTER XVII. + The Capture of Calais 285 + + CHAPTER XVIII. + The Black Death 303 + + CHAPTER XIX. + By Land and Sea 319 + + CHAPTER XX. + Poitiers 336 + + CHAPTER XXI. + The Jacquerie 353 + + CHAPTER XXII. + Victory and Death 372 + + + + +ST. GEORGE FOR ENGLAND. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +A Wayfarer. + + +It was a bitterly cold night in the month of November, 1330. The rain +was pouring heavily, when a woman, with a child in her arms, entered the +little village of Southwark. She had evidently come from a distance, for +her dress was travel-stained and muddy. She tottered rather than walked, +and when, upon her arrival at the gateway on the southern side of London +Bridge, she found that the hour was past and the gates closed for the +night, she leaned against the wall with a faint groan of exhaustion and +disappointment. + +After remaining, as if in doubt, for some time, she feebly made her way +into the village. Here were many houses of entertainment, for travelers +like herself often arrived too late to enter the gates, and had to abide +outside for the night. Moreover, house rent was dear within the walls of +the crowded city, and many, whose business brought them to town, found +it cheaper to take up their abode in the quiet hostels of Southwark +rather than to stay in the more expensive inns within the walls. The +lights came out brightly from many of the casements, with sounds of +boisterous songs and laughter. The woman passed these without a pause. +Presently she stopped before a cottage, from which a feeble light alone +showed that it was tenanted. + +She knocked at the door. It was opened by a pleasant-faced man of some +thirty years old. + +"What is it?" he asked. + +"I am a wayfarer," the woman answered feebly. "Canst take me and my +child in for the night?" + +"You have made a mistake," the man said; "this is no inn. Further up the +road there are plenty of places where you can find such accommodation as +you lack." + +"I have passed them," the woman said, "but all seemed full of +roisterers. I am wet and weary, and my strength is nigh spent. I can pay +thee, good fellow, and I pray you as a Christian to let me come in and +sleep before your fire for the night. When the gates are open in the +morning I will go; for I have a friend within the city who will, +methinks, receive me." + +The tone of voice, and the addressing of himself as good fellow, at once +convinced the man that the woman before him was no common wayfarer. + +"Come in," he said; "Geoffrey Ward is not a man to shut his doors in a +woman's face on a night like this, nor does he need payment for such +small hospitality. Come hither, Madge!" he shouted; and at his voice a +woman came down from the upper chamber. "Sister," he said, "this is a +wayfarer who needs shelter for the night; she is wet and weary. Do you +take her up to your room and lend her some dry clothing; then make her a +cup of warm posset, which she needs sorely. I will fetch an armful of +fresh rushes from the shed and strew them here. I will sleep in the +smithy. Quick, girl," he said sharply; "she is fainting with cold and +fatigue." And as he spoke he caught the woman as she was about to fall, +and laid her gently on the ground. "She is of better station than she +seems," he said to his sister; "like enough some poor lady whose husband +has taken part in the troubles; but that is no business of ours. Quick, +Madge, and get these wet things off her; she is soaked to the skin. I +will go round to the Green Dragon and will fetch a cup of warm cordial, +which I warrant me will put fresh life into her." + +So saying, he took down his flat cap from its peg on the wall and went +out, while his sister at once proceeded to remove the drenched garments +and to rub the cold hands of the guest until she recovered +consciousness. When Geoffrey Ward returned, the woman was sitting in a +settle by the fireside, dressed in a warm woolen garment belonging to +his sister. Madge had thrown fresh wood on the fire, which was blazing +brightly now. The woman drank the steaming beverage which her host +brought with him. The color came faintly again into her cheeks. + +"I thank you, indeed," she said, "for your kindness. Had you not taken +me in I think I should have died at your door, for indeed I could go no +further; and though I hold not to life, yet would I fain live until I +have delivered my boy into the hands of those who will be kind to him, +and this will, I trust, be to-morrow." + +"Say naught about it," Geoffrey answered. "Madge and I are right glad to +have been of service to you. It would be a poor world indeed if one +could not give a corner of one's fireside to a fellow-creature on such a +night as this, especially when that fellow-creature is a woman with a +child. Poor little chap! he looks right well and sturdy, and seems to +have taken no ill from his journey." + +"Truly, he is well and sturdy," the mother said, looking at him proudly; +"indeed. I have been almost wishing to-day that he were lighter by a few +pounds, for in truth I am not used to carry him far, and his weight has +sorely tried me. His name is Walter, and I trust," she added, looking at +the powerful figure of her host, "that he will grow up as straight and +as stalwart as yourself." The child, who was about three years old, was +indeed an exceedingly fine little fellow, as he sat, in one scanty +garment, in his mother's lap, gazing with round eyes at the blazing +fire; and the smith thought how pretty a picture the child and mother +made. She was a fair, gentle-looking girl some twenty-two years old, and +it was easy enough to see now from her delicate features and soft, +shapely hands that she had never been accustomed to toil. + +"And now," the smith said, "I will e'en say good-night. The hour is +late, and I shall be having the watch coming along to know why I keep a +fire so long after the curfew. Should you be a stranger in the city, I +will gladly act as your guide in the morning to the friends whom you +seek, that is, should they be known to me; but if not, we shall +doubtless find them without difficulty." + +So saying, the smith retired to his bed of rushes in the smithy, and +soon afterward the tired visitor, with her baby, lay down on the rushes +in front of the fire, for in those days none of the working or artisan +class used beds, which were not indeed, for centuries afterward, in +usage by the common people. + +In the morning Geoffrey Ward found that his guest desired to find one +Giles Fletcher, a maker of bows. + +"I know him well," the smith said. "There are many who do a larger +business, and hold their heads higher, but Giles Fletcher is well +esteemed as a good workman, whose wares can be depended upon. It is +often said of him that did he take less pains he would thrive more; but +he handles each bow that he makes as if he loved it, and finishes and +polishes each with his own hand. Therefore he doeth not so much trade as +those who are less particular with their wares, for he hath to charge a +high price to be able to live. But none who have ever bought his bows +have regretted the silver which they cost. Many and many a gross of +arrow-heads have I sold him, and he is well-nigh as particular in their +make as he is over the spring and temper of his own bows. Many a +friendly wrangle have I had with him over their weight and finish, and +it is not many who find fault with my handiwork, though I say it myself; +and now, madam, I am at your service." + +During the night the wayfarer's clothes had been dried. The cloak was of +rough quality, such as might have been used by a peasant woman; but the +rest, though of somber color, were of good material and fashion. Seeing +that her kind entertainers would be hurt by the offer of money, the lady +contented herself with thanking Madge warmly, and saying that she hoped +to come across the bridge one day with Dame Fletcher; then, under the +guidance of Geoffrey, who insisted on carrying the boy, she set out from +the smith's cottage. They passed under the outer gate and across the +bridge, which later on was covered with a double line of houses and +shops, but was now a narrow structure. Over the gateway across the +river, upon pikes, were a number of heads and human limbs. The lady +shuddered as she looked up. + +"It is an ugly sight," the smith said, "and I can see no warrant for +such exposure of the dead. There are the heads of Wallace, of three of +Robert Bruce's brothers, and of many other valiant Scotsmen who fought +against the king's grandfather some twenty years back. But after all +they fought for their country, just as Harold and our ancestors against +the Normans under William, and I think it a foul shame that men who have +done no other harm should be beheaded, still less that their heads and +limbs should be stuck up there gibbering at all passers-by. There are +over a score of them, and every fresh trouble adds to their number; but +pardon me," he said suddenly as a sob from the figure by his side called +his attention from the heads on the top of the gateway, "I am rough and +heedless in speech, as my sister Madge does often tell me, and it may +well be that I have said something which wounded you." + +"You meant no ill," the lady replied; "it was my own thoughts and +troubles which drew tears from me; say not more about it, I pray you." + +They passed under the gateway, with its ghastly burden, and were soon in +the crowded streets of London. High overhead the houses extended, each +story advancing beyond that below it until the occupiers of the attics +could well-nigh shake hands across. They soon left the more crowded +streets, and turning to the right, after ten minutes' walking, the smith +stopped in front of a bowyer shop near Aldgate. + +"This is the shop," he said, "and there is Giles Fletcher himself trying +the spring and pull of one of his bows. Here I will leave you, and will +one of these days return to inquire if your health has taken aught of +harm by the rough buffeting of the storm of yester-even." + +So saying he handed the child to its mother, and with a wave of the +hand took his leave, not waiting to listen to the renewed thanks which +his late guest endeavored to give him. + +The shop was open in front, a projecting penthouse sheltered it from the +weather; two or three bows lay upon a wide shelf in front, and several +large sheaves of arrows tied together stood by the wall. A powerful man +of some forty years old was standing in the middle of the shop with a +bent bow in his arm, taking aim at a spot in the wall. Through an open +door three men could be seen in an inner workshop cutting and shaping +the wood for bows. The bowyer looked round as his visitor entered the +shop, and then, with a sudden exclamation, lowered the bow. + +"Hush, Giles!" the lady exclaimed; "it is I, but name no names; it were +best that none knew me here." + +The craftsman closed the door of communication into the inner room. "My +Lady Alice," he exclaimed in a low tone, "you here, and in such a +guise?" + +"Surely it is I," the lady sighed, "although sometimes I am well-nigh +inclined to ask myself whether it be truly I or not, or whether this be +not all a dreadful dream." + +"I had heard but vaguely of your troubles," Giles Fletcher said, "but +hoped that the rumors were false. Ever since the Duke of Kent was +executed the air has been full of rumors. Then came news of the killing +of Mortimer and of the imprisonment of the king's mother, and it was +said that many who were thought to be of her party had been attacked and +slain, and I heard----" And there he stopped. + +"You heard rightly, good Giles, it is all true. A week after the slaying +of Mortimer a band of knights and men-at-arms arrived at our castle and +demanded admittance in the king's name. Sir Roland refused, for he had +news that many were taking up arms, but it was useless. The castle was +attacked and, after three days' fighting, was taken. Roland was killed, +and I was cast out with my child. Afterward they repented that they had +let me go, and searched far and wide for me; but I was hidden in the +cottage of a wood-cutter. They were too busy in hunting down others whom +they proclaimed to be enemies of the king, as they had wrongfully said +of Roland, who had but done his duty faithfully to Queen Isabella, and +was assuredly no enemy of her son, although he might well be opposed to +the weak and indolent king, his father. However, when the search relaxed +I borrowed the cloak of the good man's wife and set out for London, +whither I have traveled on foot, believing that you and Bertha would +take me in and shelter me in my great need." + +"Ay, that will we willingly," Giles said. "Was not Bertha your nurse? +and to whom should you come if not to her? But will it please you to +mount the stairs? for Bertha will not forgive me if I keep you talking +down here. What a joy it will be to her to see you again!" + +So saying, Giles led the way to the apartment above. There was a scream +of surprise and joy from his wife, and then Giles quietly withdrew +downstairs again, leaving the women to cry in each other's arms. + +A few days later Geoffrey Ward entered the shop of Giles Fletcher. + +"I have brought you twenty score of arrow-heads, Master Giles," he said. +"They have been longer in hand than is usual with me, but I have been +pressed. And how goes it with the lady whom I brought to your door last +week?" + +"But sadly, Master Ward, very sadly, as I told you when I came across to +thank you again in her name and my own for your kindness to her. She was +but in poor plight after her journey; poor thing, she was little +accustomed to such wet and hardship, and doubtless they took all the +more effect because she was low in spirit and weakened with much +grieving. That night she was taken with a sort of fever, hot and cold by +turns, and at times off her head. Since then she has lain in a high +fever and does not know even my wife; her thoughts ever go back to the +storming of the castle, and she cries aloud and begs them to spare her +lord's life. It is pitiful to hear her. The leech gives but small hope +for her life, and in troth, Master Ward, methinks that God would deal +most gently with her were he to take her. Her heart is already in her +husband's grave, for she was ever of a most loving and faithful nature. +Here there would be little comfort for her--she would fret that her boy +would never inherit the lands of his father; and although she knows well +enough that she would be always welcome here, and that Bertha would +serve her as gladly and faithfully as ever she did when she was her +nurse, yet she could not but greatly feel the change. She was tenderly +brought up, being, as I told you last week, the only daughter of Sir +Harold Broome. Her brother, who but a year ago became lord of +Broomecastle at the death of his father, was one of the queen's men, and +it was he, I believe, who brought Sir Roland Somers to that side. He was +slain on the same night as Mortimer, and his lands, like those of Sir +Roland, have been seized by the crown. The child upstairs is by right +heir to both estates, seeing that his uncle died unmarried. They will +doubtless be conferred upon those who have aided the young king in +freeing himself from his mother's domination, for which, indeed, +although I lament that Lady Alice should have suffered so sorely in the +doing of it, I blame him not at all. He is a noble prince and will make +us a great king, and the doings of his mother have been a shame to us +all. However, I meddle not in politics. If the poor lady dies, as +methinks is well-nigh certain, Bertha and I will bring up the boy as our +own. I have talked it over with my wife, and so far she and I are not of +one mind. I think it will be best to keep him in ignorance of his birth +and lineage, since the knowledge cannot benefit him, and will but render +him discontented with his lot and make him disinclined to take to my +calling, in which he might otherwise earn a living and rise to be a +respected citizen. But Bertha hath notions. You have not taken a wife to +yourself, Master Geoffrey, or you would know that women oft have fancies +which wander widely from hard facts, and she says she would have him +brought up as a man-at-arms, so that he may do valiant deeds, and win +back some day the title and honor of his family." + +Geoffrey Ward laughed. "Trust a woman for being romantic," he said. +"However, Master Fletcher, you need not for the present trouble about +the child's calling, even should its mother die. At any rate, whether he +follows your trade, or whether the blood in his veins leads him to take +to martial deeds, the knowledge of arms may well be of use to him, and I +promise you that such skill as I have I will teach him when he grows old +enough to wield sword and battle-ax. As you know I may, without +boasting, say that he could scarce have a better master, seeing that I +have for three years carried away the prize for the best sword-player at +the sports. Methinks the boy will grow up into a strong and stalwart +man, for he is truly a splendid lad. As to archery, he need not go far +to learn it, since your apprentice, Will Parker, last year won the prize +as the best marksman in the city bounds. Trust me, if his tastes lie +that way we will between us turn him out a rare man-at-arms. But I must +stand gossiping no longer; the rumors that we are likely ere long to +have war with France have rarely bettered my trade. Since the wars in +Scotland men's arms have rusted somewhat, and my two men are hard at +work mending armor, and fitting swords to hilts, and forging pike-heads. +You see I am a citizen, though I dwell outside the bounds, because house +rent is cheaper and I get my charcoal without paying the city dues. So I +can work somewhat lower than those in the walls, and I have good custom +from many in Kent, who know that my arms are of as good temper as those +turned out by any craftsman in the city." + +Giles Fletcher's anticipations as to the result of his guest's illness +turned out to be well founded. The fever abated, but left her prostrate +in strength. For a few weeks she lingered; but she seemed to have little +hold of life, and to care not whether she lived or died. So gradually +she faded away. + +"I know you will take care of my boy as if he were your own, Bertha," +she said one day, "and you and your husband will be far better +protectors for him than I should have been had I lived. Teach him to be +honest and true. It were better, methinks, that he grew up thinking you +his father and mother, for otherwise he may grow discontented with his +lot; but this I leave with you, and you must speak or keep silent +according as you see his disposition and mind. If he is content to +settle down to a peaceful life here, say naught to him which would +unsettle his mind; but if Walter turn out to have an adventurous +disposition, then tell him as much as you think fit of his history, not +encouraging him to hope to recover his father's lands and mine, for +that can never be, seeing that before that time can come they would +have been enjoyed for many years by others; but that he may learn to +bear himself bravely and gently, as becomes one of good blood." + +A few days later Lady Alice breathed her last, and at her own request +was buried quietly and without pomp, as if she had been a child of the +bowman, a plain stone, with the name "Dame Alice Somers," marking the +grave. + +The boy grew and throve until at fourteen years old there was no +stronger or sturdier lad of his age within the city bounds. Giles had +caused him to be taught to read and write, accomplishments which were +common among the citizens, although they were until long afterward rare +among the warlike barons. The greater part of his time, however, was +spent in sports with lads of his own age in Moorfields beyond the walls. +The war with France was now raging, and as was natural, the boys in +their games imitated the doings of their elders, and mimic battles, +ofttimes growing into earnest, were fought between the lads of the +different wards. Walter Fletcher, as he was known among his +play-fellows, had by his strength and courage won for himself the proud +position of captain of the boys of the ward of Aldgate. + +[Illustration: WALTER IN THE ARMORER'S FORGE.--Page 14.] + +Geoffrey Ward had kept his word, and had already begun to give the lad +lessons in the use of arms. When not engaged otherwise Walter would, +almost every afternoon, cross London Bridge and would spend hours in the +armorer's forge. Geoffrey's business had grown, for the war had +caused a great demand for arms, and he had now six men working in the +forge. As soon as the boy could handle a light tool Geoffrey allowed him +to work, and although not able to wield the heavy sledge, Walter was +able to do much of the finer work. Geoffrey encouraged him in this, as, +in the first place, the use of the tools greatly strengthened the boy's +muscles, and gave him an acquaintance with arms. Moreover, Geoffrey was +still a bachelor, and he thought that the boy, whom he as well as Giles +had come to love as a son, might, should he not take up the trade of +war, prefer the occupation of an armorer to that of a bow maker, in +which case he would take him some day as his partner in the forge. After +work was over and the men had gone away Geoffrey would give the lad +instructions in the use of the arms at which he had been at work, and so +quick and strong was he that he rapidly acquired their use, and Geoffrey +foresaw that he would one day, should his thoughts turn that way, prove +a mighty man-at-arms. + +It was the knowledge which he acquired from Geoffrey which had much to +do with Walter's position among his comrades. The skill and strength +which he had acquired in wielding the hammer, and by practice with the +sword, rendered him a formidable opponent with the sticks, which formed +the weapons in the mimic battles, and indeed not a few were the +complaints which were brought before Giles Fletcher of bruises and hurts +caused by him. + +"You are too turbulent, Walter," the bowyer said one day when a +haberdasher from the ward of Aldersgate came to complain that his son's +head had been badly cut by a blow with a club from Walter Fletcher. "You +are always getting into trouble, and are becoming the terror of other +boys. Why do you not play more quietly? The feuds between the boys of +different wards are becoming a serious nuisance, and many injuries have +been inflicted. I hear that the matter has been mentioned in the Common +Council, and that there is a talk of issuing an order that no boy not +yet apprenticed to a trade shall be allowed to carry a club, and that +any found doing so shall be publicly whipped." + +"I don't want to be turbulent," Walter said; "but if the Aldersgate boys +will defy us, what are we to do? I don't hit harder than I can help, and +if Jonah Harris would leave his head unguarded I could not help hitting +it." + +"I tell you it won't do, Walter," Giles said. "You will be getting +yourself into sore trouble. You are growing too masterful altogether, +and have none of the quiet demeanor and peaceful air which becomes an +honest citizen. In another six months you will be apprenticed, and then +I hope we shall hear no more of these doings." + +"My father is talking of apprenticing me, Master Geoffrey," Walter said +that evening. "I hope that you will, as you were good enough to promise, +talk with him about apprenticing me to your craft rather than to his. I +should never take to the making of bows, though, indeed, I like well to +use them; and Will Parker, who is teaching me, says that I show rare +promise; but it would never be to my taste to stand all day sawing, and +smoothing, and polishing. One bow is to me much like another, though my +father holds that there are rare differences between them; but it is a +nobler craft to work on iron, and next to using arms the most pleasant +thing surely is to make them. One can fancy what good blows the sword +will give and what hard knocks the armor will turn aside; but some day, +Master Geoffrey, when I have served my time, I mean to follow the army. +There is always work there for armorers to do, and sometimes at a pinch +they may even get their share of fighting." + +Walter did not venture to say that he would prefer to be a man-at-arms, +for such a sentiment would be deemed as outrageous in the ears of a +quiet city craftsman as would the proposal of the son of such a man +nowadays to enlist as a soldier. The armorer smiled; he knew well enough +what was in Walter's mind. It had cost Geoffrey himself a hard struggle +to settle down to a craft, and he deemed it but natural that with the +knightly blood flowing in Walter's veins he should long to distinguish +himself in the field. He said nothing of this, however, but renewed his +promise to speak to Giles Fletcher, deeming that a few years passed in +his forge would be the best preparation which Walter could have for a +career as a soldier. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE HUT IN THE MARSHES. + + +A week later a party of knights and court gallants, riding across the +fields without the walls, checked their horses to look at a struggle +which was going on between two parties of boys. One, which was +apparently the most powerful, had driven the other off from a heap of +rubbish which had been carried without the walls. Each party had a flag +attached to a stick, and the boys were armed with clubs such as those +carried by the apprentice boys. Many of them carried mimic shields made +of wood, and had stuffed their flat caps with wool or shavings, the +better to protect their heads from blows. The smaller party had just +been driven from the heap, and their leader was urging them to make +another effort to regain it. + +"That is a gallant-looking lad, and a sturdy, my Lord de Vaux," a boy of +about ten years of age said. "He bears himself like a young knight, and +he has had some hard knocks, for, see, the blood is streaming down his +face. One would scarcely expect to see these varlets of the city playing +so roughly." + +"The citizens have proved themselves sturdy fighters before now, my +prince," the other said; "they are ever independent, and hold to their +rights even against the king. The contingent which the city sends to the +wars bears itself as well as those of any of the barons." + +"See!" the boy interrupted, "they are going to charge again. The leader +has himself seized the flag and has swung his shield behind him, just as +a knight might do if leading the stormers against a place of strength. +Let us stop till we see the end of it." + +With a shout of "Aldgate! Aldgate!" the leader of the assailants dashed +forward, followed by his comrades, and with a rush reached the top of +the heap. + +"Well done!" the young prince exclaimed, clapping his hands. "See how he +lays about him with that club of his. There, he has knocked down the +leader of the defenders as if his club had been a battle-ax. Well done, +young sir, well done! But his followers waver. The others are too strong +for them. Stand, you cowards, rally round your leader!" And in his +enthusiasm the young prince urged his horse forward to the scene of +conflict. + +But the assailants were mastered; few of them could gain the top of the +heap, and those who did so were beaten back from it by the defenders. +Heavy blows were exchanged, and blood flowed freely from many of their +heads and faces, for in those days boys thought less than they do now +of hard knocks, and manliness and courage were considered the first of +virtues. Their leader, however, still stood his ground on the crest, +though hardly pressed on all sides, and used his club both to strike and +parry with a skill which aroused the warmest admiration on the part of +the prince. In vain his followers attempted to come to his rescue; each +time they struggled up the heap they were beaten back again by those on +the crest. + +"Yield thee prisoner," the assailants of their leader shouted, and the +prince in his excitement echoed the cry. The lad, however, heard or +heeded them not. He still kept his flag aloft in his left hand. With a +sudden spring he struck down one of his opponents, plucked up their flag +from the ground, and then fought his way back through his foes to the +edge of the battle ground; then a heavy blow struck him on the temple, +and, still holding the flags, he rolled senseless to the foot of the +heap. The defenders with shouts of triumph were rushing down, when the +prince urged his horse forward. + +"Cease!" he said authoritatively. "Enough has been done, my young +masters, and the sport is becoming a broil." + +Hitherto the lads, absorbed in their strife, had paid but little heed to +the party of onlookers; but at the word they at once arrested their +arms, and, baring their heads, stood still in confusion. + +"No harm is done," the prince said, "though your sport is of the +roughest; but I fear that your leader is hurt, he moves not; lift his +head from the ground." The boy was indeed still insensible. "My lords," +the prince said to the knights who had now ridden up, "I fear that this +boy is badly hurt; he is a gallant lad, and has the spirit of a true +knight in him, citizen's son though he be. My Lord de Vaux, will you bid +your squire ride at full speed to the Tower and tell Master Roger, the +leech, to come here with all haste, and to bring such nostrums as may be +needful for restoring the boy to life?" + +The Tower was but half a mile distant, but before Master Roger arrived +Walter had already recovered consciousness, and was just sitting up when +the leech hurried up to the spot. + +"You have arrived too late, Master Roger," the prince said; "but I doubt +not that a dose of your cordials may yet be of use, for he is still +dazed, and the blow he got would have cracked his skull had it been a +thin one." + +The leech poured some cordial from a vial into a small silver cup and +held it to the boy's lips. It was potent and nigh took his breath away; +but when he had drunk it he struggled to his feet, looking ashamed and +confused when he saw himself the center of attention of so many knights +of the court. + +"What is thy name, good lad?" the prince asked. + +"I am known as Walter Fletcher." + +"You are a brave lad," the prince said, "and if you bear you as well as +a man as you did but now, I would wish no better to ride beside me in +the day of battle. Should the time ever come when you tire of the +peaceable life of a citizen and wish to take service in the wars, go to +the Tower and ask boldly for the Prince of Wales, and I will enroll you +among my own men-at-arms, and I promise you that you shall have your +share of fighting as stark as that of the assault of yon heap. Now, my +lords, let us ride on; I crave your pardon for having so long detained +you." + +Walter was some days before he could again cross London Bridge to inform +his friend Geoffrey of the honor which had befallen him of being +addressed by the Prince of Wales. During the interval he was forced to +lie abed, and he was soundly rated by Master Giles for again getting +into mischief. Geoffrey was far more sympathetic, and said: "Well, +Walter, although I would not that Gaffer Giles heard me say so, I think +you have had a piece of rare good fortune. It may be that you may never +have cause to recall the young prince's promise to him; but should you +some day decide to embrace the calling of arms, you could wish for +nothing better than to ride behind the Prince of Wales. He is, by all +accounts, of a most noble and generous disposition, and is said, young +as he is, to be already highly skilled in arms. Men say that he will be +a wise king and a gallant captain, such a one as a brave soldier might +be proud to follow; and as the king will be sure to give him plenty of +opportunities of distinguishing himself, those who ride with him may be +certain of a chance of doing valorous deeds. I will go across the bridge +to-morrow, and will have a talk with Master Fletcher. The sooner you +are apprenticed the sooner you will be out of your time; and since Madge +married eight years since I have been lonely in the house and shall be +glad to have you with me." + +Geoffrey Ward found his friend more ready to accede to his request that +Walter should be apprenticed to him than he had expected. The bowyer, +indeed, was a quiet man, and the high spirits and somewhat turbulent +disposition of his young charge gave him so much uneasiness that he was +not sorry the responsibility of keeping him in order should be +undertaken by Geoffrey. Moreover, he could not but agree with the +argument that the promise of the Prince of Wales offered a more +favorable opportunity for Walter to enter upon the career of arms, and +so, perhaps, some day to win his way back to rank and honors than could +have been looked for. Therefore, on the following week Walter was +indentured to the armorer, and, as was usual at the time, left his abode +in Aldgate and took up his residence with his master. He threw himself +with his whole heart into the work, and by the time he was fifteen was +on the way to become a skillful craftsman. His frame and muscles +developed with labor, and he was now able to swing all save the very +heaviest hammers in the shop. He had never abated in his practice at +arms, and every day when work was over he and his master had a long bout +together with cudgel or quarter-staff, sword or ax. Walter, of course, +used light weapons, but so quick was he with them that Geoffrey Ward +acknowledged that he needed to put out all his skill to hold his own +with his pupil. But it was not alone with Geoffrey that Walter had an +opportunity of learning the use of arms. Whenever a soldier, returned +from the wars, came to have a weapon repaired by the armorer, he would +be sure of an invitation to come in in the evening and take a stoup of +ale, and tell of the battles and sieges he had gone through, and in the +course of the evening would be asked to have a bout of arms with the +young apprentice, whom Geoffrey represented as being eager to learn how +to use the sword as well as how to make it. + +Thus Walter became accustomed to different styles of fighting, but found +that very few, indeed, of their visitors were nearly so well skilled +with their arms as his master. Some of the soldiers were mortified at +finding themselves unable to hold their own with a boy; others would +take their reverses in good part and would come again, bringing with +them some comrade known to be particularly skilled with his weapons, to +try the temper of the armorer's apprentice. At the age of fifteen Walter +had won the prize at the sports, both for the best cudgel play and for +the best sword-and-buckler play among the apprentices, to the great +disgust of many who had almost reached the age of manhood and were just +out of their time. + +On Sundays Walter always spent the day with Giles Fletcher and his wife, +going to mass with them and walking in the fields, where, after +service, the citizens much congregated. Since Walter had gone to work he +had taken no part in the fights and frolics of his former comrades; he +was, in fact, far too tired at the end of his day's work to have any +desire to do aught but to sit and listen to the tales of the wars, of +the many old soldiers who pervaded the country. Some of these men were +disabled by wounds or long service, but the greater portion were idle +scamps, who cared not for the hard blows and sufferings of a campaign, +liking better to hang about taverns drinking, at the expense of those to +whom they related fabulous tales of the gallant actions they had +performed. Many, too, wandered over the country, sometimes in twos or +threes, sometimes in larger bands, robbing and often murdering travelers +or attacking lonely houses. When in one part or another their ill deeds +became too notorious, the sheriffs would call out a posse of men and +they would be hunted down like wild beasts. It was not, however, easy to +catch them, for great tracts of forests still covered a large portion of +the country and afforded them shelter. + +In the country round London these pests were very numerous, for here, +more than anywhere else, was there a chance of plunder. The swamps on +the south side of the river had especially evil reputation. From +Southwark to Putney stretched a marshy country over which, at high +tides, the river frequently flowed. Here and there were wretched huts, +difficult of access and affording good hiding-places for those pursued +by justice, since searchers could be seen approaching a long way off, +and escape could be made by paths across the swamp known only to the +dwellers there, and where heavily armed men dared not follow. Further +south, in the wild country round Westerham, where miles of heath and +forest stretched away in all directions, was another noted place where +the robber vagrants mustered thickly, and the Sheriff of Kent had much +trouble with them. + +The laws in those days were extremely severe, and death was the penalty +of those caught plundering. The extreme severity of the laws, however, +operated in favor of its breakers, since the sympathy of the people who +had little to lose was with them, and unless caught red-handed in the +act they could generally escape, since none save those who had +themselves been robbed would say aught that would place the pursuers on +their traces, or give testimony which would cost the life of a +fellow-creature. The citizens of London were loud in their complaints +against the discharged soldiers, for it was upon them that the loss +mainly fell, and it was on their petitions to the king that the sheriffs +of Middlesex and Hertford, Essex, Surrey, and Kent, were generally +stirred up to put down the ill-doers. + +Sometimes these hunts were conducted in a wholesale way, and the whole +posse of a county would be called out. Then all found within its limits +who had not land or visible occupation were collected. Any against whom +charges could be brought home were hung without more ado, and the rest +were put on board ship and sent across the sea to the army. Sometimes, +when they found the country becoming too hot for them, these men would +take service with some knight or noble going to the war, anxious to take +with him as strong a following as might be, and not too particular as to +the character of his soldiers. + +Walter, being of an adventurous spirit, was sometimes wont of a summer +evening, when his work was done, to wander across the marshes, taking +with him his bow and arrows, and often bringing home a wild duck or two +which he had shot in the pools. More than once surly men had accosted +him, and had threatened to knock him on the head if they again found him +wandering that way; but Walter laughed at their threats, and seeing that +though but an apprentice lad, he might be able to send an arrow as +straight to the mark as another, they were content to leave him alone. + +One day when he was well-nigh in the heart of the swamp of Lambeth he +saw a figure making his way across. The hour was already late and the +night was falling, and the appearance of the man was so different from +that of the usual denizens of the swamp that Walter wondered what his +business there might be. Scarcely knowing why he did so, Walter threw +himself down among some low brushwood and watched the approaching +figure. When he came near he recognized the face, and saw, to his +surprise, that it was a knight who had but the day before stopped at +the armorer's shop to have two rivets put in his hauberk. He had +particularly noticed him, because of the arrogant manner in which he +spoke. Walter had himself put in the rivets, and had thought, as he +buckled on the armor again, how unpleasant a countenance was that of its +wearer. He was a tall and powerful man, and would have been handsome had +not his eyes been too closely set together; his nose was narrow, and the +expression of his face reminded Walter of a hawk. He had now laid aside +his helmet, and his figure was covered with a long cloak. + +"He is up to no good," Walter said to himself, "for what dealings could +a knight honestly have with the ruffians who haunt these swamps? It is +assuredly no business of mine, but it may lead to an adventure, and I +have had no real fun since I left Aldgate. I will follow and see if I +can get to the bottom of the mystery." + +When he came close to the spot where Walter was lying the knight paused +and looked round as if uncertain of his way. For four or five minutes he +stood still, and then gave a shout of "Humphrey!" at the top of his +voice. It was answered by a distant "Halloo!" and looking in the +direction from which the answer had come, Walter saw a figure appear +above some bushes some four hundred yards distant. The knight at once +directed his steps in that direction, and Walter crept cautiously after +him. + +"A pest upon these swamps and quagmires," the knight said angrily as he +neared the other. "Why didst not meet me and show me the way through, +as before?" + +"I thought that as you had come once you would be able to find your way +hither again," the man said. "Had I thought that you would have missed +it I would have come ten times as far, rather than have had my name +shouted all over the country. However, there is no one to hear, did you +shout thrice as loud, so no harm is done." + +"I thought I saw a figure a short time since," the knight said. + +The man looked round in all directions. + +"I see none," he said, "and you may have been mistaken, for the light is +waning fast. It were ill for any one I caught prying about here. But +come in, sir knight; my hovel is not what your lordship is accustomed +to, but we may as well talk there as here beneath the sky." + +The two men disappeared from Walter's sight. The latter in much surprise +crept forward, but until he reached the spot where he had last seen the +speakers he was unable to account for their disappearance. Then he saw +that the spot, although apparently a mere clump of bushes no higher than +the surrounding country, was really an elevated hummock of ground. Any +one might have passed close to the bushes without suspecting that aught +lay among them. In the center, however, the ground had been cut away, +and a low doorway, almost hidden by the bushes, gave access into a +half-subterranean hut; the roof was formed of an old boat turned bottom +upward, and this had been covered with brown turf. It was an excellent +place of concealment, as searchers might have passed within a foot of +the bushes without suspecting that aught lay concealed within them. + +"A clever hiding-place," Walter thought to himself. "No wonder the posse +search these swamps in vain. This is the lowest and wettest part of the +swamp, and would be but lightly searched, for none would suspect that +there was a human habitation among these brown ditches and stagnant +pools." + +To his disappointment the lad could hear nothing of the conversation +which was going on within the hut. The murmur of voices came to his ear, +but no words were audible; however, he remained patiently, thinking that +perhaps as they came out a word might be said which would give him a +clew to the object of the mysterious interview between a knight and one +who was evidently a fugitive from justice. + +His patience was rewarded. In the half-hour which he waited the night +had fallen, and a thick fog which was rising over the swamps rendered it +difficult to discern anything at the distance of a few paces. + +"You are quite sure that you can manage it?" a voice said as the two men +issued from the hut. + +"There is no difficulty in managing it," the other replied, "if the boat +is punctual to the hour named. It will be getting dusk then, and if one +boat runs into another no one need be surprised. Such accidents will +happen." + +"They will be here just before nightfall," the other said, "and you will +know the boat by the white mantle the lady will wear. The reward will be +fifty pieces of gold, of which you have received ten as earnest. You can +trust me, and if the job be well done I shall take no count of the +earnest-money." + +"You may consider it as good as done," the other replied. "If the boat +is there the matter is settled. Now I will lead you back across the +swamps. I would not give much for your life if you tried to find the way +alone. Who would have thought when you got me off from being hung, after +that little affair at Bruges, that I should be able to make myself +useful to your worship?" + +"You may be sure," the knight replied, "that it was just because I +foresaw that you might be useful that I opened the doors of your cell +that night. It is always handy in times like these to be able to lay +one's hand on a man whom you can hang if you choose to open your mouth." + +"Did it not strike you, sir knight, that it might enter my mind that it +would be very advisable for me to free myself from one who stands toward +me in that relation?" + +"Certainly it did," the knight replied; "but as I happen to be able to +make it for your interest to serve me, that matter did not trouble me. I +knew better than to bring money into this swamp of yours, when I might +be attacked by half a dozen ruffians like yourself; and I took the +precaution of informing Peter, the captain of my men-at-arms, of the +spot to which I was going, bidding him, in case I came not back, to set +a hue-and-cry on foot and hunt down all who might be found here, with +the especial description of your worthy self." + +Walter could hear no more; he had taken off his shoes and followed them +at a distance, and their voices still acted as a guide to him through +the swamp. But he feared to keep too close, as, although the darkness +would conceal his figure, he might at any moment tread in a pool or +ditch, and so betray his presence. Putting his foot each time to the +ground with the greatest caution, he moved quietly after them. They +spoke little more, but their heavy footsteps on the swampy ground were a +sufficient guidance for him. At last these ceased suddenly. A few words +were spoken, and then he heard returning steps. He drew aside a few feet +and crouched down, saw a dim figure pass through the mist, and then +resumed his way. + +The ground was firmer now, and, replacing his shoes, he walked briskly +on. As he neared the higher ground along which the road ran he heard two +horsemen galloping away in the distance. He now turned his face east, +and after an hour's walking he reached the armorer's. + +"Why, Walter, you are late," the smith said. "The men are in bed this +hour or more, and I myself can scarce keep awake. Where hast thou been, +my boy?" + +"I have been in the swamps and lost my way," Walter replied. + +"It is a bad neighborhood, lad, and worse are the people who live there. +If I had my way the whole posse should be called out, and the marshes +searched from end to end, and all found there should be knocked on the +head and thrown into their own ditches. There would be no fear of any +honest man coming to his end thereby; but now to bed, lad. You can tell +me all about it to-morrow; but we have a rare day's work before us, and +the fire must be alight at daybreak." + +On his way back Walter had debated with himself whether to inform his +master of what had happened. He was, however, bent upon having an +adventure on his own account, and it was a serious thing in those days +for an apprentice lad to bring an accusation against a noble. The city +would not indeed allow even an apprentice to be overridden, and although +Geoffrey Ward's forge stood beyond the city walls it was yet within the +liberties, the city allowing its craftsmen to open shops just outside +the gates, and to enjoy the same privileges as if dwelling actually +within the walls. + +On the following afternoon Walter asked leave to cease work an hour +earlier than usual, as he wished to go across into the city. The armorer +was surprised, since this was the first time that such a thing had +happened since the lad had worked for him. + +"What are you up to, Walter?--some mischief, I will be bound. Go, lad; +you have worked so steadily that you have well earned more than an +hour's holiday should you want it." + +Walter crossed the bridge, and seeking out four or five of his old +companions, begged them to bring their bows and clubs and rejoin him at +the stairs by London Bridge. To their laughing inquiries whether he +meant to go a-shooting of fish, he told them to ask no questions until +they joined him. As soon as work was over the boys gathered at the +steps, where Walter had already engaged a boat. There were some mocking +inquiries from the watermen standing about as to where they were going +shooting. Walter answered with some light chaff, and, two of the party +taking oars, they started up the river. + +"Now I will tell you what we are bent on," Walter said. "From some words +I overheard I believe that some of the ruffians over in the marshes are +this evening going to make an attack upon a boat with a lady in it +coming down the river. We will be on the spot, and can give them a +reception such as they do not expect." + +"Do you know who the lady is, Walter?" + +"I have not the least idea. I only caught a few words, and may be wrong; +still it will do no harm should I be mistaken." + +The tide was running down strongly, for there had been a good deal of +rain during the preceding week, and all night it had poured heavily. It +was fine now, but the stream was running down thick and turbid, and it +needed all the boys' efforts to force the wherry against it. They rowed +by turns; all were fairly expert at the exercise, for in those days the +Thames was at once the great highway and playground of London. To the +wharves below the bridge ships brought the rich merchandise of Italy and +the Low Countries; while from above, the grain needed for the wants of +the great city was floated down in barges from the west. + +Passing the Temple, the boys rowed along by the green banks and fields +as far as Westminster, which at that time was almost a rival of the +city, for here were the abbey and great monastery; here were the king's +palace and court, and the houses of many of his nobles. Then they went +along by the low shores of Millbank, keeping a sharp lookout for boats +going down with the stream. It was already getting dark, for Walter had +not allowed for the strength of the stream, and he was full of anxiety +lest he should arrive too late. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +A THWARTED PLOT. + + +A boat was rowing rapidly down the stream. It had passed the village of +Chelsea, and the men were doing their best to reach their destination at +Westminster before nightfall. Two men were rowing; in the stern sat a +lady with a girl of about eleven years old. A woman, evidently a +servant, sat beside the lady, while behind, steering the boat, was an +elderly retainer. + +"It is getting dark," the lady said; "I would that my Cousin James had +not detained us so long at Richmond, and then after all he was unable to +accompany us. I like not being out on the river so late." + +"No, indeed, my lady," the woman replied; "I have heard tell lately much +of the doings of the river pirates. They say that boats are often picked +up, stove in and broken, and that none know what had become of their +occupants, and that bodies, gashed and hewn, are often found floating in +the river." + +"How horrible," the girl said; "your tale makes me shiver, Martha; I +would you had said nothing about it till we were on land again." + +"Do not be afraid, Edith," the lady said cheerfully; "we shall soon be +safe at Westminster." + +There were now only two or three boats to be seen on the river. They +were nearing the end of their journey now, and the great pile of the +abbey could be seen through the darkness. A boat with several men in it +was seen rowing across the river toward the Lambeth side. It was +awkwardly managed. + +"Look out!" the steersman of the boat coming down stream shouted; "you +will run into us if you don't mind." + +An order was given in the other boat, the men strained to their oars, +and in an instant the boat ran with a crash into the side of the other, +cutting it down to the water's edge. For a minute there was a wild scene +of confusion; the women shrieked, the watermen shouted, and, thinking +that it was an accident, strove, as the boat sank from under them, to +climb into that which had run them down. They were speedily undeceived. +One was sunk by a heavy blow with an oar, the other was stabbed with a +dagger, while the assailants struck fiercely at the old man and the +women. + +At this moment, however, a third boat made its appearance on the scene, +its occupants uttering loud shouts. As they rowed toward the spot their +approach was heralded by a shower of arrows. Two of the ruffians were +struck--one fell over mortally wounded, the other sank down into the +boat. + +"Row, men, row," their leader shouted, "or we shall all be taken." + +Again seizing their oars, the rowers started at full speed toward the +Lambeth shore. The arrows of their pursuers still fell among them, two +more of their number being wounded before they reached the opposite +shore. The pursuit was not continued, the new-comers ceasing to row at +the spot where the catastrophe had taken place. Walter stood up in the +boat and looked round. A floating oar, a stretcher, and a sheep-skin +which had served as a cushion alone floated. + +Suddenly there was a choking cry heard a few yards down stream, and +Walter leaped into the river. A few strokes took him to the side of the +girl, and he found, on throwing his arm around her, that she was still +clasped in her mother's arms. Seizing them both, Walter shouted to his +comrades. They had already turned the boat's head and in a minute were +alongside. + +It was a difficult task to get the mother and child on board, as the +girl refused to loose her hold. It was, however, accomplished, and the +child sat still and quiet by Walter's side, while his comrades +endeavored to stanch the blood which was flowing from a severe wound in +her mother's head. When they had bound it up they rubbed her hands, and +by the time they had reached the steps at Westminster the lady opened +her eyes. For a moment she looked bewildered, and then, on glancing +round, she gave a low cry of delight at seeing her child sitting by +Walter's side. + +On reaching the steps the boys handed her over to the care of the +watermen there, who soon procured a litter and carried her, she being +still too weak to walk, to the dwelling of the Earl of Talbot, where she +said she was expected. The apprentices rowed back to London Bridge, +elated at the success of their enterprise, but regretting much that they +had arrived too late to hinder the outrage, or to prevent the escape of +its perpetrators. + +Walter on his return home related the whole circumstance to his master. + +"I would you had told me, Walter," the latter said, "since we might have +taken precautions which would have prevented this foul deed from taking +place. However, I can understand your wanting to accomplish the +adventure without my aid; but we must think now what had best be said +and done. As the lady belongs to the court, there is sure to be a fine +pother about the matter, and you and all who were there will be examined +touching your share of the adventure, and how you came to be upon the +spot. The others will, of course, say that they were there under your +direction; and we had best think how much of your story you had better +tell." + +"Why should I not tell it all?" Walter asked indignantly. + +"You should never tell a lie, Walter; but in days like these it is safer +sometimes not to tell more than is necessary. It is a good rule in life, +my boy, to make no more enemies than may be needful. This knight, who is +doubtless a great villain, has maybe powerful friends, and it is as +well, if it can be avoided, that you should not embroil yourself with +these. Many a man has been knocked on the head or stabbed on a dark +night, because he could not keep his tongue from wagging. 'Least said, +the sooner mended,' is a good proverb; but I will think it over +to-night, and tell you in the morning." + +When they met again in the workshop the armorer said: "Clean yourself up +after breakfast, Walter, and put on your best clothes. I will go with +you before the mayor, and then you shall tell him your story. There is +sure to be a stir about it before the day is done. As we walk thither we +can settle how much of your story it is good to tell." + +On their way over the bridge Geoffrey told Walter that he thought he had +better tell the whole story exactly as it had occurred, concealing only +the fact that he had recognized the knight's face. "You had best, too," +he said, "mention naught about the white cloak. If we can catch the man +of the hut in the swamp, likely enough the rack will wring from him the +name of his employer, and in that case, if you are brought up as a +witness against him you will of course say that you recognize his face; +but 'tis better that the accusation should not come from you. No great +weight would be given to the word of a 'prentice boy as against that of +a noble. It is as bad for earthen pots to knock against brass ones as it +is for a yeoman in a leathern jerkin to stand up against a knight in +full armor." + +"But unless the lady knows her enemy she may fall again into his +snares." + +"I have thought of that," Geoffrey said, "and we will take measures to +prevent it." + +"But how can we prevent it?" Walter asked, surprised. + +"We must find out who this knight may be, which should, methinks, not be +difficult. Then we will send to him a message that his share in this +night's work is known to several, and that if any harm should ever again +be attempted against the lady or her daughter, he shall be denounced +before King Edward himself as the author of the wrong. I trust, however, +that we may capture the man of the swamp, and that the truth may be +wrung from him." + +By this time they had arrived at the guildhall, and making their way +into the court, Geoffrey demanded private speech with the lord mayor. + +"Can you not say in open court what is your business?" the lord mayor +asked. + +"I fear that if I did it would defeat the ends of justice." + +Retiring with the chief magistrate into an inner room, Geoffrey desired +Walter to tell his story. This he did, ending by saying that he +regretted much that he had not at once told his master what he had +heard; but that, although he deemed evil was intended, he did not know +that murder was meant, and thought it but concerned the carrying off of +some damsel, and that this he had intended, by the aid of his comrades, +to prevent. + +"You have done well, Master Walter, since that be your name," the +magistrate said. "That you might have done better is true, for had you +acted otherwise you might have prevented murder from being done. Still +one cannot expect old heads upon young shoulders. Give me the names of +those who were with you, for I shall doubtless receive a message from +Westminster this morning to know if I have heard aught of the affair. In +the mean time we must take steps to secure these pirates of the marsh. +The ground is across the river, and lies out of my jurisdiction." + +"It is for that reason," Geoffrey said, "that I wished that the story +should be told to you privately, since the men concerned might well have +sent a friend to the court to hear if aught was said which might +endanger them." + +"I will give you a letter to a magistrate of Surrey, and he will +dispatch some constables under your guidance to catch these rascals. I +fear there have been many murders performed by them lately besides that +in question, and you will be doing a good service to the citizens by +aiding in the capture of these men." + +"I will go willingly," the smith assented. + +"I will at once send off a messenger on horseback," the lord mayor said, +after a moment's thought. "It will be quicker. I will tell the justice +that if he will come to the meeting of the roads on Kensington Common, +at seven this evening, you will be there with your apprentice to act as +a guide." + +"I will," the armorer said, "and will bring with me two or three of my +men who are used to hard blows, for, to tell you the truth, I have no +great belief in the valor of constables, and we may meet with a stout +resistance." + +"So be it," the lord mayor said; "and luck be with you, for these men +are the scourges of the river." + +That evening the armorer shut up his shop sooner than usual, and +accompanied by Walter and four of his workmen, all carrying stout oaken +cudgels, with hand-axes in their girdles, started along the lonely road +to Kensington. Half an hour after their arrival the magistrate, with ten +men, rode up. He was well pleased at the sight of the reenforcement +which awaited him, for the river pirates might be expected to make a +desperate resistance. Geoffrey advised a halt for a time until it should +be well-nigh dark, as the marauders might have spies set to give notice +should strangers enter the marsh. + +They started before it was quite dark, as Walter doubted whether he +should be able to lead them straight to the hut after the night had +completely fallen. He felt, however, tolerably sure of his locality, for +he had noticed that two trees grew on the edge of the swamp just at the +spot where he had left it. He had no difficulty in finding these, and at +once led the way. The horses of the magistrate and his followers were +left in charge of three of their number. + +"You are sure you are going right?" the magistrate said to Walter. "The +marsh seems to stretch everywhere, and we might well fall into a +quagmire, which would swallow us all up." + +"I am sure of my way," Walter answered; "see, yonder clump of bushes, +which you can just observe above the marsh, a quarter of a mile away, is +the spot where the house of their leader is situated." + +With strict injunctions that not a word was to be spoken until the bush +was surrounded, and that all were to step noiselessly and with caution, +the party moved forward. It was now nearly dark, and as they approached +the hut, sounds of laughter and revelry were heard. + +"They are celebrating their success in a carouse," Geoffrey said. "We +shall catch them nicely in a trap." + +When they came close a man who was sitting just at the low mouth of the +hut suddenly sprang to his feet and shouted, "Who goes there?" He had +apparently been placed as sentry, but had joined in the potations going +on inside, and had forgotten to look round from time to time to see that +none were approaching. + +At his challenge the whole party rushed forward, and as they reached the +hut the men from within came scrambling out, sword in hand. For two or +three minutes there was a sharp fight, and had the constables been alone +they would have been defeated, for they were outnumbered and the pirates +were desperate. + +The heavy clubs of the armorers decided the fight. One or two of the +band alone succeeded in breaking through, the rest were knocked down and +bound; not, however, until several severe wounds had been inflicted on +their assailants. + +When the fray was over, it was found that nine prisoners had been +captured. Some of these were stunned by the blows which the smiths had +dealt them, and two or three were badly wounded; all were more or less +injured in the struggle. When they recovered their senses they were made +to get on their feet, and with their hands tied securely behind them, +were marched between a double line of their captors off the marsh. + +"Thanks for your services," the justice said when they had gained the +place where they had left their horses. "Nine of my men shall tie each +one of these rascals to their stirrups by halters round their necks, and +we will give them a smart run into Richmond, where we will lodge them in +the jail. Tomorrow is Sunday; on Monday they will be brought before me, +and I shall want the evidence of Master Walter Fletcher and of those who +were in the boat with him as to what took place on the river. Methinks +the evidence on that score, and the resistance which they offered us +this evening, will be sufficient to put a halter round their necks; but +from what I have heard by the letter which the lord mayor sent me, there +are others higher in rank concerned in the affair; doubtless we shall +find means to make these ruffians speak." + +Accordingly, at the justice's orders, halters were placed round the +necks of the prisoners, the other ends being attached to the saddles, +and the party set off at a pace which taxed to the utmost the strength +of the wounded men. Geoffrey and his party returned in high spirits to +Southwark. + +On the Monday Walter went over to Richmond, accompanied by the armorers +and by the lads who had been in the boat with him. The nine ruffians, +strongly guarded, were brought up in the justice room. Walter first gave +his evidence, and related how he had overheard a portion of the +conversation which led him to believe that an attack would be made upon +the boat coming down the river. + +"Can you identify either of the prisoners as being the man whom you saw +at the door of the hut?" + +"No," Walter said. "When I first saw him I was too far off to make out +his face. When he left the hut it was dark." + +"Should you know the other man, the one who was addressed as sir knight, +if you saw him again?" + +"I should," Walter replied. He then gave an account of the attack upon +the boat, but said that in the suddenness of the affair and the growing +darkness he noticed none of the figures distinctly enough to recognize +them again. Two or three of the other apprentices gave similar testimony +as to the attack. + +A gentleman then presented himself, and gave his name as Sir William de +Hertford. He said that he had come at the request of the Lady Alice +Vernon, who was still suffering from the effects of the wound and +immersion. She had requested him to say that at some future occasion she +would appear to testify, but that in the confusion and suddenness of the +attack she had noticed no faces in the boat which assailed them, and +could identify none concerned in the affair. + +The justice who had headed the attack on the hut then gave his evidence +as to that affair, the armorer also relating the incidents of the +conflict. + +"The prisoners will be committed for trial," the justice said. "At +present there is no actual proof that any of them were concerned in this +murderous outrage beyond the fact that they were taken in the place +where it was planned. The suspicion is strong that some at least were +engaged in it. Upon the persons of all of them were valuable daggers, +chains, and other ornaments, which could not have been come by honestly, +and I doubt not that they form part of the gang which has so long been a +terror to peaceful travelers alike by the road and river, and it may be +that some who have been robbed will be able to identify the articles +taken upon them. They are committed for trial: firstly, as having been +concerned in the attack upon Dame Alice Vernon; secondly, as being +notorious ill-livers and robbers; thirdly, as having resisted lawful +arrest by the king's officers. The greatest criminal in the affair is +not at present before me, but it may be that from such information as +Dame Vernon may be able to furnish, and from such confessions as justice +will be able to wring from the prisoners, he will at the trial stand +beside his fellows." + +Walter returned to town with his companions. On reaching the armorer's +they found a retainer of the Earl of Talbot awaiting them, with the +message that the Lady Alice Vernon wished the attendance of Walter +Fletcher, whose name she had learned from the lord mayor as that of the +lad to whom she and her daughter owed their lives, at noon on the +following day, at the residence of the Earl of Talbot. + +"That is the worst of an adventure," Walter said crossly, after the +retainer had departed. "One can't have a bit of excitement without being +sent for, and thanked, and stared at. I would rather fight the best +swordsman in the city than have to go down to the mansion of Earl Talbot +with my cap in my hand." + +Geoffrey laughed. "You must indeed have your cap in your hand, Walter; +but you need not bear yourself in that spirit. The 'prentice of a London +citizen may have just as much honest pride and independence as the +proudest earl at Westminster; but carry not independence too far. +Remember that if you yourself had received a great service you would be +hurt if the donor refused to receive your thanks; and it would be +churlish indeed were you to put on sullen looks, or to refuse to accept +any present which the lady whose life you have saved may make you. It is +strange, indeed, that it should be Dame Vernon, whose husband, Sir +Jasper Vernon, received the fiefs of Westerham and Hyde." + +"Why should it be curious that it is she?" Walter asked. + +"Oh!" Geoffrey said rather confusedly. "I was not thinking--that is--I +mean that it is curious because Bertha Fletcher was for years a +dependent on the family of Sir Roland Somers, who was killed in the +troubles when the king took the reins of government in his hands, and +his lands, being forfeit, were given to Sir Jasper Vernon, who aided the +king in that affair." + +"I wish you would tell me about that," Walter said. "How was it that +there was any trouble as to King Edward having kingly authority?" + +"It happened in this way," Geoffrey said. "King Edward II., his father, +was a weak prince, governed wholly by favorites and unable to hold in +check the turbulent barons. His queen, Isabella of France, sister of the +French king, a haughty and ambitious woman, determined to snatch the +reins of power from the indolent hands of her husband, and after a visit +to her brother she returned with an army from Hainault in order to +dethrone him. She was accompanied by her eldest son, and after a short +struggle the king was dethroned. He had but few friends, and men thought +that under the young Edward, who had already given promise of virtue +and wisdom, some order might be introduced into the realm. He was +crowned Edward III., thus, at the early age of fifteen, usurping the +throne of his father. The real power, however, remained with Isabella, +who was president of the council of regency, and who, in her turn, was +governed by her favorite Mortimer. England soon found that the change +which had been made was far from beneficial. The government was by turns +weak and oppressive. The employment of foreign troops was regarded with +the greatest hostility by the people, and the insolence of Mortimer +alienated the great barons. Finally, the murder of the dethroned king +excited throughout the kingdom a feeling of horror and loathing against +the queen. + +"All this feeling, however, was confined to her, Edward, who was but a +puppet in her hands, being regarded with affection and pity. Soon after +his succession the young king was married to our queen, Philippa of +Hainault, who is as good as she is beautiful, and who is loved from one +end of the kingdom to the other. I can tell you, the city was a sight to +see when she entered with the king. Such pageants and rejoicing were +never known. They were so young, he not yet sixteen and she but +fourteen, and yet to bear on their shoulders the weight of the state. A +braver-looking lad and a fairer girl mine eyes never looked on. It was +soon after this that the events arose which led to the war with France, +but this is too long a tale for me to tell you now. The Prince of Wales +was born on the 15th of June, 1330, two years after the royal marriage. + +"So far the king had acquiesced quietly in the authority of his mother, +but he now paid a visit to France, and doubtless the barons around him +there took advantage of his absence from her tutelage to shake her +influence over his mind; and at the same time a rising took place at +home against her authority. This was suppressed, and the Earl of Kent, +the king's uncle, was arrested and executed by Isabella. This act of +severity against his uncle no doubt hastened the prince's determination +to shake off the authority of his haughty mother and to assume the reins +of government himself. The matter, however, was not easy to accomplish. +Mortimer having the whole of the royal revenue at his disposal, had +attached to himself by ties of interest a large number of barons, and +had in his pay nearly two hundred knights and a large body of +men-at-arms. Thus it was no easy matter to arrest him. It was determined +that the deed should be done at the meeting of the parliament at +Nottingham. Here Mortimer appeared with Isabella in royal pomp. They +took up their abode at the castle, while the king and other members of +the royal family were obliged to content themselves with an inferior +place of residence. + +"The gates of the castle were locked at sunset, and the keys brought by +the constable, Sir William Eland, and handed to the queen herself. This +knight was a loyal and gallant gentleman, and regarded Mortimer with no +affection, and when he received the king's commands to assist the barons +charged to arrest him he at once agreed to do so. He was aware of the +existence of a subterranean communication leading from the interior of +the castle to the outer country, and by this, on the night of the 19th +of October, 1330, he led nine resolute knights--the Lords Montague, +Suffolk, Stafford, Molins, and Clinton, with three brothers of the name +of Bohun, and Sir John Nevil--into the heart of the castle. Mortimer was +found surrounded by a number of his friends. On the sudden entry of the +knights known to be hostile to Mortimer his friends drew their swords, +and a short but desperate fight took place. Many were wounded, and Sir +Hugh Turpleton and Richard Monmouth were slain. Mortimer was carried to +London, and was tried and condemned by parliament, and executed for +felony and treason. Several of his followers were executed, and others +were attacked in their strongholds and killed; among these was Sir +Roland Somers. + +"Queen Isabella was confined in Castle Risings, where she still remains +a prisoner. Such, Walter, were the troubles which occurred when King +Edward first took up the reins of power in this realm; and now, let's to +supper, for I can tell you that my walk to Kingston has given me a +marvelous appetite. We have three or four hours' work yet before we go +to bed, for that Milan harness was promised for the morrow, and the +repairs are too delicate for me to intrust it to the men. It is good to +assist the law, but this work of attending as a witness makes a +grievous break in the time of a busy man. It is a pity, Walter, that +your mind is so set on soldiering, for you would have made a marvelous +good craftsman. However, I reckon that after you have seen a few years +of fighting in France, and have got some of your wild blood let out, you +will be glad enough to settle down here with me; as you know, our +profits are good and work plentiful; and did I choose I might hold mine +head higher than I do among the citizens; and you, if you join me, may +well aspire to a place in the common council, ay, and even to an +alderman's gown, in which case I may yet be addressing you as the very +worshipful my lord mayor." + +"Pooh!" Walter laughed; "a fig for your lord mayors! I would a thousand +times rather be a simple squire in the following of our young prince." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +A KNIGHT'S CHAIN + + +The following morning Walter put on the sober russet dress which he wore +on Sundays and holidays, for gay colors were not allowed to the +apprentices, and set out for Westminster. Although he endeavored to +assume an air of carelessness and ease as he approached the dwelling of +Earl Talbot, he was very far from feeling comfortable, and wished in his +heart that his master had accompanied him on his errand. Half a dozen +men-at-arms were standing on the steps of the mansion, who looked with +haughty surprise at the young apprentice. + +"Dame Alice Vernon has sent to express her desire to have speech with +me," he said quietly, "and I would fain know if she can receive me." + +"Here, Dikon," one of the men cried to another within the hall. "This is +the lad you were sent to fetch yesterday. I wondered much who the city +apprentice was who, with such an assured air, marched up to the door; +but if what thou sayest be true, that he saved the life of Dame Vernon +and her little daughter, he must be a brave lad, and would be more in +place among men and soldiers than in serving wares behind the counter +of a fat city tradesman." + +"I serve behind no counter," Walter said indignantly. "I am an armorer, +and mayhap can use arms as well as make them." + +There was a laugh among the men at the boy's sturdy self-assertion, and +then the man named Dikon said: + +"Come along, lad. I will take you to Dame Vernon at once. She is +expecting you; and, my faith, it would not be safe to leave you standing +here long, for I see you would shortly be engaged in splitting the +weasands of my comrades." + +There was another roar of laughter from the men, and Walter, somewhat +abashed, followed his conductor into the house. Leading him through the +hall and along several corridors, whose spaciousness and splendor quite +overpowered the young apprentice, he handed him over to a waiting-woman, +who ushered him into an apartment where Dame Vernon was reclining on a +couch. Her little daughter was sitting upon a low stool beside her, and +upon seeing Walter she leaped to her feet, clapping her hands. + +"Oh! mother, this is the boy that rescued us out of the river." + +The lady looked with some surprise at the lad. She had but a faint +remembrance of the events which occurred between the time when she +received a blow from the sword of one of her assailants and that when +she found herself on a couch in the abode of her kinsman; and when she +had been told that she had been saved by a city apprentice, she had +pictured to herself a lad of a very different kind to him who now stood +before her. + +Walter was now nearly sixteen years old. His frame was very powerful and +firmly knit. His dark-brown hair was cut short, but, being somewhat +longer than was ordinary with the apprentices, fell with a slight wave +back on his forehead. His bearing was respectful, and at the same time +independent. There was none of that confusion which might be expected on +the part of a lad from the city in the presence of a lady of rank. His +dark, heavy eyebrows, resolute mouth, and square chin gave an expression +of sternness to his face, which was belied by the merry expression of +his eyes and the bright smile when he was spoken to. + +"I have to thank you, young sir," she said, holding out her hand, which +Walter, after the custom of the time, raised to his lips, bending upon +one knee as he did so, "for the lives of myself and my daughter, which +would surely have been lost had you not jumped over to save us." + +"I am glad that I arrived in time to be of aid," Walter said frankly; +"but indeed I am rather to be blamed than praised, for had I, when I +heard the plotting against the safety of the boat, told my master of it, +as I should have done, instead of taking the adventure upon mine own +shoulders, doubtless a boat would have been sent up in time to prevent +the attack from taking place. Therefore, instead of being praised for +having arrived a little too late, I should be rated for not having come +there in time." + +Dame Vernon smiled. + +"Although you may continue to insist that you are to blame, this does +not alter the fact that you have saved our lives. Is there any way in +which I can be useful to you? Are you discontented with your state? for, +in truth, you look as if Nature had intended you for a gallant soldier +rather than a city craftsman. Earl Talbot, who is my uncle, would, I am +sure, receive you into his following should you so choose it, and I +would gladly pay for the canceling of your indentures." + +"I thank you, indeed, lady, for your kind offices," Walter said +earnestly; "for the present I am well content to remain at my craft, +which is that of an armorer, until, at any rate, I have gained such +manly strength and vigor as would fit me for a man-at-arms, and my good +master, Geoffrey Ward, will, without payment received, let me go when I +ask that grace of him." + +"Edith, go and look from the window at the boats passing along the +river; and now," she went on as the girl had obeyed her orders, "I would +fain ask you more about the interview you overheard in the marshes. Sir +William de Hertford told me of the evidence that you had given before +the justice. It is passing strange that he who incited the other to the +deed should have been by him termed 'Sir Knight.' Maybe it was merely a +nickname among his fellows." + +"Before I speak, lady," Walter said quietly, "I would fain know whether +you wish to be assured of the truth. Sometimes, they say, it is wiser to +remain in ignorance; at other times forewarned is forearmed. Frankly, I +did not tell all I know before the court, deeming that peradventure you +might wish to see me, and that I could then tell the whole to your +private ear, should you wish to know it, and you could then bid me +either keep silence or proclaim all I knew when the trial of these +evil-doers comes on." + +"You seem to me to be wise beyond your years, young sir," the lady said. + +"The wisdom is not mine, lady, but my master's. I took counsel with him, +and acted as he advised me." + +"I would fain know all," the lady said. "I have already strange +suspicions of one from whom assuredly I looked not for such evil +designs. It will grieve me to be convinced that the suspicions are well +founded; but it will be better to know the truth than to remain in a +state of doubt." + +"The person, then, was a knight, for I had seen him before when he came +in knightly harness into my master's shop to have two rivets put into +his hauberk. I liked not his face then, and should have remembered it +anywhere. I knew him at once when I saw him. He was a dark-faced knight, +handsome, and yet with features which reminded me of a hawk." + +Dame Vernon gave a little exclamation, which assured the lad that she +recognized the description. + +"You may partly know, lady, whether it is he whom you suppose, for he +said that he would detain your boat so that it should not come along +until dark, and, moreover, he told them that they would know the boat +since you would be wrapped in a white mantle." + +The lady sat for some time with her face hidden in her hands. + +"It is as I feared," she said at last, "and it grieves me to the heart +to think that one who, although not so nearly related in blood, I +regarded as a brother, should have betrayed me to death. My mind is +troubled indeed, and I know not what course I shall take, whether to +reveal this dreadful secret or to conceal it." + +"I may say, madam," Walter said earnestly, "that should you wish the +matter to remain a secret, you may rely upon it that I will tell no more +at the trial than I revealed yesterday; but I would remind you that +there is a danger that the leader of yon ruffians, who is probably alone +acquainted with the name of his employer, may, under the influence of +the torture, reveal it." + +"That fear is for the present past, since a messenger arrived from +Kingston but a few minutes since, saying that yester even, under the +threat of torture, the prisoners had pointed out the one among their +number who was their chief. This morning, however, it was found that the +warder who had charge of them had been bribed; he was missing from his +post, and the door of the cell wherein the principal villain had been +immured, apart from the others, was opened, and he had escaped." + +"Then," Walter said, "it is now open to you to speak or be silent as you +will. You will pardon my forwardness if I say that my master, in talking +the matter over with me, suggested that this evil knight might be scared +from attempting any future enterprise against you were he informed that +it was known to several persons that he was the author of this outrage, +and that if any further attempts were at any time made against you, the +proofs of his crime would be laid before the king." + +"Thanks, good lad," the lady said, "for your suggestion. Should I decide +to keep the matter secret, I will myself send him a message to that +effect, in such guise that he would not know whence it comes. And now, I +would fain reward you for what you have done for us; and," she went on, +seeing a flush suddenly mount upon the lad's face as he made a half-step +backward, "before I saw you, had thought of offering you a purse of +gold, which, although it would but poorly reward your services, would +yet have proved useful to you when the time came for you to start as a +craftsman on your own account; but now that I have seen you, I feel that +although there are few who think themselves demeaned by accepting gifts +of money in reward for services, you would rather my gratitude took +some other form. It can only do that of offering you such good services +that I can render with Earl Talbot, should you ever choose the +profession of arms; and in the mean time, as a memento of the lives you +have saved, you will, I am sure, not refuse this chain," and she took a +very handsome one of gold from her neck, "the more so since it was the +gift of her majesty, our gracious queen, to myself. She will, I am sure, +acquit me of parting with her gift when I tell her that I transferred it +to one who had saved the lives of myself and my daughter, and who was +too proud to accept other acknowledgment." + +Coloring deeply, and with tears in his eyes at the kindness and +thoughtful consideration of the lady, Walter knelt on one knee before +her, and she placed round his neck the long gold chain which she had +been wearing. + +"It is a knight's chain," the lady said, smiling, "and was part of the +spoil gained by King Edward from the French. Maybe," she added kindly, +"it will be worn by a knight again. Stranger things have happened, you +know." + +Walter flushed again with pleasure. + +"Maybe, lady," he said modestly, "even apprentices have their dreams, +and men-at-arms may always hope, by deeds of valor, to attain a knight's +spurs even though they may not be of noble blood or have served as page +and squire to a baron; but whether as a 'prentice or soldier, I hope I +shall never do discredit to your gift." + +"Edith, come here," Dame Vernon said, "I have done talking now. And what +are you going to give this brave knight of ours who saved us from +drowning?" + +The girl looked thoughtfully at Walter. "I don't think you would care +for presents," she said; "and you look as if a sword or a horse would +suit you better than a girl's gift. And yet I should like to give you +something, such as ladies give their knights who have done brave deeds +for them. It must be something quite my own, and you must take it as a +keepsake. What shall it be, mamma?" + +"Give him the bracelet which your cousin gave you last week," her mother +said; "I would rather that you did not keep it, and I know you are not +very fond of him." + +"I can't bear him," the girl said earnestly, "and I wish he would not +kiss me; he always looks as if he were going to bite, and I will gladly +give his bracelet to this brave boy." + +"Very well, Edith, fetch the bracelet from that coffer in the corner." + +The girl went to the coffer and brought out the little bracelet; then +she approached Walter. + +"You must go down on your knee," she said; "true knights always do that +to receive their lady's gifts. Now hold out your hand. There," she went +on in a pretty imperious way, "take this gage as a reward of your valor, +and act ever as a true knight in the service of your lady." + +[Illustration: "TAKE THIS GAGE AS A REWARD OF YOUR VALOR."--Page 62] + +Bending down she dropped a kiss upon Walter's glowing cheek, and +then, half-frightened at her own temerity, ran back to her mother's +side. + +"And now," Dame Vernon went on, "will you thank your five comrades for +their service in the matter, and give them each two gold pieces to spend +as they will?" + +"He is a noble lad," Dame Vernon had said to herself when Walter had +taken his leave. "Would he had been the son of one of the nobles of the +court! It might have been then, if he had distinguished himself in war, +as he would surely do, that the king might have assigned Edith to him. +As her lord and guardian he is certain to give her hand as a reward for +valor in the field, and it may well be to a man with whom she would be +less happy than with this 'prentice lad; but there, I need not be +troubling myself about a matter which is five or six years distant yet. +Still, the thought that Edith is a ward of the crown, and that her hand +must go where the king wills, often troubles me. However, I have a good +friend in the queen, who will, I know, exert what influence she has in +getting me a good husband for my child. But even for myself I have some +fears, since the king hinted, when last he saw me, that it was time I +looked out for another mate, for that the vassals of Westerham and Hyde +needed a lord to lead them in the field. However, I hope that my answer +that they were always at his service under the leading of my Cousin +James will suffice for him. Now, what am I to do in that matter? Who +would have thought that he so coveted my lands that he would have slain +me and Edith to possess himself of them? His own lands are thrice as +broad as mine, though men say that he has dipped deeply into them and +owes much money to the Jews. He is powerful and has many friends, and +although Earl Talbot would stand by me, yet the unsupported word of an +apprentice boy were but poor evidence on which to charge a powerful +baron of such a crime as this. It were best, methinks, to say naught +about it, but to bury the thought in my own heart. Nevertheless, I will +not fail to take the precaution which the lad advised, and to let Sir +James know that there are some who have knowledge of his handiwork. I +hear he crosses the seas to-morrow to join the army, and it may be long +ere he return. I shall have plenty of time to consider how I had best +shape my conduct toward him on his return; but assuredly he shall never +be friendly with me again or frighten Edith with his kisses." + +"Well, Walter, has it been such a dreadful business as you expected?" +the armorer asked the lad when he reentered the shop. "The great folks +have not eaten you, at any rate." + +"It has not been dreadful," Walter replied with a smile, "though I own +that it was not pleasant when I first arrived at the great mansion; but +the lady put me quite at my ease, and she talked to me for some time, +and finally she bestowed on me this chain, which our lady, the queen, +had herself given her." + +"It is a knight's chain and a heavy one," Geoffrey said, examining it, +"of Genoese work, I reckon, and worth a large sum. It will buy you +harness when you go to the wars." + +"I would rather fight in the thickest _melee_ in a cloth doublet," +Walter said indignantly, "than part with a single link of it." + +"I did but jest, Walter," Geoffrey said, laughing; "but as you will not +sell it, and you cannot wear it, you had best give it me to put aside in +my strong coffer until you get of knightly rank." + +"Lady Vernon said," the lad replied, "that she hoped one day it might +again belong to a knight; and if I live," he added firmly, "it shall." + +"Oh! she has been putting these ideas into your head; nice notions truly +for a London apprentice! I shall be laying a complaint before the lord +mayor against Dame Vernon, for unsettling the mind of my apprentice and +setting him above his work. And the little lady, what said she? Did she +give you her colors and bid you wear them at a tourney?" + +Walter colored hotly. + +"Ah! I have touched you," laughed the armorer; "come now, out with the +truth. My lad," he added more gravely, "there is no shame in it; you +know that I have always encouraged your wishes to be a soldier, and have +done my best to render you as good a one as any who draws sword 'neath +the king's banner, and assuredly I would not have taken all these pains +with you did I think that you were always to wear an iron cap and trail +a pike. I too, lad, hope some day to see you a valiant knight, and have +reasons that you wot not of for my belief that it will be so. No man +rises to rank and fame any the less quickly because he thinks that +bright eyes will grow brighter at his success." + +"But, Geoffrey, you are talking surely at random. The Lady Edith Vernon +is but a child; a very beautiful child," he added reverently, "and such +that when she grows up the bravest knight in England might be proud to +win. What folly for me, the son of a city bowyer, and as yet but an +apprentice, to raise mine eyes so high!" + +"The higher one looks the higher one goes," the armorer said +sententiously. "You aspire some day to become a knight, you may well +aspire also to win the hand of Mistress Edith Vernon. She is five years +younger than yourself, and you will be twenty-two when she is seventeen. +You have time to make your way yet, and I tell you, though why it +matters not, that I would rather you set your heart on winning Mistress +Edith Vernon than any other heiress of broad lands in merry England. You +have saved her life, and so have made the first step and a long one. Be +ever brave, gentle, and honorable, and, I tell you, you need not +despair; and now, lad, we have already lost too much time in talking; +let us to our work." + +That evening Walter recalled to Geoffrey his promise to tell him the +causes which had involved England in so long and bloody a war with +France. + +"It is a tangled skein," Geoffrey said, "and you must follow me +carefully. First, with a piece of chalk I will draw upon the wall the +pedigree of the royal line of France from Philip downward, and then you +will see how it is that our King Edward and Philip of Valois came to be +rival claimants to the throne of France. + + PHILIP, + King of France. + | + ,---------'-----------------------, + | | + PHILIP LE BEL, CHARLES, + King of France. Count + | of Valois. + ,-----------,-----'-----,-------------, | + | | | | | + LOUIS PHILIP CHARLES ISABELLA, PHILIP, + LE HUTIN. LE LONG. LE BEL. Queen Count + of England. of Valois. + | + | + EDWARD III. + +"Now, you see that our King Edward is nephew of Charles le Bel, the last +King of France, while Philip of Valois is only nephew of Philip le Bel, +the father of Charles. Edward is consequently in the direct line, and +had Isabella been a man instead of a woman his right to the throne would +be unquestionable. In France, however, there is a law, called the Salic +law, which excludes females from the throne; but it is maintained by +many learned in the law, that although a female is held to be +incompetent to reign because from her sex she cannot lead her armies to +battle, yet she no way forfeits otherwise her rights, and that her son +is therefore the heir to the throne. If this contention, which is held +by all English jurists, and by many in France also, be well founded, +Edward is the rightful King of France. Philip of Valois contends that +the Salic law not only bars a female from ascending the throne, but also +destroys all her rights, and that the succession goes not to her sons, +but to the next heir male; in which case, of course, Philip is rightful +king. It is not for me to say which view is the right one, but certainly +the great majority of those who have been consulted have decided that, +according to ancient law and usage, the right lies with Edward. But in +these matters 'right is not always might.' Had Isabella married a French +noble instead of an English king it is probable that her son's claims to +the throne would have been allowed without dispute, but her son is King +of England, and the French nobles prefer being ruled by one of +themselves to becoming united with England under one king. + +"At the time of the death of the last king, Edward was still but a boy +under the tuition of his mother, Philip was a man, and upon the spot, +therefore he was able to win support by his presence and promises, and +so it came that the peers of France declared Philip of Valois to be +their rightful monarch. Here in England, at a parliament held at +Northampton, the rights of Edward were discussed and asserted, and the +Bishops of Worcester and Coventry were dispatched to Paris to protest +against the validity of Philip's nomination. As, however, the country +was not in a position to enforce the claim of their young king by arms, +Philip became firmly seated as King of France, and having shown great +energy in at once marching against and repressing the people of +Flanders, who were in a state of rebellion against their count, one of +the feudatories of the French crown, the nobles were well satisfied with +their choice, and no question as to his right was ever henceforth raised +in France. As soon as the rebellion in Flanders was crushed, Philip +summoned the King of England to do homage for Aquitaine, Ponthieu, and +Montreuil, fiefs held absolutely from the crown of France. Such a +proceeding placed Edward and his council in a great embarrassment. In +case of a refusal the whole of the possessions of the crown in France +might be declared forfeited and be seized, while England was in no +condition to defend them; on the other hand, the fact of doing homage to +Philip of Valois would be a sort of recognition of his right to the +throne he had assumed. Had Edward then held the reins of power in his +hands, there can be little doubt that he would at once have refused, and +would have called out the whole strength of England to enforce his +claim. The influence of Isabella and Mortimer was, however, +all-powerful, and it was agreed that Edward should do homage as a public +act, making a private reservation in secret to his own councilors, +taking exception to the right of Philip. + +"Edward crossed to France and journeyed to Amiens, where Philip with a +brilliant court awaited him, and on the appointed day they appeared +together in the cathedral. Here Edward, under certain protestations, did +homage for his French estates, leaving certain terms and questions open +for the consideration of his council. For some time the matter remained +in this shape; but honest men cannot but admit that King Edward did, by +his action at the time, acknowledge Philip to be King of France, and +that he became his vassal for his estates there; but, as has happened +scores of times before, and will no doubt happen scores of times again, +vassals, when they become powerful enough, throw off their allegiance to +their feudal superiors, and so the time came to King Edward. + +"After the death of Mortimer and the imprisonment of Isabella, the king +gave rein to his taste for military sports. Tournaments were held at +Dartford and other places, one in Westcheape. What a sight was that, to +be sure! For three days the king, with fourteen of his knights, held the +list against all comers, and in the sight of the citizens and the ladies +of the court jousted with knights who came hither from all parts of +Europe. I was there each day, and the sight was a grand one, though +England was well-nigh thrown into mourning by an accident which took +place. The gallery in which the queen and her attendants were viewing +the sports had been badly erected, and in the height of the contests it +gave way. The queen and her ladies were in great peril, being thrown +from a considerable height, and a number of persons were severely +injured. The king, who was furious at the danger to which the queen had +been exposed, would have hung upon the spot the master workman whose +negligence had caused the accident, but the queen went on her knees +before him and begged his life of the king. The love of Edward for +warlike exercises caused England to be regarded as the most chivalrous +court in Europe, and the frequent tournaments aroused to the utmost the +spirits of the people and prepared them for the war with France. But of +the events of that war I will tell you some other night. It is time now +for us to betake us to our beds." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE CITY GAMES. + + +The next evening the armorer, at Walter's request, continued his +narrative. + +"Soon after the tournament we began to fight again with Scotland. For +some years we had had peace with that country, and under the regency a +marriage was made between David, King of Scotland, son of Robert the +Bruce, with the Princess Joan, sister to our king, and a four years' +truce was agreed to." + +"But why should we always be fighting with Scotland?" Walter asked. + +"That is more than I can tell you, Walter. We were peaceful enough with +them until the days of Edward I.; but he set up some claim to the throne +of Scotland, the rights of which neither I nor any one else, so far as I +know, have ever been able to make out. The fact was he was strong, and +thought that he could conquer Scotland. The quarrels between her +nobles--most of them were allied by blood with our own and held +possessions in both kingdoms--gave Edward an excuse to interfere. +Scotland was conquered easily enough, but it was a hard task to hold +it. Sir William Wallace kept the country in a turmoil for many years, +being joined by all the common people. He inflicted one heavy defeat +upon us at Stirling, but receiving no support from the nobles he was +defeated at Falkirk, and some years afterward was captured and executed +here. His head you may see any day over London Bridge. As he fought only +for his country and had ever refused allegiance to our king, it seems to +me that his fate was a cruel one. Then, when all appeared quiet, Robert +Bruce raised Scotland again and was crowned king. There was war for many +years, but at last, at Bannockburn, he inflicted such a defeat upon us +as we have never had before. After that there were skirmishes and +excursions, but Edward II. was a weak prince, and it seemed that the +marriage of David and the Princess Joan would bring about a permanent +peace between the two countries; but it was not to be so. + +"Many of the English nobles held claims by marriage or grants upon lands +in Scotland. They had, of course, been driven from these when the +English were turned out by Bruce. By the terms of the marriage treaty in +1328 it was agreed that they should be reinstated. It was a foolish +clause, because it was plain that the King of Scotland could not take +these lands again from the Scotch nobles who had possession of them, +many of them being well-nigh as powerful as himself. At this time Edward +Baliol, son of the great rival of Robert Bruce, was in England. He still +claimed the throne of Scotland as his right. Round him gathered a +number of the English nobles who claimed lands in Scotland. The king +offered no hindrance to the gathering of this force, for I doubt not +that he was glad to see dissension in Scotland, which might give him +some such pretext for interference as that which Edward I. had seized to +possess himself of that country. At first Baliol was successful and was +crowned at Scone, but he was presently defeated and driven out of +Scotland. The Scots now made an eruption across the frontier as a +retaliation for Edward's having permitted Baliol to gather a force here +for his war against Bruce. King Edward was on the point of starting for +Ireland, and he at once hastened north. He defeated the Scots at Halidon +Hill, captured Berwick, and placed Baliol upon the throne. Bruce fled to +France, where he was supported and encouraged by the French king. + +"The ill-feeling between Edward and Philip of Valois had gone on +increasing ever since the former had been compelled to take the oath of +allegiance to the latter, but outwardly the guise of friendship was kept +up, and negotiations went on between the two courts for a marriage +between the little Prince of Wales and Joanna, daughter of the French +king. + +"The aid which Philip gave to Bruce increased the bad feeling, and +Edward retaliated for Philip's patronage of Bruce by receiving with the +greatest honor and courtesy Robert of Artois, a great feudatory of +France, who had been banished by King Philip. For a time, although both +countries were preparing for war, peace was not broken, as Edward's +hands were full in Scotland, where Baliol having bestowed immense +possessions upon the English nobles who had assisted him, the country +again rose in favor of Bruce. During the three years that followed King +Edward was obliged several times to go to Scotland to support Baliol, +who held the crown as his feudal vassal. He was always successful in the +field, but directly his army recrossed the frontier the Scotch rose +again. In 1330 a new crusade was preached, and in October of that year +King Philip solemnly received the cross and collected an immense army +nominally for the recovery of Jerusalem. Whether his intentions were +honest or not I cannot say, but certainly King Edward considered that +Philip's real aim in creating so great an army was to attack England. +Whether this was so or not would need a wiser head than mine, Walter, to +tell. Certainly Philip of Valois invited Edward to cooperate with him in +the crusade. The king in reply stated his belief that the preparations +were intended for war in Europe rather than in Asia; but that if the +King of France would agree to conclude a firm league of amity between +the two countries, to restore the castles and towns of Aquitaine, whose +surrender had been frequently promised, but never carried out, and would +bind himself by oath to give no assistance, direct or indirect, to +Scotland, he would join him in his war for the delivery of the Holy +Land. + +"I must say that King Edward's demands were reasonable, for it was clear +that he could not march away from England with his whole force and leave +Baliol unsupported against the assaults of his Scotch enemies, aided by +France. Philip was willing to accede to the first two conditions; but in +regard to the third positively declined treating until David Bruce +should be restored to the throne of his father. Now, had the French king +openly supported Bruce from the first, none could have said that his +conduct in befriending a dethroned monarch was aught but noble and +generous; but he had all along answered Edward's complaints of the aid +afforded by Frenchmen to the Bruce by denials that he himself supported +him; and this declaration in his favor now certainly seemed to show that +he had at last determined openly to throw off the veil, and that his +great army was really collected against England. Robert of Artois +craftily seized a moment when the king's indignation against Philip was +at the highest. At a great banquet held by King Edward, at which all his +warlike nobles were present, Robert entered, preceded by two noble +maidens carrying a heron, which, as you know, Walter, is considered the +most cowardly of birds. Then in loud tones he called upon the knights +present each to swear on the bird to perform some deed of chivalrous +daring. First he presented it to King Edward himself, giving him to +understand that he regarded him but as little braver than the heron for +resigning without a blow the fair heritage of France. + +"The moment was well chosen, for Edward was smarting under the answer he +had just received from Philip. He at once rose and took an oath to enter +France in arms; to wait there a month in order to give Philip time to +offer him battle, and to accept the combat, even should the French +outnumber him ten to one. Every knight present followed the example of +the king, and so the war with France, which had been for years a mere +question of time, was at last suddenly decided upon. You yourself, +Walter, can remember the preparations which were made throughout +England: men were enrolled and arms prepared. We armorers were busy +night and day, and every man felt that his own honor, as well as that of +the country, was concerned in winning for King Edward the heritage of +which he had been unlawfully robbed by the King of France. + +"On the 17th of March, 1337, at the parliament at Westminster, the king +created the little prince, then seven years of age, Duke of Cornwall; +and the prince immediately, in exercise of his new dignity, bestowed +upon twenty of the most distinguished aspirants the honor of knighthood. +Immense supplies were voted by the parliaments held at Nottingham, +Westminster, and Northampton. Half the wool shorn in the summer +following was granted to the king, with a variety of other taxes, +customs, and duties. The revenues of all the foreign priories in +England, a hundred and ten in number, were appropriated to the crown. +Provisions of bacon, wheat, and oats were granted, and the king pawned +his own jewels, and even the crown itself, to hire soldiers and purchase +him allies on the Continent. So great did the scarcity of money become +in the country that all goods fell to less than half their value. Thus a +vast army was raised, and with this King Edward prepared to try his +strength with France. + +"Philip on his part was making great preparations. While Edward had +purchased the assistance of many of the German nobles Philip raised +large armaments in the maritime states of Italy. Spain also contributed +a number of naval adventurers, and squadrons were fitted out by his +vassals on the sea-coasts of Normandy, Brittany, and Picardy. King +Edward had crossed over into Belgium, and after vast delays in +consequence of the slowness of the German allies, at last prepared to +enter France at the end of September, 1339. Such, my lad, is the story, +as far as I know, of the beginning of that war with France which is now +raging, and whose events you know as well as I do, seeing that they are +all of late occurrence. So far, although the English have had the best +of it, and have sorely mauled the French both in the north and south, we +have not gained any such advantages as would lead to a belief that there +is any likelihood of an early termination, or that King Edward will +succeed for a long time in winning back his inheritance of the throne of +France. + +"There is no doubt that the war weighs heavily upon the people at +large. The taxes are doubled, and the drain of men is heavy. We +armorers, of course, have a busy time of it, and all trades which have +to do with the furnishing of an army flourish exceedingly. Moreover, men +of metal and valor have an opportunity of showing what they are composed +of, and England rings with the tales of martial deeds. There are some, +Walter, who think that peace is the greatest of blessings, and in some +ways, lad, they are no doubt right; but there are many compensations in +war. It brings out the noble qualities; it raises men to think that +valor and fortitude and endurance and honor are qualities which are +something above the mere huckstering desire for getting money, and for +ignoble ease and comfort. Some day it may be that the world will change, +and that war may become a thing of the past; but to my mind, boy, I +doubt whether men will be any happier or better for it. The priests, no +doubt, would tell you otherwise; but then you see I am an armorer, and +so perhaps am hardly a fair judge on the matter, seeing that without +wars my craft would come to an end." + +Walter remained in thought for some time. "It seems to me, Master +Geoffrey, that while wars may suit strong and courageous men, women +would rejoice were such things to be at an end." + +"Women suffer most from wars, no doubt," Geoffrey said, "and yet do you +mark that they are more stirred by deeds of valor and chivalry than are +we men; that they are ever ready to bestow their love upon those who +have won honor and glory in war, even although the next battle may leave +them widows. This has been always somewhat of a marvel to me; but I +suppose that it is human nature, and that admiration for deeds of valor +and bravery is ingrained in the heart of man, and will continue until +such times come that the desire for wealth, which is ever on the +increase, has so seized all men that they will look with distaste upon +everything which can interfere with the making of money, and will regard +the man who amasses gold by trading as a higher type than he who does +valiant deeds in battle." + +"Surely that can never be," Walter said indignantly. + +"There is no saying," the armorer answered; "at any rate, Walter, it +will matter little to you or to me, for many generations must pass +before such a state of things can come about." + +Two days later Walter, who had been across into the city, returned in a +state of excitement. + +"What do you think, Geoffrey? The king, with the Prince of Wales and all +his court, are coming to the games next month. They say that the king +himself will adjudge the prizes, and there is to be a grand +assault-at-arms between ten of the 'prentices with a captain, and an +equal number of sons of nobles and knights." + +"That will be rare," Geoffrey Ward exclaimed; "but there will be some +broken limbs, and maybe worse. These assaults-at-arms seldom end +without two or three being killed. However, you youngsters will not hit +as hard as trained knights; and if the armor be good, no great damage +should be done." + +"Do you think that I shall be one of the ten?" Walter asked anxiously. + +"Just as if you did not know you would," Geoffrey replied, laughing. +"Did you not win the prize for sword-play last year? and twelve months +have added much to the strength of your arm, to say nothing of your +skill with weapons. If you win this year again--and it will be strange +if you do not--you are like enough to be chosen captain. You will have +tough fighting, I can tell you, for all these young aspirants to +knighthood will do their best to show themselves off before the king and +queen. The fight is not to take place on horseback, I hope; for if so, +it will be settled as soon as it begins." + +"No, it is to be on foot; and the king himself is to give orders as to +the fighting." + +"You had best get out that helmet and coat of mail of yours," Geoffrey +said. "I warrant me that there will be none of finer make or truer metal +in the tourney, seeing that I made them specially for you. They are +light, and yet strong enough to withstand a blow from the strongest arm. +I tried them hard, and will warrant them proof, but you had best see to +the rivets and fastenings. They had a rough handling last year, and you +have not worn them since. There are some other pieces that I must put in +hand at once, seeing that in such a _melee_ you must be covered from +head to foot." + +For the next week nothing was talked of in London but the approaching +sports, and the workmen were already engaged in the erection of the +lists and pavilions in the fields between the walls and Westminster. It +was reported that the king would add valuable prizes to those given to +the winners by the city, that there would be jousting on horseback by +the sons of the court nobles, and that the young Prince of Wales would +himself ride. + +The king had once before taken part in the city sports, and with ten of +the citizens had held his own against an equal number of knights. This +was at the commencement of his reign; but the accident to the queen's +stand had so angered him that he had not again been present at the +sports, and his reappearance now was considered to be an act of approval +of the efforts which the city had made to aid him in the war, and as an +introduction of the young prince to the citizens. + +When the day arrived there was a general flocking out of the citizens to +the lists. The scene was a picturesque one; the weather was bright and +warm; the fields were green; and Westminster, as well as London, sent +out large numbers to the scene. The citizens were all in their best; +their garments were for the most part of sober colors--russet, murrey, +brown, and gray. Some, indeed, of the younger and wealthier merchants +adopted somewhat of the fashion of the court, wearing their shoes long +and pointed and their garments parti-colored. The line of division was +down the center of the body one leg, arm, and half the body would be +blue, the other half russet or brown. The ladies' dresses were similarly +divided. Mingling with the citizens, as they strolled to and fro upon +the sward, were the courtiers. These wore the brightest colors, and +their shoes were so long that the points were looped up to the knees +with little gold chains to enable them to walk. The ladies wore +head-dresses of prodigious height, culminating in two points; and from +these fell, sweeping to the ground, streamers of silk or lighter +material. Cloths of gold and silver, rich furs, silks, and velvets were +worn both by men and women. + +None who saw the nobles of the court walking in garments so tight that +they could scarce move, with their long parti-colored hose, their silk +hoods buttoned under the chin, their hair braided down their back, would +have thought that these were the most warlike and courageous of knights, +men whose personal prowess and gallantry were the admiration of Europe. +Their hair was generally cut close upon the forehead, and the beard was +suffered to grow, but was kept trimmed a moderate length. Many of the +ladies had the coat of arms of their family embroidered upon their +dresses, giving them the appearance of heralds' tabards. Almost all wore +gold or silver girdles, with embroidered pouches, and small daggers. + +Thus the appearance of the crowd who moved about among the fields near +the lists was varied and brilliant indeed. Their demeanor was quiet, +for the London merchants deemed a grave demeanor to belong to their +calling and the younger men and apprentices restrained their spirits in +the presence of their superiors. For their special amusement, and in +order, perhaps, to keep them from jostling too freely against the court +gallants and ladies, the city authorities had appointed popular sports +such as pleased the rougher classes; and bull-baiting, cock-fighting, +wrestling for a ram, pitching the bar, and hand-ball, were held in a +field some distance away. Here a large portion of the artisans and +apprentices amused themselves until the hour when the king and queen +were to arrive at their pavilion and the contests were to commence. + +Presently a sound of trumpets was heard, and the royal procession was +seen moving up from Westminster. Then the minor sports were abandoned; +the crowd gathered round the large fenced-in space, and those who, by +virtue of rank or position in the city, had places in the various +stands, took their places there. + +There was a flourish of trumpets as the king and queen appeared in front +of their pavilion, accompanied by the Prince of Wales and many of the +nobles of the court, and a shout of welcome arose from the crowd. The +shooting at a mark at once began. The preliminary trials had been shot +off upon the preceding day, and the six chosen bowmen now took their +places. + +Walter had not entered for the prizes at archery. He had on previous +years shot well; but since he had fully determined to become a +man-at-arms he had given up archery, for which, indeed, his work at the +forge and his exercises at arms when the fires were out left him but +little time. The contest was a close one, and when it was over the +winner was led by the city marshal to the royal pavilion, where the +queen bestowed upon him a silver arrow, and the king added a purse of +money. Then there were several combats with quarter-staff and broadsword +between men who had served among the contingents sent by the city to aid +the king in his wars. Some good sword-play was shown and many stout +blows exchanged, two or three men were badly hurt, and the king and all +present were mightily pleased with the stoutness with which they fought. + +The apprentices then came forward to compete for the prizes for +sword-play. They wore light iron caps and shirts of thickly quilted +leather, and fought with blunted swords, for the city fathers deemed +wisely that with these weapons they could equally show their skill, and +that with sharpened swords not only would severe wounds be given, but +bad blood would be created between the apprentices of the various wards. +Each ward sent its champion to the contest, and as these fought in +pairs, loud was the shouting which rose from their comrades at each blow +given or warded, and even the older citizens joined sometimes in the +shouting and took a warm interest in the champions of their respective +wards. + +The iron caps had stout cheek-pieces which defended the sides of the +face and neck, for even a blunted sword can deliver a terrible blow if +it fall upon the naked flesh. It took a long time to get through the +combats; the pairs were drawn by lot and fought until the king decided +which was the superior. Some were speedily beaten; at other times the +contests were long and severe. It was generally thought by the +apprentices that the final contest lay between Walter Fletcher of +Aldgate and Ralph Smith of Ludgate. The former was allowed to be +superior in the use of his weapon, but the latter was also skillful, was +two years older, and greatly superior in strength. He had not taken part +in the contest in the preceding year, as he had been laid up with a hurt +in his hand which he had got in his employment as a smith, and the lads +of Ludgate were confident that he would turn the tables upon the +champion of the eastern ward. Both had defeated with ease the various +opponents whom they had met, but it chanced that they had not drawn +together until the last round, when they remained alone to struggle for +the first and second prizes. + +The interest in the struggle had increased with each round, and wagers +were freely laid upon the result. According to custom the two champions +had laid aside their leathern shirts and had donned mail armor, for it +was considered that the crowning contest between the two picked young +swordsmen of the city would be a severe one, and greater protection to +the limbs was needed. + +Before taking their places they were led up to the royal pavilion, where +they were closely inspected by the king and his nobles. + +"You are sure that this man is still an apprentice?" the king asked the +lord mayor, who was seated next to him; "he has the appearance of a +man-at-arms, and a stout one too; the other is a likely stripling, and +is, as I have seen, marvelously dexterous with his sword, but he is but +a boy while the other is a grown man." + +"He is an apprentice, my liege, although his time will be up in a few +days, while the other has yet three years to serve, but he works for an +armorer, and is famed through the city, boy as he is, for his skill with +weapons." + +After a few words to each, exhorting them to do their best in the sight +of the queen and her ladies, the king dismissed them. + +"I know the young one now!" the Prince of Wales said, clapping his hands +as the apprentices turned away to take their places. "My Lord Talbot, I +will wager a gold chain with you upon the smaller of the two." + +"I will take your wager," the noble answered; "but I am by no means sure +that I shall win it, for I have watched your champion closely, and the +downright blows which he struck would seem to show that he has the +muscle and strength of a man, though still but a boy." + +The event justified the Prince of Wales' confidence; at the commencement +of the struggle Ralph Smith tried to beat down his opponent by sheer +strength as he had done his prior opponents, but to his surprise he +found that all his efforts could not break down his opponent's guard. +Walter indeed did not appear to take advantage of his superior lightness +and activity, but to prefer to prove that in strength as well as skill +he was equal to his antagonist. In the latter respect there was no +comparison, for as soon as the smith began to relax his rain of blows +Walter took the offensive and with a sweeping blow, given with all his +strength, broke down his opponent's guard and smote him with such force +upon his steel cap that, blunted as the sword was, it clove through the +iron, and stretched the smith senseless on the ground. A loud shout +broke from the assemblage. The marshal came up to Walter, and removing +his helmet, led him to the royal pavilion, while Ralph was carried to a +tent near, where a leech attended to his wound. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE MELEE. + + +"You have won your prize stoutly and well, sir 'prentice," the king +said. "I should not have deemed it possible that one of your age could +have smitten such a blow, and right glad should I be of a few hundred +lads of your mettle to follow me against the French. What is your +calling?" + +"I am an armorer, my liege," Walter answered. + +"An you are as good at mending armor as you are at marring it," the king +said, "you will be a rare craftsman one of these days. 'Tis a rare pity +so promising a swordsman should be lost to our army. Wouldst like to +change your calling, boy, and take to that of arms?" + +"It is my hope to do so, sir," Walter answered modestly, "and his grace +the Prince of Wales has already promised me that I shall some day ride +behind him to the wars." + +"Ah! Edward," the king ejaculated, "how is this? Have you been already +enlisting a troop for the wars?" + +"No, sir," the young prince replied, "but one day, now some four years +since, when I was riding with my Lord Talbot and others in the fields +near the Tower, I did see this lad lead his play-fellows to the assault +of an earthen castle held by others, and he fought so well and gallantly +that assuredly no knight could have done better, until he was at last +stricken senseless, and when he recovered I told him that should he +choose to be a man-at-arms I would enlist him in my following to the +wars." + +The king laughed. + +"I deemed not that the lads of the city indulged in such rough sports; +but I wonder not, seeing that the contingent which my good city of +London furnishes me is ever one of the best in my army. We shall see the +lad at work again to-morrow and will then talk more of it. Now let us +bestow upon him the prize that he has so well earned." + +Walter bent on one knee, and the queen handed to him a sword of the best +Spanish steel, which was the prize given by the city to the victor. The +king handed him a heavy purse of gold pieces, saying: + +"This may aid in purchasing your freedom." + +Walter bowed deeply and murmured some words of thanks, and was then led +off by the marshal. After this many of the young nobles of the court +jousted on horseback, ran at the ring, and performed other feats of +knightly exercise to the great pleasure of the multitude. The marshal on +leading Walter away said to him, "You will be captain of the city band +to-morrow, and I must therefore tell you what the king purports. He has +prepared a surprise for the citizens, and the present show will be +different to anything ever before seen in London. Both to show them +somewhat of the sieges which are taking place on the borders of France +and the Low Countries, in which Sir Walter Manny and many other gallant +knights have so greatly distinguished themselves, and as an exercise for +the young nobles he has determined that there shall be a castle erected. +It will be built of wood, with battlements and towers, with a moat +outside. As soon as the lists are over a large number of workmen will +commence its erection; the pieces are all sawn and prepared. There will +be machines, ladders, and other appliances. The ten champions on either +side will fight as knights; you will have a hundred apprentices as +men-at-arms, and the court party will have an equal number of young +esquires. You, as winner of to-day's tourney, will have the choice of +defense or attack. I should advise you to take the defense, since it is +easier and requires less knowledge of war, and many of the other party +have accompanied their fathers and masters in the field and have seen +real sieges carried out." + +"Can you show me a plan of the castle," Walter said, "if it be not +contrary to the rules, in order that I may think over to-night the plan +of fighting to-morrow?" + +"Here it is," the marshal said. "You see the walls are two hundred feet +long and twelve feet in height, with a tower at the end and one over the +gateway in the center six feet high. There is a drawbridge defended by +an outwork of palisades six feet high. The moat will be a dry one, +seeing that we have no means of filling it with water, but it will be +supposed to be full, and must be crossed on planks or bridges. Two small +towers on wheels will be provided, which may be run up to the edge of +the moat, and will be as high as the top of the towers." + +"Surely they cannot make all this before morning?" Walter said. + +"They will do so," the marshal replied. "The castle has been put +together in the king's court-yard, and the pieces are all numbered. Two +hundred carpenters will labor all night at it, besides a party of +laborers for the digging of the moat. It will be a rare show, and will +delight both the citizens and the ladies of the court, for such a thing +has never before been attempted. But the king grudges not the expense +which it will cost him, seeing that spectacles of this kind do much to +arouse the warlike spirit of the people. Here is a list of the various +implements which will be provided, only it is understood that the +mangonels and arblasts will not be provided with missiles, seeing that +many would assuredly be killed by them. They will be employed, however, +to show the nature of the work, and parties of men-at-arms will be told +off to serve them. Cross-bows and arrows will be used, but the weapons +will be blunted. You will see that there are ladders, planks for making +bridges, long hooks for hauling men down from the wall, beams for +battering down the gate, axes for cutting down the palisades, and all +other weapons. The ten who will serve under you as knights have already +been nominated, and the city will furnish them with full armor. For the +others, the apprentices of each ward will choose sufficient +representatives to make up the hundred who will fight as men-at-arms; +these will wear steel caps and breast-pieces, with leather jerkins, and +vizors to protect their faces, for even a blunted arrow or a wooden +quarrel might well kill if it struck true." + +On leaving the marshal Walter joined Giles Fletcher and Geoffrey Ward, +who warmly congratulated him upon his success. He informed them of the +spectacle which the king had prepared for the amusement of the citizens +on the morrow. + +"In faith," Geoffrey said, "the idea is a good one, and promises rare +sport, but it will be rough, and we may expect many broken limbs, for it +will be no joke to be thrown down with a ladder from a wall even twelve +feet high, and there will be the depth of the moat besides." + +"That will only be two feet," Walter said, "for so it is marked on the +plan." + +"And which do you mean to take, Walter, the attack or the defense? +Methinks the king has erred somewhat in making the forces equal, for +assuredly the besiegers should outnumber the besieged by fully three to +one to give them a fair chance of success." + +"I shall take the assault," Walter answered; "there is more to be done +that way than in the defense. When we get home, Geoffrey, we will look +at the plans, and see what may be the best manner of assault." + +Upon examining the plan that evening they found that the wall was +continued at an angle at either end for a distance of some twenty feet +back so as to give a postern gate behind each of the corner towers +through which a sortie might be made. Geoffrey and Walter talked the +matter over, and together contrived a plan of operation for the +following day. + +"You will have one great advantage," Geoffrey said. "The apprentices are +all accustomed to the use of the bow, while the young nobles will know +but little of that weapon; therefore your shooting will be far +straighter and truer, and even a blunt-headed arrow drawn from the +shoulder will hit so smart a blow that those on the wall will have +difficulty in withstanding them." + +After the talk was ended Walter again crossed London Bridge, and made +his way to Ludgate, where he found his late antagonist, whose head had +been plastered up and was little the worse for the conflict. + +"There is no ill-will between us, I hope," Walter said, holding out his +hand. + +"None in the world," the young smith said frankly. + +He was a good tempered-looking young giant, with closely cropped hair, +light-blue eyes, and a pleasant but somewhat heavy face. + +"My faith! but what a blow was that you gave me! why, one would think +that your muscles were made of steel. I thought that I could hit a good +downright blow, seeing that I have been hammering at the anvil for the +last seven years; but strike as I would I could not beat down your +guard, while mine went down as if it had been a feather before yours. I +knew, directly that I had struck the first blow, and felt how firm was +your defense, that it was all up with me, knowing that in point of skill +I had no chance whatever with you." + +"I am glad to see that you bear no malice, Ralph," Walter said, "and +hope that we shall be great friends henceforth, that is, if you will +take me as such, seeing that you are just out of your apprenticeship, +while I am not yet half-through mine. But I have come to talk to you +about to-morrow. Have you heard that there is to be a mimic siege?" + +"I have heard about it," Ralph said. "The city is talking of nothing +else. The news was published at the end of the sports. It will be rare +fun, surely." + +"It will be pretty rough fun," Walter replied; "and I should not be much +surprised if some lives are lost; but this is always so in a tournament; +and if knights and nobles are ready to be killed, we apprentices need +not fear to hazard our lives. But now as to to-morrow. I, as the winner +to-day, am to be the leader of the party, and you, as second, will of +course be captain under me. Now I want to explain to you exactly what I +propose to do, and to arrange with you as to your share in the +business." + +The young smith listened attentively to Walter's explanation, and, when +he had done, exclaimed admiringly: "Why, Walter, you seem to be made for +a general. How did it all come to you, lad? I should never have thought +of such a scheme." + +"I talked it over with my master," Walter said, "and the idea is his as +much as mine. I wonder if it will do?" + +"It is sure to do," the smith said enthusiastically. "The castle is as +good as taken." + +The next day all London poured out to the scene of the sports, and the +greatest admiration and wonder were expressed at the castle, which had +risen, as if by magic, in the night. It was built at one end of the +lists, which had been purposely placed in a hollow, so that a great +number of people besides those in the pavilions could obtain a view from +the surrounding slopes. The castle was substantially built of heavy +timber painted gray, and looked at a little distance as if constructed +of stone. A flag floated from the central tower, and the building looked +so formidable that the general opinion was freely expressed that the +task of the assailants, whoever they might be--for at present this was +unknown--was quite impossible. At ten o'clock the king and his court +arrived. After they had taken their places the two bands, headed by +their leaders, advanced from the lower end of the lists, and drew up in +front of the royal pavilion. The leaders took their places in front. +Behind them stood the ten chosen followers, all of whom, as well as +their chiefs, were incased in full armor. Behind, on one side, were one +hundred apprentices, on the other, one hundred esquires, all attired as +men-at-arms. The court party were led by Clarence Aylmer, son of the +Earl of Pembroke. His companions were all young men of noble family, +aspirants for the order of knighthood. They were, for the most part, +somewhat older than the apprentices, but as the latter consisted chiefly +of young men nearly out of their term the difference was not great. +Walter's armor was a suit which the armorer had constructed a year +previously for a young knight who had died before the armor could be +delivered. Walter had wondered more than once why Geoffrey did not +endeavor to sell it elsewhere, for although not so decorated and inlaid +as many of the suits of Milan armor, it was constructed of the finest +steel, and the armorer had bestowed special care upon its manufacture, +as the young knight's father had long been one of his best customers. +Early that morning Geoffrey had brought it to his room and had told him +to wear it instead of that lent by the city. + +"But I fear it will get injured," Walter had urged. "I shall not spare +myself, you know, Geoffrey, and the blows will be hard ones." + +"The more need for good armor, Walter. These city suits are made for +show rather than use. You may be sure that young Pembroke and his band +will fight their hardest rather than suffer defeat at the hands of +those whom they consider as a band of city varlets." + +Before issuing from the tent where he and his companions had put on +their mail, Walter carefully fastened in the front of his helmet a tiny +gold bracelet. Upon taking their places before the pavilion the king +ordered the two leaders to advance, and addressed them and the multitude +in the following words: + +"Brave leaders, and you, my people, I have contrived the pastime to-day +that I may show you on a mimic scale the deeds which my brave soldiers +are called upon to perform in France. It is more specially suited for +the combatants of to-day, since one party have had but small opportunity +of acquiring skill on horseback. Moreover, I wish to teach the lesson +that fighting on foot is as honorable as fighting on horseback, for it +has now been proved, and sometimes to our cost, in Scotland, that +footmen can repulse even the bravest chivalry. To-day each party will +fight his best. Remember that, even in the heat of conflict, matters +must not be carried to an extreme. Those cut off from their friends will +be accounted prisoners, as will those who, being overpowered, throw down +their arms. Any wounded on either side will not be accounted as +prisoners, but may retire with honor from the field. You," he said, +looking at Walter, "as the conqueror of yesterday, have the choice of +either the attack or defense; but I should advise you to take the +latter, seeing that it is easier to defend a fortress than to assault +it. Many of your opponents have already gained credit in real warfare, +while you and your following are new to it. Therefore, in order to place +the defense on fair terms with the assault, I have ordered that both +sides shall be equal in numbers." + +"If your liege will permit me," Walter said, bowing, "I would fain take +the assault. Methinks that, with my following, I could do better thus +than in defense." + +The king looked somewhat displeased. + +"As you will," he said coldly; "but I fear that this will somewhat mar +the effect of the spectacle, seeing that you will have no chance +whatever against an equal force, more accustomed to war than your party, +and occupying so superior a position. However," he went on, seeing that +Walter made no sign of changing his mind, "as you have chosen, so be it; +and now it is for you to choose the lady who shall be queen of the +tourney and shall deliver the prizes to the victors. Look round you; +there are many fair faces, and it is for you to choose among them." + +Smiles passed between many of the courtly dames and ladies at the choice +that was to be made among them by the apprentice lad; and they thought +that he would be sorely puzzled at such a duty. Walter, however, did not +hesitate an instant. He ran his eye over the crowd of ladies in the +royal gallery, and soon saw the object of his search. + +"Since I have your majesty's permission," he said, "I choose, as queen +of the tournament, Mistress Edith Vernon." + +There was a movement of surprise and a general smile. Perhaps to all who +thought that they had a chance of being chosen the selection was a +relief, as none could be jealous of the pretty child, who, at the king's +order, made her way forward to the front, and took her seat in a chair +placed between the king and queen. The girl colored brightly; but she +had heard so much of tourneys and jousts that she knew what was her +duty. She had been sitting far back on the previous day, and the +apprentice, when brought up before the king, was too far below for her +to see his features. She now recognized him. + +"Sir knights," she said in a loud, clear, childish voice, "you will both +do your duty to-day and show yourselves worthy cavaliers. Methinks that, +as queen of the tourney, I should be neutral between you, but as one of +you carries my gage in his helm, my good wishes must needs go with him; +but bright eyes will be fixed on you both, and may well stir you to +deeds of valor." + +So saying, she resumed her seat with a pretty air of dignity. + +"Why, sweetheart," the king said, "how is it that this 'prentice lad +knows your name, and how is it that he wears your gage, for I know that +the young Pembroke wears the glove of the Earl of Surrey's daughter?" + +"He saved my life, sir, mine and my mother's," the child said, "and I +told him he should be my true knight, and gave him my bracelet, which +you see he wears in his helm." + +"I recall somewhat of the story," the king said, "and will question my +Lady Vernon further anon; but see, the combatants are filing off to +their places." + +With flags flying and trumpets blowing young Pembroke led his forces +into the castle. Each of his ten knights was followed by an esquire +bearing his banner, and each had ten men-at-arms under his immediate +order. Two of them, with twenty men, remained in the outwork beyond the +drawbridge. The rest took their station on the walls and towers, where a +platform had been erected running along three feet below the +battlements. The real men-at-arms with the machines of war now advanced, +and for a time worked the machines, which made pretense at casting great +stones and missiles at the walls. The assailants then moved forward and, +unslinging their bows, opened a heavy fire of arrows at the defenders, +who, in turn, replied with arrows and cross-bows. + +"The 'prentices shoot well," the king said; "by our lady, it would be +hot work for the defenders were the shafts but pointed! Even as it is +the knocks must be no child's play, for the arrows, although not +pointed, are all tipped with iron, without which, indeed, straight +shooting would be impossible." + +The return fire from the walls was feeble, and the king said, laughing, +"So far your knight, fair mistress, has it all his own way. I did not +reckon sufficiently upon the superiority of shooting of the London lads, +and, indeed, I know not that I ought not in fairness to order some of +the defenders off the walls, seeing that in warfare their numbers would +be rapidly thinned. See, the assailants are moving up the two towers +under shelter of the fire of the archers." + +By this time Aylmer, seeing that his followers could make no effectual +reply to the arrow fire, had ordered all, save the leaders in full +armor, to lie down behind the parapet. The assailants now gathered +thickly round each tower, as if they intended to attempt to cross by the +bridges, which could be let down from an opening in the tower level with +the top of the wall, while archers upon the summit shot fast and thick +among the defenders who were gathering to oppose them. + +"If the young Pembroke is wise," the king said, "he will make a strong +sally now and fall upon one or other of the parties." + +As he spoke there was a sudden movement on the part of the assailants, +who, leaving the foot of the towers, made a rush at the outwork in the +center. The instant they arrived they fell to work with axes upon the +palisades. Many were struck down by the blows dealt them by the +defenders, but others caught up the axes and in less than a minute +several of the palisades were cut down and the assailants poured in. The +defenders fought gallantly, but they were overpowered by numbers. Some +were struck down, others taken prisoners by main force, and the rest +driven across the drawbridge just as the gates were opened and Pembroke, +at the head of the defenders, swarmed out to their assistance. + +There was a desperate fight on the bridge, and it was well that the +armor was stout, and the arms that wielded the weapons had not yet +attained their full strength. Several were knocked off the bridge into +the moat, and these were, by the rules, obliged at once to retire and +take no further part in the contest. Walter and Ralph the smith fought +in front of their men, and hard as Pembroke and his followers struggled, +they could not drive them back a foot. The court party was galled by the +heavy fire of arrows kept up by the apprentices along the side of the +moat, and finding all his efforts to regain the earthwork useless, +Pembroke withdrew his forces into the castle, and in spite of the +efforts of the besiegers managed to close the gates in their faces. The +assailants, however, succeeded in severing the chains of the drawbridge +before it could be raised. + +From the tower above, the defenders now hurled over great stones, which +had been specially placed there for the purpose of destroying the +drawbridge should the earthwork be carried. The boards were soon +splintered, and the drawbridge was pronounced by the Earl of Talbot, who +was acting as judge, to be destroyed. The excitement of the spectators +was worked up to a great pitch while the conflict was going on, and the +citizens cheered lustily at the success of the apprentices. + +"That was gallantly done," the king said to Queen Philippa, "and the +leader of the assailants is a lad of rare mettle. Not a captain of my +army, no, not Sir Walter Manny himself, could have done it more +cleverly. You see, by placing his forces at the ends of the wall he drew +all the garrison thither to withstand the assaults from them, and thus +by his sudden movement he was able to carry the outwork before they +could recover from their surprise and come down to its aid. I am curious +to know what he will do next. What thinkst thou, Edward?" he asked his +son, who was standing by his side. + +"He will win the day," the young prince said; "and in faith, although +the others are my comrades, I should be glad to see it. He will make a +gallant knight, sir, one of these days, and remember he is engaged to +follow my banner, so you must not steal him from me. See, my liege, they +are taking planks and ladders to the outwork." + +"They are doing wrongly, then," the king said, "for even should they +bridge the moat where the drawbridge is, they cannot scale the wall +there, since the tower defends it, and the ladders are but long enough +to reach the lower wall. No, their leader has changed his mind: they are +taking the planks along the edge of the moat toward the tower on the +left, and will aid the assault by its bridge by a passage of the moat +there." + +It seemed, indeed, that this was the plan. While some of the assailants +kept up the arrow fire on the wall others mounted the tower, while a +party prepared to throw a bridge of planks across the moat. The bridge +from the tower was now lowered; but a shout of triumph rose from the +defenders when it was seen that by some mistake of the carpenters this +was too short, and when lowered did not reach within six feet of the +wall. + +"All the better," the king said, while the prince gave an angry +exclamation. "Accidents of this kind will happen, and give an +opportunity to a leader to show his resources. Doubtless he will carry +planks up to the tower and so connect the bridge and the wall." + +This, indeed, was what the assailants tried to do, while a party threw +planks across the moat, and rushing over placed ladders against the wall +and strove to climb. They strove in vain, however. The ladders were +thrown down as fast as they were placed, while the defenders, thickly +clustered on the walls, drove back those who tried to cross from the +tower. + +"I do not see the leader of the assailants," the prince said. + +"He has a white plume, but it may have been shorn off," the king said. +"Look, the young Pembroke is making a sortie!" + +From the sortie gate behind the tower the defenders now poured out, and +running down the edge of the moat fell upon the stormers. These, +however, received them with great steadiness, and while some continued +to attack the rest turned upon the garrison, and, headed by Ralph the +smith, drove them gradually back. + +"They fight well and steadily," the king said. "One would have thought +that they had reckoned on the sortie, so steadily did they receive it." + +As only a portion of the garrison had issued out, they were unable to +resist long the pressure of the apprentices, who drove them back step by +step to the sally-port, and pressing them hard endeavored to force their +way in at their heels. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE YOUNG ESQUIRE. + + +While the attention of the whole of the spectators and combatants was +fixed upon the struggle at the right-hand angle of the castle, a party +of twenty 'prentices suddenly leaped to their feet from among the broken +palisades of the outwork. Lying perdu there they had escaped the +attention of the spectators as well as of the defenders. The reason why +the assailants carried the planks and ladders to this spot was now +apparent. Only a portion had been taken on to the assault of the +right-hand tower; those who now rose to their feet lifted with them +planks and ladders, and at a rapid pace ran toward the left angle of the +castle, and reached that point before the attention of the few defenders +who remained on the wall there was attracted to them, so absorbed were +they in the struggle at the other angle. The moment that they saw the +new assailants they raised a shout of alarm, but the din of the combat, +the shouts of the leaders and men were so loud that their cries were +unheard. Two or three then hurried away at full speed to give the alarm, +while the others strove to repel the assault. Their efforts were in +vain. The planks were flung across the moat, the ladders placed in +position, and led by Walter the assailants sprang up and gained a +footing on the wall before the alarm was fairly given. A thundering +cheer from the spectators greeted the success of the assailants. +Springing along the wall they drove before them the few who strove to +oppose them, gained the central tower, and Walter, springing up to the +top, pulled down the banner of the defenders and placed that of the city +in its place. At this moment the defenders, awakened too late to the +ruse which had been played upon them, came swarming back along the wall +and strove to regain the central tower. In the confusion the assault by +the flying tower of the assailants was neglected, and at this point also +they gained a footing on the wall. The young nobles of the court, +furious at being outwitted, fought desperately to regain their lost +laurels. But the king rose from his seat and held up his hand. The +trumpeter standing below him sounded the arrest of arms, which was +echoed by two others who accompanied Earl Talbot, who had taken his +place on horseback close to the walls. At the sound swords dropped and +the din abruptly ceased, but the combatants stood glaring at each other, +their blood too heated to relinquish the fray readily. + +Already much damage had been done. In spite of armor and mail many +serious wounds had been inflicted, and some of the combatants had +already been carried senseless from the field. Some of the assailants +had been much shaken by being thrown backward from the ladders into the +moat, one or two were hurt to death; but as few tourneys took place +without the loss of several lives, this was considered but a small +amount of damage for so stoutly fought a _melee_, and the knowledge that +many were wounded, and some perhaps dying, in no way damped the +enthusiasm of the spectators, who cheered lustily for some minutes at +the triumph which the city had obtained. + +In the galleries occupied by the ladies and nobles of the court there +was a comparative silence. But brave deeds were appreciated in those +days, and although the ladies would far rather have seen the victory +incline the other way, yet they waved their handkerchiefs and clapped +their hands in token of their admiration at the success of an assault +which, at the commencement, appeared well-nigh hopeless. + +Lord Talbot rode up to the front of the royal pavilion. + +"I was about to stop the fight, sire, when you gave the signal. Their +blood was up, and many would have been killed had the combat continued. +But the castle was fairly won, the central tower was taken and the flag +pulled down, a footing had been gained at another point of the wall, and +the assailants had forced their way through the sally-port. Further +resistance was therefore hopeless, and the castle must be adjudged as +fairly and honorably captured." + +A renewed shout greeted the judge's decision. The king now ordered the +rival hosts to be mustered before him as before the battle, and when +this was done Earl Talbot conducted Walter up the broad steps in front +of the king's pavilion. Geoffrey Ward, who had, after fastening on +Walter's armor in the tent before the sports began, taken his place +among the guards at the foot of the royal pavilion, stepped forward and +removed Walter's helmet at the foot of the steps. + +"Young sir," the king said, "you have borne yourself right gallantly +to-day, and have shown that you possess the qualities which make a great +captain. I do my nobles no wrong when I say that not one of them could +have better planned and led the assault than you have done. Am I not +right, sirs?" and he looked round. + +A murmur of assent rose from the knights and nobles, and the king +continued: "I thought you vain and presumptuous in undertaking the +assault of a fort held by an equal number, many of whom are well +accustomed to war, while the lads who followed you were all untrained in +strife, but you have proved that your confidence in yourself was not +misplaced. The Earl of Talbot has adjudged you victor, and none can +doubt what the end of the strife would have been. Take this chain from +your king, who is glad to see that his citizens of London are able to +hold their own even against those of our court, than whom we may say no +braver exist in Europe. Kneel now to the queen of the tourney, who will +bestow upon you the chaplet which you have so worthily earned." + +Walter bent his knee before Edith Vernon. She rose to her feet, and with +an air of pretty dignity placed a chaplet of laurel leaves, wrought in +gold and clasped with a valuable ruby, on his head. + +"I present to you," she said, "the chaplet of victory, and am proud that +my gage should have been worn by one who has borne himself so bravely +and well. May a like success rest on all your undertakings, and may you +prove a good and valiant knight!" + +"Well said, Mistress Edith," Queen Philippa said, smiling. "You may well +be proud of your young champion. I too must have my gift," and drawing a +ring set with brilliants from her finger she placed it in Walter's hand. + +The lad now rose to his feet. "The prince, my son," the king said, "has +promised that you shall ride with his men-at-arms when he is old enough +to take the field. Should you choose to abandon your craft and do so +earlier I doubt not that one of my nobles, the brave Sir Walter Manny, +for example, will take you before that time." + +"That will I readily enough," Sir Walter said, "and glad to have so +promising a youth beneath my banner." + +"I would that you had been of gentle blood," the king said. + +"That makes no difference, sire," Sir Walter replied. "I will place him +among the young gentlemen, my pages and esquires, and am sure that they +will receive him as one of themselves." + +Geoffrey Ward had hitherto stood at the foot of the steps leading to the +royal pavilion, but doffing his cap he now ascended. "Pardon my +boldness, sire," he said to the king, "but I would fain tell you what +the lad himself has hitherto been ignorant of. He is not, as he +supposes, the son of Giles Fletcher, citizen and bowmaker, but is the +lawfully born son of Sir Roland Somers, erst of Westerham and Hythe, who +was killed in the troubles at the commencement of your majesty's reign. +His wife, Dame Alice, brought the child to Giles Fletcher, whose wife +had been her nurse, and dying left him in her care. Giles and his wife, +if called for, can vouch for the truth of this, and can give you proofs +of his birth." + +Walter listened with astonishment to Geoffrey's speech. A thrill of +pleasure rushed through his veins as he learned that he was of gentle +blood and might hope to aspire to a place among the knights of King +Edward's court. He understood now the pains which Geoffrey had bestowed +in seeing that he was perfected in warlike exercises, and why he and +Giles had encouraged rather than repressed his love for martial +exercises and his determination to abandon his craft and become a +man-at-arms when he reached man's estate. + +"Ah! is it so?" the king exclaimed. "I remember Sir Roland Somers, and +also that he was slain by Sir Hugh Spencer, who, as I heard on many +hands, acted rather on a private quarrel than, as he alleged, in my +interest, and there were many who avowed that the charges brought +against Sir Roland were unfounded. However, this matter must be inquired +into, and my high justiciar shall see Master Giles and his wife, hear +their evidence, and examine the proofs which they may bring forward. As +to the estates, they were granted to Sir Jasper Vernon and cannot be +restored. Nevertheless I doubt not that the youth will carve out for +himself a fortune with his sword. You are his master, I suppose. I would +fain pay you to cancel his apprenticeship. Sir Walter Manny has promised +to enroll him among his esquires." + +"I will cancel his indentures willingly, my liege," the armorer +answered, "and that without payment. The lad has been to me as a son, +and seeing his high spirit, and knowing the gentle blood running in his +veins, I have done my best so to teach him and so to put him in the way +of winning back his father's rank by his sword." + +"He hath gone far toward it already," the king said, "and methinks may +yet gain some share in his father's inheritance," and he glanced at +little Mistress Edith Vernon and then smiled at the queen. "Well, we +shall see," he went on. "Under Sir Walter Manny he will have brave +chances of distinguishing himself, and when my son takes the field, he +shall ride with him. But I am keeping the hosts waiting. Bring hither," +he said to Earl Talbot, "Clarence Aylmer." + +The young noble was led up to the king. "You have done well, Clarence; +though you have been worsted you fought bravely, but you were deceived +by a ruse which might have taken in a more experienced captain. I trust +that you will be friends with your adversary, who will be known to you +henceforth as Walter Somers, son of Sir Roland of that name, and who +will ride to the wars, whither you also are shortly bound, under the +standard of Sir Walter Manny." + +The cloud which had hung over the face of the young noble cleared. It +had indeed been a bitter mortification to him that he, the son of one of +the proudest of English nobles, should have been worsted by a London +apprentice, and it was a relief to him to find that his opponent was one +of knightly blood. He turned frankly to Walter and held out his hand. "I +greet you as a comrade, sir," he said, "and hope some day that in our +rivalry in the field I may do better than I have done to-day." + +"That is well spoken," the king said. Then he rose and in a loud voice +addressed the combatants, saying that all had borne themselves well and +bravely, and that he thanked them, not only for the rare pastime which +they had made, but for the courage and boldness which had been displayed +on both sides. So saying, he waved his hand as a token that the +proceedings were ended, and returned with the court to Westminster; +while the crowd of spectators overflowed the lists, those who had +friends in the apprentice array being anxious to know how they had +fared. That evening there was a banquet given by the lord mayor. Walter +was invited to be present, with Giles and Geoffrey, and many +complimentary things were said to him, and he was congratulated on the +prospects which awaited him. After dinner all the 'prentices who had +taken part in the sports filed through the hall and were each presented +with a gold piece by the lord mayor, in the name of the corporation, for +having so nobly sustained the renown of the city. + +After the entertainment was over Walter returned with Geoffrey to the +bowyer's house, and there heard from his two friends and Bertha the +details of his mother's life from the time that she had been a child, +and the story of her arrival with him, and her death. He had still +difficulty in believing that it was all true, that Giles and Bertha, +whom he had so long regarded as his father and mother, were only his +kind guardians, and that he was the scion of two noble families. Very +warmly and gratefully he thanked his three friends for the kindness +which they had shown to him, and vowed that no change of condition +should ever alter his feelings of affection toward them. It was not +until the late hour of nine o'clock that he said good-by to his +foster-parents, for he was next day to repair to the lodging of Sir +Walter Manny, who was to sail again before the week was out for the Low +Countries, from which he had only returned for a few days to have +private converse with the king on the state of matters there. His +friends would have delivered to him his mother's ring and other tokens +which she had left, but thought it better to keep these, with the other +proofs of his birth, until his claim was established to the satisfaction +of the lord justiciaries. + +The next morning early, when Walter descended the stairs, he found Ralph +Smith waiting for him. His face was strapped up with plaster and he wore +his arm in a sling, for his armor had been twice cut through as he led +his party in through the sally-port. + +"How goes it with you, Ralph?" Walter said. "Not much the worse, I hope, +for your hard knocks?" + +"Not a whit," Ralph replied cheerfully, "and I shall be all right again +before the week is out; but the leech made as much fuss over me as if I +had been a girl, just as though one was not accustomed to hard knocks in +a smithy. Those I got yesterday were not half so hard as that which you +gave me the day before. My head rings yet with the thought of it. But I +have not come to talk about myself. Is the story true which they tell of +you, Master Walter, that you are not the son of Giles the bowyer, but of +a great noble?" + +"Not of a great noble, Ralph, but of a gallant knight, which is just as +good. My father was killed when I was three years old, and my mother +brought me to Bertha, the wife of Giles the bowyer, who had been her +nurse in childhood. I had forgotten all that had passed, and deemed +myself the son of the good citizen, but since I have heard the truth my +memory has awakened somewhat, and I have a dim recollection of a lordly +castle and of my father and mother." + +"And they say, Walter, that you are going with Sir Walter Manny, with +the force which is just sailing to the assistance of Lady de Montford?" + +"That is so, Ralph, and the good knight has taken me among his esquires, +young as I am, although I might well have looked for nothing better than +to commence, for two years at least, as a page, seeing that I am but +eighteen now. Now I shall ride with him into the battles and shall have +as good a chance as the others of gaining honor and winning my spurs." + +"I have made up my mind that I will go with you, Master Walter, if you +will take me; each squire has a man-at-arms who serves him, and I will +give you good and faithful service if you will take me with you. I spoke +to the smith, my master, last night, when I heard the news, and as my +apprenticeship is out next week he was willing enough to give me the few +days which remain. Once out of my apprenticeship I may count to be a +man, and seeing that I am nineteen, and as I may say well grown of my +years, methinks I am fit for service as a man-at-arms, and I would +rather fight behind you than labor all my life in the smithy." + +"I shall be glad indeed, Ralph, to have you with me if such be really +your wish, and I do not think that Sir Walter Manny will say nay, for +they have been beating up for recruits through the kingdom, and we +proved yesterday that you have courage as well as strength. If he will +consent I should be glad indeed to have so brave a comrade with me, so +we may consider that settled, and if you will come down to Westminster, +to Sir Walter Manny's lodging, this afternoon, I will tell you what he +says touching the matter. You will, of course, need arms and armor." + +"I can provide that," Ralph replied, "seeing that his worshipful the +lord mayor bestowed upon me yesterday five gold pieces as the second in +command in the sports. I have already a steel cap and breast and back +pieces, which I have made for myself in hours of leisure, and warrant +will stand as hard a knock as the Frenchmen can give them." + +Going across into the city with Geoffrey, Walter purchased, with the +contents of the purse which the king had given him, the garments suited +for his new position. He was fortunate in obtaining some which fitted +him exactly. These had been made for a young esquire of the Earl of +Salisbury; but the tailor, when he heard from Geoffrey for whom they +were required, and the need for instant dispatch, parted with them to +Walter, saying that he for whom they were made could well wait a few +days, and that he would set his journeymen to work at once to make some +more of similar fit and fashion. + +Walter felt strange in his new attire, and by no means relished the +tightness of the garments, which was strictly demanded by the fashion of +the day. His long hose, one of which was of a deep maroon, the other a +bright yellow, came far up above the knee, then came a short pair of +trunks of similar colors divided in the middle. The tight-fitting +doublet was short and circled at the waist by a buff belt mounted in +silver, and was of the same colors as the hose and trunks. On his head +was a cap, peaked in front; this was of maroon, with a short erect +feather of yellow. The long-pointed shoes matched the rest of the +costume. There were three other suits similar in fashion, but different +in color; two like the first were of cloth, the third was of white and +blue silk, to be worn on grand occasions. + +"You look a very pretty figure, Walter," Geoffrey said, "and will be +able to hold your own among the young gallants of the court. If you lack +somewhat of courtly manners it will matter not at all, since you are +leaving so soon for the wars. The dress sets off your figure, which is +fully two years in advance of your age, seeing that hard work has +widened you out and thickened your muscles. I need not tell you, lad, +not to be quarrelsome, for that was never your way; but just at first +your companions may try some jests with you, as is always the manner of +young men with new-comers, but take them in a good spirit, and be sure +that, seeing the strength of arm and skill which you showed yesterday +and the day before, none will care to push matters with you unduly." + +One of the journeymen accompanied Walter to Westminster to carry up from +the boat the valise with his clothes and the armor which he had worn in +the sports. Sir Walter received the lad with much kindness and +introduced him to his future companions. They were five in number; the +eldest was a man of some thirty years old, a Hainaulter, who had +accompanied Sir Walter Manny to England at the time when the latter +first came over as a young squire in the suit of the Princess Philippa. +He was devotedly attached to the knight, his master, and although he +might several times have received the rank of knighthood for his bravery +in the field, he preferred remaining in his position as esquire and +faithful friend of his master. + +The other four were between the ages of nineteen and twenty-one, and all +belonged to the families of the highest nobility of England, it being +deemed a distinguished honor to be received as a squire by the most +gallant knight at the court of England. Their duties were, as Walter +soon learned, almost nominal, these being discharged almost exclusively +by John Mervaux. Two of the young esquires, Richard Coningsby and Edward +Clifford, had fought in the _melee_, having been among the ten leaders +under Clarence Aylmer. They bore no malice for the defeat, but received +Walter with cordiality and kindness, as did the other young men. Walter +on his arrival acquainted the knight with Ralph's wish to follow him, +and requested permission for him to do so. This was readily granted, Sir +Walter Manny telling the lad that although esquires were supposed to +wait entirely upon themselves, to groom their horses, and keep their +armor and arms bright and in good order, yet, in point of fact, young +men of good families had the greater part of these duties performed for +them by a retainer who rode in the ranks of their master's following as +a man-at-arms. + +"The other esquires have each one of their father's retainers with them, +and I am glad that you should be in the same position. After you have +taken your mid-day meal you had best go across to the Earl of Talbot's +and inquire for the Lady Vernon, who is still staying with him. She told +me at the king's ball last night that she wished to have speech with +you, and I promised to acquaint you with her desire. By the way, dost +know aught of riding?" + +"I have learned to sit on a horse, Sir Walter," the lad answered. "My +good friend Geoffrey, the armorer, advised that I should learn, and +frequently hired from the horse dealer an animal for my use. I have +often backed half-broken horses which were brought up by graziers from +Kent and Sussex for use in the wars. Many of them abode at the hostels +at Southwark, and willingly enough granted me permission to ride their +horses until they were sold. Thus I have had a good deal of practice, +and that of a rough kind; and seeing that latterly the horses have, for +the most part, found it difficult to fling me when sitting barebacked +across them, I think I could keep my seat in the high-peaked saddles on +the most vicious, but I have had no practice at tilting, or at the ring, +or other knightly exercises." + +"That matters not at all," the knight said. "All these knightly +exercises which you speak of are good in time of peace, for they give +proficiency and steadiness, but in time of war he who can sit firmly in +his saddle and wield sword and battle-ax lustily and skillfully is equal +to the best; but never fear, when this expedition is over, and we have +time for such things, I will see that you are instructed in them. One +who has achieved so much martial skill as you have done at so early an +age will have little difficulty in acquiring what may be termed the +pastime of chivalry." + +Ralph arrived just as Walter was setting out. The latter presented him +to the knight, who spoke with praise of the gallantry which he had +displayed on the previous day, and then handed him over to John Mervaux, +with instructions to enroll him as a man-at-arms among his followers, to +inform him of his duties, and to place him with those who attended upon +the other esquires. + +After seeing Ralph disposed of, Walter went across to the Earl of Talbot +and was again conducted to the presence of Dame Vernon. + +"You have changed since we met last, young sir," she said with a smile, +"though it is but a month since. Then you were a 'prentice boy, now you +are an esquire of Sir Walter Manny, and on the highway to distinction. +That you will win it I am well assured, since one who risked his life to +rescue a woman and child whose very names were unknown to him is sure to +turn out a noble and valiant knight. I little thought, when my daughter +called you her knight, that in so short a time you might become an +aspirant to that honor. I hope that you do not look askance at us, now +that you know I am in possession of the lands of your parents. Such +changes of land, you know, often occur, but now I know who you are, I +would that the estates bestowed upon Sir Jasper had belonged to some +other than you; however, I trust that you will hold no grudge against +us, and that you may win as fair an estate by the strength of your arm +and the king's favor." + +"Assuredly I feel no grudge, madam," Walter replied, "and since the +lands were forfeited, I am pleased that of all people they should have +gone to one so kind and so fair as yourself." + +"What, learning to be a flatterer already!" Dame Vernon laughed. "You +are coming on fast, and I predict great things from you. And now, Edith, +lay aside that sampler you are pretending to be so busy upon and speak +to this knight of yours." + +Edith laid down her work and came forward. She was no longer the +dignified little queen of the tournament, but a laughing, bright-faced +girl. + +"I don't see that you are changed," she said, "except in your dress. You +speak softly and naturally, just as you used to do, and not a bit like +those little court fops, Uncle Talbot's pages. I am afraid you will not +be my knight any more, now that you are going to get great honors at the +war; for I heard my Uncle Talbot tell my lady mother that he was sure +you would gain great credit for yourself." + +"I shall be always your knight," Walter said earnestly; "I told you I +should, and I never break my word. That is," he went on, coloring, "if +Dame Vernon makes no objection, as she well might." + +"If I did not object before, Walter," she said, smiling, "why should I +do so now?" + +"It is different, my lady; before, it was somewhat of a jest, a sort of +childish play on the part of Mistress Edith, though so far as I was +concerned it was no play, but sober earnest." + +"It needs no permission from me," Dame Vernon replied, "for you to wear +my daughter's colors. Any knight may proclaim any lady he chooses the +mistress of his heart, and a reigning beauty will often have a dozen +young knights who wear her colors. However, I am well content that one +who has done me such great service and who has shown such high promise +should be the first to wear the gage of my little daughter, and if in +after-years your life fulfills the promise of your youth, and you remain +true to her gage, there is none among all the youths of the court whom I +would so gladly see at her feet. Remember," she said as Walter was about +to speak, "her hand will not be at my disposal, but at that of the king. +His majesty is wont to bestow the hands of his wards upon those who most +distinguish themselves in the field. You have already attracted his +royal attention and commendation. Under Sir Walter Manny you will be +sure of opportunities of distinguishing yourself, and the king may well +be glad some day at once to reward your services and to repair a cruel +injustice by bestowing upon you the hand of the heiress of your father's +lands. If I mistake not, such a thought has even now crossed his +majesty's mind, unless I misinterpreted a glance which yesterday passed +between him and our sweet queen. I need not tell you to speak of your +hopes to none, but let them spur you to higher exertions and nobler +efforts. Loving my little Edith as I do, I naturally consider the prize +to be a high one. I have often been troubled by the thought that her +hand may be some day given to one by years or temper unsuited for her, +and it will be a pleasure to me henceforth to picture her future +connected with one who is, I am sure, by heart and nature fitted for +her. And now, farewell, young sir. May God protect you in the field, and +may you carry in the battle which awaits you the gage of my daughter as +fairly and successfully as you did in the mimic fray of yesterday!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +OFF TO THE WARS. + + +Two days later Walter started with Sir Walter Manny, with a large number +of knights, squires, men-at-arms, and archers, for the Orwell. Walter +was mounted, as were the other squires and men-at-arms, and indeed many +of the archers. Ralph Smith, in the attire of a man-at-arms, rode +behind. + +Walter was in the highest spirits. A brilliant career was open to him +under the most favorable circumstances; he had already distinguished +himself, and had gained the attention of the highest personages in the +realm, his immediate lord was one of the bravest and most chivalrous +knights in Europe, and he had to sustain and encourage him the hopes +that Lady Vernon had given him of regaining some day the patrimony of +his father. It was a satisfaction to him that he was as well born as +those who surrounded him, and his purse was as well lined as any in the +company. Although he had spent the largess which had been bestowed upon +him at the tournament in procuring clothes fitted for his rank, he was +yet abundantly supplied with money, for both Geoffrey Ward and Giles +Fletcher, having no children of their own and being both well-to-do +men, had insisted upon his accepting a sum which would enable him to +make a good appearance with the best. + +A large number of squires followed the banner of Sir Walter Manny. The +records of the time show that the barons were generally accompanied in +the field by almost as many squires as men-at-arms. The former were men +of good family, sons of knights and nobles, aspirants for the honor of +knighthood, and sons of the smaller gentry. Many were there from pure +love of a life of excitement and adventure, others in fulfillment of the +feudal tenure by which all land was then held, each noble and landowner +being obliged to furnish so many knights, squires, men-at-arms, and +archers, in accordance with the size of his holding. The squires fought +in the field in the front rank of the men-at-arms, save those who, like +Walter, were attached to the person of their leader, and who in the +field fought behind him or bore his orders to the companies under his +banner. + +In the field all drew pay, and it may be interesting in the present day +to know what were the rates for which our forefathers risked their +lives. They were as follows: Each horse archer received 6 deniers, each +squire 12 deniers or 1 sol, each knight 2 sols, each knight banneret 4 +sols; 20 sols went to the pound, and although the exact value of money +in those days relative to that which it bears at the present time is +doubtful, it may be placed at twelve times the present value. Therefore +each horse archer received an equivalent to 6_s._ a day, each squire +12_s._, each knight 24_s._, and each knight banneret 48_s._ per day. + +Upon their arrival at the Orwell, where many troops from other parts had +been gathered, the expedition at once embarked on board the numerous +ships which had been collected. As that in which Sir Walter sailed also +carried several of his knights there was not room for all his young +esquires, and Walter and the three other juniors were told off into +another ship. She was a smaller vessel than most of those which composed +the expedition, and only carried twelve men-at-arms and as many archers, +together with the four young squires, and a knight, Sir John Powis, who +was in command of the whole. + +"Your craft is but a small one," the knight said to the captain. + +"She is small, but she is fast," the latter answered. "She would sail +round and round the best part of the fleet. I had her built according to +my own fancy. Small though she be, I warrant you she will be one of the +first to arrive at Hennebon, and the sooner the better say I, since I am +but paid by the trip, and would fain be back again at my regular work. +It pays better carrying merchants' goods between London and Holland than +taking his majesty's troops over to France." + +"Your speed will not be of much avail," Sir John Powis said, "seeing +that the fleet will keep together." + +"Yes, I know that is the order," the captain answered; "but accidents +happen sometimes, you know"--and his eye twinkled. "Vessels get +separated from fleets. If they happen to be slow ones, so much the worse +for those on board; if they happen to be fast ones, so much the better, +seeing that those they carry will arrive long before their comrades, and +may be enabled to gain credit and renown while the others are whistling +for a wind in mid-ocean. However, we shall see." + +The next morning the fleet sailed from the Orwell. It contained 620 +men-at-arms, among whom were many of the noblest and bravest of the +country, and 6,000 picked archers in the pay of the king. The whole were +commanded by Sir Walter. The scene was a very gay one. The banners of +the nobles and knights floated from the lofty poops, and the sun shone +on bright armor and steel weapons. Walter, who had never seen the sea +before, was delighted. The wind was fair, and the vessels glided +smoothly along over the sea. At evening the knight and his four young +companions gathered in the little cabin, for it was in the first week in +March, and the night was cold. + +"Will you please tell me, Sir John," Walter said to the knight, "the +merits of this quarrel in which we are going to fight? I know that we +are going in aid of the Countess of Montford; but why she is in a sore +strait I know not." + +"The matter is a mixed one, Walter, and it requires a herald to tell you +all the subtleties of it. John III., Duke of Brittany, was present with +his liege lord, Philip of Valois, in the last war with England, on the +border of the Low Country. When the English retired from before Tournay +Philip dismissed his nobles. The Duke of Burgundy was taken ill, and +died at Caen, in Normandy, on the 30th of April, 1341. Arthur II., his +father, had been twice married. By his first wife he had three sons, +John, Guy, and Peter. John and Peter left no issue. Guy, who is also +dead, left a daughter, Joan. By his second wife, Jolande de Dieux, Duke +Arthur had one son, John, Count of Montford. Thus it happened that when +Duke John died his half-brother, the Count of Montford, and Joan, +daughter of his second brother Guy, were all that survived of the +family. These were the rival claimants for the vacant dukedom. In +England we have but one law of succession, which rules through the whole +land. In France it is different. There the law of succession depends +entirely upon the custom of the county, dukedom, or lordship, which is +further affected both by the form of grant by which the territory was +conveyed to its first feudal possessors and by the mode in which the +province had been acquired by the kings of France. This is important, as +upon these circumstances alone it depended whether the son or the +granddaughter of Arthur II. should inherit the dukedom. + +"Joan claimed the duchy as the daughter of the elder brother. The Salic +law of France, which barred females from the right of succession, and +in virtue of which Philip of Valois succeeded to the throne instead of +King Edward, certainly did not obtain in Brittany. Duke John regarded +Joan as his heiress, and married her to Charles of Blois, nephew of the +King of France, thus strengthening her in her position; and he also +induced the provincial parliament of Brittany to acknowledge her husband +as his successor in the dukedom. Altogether it would seem that right is +upon Joan's side; but, on the other hand, the Count of Montford is the +son of Jolande, a great heiress in Brittany. He is an active and +energetic noble. The Bretons love not too close a connection with +France, and assuredly prefer to be ruled by a duke whom they regard as +one of themselves rather than by Charles of Blois, nephew of the French +king. Directly Duke John was dead the Count of Montford claimed the +inheritance. Assuming the title of duke he rode to Nantes, where the +citizens did him homage, and then proceeded to Limoges with a large +train of men-at-arms, and there took possession of the immense treasures +which the late duke had accumulated in the course of a long and tranquil +reign. With these sinews of war at his command he returned to Nantes, +where he had left his wife the countess, who was a sister of the Count +of Flanders. He immediately invited the nobility of Brittany to a grand +banquet, but only one knight of any renown presented himself at the +feast, the rest all holding aloof. With the wealth of which he had +possessed himself he levied large forces and took the field. He first +marched against Brest, where the garrison, commanded by Walter de +Clisson, refused to acknowledge him. After three days' hard fighting the +place was taken. Rennes was next besieged, and presently surrendered. +Other towns fell into his hands, and so far as Brittany was concerned +all opposition, except in one or two fortresses, ceased. In the mean +while Charles of Blois sought assistance from his uncle the King of +France; the Count de Montford, therefore, crossed to England and +besought the aid of King Edward, and did homage to him as King of +France. Edward, on his part, promised to assist him. The fact that +Philip was sure to espouse the opposite side was in itself sufficient to +decide him; besides which, the dukes of Brittany have always been in a +special way connected with England and bear the English title of Earl of +Richmond. + +"Believing that his journey, which had been a secret one, was unknown to +the King of France, De Montford went boldly to Paris, where he had been +summoned by the king to an assembly of peers called to decide upon the +succession. He found, however, that Philip had already obtained news of +his journey to England. His manner convinced De Montford that it was +unsafe to remain in Paris, and he secretly made his escape. Fifteen days +afterward the peers gave judgment in favor of Charles of Blois. The +Dukes of Normandy, Burgundy, and Bourbon, the Counts of Alencon, Eu, and +Guisnes, and many other French nobles, prepared to lead an army into +the field to support Charles, and the king added a body of 3,000 Genoese +mercenaries in his pay. + +"Knowing the storm that was preparing to break upon him, De Montford put +every town and castle in a state of defense. He himself, confiding in +the affection of the inhabitants of Nantes, remained in that city, while +his wife repaired to Rennes. + +"The Duke of Normandy advanced from Angiers with an army of 5,000 +men-at-arms and a numerous infantry, and after capturing the castle of +Chantoceaux marched to Nantes and laid siege to the city. A sortie was +made by the besieged, led by Henry de Leon, but, being attacked by the +whole of the French army, they were driven back into the town, a great +many of the citizens being killed. A warm altercation took place between +Henry de Leon and De Montford, who attributed to him the evil result of +the sortie. The result was that a large number of the citizens whose +friends had been captured by the French conspired to deliver up the +place to Charles of Blois, and Henry de Leon also entered into private +negotiations with the Duke of Normandy. De Montford, finding that he +could rely neither upon the citizens nor the soldiers, surrendered to +the duke on condition that his life was spared. He was sent to Paris, +where he still remains a prisoner. Winter was coming on, and after +putting Nantes in a fresh state of defense and leaving Charles of Blois +there, the Duke of Normandy dismissed his forces, engaging them to +reassemble in the spring. Had he pushed on at once he would have +experienced no resistance, so great was the panic which the surrender of +Nantes and the capture of De Montford had caused among the latter's +partisans. + +"In Rennes especially the deepest despondency was felt. The countess, +however, showed the greatest courage and firmness. Showing herself, with +her infant in her arms, she appealed to the citizens, and by her +courageous bearing inspired them with new hopes. Having restored heart +at Rennes she traveled from garrison to garrison throughout the +province, and filled all with vigor and resolution. Feeling, however, +the hopelessness of her struggle against all France, she dispatched Sir +Almeric de Clisson, who had lately joined her party, to England, to ask +the aid which the king had promised. He arrived a month since, and, as +you see, our brave king has not been long in dispatching us to her aid; +and now, youngsters, to bed, for methinks that the sea is rougher than +it was and that the wind is getting up." + +"Ay, that is it," the captain, who heard the knight's closing words, +exclaimed. "We are in for a storm, and a heavy one, or my name is not +Timothy Martin, and though with plenty of sea-room the Kitty makes not +much ado about a storm more or less, it's a very different thing in the +middle of a fleet of lubberly craft, which may run one down at any time. +I shall edge out of them as soon as I can, you may be sure." + +Before morning a serious gale was blowing, and for the next three or +four days Walter and his companions knew nothing of what was going on. +Then the storm abated, and they staggered out from their cabin. The sea +was still high, but the sun shone brightly overhead. In front of them +the land was visible. They looked round, but to their astonishment not a +sail was in sight. + +"Why, where is the fleet?" Walter exclaimed in astonishment. + +"Snug in the Thames, I reckon," the captain said. "Soon after the storm +came on one of the sailors pretended he saw the lights of recall on the +admiral's ship; but I was too busy to look that way; I had enough to do +to look after the safety of the ship. Anyhow, I saw no more of them." + +"And what land is that ahead?" Walter asked. + +"That is Brittany, young sir, and before nightfall we shall be in the +port of Hennebon; as to the others, it may be days and it may be weeks +before they arrive." + +The lads were not sorry at the chance which had taken them to their +destination before their companions and had given them a chance of +distinguishing themselves. Late in the afternoon the ship dropped anchor +off the castle of Hennebon, and Sir John Powis and his following were +conveyed in the ship's boats to shore. The countess received them most +graciously, and was delighted at the news that so strong a force was on +its way to her aid. + +"In the absence of Sir Walter Manny, madam, I place myself and my men at +your orders. Our horses will be landed the first thing in the morning, +and we will then ride whithersoever you may bid us." + +"Thanks, Sir John," the countess replied. "In that case I would that you +ride by Rennes, toward which the army of the Duke of Normandy is already +advancing. The garrison there is commanded by Sir William of Caddoudal, +a good and valiant knight." + +The horses were landed on the following morning, and accompanied by the +four young squires and the men-at-arms, and followed by the twenty +archers on foot, Sir John Powis set out for Rennes. They arrived there, +but just in time, for the assailants were closing round the city. They +were received with the greatest cordiality by the governor, who assigned +apartments to Sir John and the squires, and lodged the men-at-arms and +archers near them. + +In a day or two the whole of the French army came up, and the siege +commenced. Sir John Powis, his own request, was posted with his men for +the defense of a portion of the wall which was especially open to the +assaults of the enemy. These soon commenced in earnest, and the Genoese +and Spanish mercenaries endeavored to carry the place by assault. +Sometimes one point would be attacked, at others points far distant. +Covered by the fire of the French cross-bowmen, the Spaniards and +Germans came on to the assault, carrying ladders, with which they +strove to climb the walls, but the defenders plied them so vigorously +with quarrels from their cross-bows and flights of arrows that they +frequently desisted before reaching the walls. When they pushed on, and +strove to ascend, their luck was no better. Great stones were hurled +down, and boiling oil poured upon them. The ladders were flung back, and +many crushed by the fall, and in none of the assaults did they gain any +footing in the town. Machines were used, but these were not sufficiently +powerful to batter down the walls, and at the end of April the city was +as far from being captured as it was on the day of the commencement of +the siege. + +Walter bore his full share in the fighting, but he had no opportunity of +especially distinguishing himself, although Sir John several times +commended him for his coolness when the bolts of the cross-bowmen and +the stones from the machines were flying most thickly. But although as +yet uninjured by the enemy's attacks, the prospect of the city holding +out was not bright. The burghers, who had at first fought valiantly, +were soon wearied of the strife, and of the hardships it entailed upon +them. The siege had continued but a short time when they began to murmur +loudly. The force under the command of the governor was but a small one, +and it would have been impossible for him to resist the will of the +whole population. For a time his exhortations and entreaties were +attended with success, and the burghers returned to their positions on +the walls; but each time the difficulty became greater, and it was clear +to Caddoudal and Sir John Powis that ere long the citizens would +surrender the place in spite of them. The English knight was furious at +the cowardliness of the citizens, and proposed to the governor to summon +twenty of the leading burghers, and to hang them as a lesson to the +others; but the governor shook his head. + +"I have but two hundred men on whom I can rely, including your +following, Sir John. We could not keep down the inhabitants for an hour; +and were we to try to do so, they would open the gates and let in the +French. No; I fear that we must await the end." + +The following morning Sir John was awoke with the news that in the night +Caddoudal had been seized and thrown into prison by the burghers, and +that a deputation of citizens had already gone out through the gate to +treat with the Duke of Normandy for the surrender of the city. + +The English knight was furious, but with his little band he could do +nothing, especially as he found that a strong guard of burghers had been +placed at the door of the apartments occupied by him and the esquires, +and he was informed that he must consider himself a prisoner until the +conclusion of the negotiations. + +Cowardly and faithless as the burghers of Rennes showed themselves to +be, they nevertheless stipulated with the Duke of Normandy, as one of +the conditions of the surrender, that Caddoudal, Sir John Powis, and +the troops under them should be permitted to pass through the French +lines and go whithersoever they would. These terms were accepted. At +mid-day the governor was released, and he with his men-at-arms and the +band of Englishmen filed out from the city gate, and took their way +unmolested through the lines of the French army to Hennebon. + +They had been for a month in ignorance of all that had passed outside +the walls, and had from day to day been eagerly looking for the arrival +of Sir Walter Manny with his army to their relief. Once past the French +lines they inquired of the peasantry, and heard to their surprise that +the English fleet had not yet arrived. + +"We were in luck indeed," Walter said to his companions, "that Captain +Timothy Martin was in a hurry to get back to his tradings with the +Flemings. Had he not been so we should all this time have been kicking +our heels and fretting on board a ship." + +On nearing Hennebon, Sir William Caddoudal, with Sir John Powis and the +squires, rode forward and met the countess. They were the first bearers +of the news of the surrender of Rennes, and the countess was filled with +consternation at the intelligence. However, after her first burst of +indignation and regret had passed, she put a brave face on it. + +"They shall meet with another reception at Hennebon," she said. "This +is but a small place, and my garrison here, and the soldiers you have +brought, will well-nigh outnumber the burghers; and we need have no fear +of such faint-heartedness as that which has given Nantes and Rennes into +the hands of my enemy. The English aid cannot tarry long. Until it come +we can assuredly hold the place." + +All was now bustle in Hennebon. Sir John Powis took charge of a part of +the walls, and busied himself with his men in placing the machines in +position, and in preparing for defense. The countess, attired in armor, +rode through the streets haranguing the townspeople. She urged the men +to fight till the last, and bade the women and girls cut short their +dresses so that they could the better climb the steps to the top of the +walls, and that one and all should carry up stones, chalk, and baskets +of lime to be cast down upon the assailants. Animated by her words and +gestures, the townspeople set to work, and all vied with each other, +from the oldest to the youngest, in carrying up stores of missiles to +the walls. Never did Hennebon present such a scene of life and bustle. +It seemed like an ant-hill which a passer-by has disturbed. + +Absorbed in their work, none had time to think of the dangers which +threatened them, and a stranger would rather have thought from their +cheerful and animated countenances that they were preparing for a great +_fete_ than for a siege by an army to which the two chief towns in +Brittany had succumbed. + +[Illustration: THE CITIZENS PREPARE TO DEFEND HENNEBON.--Page 140.] + +Ere long the French army was seen approaching. The soldiers, who had +been laboring with the rest, buckled on their armor. The citizens +gathered on the walls to hurl down the piles of stones which had been +collected, and all prepared for the assault. + +"Sir John Powis," the countess said, "I pray you to grant me one of your +esquires, who may attend me while I ride about, and may bear my messages +for me. He will not be idle, nor will he escape his share of the +dangers; for, believe me, I do not intend to hide myself while you and +your brave soldiers are fighting for me." + +"Willingly, lady," Sir John answered. "Here is Walter Somers, the son of +a good knight, and himself brave and prudent beyond his years; he will, +I am sure, gladly devote himself to your service." + +The French, encouraged by their successes, thought that it would be a +comparatively easy task to capture so small a place as Hennebon, and as +soon as their camp was pitched they moved forward to the attack. + +"Come with me, Master Somers," the countess said. "I will mount to one +of the watch-towers, where we may see all that passes." + +Walter followed her, and marveled to see the lightness and agility with +which the heroic countess, although clad in armor, mounted the rickety +ladders to the summit of the watch-tower. The French were pressing +forward to the assault; their cross-bowmen opened a heavy fire upon the +walls, which was answered by the shafts of the little party of English +bowmen. These did much execution, for the English archers shot far +harder and straighter than those of France, and it was only the best +armor which could keep out their cloth-yard shafts. So small a body, +however, could not check the advance of so large a force, and the French +swarmed up to the very foot of the walls. + +"Well done, my men!" the countess exclaimed, clapping her hands as a +shower of heavy rocks fell among the mass of the assailants, who were +striving to plant their ladders, crushing many in their fall; "but you +are not looking, Master Somers. What is it that you see in yonder camp +to withdraw your attention from such a fight?" + +"I am thinking, countess, that the French have left their camp +altogether unguarded, and that if a body of horse could make a circuit +and fall upon it, the camp, with all its stores, might be destroyed +before they could get back to save it." + +"You are right, young sir," the countess exclaimed, "and it shall be +done forthwith." + +So saying, she descended the stairs rapidly and mounted her horse, which +stood at the foot of the tower; then riding through the town, she +collected a party of about three hundred men, bidding all she met mount +their horses and join her at the gate on the opposite side to that on +which the assault was taking place. Such as had no horses she ordered to +take them from those in her own stables. Walter was mounted on one of +the best of the count's chargers. Immediately the force was collected, +the gate was opened and the countess rode forth at their head. Making a +considerable _detour_, the party rode without being observed into the +rear of the French camp. Here only a few servants and horse-boys were +found; these were at once killed or driven out; then all dismounting, +set fire to the tents and stores; and ere the French were aware of what +was going on, the whole of their camp was in flames. As soon as the +conflagration was perceived, the French commanders drew off their men +from the attack, and all ran at full speed toward the camp. + +"We cannot regain the town," the countess said; "we will ride to Auray +at full speed, and reenter the castle when best we may." + +Don Louis of Spain, who with a considerable following was fighting in +the French ranks, hearing from the flying camp-followers that the +countess herself was at the head of the party which had destroyed the +camp, instantly mounted, and with a large number of horsemen set off in +hot pursuit. A few of the countess' party who were badly mounted were +overtaken and slain, but the rest arrived safely at Auray, when the +gates were shut in the face of their pursuers. + +The blow was a heavy one for the besiegers, but they at once proceeded +to build huts, showing that they had no intention of relinquishing the +siege. Spies were sent from Auray, and these reported that the new camp +was established on the site of the old one, and that the French +evidently intended to renew the attack upon the side on which they had +first commenced, leaving the other side almost unwatched. + +Accordingly, on the fifth day after leaving the town the countess +prepared to return. Except Walter, none were informed of her intention, +as she feared that news might be taken to the French camp by friends of +Charles of Blois; but as soon as it was nightfall, and the gates were +shut, the trumpet sounded to horse. In a few minutes the troop assembled +in the market-place, and the countess, accompanied by Walter, placing +herself at their head, rode out from the town. The strictest silence was +observed. On nearing the town all were directed to dismount, to tear up +the horse-cloths, and to muffle the feet of their horses. Then the +journey was resumed, and so careless was the watch kept by the French +that they passed through the sentries unobserved, and reached in safety +the gate from which they had issued. As they neared it they were +challenged from the walls, and a shout of joy was heard when Walter +replied that the countess herself was present. The gates were opened and +the party entered. The news of their return rapidly ran through the +town, and the inhabitants, hastily attiring themselves, ran into the +streets, filled with joy. Much depression had been felt during her +absence, and few had entertained hopes that she would be able to reenter +the town. She had brought with her from Auray two hundred men, in +addition to the party that had sallied out. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE SIEGE OF HENNEBON. + + +The besiegers of Hennebon were greatly discouraged at the success of the +enterprise of the countess. They had already attempted several desperate +assaults, but had each time been repulsed with very heavy loss. They now +sent to Rennes for twelve of the immense machines used in battering +walls, which had been left behind there on a false report of the +weakness of Hennebon. Pending the arrival of these, Charles of Blois +with one division of the army marched away to attack Auray, leaving Don +Louis to carry on the siege with a force considered amply sufficient to +compel its surrender after the arrival of the battering machines. + +In a few days these arrived and were speedily set to work, and immense +masses of stone were hurled at the walls. + +Walter continued to act as the countess' especial squire. She had +informed Sir William Caddoudal and Sir John Powis that it was at his +suggestion that she had made the sudden attack upon the French camp, and +he had gained great credit thereby. + +The effect of the new machines was speedily visible. The walls crumbled +under the tremendous blows, and although the archers harassed by their +arrows the men working them, the French speedily erected screens which +sheltered them from their fire. The spirits of the defenders began to +sink rapidly, as they saw that in a very short time great breaches would +be made in the walls, and that all the horrors and disasters of a city +taken by assault awaited them. The Bishop of Quimper, who was within the +walls, entered into secret negotiations with his nephew, Henry de Leon, +who had gone over to the enemy after the surrender of Nantes, and was +now with the besieging army. The besiegers, delighted to find an ally +within the walls who might save them from the heavy losses which an +assault would entail upon them, at once embraced his offers, and +promised him a large recompense if he would bring over the other +commanders and nobles. The wily bishop set to work, and the consequences +were soon visible. Open grumbling broke forth at the hardships which +were endured, and at the prospect of the wholesale slaughter which would +attend a storm when all hope of a successful resistance was at an end. + +"I fear, Walter," Sir John said one morning, "that the end is at hand. +On all sides submission is spoken of, and all that I can say to keep up +their spirits is useless. Upon our own little band we can rely, but I +doubt if outside them a single determined man is to be found in the +town. In vain do I speak of the arrival of Sir Walter Manny. Nearly +ninety days have elapsed since we sailed, and all hope of his coming is +gone. I point out to them that contrary winds have been blowing, and +that at any moment he may arrive; but they will not hear me. The bishop +has gained over the whole of them by his promises that none shall be +molested in property or estate should they surrender." + +"It is sad to see the countess," Walter replied; "she who has shown such +high spirit throughout the siege now does nothing but weep, for she +knows that with her and her child in the hands of the French the cause +of the count is lost. If she could carry off the child by sea she would +not so much care for the fall of the town, but the French ships lie +thick round the port, and there is no hope of breaking through." + +Two days later the conspiracy came to a head, and the people, assembling +round the countess' house, clamored for surrender. The breaches were +open and the enemy might pour in at any time and put all to the sword. +The countess begged for a little further delay, but in vain, and +withdrew to the turret where she had for so many weary weeks watched the +horizon, in hopes of seeing the sails of the approaching fleet. Walter +was at the time with Sir John Powis on the walls. Presently a large body +of French were seen approaching headed by Henry de Leon, who summoned +the town to surrender. Many standing on the walls shouted that the gates +should be thrown open; but Sir John returned for answer that he must +consult the countess, and that upon her answer must depend whether he +and his men would defend the breach until the last. + +"Come with me, Walter," he said, "we must fain persuade the countess. If +she says no, we Englishmen will die in the breach; but though ready to +give my life for so brave a lady, I own that it is useless to fight +longer. Save our own little band not one in the town will lift a sword +again. Such resistance as we can offer will but inflame them to fury, +and all the horrors of a sack will be inflicted upon the inhabitants. +There she is, poor lady, on the turret, gazing, as usual, seaward." + +Suddenly they saw her throw up her arms, and then turning toward the +city she cried as she perceived the English knight, "I see them! I see +them! The English fleet are coming!" + +"Run up, Walter," Sir John exclaimed, "maybe the countess is distraught +with her sorrows." + +Walter dashed up to the turret, and looking seaward beheld rising over +the horizon a number of masts. + +"Hurrah! Sir John," he shouted, "we are saved, the English fleet is in +sight." + +Many others heard the shout, and the tidings ran like lightning through +the town. In wild excitement the people ran to the battlements and +roofs, and with cheering and clapping of hands hailed the appearance of +the still far-distant fleet. The church bells rang out joyfully and the +whole town was wild with excitement. + +The Bishop of Quimper, finding that his plans were frustrated, gathered +around him some of those who had taken a leading part in the intrigue. +These, leaving the city by a gate at which they had placed some of their +own faction to open it to the French, issued out and made their way to +the assailants' camp, to give news of the altered situation. Don Louis +at once ordered an attack to be made with his whole force, in hopes of +capturing the place before the arrival of the English succor. But, +animated by their new hopes, those so lately despondent and ready to +yield manned the breaches and repulsed with great slaughter all attempts +on the part of the French to carry them. While the struggle was still +going on, the countess, aided by the wives of the burghers, busied +herself in preparing a sumptuous feast in honor of her deliverers who +were fast approaching, their ships impelled by a strong and favorable +breeze. The vessels of the French hastily drew off, and the English +fleet sailed into the port hailed by the cheers of the inhabitants. The +countess herself received Sir Walter Manny on his landing, and the +townspeople vied with each other in offering hospitality to the +men-at-arms and archers. + +"Ah! Sir John Powis," Sir Walter exclaimed, "what, are you here? I had +given you up for lost. We thought you had gone down in the gale the +night you started." + +"We were separated from the fleet, Sir Walter, but the master held on, +and we arrived here four days after we put out. We took part in the +siege of Rennes, and have since done our best to aid the countess here." + +"And their best has been much," the countess said; "not to say how +bravely they have fought upon the walls, it is to Sir John and his +little band that I owe it that the town was not surrendered days ago. +They alone remained steadfast when all others fell away, and it is due +to them that I am still able, as mistress of this town, to greet you on +your arrival. Next to Sir John himself, my thanks are due to your young +esquire, Walter Somers, who has cheered and stood by me, and to whose +suggestions I owe it that I was able at the first to sally out and +destroy the French camp while they were attacking the walls, and so +greatly hindered their measures against the town. And now, sir, will you +follow me? I have prepared for you and your knights such a banquet of +welcome as our poor means will allow, and my townspeople will see that +good fare is set before your soldiers." + +That evening there was high feasting in the town, although the crash of +the heavy stones cast by the French machines against the walls never +ceased. Early the next morning Sir Walter Manny made a survey of the +place and of the disposition of the enemy, and proposed to his knights +to sally forth at once and destroy the largest of the enemy's machines, +which had been brought up close to the walls. In a few minutes the +knights were armed and mounted. Three hundred knights and esquires were +to take part in the sortie; they were to be followed by a strong body of +men-at-arms. + +As soon as the gates were opened a number of archers issued out, and +taking their place at the edge of the moat, poured a rain of arrows upon +the men working the machine and those guarding it. Most of these took to +flight at once; the remainder were cut down by the men-at-arms, who at +once proceeded to hew the machine in pieces with the axes with which +they were provided. Sir Walter himself and his mounted companions dashed +forward to the nearer tents of the French camps, cut down all who +opposed them, and setting fire to the huts retired toward the city. + +By this time the French were thoroughly alarmed, and numbers of knights +and men-at-arms dashed after the little body of English cavalry. These +could have regained the place in safety, but in the chivalrous spirit of +the time they disdained to retire without striking a blow. Turning their +horses, therefore, and laying their lances in rest, they charged the +pursuing French. + +For a few minutes the conflict was desperate and many on both sides were +overthrown; then, as large reenforcements were continually arriving to +the French, Sir Walter called off his men and retired slowly. On +reaching the moat he halted his forces. The knights wheeled and +presented a firm face to the enemy, covering the entrance of their +followers into the gate. The French chivalry thundered down upon the +little body, but were met by a storm of arrows from the archers lining +the moat. Many knights were struck through the bars of their vizors or +the joints of their mail. The horses, though defended by iron trappings, +fell dead under them, or, maddened by pain, dashed wildly through the +ranks, carrying confusion with them, and the French commanders, seeing +how heavy were their losses, called off their men from the assault. Sir +Walter Manny with his party remained without the gate until the enemy +had reentered their camp, and then rode into the town amid the +acclamations of the inhabitants, the countess herself meeting her +deliverers at the gate and kissing each, one after the other, in token +of her gratitude and admiration. + +The arrival of the reenforcements and the proof of skill and vigor given +by the English leader, together with the terror caused by the terrible +effect of the English arrows, shook the resolution of Don Louis and his +troops. Deprived of half their force by the absence of Charles of Blois, +it was thought prudent by the leaders to withdraw at once, and the third +morning after the arrival of Sir Walter Manny the siege was raised, and +the French marched to join Charles of Blois before the castle of Auray. + +Even with the reenforcements brought by Sir Walter Manny, the forces of +the Countess of Montford were still so greatly inferior to those of the +divisions of the French army that they could not hope to cope with them +in the field until the arrival of the main English army, which the King +of England himself was to bring over shortly. Accordingly the French +laid siege to and captured many small towns and castles. Charles of +Blois continued the siege of Auray, and directed Don Louis with his +division to attack the town of Dinan. On his way the Spaniard captured +the small fortress of Conquet and put the garrison to the sword. Sir +Walter Manny, in spite of the inferiority of his force, sallied out to +relieve it, but it was taken before his arrival, and Don Louis had +marched away to Dinan, leaving a small garrison in Conquet. It was again +captured by Sir Walter, but finding it indefensible he returned with the +whole of his force to Hennebon. Don Louis captured Dinan and then +besieged Guerande. Here he met with a vigorous resistance, but carried +it by storm, and gave it up to be pillaged by his soldiers. He now sent +back to Charles of Blois the greater part of the French troops who +accompanied him, and embarked with the Genoese and Spanish, 8,000 in +number, and sailed to Quimperle, a rich and populous town in Lower +Brittany. + +Anchoring in the River Leita he disembarked his troops, and leaving a +guard to protect the vessels marched to the interior, plundering and +burning, and from time to time dispatching his booty to swell the +immense mass which he brought in his ships from the sack of Guerande. + +Quimperle lies but a short distance from Hennebon, and Sir Walter Manny +with Almeric de Clisson, a number of English knights, and a body of +English archers, in all three thousand men, embarked in the ships in +the port, and entering the Leita captured the enemy's fleet and all his +treasure. The English then landed, and dividing into three bodies, set +out in search of the enemy. + +The English columns marched at a short distance apart so as to be able +to give each other assistance in case of attack. The news of the English +approach soon reached the Spaniards, who were gathered in a solid body, +for the enraged country people, armed with clubs and bills, hung on +their flanks and cut off any stragglers who left the main body. Don +Louis at once moved toward the sea-coast, and coming in sight of one of +the English divisions, charged it with his whole force. + +The English fought desperately, but the odds of seven to one were too +great, and they would have been overpowered had not the other two +divisions arrived on the spot and fallen upon the enemy's flanks. After +a severe and prolonged struggle the Genoese and Spaniards were +completely routed. The armed peasantry slew every fugitive they could +overtake, and of the 7,000 men with whom Don Louis commenced the battle +only 300 accompanied him in his flight to Rennes, the troops of Sir +Walter and De Clisson pursuing him to the very gates of that city. Sir +Walter marched back with his force to the ships, but finding the wind +unfavorable returned to Hennebon by land, capturing by the way the +castle of Goy la Foret. Their return was joyfully welcomed, not only for +the victory which they had achieved, but because the enemy was again +drawing near to the town. Auray had fallen. The brave garrison, after +existing for some time upon the flesh of their horses, had endeavored to +cut their way through the besiegers. Most of them were killed in the +attempt, but a few escaped and made their way to Hennebon. + +Vannes, an important town, and Carhaix quickly surrendered, and the +French force was daily receiving considerable reenforcements. This arose +from the fact that large numbers of French nobles and knights had, with +their followers, taken part with Alfonso, King of Castile and Leon, in +his war with the Moors. This had just terminated with the expulsion of +the latter from Spain, and the French knights and nobles on their way +home for the most part joined at once in the war which their countrymen +were waging in Bretagne. + +Seeing the great force which was gathering for a fresh siege of +Hennebon, Sir Walter Manny and the Countess of Montford sent an urgent +message to King Edward for further support. The king was not yet ready, +but at the beginning of August he dispatched a force under the command +of the Earl of Northampton and Robert of Artois. It consisted of +twenty-seven knights bannerets and 2,000 men-at-arms. Before, however, +it could reach Hennebon the second siege of that city had begun. Charles +of Blois had approached it with a far larger army than that with which +he had on the first occasion sat down before it. Hennebon was, however, +much better prepared than at first for resistance. The walls had been +repaired, provisions and military stores laid up, and machines +constructed. The garrison was very much larger, and was commanded by one +of the most gallant knights of the age, and the citizens beheld +undaunted the approach of the great French army. + +Four days after the French had arrived before Hennebon they were joined +by Don Louis, who had been severely wounded in the fight near Quimperle, +and had lain for six weeks at Rennes. Sixteen great engines at once +began to cast stones against the walls, but Sir Walter caused sand-bags +to be lowered, and so protected the walls from the attack that little +damage was done. The garrison, confident in their powers to resist, +taunted the assailants from the walls, and specially enraged the +Spaniards and Don Louis by allusions to the defeat at Quimperle. + +So furious did the Spanish prince become that he took a step +unprecedented in those days of chivalry. He one morning entered the tent +of Charles of Blois, where a number of French nobles were gathered, and +demanded a boon in requital of all his services. Charles at once +assented, when, to his surprise and horror, Prince Louis demanded that +two English knights, Sir John Butler and Sir Hubert Frisnoy, who had +been captured in the course of the campaign and were kept prisoners at +Faouet, should be delivered to him to be executed. "These English," he +said, "have pursued, discomforted, and wounded me, and have killed the +nephew whom I loved so well, and as I have none other mode of vengeance +I will cut off their heads before their companions who lie within those +walls." + +Charles of Blois and his nobles were struck with amazement and horror at +the demand, and used every means in their power to turn the savage +prince from his purpose, but in vain. They pointed out to him that his +name would be dishonored in all countries where the laws of chivalry +prevailed by such a deed, and besought him to choose some other boon. +Don Louis refused to yield, and Charles of Blois, finding no alternative +between breaking his promise and delivering his prisoners, at last +agreed to his request. + +The prisoners were sent for, and were informed by Don Louis himself of +their approaching end. At first they could not believe that he was in +earnest, for such a proceeding was so utterly opposed to the spirit of +the times that it seemed impossible to them. Finding that he was in +earnest they warned him of the eternal stain which such a deed would +bring upon his name. The Spaniard, however, was unmoved either by their +words or by the entreaties of the French nobles, but told them that he +would give them a few hours to prepare for death, and that they should +be executed in sight of the walls after the usual dinner hour of the +army. + +In those days sieges were not conducted in the strict manner in which +they are at present, and non-combatants passed without difficulty to and +fro between town and camp. The news, therefore, of what was intended +speedily reached the garrison, whom it filled with indignation and +horror. A council was immediately called, and Sir Walter Manny proposed +a plan, which was instantly adopted. + +Without loss of time Almeric de Clisson issued forth from the great gate +of Hennebon, accompanied by 300 men-at-arms and 1,000 archers. The +latter took post at once along the edge of the ditches. The men-at-arms +rode straight for the enemy's camp, which was undefended, the whole army +being within their tents at dinner. Dashing into their midst the English +and Breton men-at-arms began to overthrow the tents and to spear all +that were in them. Not knowing the extent of the danger or the smallness +of the attacking force, the French knights sprang up from table, +mounted, and rode to encounter the assailants. + +For some time these maintained their ground against all assaults until, +finding that the whole army was upon them, Almeric de Clisson gave order +for his troop to retire slowly upon the town. Fighting every step of the +ground and resisting obstinately the repeated onslaught of the French, +Clisson approached the gate. Here he was joined by the archers, who with +bent bows prepared to resist the advance of the French. As it now +appeared that the garrison were prepared to give battle outside the +walls, the whole French army prepared to move against them. + +In the mean time Sir Walter Manny, with 100 men-at-arms and 500 horse +archers, issued by a sally-port on the other side of the town, and with +all speed rode round to the rear of the French camp. There he found none +to oppose him save servants and camp-followers, and making his way +straight to the tent of Charles of Blois, where the two knights were +confined, he soon freed them from their bonds. They were mounted without +wasting a moment's time upon two spare horses, and turning again the +whole party rode back toward Hennebon, and had reached the postern gate +before the fugitives from the camp reached the French commanders and +told them what had happened. + +Seeing that he was now too late, because of De Clisson's sortie, Charles +of Blois recalled his army from the attack, in which he could only have +suffered heavily from the arrows of the archers and the missiles from +the walls. The same day, he learned from some prisoners captured in the +sortie, of the undiminished spirit of the garrison, and that Hennebon +was amply supplied by provisions brought by sea. His own army was +becoming straitened by the scarcity of supplies in the country round; he +therefore determined at once to raise the siege, and to besiege some +place where he would encounter less serious resistance. + +Accordingly next morning he drew off his army and marched to Carhaix. + +Shortly afterward the news came that the Earl of Northampton and Robert +of Artois, with their force, had sailed, and Don Louis, with the Genoese +and other Italian mercenaries, started to intercept them with a large +fleet. The fleets met off the island of Guernsey, and a severe +engagement took place, which lasted till night. During the darkness a +tremendous storm burst upon them and the combatants separated. The +English succeeded in making their way to Brittany and landed near +Vannes. The Spaniards captured four small ships which had been separated +in the storm from their consorts, but did not succeed in regaining the +coast of Brittany, being driven south by the storm as far as Spain. The +Earl of Northampton at once laid siege to Vannes, and Sir Walter Manny +moved with every man that could be spared from Hennebon to assist him. + +As it was certain that the French army would press forward with all +speed to relieve the town, it was decided to lose no time in battering +the walls, but to attempt to carry it at once by assault. The walls, +however, were so strong that there seemed little prospect of success +attending such an attempt, and a plan was therefore determined upon by +which the enemy might be thrown off their guard. The assault commenced +at three points in the early morning and was continued all day. No great +vigor, however, was shown in these attempts, which were repulsed at all +points. + +At nightfall the assailants drew off to their camp, and Oliver de +Clisson, who commanded the town, suffered his weary troops to quit the +walls and to seek for refreshment and repose. The assailants, however, +did not disarm, but after a sufficient time had elapsed to allow the +garrison to lay aside their armor two strong parties attacked the +principal gates of the town, while Sir Walter Manny and the Earl of +Oxford moved round to the opposite side with ladders for an escalade. +The plan was successful. The garrison, snatching up their arms, hurried +to repel their attack upon the gates, every man hastening in that +direction. Sir Walter Manny with his party were therefore enabled to +mount the walls unobserved and make their way into the town; here they +fell upon the defenders in the rear, and the sudden onslaught spread +confusion and terror among them. The parties at the gates forced their +way in and joined their friends, and the whole of the garrison were +killed or taken prisoners, save a few, including Oliver Clisson, who +made their escape by sally-ports. Robert of Artois, with the Earl of +Stafford, was left with a garrison to hold the town. The Earl of +Salisbury, with four thousand men, proceeded to lay siege to Rennes, and +Sir Walter Manny hastened back to Hennebon. + +Some of Sir Walter's men formed part of the garrison of Vannes, and +among these was Sir John Powis with a hundred men-at-arms. + +The knight had been so pleased with Walter's coolness and courage at the +siege at Hennebon that he requested Sir Walter to leave him with him at +Vannes. "It is possible," he said to Walter, "that we may have fighting +here. Methinks that Sir Walter would have done better to leave a +stronger force. The town is a large one, and the inhabitants +ill-disposed toward us. Oliver Clisson and the French nobles will feel +their honor wounded at the way in which we outwitted them, and will +likely enough make an effort to regain the town. However, Rennes and +Hennebon are not far away, and we may look for speedy aid from the Earl +of Salisbury and Sir Walter should occasion arise." + +Sir John's previsions were speedily verified. Oliver Clisson and his +friends were determined to wipe out their defeat and scattered through +the country, raising volunteers from among the soldiery in all the +neighboring towns and castles, and a month after Vannes was taken they +suddenly appeared before the town with an army of 12,000 men, commanded +by Beaumanoir, Marshal of Bretagne for Charles of Blois. The same +reasons which had induced the Earl of Northampton to decide upon a +speedy assault instead of the slow process of breaching the walls, +actuated the French in pursuing the same course, and, divided into a +number of storming parties, the army advanced at once to the assault on +the walls. The little garrison prepared for the defense. + +"The outlook is bad, Walter," Sir John Powis said. "These men approach +with an air of resolution which shows that they are bent upon success. +They outnumber us by twelve to one, and it is likely enough that the +citizens may rise and attack us in the rear. They have been ordered to +bring the stones for the machines to the walls, but not one has laid his +hand to the work. We must do our duty as brave men, my lad, but I doubt +me if yonder is not the last sun which we shall see. Furious as the +French are at our recent success here, you may be sure that little +quarter will be given." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +A PLACE OF REFUGE. + + +The French, excited to the utmost by the exhortations of their +commanders, and by their desire to wipe out the disgrace of the easy +capture of Vannes by the English, advanced with ardor to the assault, +and officers and men vied with each other in the valor which they +displayed. In vain did the garrison shower arrows and cross-bow bolts +among them, and pour down boiling oil and quicklime upon them as they +thronged at the foot of the wall. In vain were the ladders, time after +time, hurled back loaded with men upon the mass below. The efforts of +the men-at-arms to scale the defenses were seconded by their archers and +cross-bowmen, who shot such a storm of bolts that great numbers of the +defenders were killed. The assault was made at a score of different +points, and the garrison was too weak to defend all with success. Sir +John Powis and his party repulsed over and over again the efforts of the +assailants against that part of the wall intrusted to them, but at other +points the French gained a footing, and swarming up rushed along the +walls, slaying all whom they encountered. + +"All is lost," Sir John exclaimed; "let us fall back to the castle and +die fighting there." + +Descending from the wall the party made their way through the streets. +The French were already in the town; every house was closed and barred, +and from the upper windows the burghers hurled down stones and bricks +upon the fugitives, while parties of the French soldiers fell upon them +fiercely. Many threw down their arms and cried for quarter, but were +instantly slain. + +For awhile the streets were a scene of wild confusion; here and there +little knots of Englishmen stood together and defended themselves until +the last, others ran through the streets chased by their exulting foes, +some tried in vain to gain shelter in the houses. Sir John Powis' band +was soon broken and scattered, and their leader slain by a heavy stone +from a housetop. Walter fought his way blindly forward toward the +castle, although he well knew that no refuge would be found there. Ralph +Smith kept close beside him, leveling many of his assailants with the +tremendous blows of a huge mace. Somehow, Walter hardly knew how, they +made their way through their assailants and dashed in at the castle +gate. A crowd of their assailants were close upon their heels. Walter +glanced round; dashing across the court-yard he ran through some +passages into an inner yard, in which, as he knew, was the well. The +bucket hung at the windlass. + +"Catch hold, Ralph!" he exclaimed; "there is just a chance, and we may +as well be drowned as killed." They grasped the rope and jumped off. The +bucket began to descend with frightful velocity. Faster and faster it +went and yet it seemed a long time before they plunged into the water, +which was nigh a hundred feet below the surface. Fortunately the rope +was considerably longer than was necessary, and they sank many feet into +the water, still retaining their hold. Then clinging to the rope they +hauled themselves to the surface. + +"We cannot hold on here five minutes," Ralph exclaimed; "my armor is +dragging me down." + +"We will soon get rid of that," Walter said. "There go our helmets; now +I will hold on with one hand and help you to unbuckle your breast and +back pieces; you do the same for me." + +With great efforts they managed to rid themselves of their armor, and +then held on with ease to the rope. They hauled the bucket to the +surface and tied a knot in the slack of the rope, so that the bucket +hung four feet below the level of the water. Putting their feet in this, +they were able to stand with their heads above the surface without +difficulty. + +"This is a nice fix," Ralph exclaimed. "I think it would have been just +as well to have been killed at once. They are sure to find us here, and +if they don't we shall die of cold before to-morrow morning." + +"I don't think they will find us," Walter said cheerfully. "When they +have searched the castle thoroughly it may occur to some of them that +we have jumped down the well, but it will be no particular business of +any one to look for us, and they will all be too anxious to get at the +wine butts to trouble their heads about the matter; besides, it must be +a heavy job to wind up this bucket, and it is not likely there will be +such urgent need of water that any one will undertake the task." + +"But we are no better off if they don't," Ralph remarked, "for we must +die here if we are not hauled out. I suppose you don't intend to try and +climb that rope. I might do twenty feet or so on a pinch, but I could no +more get up to the top there than I could fly." + +"We must think it over," Walter rejoined; "where there is a will there's +a way, you know. We will take it by turns to watch that little patch of +light overhead; if we see any one looking down we must leave the bucket +and swim to the side without making the least noise. They may give a few +turns of the windlass to see if any one has hold of the rope below; be +sure you do not make the slightest splashing or noise, for the sound +would be heard above to a certainty." + +Ten minutes later they saw two heads appear above, and instantly +withdrew their feet from the bucket and made a stroke to the side, which +was but four feet distant, being careful as they did so that no motion +was imparted to the rope. Then, though it was too dark to see anything, +they heard the bucket lifted from the water. A minute later it fell back +again with a splash, then all was quiet. + +"We are safe now, and can take our place in the bucket. They are +satisfied that if we did jump down here we are drowned. And now we must +think about climbing up." + +"Ay, that will require a good deal of thinking," Ralph grumbled. + +For some time there was silence; then Walter said, "The first thing to +do is to cut off the slack of the rope; there are some twelve feet of +it. Then we will unwind the strands of that. There are five or six large +strands as far as I can feel; we will cut them up into lengths of about +a couple of feet, and we ought to be able to tie these to the rope in +such a way as not to slip down with our weight. If we tie them four feet +apart we can go up step by step; I don't see much difficulty about +that." + +"No," Ralph said much more cheerfully, "I should think that we could +manage that." + +They at once set to work. The rope was cut up and unraveled, and the +strands cut into pieces about two feet long. They then both set to work +trying to discover some way of fastening it by which it would not slip +down the rope. They made many fruitless attempts; each time that a +strand was fastened with a loop large enough for them to pass a leg +through, it slid down the rope when their weight was applied to it. At +last they succeeded in finding out a knot which would hold. This was +done by tying a knot close to one end of a piece of the strand, then +sufficient was left to form the loop, and the remainder was wound round +the rope in such away that the weight only served to tighten its hold. + +"Shall we begin at once?" Ralph said, when success was achieved. + +"No, we had better wait until nightfall. The vibration of the rope when +our weight once gets on it might be noticed by any one crossing the +court-yard." + +"Do you think we have sufficient bits of rope?" Ralph asked. + +"Just enough, I think," Walter replied; "there were six strands, and +each has made six pieces, so we have thirty-six. I know the well is +about a hundred feet deep, for the other day I heard some of the +soldiers who were drawing water grumbling over the labor required. So if +we put them three feet apart it will take thirty-three of them, which +will leave three over; but we had better place them a little over a yard +so as to make sure." + +In a short time the fading brightness of the circle of light far +overhead told them that twilight had commenced, and shortly afterward +they attached the first strand to the rope some three feet above the +water. + +"Now," Walter said, "I will go first, at any rate for a time. I must put +one leg through the loop, and sit, as it were, while I fasten the one +above, as I shall want both hands for the work. You will find it a good +deal easier to stand with your foot in the loop. If I get tired I will +fasten another loop by the side of that on which I am resting, so you +can come up and pass me. There is no hurry. It ought not to take up +above an hour, and it will not do for us to get to the top until the +place becomes a little quiet. To-night they are sure to be drinking and +feasting over their victory until late." + +They now set to work, and step by step mounted the rope. They found the +work less arduous than they had expected. The rope was dry, and the +strands held tightly to it. Two or three times they changed places, +resting in turn from their work; but in less than two hours from the +time they made the first loop Walter's head and shoulders appeared above +the level of the court-yard. He could hear sounds of shouting and +singing within the castle, and knew that a great feast was going on. +Descending a step or two he held parley with Ralph. + +"I think, perhaps, it will be better to sally out at once. Everyone is +intent on his own pleasure, and we shall have no difficulty in slipping +out of the castle unnoticed. All will be feasting and rioting in the +town, and so long as we do not brush against any one so that they may +feel our wet garments we are little likely to be noticed; besides, the +gates of the town will stand open late, for people from the villages +round will have come in to join in the revels." + +"I am ready to try it, Master Walter," Ralph replied, "for I ache from +head to foot with holding on to this rope. The sooner the better, say +I." + +In another minute both stood in the court-yard. It was a retired spot, +and none were passing. Going along the passage they issued into the main +yard. Here great fires were blazing, and groups of men sat round them +drinking and shouting. Many lay about in drunken sleep. + +"Stay where you are in the shade, Ralph. You had best lie down by the +foot of the wall. Any one who passes will think that you are in a +drunken sleep. I will creep forward and possess myself of the steel caps +of two of these drunkards, and if I can get a couple of cloaks so much +the better." + +There was no difficulty about the caps, and by dint of unbuckling the +cloaks and rolling their wearers gently over, Walter succeeded at last +in obtaining two of them. He also picked up a sword for Ralph--his own +still hung in its sheath--and then he joined his companion, and the two +putting on the steel caps and cloaks walked quietly to the gate. There +were none on guard, and they issued unmolested into the town. Here all +was revelry. Bonfires blazed in the streets. Hogsheads of wine, with the +heads knocked out, stood before many of the houses for all to help +themselves who wished. Drunken soldiers reeled along shouting snatches +of songs, and the burghers in the highest state of hilarity thronged the +ways. + +"First of all, Ralph, we will have a drink of wine, for I am chilled to +the bone." + +"Ay, and so am I," Ralph replied. "I got hot enough climbing that rope, +but now the cold has got hold of me again, and my teeth are chattering +in my head." + +Picking up one of the fallen vessels by a cask they dipped it in and +took a long draught of wine; then, turning off from the principal +streets, they made their way by quiet lanes down to one of the gates. To +their dismay they found that this was closed. The French commanders knew +that Sir Walter Manny or Salisbury might ere this be pressing forward to +relieve the town, and that, finding that it had fallen, they might +attempt to recapture it by a sudden attack. While permitting, therefore, +the usual license, after a successful assault, to the main body of their +forces, they had placed a certain number of their best troops on the +walls, giving them a handsome largess to make up for their loss of the +festivities. + +At first Walter and his friend feared that their retreat was cut off for +the night, but several other people presently arrived, and the officer +on guard said, coming out, "You must wait awhile; the last batch have +only just gone, and I cannot keep opening and closing the gate; in half +an hour I will let you out." + +Before that time elapsed some fifty or sixty people, anxious to return +to their villages, gathered round the gate. + +"Best lay aside your steel cap, Ralph, before we join them," Walter +said. "In the dim light of that lamp none will notice that we have no +head gear, but if it were to glint upon the steel cap the officer might +take us for deserters and question us as to who we are." + +Presently the officer came out from the guard-room again. There was a +forward movement of the little crowd, and Walter and Ralph closed in to +their midst. The gates were opened, and without any question the +villagers passed out, and the gates were shut instantly behind them. + +Walter and his comrade at once started at a brisk pace and walked all +night in the direction of Hennebon. Their clothes soon dried, and elated +at their escape from danger they struggled on briskly. When morning +broke they entered a wood, and lay there till evening, as they feared to +continue their journey lest they might fall into the hands of some +roving band of French horse. They were, too, dog-tired, and were asleep +a few minutes after they lay down. The sun was setting when they awoke, +and as soon as it was dark they resumed their journey. + +"I don't know what you feel, Master Walter, but I am well-nigh famished. +It is thirty-six hours since I swallowed a bit of food, just as the +French were moving to the attack. Hard blows I don't mind--I have been +used to it; but what with fighting, and being in the water for five or +six hours, and climbing up that endless rope, and walking all night on +an empty stomach, it does not suit me at all." + +"I feel ravenous too, Ralph, but there is no help for it. We shall eat +nothing till we are within the walls of Hennebon, and that will be by +daylight to-morrow if all goes well. Draw your belt an inch or two +tighter, it will help to keep out the wolf." + +They kept on all night, and in the morning saw to their delight the +towers of Hennebon in the distance. It was well that it was no further, +for both were so exhausted from want of food that they could with +difficulty drag their legs along. + +Upon entering the town Walter made his way at once to the quarters of +the leader. Sir Walter had just risen, and was delighted at the sight of +his esquire. + +"I had given you up for dead," he exclaimed. "By what miracle could you +have escaped? Are you alone?" + +"I have with me only my faithful follower, Ralph Smith, who is below; +but, Sir Walter, for mercy's sake order that some food be placed before +us, or we shall have escaped from the French only to die of hunger here. +We have tasted naught since the attack on Vannes began. Have any besides +us escaped?" + +"Lord Stafford contrived, with two or three others, to cut their way out +by a postern-gate, bringing with them Robert of Artois, who is +grievously wounded. None others, save you and your man-at-arms, have +made their way here." + +In a few minutes a cold capon, several manchets of bread, and a stoop of +wine were placed before Walter, while Ralph's wants were attended to +below. When he had satisfied his hunger the young esquire related his +adventures to Sir Walter and several other knights and nobles, who had +by this time gathered in the room. + +"In faith, Master Somers, you have got well out of your scrape," Sir +Walter exclaimed. "Had I been in your place I should assuredly have +perished, for I would a thousand times rather meet death sword in hand +than drop down into the deep hole of that well. And your brains served +you shrewdly in devising a method of escape. What say you, gentlemen?" + +All present joined in expressions of praise at the lad's coolness and +presence of mind. + +"You are doing well, young sir," the English leader went on, "and have +distinguished yourself on each occasion on which we have been engaged. I +shall be proud when the time comes to bestow upon you myself the order +of knighthood if our king does not take the matter off my hands." + +A little later Robert of Artois died of his wounds and disappointment at +the failure of his hopes. + +In October King Edward himself set sail with a great army, and landing +in Brittany early in November, marched forward through the country and +soon reduced Ploermel, Malestrail, Redon, and the rest of the province +in the vicinity of Vannes, and then laid siege to that town. As his +force was far more than sufficient for the siege, the Earls of Norfolk +and Warwick were dispatched in the direction of Nantes to reconnoiter +the country and clear it of any small bodies of the enemy they might +encounter. In the mean time Edward opened negotiations with many of the +Breton lords, who, seeing that such powerful aid had arrived for the +cause of the Countess of Montford, were easily persuaded to change +sides. Among them were the Lords of Clisson, Moheac, Machecoul, Retz, +and many others of less importance. + +The Count of Valentinois, who commanded the garrison of Vannes, +supported the siege with great courage and fortitude, knowing that +Charles of Blois and the King of France were collecting a great army for +his relief. Uniting their forces, they advanced toward the town. Before +the force of the French, 40,000 strong, the Earl of Norfolk had fallen +back and rejoined the king; but even after this junction the French +forces exceeded those of Edward fourfold. They advanced toward Vannes +and formed a large intrenched camp near that of the English, who thus, +while still besieging Vannes, were themselves inclosed by a vastly +superior force. The King of France himself arrived at the French camp. +The French, although so greatly superior, made no motion toward +attacking the English, but appeared bent upon either starving them out +or forcing them to attack the strongly intrenched position occupied by +the French. + +Provisions were indeed running short in the English camp, and the +arrival of supplies from England was cut off by a strong fleet under Don +Louis, which cruised off the coast and captured all vessels arriving +with stores. At this moment two legates, the Cardinal Bishop of Preneste +and the Cardinal Bishop of Tusculum, arrived from the pope and strove to +mediate between the two sovereigns and to bring about a cessation of +hostilities, pointing out to them the scandal and desolation which +their rivalry caused in Christendom, the waste of noble lives, the +devastation of once happy provinces, and the effusion of innocent blood. +Going from camp to camp they exhorted, prayed, and reproached the rival +sovereigns, urging that while Christians were shedding each other's +blood in vain, the infidels were daily waxing bolder and more insolent. +Their arguments would have been but of little use had either of the +monarchs felt sure of victory. King Edward, however, felt that his +position was growing desperate, for starvation was staring him in the +face, and only by a victory over an immensely superior force in a +strongly intrenched position could he extricate himself. Upon the part +of the French, however, circumstances were occurring which rendered them +anxious for a release from their position, for they were not without +their share of suffering. While the English army lay on a hill the +French camp was pitched on low ground. An unusually wet season had set +in with bitterly cold wind. The rain was incessant, a pestilence had +destroyed a vast number of their horses, and their encampment was +flooded. Their forces were therefore obliged to spread themselves over +the neighboring fields, and a sudden attack by the English might have +been fatal. + +Thus distress pressed upon both commanders, and the pope's legates found +their exertions at last crowned with success. A suspension of +hostilities was agreed to, and the Dukes of Burgundy and Bourbon on the +one side and the Earls of Lancaster, Northampton, and Salisbury on the +other met as commissioners and agreed to a convention by which a general +truce was to be made from the date of the treaty to the following +Michaelmas, and to be prolonged from that day for the full term of three +years. It was agreed that the truce should embrace not only the +sovereigns, but all the adherents of each of them. The truce was to hold +good in Brittany between all parties, and the city of Vannes was to be +given into the hand of the cardinals to dispose of as they chose. It was +specially provided that in the case of any of the adherents of either +party in the duchies of Gascony and Brittany waging war against each +other, neither of the monarchs should either directly or indirectly +meddle therewith, nor should the truce be at all broken thereby. + +Immediately the treaty was signed, on the 19th of January, 1343, the +King of France dismissed his army, and Edward sailed for England with +the greater part of his troops. The Countess of Montford and her son +accompanied him, and the possessions of her husband in Brittany were +left to the guardianship of her partisans, with a small but choice body +of English troops. + +The towns which had fallen into their hands and still remained were +Brest, Quimper-Corentin, Quimperle, Redon, and Guerande; Vannes was +handed over to them by the cardinals, and Hennebon, of course, remained +in their possession. + +Walter returned to England with Sir Walter Manny, and on reaching London +was received with delight by his old friends Geoffrey Ward and Giles +Fletcher, who were never tired of listening to his tales of the wars. +Dame Vernon also received him with great kindness, and congratulated him +warmly upon the very favorable account which Sir Walter Manny had given +of his zeal and gallantry. + +The time now for awhile passed very quietly. Walter and the other young +squires practiced diligently, under the instructions of Sir Walter, at +knightly exercises. Walter learned to bear himself well on horseback and +to tilt in the ring. He was already a skillful swordsman, but he spared +no pains to improve himself with his weapons. The court was a gay one, +and Walter, as a favored esquire of one of the foremost knights there, +was admitted to all that took place. His courtly education, of course, +included dancing, and when he went down, as he often did, for a long +chat with his old friends, Geoffrey often said, laughing, that he was +growing such a fine gentleman that he hardly liked to sit in his +presence; but although changed in manner, Walter continued to be, as +before, a frank, manly young fellow, and free from the affectations +which were so general among the young men of the court. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A STORMY INTERVIEW. + + +Soon after Walter's return from France Dame Vernon returned to her +country estate, and a year passed before he again saw her. During this +time the truce which had been established between England and France had +remained unbroken. It was certain, however, that ere long the two powers +would again come to blows. The King of England had honorably observed +the terms of the treaty. Upon his return home he had entirely disbanded +his army and had devoted his whole attention to increasing the trade and +prosperity of the country. The measures which he took to do this were +not always popular with the people of England, for seeing how greatly +they excelled the English manufacturers Edward encouraged large numbers +of Flemings and other foreign workmen to settle in London, and gave them +many privileges to induce them to do so; this the populace strongly +resented. There was a strong ill-feeling against the Flemings and +serious popular riots took place, for the English traders and workmen +considered that these foreigners were taking the bread from their +mouths. The king, however, was wiser than his people, he saw that +although the English weavers were able to produce coarse cloths, yet +that all of the finer sort had to be imported from the Continent. He +deemed that in time the Flemings would teach their art to his subjects, +and that England would come to vie with the Low Countries in the quality +of her produce. Such was indeed afterward the case, and England gained +greatly by the importation of the industrious Flemings, just as she +afterward profited from the expulsion from France of tens of thousands +of Protestant workmen who brought here many of the manufactures of which +France had before the monopoly. The relations between England and the +Flemings were at this time very close, for the latter regarded England +as her protector against the ambition of the King of France. + +But while King Edward had laid aside all thought of war, such was not +the case with Philip of Valois. He had retired after the signature of +the treaty full of rage and humiliation; for hitherto in all their +struggles his English rival had had the better of him, and against +vastly superior forces had foiled all his efforts and had gained alike +glory and military advantage. King Edward had hardly set sail when +Philip began to break the terms of truce by inciting the adherents of +Charles of Blois to attack those of De Montford, and by rendering +assistance to them with money and men. He also left no means untried to +detach Flanders from its alliance with England. Several castles and +towns in Brittany were wrested from the partisans of De Montford, and +King Edward, after many remonstrances at the breaches of the conditions +of the truce, began again to make preparations for taking the field. +Several brilliant tournaments were held and every means were taken to +stir up the warlike spirit of the people. + +One day Walter had attended his lord to the palace and was waiting in +the anteroom with many other squires and gentlemen, while Sir Walter, +with some other noblemen, was closeted with the king, discussing the +means to be adopted for raising funds for a renewal of the war with +France, when a knight entered whom Walter had not previously seen at +court. + +"Who is that?" he asked one of his acquaintances; "methinks I know his +face, though it passes my memory to say where I have seen it." + +"He has been away from England for some two years," his friend answered. +"That is Sir James Carnegie; he is a cousin of the late Sir Jasper +Vernon; he left somewhat suddenly a short time after Dame Vernon had +that narrow escape from drowning that you wot of; he betook himself then +to Spain, where he has been fighting the Moors; he is said to be a +valiant knight, but otherwise he bears but an indifferent good +reputation." + +Walter remembered the face now; it was that of the knight he had seen +enter the hut of the river pirate on the Lambeth marshes. When released +from duty he at once made his way to the lodging of Dame Vernon. Walter +was now nineteen, for a year had elapsed since the termination of the +French war, and he was in stature and strength the match of most men, +while his skill at knightly exercises, as well as with the sword, was +recognized as preeminent among all the young esquires of the court. + +After the first greeting he said to Dame Vernon: "I think it right to +tell you, lady, that I have but now, in the king's anteroom, seen the +man who plotted against your life in the hut at Lambeth. His face is a +marked one and I could not mistake it. I hear that he is a cousin of +yours, one Sir James Carnegie, as you doubtless recognized from my +description of him. I came to tell you in order that you might decide +what my conduct should be. If you wish it so I will keep the secret in +my breast; but if you fear aught from him I will openly accuse him +before the king of the crime he attempted, and shall be ready to meet +him in the ordeal of battle should he claim it." + +"I have seen Sir James," Lady Vernon said. "I had a letter writ in a +feigned hand telling him that his handiwork in the plot against my life +was known, and warning him that, unless he left England, the proofs +thereof would be laid before justice. He at once sailed for Spain, +whence he has returned but a few days since. He does not know for +certain that I am aware of his plottings against us; but he must have +seen by my reception of him when he called that I no longer regard him +with the friendship which I formerly entertained. I have received a +message from him that he will call upon me this evening, and that he +trusts he will find me alone, as he would fain confer with me on private +matters. When I have learned his intentions I shall be the better able +to judge what course I had best adopt. I would fain, if it may be, let +the matter rest. Sir James has powerful interest, and I would not have +him for an open enemy if I can avoid it; besides, all the talk and +publicity which so grave an accusation against a knight, and he of mine +own family, would entail, would be very distasteful to me; but should I +find it necessary for the sake of my child, I shall not shrink from it. +I trust, however, that it will not come to that; but I shall not +hesitate, if need be, to let him know that I am acquainted with his evil +designs toward us. I will inform you of as much of our interview as it +is necessary that you should know." + +That evening Sir James Carnegie called upon Dame Vernon. "I would not +notice it the other day, fair cousin," he said, in return for her stiff +and ceremonious greeting; "but methinks that you are mightily changed in +your bearing toward me. I had looked on my return from my long +journeying for something of the sisterly warmth with which you once +greeted me, but I find you as cold and hard as if I had been altogether +a stranger to you. I would fain know in what way I have forfeited your +esteem." + +"I do not wish to enter into bygones, Sir James," the lady said, "and +would fain let the past sleep if you will let me. Let us, then, turn +without more ado to the private matters concerning which you wished to +speak with me." + +"If such is your mood, fair dame, I must needs fall in with it, though +in no way able to understand your allusion to the past, wherein my +conscience holds me guiltless of aught which could draw upon me your +disfavor. I am your nearest male relative, and as such would fain confer +with you touching the future of young Mistress Edith, your daughter. She +is now nigh thirteen years of age, and is the heiress of broad lands; is +it not time that she were betrothed to one capable of taking care of +them for her, and leading your vassals to battle in these troubled +times?" + +"Thanks, Sir James, for your anxiety about my child," Dame Vernon said +coldly. "She is a ward of the king. I am in no way anxious that an early +choice should be made for her; but our good Queen Philippa has promised +that, when the time shall come, his majesty shall not dispose of her +hand without my wishes being in some way consulted; and I have no doubt +that when the time shall come that she is of marriageable age--and I +would not that this should be before she has gained eighteen years, for +I like not the over young marriages which are now in fashion--a knight +may be found for her husband capable of taking care of her and her +possessions; but may I ask if, in so speaking to me, you have any one in +your mind's eye as a suitor for her hand?" + +"Your manner is not encouraging, certes; but I had my plan, which would, +I hoped, have met with your approval. I am the young lady's cousin, and +her nearest male relative; and although we are within the limited +degrees, there will be no difficulty in obtaining a dispensation from +Rome. I am myself passably well off, and some of the mortgages which I +had been forced to lay upon my estates have been cleared off during my +absence. I have returned home with some reputation, and with a goodly +sum gained in the wars with the Moors. I am older than my cousin, +certainly; but as I am still but thirty-two, this would not, I hope, be +deemed an obstacle, and methought that you would rather intrust her to +your affectionate cousin than to a stranger. The king has received me +very graciously, and would, I trust, offer no opposition to my suit were +it backed by your good-will." + +"I suppose, Sir James," Dame Vernon said, "that I should thank you for +the offer which you have made; but I can only reply, that while duly +conscious of the high honor you have done my daughter by your offer, I +would rather see her in her grave than wedded to you." + +The knight leaped from his seat with a fierce exclamation. "This is too +much," he exclaimed, "and I have a right to know why such an offer on my +part should be answered by disdain, and even insolence." + +[Illustration: DAME ALICE REVEALS SIR JAMES' VILLAINY.--Page 187.] + +"You have a right to know," Dame Vernon answered quietly, "and I will +tell you. I repeat that I would rather see my child in her grave than +wedded to a man who attempted to compass the murder of her and her +mother." + +"What wild words are these?" Sir James asked sternly. "What accusation +is this that you dare to bring against me?" + +"I repeat what I said, Sir James," Dame Alice replied quietly. "I know +that you plotted with the water pirates of Lambeth to upset our boat as +we came down the Thames; that you treacherously delayed us at Richmond +in order that we might not reach London before dark; and that by +enveloping me in a white cloak you gave a signal by which I might be +known to your creatures." + +The knight stood for a moment astounded. He was aware that the fact that +he had had some share in the outrage was known, and was not surprised +that his cousin was acquainted with the secret; but that she should know +all the details with which but one besides himself was, as he believed, +acquainted, completely stupefied him. He rapidly, however, recovered +himself. + +"I recall now," he said scornfully, "the evidence which was given before +the justices by some ragged city boy, to the effect that he had +overheard a few words of a conversation between some ruffian over in the +Lambeth marshes and an unknown person; but it is new to me indeed that +there was any suspicion that I was the person alluded to, still less +that a lady of my own family, in whose affection I believed, should +credit so monstrous an accusation." + +"I would that I could discredit it, Sir James," Dame Vernon said sadly; +"but the proofs were too strong for me. Much more of your conversation +than was narrated in court was overheard, and it was at my request that +the ragged boy, as you call him, kept silence." + +"And is it possible," the knight asked indignantly, "that you believed +the word of a fellow like this to the detriment of your kinsman? Why, in +any court of law the word of such a one as opposed to that of a knight +and gentleman of honor would not be taken for a moment." + +"You are mistaken, sir," Dame Vernon said haughtily. "You may remember, +in the first place, that the lad who overheard this conversation risked +his life to save me and my daughter from the consequences of the attack +which he heard planned; in the second place, he was no ragged lad, but +the apprentice of a well-known citizen; thirdly--and this is of +importance, since he has recognized you since your return, and is ready, +should I give him the word, to denounce you--he is no mere apprentice +boy, but is of gentle blood, seeing that he is the son of Sir Roland +Somers, the former possessor of the lands which I hold, and that he is +in high favor with the good knight Sir Walter Manny, whose esquire he +now is, and under whom he distinguished himself in the wars in France, +and is, as Sir Walter assures me, certain to win his spurs ere long. +Thus you see his bare word would be of equal value to your own, besides +the fact that his evidence does not rest upon mere assertion; but that +the man in the hut promised to do what you actually performed, namely, +to delay me at Richmond, and to wrap me in a white cloak in order that I +might be recognized by the river pirates." + +Sir James was silent. In truth, as he saw, the evidence was +overwhelmingly strong against him. After awhile he stammered out, "I +cannot deny that I was the man in question; but I swear to you that this +boy was mistaken, and that the scoundrel acted altogether beyond my +instructions, which were simply that he should board the boat and carry +you and your daughter away to a safe place." + +"And with what object, sir," Dame Vernon said contemptuously, "was I to +be thus taken away?" + +"I do not seek to excuse myself," the knight replied calmly, having now +recovered his self-possession, "for I own I acted wrongly and basely; +but in truth I loved you, and would fain have made you my wife. I knew +that you regarded me with only the calm affection of a kinswoman; but I +thought that were you in my power you would consent to purchase your +freedom with your hand. I know now that I erred greatly. I acknowledge +my fault, and that my conduct was base and unknightly, and my only +excuse is the great love I bore you." + +"And which," the lady said sarcastically, "you have now transferred to +my daughter. I congratulate you, Sir James, upon the possession of a +ready wit and an invention which does not fail you at a pinch, and of a +tongue which repeats unfalteringly any fable which your mind may +dictate. You do not, I suppose, expect me to believe the tale. Still, I +own that it is a well-devised one, and might, at a pinch, pass muster; +but fear not, Sir James. As hitherto I have kept silence as to the +author of the outrage committed upon me, so I have no intention of +proclaiming the truth now unless you force me to do so. Suffice that +both for myself and for my daughter I disclaim the honor of your hand. +So long as you offer no molestation to us, and abstain from troubling us +in any way, so long will my mouth be sealed; and I would fain bury in my +breast the memory of your offense. I will not give the world's tongue +occasion to wag by any open breach between kinsfolk, and shall therefore +in public salute you as an acquaintance, but under no pretense whatever +will I admit you to any future private interview. Now leave me, sir, and +I trust that your future life will show that you deeply regret the +outrage which in your greed for my husband's lands you were tempted to +commit." + +Without a word Sir James turned and left the room, white with shame and +anger, but with an inward sense of congratulation at the romance which +he had, on the spur of the moment, invented, and which would, he felt +sure, be accepted by the world as probable, in the event of the share he +had in the matter being made public, either upon the denunciation of +Dame Vernon or in any other manner. + +One determination, however, he made, and swore, to himself, that he +would bitterly avenge himself upon the youth whose interference had +thwarted his plans, and whose report to his kinswoman had turned her +mind against him. He, at any rate, should be put out of the way at the +first opportunity, and thus the only witness against himself be removed; +for Lady Vernon's own unsupported story would be merely her word against +his, and could be treated as the malicious fiction of an angry woman. + +The following day Dame Vernon sent for Walter, and informed him exactly +what had taken place. + +"Between Sir James and me," she said, "there is, you see, a truce. We +are enemies, but we agree to lay aside our arms for the time. But, +Walter, you must be on your guard. You know as well as I do how +dangerous this man is, and how good a cause he has to hate you. I would +not have divulged your name had I not known that the frequency of your +visits here and the encouragement which I openly give you as the future +suitor of my daughter, would be sure to come to his ears, and he would +speedily discover that it was you who saved our lives on the Thames and +gave your testimony before the justices as to the conversation in the +hut on the marshes. Thus I forestalled what he would in a few days have +learned." + +"I fear him not, lady," Walter said calmly. "I can hold mine own, I +hope, against him in arms, and having the patronage and friendship of +Sir Walter Manny I am above any petty malice. Nevertheless, I will hold +myself on my guard. I will, so far as possible, avoid any snare which he +may, as 'tis not unlikely, set for my life, and will, so far as I +honorably can, avoid any quarrel with which he may seek to saddle me." + +A few days later Walter again met Sir James Carnegie in the king's +anteroom, and saw at once, by the fixed look of hate with which he had +regarded him, that he had already satisfied himself of his identity. He +returned the knight's stare with a cold look of contempt. The knight +moved toward him and in a low tone said, "Beware, young sir, I have a +heavy reckoning against you, and James Carnegie never forgets debts of +that kind!" + +"I am warned, Sir James," Walter said calmly, but in the same low tone, +"and, believe me, I hold but very lightly the threats of one who does +not succeed even when he conspires against the lives of women and +children." + +Sir James started as if he had been struck. Then with a great effort he +recovered his composure, and, repeating the word "Beware!" walked across +to the other side of the chamber. + +The next day Walter went down the river and had a talk with his friend +Geoffrey. + +"You must beware, lad," the armorer said when he told him of the return +of Sir James Carnegie and the conversation which had taken place between +them. "This man is capable of anything, and careth not where he chooseth +his instruments. The man of the hut at Lambeth has never been caught +since his escape from Richmond Jail--thanks, doubtless, to the gold of +his employer--and, for aught we know, may still be lurking in the +marshes there, or in the purlieus of the city. He will have a grudge +against you as well as his employer, and in him Sir James would find a +ready instrument. He is no doubt connected, as before, with a gang of +water pirates and robbers, and it is not one sword alone that you would +have to encounter. I think not that you are in danger just at present, +for he would know that, in case of your murder, the suspicions of Dame +Vernon and of any others who may know the motive which he has in getting +rid of you would be excited, and he might be accused in having had a +share in your death. Still, it would be so hard to prove aught against +him that he may be ready to run the risk in order to rid himself of you. +Look here, Walter. What think you of this?" and the smith drew out from +a coffer a shirt of mail of finer work than Walter had ever before seen. + +"Ay, lad, I knew you would be pleased," he said in answer to Walter's +exclamation at the fineness of the workmanship. "I bought this a month +ago from a Jew merchant who had recently come from Italy. How he got it +I know not, but I doubt if it were honestly, or he would have demanded a +higher price than I paid him. He told me that it was made by the first +armorer in Milan, and was constructed especially for a cardinal of the +church, who had made many enemies by his evil deeds and could not sleep +for fear of assassination. At his death it came, the Jew said, into his +possession. I suppose some rascally attendant took it as a perquisite, +and, knowing not of its value, sold it for a few ducats to the Jew. +However, it is of the finest workmanship. It is, as you see, double, and +each link is made of steel so tough that no dagger or sword point will +pierce it. I put it on a block and tried the metal myself, and broke one +of my best daggers on it without a single link giving. Take it, lad. You +are welcome to it. I bought it with a special eye to you, thinking that +you might wear it under your armor in battle without greatly adding to +the weight; but for such dangers as threaten you now it is invaluable. +It is so light and soft that none will dream that you have it under your +doublet, and I warrant me it will hold you safe against the daggers of +Sir James' ruffians." + +Walter did not like taking a gift so valuable, for his apprenticeship as +an armorer had taught him the extreme rarity and costliness of so fine a +piece of work. Geoffrey, however, would not hear of his refusal, and +insisted on his then and there taking off his doublet and putting it on. +It fitted closely to the body, descending just below the hips, and +coming well up on the neck, while the arms extended to the wrists. + +"There!" the smith said with delight. "Now you are safe against sword or +dagger, save for a sweeping blow at the head, and that your sword can be +trusted to guard. Never take it off, Walter, save when you sleep; and +except when in your own bed, at Sir Walter Manny's, I should advise you +to wear it even at night. The weight is nothing, and it will not +incommode you. So long as this caitiff knight lives, your life will not +be safe. When he is dead you may hang up the shirt of mail with a light +heart." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +JACOB VAN ARTEVELDE. + + +King Edward found no difficulty in awakening the war spirit of England +anew, for the King of France, by an act of infamous treachery, in spite +of the solemn terms of the treaty, excited against himself the +indignation not only of England but of all Europe. Oliver de Clisson, +with fourteen other nobles of Brittany and Normandy, were arrested by +his order, taken to Paris, and without form of trial there decapitated. +This act of treachery and injustice aroused disgust and shame among the +French nobles, and murmurs and discontent spread throughout the whole +country. + +In Brittany numbers of the nobles fell off from the cause of Charles of +Blois, and King Edward hastened his preparations to avenge the butchery +of the adherents of the house of Montford. Philip, however, in defiance +of the murmurs of his own subjects, of the indignant remonstrances of +Edward, and even those of the pope, who was devoted to his cause, +continued the course he had begun, and a number of other nobles were +seized and executed. Godfrey of Harcourt alone, warned by the fate of +his companions, refused to obey the summons of the king to repair to +Paris, and fled to Brabant. His property in France was at once seized by +Philip; and Godfrey, finding that the Duke of Brabant would be unable to +shield him from Philip's vengeance, fled to the English court, and did +homage to Edward. + +On the 24th of April, 1345, Edward determined no longer to allow Philip +to continue to benefit by his constant violations of the truce, and +accordingly sent a defiance to the King of France. + +De Montford, who had just succeeded in escaping from his prison in +Paris, arrived at this moment in England, and shortly afterward set sail +with a small army under the command of the Earl of Northampton for +Brittany, while the Earl of Derby took his departure with a larger force +for the defense of Guienne. + +King Edward set about raising a large army, which he determined to lead +himself, but before passing over to France he desired to strengthen his +hold of Flanders. The constant intrigues of Philip there had exercised a +great effect. The count of that country was already strongly in his +interest, and it was only the influence of Jacob van Artevelde which +maintained the alliance with England. This man had, by his talent and +energy, gained an immense influence over his countrymen; but his +commanding position and ability had naturally excited the envy and +hatred of many of his fellow-citizens, among whom was the dean of the +weavers of Ghent, one Gerard Denis. The weavers were the most powerful +body in this city, and had always been noted for their turbulence and +faction; and on a Monday in the month of May, 1345, a great battle took +place in the market-place between them and the fullers, of whom 1,500 +were slain. This victory of the weavers strengthened the power of the +party hostile to Artevelde and the English connection; and the former +saw that unless he could induce his countrymen to take some +irretrievable step in favor of England they would ultimately fall back +into the arms of France. Accordingly he invited Edward to pass over with +a strong force into Flanders, where he would persuade the Flemings to +make the Prince of Wales their duke. King Edward at once accepted the +offer, and sailing from Sandwich on the 3d of July arrived in safety at +Sluys. His intention had been kept a profound secret, and his arrival +created the greatest surprise throughout Flanders. He did not disembark, +but received on board a ship with great honor and magnificence the +burgomasters of the various towns who appeared to welcome him. The king +had brought with him the Prince of Wales, now fifteen years old, who +wore a suit of black armor and was therefore called "the Black Prince." + +Walter Somers was on board the royal vessel. The Prince of Wales had not +forgotten the promise which he had six years before made to him, and had +asked Sir Walter Manny to allow him to follow under his banner. + +"You are taking my most trusty squire from me, prince," the knight +said; "for although I have many brave young fellows in my following, +there is not one whom I value so much as Walter Somers. It is but fair, +however, that you should have him, since you told me when I first took +him that he was to follow your banner when you were old enough to go to +the wars. You can rely upon him implicitly. He cares not for the +gayeties of which most young men of his age think so much. He is ever +ready for duty, and he possesses a wisdom and sagacity which will some +day make him a great leader." + +Walter was sorry to leave his patron, but the step was of course a great +advancement, and excited no little envy among his companions, for among +the young esquires of the Prince of Wales were the sons of many of the +noblest families of England. + +Sir Walter presented him on leaving with a heavy purse. "Your expenses +will be large," he said, "among so many young gallants, and you must do +credit to me as well as to yourself. The young prince is generous to a +fault, and as he holds you in high favor, both from his knowledge of you +and from my report, you will, I know, lack nothing when you are once +fairly embarked in his service; but it is needful that when you first +join you should be provided with many suits of courtly raiment of cloth +of gold and silk, which were not needed while you were in the service of +a simple knight like myself, but which must be worn by a companion of +the heir of England." + +Walter had hoped that Sir James Carnegie would have accompanied the +forces of either of the Earls of Northampton or Derby, but he found that +he had attached himself to the royal army. + +Ralph of course followed Walter's fortunes, and was now brilliant in the +appointments of the Prince of Wales' chosen body-guard of men-at-arms. + +The councils of all the great towns of Flanders assembled at Sluys, and +for several days great festivities were held. Then a great assembly was +held, and Van Artevelde rose and addressed his countrymen. He set forth +to them the virtues of the Prince of Wales, whose courtesy and bearing +had so captivated them; he pointed out the obligations which Flanders +was under toward King Edward, and the advantages which would arise from +a nearer connection with England. With this he contrasted the weakness +of their count, the many ills which his adherence to France had brought +upon the country, and the danger which menaced them should his power be +ever renewed. He then boldly proposed to them that they should at once +cast off their allegiance to the count and bestow the vacant coronet +upon the Prince of Wales, who, as Duke of Flanders, would undertake the +defense and government of the country with the aid of a Flemish council. + +This wholly unexpected proposition took the Flemish burghers by +surprise. Artevelde had calculated upon his eloquence and influence +carrying them away, but his power had diminished, and many of his +hearers had already been gained to the cause of France. The burgher +councils had for a long time had absolute power in their own towns, and +the prospect of a powerful prince at their head foredoomed a curtailment +of those powers. When Artevelde ceased, therefore, instead of the +enthusiastic shouts with which he hoped his oration would be greeted, a +confused murmur arose. At last several got up and said that, greatly +attached as they were to the king, much as they admired the noble young +prince proposed for their acceptance, they felt themselves unable to +give an answer upon an affair of such moment without consulting their +fellow-countrymen and learning their opinions. They therefore promised +that they would return on a certain day and give a decided answer. + +The Flemish burghers then took their leave. Van Artevelde, after a +consultation with the king, started at once to use his influence among +the various towns. + +After leaving the king he bade adieu to the Prince of Wales. "Would you +like," the young prince said, "that one of my esquires should ride with +you? His presence might show the people how entirely I am with you; and +should you have tidings to send me he could ride hither with them. I +have one with me who is prudent and wise, and who possesses all the +confidence of that wise and valiant knight, Sir Walter de Manny." + +"I will gladly take him, your royal highness," Van Artevelde said, "and +hope to dispatch him to you very shortly with the news that the great +towns of Flanders all gladly receive you as their lord." + +In a few minutes Walter had mounted his horse, accompanied by Ralph, +and, joining Van Artevelde, rode to Bruges. Here and at Ypres Van +Artevelde's efforts were crowned with success. His eloquence carried +away the people with him, and both these cities agreed to accept the +Prince of Wales as their lord; but the hardest task yet remained. Ghent +was the largest and most powerful of the Flemish towns, and here his +enemies were in the ascendant. Gerard Denis and the weavers had been +stirring up the people against him. All kinds of accusations had been +spread, and he was accused of robbing and selling his country. The news +of the hostile feeling of the population reached Van Artevelde, and he +dispatched Walter with the request to the king for a force of five +hundred English soldiers as a guard against his enemies. + +Had Artevelde asked for a large force Edward would have disembarked his +army and marched at their head into Ghent. As the rest of the country +was already won there can be little doubt that this step would at once +have silenced all opposition, and would have annexed Flanders to the +British crown. Van Artevelde, however, believed himself to be stronger +than he really was, and thought with a small party of soldiers he could +seize his principal opponents, and that the people would then rally +round him. + +Upon the arrival of the five hundred men he started for Ghent; but as he +feared that the gates would be shut if he presented himself with an +armed force, he left the soldiers in concealment a short distance from +the town and entered it, accompanied only by his usual suit. At his +invitation, however, Walter, followed of course by Ralph, rode beside +him. No sooner was he within the gates than Van Artevelde saw how strong +was the popular feeling against him. He had been accustomed to be +received with bows of reverence; now men turned aside as he approached, +or scowled at him from their doors. + +"Methinks, sir," Walter said, "that it would be wiser did we ride back, +and, joining the soldiers, enter at their head, or as that number would +be scarce sufficient should so large a town rise in tumult, to send to +King Edward for a larger force and await their coming. Even should they +shut the gates we can reduce the town, and as all the rest of Flanders +is with you, surely a short delay will not matter." + +"You know not these Flemings as well as I do," Van Artevelde replied; +"they are surly dogs, but they always listen to my voice, and are ready +enough to do my bidding. When I once speak to them you will see how they +will smooth their backs and do as I ask them." + +Walter said no more, but as he saw everywhere lowering brows from window +and doorway as they rode through the streets, he had doubts whether the +power of Van Artevelde's eloquence would have the magical potency he had +expected from it. + +When the party arrived at the splendid dwelling of the great demagogue, +messengers were instantly sent out to all his friends and retainers. A +hundred and forty persons soon assembled, and while Van Artevelde was +debating with them as to the best steps to be taken, Walter opened the +casement and looked out into the street. It was already crowded with the +people, whose silent and quiet demeanor seemed to bode no good. Arms +were freely displayed among them, and Walter saw men passing to and fro +evidently giving instructions. + +"I am sorry to disturb you, Master Artevelde," he said, returning to the +room where the council was being held, "but methinks that it would be +wise to bar the doors and windows, and to put yourself in a posture of +defense, for a great crowd is gathering without, for the most part +armed, and as it seems to me with evil intentions." + +A glance from the windows confirmed Walter's statements, and the doors +and windows were speedily barricaded. Before many minutes had elapsed +the tolling of bells in all parts of the town was heard, and down the +different streets leading toward the building large bodies of armed men +were seen making their way. + +"I had rather have to do with a whole French army, Master Walter," Ralph +said, as he stood beside him at an upper window looking down upon the +crowd, "than with these citizens of Ghent. Look at those men with +bloody axes and stained clothes. Doubtless those are the skinners and +butchers. Didst ever see such a ferocious band of savages? Listen to +their shouts. Death to Van Artevelde! Down with the English alliance! I +thought our case was a bad one when the French poured over the walls +into Vannes, but methinks it is a hundred times worse now." + +"We got out of that scrape, Ralph, and I hope we shall get out of this, +but as you say the prospect is black enough. See, the butchers are +hammering at the door with their pole-axes. Let us go down and aid in +the defense." + +"I am ready," Ralph said, "but I shall fight with a lighter heart if you +could fix upon some plan for us to adopt when the rabble break in. That +they will do so I regard as certain, seeing that the house is not built +for purposes of defense, but has numerous broad windows on the +ground-floor by which assuredly they will burst their way in." + +"Wait a moment then, Ralph; let us run up to the top story and see if +there be any means of escape along the roofs." + +The house stood detached from the others, but on one side was separated +from that next to it only by a narrow lane, and as the upper stories +projected beyond those below, the windows were but six feet distant from +those on the opposite side of the way. + +"See," Walter said, "there is a casement in the room to our left there +which is open; let us see if it is tenanted." + +Going into the next room they went to the window and opened it. It +exactly faced the casement opposite, and so far as they could see the +room was unoccupied. + +"It were easy to put a plank across," Ralph said. + +"We must not do that," Walter answered. "The mob are thick in the lane +below--what a roar comes up from their voices!--and a plank would be +surely seen, and we should be killed there as well as here. No, we must +get on to the sill and spring across; the distance is not great, and the +jump would be nothing were it not that the casements are so low. It must +be done as lightly and quickly as possible, and we may not then be seen +from below. Now leave the door open that we may make no mistake as to +the room, and come along, for by the sound the fight is hot below." + +Running down the stairs Walter and Ralph joined in the defense. Those in +the house knew that they would meet with no mercy from the infuriated +crowd, and each fought with the bravery of despair. Although there were +many windows to be defended, and at each the mob attacked desperately, +the assaults were all repulsed. Many indeed of the defenders were struck +down by the pikes and pole-axes, but for a time they beat back the +assailants whenever they attempted to enter. + +The noise was prodigious. The alarm-bells of the town were all ringing +and the shouts of the combatants were drowned in the hoarse roar of the +surging crowd without. + +Seeing that however valiant was the defense the assailants must in the +end prevail, and feeling sure that his enemies would have closed the +city gates and thus prevented the English without from coming to his +assistance, Van Artevelde ascended to an upper story and attempted to +address the crowd. His voice was drowned in the roar. In vain he +gesticulated and made motions imploring them to hear him, but all was +useless, and the courage of the demagogue deserted him and he burst into +tears at the prospect of death. Then he determined to try and make his +escape to the sanctuary of a church close by, and was descending the +stairs when a mighty crash below, the clashing of steel, shouts, and +cries, told that the mob had swept away one of the barricades and were +pouring into the house. + +"Make for the stairs," Walter shouted, "and defend yourselves there." +But the majority of the defenders, bewildered by the inrush of the +enemy, terrified at their ferocious aspect and terrible axes, had no +thought of continuing the resistance. A few, getting into corners, +resisted desperately to the end; others threw down their arms and +dropping on their knees cried for mercy, but all were ruthlessly +slaughtered. + +Keeping close together Walter and Ralph fought their way to the foot of +the stairs, and closely pursued by a band of the skinners headed by +Gerard Denis, ran up. + +Upon the first landing stood a man paralyzed with terror. On seeing him +a cry of ferocious triumph rose from the mob. As nothing could be done +to aid him Walter and his follower rushed by without stopping. There was +a pause in the pursuit, and glancing down from the upper gallery Walter +saw Van Artevelde in the hands of the mob, each struggling to take +possession of him; then a man armed with a great ax pushed his way among +them, and swinging it over his head struck Van Artevelde dead to the +floor. His slayer was Gerard Denis himself. + +Followed by Ralph, Walter sprang through the open door into the chamber +they had marked, and closed the door behind them. Then Walter, saying, +"I will go first, Ralph; I can help you in should you miss your spring," +mounted on the sill of the casement. + +Short as was the distance the leap was extremely difficult, for neither +casement was more than three feet high. Walter was therefore obliged to +stoop low and to hurl himself head forward across the gulf. He succeeded +in the attempt, shooting clear through the casement on to the floor +beyond. Instantly he picked himself up and went to Ralph's assistance. +The latter, taller and more bulky, had greater difficulty in the task, +and only his shoulders arrived through the window. Walter seized him, +and aided him at once to scramble in, and they closed the casement +behind them. + +"It was well we took off our armor, Ralph; its pattern would have been +recognized in an instant." + +Walter had thrown off his helmet as he bounded up the stairs, and both +he and his companion had rid themselves of their heavy armor. + +"I would give a good deal," he said, "for two bourgeois jerkins, even +were they as foul as those of the skinners. This is a woman's +apartment," he added, looking round, "and nothing here will cover my six +feet of height, to say nothing of your four inches extra. Let us peep +into some of the other rooms. This is, doubtless, the house of some +person of importance, and in the upper floor we may find some clothes of +servants or retainers." + +They were not long in their search. The next room was a large one, and +contained a number of pallet beds, and hanging from pegs on the walls +were jerkins, mantles, and other garments, evidently belonging to the +retainers of the house. Walter and Ralph were not long in +transmogrifying their appearance, and had soon the air of two +respectable serving-men in a Flemish household. + +"But how are we to descend?" Ralph asked. "We can hardly hope to walk +down the stairs and make our escape without being seen, especially as +the doors will all be barred and bolted, seeing the tumult which is +raging outside." + +"It all depends whether our means of escape are suspected," Walter +replied. "I should scarce think that they would be. The attention of our +pursuers was wholly taken up by Van Artevelde, and some minutes must +have passed before they followed us. No doubt they will search every +place in the house, and all within it will by this time have been +slaughtered. But they will scarce organize any special search for us. +All will be fully occupied with the exciting events which have taken +place, and as the casement by which we entered is closed it is scarcely +likely to occur to any one that we have escaped by that means. I will +listen first if the house is quiet. If so, we will descend and take +refuge in some room below, where there is a better chance of concealment +than here. Put the pieces of armor into that closet so that they may not +catch the eye of any who may happen to come hither. The day is already +closing. In half an hour it will be nightfall. Then we will try and make +our way out." + +Listening at the top of the stairs they could hear voices below; but as +the gallery was quiet and deserted they made their way a floor lower, +and seeing an open door entered it. Walter looked from the window. + +"There is a back yard below," he said, "with a door opening upon a +narrow lane. We are now upon the second story, and but some twenty-five +feet above the ground. We will not risk going down through the house, +which could scarce be accomplished without detection, but will at once +tear up into strips the coverings of the bed, and will make a rope by +which we may slip down into the court-yard as soon as it is dark. We +must hope that none will come up before that time; but, indeed, all will +be so full of the news of the events which have happened that it is +scarce likely that any will come above at present." + +The linen sheets and coverings were soon cut up and knotted together in +a rope. By the time that this was finished the darkness was closing in, +and after waiting patiently for a few minutes they lowered the rope and +slid down into the yard. Quietly they undid the bolts of the gate and +issued into the lane. The mantles were provided with hoods, as few of +the lower class of Flemings wore any other head-covering. + +Drawing these hoods well over their heads so as to shade their faces, +the two sallied out from the lane. They were soon in one of the +principal streets, which was crowded with people. Bands of weavers, +butchers, skinners, and others were parading the streets shouting and +singing in honor of their victory and of the downfall and death of him +whom they had but a few days before regarded as the mainstay of +Flanders. Many of the better class of burghers stood in groups in the +streets and talked in low and rather frightened voices of the +consequences which the deed of blood would bring upon the city. On the +one hand, Edward might march upon it with his army to avenge the murder +of his ally. Upon the other hand, they were now committed to France. +Their former ruler would return, and all the imposts and burdens against +which they had rebelled would again be laid upon the city. + +"What shall we do now?" Ralph asked, "for assuredly there will be no +issue by the gates." + +"We must possess ourselves of a length of rope, if possible, and make +our escape over the wall. How to get one I know not, for the shops are +all closed, and even were it not so I could not venture in to purchase +any, for my speech would betray us at once. Let us separate, and each +see whether he can find what we want. We will meet again at the entrance +to this church in an hour's time. One or the other of us may find what +we seek." + +Walter searched in vain. Wherever he saw the door of a yard open he +peered in, but in no case could he see any signs of rope. At the end of +the hour he returned to their rendezvous. Ralph was already there. + +"I have found nothing, Ralph. Have you had better fortune?" + +"That have I, Master Walter, and was back nigh an hour since. Scarce had +I left you when in a back street I came upon a quiet hostelry, and in +the court-yard were standing half a dozen teams of cattle. Doubtless +their owners had brought hay or corn into the city, and when the tumult +arose and the gates were closed found themselves unable to escape. The +masters were all drinking within, so without more ado I cut off the +ropes which served as traces for the oxen, and have them wound round my +body under my mantle. There must be twenty yards at least, and as each +rope is strong enough to hold double our weight there will be no +difficulty in lowering ourselves from the walls." + +"You have done well indeed, Ralph," Walter said. "Let us make our way +thither at once. Every one is so excited in the city that, as yet, there +will be but few guards upon the wall. The sooner, therefore, that we +attempt to make our escape the better." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE WHITE FORD. + + +They made their way without interruption to the wall. This they found, +as they expected, entirely deserted, although, no doubt, guards had been +posted at the gates. The Flemings, however, could have felt no fear of +an attack by so small a force as the five hundred English whom they knew +to be in the neighborhood. + +Walter and his companion soon knotted the ropes together and lowered +themselves into the moat. A few strokes took them to the other side, and +scrambling out, they made their way across the country to the spot where +the English had been posted. They found the Earl of Salisbury, who +commanded, in a great state of uneasiness. No message had reached him +during the day. He had heard the alarm-bells of the city ring, and a +scout who had gone forward returned with the news that the gates were +closed and the drawbridges raised, and that a strong body of men manned +the walls. + +"Your news is indeed bad," he said, when Walter related to him the +events which had taken place in the town. "This will altogether derange +the king's plans. Now that his ally is killed, I fear that his hopes of +acquiring Flanders for England will fall to the ground. It is a thousand +pities that he listened to Van Artevelde and allowed him to enter Ghent +alone. Had his majesty landed, as he wished, and made a progress through +the country, the prince receiving the homage of all the large towns, we +could then very well have summoned Ghent as standing alone against all +Flanders. The citizens then would, no doubt, have gladly opened their +gates and received the prince, and if they had refused we would have +made short work of them. However, as it has turned out, it is as well +that we did not enter the town with the Fleming, for against so large +and turbulent a population we should have had but little chance. And +now, Master Somers, we will march at once for Sluys and bear the news to +the king, and you shall tell me as we ride thither how you and your +man-at-arms managed to escape with whole skins from such a tumult." + +The king was much grieved when he heard of the death of Artevelde, and +held a council with his chief leaders. At first, in his indignation and +grief, he was disposed to march upon Ghent and to take vengeance for the +murder of his ally, but after a time calmer counsels prevailed. + +The Flemings were still in rebellion against their count, who was the +friend of France. Were the English to attack Ghent they would lose the +general good-will of the Flemings, and would drive them into the arms of +France, while, if matters were left alone, the effect of the popular +outburst which had caused the death of Artevelde would die away, and +motives of interest and the fear of France would again drive them into +the arms of England. The expedition therefore returned to England, and +there the king, in a proclamation to his people, avoided all allusion to +the death of his ally, but simply stated that he had been waited upon by +the councils of all the Flemish towns, and that their faithful obedience +to himself, as legitimate King of France, was established upon a firmer +basis than ever. + +This course had the effect which he had anticipated from it. The people +of Flanders perceived the danger and disadvantage which must accrue to +their trade from any permanent disagreement with England. They were +convinced by the events which soon afterward happened in France that the +King of England had more power than Philip of Valois, and could, if he +chose, punish severely any breach of faith toward him. They therefore +sent over commissioners to express their grief and submission. The death +of Artevelde was represented as the act of a frantic mob, and severe +fines were imposed upon the leaders of the party who slew him, and +although the principal towns expressed their desire still to remain +under the rule of the Count of Flanders, they suggested that the ties +which bound them to England should be strengthened by the marriage of +Louis, eldest son of the count, to one of Edward's daughters. More than +this, they offered to create a diversion for the English forces acting +in Guienne and Gascony by raising a strong force and expelling the +French garrisons still remaining in some parts of the country. This was +done. Hugo of Hastings was appointed by the king captain-general in +Flanders, and with a force of English and Flemings did good service by +expelling the French from Termond and several other towns. + +The character of Jacob van Artevelde has had but scant justice done to +it by most of the historians of the time. These, living in an age of +chivalry, when noble blood and lofty deeds were held in extraordinary +respect, had little sympathy with the brewer of Ghent, and deemed it +contrary to the fitness of things that the chivalry of France should +have been defied and worsted by mere mechanics and artisans. But there +can be no doubt that Artevelde was a very great man. He may have been +personally ambitious, but he was a true patriot. He had great military +talents. He completely remodeled and wonderfully improved the internal +administration of the country, and raised its commerce, manufactures, +and agriculture to a pitch which they had never before reached. After +his death his memory was esteemed and revered by the Flemings, who long +submitted to the laws he had made, and preserved his regulations with +scrupulous exactitude. + +Edward now hastened to get together a great army. Every means were +adopted to raise money and to gather stores, and every man between +sixteen and sixty south of the Trent was called upon to take up arms +and commanded to assemble at Portsmouth in the middle of Lent. A +tremendous tempest, however, scattered the fleet collected to carry the +expedition, a great many of the ships were lost, and it was not until +the middle of July, 1346, that it sailed from England. It consisted of +about five hundred ships and ten thousand sailors, and carried four +thousand men-at-arms, ten thousand archers, twelve thousand Welsh, and +six thousand Irish. + +This seems but a small army considering the efforts which had been made; +but it was necessary to leave a considerable force behind for the +defense of the Scottish frontier, and England had already armies in +Guienne and Brittany. Lionel, Edward's second son, was appointed regent +during his father's absence. On board Edward's own ship were Godfrey of +Harcourt and the Prince of Wales. Walter, as one of the personal squires +of the prince, was also on board. + +The prince had been greatly interested in the details of Walter's escape +from Van Artevelde's house, the king himself expressed his approval of +his conduct, and Walter was generally regarded as one of the most +promising young aspirants at the court. His modesty and good temper +rendered him a general favorite, and many even of the higher nobles +noticed him by their friendly attentions, for it was felt that he stood +so high in the good-will of the prince that he might some day become a +person of great influence with him, and one whose good-will would be +valuable. + +It was generally supposed, when the fleet started, that Guienne was +their destination, but they had not gone far when a signal was made to +change the direction in which they were sailing and to make for La Hogue +in Normandy. Godfrey of Harcourt had great influence in that province, +and his persuasions had much effect in determining the king to direct +his course thither. There was the further advantage that the King of +France, who was well aware of the coming invasion, would have made his +preparations to receive him in Guienne. Furthermore, Normandy was the +richest and most prosperous province in France. It had for a long time +been untouched by war, and offered great abundance of spoil. It had made +itself particularly obnoxious to the English by having recently made an +offer to the King of France to fit out an expedition and conquer England +with its own resources. + +The voyage was short and favorable, and the expedition landed at La +Hogue, on the small peninsula of Cotentin, without opposition. Six days +were spent at La Hogue disembarking the men, horses, and stores, and +baking bread for the use of the army on the march. A detachment advanced +and pillaged and burned Barfleur and Cherbourg and a number of small +towns and castles. + +In accordance with custom, at the commencement of the campaign a court +was held, at which the Prince of Wales was dubbed a knight by his +father. A similar honor was bestowed upon a number of other young +aspirants, among whom was Walter Somers, who had been highly +recommended for that honor to the king by Sir Walter Manny. + +The force was now formed into three divisions--the one commanded by the +king himself, the second by the Earl of Warwick, and the third by +Godfrey of Harcourt. The Earl of Arundel acted as lord high constable, +and the Earl of Huntingdon, who was in command of the fleet, followed +the army along the sea-coast. Valognes, Carentan, and St. Lo were +captured without difficulty, and the English army advanced by rapid +marches upon Caen, plundering the country for six or seven leagues on +each side of the line of march. An immense quantity of booty was +obtained. + +As soon as the news of Edward's landing in Normandy reached Paris, +Philip dispatched the Count d'Eu, Constable of France, with the Count of +Tankerville and six hundred men-at-arms, to oppose Edward at Caen. The +Bishop of Bayeux had thrown himself into that city, which was already +garrisoned by three hundred Genoese. The town was not defensible, and +the only chance of resistance was by opposing the passage of the river +Horn, which flowed between the suburbs and the city. The bridge was +barricaded, strong wooden towers were erected, and such was the +confidence of the inhabitants and their leaders that Edward's promise of +protection for the person and property of the citizens was rejected with +scorn, and the whole male population joined the garrison in the defense +of the bridge. Marching through the deserted suburbs the English army +attacked the bridge with such vehemence that although the enemy defended +the barricades gallantly they were speedily forced, and the English +poured into the town. Before the first fury of the attack was over near +five thousand persons were slain. The Count of Tankerville, one hundred +and forty knights, and as many squires were made prisoners. The plunder +was so enormous as to be sufficient to cover the whole expenses of the +expedition, and this with the booty which had been previously acquired +was placed on board ship and dispatched to England, while the king +marched forward with his army. At Lisieux he was met by two cardinals +sent by the pope to negotiate a truce; but Edward had learned the +fallacy of truces made with King Philip, and declined to enter into +negotiations. Finding that Rouen had been placed in a state of defense +and could not be taken without a long siege, he left it behind him and +marched along the valley of the Eure, gathering rich booty at every +step. + +But while he was marching forward a great army was gathering in his +rear. The Count of Harcourt, brother of Godfrey, called all Normandy to +arms. Every feudal lord and vassal answered to the summons, and before +Edward reached the banks of the Seine a formidable army had assembled. + +The whole of the vassals of France were gathering by the orders of the +king at St. Denis. The English fleet had now left the coast, and Edward +had only the choice of retreating through Normandy into Brittany or of +attempting to force the passage of the Seine, and to fight his way +through France to Flanders. He chose the latter alternative, and marched +along the left bank of the river toward Paris, seeking in vain to find a +passage. The enemy followed him step by step on the opposite bank, and +all the bridges were broken down and the fords destroyed. + +Edward marched on, burning the towns and ravaging the country until he +reached Poissy. The bridge was as usual destroyed, but the piles on +which it stood were still standing, and he determined to endeavor to +cross here. He accordingly halted for five days, but dispatched troops +in all directions, who burned and ravaged to the very gates of Paris. +The villages of St. Germain, St. Cloud, Bourg la Reine, and many others +within sight of the walls were destroyed, and the capital itself thrown +into a state of terror and consternation. Godfrey of Harcourt was the +first to cross the river, and with the advance-guard of English fell +upon a large body of the burghers of Amiens, and after a severe fight +defeated them, killing over five hundred. The king himself with his +whole force passed on the 16th of August. + +Philip, with his army, quitted St. Denis when he heard that the English +army had passed the Seine, and by parallel marches endeavored to +interpose between it and the borders of Flanders. As his force was every +hour increasing he dispatched messengers to Edward offering him battle +within a few days on condition that he would cease to ravage the +country; but Edward declined the proposal, saying that Philip himself by +breaking down the bridges had avoided a battle as long as he could, but +that whenever he was ready to give battle he would accept the challenge. +During the whole march the armies were within a few leagues of each +other, and constant skirmishes took place between bodies detached from +the hosts. + +In some of these skirmishes Walter took part, as he and the other newly +made knights were burning to distinguish themselves. Every day the +progress of the army became more difficult, as the country people +everywhere rose against them, and several times attempted to make a +stand, but were defeated with great loss. The principal towns were found +deserted, and even Poix, which offered great capabilities of defense, +had been left unguarded. Upon the English entering, the burghers offered +to pay a large ransom to save the town from plunder. The money was to be +delivered as soon as the English force had withdrawn, and Walter Somers +was ordered by the king to remain behind with a few men-at-arms to +receive the ransom. + +No sooner had the army departed than the burghers, knowing that the +French army was close behind, changed their minds, refused to pay the +ransom, and fell upon the little body of men-at-arms. Although taken +quite by surprise by this act of treachery Walter instantly rallied his +men, although several had been killed at the first onslaught. He, with +Ralph and two or three of the stanchest men, covered the retreat of the +rest through the streets, making desperate charges upon the body of +armed burghers pressing upon them. Ralph fought as usual with a mace of +prodigious weight, and the terror of his blows in no slight degree +enabled the party to reach the gate in safety, but Walter had no idea of +retreating further. He dispatched one of his followers to gallop at full +speed to overtake the rear-guard of the army, which was still but two +miles distant, while with the rest he formed a line across the gate and +resisted all the attempts of the citizens to expel them. + +The approach to the gate was narrow, and the overwhelming number of the +burghers were therefore of little avail. Walter had dismounted his force +and all fought on foot, and although sorely pressed they held their +ground until Lords Cobham and Holland, with their followers, rode up. +Then the tide of war was turned, the town was plundered and burned, and +great numbers of the inhabitants slain. Walter gained great credit for +holding the gate, for had he been driven out, the town could have +resisted, until the arrival of Louis, all assaults of the English. + +The river Somme now barred the passage of Edward. Most of the bridges +had been destroyed, and those remaining were so strongly fortified that +they could not be forced. + +The position of the English was now very critical. On one flank and in +front were impassable rivers. The whole country was in arms against +them, and on their rear and flank pressed a hostile army fourfold their +strength. The country was swampy and thinly populated, and flour and +provisions were only obtained with great difficulty. Edward, on finding +from the reports of his marshals who had been sent to examine the +bridges, that no passage across the river could be found, turned and +marched down the river toward the sea, halting for the night at +Oisemont. + +Here, a great number of peasantry attempted a defense, but were easily +defeated and a number of prisoners taken. Late in the evening the Earl +of Warwick, who had pushed forward as far as Abbeville and St. Valery, +returned with the news that the passages at those places were as +strongly guarded as elsewhere, but that he had learned from a peasant +that a ford existed somewhere below Abbeville, although the man was +himself ignorant of its position. + +Edward at once called the prisoners belonging to that part of the +country before him, and promised to any one who would tell him where the +ford lay his freedom and that of twenty of his companions. A peasant +called Gobin Agase stepped forward and offered to show the ford, where +at low tide twelve men could cross abreast. It was, he said, called La +Blanche Tache. + +Edward left Oisemont at midnight and reached the ford at daylight. The +river, however, was full and the army had to wait impatiently for low +tide. When they arrived there no enemy was to be seen on the opposite +bank, but before the water fell sufficiently for a passage to be +attempted, Sir Godemar du Fay with twelve thousand men, sent by King +Philip, who was aware of the existence of the ford, arrived on the +opposite side. + +The enterprise was a difficult one indeed, for the water, even at low +tide, is deep. Godemar du Fay, however, threw away part of his advantage +by advancing into the stream. The English archers lined the banks, and +poured showers of arrows into the ranks of the enemy, while the Genoese +bowmen on their side were able to give comparatively little assistance +to the French. + +King Edward shouted to his knights, "Let those who love me follow me," +and spurred his horse into the water. Behind him followed his most +valiant knights, and Walter, riding close to the Prince of Wales, was +one of the foremost. + +The French resisted valiantly and a desperate battle took place on the +narrow ford, but the impetuosity of the English prevailed, and step by +step they drove the French back to the other side of the river. The +whole army poured after their leaders, and the French were soon entirely +routed and fled, leaving two thousand men-at-arms dead on the field. + +King Edward, having now freed himself from the difficulties which had +encompassed him on the other side of the river, prepared to choose a +ground to give battle to the whole French army. + +Louis had advanced slowly, feeling confident that the English would be +unable to cross the river, and that he should catch them hemmed in by +it. His mortification and surprise on finding, when he approached La +Blanche Tache, that twelve thousand men had been insufficient to hold a +ford by which but twelve could cross abreast, and that his enemy had +escaped from his grasp, were great. The tide had now risen again, and he +was obliged to march on to Abbeville and cross the river there. + +King Edward now advanced into the forest of Cressy. + +Hugh de le Spencer, with a considerable force, was dispatched to Crotoy, +which he carried by assault after a severe conflict, in which four +thousand of the French men-at-arms were slain. The capture of this city +removed all danger of want from the army, for large stores of wine and +meal were found there, and Sir Hugh at once sent off a supply to the +tired army in the field. + +The possession of Crotoy and the mouth of the Somme would have now +rendered it easy for the English monarch to have transported his troops +to England, and to have returned triumphant after the accomplishment of +his extraordinary and most successful march through France. The army, +however, was elated by the many great successes it had won, he was now +in Ponthieu, which was one of his own fiefs, and he determined to make a +stand in spite of the immense superiority of the enemy. + +Next morning, then--Friday, the 25th of August, 1346--he dispatched the +Earl of Warwick, with Godfrey of Harcourt and Lord Cobham, to examine +the ground and choose a site for a battle. + +The plan of the fight was drawn out by the king and his councilors, and +the king yielded to the Black Prince the chief place of danger and +honor, placing with him the Earl of Warwick, Sir John Chandos, and many +of his best knights. + +The ground which had been chosen for the battle was an irregular slope +between the forest of Cressy and the river Maie near the little village +of Canchy. The slope looked toward the south and east, from which +quarters the enemy was expected to arrive, and some slight defenses were +added to the natural advantages of the ground. + +On the night of the 25th all the principal leaders of the British host +were entertained by King Edward. Next morning mass was celebrated, and +the king, the prince, and many knights and nobles received the +sacrament, after which the trumpets sounded, and the army marched to +take up its position. Its numbers are variously estimated, but the best +account puts it at about thirty thousand men, which, considering that +thirty-two thousand had crossed the Channel to La Hogue, is probably +about the force which would have been present, allowing that two +thousand had fallen in the various actions or had died from disease. + +The division of the Black Prince consisted of eight hundred men-at-arms, +four thousand archers, and six thousand Welsh foot. The archers, as +usual, were placed in front, supported by the light troops of Wales and +the men-at-arms; on his left was the second division, commanded by the +Earls of Arundel and Northampton; its extreme left rested on Canchy and +the river, and it was further protected by a deep ditch; this corps was +about seven thousand strong. + +The king himself took up his position on a knoll of rising ground +surmounted by a windmill, and twelve thousand men under his personal +command were placed here in reserve. + +In the rear of the prince's division an inclosure of stakes was formed; +in this, guarded by a small body of archers, were ranged the wagons and +baggage of the army, together with all the horses, the king having +determined that the knights and men-at-arms on his side should fight on +foot. + +When the army had taken up its position, the king, mounted on a small +palfrey, with a white staff in his hand, rode from rank to rank +exhorting his soldiers to do their duty gallantly. It was nearly noon +before he had passed through all the lines, and permission was then +given to the soldiers to fall out from their ranks and to take +refreshments while waiting for the coming of the enemy. This was +accordingly done, the men eating and drinking at their ease and lying +down in their ranks on the soft grass, with their steel caps and their +bows or pikes beside them. + +In the mean time the French had, on their side, been preparing for the +battle. Philip had crossed the Somme at Abbeville late on Thursday +afternoon, and remained there next day, marshaling the large +reenforcements which were hourly arriving. His force now considerably +exceeded one hundred thousand men, the number with which he had marched +from Amiens three days previously. + +Friday was the Festival of St. Louis, and that evening Philip gave a +splendid banquet to the whole of the nobles of his army. + +On the following morning the king, accompanied by his brother the Count +D'Alencon, the old King of Bohemia and his son, the King of Rome, the +Duke of Lorraine, the Count of Blois, the Count of Flanders, and a great +number of other feudal princes, heard mass at the abbey, and then +marched with his great army toward Cressy. He moved but slowly in order +to give time to all the forces scattered over the neighborhood to come +up, and four knights, headed by one of the King of Bohemia's officers, +went forward to reconnoiter the English position. They approached within +very short distance of the English lines and gained a very exact +knowledge of the position, the English taking no measures to interrupt +the reconnaissance. They returned with the information they had +gathered, and the leader of the party, Le Moyne de Basele, one of the +most judicious officers of his time, strongly advised the king to halt +his troops, pointing out that as it was evident the English were ready +to give battle, and as they were fresh and vigorous, while the French +were wearied and hungry, it would be better to encamp and give battle +the next morning. + +Philip saw the wisdom of the advice and ordered his two marshals, the +Lord of St. Venant and Charles de Montmorency, to command a halt. They +instantly spurred off, one to the front and the other to the rear, +commanding the leaders to halt their banners. Those in advance at once +obeyed, but those behind still pressed on, declaring that they would not +halt until they were in the front line. All wanted to be first, in order +to obtain their share of the honor and glory of defeating the English. +Those in front, seeing the others still coming on, again pressed +forward, and thus, in spite of the efforts of the king and his marshals, +the French nobles with their followers pressed forward in confusion, +until, passing through a small wood, they found themselves suddenly in +the presence of the English army. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +CRESSY. + + +The surprise of the French army at finding themselves in the presence of +the English was so great that the first line recoiled in confusion. +Those marching up from behind imagined that they had been already +engaged and repulsed by the English, and the disorder spread through the +whole army, and was increased by the common people, who had crowded to +the field in immense numbers from the whole country round to see the +battle and share in the plunder of the English camp. + +From King Edward's position on the rising ground he could see the +confusion which prevailed in the French ranks, and small as were his +forces, he would probably have obtained an easy victory by ordering a +sudden charge upon them. The English, however, being dismounted, but +small results would have followed the scattering of the great host of +the French. The English army therefore remained immovable, except that +the soldiers rose from the ground, and taking their places in the ranks, +awaited the onslaught of the enemy. + +King Philip himself now arrived on the field, and his hatred for the +English led him at once to disregard the advice which had been given him +and to order the battle to commence as soon as possible. + +The army was divided into four bodies, of which Philip commanded one, +the Count D'Alencon the second, the King of Bohemia the third, and the +Count of Savoy the fourth. Besides these were a band of fifteen thousand +mercenaries, Genoese cross-bowmen, who were now ordered to pass between +the ranks of cavalry and to clear the ground of the English archers, who +were drawn up in the usual form in which they fought--namely, in very +open order, line behind line, the men standing alternately, so that each +had ample room to use his bow and to fire over the heads of those in +front. The formation was something that of a harrow, and, indeed, +exactly resembled that in which the Roman archers fought, and was called +by them a quincunx. + +The Genoese had marched four leagues beneath a hot sun loaded with their +armor and heavy cross-bows, and they remonstrated against the order, +urging that they were in no condition to do good service without some +repose. The Count D'Alencon, furious at their hesitation, ordered them +up, but as they advanced a terrible thunderstorm, with torrents of rain, +broke over the armies, and wetting the cords of the cross-bows rendered +many of them unserviceable. At length the cross-bowmen were arranged in +front, while behind them were the vast body of French cavalry, and the +order was given for the battle to begin. + +The Genoese advanced with loud shouts, but the English archers paid no +attention to the noise, but waited calmly for the attack. At this moment +the sun, now approaching the west, shone out brightly between the clouds +behind the English, its rays streaming full in the faces of the French. +The Genoese were now within distance, and began to discharge their +quarrels at their impassive enemies, but as they opened fire the English +archers drew their bows from the cases which had protected them from the +rain, and stepping forward poured their arrows among the Genoese. The +cross-bowmen were smitten as with a storm, numbers were struck in the +face and other unprotected parts, and they were instantly thrown into +confusion, and casting away their cross-bows they recoiled in disorder +among the horsemen behind them. + +Philip, passionate and cruel as ever, instead of trying to rally the +Genoese, ordered the cavalry behind them to fall upon them, and the +men-at-arms at once plunged in among the disordered mass of the +cross-bowmen, and a wild scene of carnage and confusion ensued, the +English archers continuing to pour their unerring arrows into the midst. +The Count D'Alencon, who was behind, separated his division into two +bodies, and swept round on one side himself, while the Count of Flanders +did the same on the other to attack the Prince of Wales in more regular +array. Taking a circuitous route, D'Alencon appeared upon a rising +ground on the flank of the archers of the Black Prince, and thus, +avoiding their arrows, charged down with his cavalry upon the eight +hundred men-at-arms gathered round the Black Prince, while the Count of +Flanders attacked on the other flank. + +Nobly did the flower of English chivalry withstand the shock of the +French, and the prince himself and the highest nobles and simple +men-at-arms fought side by side. None gave way a foot. + +In vain the French, with impetuous charges, strove to break through the +mass of steel. The spear-heads were cleft off with sword and battle-ax, +and again and again men and horses recoiled from the unbroken line. Each +time the French retired the English ranks were formed anew, and as +attack followed attack a pile of dead rose around them. The Count +D'Alencon and the Duke of Lorraine were among the first who fell. The +young Count of Blois, finding that he could not ride through the wall of +steel, dismounted with his knights and fought his way on foot toward the +banner of the Prince of Wales. For a time the struggle was desperate, +and the young prince, with his household knights, was for a time +well-nigh beaten back. + +Walter, fighting close beside the prince, parried more than one blow +intended for him, and the prince himself slew the Count of Blois, whose +followers all fell around him. The Count of Flanders was also slain, and +confusion began to reign among the assailants, whose leaders had now +all fallen. Philip himself strove to advance with his division into the +fight, but the struggle between the Genoese and the men-at-arms was +still continuing, and the very multitude of his troops in the narrow and +difficult field which the English had chosen for the battle embarrassed +his movements. + +Charles of Luxembourg, King of the Romans, and afterward Emperor of +Germany, son of the old King of Bohemia, with a large body of German and +French cavalry, now assailed the English archers, and in spite of their +flights of arrows came to close quarters, and cutting their way through +them joined in the assault upon the men-at-arms of the Black Prince. +Nearly forty thousand men were now pressing round the little body, and +the Earls of Northampton and Arundel moved forward with their divisions +to his support, while the Earl of Warwick, who was with the prince, +dispatched Sir Thomas of Norwich to the king, who still remained with +his powerful reserve, to ask for aid. + +"Sir Thomas," demanded the king, "is my son killed, overthrown, or +wounded beyond help?" + +"Not so, sire," replied the knight, "but he is in a rude fight, and much +needs your aid." + +"Go back, Sir Thomas, to those who sent you, and tell them from me that +whatsoever happens they require no aid from me so long as my son is in +life. Tell them also that I command them to let the boy win his spurs, +for, God willing, the day shall be his, and the honor shall rest with +him and those into whose charge I have given him." + +The prince and those around him were filled with fresh ardor when they +received this message. Each man redoubled his efforts to repel the +forces that were incessantly poured down upon them by the French. On all +sides these pressed around them, striving desperately, but ever in vain, +to break through the solid ranks of the English. The French men-at-arms +suffered, moreover, terribly from the attacks of the Welsh infantry. +These men, clad in thick leather jerkins, nimble of foot, accustomed to +a life of activity, were armed with shortened lances and knives, and +mingled fearlessly among the confused mass of French cavalry, creeping +beneath the horses' bellies, standing up when they got a chance, and +stabbing horses and men with their knives and pikes. Many were trampled +upon or struck down, but numbering, as they did, six thousand, they +pervaded the whole mass of the enemy, and did terrible execution, adding +in no small degree to the confusion caused by the shower of arrows from +the archers within the circle of the men-at-arms. The instant a French +knight fell, struck from his horse with a battle-ax or arrow, or by the +fall of a wounded steed, the half-wild Welsh were upon him and slew him +before he could regain his feet. + +The slaughter was immense. The Count of Harcourt, with his nephew the +Count D'Aumale and his two gallant sons, fell together, and at last +Charles of Luxembourg, seeing his banner down, his troops routed, his +friends slain, and the day irreparably lost, and being himself severely +wounded in three places, turned his horse and fled, casting off his rich +emblazoned surcoat to avoid recognition. In the mean time Prince +Charles' father, the veteran King of Bohemia, once one of the most +famous warriors of Europe, but now old and blind, sat on horseback at a +little distance from the fight; the knights around him told him the +events as they happened, and the old monarch soon saw that the day was +lost. He asked them for tidings of his son Charles of Luxembourg, but +they were forced to reply that the banner of the King of the Romans was +no longer in sight, but that, doubtless, he was somewhere engaged in the +_melee_. + +"Lords," said the old man, "you are my vassals, my friends, and my +companions, and on this day I command and beseech you to lead me forward +so far that I may deal one blow of my sword in the battle." + +His faithful friends obeyed him, a number of knights arranged themselves +around him, and lest they should lose him in the fight they tied their +horses together by the bridles and charged down into the fray. Advancing +directly against the banner of the Prince of Wales, the blind monarch +was carried into the midst of the thickest strife. There the little +group of knights fought gallantly, and after the battle was over the +bodies of the king and his friends were found lying together, their dead +horses still linked by the bridles. + +During this terrible battle, which had been raging since three o'clock, +Philip had made strenuous efforts to aid his troops engaged in the front +by continually sending fresh bodies to the assault. It was now growing +dark, terror and confusion had already spread among the French, and many +were flying in all directions, and the unremitting showers of English +arrows still flew like hail among their ranks. As the king made his way +forward, surrounded by his personal attendants, to take part himself in +the fight, his followers fell thick around him, and his horse was slain +by an arrow. John of Hainault, who had remained by his side during the +whole day, mounted him upon a fresh horse and urged him to fly, as the +day was lost. Philip, however, persisted, and made his way into the +_melee_, where he fought for some time with extreme courage, until +almost all around him were slain, the royal standard-bearer killed, and +himself wounded in two places. John of Hainault then seized his bridle, +exclaiming, "Come away, sire, it is full time; do not throw your life +away foolishly; if you have lost this day you will win another," and so +almost forced the unwilling king from the field. Philip, accompanied by +the lords of Montmorency, Beaujeu, Aubigny, and Mansault, with John of +Hainault and sixty men-at-arms, rode to the Castle of Broye, and there +halted for a few hours. At midnight he again set out, and in the morning +arrived safely at Amiens. + +The Black Prince held his station until night without yielding a single +step to all the efforts of the French. Gradually, however, the +assailants became less and less numerous, the banners disappeared, and +the shouts of the leaders and the clang of arms died away, and the +silence which prevailed over the field at once announced that the +victory was complete and the enemy in full flight. An immense number of +torches were now lighted through the English lines, and the king, +quitting for the first time his station on the hill, came down to +embrace his gallant son. Edward and his host rejoiced in a spirit of +humility over the victory. No songs of triumph, no feastings or +merriment were permitted, but a solemn service of the Church was held, +and the king and his soldiers offered their thanks to God for the +victory he had given them. The English army lay all night under arms, +and a number of scattered parties of the French wandering about in the +darkness entered the lines and were slain or taken prisoners. + +The dawn of the next morning was thick and foggy, and intelligence +coming in that a large body of the enemy were advancing upon them, the +Earls of Northampton, Warwick, and Norfolk, with five hundred +men-at-arms and two thousand archers, went out to reconnoiter, and came +in the misty twilight upon an immense force composed of the citizens of +Beauvais, Rouen, and some other towns, led by the Grand Prior of France +and the Archbishop of Rouen, who were approaching the field. + +By some extraordinary accident they had not met any of the fugitives +flying from Cressy, and were ignorant that a battle had been fought. +The English charged them at once. Their advance-guard, consisting of +burghers, was easily overthrown. The second division, which was composed +of men-at-arms, fought bravely, but was unable to withstand the charge +of the triumphant English, and was completely broken and defeated. The +grand prior was killed and a vast number of his followers slain or +captured. During the whole of the morning detached parties from Edward's +army scoured the country, dispersing and slaughtering bands of French +who still remained together, and toward night the Earl of Northampton +returned to the camp with the news that no enemy remained in the +vicinity that could offer a show of resistance to the English force. + +It is said that a far greater number of French were killed upon the +second day than upon the first. This can be accounted for by the fact +that on the first day but a small portion of the English army were +engaged, and that upon the second the English were fresh and vigorous, +and their enemies exhausted and dispirited. + +The greater number of the French nobles and knights who fell died in +their attempt to break through the Black Prince's array. Besides the +King of Bohemia, nine sovereign princes and eighty great nobles were +killed, with twelve hundred knights, fifteen hundred men-at-arms, and +thirty thousand foot; while on the English side only three knights and a +small number of men-at-arms and infantry were killed. The body of the +King of Bohemia and those of the other great leaders were carried in +solemn pomp to the Abbey of Maintenay. Edward himself and his son +accompanied them as mourners. + +On the Monday following Edward marched with his army against Calais, and +summoned the town to surrender. John of Vienne, who commanded the +garrison, refused to comply with the demand. The fortifications of the +town were extremely strong and the garrison numerous, and Edward +perceived that an assault would be very unlikely to succeed, and would +entail great loss, while a repulse would have dimmed the luster of the +success which he had gained. He therefore determined to reduce it by +famine, and the troops were set to work to build huts. So permanently +and strongly were these constructed that it seemed to the enemy that +King Edward was determined to remain before Calais even should he have +to stay there for ten years. + +Proclamations were issued in England and Flanders inviting traders to +establish stores and to bring articles of trade of all kinds, and in a +short time a complete town sprang up which was named by Edward New-Town +the Bold. The English fleet held complete possession of the sea, cutting +off the besieged from all succor by ship, and enabling abundant supplies +for the army to be brought from England and Flanders. Strong parties +were sent out in all directions. The northern provinces of France were +scoured, and the army was amply provided with necessaries and even +luxuries. + +After the first terrible shock caused by the crushing defeat of Cressy, +King Philip began at once to take measures for the relief of Calais, and +made immense efforts again to put a great army in the field. He +endeavored by all means in his power to gain fresh allies. The young +Count of Flanders, who at the death of his father at Cressy was sixteen +years of age, was naturally even more hostile to the English than the +late prince had been, and he strove to win over his subjects to the +French alliance, while Philip made them magnificent offers if they would +join him. The Flemings, however, remained stanch to the English +alliance, and held their prince in duress until he at last consented to +marry the daughter of Edward. A week before the date fixed for the +nuptials, however, he managed to escape from the vigilance of his guards +when out hawking, and fled to the court of France. + +In Scotland, Philip was more successful, and David Bruce, instead of +employing the time given him by the absence of Edward with his armies in +driving out the English garrisons from the strong places they still held +in Scotland, raised an army of fifty thousand men and marched across the +border into England plundering and ravaging. Queen Philippa, however, +raising an army, marched against him, and the Scotch were completely +defeated at Neville's Cross, fifteen thousand being killed and their +king himself taken prisoner. + +Walter's conduct at the battle of Cressy gained him still further the +favor of the Black Prince. The valor with which he had fought was +conspicuous even on a field where all fought gallantly, and the prince +felt that more than once he would have been smitten down had not +Walter's sword interposed. Ralph too had fought with reckless bravery, +and many French knights and gentlemen had gone down before the +tremendous blows of his heavy mace, against which the stoutest armor +availed nothing. After the battle the prince offered to make him an +esquire in spite of the absence of gentle blood in his veins, but Ralph +declined the honor. + +"An it please you, Sir Prince," he said, "but I should feel more +comfortable among the men-at-arms, my fellows. In the day of battle I +trust that I should do no discredit to my squirehood, but at other times +I should feel woefully out of my element, and should find naught for my +hands to do; therefore, if it so pleases your royal highness, I would +far rather remain a simple man-at-arms." + +Ralph did not, however, refuse the heavy purse which the prince gave +him, although indeed he, as well as all the soldiers, was well supplied +with money, so great were the spoils which the army had gathered in its +march before Cressy, and which they now swept off in their raids among +the northern provinces of France. + +One evening Walter was returning from a banquet at the pavilion of the +Prince of Wales, with Ralph as usual following at a little distance, +when from a corner of the street a man darted suddenly out and struck a +dagger with all his force between his shoulders. Well was it for Walter +that he had taken Geoffrey's advice, and had never laid aside the shirt +of mail, night or day. Fine as was its temper, two or three links of the +outer fold were broken, but the point did not penetrate the second fold, +and the dagger snapped in the hand of the striker. The force of the +sudden blow, however, hurled Walter to the ground. With a loud cry Ralph +rushed forward. The man instantly fled. Ralph pursued him but a short +distance and then hastened back to Walter. + +"Are you hurt, Sir Walter?" he exclaimed. + +"In no way, Ralph, thanks to my shirt of mail. Well, indeed, was it for +me that I was wearing it or I should assuredly have been a dead man. I +had almost begun to forget that I was a threatened man; but I shall be +on guard for the future." + +"I wish I had followed the fellow," Ralph said. "I would not have slain +him could I have helped it, but would have left it for the hangman to +extort from him the name of his employer; but, in truth, he struck so +hard, and you fell so straight before the blow, that I feared the mail +had given way, and that you were sorely wounded if not killed. You have +oft told me that I was over-careful of you, but you see that I was not +careful enough; however, you may be assured that if another attempt be +made those who attempt it shall not get off scot-free. Do you think of +laying a complaint before the provost against him you suspect?" + +"It would be useless, Ralph. We may have suspicion of the man from whom +the blow came, but have no manner of proof. It might have been done by +any ruffian camp-follower, who struck the blow only with the hope of +carrying off my chain and purse. The camp swarms with such fellows, and +we have no clew which could lead to his detection, unless," he added, +stooping and picking up a piece of steel which lay at his feet, "this +broken dagger may some day furnish us with one. No; we will say naught +about it. Sir James Carnegie is not now in camp, having left a week +since on business in England. We exchange no words when we meet, but I +heard that he had been called away. Fortunately the young prince likes +him not, and I therefore have seldom occasion to meet him. I have no +doubt that he credits me with the disfavor in which he is held by the +prince; but I have never even mentioned his name before him, and the +prince's misliking is but the feeling which a noble and generous heart +has, as though by instinct, against one who is false and treacherous. At +the same time we must grant that this traitor knight is a bold and +fearless man-at-arms; he fought well at La Blanche Tache and Cressy, and +he is much liked and trusted by my Lord of Northampton, in whose +following he mostly rides; 'tis a pity that one so brave should have so +foul and treacherous a heart. Here we are at my hut, and you can sleep +soundly to-night, Ralph, for there is little fear that the fellow, who +has failed to-night, will repeat his attempt for some time. He thinks, +no doubt, that he has killed me, for with a blow so strongly struck he +would scarce have felt the snapping of the weapon, and is likely enough +already on board one of the ships which ply to and fro from England on +his way to acquaint his employer that I am removed from his path." + +The next morning Walter mentioned to the Black Prince the venture which +had befallen him, and the narrow escape he had had of his life. The +prince was extremely exasperated, and gave orders that an inquisition +should be made through the camp, and that all men found there not being +able to give a good account of themselves as having reasonable and +lawful calling there should be forthwith put on board ship and sent to +England. He questioned Walter closely whether he deemed that this attack +was for the purpose of plunder only, or whether he had any reason to +believe that he had private enemies. + +"There is a knight who is evilly disposed toward me, your highness," +Walter said; "but seeing that I have no proof whatever that he had a +hand in this affair, however strongly I may suspect it, I would fain, +with your leave, avoid mentioning his name." + +"But think you that there is any knight in this camp capable of so foul +an action?" + +"I have had proofs, your highness, that he is capable of such an act; +but in this matter my tongue is tied, as the wrong he attempted was not +against myself, but against others who have so far forgiven him that +they would fain the matter should drop. He owes me ill-will, seeing that +I am aware of his conduct, and that it was my intervention which caused +his schemes to fail. Should this attempt against me be repeated it can +scarce be the effect of chance, but would show premeditated design, and +I would then, both in defense of my own life, and because I think that +such deeds should not go unpunished, not hesitate to name him to you, +and if proof be wanting to defy him to open combat." + +"I regret, Sir Walter, that your scruples should hinder you from at once +denouncing him; but seeing how grave a matter it is to charge a knight +with so foul a crime, I will not lay stress upon you; but be assured +that should any repetition of the attempt be made I shall take the +matter in hand, and will see that this caitiff knight receives his +deserts." + +A short time afterward Walter accompanied the prince in an excursion +which he made with a portion of the army, sweeping the French provinces +as far as the river Somme. Upon their way back they passed through the +village of Pres, hard by which stood a small castle. It was situate some +forty miles from Calais, and standing upon rising ground it commanded a +very extensive view over the country. + +"What say you, Sir Walter?" the prince said to the young knight who was +riding near him. "That castle would make a good advanced post, and a +messenger riding in could bring news of any large movements of the +enemy." Walter assented. + +"Then, Sir Walter, I name you its chatelain. I shall be sorry to lose +your good company; but the post is one of peril, and I know that you are +ever longing to distinguish yourself. Take forty men-at-arms and sixty +archers. With that force you may make shift to resist any attack until +help reaches you from camp. You may be sure that I shall not be slack in +spurring to your rescue should you be assailed." + +Walter received the proposal with delight. He was weary of the monotony +of life in New Town, and this post, in which vigilance and activity +would be required, was just to his taste; so, taking the force named by +the prince, with a store of provision, he drew off from the column and +entered the castle. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE SIEGE OF A FORTALICE. + + +Walter's first step on assuming the command was to examine thoroughly +into the capabilities of defense of the place, to see that the well was +in good order, and the supply of water ample, and to send out a foraging +party, which, driving in a number of beasts and some cart-loads of +forage, would supply his garrison for some time. The castle he found was +less strong than it looked. The walls were lightly built, and were +incapable of withstanding any heavy battering. The moat was dry, and the +flanking towers badly placed, and affording little protection to the +faces of the walls; however, the extent of the defenses was small, and +Walter felt confident that with the force at his command he could resist +any sudden attack, unless made in overwhelming force, so that all the +faces of the wall could be assaulted at the same time. He had a large +number of great stones brought in to pile against the gate, while others +were brought into the central keep, similarly to defend the door should +the outer wall be carried. He appointed Ralph as his lieutenant, and +every day, leaving him in charge of the castle, rode through the +country for many miles round, with twenty men-at-arms, to convince +himself that no considerable force of the enemy were approaching. These +reconnaissances were not without some danger and excitement, for several +times bodies of the country people, armed with scythes, axes, and +staves, tried to intercept them on their return to the castle, and once +or twice Walter and his men had to fight their way through their +opponents. Contrary to the custom of the times, Walter gave orders to +his men not to slay any when resistance had ceased. + +"They are but doing what we ourselves should do did French garrisons +hold our castles at home, and I deem them in no way to be blamed for the +efforts which they make to slay us. In self-defense, of course, we must +do our best, and must kill in order that we may not ourselves be slain; +but when they are once routed, let them go to their homes. Poor people, +the miseries which this war has brought upon them are great, and there +is no wonder that they hate us." + +This leniency on Walter's part was not without good effect. When the +country people found that the garrison of the castle of Pres did not +carry fire and sword through the villages around, that they took only +sufficient for their needs, and behaved with courtesy to all, their +animosity to a great extent subsided. No longer did the women and +children of the little villages fly to the woods when they saw the gleam +of Walter's approaching spears, but remained at their avocations, and +answered willingly enough the questions which he asked them as to +whether they had heard aught of the movements of French troops. So far +as possible, Walter refrained from seizing the cattle or stores of grain +of the poorer classes, taking such as he needed from the lands of the +wealthy proprietors, all of whom had left the country, and were either +with the French army or sheltering in Paris. Five of his best mounted +men Walter chose as messengers, and one rode each day to New Town with +the news which had been gathered, returning on the following day, and +then resting his horse for three days before again setting out. + +Night and day sentries were placed on the walls, for although Walter +heard nothing of any body gathering in his immediate vicinity, a force +might at any moment issue from Amiens and appear suddenly before the +place. Such was indeed what really took place, and at daybreak one +morning Walter was aroused by the news that the sentinels saw a large +body of men rapidly approaching. The horse of the messenger next on duty +stood, as usual, saddled and bridled in readiness, and without a +moment's delay Walter ordered the man to mount and ride to the prince, +and to give news that the castle was assailed, but by how large a force +he could not as yet say. + +The instant the messenger had started through the gates Walter ascended +to the walls; he saw at once that the party was a strong one; for +although still at some distance, and but dimly seen in the gray morning +light, he judged that it must contain at least a thousand men-at-arms. +At this moment a call from the sentry on the other side of the castle +was heard, and hastening thither, Walter saw that another body nearly as +numerous as the first were approaching from the side of Calais, having +made a _detour_ so as to place themselves between the castle and the +army, to which news would naturally be sent of their coming. Walter +watched his messenger, who had now ridden half a mile toward the +approaching body. Suddenly he saw him turn his horse and ride off at +right angles to the road. + +"He sees them," he said, "and is going to try to ride round them. I fear +that there is but little hope of his escaping, seeing that they are +between him and Calais, and that assuredly some among them must be as +well or better mounted than himself." As he spoke a party of horsemen +were seen to detach themselves from the flank of the French column and +to gallop off at full speed to intercept the messenger; the latter +diverged more and more from his course, but he was constantly headed off +by his pursuers, and at last, seeing the impossibility of getting +through them, he again turned his horse's head and galloped off toward +the castle, which he reached a few hundred yards only in advance of his +foes. + +"I could not help it, Sir Walter," he said as he galloped in at the +gate. "I found that although Robin is fast, some of those horsemen had +the turn of speed of me, and that it was impossible that I could get +through; so deeming that I should do more service by coming to strike a +blow here than by having my throat cut out in the fields, I made the +best of my way back." + +"Quite right, Martin!" Walter said. "I should have been grieved had you +thrown your life away needlessly. I saw from the first that your escape +was cut off. And now, men, each to his place; but first pile up the +stones against the gate, and then let each man take a good meal, for it +is like enough to be long before we get a chance of doing so again." + +Again ascending to the walls, Walter saw that the first body of +men-at-arms he had perceived was followed at a distance by a strong +force of footmen having with them some large wagons. + +"I fear," he said to Ralph, "that they have brought machines with them +from Amiens, and in that case they will not be long in effecting a +breach, for doubtless they know that the walls are but weak. We shall +have to fight stoutly, for it may be days before the news of our leaguer +reaches the camp. However, I trust that the prince will, by to-morrow +night, when he finds that two days have elapsed without the coming of my +usual messenger, suspect that we are besieged and will sally forth to +our assistance. And now let us to breakfast, for we shall need all our +strength to-day, and you may be sure that the French will lose no time +in attacking, seeing that assistance may shortly arrive from Calais." + +There were but few preparations to be made. Each man had had his post +assigned to him on the walls in case of an attack, and piles of stones +had been collected in readiness to cast down upon the heads of those +attempting an assault. Caldrons were carried up to the walls and filled +with water, and great fires were lighted under them. In half an hour the +French infantry had reached the spot, but another two hours elapsed +before any hostile movement was made, the leaders of the assailants +giving their men that time to rest after their long march. Then a stir +was visible among them, and they were seen to form in four columns, each +about a thousand strong, which advanced simultaneously against opposite +sides of the castle. + +As soon as their intentions were manifest Walter divided his little +force, and these, gathering in four groups upon the walls, prepared to +resist the assault. To four of his most trusty men-at-arms he assigned +the command of these parties, he himself and Ralph being thus left free +to give their aid where it was most needed. + +The assailants were well provided with scaling ladders, and advanced +with a number of cross-bowmen in front, who speedily opened a hot fire +on the walls. Walter ordered his archers to bide their time, and not to +fire a shot till certain that every shaft would tell. They accordingly +waited until the French arrived within fifty yards of the wall, when +the arrows began to rain among them with deadly effect; scarce one but +struck its mark--the face of an enemy. Even the closed visors of the +knights and chief men-at-arms did not avail to protect their wearers; +the shafts pierced between the bars or penetrated the slits left open +for sight, and many fell slain by the first volley. But their numbers +were far too great to allow the columns being checked by the fire of so +small a number of archers; the front ranks, indeed, pressed forward more +eagerly than before, being anxious to reach the foot of the wall, where +they would be in comparative shelter from the arrows. + +The archers disturbed themselves in no way at the reaching of the wall +by the heads of the columns; but continued to shoot fast and true into +the mass behind them, and as these were, for the most part, less +completely armed than their leaders, numbers fell under the fire of the +sixty English bowmen. It was the turn of the men-at-arms now. +Immediately the assailants poured into the dry moat and sought to raise +their ladders the men-at-arms hurled down the masses of stones piled in +readiness, while some poured buckets of boiling water over them. In +spite of the loss they were suffering the French raised their ladders, +and covering their heads with their shields the leaders strove to gain +the walls. As they did so some of the archers took post in the flanking +towers, and as with uplifted arms the assailants climbed the ladders, +the archers smote them above the joints of their armor beneath the +armpits, while the men-at-arms with pike and battle-ax hewed down those +who reached the top of the ladders. Walter and Ralph hastened from point +to point encouraging the men and joining in the defense where the +pressure was hottest; and at last, after two hours of vain effort and +suffering great loss, the assailants drew off and the garrison had +breathing-time. + +"Well done, my men!" Walter said cheeringly; "they have had a lesson +which they will remember, and if so be that they have brought with them +no machines we may hold out against them for any time." + +It was soon manifest, however, that along with the scaling ladders the +enemy had brought one of their war-machines. Men were seen dragging +massive beams of timber toward the walls, and one of the wagons was +drawn forward and upset on its side at a distance of sixty yards from +the wall not, however, without those who drew it suffering much from the +arrows of the bowmen. Behind the shelter thus formed the French began to +put together the machine, whose beams soon raised themselves high above +the wagon. + +In the mean time groups of men dragged great stones laid upon a sort of +hand sledge to the machine, and late in the afternoon it began to cast +its missiles against the wall. Against these Walter could do little. He +had no sacks, which, filled with earth, he might have lowered to cover +the part of the walls assailed, and beyond annoying those working the +machines by flights of arrows shot high in the air, so as to descend +point downward among them, he could do nothing. + +The wall crumbled rapidly beneath the blows of the great stones, and +Walter saw that by the following morning a breach would be effected. +When night fell he called his men together and asked if any would +volunteer to carry news through the enemy to the prince. The enterprise +seemed well-nigh hopeless, for the French, as if foreseeing that +such an attempt might be made, had encamped in a complete circle +round the castle, as was manifest by the position of their fires. +Several men stepped forward, and Walter chose three light and active +men--archers--to attempt the enterprise. These stripped off their steel +caps and breast-pieces, so that they might move more quickly, and when +the French fires burned low and all was quiet save the creak of the +machine and the dull heavy blows of the stones against the wall, the +three men were lowered by ropes at different points, and started on +their enterprise. A quarter of an hour later the garrison heard shouts +and cries, and knew that a vigilant watch had been set by the French, +and that one, if not all, of their friends had fallen into their hands. +All night long the machine continued to play. + +An hour before daylight, when he deemed that the enemy's vigilance would +be relaxed, Walter caused himself with Ralph and twelve of his +men-at-arms to be lowered by ropes from the wall. Each rope had a loop +at the bottom in which one foot was placed, and knots were tied in order +to give a better grasp for the hands. They were lowered at a short +distance from the spot at which the machine was at work; all were armed +with axes, and they made their way unperceived until within a few yards +of the wagon. Then there was a cry of alarm, and in a moment they rushed +forward among the enemy. The men working the machine were instantly cut +down, and Walter and his party fell upon the machine, cutting the ropes +and smashing the wheels and pulleys and hewing away at the timber +itself. In a minute or two, however, they were attacked by the enemy, +the officer in command having bade a hundred men lie down to sleep close +behind the machine in case the garrison should attempt a sortie. Walter +called upon Ralph and four of the men-at-arms to stand beside him while +the others continued their work of destruction. The French came up in a +tumultuous body, but standing so far apart that they could wield their +axes, the English dealt such destruction among their first assailants +that these for a time recoiled. As fresh numbers came up, encouraged by +their leader they renewed the attack, and in spite of the most +tremendous efforts Walter and his party were driven back. By this time, +however, so much damage had been done to the machine that it would be +some hours before it could be repaired, even if spare ropes and other +appliances had been brought with it from Amiens; so that, reenforced by +the working party, Walter was again able to hold his ground, and after +repulsing a fresh onslaught of the enemy he gave the word for his men to +retire at full speed. + +The French were so surprised by the sudden disappearance of their foes +that it was a moment or two before they started in pursuit, and Walter +and his men had gained some thirty yards before the pursuit really +commenced. + +The night was a dark one, and they considerably increased this advantage +before they reached the foot of the wall, where the ropes were hanging. + +"Have each of you found his rope?" Walter asked. + +As soon as an affirmative answer was given he placed his foot in the +loop and shouted to the men above to draw up, and before the enraged +enemy could reach the spot the whole party were already some yards above +their heads. The archers opened fire upon the French, doing, in spite of +the darkness, considerable execution, for the men had snatched up their +arms at the sudden alarm, and had joined the fray in such haste that +many of them had not had time to put on their steel caps. There was +noise and bustle in the enemy's camp, for the whole force were now under +arms, and in their anger at the sudden blow which had been struck them, +some bodies of men even moved forward toward the walls as if they +intended to renew the assault of the previous day; but the showers of +arrows with which they were greeted cooled their ardor, and they +presently retired out of reach of bow-shot. There was a respite now for +the besiegers. No longer every few minutes did a heavy stone strike the +walls. + +The morning's light enabled the defenders of the castle to see the +extent of the damage which the battering machine had effected. None too +soon had they put a stop to its work, for had it continued its +operations another hour or two would have effected a breach. + +Already large portions of the wall facing it had fallen, and other +portions were so seriously damaged that a few more blows would have +leveled them. + +"At any rate," Walter said to Ralph, "we have gained a respite; but even +now I fear that if the Black Prince comes not until to-morrow he will +arrive too late." + +The French, apparently as well aware as the garrison of the necessity +for haste, labored at the repair of the machine. Bodies of men started +to cut down trees to supply the place of the beams which had been +rendered useless. Scarcely had the assault ceased when horsemen were +dispatched in various directions to seek for fresh ropes, and by dint of +the greatest exertions the machine was placed in position to renew its +attack shortly after noon. + +By two o'clock several large portions of the damaged wall had fallen, +and the _debris_ formed a slope by which an assaulting column could rush +to the bridge. As soon as this was manifest the French force formed for +the assault and rushed forward in solid column. + +Walter had made the best preparation possible for the defense. In the +courtyard behind the breach his men had since morning been driving a +circle of piles, connected by planks fastened to them. These were some +five feet high, and along the top and in the face next to the breach +sharp-pointed spikes and nails had been driven, rendering it difficult +in the extreme for any one to climb over. As the column of the +assailants approached Walter placed his archers on the walls on either +side of the breach, while he himself, with his men-at-arms, took his +station in the gap and faced the coming host. The breach was some ten +yards wide, but it was only for about half this width that the mound of +broken stones rendered it possible for their enemies to assault, +consequently there was but a space of some fifteen feet in width to be +defended. Regardless of the flights of arrows, the French, headed by +their knights and squires, advanced to the assault, and clambering up +the rough stones attacked the defenders. + +Walter, with Ralph and three of his best men-at-arms, stood in the front +line and received the first shock of the assault. The roughness and +steepness of the mound prevented the French from attacking in regular +order, and the very eagerness of the knights and squires who came first +in contact with their enemies was a hindrance to them. When the columns +were seen gathering for the assault Walter had scattered several barrels +full of oil and tar which he found in the cellars over the mound in +front of the breach, rendering it greasy and slippery, and causing the +assailants to slip and stagger and many to fall as they pressed forward +to the assault. Before the fight commenced he had encouraged his +soldiers by recalling to them how a mere handful of men had at Cressy +withstood for hours the desperate efforts of the whole of the French +army to break through their line, and all were prepared to fight to the +death. + +The struggle was a desperate one. Served by their higher position, and +by the difficulties which the French encountered from the slipperiness +of the ground and their own fierce ardor to attack, Walter and his +little band for a long time resisted every effort. He with his sword and +Ralph with his heavy mace did great execution, and they were nobly +seconded by their men-at-arms. As fast as one fell another took his +place. The breach in front of them was cumbered with dead and red with +blood. Still the French poured upward in a wave, and the sheer weight of +their numbers and the fatigue caused by the tremendous exertions the +defenders were making began to tell. Step by step the English were +driven back, and Walter saw that the defense could not much longer be +continued. He bade one of his men-at-arms at once order the archers to +cease firing, and, leaving the walls, to take refuge in the keep, and +thence to open fire upon the French as they poured through the breach. + +When he found that this movement had been accomplished Walter bade the +men-at-arms fall back gradually. A gap had been left in the wooden fence +sufficient for one at a time to pass, and through this the men-at-arms +retired one by one to the keep until only Walter and five others were +left. With these Walter flung himself suddenly upon the assailants and +forced them a few feet down the slope. Then he gave the word, and all +sprang back, and leaping down from the wall into the court-yard ran +through the barrier, Walter and Ralph being the last to pass as the +French with exulting shouts leaped down from the breach. + +There was another fierce fight at the barrier. Walter left Ralph to +defend this with a few men-at-arms while he saw that all was in +readiness for closing the door rapidly in the keep. Then he ran back +again. He was but just in time. Ralph indeed could for a long time have +held the narrow passage, but the barriers themselves were yielding. The +French were pouring in through the breach, and as those behind could not +see the nature of the obstacle which arrested the advance of their +companions they continued to push forward, and by their weight pressed +those in front against the spikes in the barrier. Many perished +miserably on these. Others, whose armor protected them from this fate, +were crushed to death by the pressure; but this was now so great that +the timbers were yielding. Walter, seeing that in another moment they +would be leveled, gave the word, sprang back with Ralph and his party, +and entered the keep just as with a crash the barrier fell and the +French poured in a crowd into the court-yard. Bolting the door the +defenders of the keep piled against it the stones which had been laid in +readiness. + +The door was on the first floor, and was approached by a narrow flight +of stone steps, up which but two abreast could advance. In their first +fury the French poured up these steps, but from the loop-holes which +commanded it the English bowmen shot so hard that their arrows pierced +the strongest armor. Smitten through visor and armor, numbers of the +bravest of the assailants fell dead. Those who gained the top of the +steps were assailed by showers of boiling oil from an upper chamber +which projected over the door, and whose floor was pierced for this +purpose, while from the top of the keep showers of stones were poured +down. After losing great numbers in this desperate effort at assault the +French drew off for awhile, while their leaders held council as to the +best measures to be taken for the capture of the keep. + +After a time Walter from the summit saw several bodies of men detach +themselves from the crowd still without the castle and proceed into the +country. Two hours later they were seen returning laden with trunks of +trees. These were dragged through the breach, and were, in spite of the +efforts of the archers and of the men-at-arms with their stones, placed +so as to form a sort of penthouse against one side of the keep. Numbers +of the soldiers now poured up with sacks and all kinds of vessels which +they had gathered from the surrounding villages, filled with earth. This +was thrown over the beams until it filled all the crevices between them +and formed a covering a foot thick, so that neither boiling oil nor +water poured from above could penetrate to injure those working beneath +its shelter. When all was ready a strong body armed with picks and +crowbars entered the penthouse and began to labor to cut away the wall +of the keep itself. + +"Their commander knows his business," Walter said, "and the device is an +excellent one. We can do nothing, and it only depends upon the strength +of the wall how long we can hold out. The masonry is by no means good, +and before nightfall, unless aid comes, there will be naught for us but +death or surrender." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +A PRISONER. + + +As long as it was light an anxious lookout was kept from the top of the +keep toward Calais. There was nothing to be done. The besiegers who had +entered the walls were ensconced in the various buildings in the +court-yard or placed behind walls so as to be out of arrow-shot from +above, and were in readiness to repel any sortie which might be made to +interfere with the work going on under the penthouse. But no sortie was +possible, for to effect this it would be necessary to remove the stones +from the door, and before this could be accomplished the besiegers would +have rallied in overwhelming force, nor could a sortie have effected +anything beyond the slaying of the men actually engaged in the work. The +beams of the penthouse were too strong and too heavily weighted with +earth to be removed, and the attempt would only have entailed useless +slaughter. The penthouse was about forty feet in length, and the +assailants were piercing three openings, each of some six feet in width, +leaving two strong supporting pillars between them. Anxiously the +garrison within listened to the sounds of work, which became louder and +louder as the walls crumbled before the stroke of pickax and crowbar. + +"I shall hold out until the last moment," Walter said to Ralph, "in +hopes of relief, but before they burst in I shall sound a parley. To +resist further would be a vain sacrifice of life." + +Presently a movement could be seen among the stones, and then almost +simultaneously two apertures appeared. The chamber into which the +openings were made was a large one, being used as the common room of the +garrison. Here twenty archers and the remaining men-at-arms--of whom +nearly one-half had fallen in the defense of the breach--were gathered, +and the instant the orifices appeared the archers began to send their +arrows through them. Then Walter ascended to another chamber, and +ordered the trumpeter to sound a parley. + +The sound was repeated by the assailants' trumpeter. + +"Who commands the force?" Walter asked. + +"I, Guy, Count of Evreux." + +"I am Sir Walter Somers," the young knight continued. "I wish to ask +terms for the garrison." + +"You must surrender unconditionally," the count replied from the +court-yard. "In ten minutes we shall have completely pierced your walls, +and you will be at our mercy." + +"You may pierce our walls," Walter replied, "but it will cost you many +lives before you force your way in; we will defend the hold from floor +to floor, and you know how desperate men can fight. It will cost you +scores of lives before you win your way to the summit of this keep; but +if I have your knightly word that the lives of all within these walls +shall be spared, then will I open the doors and lay down our arms." + +A consultation took place between the leaders below. There was truth in +Walter's words that very many lives would be sacrificed before the +resistance of so gallant a garrison could be overcome. Every minute was +of importance, for it was possible that at any moment aid might arrive +from Calais, and that the table would be turned upon the besiegers. +Therefore, after a short parley among themselves, the count replied: + +"You have fought as a gallant knight and gentleman, Sir Walter Somers, +and have wrought grievous harm upon my leading. I should grieve that so +brave a knight should lose his life in a useless resistance. Therefore I +agree to your terms, and swear upon my knightly honor that upon your +surrendering yourselves prisoners of war, the lives of all within these +walls shall be spared." + +Walter at once gave the order. The stones were removed and the door +thrown open, and leading his men Walter descended the steps into the +court-yard, which was now illuminated with torches, and handed his sword +to the Count of Evreux. + +"You promised me, count," a tall knight standing by his side said, "that +if he were taken alive, the commander of this castle should be my +prisoner." + +"I did so, Sir Philip Holbeaut. When you proposed this adventure to me, +and offered to place your following at my command, I agreed to the +request you made me; but mind," he said sternly, "my knightly word has +been given for his safety. See that he receives fair and gentle +treatment at your hand. I would not that aught should befall so brave a +knight." + +"I seek him no harm," the knight said angrily; "but I know that he is +one of the knights of the Black Prince's own suit, and that his ransom +will be freely paid, and as my coffers are low from the expenses of the +war, I would fain replenish them at the expense of the English prince." + +"I said not that I doubted you, Sir Philip," the count said calmly; "but +as the knight surrendered on my word, it was needful that I should warn +you to treat him as I myself should do did he remain in my hands, and to +give him fair treatment until duly ransomed." + +"I should be glad, count," Walter said, "if you will suffer me to take +with me as companion in my captivity this man-at-arms. He is strongly +attached to me, and we have gone through many perils together; it will +lighten my captivity to have him by my side." + +"Surely I will do so, Sir Walter, and wish that your boon had been a +larger one. The rest I will take back with me to Amiens, there to hold +until exchanged for some of those who at various times have fallen into +your king's hands. And now to work, men; lose not a moment in stripping +the castle of all that you choose to carry away, then apply fire to the +storehouses, granaries, and the hold itself. I would not that it +remained standing to serve as an outpost for the English." + +The horses were brought from the stables. Walter and Ralph took their +horses by the bridle, and followed Sir Philip Holbeaut through the now +open gates of the castle to the spot where the horses of the besiegers +were picketed. The knight and his own men-at-arms, who had at the +beginning of the day numbered a hundred and fifty, but who were now +scarcely two thirds of that strength, at once mounted with their +prisoners, and rode off from the castle. A few minutes later a glare of +light burst out from behind them. The count's orders had been obeyed; +fire had been applied to the stores of forage, and soon the castle of +Pres was wrapped in flames. + +"I like not our captor's manner," Ralph said to Walter as they rode +along side by side. + +"I agree with you, Ralph. I believe that the reason which he gave the +count for his request was not a true one, though, indeed, I can see no +other motive which he could have for seeking to gain possession of me. +Sir Philip, although a valiant knight, bears but an indifferent +reputation. I have heard that he is a cruel master to his serfs, and +that when away fighting in Germany he behaved so cruelly to the +peasantry that even the Germans, who are not nice in their modes of +warfare, cried out against him. It is an evil fortune that has thrown +us into his hands; still, although grasping and avaricious, he can +hardly demand for a simple knight any inordinate ransom. The French +themselves would cry out did he do so, seeing that so large a number of +their own knights are in our hands, and that the king has ample powers +of retaliation; however, we need not look on the dark side. It is not +likely that our captivity will be a long one, for the prince, who is the +soul of generosity, will not haggle over terms, but will pay my ransom +as soon as he hears into whose hands I have fallen, while there are +scores of men-at-arms prisoners whom he can exchange for you. Doubtless +Sir Philip will send you over as soon as he arrives at his castle, with +one of his own followers, to treat for my ransom." + +After riding for some hours the troop halted their weary horses in a +wood, and lighting fires, cooked their food, and then lay down until +morning. Sir Philip exchanged but few words with his captive; as, having +removed his helm, he sat by the fire, Walter had an opportunity of +seeing his countenance. It did not belie his reputation. His face had a +heavy and brutal expression which was not decreased by the fashion of +his hair, which was cut quite short, and stood up without parting all +over his bullet-shaped head; he had a heavy and bristling mustache which +was cut short in a line with his lips. + +[Illustration: "THIS IS A DUNGEON FOR A FELON," HE EXCLAIMED.--Page +273.] + +"It is well," Walter thought to himself, "that it is my ransom rather +than my life which is dear to that evil-looking knight; for, assuredly, +he is not one to hesitate did fortune throw a foe into his hands." + +At daybreak the march was resumed, and was continued until they reached +the castle of Sir Philip Holbeaut, which stood on a narrow tongue of +land formed by a sharp bend of the Somme. + +On entering the castle the knight gave an order to his followers, and +the prisoners were at once led to a narrow cell beneath one of the +towers. Walter looked round indignantly when he arrived there. + +"This is a dungeon for a felon," he exclaimed, "not the apartment for a +knight who has been taken captive in fair fight. Tell your master that +he is bound to award me honorable treatment, and that unless he removes +me instantly from this dungeon to a proper apartment, and treats me with +all due respect and courtesy, I will, when I regain my liberty, proclaim +him a dishonored knight." + +The men-at-arms made no reply; but, locking the door behind them, left +the prisoners alone. + +"What can this mean, Ralph?" Walter exclaimed. "We are in the lowest +dungeon, and below the level of the river. See how damp are the walls, +and the floor is thick with slimy mud. The river must run but just below +that loop-hole, and in times of flood probably enters here." + +Philip of Holbeaut, on dismounting, ascended to an upper chamber, where +a man in the dress of a well-to-do citizen was sitting. + +"Well, Sir Philip," he exclaimed, rising to his feet as the other +entered, "what news?" + +"The news is bad," the knight growled. "This famous scheme of yours has +cost me fifty of my best men. I would I had had nothing to do with it." + +"But this Walter Somers," the other exclaimed, "what of him? He has not +escaped, surely! The force which marched from Amiens was large enough to +have eaten him and his garrison." + +"He has not escaped," the knight replied. + +"Then he is killed!" the other said eagerly. + +"No; nor is he killed. He is at present a prisoner in a dungeon below, +together with a stout knave whom he begged might accompany him until +ransomed." + +"All is well, then," the other exclaimed. "Never mind the loss of your +men. The money which I have promised you for this business will hire you +two hundred such knaves; but why didst not knock him on the head at +once?" + +"It was not so easy to knock him on the head," Sir Philip growled. "It +cost us five hundred men to capture the outer walls, and to have fought +our way into the keep, held as it was by men who would have contested +every foot of the ground, was not a job for which any of us had much +stomach, seeing what the first assaults had cost us; so the count took +them all to quarter. The rest he carried with him to Amiens; but their +leader, according to the promise which he made me, he handed over to me +as my share of the day's booty, giving me every charge that he should +receive good and knightly treatment." + +"Which, no doubt, you will observe," the other said, with an ugly laugh. + +"It is a bad business," the knight exclaimed angrily, "and were it not +for our friendship in Spain, and the memory of sundry deeds which we did +together, not without profit to our purses, I would rather that you were +thrown over the battlements into the river than I had taken a step in +this business. However, none can say that Philip of Holbeaut ever +deserted a friend who had proved true to him, not to mention that the +sum which you promised me for my aid in this matter will, at the present +time, prove wondrously convenient. Yet I foresee that it will bring me +into trouble with the Count of Evreux. Ere many days a demand will come +for the fellow to be delivered on ransom." + +"And what will you say?" the other asked. + +"I shall say what is the truth," the knight replied, "though I may add +something that is not wholly so. I shall say that he was drowned in the +Somme. I shall add that it happened as he was trying to make his escape, +contrary to the parole he had given; but in truth he will be drowned in +the dungeon in which I have placed him, which has rid me of many a +troublesome prisoner before now. The river is at ordinary times but two +feet below the loop-hole; and when its tide is swelled by rain it often +rises above the sill, and then there is an end of any one within. They +can doubt my word; but there are not many who would care to do so +openly; none who would do so for the sake of an unknown English knight. +And as for any complaints on the part of the Black Prince, King Philip +has shown over and over again how little the complaints of Edward +himself move him." + +"It were almost better to knock him on the head at once," the other said +thoughtfully; "the fellow has as many lives as a cat." + +"If he had as many as nine cats," the knight replied, "it would not +avail him. But I will have no violence. The water will do your work as +well as a poniard, and I will not have it said, even among such ruffians +as mine, that I slew a captured knight. The other will pass as an +accident, and I care not what my men may think as long as they can say +nothing for a surety. The count may storm as much as he will, and may +even lay a complaint against me before the king; but in times like the +present, even a simple knight who can lead two hundred good fighting men +into the field is not to be despised, and the king is likely to be +easily satisfied with my replies to any question that may be raised. +Indeed, it would seem contrary to reason that I should slay a captive +against whom I have no cause of quarrel, and so forfeit the ransom which +I should get for him." + +"But suppose that a messenger should come offering ransom before the +river happens to rise?" + +"Then I shall anticipate matters, and shall say that what I know will +happen has already taken place. Do not be uneasy, Sir James. You have my +word in the matter, and now I have gone so far, I shall carry it +through. From the moment when I ordered him into that dungeon his fate +was sealed, and in truth, when I gave the order I did so to put an end +to the indecision in which my mind had been all night. Once in there he +could not be allowed to come out alive, for his report of such treatment +would do me more harm among those of my own station in France than any +rumors touching his end could do. It is no uncommon affair for one to +remove an enemy from one's path; but cruelty to a knightly prisoner +would be regarded with horror. Would you like to have a look at him?" + +The other hesitated. "No," he replied. "Against him personally I have no +great grudge. He has thwarted my plans, and stands now grievously in the +way of my making fresh ones; but as he did so from no ill-will toward +myself, but as it were by hazard, I have no personal hatred toward him, +though I would fain remove him from my path. Besides, I tell you fairly, +that even in that dungeon where you have thrown him I shall not feel +that he is safe until you send me word that he is dead. He has twice +already got out of scrapes when other men would have been killed. Both +at Vannes and at Ghent he escaped in a marvelous way; and but a few +weeks since, by the accident of his having a coat of mail under his +doublet he saved his life from as fair a blow as ever was struck. +Therefore I would not that he knew aught of my having a hand in this +matter, for if after having seen me he made his escape I could never +show my face in England again. I should advise you to bid three or four +men always enter his cell together, for he and that man-at-arms who +follows him like a shadow are capable of playing any desperate trick to +escape." + +"That matter is easily enough managed," Sir Philip said grimly, "by no +one entering the dungeon at all. The river may be slow of rising, though +in sooth the sky looks overcast now, and it is already at its usual +winter level; and whether he dies from lack of water or from a too +abundant supply matters but little to me; only, as I told you, I will +give no orders for him to be killed. Dost remember that Jew we carried +off from Seville and kept without water until he agreed to pay us a +ransom which made us both rich for six months? That was a rare haul, and +I would that rich Jews were plentiful in this country." + +"Yes, those were good times," the other said, "although I own that I +have not done badly since the war began, having taken a count and three +knights prisoners, and put them to ransom, and having reaped a goodly +share of plunder from your French burghers, else indeed I could not have +offered you so round a sum to settle this little matter for me. There +are not many French knights who have earned a count's ransom in the +present war. And now I will take horse; here is one-half of the sum I +promised you, in gold nobles. I will send you the remainder on the day +when I get news from you that the matter is finished." + +"Have your money ready in a week's time," the knight replied, taking the +bag of gold which the other placed on the table, "for by that time you +will hear from me. I hope this will not be the last business which we +may do together; there ought to be plenty of good chances in a war like +this. Any time that you can send me word of an intended foray by a small +party under a commander whose ransom would be a high one I will share +what I get with you; and similarly I will let you know of any rich prize +who may be pounced upon on the same terms." + +"Agreed!" the other said. "We may do a good business together in that +way. But you lie too far away. If you move up as near as you can to +Calais and let me know your whereabout, so that I could send or ride to +you in a few hours, we might work together with no small profit." + +"I will take the field as soon as this affair of yours is settled," the +knight replied; "and the messenger who brings you the news shall tell +you where I may be found. And now, while your horse is being got ready, +let us drink a stoop of wine together in memory of old times, though, +for myself, these wines of ours are poor and insipid beside the fiery +juice of Spain." + +While this conversation, upon which their fate so much depended, had +been going on, Walter and Ralph had been discussing the situation, and +had arrived at a tolerably correct conclusion. + +"This conduct on the part of this brutal French knight, Ralph, is so +strange that methinks it cannot be the mere outcome of his passions or +of hate against me as an Englishman, but of some deeper motive; and we +were right in thinking that in bargaining for my person with the Count +of Evreux it was more than my ransom which he sought. Had that been his +only object he would never have thrown us into this noisome dungeon, for +my report of such treatment would bring dishonor upon him in the eyes of +every knight and noble in France as well as in England. It must be my +life he aims at, although what grudge he can have against me it passes +me to imagine. It may be that at Cressy or elsewhere some dear relative +of his may have fallen by my sword; and yet were it so, men nourish no +grudge for the death of those killed in fair fight. But this boots not +at present. It is enough for us that it is my life which he aims at, and +I fear, Ralph, that yours must be included with mine, since he would +never let a witness escape to carry the foul tale against him. This +being so, the agreement on which I surrendered is broken, and I am free +to make my escape if I can, and methinks the sooner that be attempted +the better. So let us to work to plan how we may best get out of this +place. After our escape from that well at Vannes we need not despair +about breaking out from this dungeon of Holbeaut." + +"We might overpower the guard who brings our food," Ralph said. + +"There is that chance," Walter rejoined, "but I think it is a poor one. +They may be sure that this dishonorable treatment will have rendered us +desperate, and they will take every precaution and come well armed. It +may be, too, that they will not come at all, but that they intend us to +die of starvation, or perchance to be drowned by the floods, which it is +easy to see often make their way in here. No, our escape, if escape +there be, must be made through that loop-hole above. Were that bar +removed methinks it is wide enough for us to squeeze through. Doubtless +such a hazard has not occurred to them, seeing that it is nigh twelve +feet above the floor and that a single man could by no possibility reach +it, but with two of us there is no difficulty. Now, Ralph, do you stand +against the wall. I will climb upon your shoulders and standing there +can reach the bar and so haul myself up and look out." + +This was soon done, and Walter, seizing the bar, hauled himself up so +that he could see through the loop-hole. + +"It is as I thought," he said. "The waters of the Somme are but a foot +below the level of this window; the river is yellow and swollen, and a +few hours' heavy rain would bring it above the level of this sill. Stand +steady, Ralph, I am coming down again." + +When he reached the ground he said: + +"Take off your belt, Ralph; if we buckle that and mine together, passing +it round the bar, it will make a loop upon which we can stand at the +window and see how best we can loosen the bar. Constantly wet as it is, +it is likely that the mortar will have softened, in which case we shall +have little difficulty in working it out." + +The plan was at once put into execution; the belts were fastened +together, and Walter standing on Ralph's shoulders passed one end around +the bar and buckled it to the other, thus making a loop some three feet +in length; putting a foot in this he was able to stand easily at the +loop-hole. + +"It is put in with mortar at the top, Ralph, and the mortar has rotted +with the wet, but at the bottom lead was poured in when the bar was set +and this must be scooped out before it can be moved. Fortunately the +knight gave no orders to his men to remove our daggers when we were +thrust in here, and these will speedily dig out the lead; but I must +come down first, for the strap prevents my working at the foot of the +bar. We must tear off a strip of our clothing and make a shift to fasten +the strap half-way up the bar so as not to slip down with our weight." + +In order to accomplish this Walter had to stand upon Ralph's head to +gain additional height. He presently, after several attempts, succeeded +in fixing the strap firmly against the bar half-way up, and then placing +one knee in the loop and putting an arm through the bar to steady +himself, he set to work at the lead. The sharp point of the dagger +quickly cut out that near the surface, but further down the hole +narrowed and the task was much more difficult. Several times Ralph +relieved him at the work, but at last it was accomplished, and the bar +was found to move slightly when they shook it. There now remained only +to loosen the cement above, and this was a comparatively easy task; it +crumbled quickly before the points of their daggers, and the bar was +soon free to move. + +"Now," Walter said, "we have to find out whether the bar was first put +in from below or from above; one hole or the other must be a good deal +deeper than the iron, so that it was either shoved up or pushed down +until the other end could get under or over the other hole. I should +think most likely the hole is below, as if they held up the bar against +the top, when the lead was poured in it would fill up the space; so we +will first of all try to lift it. I must stand on your head again to +enable me to be high enough to try this." + +"My head is strong enough, I warrant," Ralph replied, "but I will fold +up my jerkin, and put on it, for in truth you hurt me somewhat when you +were tying the strap to the bar." + +All Walter's efforts did not succeed in raising the bar in the +slightest, and he therefore concluded that it had been inserted here and +lifted while the space was filled with lead. "It is best so," he said; +"we should have to cut away the stone either above or below, and can +work much better below. Now I will put my knee in the strap again and +set to work. The stone seems greatly softened by the wet, and will yield +to our daggers readily enough. It is already getting dark, and as soon +as we have finished we can start." + +As Walter had discovered, the stone was rotten with the action of the +weather, and although as they got deeper it became much harder, it +yielded to the constant chipping with their daggers, and in two hours +Ralph, who at the moment happened to be engaged, announced to Walter +that his dagger found its way under the bottom of the bar. The groove +was soon made deep enough for the bar to be moved out; but another +hour's work was necessary, somewhat further to enlarge the upper hole, +so as to allow the bar to have sufficient play. Fortunately it was only +inserted about an inch and a half in the stone, and the amount to be cut +away to give it sufficient play was therefore not large. Then at last +all was ready for their flight. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE CAPTURE OF CALAIS. + + +When the bar was once ready for removal the captives delayed not a +minute, for although it was now so late that there was little chance of +a visit being paid them, it was just possible that such might be the +case, and that it might occur to the knight that it would be safer to +separate them. + +"Now, Ralph, do you go first, since I am lighter and can climb up by +means of the strap, which you can hold from above; push the bar out and +lay it down quietly in the thickness of the wall. A splash might attract +the attention of the sentries, though I doubt whether it would, for the +wind is high and the rain falling fast. Unbuckle the strap before you +move the bar, as otherwise it might fall and I should have difficulty in +handing it to you again. Now, I am steady against the wall." + +Ralph seized the bar and with a great effort pushed the bottom from him. +It moved through the groove without much difficulty, but it needed a +great wrench to free the upper end. However, it was done, and laying it +quietly down he pulled himself up and thrust himself through the +loop-hole. It was a desperate struggle to get through, for it was only +just wide enough for his head to pass, and he was so squarely built that +his body with difficulty followed. The wall was four feet wide, and as +the loop-hole widened considerably without, there was, when he had once +passed through from the inside, space enough for him to kneel down and +lower one end of the strap to Walter. The latter speedily climbed up, +and getting through the slit with much less trouble than Ralph had +experienced--for although in height and width of shoulder he was his +equal, he was less in depth than his follower--he joined him in the +opening, Ralph sitting with his feet in the water in order to make room +for him. + +The dungeon was upon the western side of the castle, and consequently +the stream would be with them in making for shore. It was pitch-dark, +but they knew that the distance they would have to swim could not exceed +forty or fifty yards. + +"Keep along close by the wall, Ralph. If we once get out in the stream +we might lose our way; we will skirt the wall until it ends, then there +is a cut, for as you saw when we entered, the moat runs right across +this neck. If we keep a bit further down and then land we shall be +fairly beyond the outworks." + +Ralph slipped down into the water, and followed by Walter swam along at +the foot of the wall. They had already been deprived of their armor, but +had luckily contrived to retain their daggers in their belts, which +they had again girdled on before entering the water. The stream hurried +them rapidly along, and they had only to keep themselves afloat. They +were soon at the corner of the castle. A few strokes further and they +again felt the wall which lined the moat. The stream still swept them +along, they felt the masonry come to an end, and bushes and shrubs lined +the bank. They were beyond the outer defenses of the castle. Still a +little further they proceeded down the stream in order to prevent the +possibility of any noise they might make in scrambling up being heard by +the sentinels on the outer postern. Then when they felt quite safe they +grasped the bushes, and speedily climbed the bank. Looking back at the +castle they saw lights still burning there. Short as was the time they +had been in the water they were both chilled to the bone, for it was the +month of February, and the water was bitterly cold. + +"It cannot be more than nine o'clock now," Walter said, "for it is not +more than four hours since darkness fell. They are not likely to visit +the dungeon before eight or nine to-morrow, so we can rely upon twelve +hours' start, and if we make the best of our time we ought to be far on +our way by then, though in truth it is not fast traveling on a night +like this through a strange country. I would that the stars were +shining. However, the direction of the wind and rain will be a guide to +us, and we shall soon strike the road we traveled yesterday, and can +follow that till morning." + +They were not long before they found the track, and then started at a +brisk pace along it. All night they struggled on through wind and rain +until the first dawn enabled them to see the objects in the surrounding +country; and making for the forest which extended to within a mile of +the road, they entered deep into its shelter, and there, utterly +exhausted, threw themselves down on the wet ground. After a few hours of +uneasy sleep they woke, and taking their place near the edge of the +forest watched for the passage of any party which might be in pursuit, +but until nightfall none came along. + +"They have not discovered our flight," Ralph said at last, "or they +would have passed long before this. Sir Philip doubtless imagines that +we are drowned. The water was within a few inches of the sill when we +started, and must soon have flooded the dungeon; and did he trouble to +look in the morning, which is unlikely enough seeing that he would be +sure of our fate, he would be unable to descend the stairs, and could +not reach to the door, and so discover that the bar had been removed. +No; whatever his motive may have been in compassing my death, he is +doubtless satisfied that he has attained it, and we need have no further +fear of pursuit from him. The rain has ceased, and I think that it will +be a fine night; we will walk on, and if we come across a barn will make +free to enter it, and stripping off our clothing to dry, will sleep in +the hay, and pursue our journey in the morning. From our travel-stained +appearance any who may meet us will take us for two wayfarers going to +take service in the army at Amiens." + +It was not until nearly midnight that they came upon such a place as +they sought, then after passing a little village they found a shed +standing apart. Entering it they found that it was tenanted by two cows. +Groping about they presently came upon a heap of forage, and taking off +their outer garments lay down on this, covering themselves thickly with +it. The shed was warm and comfortable and they were soon asleep, and +awaking at daybreak they found that their clothes had dried somewhat. +The sun was not yet up when they started, but it soon rose, and ere noon +their garments had dried, and they felt for the first time comfortable. +They met but few people on the road, and these passed them with the +ordinary salutations. + +They had by this time left Amiens on the right, and by nightfall were +well on their way toward Calais. Early in the morning they had purchased +some bread at a village through which they passed; Walter's +Norman-French being easily understood, and exciting no surprise or +suspicion. At nightfall they slept in a shed within a mile of the ruins +of the castle of Pres, and late next evening entered the English +encampment at New Town. After going to his tent, where he and Ralph +changed their garments and partook of a hearty meal, Walter proceeded to +the pavilion of the prince, who hailed his entrance with the greatest +surprise. + +"Why, Sir Walter," he exclaimed, "what good saint has brought you here? +I have but an hour since received a message from the Count of Evreux to +the effect that you were a prisoner in the hands of Sir Philip de +Holbeaut, with whom I must treat for your ransom. I was purporting to +send off a herald to-morrow to ask at what sum he held you; and now you +appear in flesh and blood before us! But first, before you tell us your +story, I must congratulate you on your gallant defense of the Castle of +Pres, which is accounted by all as one of the most valiant deeds of the +war. When two days passed without a messenger from you coming hither, I +feared that you were beleaguered, and started that evening with six +hundred men-at-arms. We arrived at daybreak, to find only a smoking +ruin. Luckily among the crowd of dead upon the breach we found one of +your men-at-arms who still breathed, and after some cordial had been +given him, and his wounds stanched, he was able to tell us the story of +the siege. But it needed not his tale to tell us how stanchly you had +defended the castle, for the hundreds of dead who lay outside of the +walls, and still more the mass who piled the breach, and the many who +lay in the castle yard spoke for themselves of the valor with which the +castle had been defended. As the keep was gutted by fire, and the man +could tell us naught of what had happened after he had been stricken +down at the breach, we knew not whether you and your brave garrison had +perished in the flames. We saw the penthouse beneath which they had +labored to cut through the wall, but the work had ceased before the +holes were large enough for entry, and we hoped that you might have seen +that further resistance was in vain, and have made terms for your lives; +indeed we heard from the country people that certain prisoners had been +taken to Amiens. I rested one day at Pres, and the next rode back here, +and forthwith dispatched a herald to the Count of Evreux at Amiens +asking for news of the garrison; but now he has returned with word that +twenty-four men-at-arms and fifty-eight archers are prisoners in the +count's hands, and that he is ready to exchange them against an equal +number of French prisoners; but that you, with a man-at-arms, were in +the keeping of Sir Philip of Holbeaut, with whom I must treat for your +ransom. And now tell me how it is that I see you here. Has your captor, +confiding in your knightly word to send him the sum agreed upon, allowed +you to return? Tell me the sum and my treasurer shall to-morrow pay it +over to a herald, who shall carry it to Holbeaut." + +"Thanks, your royal highness, for your generosity," Walter replied, "but +there is no ransom to be paid." + +And he then proceeded to narrate the incidents of his captivity at +Holbeaut and his escape from the castle. His narration was frequently +interrupted by exclamations of surprise and indignation from the prince +and the knights present. + +"Well, this well-nigh passes all belief," the prince exclaimed when he +had concluded. "It is an outrage upon all laws of chivalry and honor. +What could have induced this caitiff knight, instead of treating you +with courtesy and honor until your ransom arrived, to lodge you in a +foul dungeon, where, had you not made your escape, your death would have +been brought about that very night by the rising water? Could it be, +think you, that his brain is distraught by some loss or injury which may +have befallen him at our hands during the war and worked him up to a +blind passion of hatred against all Englishmen?" + +"I think not that, your royal highness," Walter replied. "His manner was +cool and deliberate, and altogether free from any signs of madness. +Moreover, it would seem that he had specially marked me down beforehand, +since, as I have told you, he had bargained with the Count of Evreux for +the possession of my person should I escape with life at the capture of +the castle. It seems rather as if he must have had some private enmity +against me, although what the cause may be I cannot imagine, seeing that +I have never, to my knowledge, before met him, and have only heard his +name by common report." + +"Whatever be the cause," the prince said, "we will have satisfaction for +it, and I will beg the king, my father, to write at once to Philip of +Valois protesting against the treatment that you have received, and +denouncing Sir Philip of Holbeaut as a base and dishonored knight, whom, +should he fall into our hands, we will commit at once to the hangman." + +Upon the following day Walter was called before the king, and related to +him in full the incidents of the siege and of his captivity and escape; +and the same day King Edward sent off a letter to Philip of Valois +denouncing Sir Philip Holbeaut as a dishonored knight, and threatening +retaliation upon the French prisoners in his hands. + +A fortnight later an answer was received from the King of France saying +that he had inquired into the matter, and had sent a seneschal, who had +questioned Sir Philip Holbeaut and some of the men-at-arms in the +castle, and that he found that King Edward had been grossly imposed upon +by a fictitious tale. Sir Walter Somers had, he found, been treated with +all knightly courtesy, and believing him to be an honorable knight and +true to his word, but slight watch had been kept over him. He had basely +taken advantage of this trust, and with the man-at-arms with him had +escaped from the castle in order to avoid payment of his ransom, and had +now invented these gross and wicked charges against Sir Philip Holbeaut +as a cloak to his own dishonor. + +Walter was furious when he heard the contents of this letter, and the +king and Black Prince were no less indignant. Although they doubted him +not for a moment, Walter begged that Ralph might be brought before them +and examined strictly as to what had taken place, in order that they +might see that his statements tallied exactly with those he had made. + +When this had been done Walter obtained permission from the king to +dispatch a cartel to Sir Philip de Holbeaut denouncing him as a perjured +and dishonored knight and challenging him to meet him in mortal conflict +at any time and place that he might name. At the same time the king +dispatched a letter to Philip of Valois saying that the statements of +the French knight and his followers were wholly untrue, and begging that +a time might be appointed for the meeting of the two knights in the +lists. + +To this King Philip replied that he had ordered all private quarrels in +France to be laid aside during the progress of the war, and that so long +as an English foot remained upon French soil he would give no +countenance to his knights throwing away the lives which they owed to +France in private broils. + +"You must wait, Sir Walter, you see," the king said, "until you may +perchance meet him in the field of battle. In the mean time, to show how +lightly I esteem the foul charge brought against you, and how much I +hold and honor the bravery which you showed in defending the castle +which my son the prince intrusted to you, as well as upon other +occasions, I hereby promote you to the rank of knight banneret." + +Events now passed slowly before Calais. Queen Philippa and many of her +ladies crossed the Channel and joined her husband, and these added much +to the gayety of the life in camp. The garrison at Calais was, it was +known, in the sorest straits for the want of food, and at last the news +came that the King of France, with a huge army of two hundred thousand +men, was moving to its relief. They had gathered at Hesdin, at which +rendezvous the king had arrived in the early part of April; but it was +not until the 27th of July that the whole army was collected, and +marching by slow steps advanced toward the English position. + +King Edward had taken every precaution to guard all the approaches to +the city. The ground was in most places too soft and sandy to admit of +the construction of defensive works; but the fleet was drawn up close +inshore to cover the line of sand-hills by the sea with arrows and war +machines, while the passages of the marshes, which extended for a +considerable distance round the town, were guarded by the Earl of +Lancaster and a body of chosen troops, while the other approaches to the +city were covered by the English camp. + +The French reconnoitering parties found no way open to attack the +English unless under grievous disadvantages. The Cardinals of Tusculum, +St. John, and St. Paul endeavored to negotiate terms of peace, and +commissioners on both sides met. The terms offered by Philip were, +however, by no means so favorable as Edward, after his own victorious +operations and those of his armies in Brittany and Guienne, had a right +to expect, and the negotiations were broken off. + +The following day the French king sent in a message to Edward saying +that he had examined the ground in every direction in order to advance +and give battle, but had found no means of doing so. He therefore +summoned the king to come forth from the marshy ground in which he was +encamped and to fight in the open plain; and he offered to send four +French knights, who, with four English of the same rank, should choose a +fair plain in the neighborhood, according to the usages of chivalry. +Edward had little over thirty thousand men with him; but the same +evening that Philip's challenge was received a body of seventeen +thousand Flemings and English, detached from an army which had been +doing good service on the borders of Flanders, succeeded in passing +round the enemy's host and in effecting a junction with the king's army. +Early the next morning, after having consulted with his officers, Edward +returned an answer to the French king, saying that he agreed to his +proposal, and inclosed a safe-conduct for any four French knights who +might be appointed to arrange with the same number of English the place +of battle. + +The odds were indeed enormous, the French being four to one; but Edward, +after the success of Cressy, which had been won by the Black Prince's +division, which bore a still smaller proportion to the force engaging +it, might well feel confident in the valor of his troops. His envoys, on +arriving at the French camp, found that Philip had apparently changed +his mind. He declined to discuss the matter with which they were +charged, and spoke only of the terms upon which Edward would be willing +to raise the siege of Calais. As they had no authority on this subject +the English knights returned to their camp, where the news was received +with great disappointment, so confident did all feel in their power to +defeat the huge host of the French. But even greater was the +astonishment the next morning, when, before daylight, the tents of the +French were seen in one great flame, and it was found that the king and +all his host were retreating at full speed. The Earls of Lancaster and +Northampton, with a large body of horse, at once started in pursuit, and +harassed the retreating army on its march toward Amiens. + +No satisfactory reasons ever have been assigned for this extraordinary +step on the part of the French king. He had been for months engaged in +collecting a huge army, and he had now an opportunity of fighting the +English in a fair field with a force four times as great as their own. +The only means indeed of accounting for his conduct is by supposing him +affected by temporary aberration of mind, which many other facts in his +history render not improbable. The fits of rage so frequently recorded +of him border upon madness, and a number of strange actions highly +detrimental to his own interests which he committed can only be +accounted for as the acts of a diseased mind. This view has been to some +extent confirmed by the fact that less than half a century afterward +insanity declared itself among his descendants. + +A few hours after the departure of the French the French standard was +lowered on the walls of Calais, and news was brought to Edward that the +governor was upon the battlements and desired to speak with some +officers of the besieging army. Sir Walter Manny and Lord Bisset were +sent to confer with him, and found that his object was to obtain the +best terms he could. The English knights, knowing the determination of +the king on the subject, were forced to tell him that no possibility +existed of conditions being granted, but that the king demanded their +unconditional surrender, reserving to himself entirely the right whom to +pardon and whom to put to death. + +The governor remonstrated on the severe terms, and said that rather than +submit to them he and his soldiers would sally out and die sword in +hand. Sir Walter Manny found the king inexorable. The strict laws of war +in those days justified the barbarous practice of putting to death the +garrison of a town captured under such circumstances. Calais had been +for many years a nest of pirates, and vessels issuing from its port had +been a scourge to the commerce of England and Flanders, and the king was +fully determined to punish it severely. Sir Walter Manny interceded long +and boldly, and represented to the king that none of his soldiers would +willingly defend a town on his behalf from the day on which he put to +death the people of Calais, as beyond doubt the French would retaliate +in every succeeding siege. The other nobles and knights joined their +entreaties to those of Sir Walter Manny, and the king finally consented +to yield in some degree. He demanded that six of the most notable +burghers of the town, with bare heads and feet, and with ropes about +their necks and the keys of the fortress in their hands, should deliver +themselves up for execution. On these conditions he agreed to spare the +rest. With these terms Sir Walter Manny returned to Sir John of Vienne. + +The governor left the battlements, and proceeding to the market-place +ordered the bell to be rung. The famished and despairing citizens +gathered, a haggard crowd, to hear their doom. A silence followed the +narration of the hard conditions of surrender by the governor, and sobs +and cries alone broke the silence which succeeded. Then Eustace St. +Pierre, the wealthiest and most distinguished of the citizens, came +forward and offered himself as one of the victims, saying, "Sad pity and +shame would it be to let all of our fellow-citizens die of famine or the +sword when means could be found to save them." John of Aire, James and +Peter de Vissant, and another whose name has not come down to us, +followed his example, and stripping to their shirts set out for the +camp, Sir John of Vienne, who, from a late wound, was unable to walk, +riding at their head on horseback. The whole population accompanied them +weeping bitterly until they came to the place where Sir Walter Manny was +awaiting them. Here the crowd halted, and the knight, promising to do +his best to save them, led them to the tent where the king had +assembled all his nobles around him. When the tidings came that the +burghers of Calais had arrived, Edward issued out with his retinue, +accompanied by Queen Philippa and the Black Prince. + +"Behold, sire," Sir Walter Manny said, "the representatives of the town +of Calais!" + +The king made no reply while John of Vienne surrendered his sword and, +kneeling with the burghers, said: "Gentle lord and king, behold, we six, +who were once the greatest citizens and merchants of Calais, bring you +the keys of the town and castle, and give ourselves up to your pleasure, +placing ourselves in the state in which you see us by our own free will +to save the rest of the people of the city, who have already suffered +many ills. We pray you, therefore, to have pity and mercy upon us for +the sake of your high nobleness." + +All present were greatly affected at this speech, and at the aspect of +men who thus offered their lives for their fellow-citizens. The king's +countenance alone remained unchanged, and he ordered them to be taken to +instant execution. Then Sir Walter Manny and all the nobles with tears +besought the king to have mercy, not only for the sake of the citizens, +but for that of his own fame, which would be tarnished by so cruel a +deed. + +"Silence, Sir Walter!" cried the king. "Let the executioner be called. +The men of Calais have put to death so many of my subjects that I will +also put these men to death." + +At this moment Queen Philippa, who had been weeping bitterly, cast +herself upon her knees before the king. "Oh, gentle lord," she cried, +"since I have repassed the seas to see you I have neither asked nor +required anything at your hand; now, then, I pray you humbly, and +require as a boon, that for the sake of the Son of Mary, and for love of +me, you take these men to mercy." + +The king stood for a moment in silence, and then said: + +"Ah! lady, I would that you had been otherwhere than here; but you beg +of me so earnestly I must not refuse you, though I grant your prayer +with pain. I give them to you; take them, and do your will." + +Then the queen rose from her knees, and bidding the burghers rise, she +caused clothing and food to be given them, and sent them away free. + +Sir Walter Manny, with a considerable body of men-at-arms, now took +possession of the town of Calais. The anger of the king soon gave way to +better feelings; all the citizens, without exception, were fed by his +bounty. Such of them as preferred to depart instead of swearing fealty +to the English monarch were allowed to carry away what effects they +could bear upon their persons, and were conducted in safety to the +French town of Guisnes. Eustace de St. Pierre was granted almost all the +possessions he had formerly held in Calais, and also a considerable +pension; and he and all who were willing to remain were well and kindly +treated. The number was large, for the natural indignation which they +felt at their base desertion by the French king induced very many of the +citizens to remain and become subjects of Edward. The king issued a +proclamation inviting English traders and others to come across and take +up their residence in Calais, bestowing upon them the houses and lands +of the French who had left. Very many accepted the invitation, and +Calais henceforth and for some centuries became virtually an English +town. + +A truce was now, through the exertions of the pope's legates, made +between England and France, the terms agreed on being very similar to +those of the previous treaty; and when all his arrangements were +finished Edward returned with his queen to England, having been absent +eighteen months, during which time an almost unbroken success had +attended his arms, and the English name had reached a position of +respect and honor in the eyes of Europe far beyond that at which it +previously stood. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE BLACK DEATH. + + +The court at Westminster during the few months which followed the +capture of Calais was the most brilliant in Europe. Tournaments and +_fetes_ followed each other in rapid succession, and to these knights +came from all parts. So great was the reputation of King Edward that +deputies came from Germany, where the throne was now vacant, to offer +the crown of that kingdom to him. The king declined the offer, for it +would have been impossible indeed for him to have united the German +crown with that of England, which he already held, and that of France, +which he claimed. + +Some months after his return to England the Black Prince asked his +father as a boon that the hand of his ward Edith Vernon should be +bestowed upon the prince's brave follower Sir Walter Somers, and as +Queen Philippa, in the name of the lady's mother, seconded the request, +the king at once acceded to it. Edith was now sixteen, an age at which, +in those days, a young lady was considered to be marriageable, and the +wedding took place with great pomp and ceremony at Westminster, the +king himself giving away the bride, and bestowing, as did the prince +and Queen Philippa, many costly presents upon the young couple. After +taking part in several of the tournaments, Walter went with his bride +and Dame Vernon down to their estates, and were received with great +rejoicing by the tenantry, the older of whom well remembered Walter's +father and mother, and were rejoiced at finding that they were again to +become the vassals of one of the old family. Dame Vernon was greatly +loved by her tenantry; but the latter had looked forward with some +apprehension to the marriage of the young heiress, as the character of +the knight upon whom the king might bestow her hand would greatly affect +the happiness and well-being of his tenants. + +Sir James Carnegie had not returned to England after the fall of Calais; +he perceived that he was in grave disfavor with the Black Prince, and +guessed, as was the case, that some suspicion had fallen on him in +reference to the attack upon Walter in the camp, and to the strange +attempt which had been made to destroy him by Sir Philip Holbeaut. He +had, therefore, for a time taken service with the Count of Savoy, and +was away from England, to the satisfaction of Walter and Dame Vernon, +when the marriage took place; for he had given proofs of such a +malignity of disposition that both felt that although his succession to +the estates was now hopelessly barred, yet that he might at any moment +attempt some desperate deed to satisfy his feeling of disappointment and +revenge. + +In spite of the gayety of the court of King Edward a cloud hung over the +kingdom; for it was threatened by a danger far more terrible than any +combination of foes--a danger from which no gallantry upon the part of +her king or warriors availed anything. With a slow and terrible march +the enemy was advancing from the East, where countless hosts had been +slain. India, Arabia, Syria, and Armenia had been well-nigh depopulated. +In no country which the dread foe had invaded had less than two-thirds +of the population been slain; in some nine-tenths had perished. All +sorts of portents were reported to have accompanied its appearance in +the East, where it was said showers of serpents had fallen, strange and +unknown insects had appeared in the atmosphere, and clouds of sulphurous +vapor had issued from the earth and enveloped whole provinces and +countries. For two or three years the appearance of this scourge had +been heralded by strange atmospheric disturbances; heavy rains and +unusual floods, storms of thunder and lightning of unheard-of violence, +hail-showers of unparalleled duration and severity, had everywhere been +experienced, while in Italy and Germany violent earthquake shocks had +been felt, and that at places where no tradition existed of previous +occurrences of the same kind. + +From Asia it had spread to Africa and to Europe, affecting first the +sea-shores and creeping inland by the course of the rivers. Greece first +felt its ravages, and Italy was not long in experiencing them. In +Venice more than one hundred thousand persons perished in a few months, +and thence spreading over the whole peninsula, not a town escaped the +visitation. At Florence sixty thousand people were carried off, and at +Lucca and Genoa, in Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica it raged with equal +violence. France was assailed by way of Provence, and Avignon suffered +especially. Of the English college at that place not an individual was +left, and one hundred and twenty persons died in a single day in that +small city. Paris lost upward of fifty thousand of its inhabitants, +while ninety thousand were swept away in Lubeck, and one million two +hundred thousand died within a year of its first appearance in Germany. + +In England the march of the pestilence westward was viewed with deep +apprehension, and the approaching danger was brought home to the people +by the death of the Princess Joan, the king's second daughter. She was +affianced to Peter, the heir to the throne of Spain; and the bride, who +had not yet accomplished her fourteenth year, was sent over to Bordeaux +with a considerable train of attendants in order to be united there to +her promised husband. Scarcely had she reached Bordeaux when she was +attacked by the pestilence and died in a few hours. + +A few days later the news spread through the country that the disease +had appeared almost simultaneously at several of the seaports in the +south-west of England. Thence with great rapidity it spread through the +kingdom; proceeding through Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire it broke out +in London, and the ravages were no less severe than they had been on the +Continent, the very lowest estimate being that two-thirds of the +population were swept away. Most of those attacked died within a few +hours of the seizure. If they survived for two days they generally +rallied, but even then many fell into a state of coma from which they +never awoke. + +No words can describe the terror and dismay caused by this the most +destructive plague of which there is any record in history. No remedies +were of the slightest avail against it; flight was impossible, for the +loneliest hamlets suffered as severely as crowded towns, and frequently +not a single survivor was left. Men met the pestilence in various moods: +the brave with fortitude, the pious with resignation, the cowardly and +turbulent with outbursts of despair and fury. Among the lower classes +the wildest rumors gained credence. Some assigned the pestilence to +witchcraft, others declared that the waters of the wells and streams had +been poisoned. Serious riots occurred in many places, and great numbers +of people fell victims to the fury of the mob under the suspicion of +being connected in some way with the ravages of the pestilence. The +Jews, ever the objects of popular hostility, engendered by ignorance and +superstition, were among the chief sufferers. Bands of marauders +wandered through the county plundering the houses left empty by the +death of all their occupants, and from end to end death and suffering +were universal. + +Although all classes had suffered heavily the ravages of the disease +were, as is always the case, greater among the poor than among the rich, +the unsanitary conditions of their life and their coarser and commoner +food rendering them more liable to its influence; no rank, however, was +exempted, and no less than three Archbishops of Canterbury were carried +off in succession by the pestilence within a year of its appearance. + +During the months which succeeded his marriage Sir Walter Somers lived +quietly and happily with his wife at Westerham. It was not until late in +the year that the plague approached the neighborhood. Walter had +determined to await its approach there. He had paid a few short visits +to the court, where every effort was made by continuous gayety to keep +up the spirits of the people and prevent them from brooding over the +approaching pestilence; but when it was at hand Walter and his wife +agreed that they would rather share the lot of their tenants, whom their +presence and example might support and cheer in their need, than return +to face it in London. One morning when they were at breakfast a +frightened servant brought in the news that the disease had appeared in +the village, that three persons had been taken ill on the previous +night, that two had already died, and that several others had sickened. + +"The time has come, my children," Dame Vernon said calmly, "the danger +so long foreseen is at hand, now let us face it as we agreed to do. It +has been proved that flight is useless, since nowhere is there escape +from the plague; here, at least, there shall be no repetition of the +terrible scenes we have heard of elsewhere, where the living have fled +in panic and allowed the stricken to die unattended. We have already +agreed that we will set the example to our people by ourselves going +down and administering to the sick." + +"It is hard," Walter said, rising and pacing up and down the room, "to +let Edith go into it." + +"Edith will do just the same as you do," his wife said firmly. "Were it +possible that all in this house might escape, there might be a motive +for turning coward, but seeing that no household is spared, there is, as +we agreed, greater danger in flying from the pestilence than facing it +firmly." + +Walter sighed. + +"You are right," he said, "but it wrings my heart to see you place +yourself in danger." + +"Were we out of danger here, Walter, it might be so," Edith replied +gently; "but since there is no more safety in the castle than in the +cottage, we must face death whether it pleases us or not, and it were +best to do so bravely." + +"So be it," Walter said; "may the God of heaven watch over us all! Now, +mother, do you and Edith busy yourselves in preparing broths, +strengthening drinks, and medicaments. I will go down at once to the +village and see how matters stand there and who are in need. We have +already urged upon all our people to face the danger bravely, and if die +they must, to die bravely like Christians, and not like coward dogs. +When you have prepared your soups and cordials come down and meet me in +the village, bringing Mabel and Janet, your attendants, to carry the +baskets." + +Ralph, who was now installed as major-domo in the castle, at once set +out with Walter. They found the village in a state of panic. Women were +sitting crying despairingly at their doors. Some were engaged in packing +their belongings in carts preparatory to flight, some wandered aimlessly +about wringing their hands, while others went to the church, whose bells +were mournfully tolling the dirge of the departed. Walter's presence +soon restored something like order and confidence; his resolute tone +cheered the timid and gave hope to the despairing. Sternly he rebuked +those preparing to fly, and ordered them instantly to replace their +goods in their houses. Then he went to the priest and implored him to +cause the tolling of the bell to cease. + +"There is enough," he said, "in the real danger present to appall even +the bravest, and we need no bell to tell us that death is among us. The +dismal tolling is enough to unnerve the stoutest heart, and if we ring +for all who die its sounds will never cease while the plague is among +us; therefore, father, I implore you to discontinue it. Let there be +services held daily in the church, but I beseech you strive in your +discourses to cheer the people rather than to depress them, and to dwell +more upon the joys that await those who die as Christian men and women +than upon the sorrows of those who remain behind. My wife and mother +will anon be down in the village and will strive to cheer and comfort +the people, and I look to you for aid in this matter." + +The priest, who was naturally a timid man, nevertheless nerved himself +to carry out Walter's suggestions, and soon the dismal tones of the bell +ceased to be heard in the village. + +Walter dispatched messengers to all the outlying farms desiring his +tenants to meet him that afternoon at the castle in order that measures +might be concerted for common aid and assistance. An hour later Dame +Vernon and Edith came down and visited all the houses where the plague +had made its appearance, distributing their soups, and by cheering and +comforting words raising the spirits of the relatives of the sufferers. + +The names of all the women ready to aid in the general work of nursing +were taken down, and in the afternoon at the meeting at the castle the +full arrangements were completed. Work was to be carried on as usual in +order to occupy men's minds and prevent them from brooding over the +ravages of the plague. Information of any case that occurred was to be +sent to the castle, where soups and medicines were to be obtained. +Whenever more assistance was required than could be furnished by the +inmates of a house another woman was to be sent to aid. Boys were told +off as messengers to fetch food and other matters as required from the +castle. + +So, bravely and firmly, they prepared to meet the pestilence; it spread +with terrible severity. Scarce a house which did not lose some of its +inmates, while in others whole families were swept away. All day Walter +and his wife and Dame Vernon went from house to house, and although they +could do nothing to stem the progress of the pestilence, their presence +and example supported the survivors and prevented the occurrence of any +of the panic and disorder which in most places accompanied it. + +The castle was not exempt from the scourge. First some of the domestics +were seized, and three men and four women died. Walter himself was +attacked, but he took it lightly, and three days after the seizure +passed into a state of convalescence. Dame Vernon was next attacked, and +expired six hours after the commencement of the seizure. Scarcely was +Walter upon his feet than Ralph, who had not for a moment left his +bedside, was seized, but he too, after being at death's door for some +hours, turned the corner. Lastly Edith sickened. + +By this time the scourge had done its worst in the village, and +three-fifths of the population had been swept away. All the male +retainers in the castle had died, and the one female who survived was +nursing her dying mother in the village. Edith's attack was a very +severe one. Walter, alone now, for Ralph, although convalescent, had not +yet left his bed, sat by his wife's bedside a prey to anxiety and grief; +for although she had resisted the first attack she was now, thirty-six +hours after it had seized her, fast sinking. Gradually her sight and +power of speech faded, and she sank into the state of coma which was the +prelude of death, and lay quiet and motionless, seeming as if life had +already departed. + +Suddenly Walter was surprised by the sound of many heavy feet ascending +the stairs. He went out into the anteroom to learn the cause of this +strange tumult, when five armed men, one of whom was masked, rushed into +the room. Walter caught up his sword from the table. + +"Ruffians," he exclaimed, "how dare you thus desecrate the abode of +death?" + +Without a word the men sprang upon him. For a minute he defended himself +against their attacks, but he was still weak, his guard was beaten down, +and a blow felled him to the ground. + +"Now settle her," the masked man exclaimed, and the band rushed into the +adjoining room. They paused, however, at the door at the sight of the +lifeless figure on the couch. + +"We are saved that trouble," one said, "we have come too late." + +The masked figure approached the couch and bent over the figure. + +"Yes," he said, "she is dead, and so much the better." + +Then he returned with the others to Walter. + +"He breathes yet," he said. "He needs a harder blow than that you gave +him to finish him. Let him lie here for awhile, while you gather your +booty together, then we will carry him off. There is scarcely a soul +alive in the country round, and none will note us as we pass. I would +not dispatch him here, seeing that his body would be found with wounds +upon it, and even in these times some inquiry might be made; therefore +it were best to finish him elsewhere. When he is missed it will be +supposed that he went mad at the death of his wife, and has wandered out +and died, maybe in the woods, or has drowned himself in a pond or +stream. Besides, I would that before he dies he should know what hand +has struck the blow, and that my vengeance, which he slighted and has +twice escaped, has overtaken him at last." + +After ransacking the principal rooms and taking all that was valuable, +the band of marauders lifted the still insensible body of Walter, and +carrying it downstairs flung it across a horse. One of the ruffians +mounted behind it, and the others also getting into their saddles the +party rode away. + +They were mistaken, however, in supposing that the Lady Edith was dead. +She was indeed very nigh the gates of death, and had it not been for the +disturbance would assuredly have speedily entered them. The voice of her +husband raised in anger, the clash of steel, followed by the heavy +fall, had awakened her deadened brain. Consciousness had at once +returned to her, but as yet no power of movement. As at a great distance +she had heard the words of those who entered her chamber, and had +understood their import. More and more distinctly she heard their +movements about the room as they burst open her caskets and appropriated +her jewels, but it was not until silence was restored that the gathering +powers of life asserted themselves; then with a sudden rush the blood +seemed to course through her veins, her eyes opened, and her tongue was +loosed, and with a scream she sprang up and stood by the side of her +bed. + +Sustained as by a supernatural power she hurried into the next room. A +pool of blood on the floor showed her that what she had heard had not +been a dream or the fiction of a disordered brain. Snatching up a cloak +of her husband's which lay on a couch, she wrapped it round her, and +with hurried steps made her way along the passages until she reached the +apartment occupied by Ralph. The latter sprang up in bed with a cry of +astonishment. He had heard but an hour before from Walter that all hope +was gone, and thought for an instant that the appearance was an +apparition from the dead. The ghastly pallor of the face, the eyes +burning with a strange light, the flowing hair, and disordered +appearance of the girl might well have alarmed one living in even less +superstitious times, and Ralph began to cross himself hastily and to +mutter a prayer, when recalled to himself by the sound of Edith's +voice. + +"Quick, Ralph!" she said, "arise and clothe yourself. Hasten, for your +life. My lord's enemies have fallen upon him and wounded him grievously, +even if they have not slain him, and have carried him away. They would +have slain me also had they not thought I was already dead. Arise and +mount, summon every one still alive in the village, and follow these +murderers. I will pull the alarm-bell of the castle." + +Ralph sprang from his bed as Edith left. He had heard the sound of many +footsteps in the knight's apartments, but had deemed them those of the +priest and his acolytes come to administer the last rites of the Church +to his dying mistress. Rage and anxiety for his master gave strength to +his limbs. He threw on a few clothes and rushed down to the stables, +where the horses stood with great piles of forage and pails of water +before them, placed there two days before, by Walter, when their last +attendant died. Without waiting to saddle it, Ralph sprang upon the back +of one of the animals, and taking the halters of four others started at +a gallop down to the village. + +His news spread like wildfire, for the ringing of the alarm-bell of the +castle had drawn all to their doors and prepared them for something +strange. Some of the men had already taken their arms and were making +their way up to the castle when they met Ralph. There were but five men +in the village who had altogether escaped the pestilence; others had +survived its attacks, but were still weak. Horses there were in plenty. +The five men mounted at once, with three others who, though still weak, +were able to ride. + +So great was the excitement that seven women who had escaped the disease +armed themselves with their husbands' swords and leaped on horseback, +declaring that, women though they were, they would strike a blow for +their beloved lord, who had been as an angel in the village during the +plague. Thus it was scarcely more than ten minutes after the marauders +had left the castle before a motley band, fifteen strong, headed by +Ralph, rode off in pursuit, while some of the women of the village +hurried up to the castle to comfort Edith with the tidings that the +pursuit had already commenced. Fortunately a lad in the fields had +noticed the five men ride away from the castle, and was able to point +out the direction they had taken. + +At a furious gallop Ralph and his companions tore across the country. +Mile after mile was passed. Once or twice they gained news from laborers +in the field of the passage of those before them, and knew that they +were on the right track. They had now entered a wild and sparsely +inhabited country. It was broken and much undulated, so that although +they knew that the band they were pursuing were but a short distance +ahead, they had not yet caught sight of them, and they hoped that, +having no reason to dread any immediate pursuit, these would soon +slacken their pace. This expectation was realized, for on coming over a +brow they saw the party halted at a turf-burner's cottage in the hollow +below. Three of the men had dismounted; two of them were examining the +hoof of one of the horses, which had apparently cast a shoe or trodden +upon a stone. Ralph had warned his party to make no sound when they came +upon the fugitives. The sound of the horses' hoofs was deadened by the +turf, and they were within a hundred yards of the marauders before they +were perceived; then Ralph uttered a shout, and brandishing their swords +the party rode down at a headlong gallop. + +The dismounted men leaped into their saddles and galloped off at full +speed, but their pursuers were now close upon them. Ralph and two of his +companions, who were mounted upon Walter's best horses, gained upon them +at every stride. Two of them were overtaken and run through. + +The man who bore Walter before him, finding himself being rapidly +overtaken, threw his burden on to the ground just as the leader of the +party had checked his horse and was about to deliver a sweeping blow at +the insensible body. + +With a curse at his follower for ridding himself of it, he again +galloped on. The man's act was unavailing to save himself, for he was +overtaken and cut down before he had ridden many strides; then Ralph and +his party instantly reined up to examine the state of Walter, and the +two survivors of the band of murderers continued their flight +unmolested. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +BY LAND AND SEA. + + +Walter was raised from the ground, water was fetched from the cottage, +and the blood washed from his head by Ralph, aided by two of the women. +It had at once been seen that he was still living, and Ralph on +examining the wound joyfully declared that no great harm was done. + +"Had Sir Walter been strong and well," he said, "such a clip as this +would not have knocked him from his feet, but he would have answered it +with a blow such as I have often seen him give in battle; but he was but +barely recovering and was as weak as a girl. He is unconscious from loss +of blood and weakness. I warrant me that when he opens his eyes and +hears that the Lady Edith had risen from her bed and came to send me to +his rescue, joy will soon bring the blood into his cheeks again. Do one +of you run to the hut and see if they have any cordial waters; since the +plague has been raging there are few houses but have laid in a provision +in case the disease should seize them." + +The man soon returned with a bottle of cordial water compounded of +rosemary, lavender, and other herbs. By this time Walter had opened his +eyes. The cordial was poured down his throat, and he was presently able +to speak. + +"Be of good cheer, Sir Walter," Ralph said; "three of your rascally +assailants lie dead, and the other two have fled; but I have better news +still for you. Lady Edith, who you told me lay unconscious and dying, +has revived. The din of the conflict seems to have reached her ears and +recalled her to life, and the dear lady came to my room with the news +that you were carried off, and then, while I was throwing on my clothes, +roused the village to your assistance by ringing the alarm bell. Rarely +frightened I was when she came in, for methought at first it was her +spirit." + +The good news, as Ralph had predicted, effectually roused Walter, and +rising to his feet he declared himself able to mount and ride back at +once. Ralph tried to persuade him to wait until they had formed a litter +of boughs, but Walter would not allow it. + +"I would not tarry an instant," he said, "for Edith will be full of +anxiety until I return. Why, Ralph, do you think that I am a baby? Why, +you yourself were but this morning unable to walk across the room, and +here you have been galloping and fighting on my behalf." + +"In faith," Ralph said, smiling, "until now I had forgotten that I had +been ill." + +"You have saved my life, Ralph, you and my friends here, whom I thank +with all my heart for what they have done. I will speak more to them +another time, now I must ride home with all speed." + +[Illustration: LADY EDITH'S LAST EFFORT.--Page 321.] + +Walter now mounted; Ralph took his place on one side of him, and one of +his tenants on the other, lest he should be seized with faintness; then +at a hand-gallop they started back for the castle. + +Several women of the village had, when they left, hurried up to the +castle. They found Edith lying insensible by the rope of the alarm-bell, +having fainted when she had accomplished her object. They presently +brought her round; as she was now suffering only from extreme weakness, +she was laid on a couch, and cordials and some soup were given to her. +One of the women took her place at the highest window to watch for the +return of any belonging to the expedition. + +Edith felt hopeful as to the result, for she thought that their +assailants would not have troubled to carry away the body of Walter had +not life remained in it, and she was sure that Ralph would press them so +hotly that sooner or later the abductors would be overtaken. + +An hour and a half passed, and then the woman from above ran down with +the news that she could see three horsemen galloping together toward the +castle, with a number of others following in confused order behind. + +"Then they have found my lord," Edith exclaimed joyfully, "for Ralph +would assuredly not return so quickly had they not done so. 'Tis a good +sign that they are galloping, for had they been bearers of ill news they +would have returned more slowly; look out again and see if they are +bearing one among them." + +The woman, with some of her companions, hastened away, and in two or +three minutes ran down with the news that Sir Walter himself was one of +the three leading horsemen. In a few minutes Edith was clasped in her +husband's arms, and their joy, restored as they were from the dead to +each other, was indeed almost beyond words. + +The plague now abated fast in Westerham, only two or three more persons +being attacked by it. + +As soon as Edith was sufficiently recovered to travel Walter proceeded +with her to London and there laid before the king and prince a complaint +against Sir James Carnegie for his attempt upon their lives. Even in the +trance in which she lay Edith had recognized the voice which had once +been so familiar to her. Walter, too, was able to testify against him, +for the rough jolting on horseback had for awhile restored his +consciousness, and he had heard words spoken, before relapsing into +insensibility from the continued bleeding of his wound, which enabled +him to swear to Sir James Carnegie as one of his abductors. + +The king instantly ordered the arrest of the knight, but he could not be +found; unavailing search was made in every direction, and as nothing +could be heard of him it was concluded that he had left the kingdom. He +was proclaimed publicly a false and villainous knight, his estates were +confiscated to the crown, and he himself was outlawed. Then Walter and +his wife returned home and did their best to assist their tenants in +struggling through the difficulties entailed through the plague. + +So terrible had been the mortality that throughout England there was a +lack of hands for field work, crops rotted in the ground because there +were none to harvest them, and men able to work demanded twenty times +the wages which had before been paid. So great was the trouble from this +source that an ordinance was passed by parliament enacting that severe +punishment should be dealt upon all who demanded wages above the +standard price, and even more severe penalties inflicted upon those who +should consent to pay higher wages. It was, however, many years before +England recovered from the terrible blow which had been dealt her from +the pestilence. + +While Europe had been ravaged by pestilence the adherents of France and +England had continued their struggle in Brittany in spite of the terms +of the truce, and this time King Edward was the first open aggressor, +granting money and assistance to the free companies, who pillaged and +plundered in the name of England. The truce expired at the end of 1348, +but was continued for short periods. It was, however, evident that both +parties were determined ere long to recommence hostilities. The French +collected large forces in Artois and Picardy, and Edward himself +proceeded to Sandwich to organize there another army for the invasion of +France. + +Philip determined to strike the first blow, and, before the conclusion +of the truce, to regain possession of Calais. This town was commanded by +a Lombard officer named Almeric of Pavia. Free communication existed, in +consequence of the truce, between Calais and the surrounding country, +and Jeffrey de Charny, the Governor of St. Omer, and one of the +commissioners especially appointed to maintain the truce, opened +communications with the Lombard captain. Deeming that like most +mercenaries he would be willing to change sides should his interest to +do so be made clear, he offered him a large sum of money to deliver the +castle to the French. + +The Lombard at once agreed to the project. Jeffrey de Charny arranged to +be within a certain distance of the town on the night of the 1st of +January, bringing with him sufficient forces to master all opposition if +the way was once opened to the interior of the town. It was further +agreed that the money was to be paid over by a small party of French who +were to be sent forward for the purpose of examining the castle, in +order to insure the main body against treachery. As a hostage for the +security of the detachment, the son of the governor was to remain in the +hands of the French without, until the safe return of the scouting +party. + +Several weeks elapsed between the conclusion of the agreement and the +date fixed for its execution, and in the mean time the Lombard, either +from remorse or from a fear of the consequences which might arise from a +detection of the plot before its execution, or from the subsequent +vengeance of the English king, disclosed the whole transaction to +Edward. + +The king bade him continue to carry out his arrangements with De Charny, +leaving it to him to counteract the plot. Had he issued orders for the +rapid assembly of the army the French would have taken alarm. He +therefore sent private messengers to a number of knights and gentlemen +of Kent and Sussex to meet him with their retainers at Dover on the 31st +of December. + +Walter was one of those summoned, and although much surprised at the +secrecy with which he was charged, and of such a call being made while +the truce with France still existed, he repaired to Dover on the day +named, accompanied by Ralph and by twenty men, who were all who remained +capable of bearing arms on the estate. + +He found the king himself with the Black Prince at Dover, where they had +arrived that day. Sir Walter Manny was in command of the force, which +consisted in all of three hundred men-at-arms and six hundred archers. A +number of small boats had been collected, and at mid-day on the 1st of +January the little expedition started, and arrived at Calais after +nightfall. + +In the chivalrous spirit of the times the king determined that Sir +Walter Manny should continue in command of the enterprise; he and the +Black Prince, disguised as simple knights, fighting under his banner. + +In the mean time a considerable force had been collected at St. Omer, +where a large number of knights and gentlemen obeyed the summons of +Jeffrey de Charny. On the night appointed they marched for Calais, in +number five hundred lances and a corresponding number of footmen. They +reached the river and bridge of Nieullay a little after midnight, and +messengers were sent on to the governor, who was prepared to receive +them. On their report De Charny advanced still nearer to the town, +leaving the bridge and passages to the river guarded by a large body of +cross-bowmen under the command of the Lord de Fiennes and a number of +other knights. At a little distance from the castle he was met by +Almeric de Pavia, who yielded his son as a hostage according to his +promise, calculating, as was the case, that he would be recaptured by +the English. Then having received the greater portion of the money +agreed upon, he led a party of the French over the castle to satisfy +them of his sincerity. Upon receiving their report that all was quiet De +Charny detached twelve knights and a hundred men-at-arms to take +possession of the castle, while he himself waited at one of the gates of +the town with the principal portion of his force. + +No sooner had the French entered the castle than the drawbridge was +raised. The English soldiers poured out from their places of +concealment, and the party which had entered the castle were forced to +lay down their arms. In the mean time the Black Prince issued with a +small body of troops from a gate near the sea, while De Manny, with the +king under his banner, marched by the sally-port which led into the +fields. A considerable detachment of the division was dispatched to +dislodge the enemy at the bridge of Nieullay, and the rest, joining the +party of the Black Prince, advanced rapidly upon the force of Jeffrey de +Charny, which, in point of numbers, was double their own strength. + +Although taken in turn by surprise, the French prepared steadily for the +attack. De Charny ordered them all to dismount and to shorten their +lances to pikes five feet in length. The English also dismounted, and +rushing forward on foot a furious contest commenced. The ranks of both +parties were soon broken in the darkness, and the combatants separating +into groups, a number of separate battles raged around the different +banners. + +For some hours the fight was continued with unabating obstinacy on both +sides. The king and the Black Prince fought with immense bravery, their +example encouraging even those of their soldiers who were ignorant of +the personality of the knights who were everywhere in front of the +combat. King Edward himself several times crossed swords with the famous +Eustace de Ribaumont, one of the most gallant knights in France. At +length toward daybreak the king, with only thirty companions, found +himself again opposed to De Ribaumont, with a greatly superior force, +and the struggle was renewed between them. + +Twice the king was beaten down on one knee by the thundering blows of +the French knight, twice he rose and renewed the attack, until De +Charny, seeing Sir Walter Manny's banner, beside which Edward fought, +defended by so small a force, also bore down to the attack, and in the +struggle Edward was separated from his opponent. + +The combat now became desperate round the king, and Sir Guy Brian, who +bore De Manny's standard, though one of the strongest and most gallant +knights of the day, could scarce keep the banner erect. Still Edward +fought on, and in the excitement of the moment, forgetting his +_incognito_, he accompanied each blow with his customary +war-cry--"Edward, St. George! Edward, St. George!" At that battle-cry, +which told the French men-at-arms that the King of England was himself +opposed to them, they recoiled for a moment. The shout too reached the +ears of the Prince of Wales, who had been fighting with another group. +Calling his knights around him he fell upon the rear of De Charny's +party and quickly cleared a space around the king. + +The fight was now everywhere going against the French, and the English +redoubling their efforts the victory was soon complete, and scarcely one +French knight left the ground alive and free. In the struggle Edward +again encountered De Ribaumont, who, separated from him by the charge of +De Charny, had not heard the king's war-cry. The conflict between them +was a short one. The French knight saw that almost all his companions +were dead or captured, his party completely defeated, and all prospects +of escape cut off. He therefore soon dropped the point of his sword and +surrendered to his unknown adversary. In the mean time the troops which +had been dispatched to the bridge of Nieullay had defeated the French +forces left to guard the passage and clear the ground toward St. Omer. + +Early in the morning Edward entered Calais in triumph, taking with him +thirty French nobles as prisoners, while two hundred more remained dead +on the field. That evening a great banquet was held, at which the French +prisoners were present. The king presided at the banquet, and the French +nobles were waited upon by the Black Prince and his knights. After the +feast was concluded the king bestowed on De Ribaumont the chaplet of +pearls which he wore round his crown, hailing him as the most gallant of +the knights who had that day fought, and granting him freedom to return +at once to his friends, presenting him with two horses, and a purse to +defray his expenses to the nearest French town. + +De Charny was afterward ransomed, and after his return to France +assembled a body of troops and attacked the castle which Edward had +bestowed upon Almeric of Pavia, and capturing the Lombard, carried him +to St. Omer, and had him there publicly flayed alive as a punishment for +his treachery. + +Walter had as usual fought by the side of the Prince of Wales throughout +the battle of Calais, and had much distinguished himself for his valor. +Ralph was severely wounded in the fight, but was able a month later to +rejoin Walter in England. + +The battle of Calais and the chivalrous bearing of the king created +great enthusiasm and delight in England, and did much to rouse the +people from the state of grief into which they had been cast by the +ravages of the plague. The king did his utmost to maintain the spirit +which had been evoked, and the foundation of the order of the Garter, +and the erection of a splendid chapel at Windsor, and its dedication, +with great ceremony, to St. George, the patron saint of England, still +further raised the renown of the court of Edward throughout Europe as +the center of the chivalry of the age. + +Notwithstanding many treaties which had taken place, and the near +alliance which had been well-nigh carried out between the royal families +of England and Spain, Spanish pirates had never ceased to carry on a +series of aggressions upon the English vessels trading in the Bay of +Biscay. Ships were every day taken, and the crews cruelly butchered in +cold blood. Edward's remonstrances proved vain, and when threats of +retaliation were held out by Edward, followed by preparations to carry +those threats into effect, Pedro the Cruel, who had now succeeded to +the throne of Spain, dispatched strong reenforcements to the fleet which +had already swept the English Channel. + +The great Spanish fleet sailed north, and capturing on its way a number +of English merchantmen, put into Sluys, and prepared to sail back in +triumph with the prizes and merchandise it had captured. Knowing, +however, that Edward was preparing to oppose them, the Spaniards filled +up their complement of men, strengthened themselves by all sorts of the +war machines then in use, and started on their return for Spain with one +of the most powerful armadas that had ever put to sea. + +Edward had collected on the coast of Sussex a fleet intended to oppose +them, and had summoned all the military forces of the south of England +to accompany him; and as soon as he heard that the Spaniards were about +to put to sea he set out for Winchelsea, where the fleet was collected. + +The queen accompanied him to the sea-coast, and the Black Prince, now in +his twentieth year, was appointed to command one of the largest of the +English vessels. + +The fleet put to sea when they heard that the Spaniards had started, and +the hostile fleets were soon in sight of each other. The number of +fighting men on board the Spanish ships was ten times those of the +English, and their vessels were of vastly superior size and strength. +They had, moreover, caused their ships to be fitted at Sluys with large +wooden towers, which furnished a commanding position to their +cross-bowmen. The wind was direct in their favor, and they could have +easily avoided the contest, but, confiding in their enormously superior +force, they sailed boldly forward to the attack. + +The king himself led the English line, and directing his vessel toward a +large Spanish ship, endeavored to run her down. The shock was +tremendous, but the enemy's vessel was stronger as well as larger than +that of the king; and as the two ships recoiled from each other it was +found that the water was rushing into the English vessel, and that she +was rapidly sinking. The Spaniard passed on in the confusion, but the +king ordered his ship to be instantly laid alongside another which was +following her, and to be firmly lashed to her. Then with his knights he +sprang on board the Spaniard, and after a short but desperate fight cut +down or drove the crew overboard. The royal standard was hoisted on the +prize, the sinking English vessel was cast adrift, and the king sailed +on to attack another adversary. + +The battle now raged on all sides. The English strove to grapple with +and board the enemy, while the Spaniards poured upon them a shower of +bolts and quarrels from their cross-bows, hurled immense masses of stone +from their military engines, and, as they drew alongside, cast into them +heavy bars of iron, which pierced holes in the bottom of the ship. + +Walter was on board the ship commanded by the Black Prince. This had +been steered toward one of the largest and most important of the Spanish +vessels. As they approached, the engines poured their missiles into +them. Several great holes were torn in the sides of the ship, which was +already sinking as she came alongside her foe. + +"We must do our best, Sir Walter," the prince exclaimed, "for if we do +not capture her speedily our ship will assuredly sink beneath our feet." + +The Spaniard stood far higher above the water than the English ship, and +the Black Prince and his knights in vain attempted to climb her sides, +while the seamen strove with pumps and buckets to keep the vessel +afloat. Every effort was in vain. The Spaniard's men-at-arms lined the +bulwarks, and repulsed every effort made by the English to climb up +them, while those on the towers rained down showers of bolts and arrows +and masses of iron and stone. The situation was desperate, when the Earl +of Lancaster, passing by in his ship, saw the peril to which the prince +was exposed, and, ranging up on the other side of the Spaniard, strove +to board her there. The attention of the Spaniards being thus +distracted, the prince and his companions made another desperate effort, +and succeeded in winning their way on to the deck of the Spanish ship +just as their own vessel sank beneath their feet; after a few minutes' +desperate fighting the Spanish ship was captured. + +The English were now everywhere getting the best of their enemies. Many +of the Spanish vessels had been captured or sunk, and after the fight +had raged for some hours, the rest began to disperse and seek safety in +flight. The English vessel commanded by Count Robert of Namur had toward +night engaged a Spanish vessel of more than twice its own strength. His +adversaries, seeing that the day was lost, set all sail, but looking +upon the little vessel beside them as a prey to be taken possession of +at their leisure, they fastened it tightly to their sides by the +grappling-irons, and spreading all sail, made away. The count and his +men were unable to free themselves, and were being dragged away, when a +follower of the count named Hennekin leaped suddenly on board the +Spanish ship. With a bound he reached the mast, and with a single blow +with his sword cut the halyards which supported the main-sail. The sail +fell at once. The Spaniards rushed to the spot to repair the disaster +which threatened to delay their ship. The count and his followers, +seeing the bulwarks of the Spanish vessel for the moment unguarded, +poured in, and after a furious conflict captured the vessel. By this +time twenty-four of the enemy's vessels had been taken, the rest were +either sunk or in full flight, and Edward at once returned to the +English shore. + +The fight had taken place within sight of land, and Queen Philippa, from +the windows of the abbey, which stood on rising ground, had seen the +approach of the vast Spanish fleet, and had watched the conflict until +night fell. She remained in suspense as to the result until the king +himself, with the Black Prince and Prince John, afterward known as John +of Gaunt, who, although but ten years of age, had accompanied the Black +Prince in his ship, rode up with the news of the victory. + +This great sea-fight was one of the brightest and most honorable in the +annals of English history, for not even in the case of that other great +Spanish Armada which suffered defeat in English waters were the odds so +immense or the victory so thorough and complete. The result of the fight +was that after some negotiations a truce of twenty years was concluded +with Spain. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +POITIERS. + + +After the great sea-fight at the end of August, 1350, England had peace +for some years. Philip of France had died a week before that battle, and +had been succeeded by his son John, Duke of Normandy. Upon the part of +both countries there was an indisposition to renew the war, for their +power had been vastly crippled by the devastations of the plague. This +was followed by great distress and scarcity, owing to the want of labor +to till the fields. The truce was therefore continued from time to time; +the pope strove to convert the truce into a permanent peace, and on the +28th of August, 1354, a number of the prelates and barons of England, +with full power to arrange terms of peace, went to Avignon, where they +were met by the French representatives. The powers committed to the +English commissioners show that Edward was at this time really desirous +of making a permanent peace with France; but the French ambassadors +raised numerous and unexpected difficulties, and after lengthened +negotiations the conference was broken off. + +The truce came to an end in June, 1355, and great preparations were +made on both sides for the war. The King of England strained every +effort to furnish and equip an army which was to proceed with the Black +Prince to Aquitaine, of which province his father had appointed him +governor, and in November the prince sailed for Bordeaux with the +advance-guard of his force. Sir Walter Somers accompanied him. During +the years which had passed since the plague he had resided principally +upon his estates, and had the satisfaction of seeing that his tenants +escaped the distress which was general through the country. He had been +in the habit of repairing to London to take part in the tournaments and +other festivities; but both he and Edith preferred the quiet country +life to a continued residence at court. Two sons had now been born to +him, and fond as he was of the excitement and adventure of war, it was +with deep regret that he obeyed the royal summons, and left his house +with his retainers, consisting of twenty men-at-arms and thirty archers, +to join the prince. + +Upon the Black Prince's landing at Bordeaux he was joined by the Gascon +lords, the vassals of the English crown, and for three months marched +through and ravaged the districts adjoining, the French army, although +greatly superior in force, offering no effectual resistance. Many towns +were taken, and he returned at Christmas to Bordeaux after a campaign +attended by a series of unbroken successes. + +The following spring the war recommenced, and a diversion was effected +by the Duke of Lancaster, who was in command of Brittany, joining his +forces with those of the King of Navarre and many of the nobles of +Normandy, while King Edward crossed to Calais and kept a portion of the +French army occupied there. The Black Prince, leaving the principal part +of his forces under the command of the Earl of Albret to guard the +territory already acquired against the attack of the French army under +the Count of Armagnac, marched with two thousand picked men-at-arms and +six thousand archers into Auvergne, and thence turning into Berry, +marched to the gates of Bourges. + +The King of France was now thoroughly alarmed, and issued a general call +to all his vassals to assemble on the Loire. The Prince of Wales, +finding immense bodies of men closing in around him, fell back slowly, +capturing and leveling to the ground the strong castle of Romorentin. + +The King of France was now hastening forward, accompanied by his four +sons, one hundred and forty nobles with banners, twenty thousand +men-at-arms, and an immense force of infantry. Vast accessions of forces +joined him each day, and on the 17th of September he occupied a position +between the Black Prince and Guienne. The first intimation that either +the Black Prince or the King of France had of their close proximity to +each other was an accidental meeting between a small foraging force of +the English and three hundred French horse, under the command of the +Counts of Auxerre and Joigny, the Marshal of Burgundy, and the Lord of +Chatillon. The French hotly pursued the little English party, and on +emerging from some low bushes found themselves in the midst of the +English camp, where all were taken prisoners. From them the Black Prince +learned that the King of France was within a day's march. + +The prince dispatched the Captal de Buch with two hundred men-at-arms to +reconnoiter the force and position of the enemy, and these coming upon +the rear of the French army just as they were about to enter Poitiers, +dashed among them and took some prisoners. The King of France thus first +learned that the enemy he was searching for was actually six miles in +his rear. The Captal de Buch and his companions returned to the Black +Prince, and confirmed the information obtained from the prisoners that +the King of France, with an army at least eight times as strong as his +own, lay between him and Poitiers. + +The position appeared well-nigh desperate, but the prince and his most +experienced knights at once reconnoitered the country to choose the best +ground upon which to do battle. An excellent position was chosen. It +consisted of rising ground commanding the country toward Poitiers, and +naturally defended by the hedges of a vineyard. It was only accessible +from Poitiers by a sunken road flanked by banks and fences, and but wide +enough to admit of four horsemen riding abreast along it. The ground on +either side of this hollow way was rough and broken so as to impede the +movements even of infantry, and to render the maneuvers of a large body +of cavalry nearly impracticable. On the left of the position was a +little hamlet called Maupertuis. Here on the night of Saturday, the 17th +of September, the prince encamped, and early next morning made his +dispositions for the battle. His whole force was dismounted and occupied +the high ground; a strong body of archers lined the hedges on either +side of the sunken road; the main body of archers were drawn up in their +usual formation on the hillside, their front covered by the hedge of the +vineyard, while behind them the men-at-arms were drawn up. + +The King of France divided his army into three divisions, each +consisting of sixteen thousand mounted men-at-arms besides infantry, +commanded respectively by the Duke of Orleans, the king's brother, the +dauphin, and the king himself. With the two royal princes were the most +experienced of the French commanders. In the mean time De Ribaumont, +with three other French knights, reconnoitered the English position, and +on their return with their report strongly advised that as large bodies +of cavalry would be quite useless owing to the nature of the ground, the +whole force should dismount, except three hundred picked men destined to +break the line of English archers and a small body of German horse to +act as a reserve. + +Just as the King of France was about to give orders for the advance, the +Cardinal of Perigord arrived in his camp, anxious to stop, if possible, +the effusion of blood. He hurried to the King of France. + +"You have here, sire," he said, "the flower of all the chivalry of your +realm assembled against a mere handful of English, and it will be far +more honorable and profitable for you to have them in your power without +battle than to risk such a noble array in uncertain strife. I pray you, +then, in the name of God, to let me ride on to the Prince of Wales, to +show him his peril, and to exhort him to peace." + +"Willingly, my lord," the king replied; "but above all things be quick." + +The cardinal at once hastened to the English camp; he found the Black +Prince in the midst of his knights ready for battle, but by no means +unwilling to listen to proposals for peace. His position was indeed most +perilous. In his face was an enormously superior army, and he was, +moreover, threatened by famine; even during the two preceding days his +army had suffered from a great scarcity of forage, and its provisions +were almost wholly exhausted. The French force was sufficiently numerous +to blockade him in his camp, and he knew that did they adopt that course +he must surrender unconditionally, since were he forced to sally out and +attack the French no valor could compensate for the immense disparity of +numbers. He therefore replied at once to the cardinal's application that +he was ready to listen to any terms by which his honor and that of his +companions would be preserved. + +The cardinal returned to the King of France, and with much entreaty +succeeded in obtaining a truce until sunrise on the following morning. +The soldiers returned to their tents, and the cardinal rode backward and +forward between the armies, beseeching the King of France to moderate +his demands, and the Black Prince to submit to the evil fortune which +had befallen him; but on the one side the king looked upon the victory +certain, and on the other the Black Prince thought that there was at +least a hope of success should the French attack him. All, therefore, +that the cardinal could obtain from him was an offer to resign all he +had captured in his expedition, towns, castles, and prisoners, and to +take an oath not to bear arms again against France for seven years. This +proposal fell so far short of the demands of the French king that +pacification soon appeared hopeless. + +Early on the Monday morning the cardinal once more sought the presence +of the French king, but found John inflexible; while some of the +leaders, who had viewed with the strongest disapproval his efforts to +snatch what they regarded as certain victory from their hands, gave him +a peremptory warning not to show himself again in their lines. + +The prelate then bore the news of his failure to the Prince of Wales. +"Fair son," he said, "do the best you can, for you must needs fight, as +I can find no means of peace or amnesty with the King of France." + +"Be it so, good father," the prince replied; "it is our full resolve to +fight, and God will aid the right." + +The delay which had occurred had not been without advantages for the +British army, although the shortness of provisions was greatly felt. +Every effort had been made to strengthen the position. Deep trenches had +been dug and palisades erected around it, and the carts and baggage +train had all been moved round so as to form a protection on the weakest +side of the camp, where also a rampart had been constructed. + +Upon a careful examination of the ground it was found that the hill on +the right side of the camp was less difficult than had been supposed, +and that the dismounted men-at-arms who lay at its foot under the +command of the dauphin would find little difficulty in climbing it to +the assault. The prince therefore gave orders that three hundred +men-at-arms and three hundred mounted archers should make a circuit from +the rear round the base of the hill, in order to pour in upon the flank +of the dauphin's division as soon as they became disordered in the +ascent. The nature of the ground concealed this maneuver from the +enemies' view, and the Captal de Buch, who was in command of the party, +gained unperceived the cover of a wooded ravine within a few hundred +yards of the left flank of the enemy. By the time that all these +dispositions were complete the huge French array was moving forward. The +Black Prince, surrounded by his knights, viewed them approaching. + +"Fair lords," he said, "though we be so few against that mighty power of +enemies, let us not be dismayed, for strength and victory lie not in +multitudes, but in those to whom God give them. If he will the day be +ours, then the highest glory of this world will be given to us. If we +die, I have the noble lord, my father, and two fair brothers, and you +have each of you many a good friend who will avenge us well; thus, then, +I pray you fight well this day, and if it please God and St. George I +will also do the part of a good knight." + +The prince then chose Sir John Chandos and Sir James Audley to remain by +his side during the conflict in order to afford him counsel in case of +need. Audley, however, pleaded a vow which he had made long before, to +be the first in battle should he ever be engaged under the command of +the King of England or any of his children. The prince at once acceded +to his request to be allowed to fight in the van, and Audley, +accompanied by four chosen squires, took his place in front of the +English line of battle. Not far from him, also in advance of the line, +was Sir Eustace d'Ambrecicourt on horseback, also eager to distinguish +himself. + +As Sir James rode off the prince turned to Walter. "As Audley must needs +fight as a knight-errant, Sir Walter Somers, do you take your place by +my side, for there is no more valiant knight in my army than you have +often proved yourself to be." + +Three hundred chosen French men-at-arms, mounted on the strongest +horses, covered with steel armor, led the way under the command of the +Marechals d'Audeham and De Clermont; while behind them were a large body +of German cavalry under the Counts of Nassau, Saarbruck, and Nidau, to +support them in their attack on the English archers. On the right was +the Duke of Orleans with sixteen thousand men-at-arms; on the left the +dauphin and his two brothers with an equal force; while King John +himself led on the rear-guard. + +When the three hundred _elite_ of the French army reached the narrow way +between the hedges, knowing that these were lined with archers they +charged through at a gallop to fall upon the main body of bowmen +covering the front of the English men-at-arms. The moment they were +fairly in the hollow road the British archers rose on either side to +their feet and poured such a flight of arrows among them that in an +instant all was confusion and disarray. Through every joint and crevice +of the armor of knights and horses the arrows found their way, and the +lane was almost choked with the bodies of men and horses. A considerable +number, nevertheless, made their way through and approached the first +line of archers beyond. + +Here they were met by Sir James Audley, who, with his four squires, +plunged into their ranks and overthrew the Marechal d'Audeham, and then +fought his way onward. Regardless of the rest of the battle he pressed +ever forward, until at the end of the day, wounded in a hundred places +and fainting from loss of blood, he fell from his horse almost at the +gates of Poitiers, and was borne from the field by the four faithful +squires who had fought beside him throughout the day. + +Less fortunate was Sir Eustace d'Ambrecicourt, who spurred headlong upon +the German cavalry. A German knight rode out to meet him, and in the +shock both were dishorsed, but before Sir Eustace could recover his seat +he was borne down to the ground by four others of the enemy, and was +bound and carried captive to the rear. + +In the mean time the English archers kept up their incessant hail of +arrows upon the band under the French marshals. The English men-at-arms +passed through the gaps purposely left in the line of archers and drove +back the front rank of the enemy upon those following, chasing them +headlong down the hollow road again. The few survivors of the French +force, galloping back, carried confusion into the advancing division of +the dauphin. Before order was restored the Captal de Buch with his six +hundred men issued forth from his place of concealment and charged +impetuously down on the left flank of the dauphin. + +The French, shaken in front by the retreat of their advance-guard, were +thrown into extreme confusion by this sudden and unexpected charge. The +horse archers with the captal poured their arrows into the mass, while +the shafts of the main body of the archers on the hill hailed upon them +without ceasing. + +The rumor spread among those in the French rear, who were unable to see +what was going forward, that the day was already lost, and many began to +fly. Sir John Chandos marked the confusion which had set in, and he +exclaimed to the prince: + +"Now, sir, ride forward, and the day is yours. Let us charge right over +upon your adversary, the King of France, for there lies the labor and +the feat of the day. Well do I know that his great courage will never +let him fly, but, God willing, he shall be well encountered." + +"Forward, then, John Chandos," replied the prince. "You shall not see me +tread one step back, but ever in advance. Bear on my banner. God and St. +George be with us!" + +The horses of the English force were all held in readiness by their +attendants close in their rear. Every man sprang into his saddle, and +with leveled lances the army bore down the hill against the enemy, while +the Captal de Buch forced his way through the struggling ranks of the +French to join them. + +To these two parties were opposed the whole of the German cavalry, the +division of the dauphin, now thinned by flight, and a strong force under +the Constable de Brienne, Duke of Athens. The first charge of the +English was directed against the Germans, the remains of the marshal's +forces, and that commanded by the constable. The two bodies of cavalry +met with a tremendous shock, raising their respective war-cries, "Denis +Mount Joye!" and "St. George Guyenne!" Lances were shivered, and horses +and men rolled over, but the German horse were borne down in every +direction by the charge of the English chivalry. The Counts of Nassau +and Saarbruck were taken, and the rest driven down the hill in utter +confusion. The division of the Duke of Orleans, a little further down +the hill to the right, were seized with a sudden panic, and sixteen +thousand men-at-arms, together with their commander, fled without +striking a blow. + +Having routed the French and German cavalry in advance, the English now +fell upon the dauphin's division. This had been already confused by the +attacks of the Captal de Buch, and when its leaders beheld the complete +rout of the marshals and the Germans, and saw the victorious force +galloping down upon them, the responsibility attached to the charge of +the three young princes overcame their firmness. The Lords of Landas, +Vaudenay, and St. Venant, thinking the battle lost, hurried the princes +from the field, surrounded by eight hundred lances, determined to place +them at a secure distance, and then to return and fight beside the king. + +The retreat of the princes at once disorganized the force, but though +many fled a number of the nobles remained scattered over the field +fighting in separate bodies with their own retainers gathered under +their banners. Gradually these fell back and took post on the left of +the French king's division. The constable and the Duke of Bourbon with +a large body of knights and men-at-arms also opposed a firm front to the +advance of the English. + +The king saw with indignation one of his divisions defeated and the +other in coward flight, but his forces were still vastly superior to +those of the English, and ordering his men to dismount, he prepared to +receive their onset. The English now gathered their forces, which had +been scattered in combat, and again advanced to the fight. The archers +as usual heralded this advance with showers of arrows, which shook the +ranks of the French and opened the way for the cavalry. These dashed in, +and the ranks of the two armies became mixed, and each man fought hand +to hand. The French king fought on foot with immense valor and bravery, +as did his nobles. The Dukes of Bourbon and Athens, the Lords of Landas, +Argenton, Chambery, Joinville, and many others stood and died near the +king. + +Gradually the English drove back their foes. The French forces became +cut up into groups or confined into narrow spaces. Knight after knight +fell around the king. De Ribaumont fell near him. Jeffrey de Charny, +who, as one of the most valiant knights in the army, had been chosen to +bear the French standard, the oriflamme, never left his sovereign's +side, and as long as the sacred banner floated over his head John would +not believe the day was lost. At length, however, Jeffrey de Charny was +killed, and the oriflamme fell. John, surrounded on every side by foes +who pressed forward to make him prisoner, still kept clear the space +immediately around himself and his little son with his battle-ax; but at +last he saw that further resistance would only entail the death of both, +and he then surrendered to Denis de Montbec, a knight of Artois. + +The battle was now virtually over. The French banners and pennons had +disappeared, and nothing was seen save the dead and dying, groups of +prisoners, and parties of fugitives flying over the country. Chandos now +advised the prince to halt. His banner was pitched on the summit of a +little mound. The trumpets blew to recall the army from the pursuit, and +the prince, taking off his helmet, drank with the little body of knights +who accompanied him some wine brought from his former encampment. + +The two marshals of the English army, the Earls of Warwick and Suffolk, +were among the first to return at the call of the trumpet. Hearing that +King John had certainly not left the field of battle, though they knew +not whether he was dead or taken, the prince at once dispatched the Earl +of Warwick and Lord Cobham to find and protect him if still alive. They +soon came upon a mass of men-at-arms, seemingly engaged in an angry +quarrel. On riding up they found that the object of strife was the King +of France, who had been snatched from the hands of Montbec, and was +being claimed by a score of men as his prisoner. The Earl of Warwick +and Lord Cobham instantly made their way through the mass, and +dismounting, saluted the captive monarch with the deepest reverence, and +keeping back the multitude led him to the Prince of Wales. The latter +bent his knee before the king, and calling for wine, presented the cup +with his own hands to the unfortunate monarch. + +The battle was over by noon, but it was evening before all the pursuing +parties returned, and the result of the victory was then fully known. +With less than eight thousand men the English had conquered far more +than sixty thousand. On the English side two thousand men-at-arms and +fifteen hundred archers had fallen. Upon the French side eleven thousand +men-at-arms, besides an immense number of footmen, had been killed. A +king, a prince, an archbishop, thirteen counts, sixty-six barons, and +more than two thousand knights were prisoners in the hands of the +English, with a number of other soldiers, who raised the number of +captives to double that of their conquerors. All the baggage of the +French army was taken, and as the barons of France had marched to the +field feeling certain of victory, and the rich armor of the prisoners +became immediately the property of the captors, immense stores of +valuable ornaments of all kinds, especially jeweled baldrics, enriched +the meanest soldier among the conquerors. + +The helmet which the French king had worn, which bore a small coronet of +gold beneath the crest, was delivered to the Prince of Wales, who sent +it off at once to his father as the best trophy of the battle he could +offer him. + +Its receipt was the first intimation which Edward III. received of the +great victory. + +As the prince had no means of providing for the immense number of +prisoners, the greater portion were set at liberty upon their taking an +oath to present themselves at Bordeaux by the ensuing Christmas in order +either to pay the ransom appointed or to again yield themselves as +prisoners. + +Immediately the battle was over Edward sent for the gallant Sir James +Audley, who was brought to him on his litter by his esquires, and the +prince, after warmly congratulating him on the honor that he had that +day won as the bravest knight in the army, assigned him an annuity of +five hundred marks a year. + +No sooner was Audley taken to his own tent than he called round him +several of his nearest relations and friends, and then and there made +over to his four gallant attendants, without power of recall, the gift +which the prince had bestowed upon him. The prince was not to be +outdone, however, in liberality, and on hearing that Audley had assigned +his present to the brave men who had so gallantly supported him in the +fight, he presented Sir James with another annuity of six hundred marks +a year. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE JACQUERIE. + + +On the evening after the battle of Poitiers, a splendid entertainment +was served in the tent of the Prince of Wales to the King of France and +all the principal prisoners. John with his son and six of his highest +nobles were seated at a table raised above the rest, and the prince +himself waited as page upon the French king. John in vain endeavored to +persuade the prince to be seated; the latter refused, saying that it was +his pleasure as well as his duty to wait upon one who had shown himself +to be the best and bravest knight in the French army. The example of the +Black Prince was contagious, and the English vied with each other in +generous treatment of their prisoners. All were treated as friends, and +that night an immense number of knights and squires were admitted to +ransom on such terms as had never before been known. The captors simply +required their prisoners to declare in good faith what they could afford +to pay without pressing themselves too hard, "for they did not wish," +they said, "to ransom knights or squires on terms which would prevent +them from maintaining their station in society, from serving their +lords, or from riding forth in arms to advance their name and honor." + +Upon the following morning solemn thanksgivings were offered up on the +field of battle for the glorious victory. Then the English army, +striking its tents, marched back toward Bordeaux. They were unmolested +upon this march, for although the divisions of the dauphin and the Duke +of Orleans had now reunited, and were immensely superior in numbers to +the English, encumbered as the latter were, moreover, with prisoners and +booty, the tremendous defeat which they had suffered, and still more the +capture of the king, paralyzed the French commanders, and the English +reached Bordeaux without striking another blow. + +Not long after they reached that city the Cardinal of Perigord and +another legate presented themselves to arrange peace, and these +negotiations went on throughout the winter. The prince had received full +powers from his father, and his demands were very moderate; but in spite +of this no final peace could be arranged, and the result of the +conference was the proclamation of a truce, to last for two years from +the following Easter. + +During the winter immense numbers of the prisoners who had gone at large +upon patrol came in and paid their ransoms, as did the higher nobles who +had been taken prisoners, and the whole army was greatly enriched. At +the end of April the prince returned to England with King John. The +procession through the streets of London was a magnificent one, the +citizens vying with each other in decorating their houses in honor of +the victor of Poitiers, who, simply dressed, rode on a small black horse +by the side of his prisoner, who was splendidly attired, and mounted on +a superb white charger. The king received his royal prisoner in state in +the great hall of his palace at Westminster, and did all in his power to +alleviate the sorrows of his condition. The splendid palace of the +Savoy, with gardens extending to the Thames, was appointed for his +residence, and every means was taken to soften his captivity. + +During the absence of the Black Prince in Guienne the king had been +warring in Scotland. Here his success had been small, as the Scotch had +retreated before him, wasting the country. David Bruce, the rightful +king, was a prisoner in England, and Baliol, a descendant of the rival +of Robert Bruce, had been placed upon the throne. As Edward passed +through Roxburgh he received from Baliol a formal cession of all his +rights and titles to the throne of Scotland, and in return for this +purely nominal gift he bestowed an annual income upon Baliol, who lived +and died a pensioner of England. After Edward's return to England +negotiations were carried on with the Scots, and a treaty was signed by +which a truce for ten years was established between the two countries, +and the liberation of Bruce was granted on a ransom of one hundred +thousand marks. + +The disorganization into which France had been thrown by the capture of +its king increased rather than diminished. Among all classes men strove +in the absence of a repressive power to gain advantages and privileges. +Serious riots occurred in many parts, and the demagogues of Paris, +headed by Stephen Marcel, and Robert le Coq, Bishop of Leon, set at +defiance the dauphin and the ministers and lieutenant of the king. +Massacre and violence stained the streets of Paris with blood. General +law, public order, and private security were all lost. Great bodies of +brigands devastated the country, and the whole of France was thrown into +confusion. So terrible was the disorder that the inhabitants of every +village were obliged to fortify the ends of their streets and keep watch +and ward as in the cities. The proprietors of land on the banks of +rivers spent the nights in boats moored in the middle of the stream, and +in every house and castle throughout the land men remained armed as if +against instant attack. + +Then arose the terrible insurrection known as the Jacquerie. For +centuries the peasantry of France had suffered under a bondage to which +there had never been any approach in England. Their lives and liberties +were wholly at the mercy of their feudal lords. Hitherto no attempt at +resistance had been possible; but the tremendous defeat of the French at +Poitiers by a handful of English aroused the hope among the serfs that +the moment for vengeance had come. The movement began among a handful of +peasants in the neighborhood of St. Leu and Claremont. These declared +that they would put to death all the gentlemen in the land. The cry +spread through the country. The serfs, armed with pikes, poured out from +every village, and a number of the lower classes from the towns joined +them. Their first success was an attack upon a small castle. They burned +down the gates and slew the knight to whom it belonged, with his wife +and children of all ages. Their numbers rapidly increased. Castle after +castle was taken and stormed, palaces and houses leveled to the ground; +fire, plunder, and massacre swept through the fairest provinces of +France. The peasants vied with each other in inventing deaths of +fiendish cruelty and outrage upon every man, woman, and child of the +better classes who fell into their hands. + +Owing to the number of nobles who had fallen at Cressy and Poitiers, and +of those still captives in England, very many of their wives and +daughters remained unprotected, and these were the especial victims of +the fiendish malignity of the peasantry. Separated in many bands, the +insurgents marched through the Beauvoisis, Soissonois, and Vermandois; +and as they approached, a number of unprotected ladies of the highest +families in France fled to Meaux, where they remained under the guard of +the young Duke of Orleans and a handful of men-at-arms. + +After the conclusion of the peace at Bordeaux, Sir Walter Somers had +been dispatched on a mission to some of the German princes, with whom +the king was in close relations. The business was not of an onerous +nature, but Walter had been detained for some time over it. He spent a +pleasant time in Germany, where, as an emissary of the king and one of +the victors of Poitiers, the young English knight was made much of. When +he set out on his return he joined the Captal de Buch, who, ever +thirsting for adventure, had on the conclusion of the truce gone to +serve in a campaign in Germany; with him was the French Count de Foix, +who had been also serving throughout the campaign. + +On entering France from the Rhine the three knights were shocked at the +misery and ruin which met their eyes on all sides. Every castle and +house throughout the country, of a class superior to those of the +peasants, was destroyed, and tales of the most horrible outrages and +murders met their ears. + +"I regret," the Count de Foix said earnestly, "that I have been away +warring in Germany, for it is clear that every true knight is wanted at +home to crush down these human wolves." + +"Methinks," the captal rejoined, "that France will do well to invite the +chivalry of all other countries to assemble and aid to put down this +horrible insurrection." + +"Ay," the count said bitterly; "but who is to speak in the name of +France? The dauphin is powerless, and the virtual government is in the +hands of Marcel and other ambitious traitors who hail the doings of the +Jacquerie with delight, for these mad peasants are doing their work of +destroying the knights and nobles." + +The villages through which they passed were deserted save by women, and +in the small towns the people of the lower class scowled threateningly +at the three knights; but they with their following of forty +men-at-arms, of whom five were followers of Walter, fifteen of the +captal, and twenty of the Count de Foix, ventured not to proceed beyond +evil glances. + +"I would," De Foix said, "that these dogs would but lift a hand against +us. By St. Stephen, we would teach them a rough lesson!" + +His companions were of the same mind, for all were excited to fury by +the terrible tales which they heard. All these stories were new to them, +for although rumors had reached Germany of the outbreak of a peasant +insurrection in France, the movement had but just begun when they +started. As far as the frontier they had traveled leisurely, but they +had hastened their pace more and more as they learned how sore was the +strait of the nobles and gentry of the country, and how grievously every +good sword was needed. When they reached Chalons they heard much fuller +particulars than had before reached them, and learned that the Duchess +of Normandy, the Duchess of Orleans, and near three hundred ladies had +sought refuge in Meaux, and that they were there guarded but by a +handful of men-at-arms under the Duke of Orleans, while great bands of +serfs were pouring in from all parts of the country round to massacre +them. + +Meaux is eighty miles from Chalons, but the three knights determined to +press onward with all speed in hopes of averting the catastrophe. +Allowing their horses an hour or two to rest, they rode forward, and +pressing on without halt or delay, save such as was absolutely needed by +the horses, they arrived at Meaux late the following night, and found to +their delight that the insurgents, although swarming in immense numbers +round the town, had not yet attacked it. + +The arrival of the three knights and their followers was greeted with +joy by the ladies. They, with their guard, had taken up their position +in the market-house and market-place, which were separated from the rest +of the town by the river Marne, which flows through the city. A +consultation was at once held, and it being found that the Duke of +Orleans had but twenty men-at-arms with him, it was determined that it +was impossible to defend the city walls, but that upon the following +morning they would endeavor to cut their way with the ladies through the +peasant hosts. In the night, however, an uproar was heard in the city. +The burghers had risen and had opened the gates to the peasants, who now +poured in in thousands. Every hour increased their numbers. + +The market-place was besieged in the morning, and an hour or two +afterward a large body of the ruffians of Paris, under the command of a +brutal grocer named Pierre Gille, arrived to swell their ranks. + +The attack on the market-house continued, and the Duke of Orleans held +a consultation with the three knights. It was agreed that against such a +host of enemies the market-place could not long be defended, and that +their best hope lay in sallying out and falling upon the assailants. +Accordingly the men-at-arms were drawn up in order, with the banners of +the Duke of Orleans and the Count de Foix and the pennons of the captal +and Sir Walter Somers displayed, the gates were opened, and with leveled +lances the little party rode out. Hitherto nothing had been heard save +yells of anticipated triumph and fierce imprecations and threats against +the defenders from the immense multitude without; but the appearance of +the orderly ranks of the knights and men-at-arms as they issued through +the gate struck a silence of fear through the mass. + +Without an instant's delay the knights and men-at-arms, with leveled +lances, charged into the multitude. A few attempted to fight, but more +strove to fly, as the nobles and their followers, throwing away their +lances, fell upon them with sword and battle-ax. Jammed up in the narrow +streets of a small walled town, overthrowing and impeding each other in +their efforts to escape, trampled down by the heavy horses of the +men-at-arms, and hewn down by their swords and battle-axes, the +insurgents fell in vast numbers. Multitudes succeeded in escaping +through the gates into the fields; but here they were followed by the +knights and their retainers, who continued charging among them and +slaying till utter weariness compelled them to cease from the pursuit +and return to Meaux. Not less than seven thousand of the insurgents had +been slain by the four knights and fifty men, for ten had been left +behind to guard the gates of the market-place. + +History has no record of so vast a slaughter by so small a body of men. +This terrific punishment put a summary end to the Jacquerie. Already in +other parts several bodies had been defeated, and their principal +leader, Caillet, with three thousand of his followers, slain near +Clermont. But the defeat at Meaux was the crushing blow which put an end +to the insurrection. + +On their return to the town the knights executed a number of the +burghers who had joined the peasants, and the greater part of the town +was burned to the ground as a punishment for having opened the gates to +the peasants and united with them. + +The knights and ladies then started for Paris. On nearing the city they +found that it was threatened by the forces of the dauphin. Marcel had +strongly fortified the town, and with his ally, the infamous King of +Navarre, bade defiance to the royal power. However, the excesses of the +demagogue had aroused against him the feeling of all the better class of +the inhabitants. The King of Navarre, who was ready at all times to +break his oath and betray his companions, marched his army out of the +town and took up a position outside the walls. He then secretly +negotiated peace with the Duke of Normandy, by which he agreed to yield +to their fate Marcel and twelve of the most obnoxious burghers, while at +the same time he persuaded Marcel that he was still attached to his +interest. Marcel, however, was able to bid higher than the Duke of +Normandy, and he entered into a new treaty with the treacherous king, by +which he stipulated to deliver the city into his hands during the night. +Every one within the walls, except the partisans of Marcel, upon whose +doors a mark was to be placed, were to be put to death indiscriminately, +and the King of Navarre was to be proclaimed King of France. + +Fortunately Pepin des Essarts and John de Charny, two loyal knights who +were in Paris, obtained information of a few minutes before the time +appointed for its execution. Arming themselves instantly, and collecting +a few followers, they rushed to the houses of the chief conspirators, +but found them empty, Marcel and his companions having already gone to +the gates. Passing by the hotel-de-ville, the knights entered, snatched +down the royal banner which was kept there, and unfurling it mounted +their horses and rode through the streets, calling all men to arms. They +reached the Port St. Antoine just at the moment when Marcel was in the +act of opening it in order to give admission to the Navarrese. When he +heard the shouts he tried with his friends to make his way into the +bastile, but his retreat was intercepted, and a severe and bloody +struggle took place between the two parties. Stephen Marcel, however, +was himself slain by Sir John de Charny, and almost all his principal +companions fell with him. The inhabitants then threw open their gates +and the Duke of Normandy entered. + +Walter Somers had, with his companions, joined the army of the duke and +placed his sword at his disposal; but when the French prince entered +Paris without the necessity of fighting, he took leave of him, and with +the captal returned to England. Rare, indeed, were the jewels which +Walter brought home to his wife, for the three hundred noble ladies +rescued at Meaux from dishonor and death had insisted upon bestowing +tokens of their regard and gratitude upon the rescuers, and as many of +them belonged to the richest as well as the noblest families in France, +the presents which Walter thus received from the grateful ladies were of +immense value. + +He was welcomed by the king and Prince of Wales with great honor, for +the battle at Meaux had excited the admiration and astonishment of all +Europe. The Jacquerie was considered as a common danger in all civilized +countries; for if successful it might have spread far beyond the +boundaries of France, and constituted a danger to chivalry, and indeed +to society universally. + +Thus King Edward gave the highest marks of his satisfaction to the +captal and Walter, added considerable grants of land to the estates of +the latter, and raised him to the dignity of Baron Somers of Westerham. + +It has always been a matter of wonder that King Edward did not take +advantage of the utter state of confusion and anarchy which prevailed in +France to complete his conquest of that country, which there is no +reasonable doubt he could have effected with ease. Civil war and strife +prevailed throughout France; famine devastated it; and without leaders +or concord, dispirited and impoverished by defeat, France could have +offered no resistance to such an army as England could have placed in +the field. The only probable supposition is that at heart he doubted +whether the acquisition of the crown of France was really desirable, or +whether it could be permanently maintained should it be gained. To the +monarch of a county prosperous, flourishing, and contented the object of +admiration throughout Europe, the union with distracted and divided +France could be of no benefit. Of military glory he had gained enough to +content any man, and some of the richest provinces of France were +already his. Therefore it may well be believed that, feeling secure very +many years must elapse before France could again become dangerous, he +was well content to let matters continue as they were. + +King John still remained a prisoner in his hands, for the princes and +nobles of France were too much engaged in broils and civil wars to think +of raising the money for his ransom, and Languedoc was the only province +of France which made any effort whatever toward so doing. War still +raged between the dauphin and the King of Navarre. + +At the conclusion of the two years' truce Edward, with the most +splendidly equipped army which had ever left England, marched through +the length and breadth of France. Nowhere did he meet with any +resistance in the field. He marched under the walls of Paris, but took +no steps to lay siege to that city, which would have fallen an easy prey +to his army had he chosen to capture it. That he did not do so is +another proof that he had no desire to add France to the possessions of +the English crown. At length, by the efforts of the pope, a peace was +agreed upon, by which France yielded all Aquitaine and the town of +Calais to England as an absolute possession, and not as a fief of the +crown of France; while the English king surrendered all his captures in +Normandy and Brittany and abandoned his claim to the crown of France. +With great efforts the French raised a portion of the ransom demanded +for the king, and John returned to France after four years of captivity. + +At the commencement of 1363 Edward the Black Prince was named Prince of +Aquitaine, and that province was bestowed upon him as a gift by the +king, subject only to liege homage and an annual tribute of one ounce of +gold. The prince took with him to his new possessions many of the +knights and nobles who had served with him, and offered to Walter a high +post in the government of the province if he would accompany him. This +Walter begged to be excused from doing. Two girls had now been added to +his family, and he was unwilling to leave his happy home unless the +needs of war called him to the prince's side. He therefore remained +quietly at home. + +When King John returned to France, four of the French princes of the +blood-royal had been given as hostages for the fulfillment of the treaty +of Bretigny. They were permitted to reside at Calais and were at liberty +to move about as they would, and even to absent themselves from the town +for three days at a time whensoever they might choose. The Duke of +Anjou, the king's second son, basely took advantage of this liberty to +escape, in direct violation of his oath. The other hostages followed his +example. + +King John, himself the soul of honor, was intensely mortified at this +breach of faith on the part of his sons, and after calling together the +States-general at Amiens to obtain the subsidies necessary for paying +the remaining portion of his ransom, he himself, with a train of two +hundred officers and their followers, crossed to England to make excuses +to Edward for the treachery of the princes. Some historians represent +the visit as a voluntary returning into captivity; but this was not so. +The English king had accepted the hostages in his place and was +responsible for their safe-keeping, and had no claim upon the French +monarch because they had taken advantage of the excess of confidence +with which they had been treated. That the coming of the French king was +not in any way regarded as a return into captivity is shown by the fact +that he was before starting furnished by Edward with letters of +safe-conduct, by which his secure and unobstructed return to his own +country was expressly stipulated, and he was received by Edward as an +honored guest and friend, and his coming was regarded as an honor and an +occasion for festivity by all England. + +At the same time that John was in London the King of Cyprus, the King of +Denmark, and the King of Scotland were also there, and the meeting of +four monarchs in London was the occasion of extraordinary festivities +and rejoicing, the king and his royal guests being several times +entertained at sumptuous banquets by the lord mayor, the ex-mayor, Henry +Pickard, and several of the aldermen. + +Six weeks after John's arrival in London he was seized with illness at +the palace of the Savoy, and died on the 8th of April, 1364. The +dauphin, Charles, now succeeded him as Charles V., and the war between +the houses of Navarre and Valois was carried on with greater fury than +ever. The armies of Navarre were commanded by the Captal de Buch, who +was a distant relation of the king; while those of Charles were headed +by the Marechal de Boucicault and Bertrand du Guesclin, one of the most +gallant of the French knights. A great battle was fought near Cocherel. +Contrary to the orders of the captal, his army, which consisted +principally of adventurers, descended from the strong position he had +chosen, and gave battle in the plain. They were completely defeated and +the captal himself taken prisoner. + +In Brittany John of Montford and Charles of Blois had renewed their +struggle, and King Charles, seeing the danger of Brittany falling into +the hands of De Montford, who was a close ally of England, interfered in +favor of Charles of Blois, and sent Du Guesclin to his assistance. + +This was a breach of the treaty of Bretigny, and De Montford at once +sent to the Black Prince for assistance. The prince did not treat the +conduct of Charles as a breach of the treaty, and took no part himself +in the war, but permitted Sir John Chandos, who was a personal friend of +De Montford, to go to his aid. De Montford's army, after the arrival of +Chandos with a force of two hundred spears, amounted to but sixteen +hundred men-at-arms and from eight hundred to nine hundred archers, +while Charles of Blois had four thousand men-at-arms and a proportionate +number of infantry. De Montford tried to negotiate. He offered to divide +the dukedom, and to agree that in case he died childless it should +revert to the family of Charles. Charles, however, refused all terms, +even to grant his adversary's request to put off the battle until the +morrow, so as to avoid violating the Sabbath; and having given orders +that all prisoners taken in the battle should be hung, he advanced upon +De Montford. + +Both forces were divided in four bodies. The first on De Montford's side +was commanded by Sir Robert Knolles, the second by Oliver de Clisson, +the third by Chandos and De Montford, the fourth by Sir Hugh de +Calverley. Du Guesclin led the front division of Charles' army, the +Counts of Auxerre and Joigny the second, Charles himself the third, and +the Lords of Roye and Rieux the reserve. The ducal arms of Brittany were +displayed on both sides. + +By slow degrees the two armies closed with each other in deadly strife. +Both parties had dismounted and fought on foot with lances shortened to +five feet. Du Guesclin and his division attacked that of Knolles. +Auxerre fell upon De Clisson, while the divisions of the two rival +princes closed with each other. After desperate fighting numbers +prevailed. De Montford was driven back, but Calverley advanced to his +aid, fell upon the rear of the French, threw them into disorder, and +then having rallied De Montford's men, retired to his former position in +readiness to give succor again where it might be needed. + +In the mean time Clisson had been engaged in a desperate struggle with +the Count of Auxerre, but was obtaining no advantage. Clisson himself +had received the blow of a battle-ax which had dashed in the visor of +his helmet and blinded forever one of his eyes. He was still leading his +men, but the enemies' superior numbers were pressing him back, when +Chandos, the instant the assistance of Calverley had relieved De +Montford's division, perceiving his danger, drew off a few men-at-arms, +and with them fell upon the rear of the Count of Auxerre, and dashing +all who opposed him to the ground with his battle-ax, cleft his way to +the very center of the enemy. Pressed by De Clisson in front and broken +by the sudden attack of Chandos in the rear, the French division gave +way in every direction. Auxerre was desperately wounded, and he and De +Joigny both taken prisoners. + +Chandos then returned to De Montford, who had gallantly followed up the +advantage gained by the confusion into which Charles' division had been +thrown by the attack of Calverley. Charles was routed, he himself struck +down and slain by an English soldier, and the division defeated with +great slaughter. De Montford's whole force now gathered round Du +Guesclin's division, which now alone remained, and after fighting +gallantly until all hope was gone, the brave French knight and his +companions yielded themselves as prisoners. + +The battle of Auray terminated the struggle between the houses of Blois +and Montford. More than one thousand French men-at-arms died on the +field of battle, among whom were many of the noblest in Brittany. Two +counts, twenty-seven lords, and fifteen hundred men-at-arms were made +prisoners. De Montford now took possession of the whole of Brittany, and +at the suggestion of King Edward himself did homage to Charles V. for +the duchy, which he afterward ruled with wisdom. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +VICTORY AND DEATH. + + +While the Black Prince was with difficulty governing his province of +Aquitaine, where the mutual jealousies of the English and native +officers caused continual difficulties, King Edward turned all his +attention to advancing the prosperity of England. He fostered trade, +commerce, and learning, was a munificent patron of the two universities, +and established such order and regularity in his kingdom that England +was the admiration of all Europe. Far different was the state of France. +The cessation of the wars with England and the subsequent disbandment of +troops had thrown upon their own resources great numbers of men who had +been so long engaged in fighting that they had no other trade to turn +to. The conclusion of the struggle in Brittany after the battle of Auray +and the death of Charles of Blois still further added to the number, and +these men gathered in bands, some of which were headed by men of +knightly rank, and scattered through France plundering the country and +extracting heavy sums from the towns. + +These "great companies," as they were called, exceeded fifty thousand +men in number, and as almost all were trained soldiers they set the king +and his nobles at defiance, and were virtually masters of France. The +most tempting offers were made to them to lay down their arms, and the +pope sent legates threatening excommunication, but the great companies +laughed alike at promises and threats. At last a way of deliverance +opened to France. Pedro, named the Cruel, of Castile, had alienated his +people by his cruelty, and had defeated and driven into exile his +half-brother, Henry of Transtamare, who headed an insurrection against +him. Pedro put to death numbers of the nobles of Castile, despoiled the +King of Arragon, who had given aid to his brother, plundered and +insulted the clergy, and allied himself with the Moors. + +His quarrel with the clergy was the cause of his ruin. The pope summoned +him to appear before him at Avignon to answer to the crimes laid to his +charge. Pedro refused to attend, and the pope at once excommunicated +him. The King of Arragon and Henry of Transtamare were then summoned to +Avignon, and a treaty of alliance was concluded between them, and the +pope declared the throne of Castile vacant owing to the excommunication +of Pedro, and appointed Henry to it. + +These measures would have troubled Pedro little had it not been that +France groaned under the great companies, and the French king and the +pontiff at once entered into negotiations with them to support Henry in +his war against his brother. It was necessary that a leader in whom the +companies should have confidence should be chosen, and Du Guesclin, +still a prisoner of Chandos, who had captured him at Auray, was +selected, and the pope, the King of France, and Don Henry paid between +them the one hundred thousand francs demanded for his ransom. Du +Guesclin on his release negotiated with the leaders of the great +companies, and as the pope and king promised them large gratuities they +agreed to march upon Spain. They were joined by a great number of French +knights and men-at-arms. + +The expedition was under the nominal command of John of Bourbon, but the +real guidance was in the hands of Du Guesclin. As the army marched past +Avignon they worked upon the terrors of the pope until he paid them two +hundred thousand francs in gold. France was filled with joy at the +prospect of a riddance of the free companies which had so long been a +prey upon them. They were, too, eager to avenge upon the cruel King of +Spain the murder of his queen, who was a princess of France. The same +feeling animated the people of Aquitaine, and Calverley, D'Ambrecicourt, +Sir Walter Hewitt, Sir John Devereux, Sir John Neville, and several +other distinguished knights, with a large train of men-at-arms, joined +the adventurers. The great army moved through Arragon, whose king in +every way facilitated their progress. As they entered Castile the whole +people declared in favor of Henry, and Pedro, deserted by all, fled to +Bordeaux and besought aid from the Prince of Wales. + +Between Pedro and the English court a firm alliance had existed from the +time when the former so nearly married the Princess Joan, and +immediately the king heard of the expedition against him he issued +orders that no English knights should take part in it. The order, +however, came too late. The English knights had already marched into +Spain with Du Guesclin. As for the English who formed no inconsiderable +portion of the great companies, they had already declined to obey the +king when, at the instance of the pope and the King of France, he had +ordered them to disband. + +On Pedro's arrival at Bordeaux with his three daughters and his son, +they were kindly received by the Black Prince, courtesy and kindness to +those in misfortune being among the leading characteristics of his +nature. Pedro, cruel and ruthless as he was, was a man of great +eloquence and insinuating manners, and giving his own version of +affairs, he completely won over the prince, who felt himself, moreover, +bound in some degree to support him, inasmuch as he, an ally of England, +had been dethroned by an army composed partly of English. Pedro made the +most magnificent promises to the prince in return for his aid, ceding +him the whole of the province of Biscay, and agreeing to pay the British +troops engaged in his service when he regained his throne, the Black +Prince engaging to pay them in the mean time. + +King Edward aided his son by raising an army in England, which sailed +for Bordeaux under the command of the prince's brother, John of Gaunt, +Duke of Lancaster. Walter formed part of this expedition. The king had +issued his writs to him and other barons of the southern counties, and +the Black Prince had himself written to ask him to join him, in memory +of their former deeds of arms together. + +As it was now some years since he had taken the field, Walter did not +hesitate, but with thirty retainers, headed by Ralph, joined the army of +John of Gaunt. + +The Black Prince's first step was to endeavor to recall the Englishmen +of the free companies, estimated to amount to at least thirty thousand +men. The news that he was taking up arms and would himself command the +army caused Calverley and the whole of the other English knights to +return at once, and ten thousand of the English men-at-arms with the +great companies also left Don Henry and marched to Aquitaine. The road +led through the territory of the King of Navarre, and the Black Prince +advanced fifty-six thousand florins of gold to pay this grasping and +treacherous king for the right of passage of the army. + +By Christmas, 1366, the preparations were complete, but the severity of +the weather delayed the advance for some weeks. Fresh difficulties were +encountered with Charles the Bad, of Navarre, who, having obtained the +price for the passage, had now opened negotiations with Don Henry, and +the governors of the frontier towns refused to allow Sir Hugh Calverley +and the free companions, who formed the advance, to pass. These were +not, however, the men to stand on ceremony, and without hesitation they +attacked and captured the towns, when the King of Navarre at once +apologized for his officers, and renewed his engagements. As, however, +the Black Prince had received intelligence that he had formed a plan for +attacking the English as they passed through the terrible pass of +Roncesvalles, he compelled him to accompany the army. The invitation was +couched in language which was friendly, but would yet admit of no +denial. + +On the 17th of February the English army, thirty thousand strong, +reached the pass. It marched in three divisions, the first commanded by +the Duke of Lancaster and Lord Chandos, the second by the Black Prince, +the third by the King of Majorca and the Count of Armagnac. The +divisions crossed over on different days, for the pass was encumbered by +snow and the obstacles were immense. Upon the day when the prince's +division were passing a storm burst upon them, and it was with the +greatest difficulty that they succeeded in crossing. On the 20th of +February, however, all arrived safe on the other side of the Pyrenees. +Du Guesclin, who, seeing the storm which was approaching from Aquitaine, +had returned to France and levied a French army, was nigh at hand, and +kept within a few miles of the English army as it advanced, avoiding an +engagement until the arrival of Don Henry, who was marching to join him +with the great companies and sixty thousand Spanish troops. + +Du Guesclin kept up secret communications with the King of Navarre, who +was still forced to accompany the English army. The latter accordingly +went out from the camp under pretense of hunting and was captured by a +detachment of French troops. + +On the 1st of April, the Spanish army having joined the French, the +Black Prince sent letters to Don Henry, urging him in mild but dignified +language to return to obedience, and to resign the throne he had +usurped, offering at the same time to act as mediator between him and +his brother, and to do all in his power to remove differences and +abuses. Henry, confident in his strength, replied haughtily and prepared +for battle. + +The forces were extremely unequal. The Black Prince had under him thirty +thousand men; while under Don Henry were three thousand men-at-arms on +mail-clad horses, twenty thousand men-at-arms on horses not so +protected, six thousand light cavalry, ten thousand cross-bowmen, and +sixty thousand foot armed with spear and sword. + +The night before the battle the Black Prince lodged in the little +village of Navarretta, which had been deserted by its inhabitants. +Walter had been his close companion since he started, and occupied the +same lodging with him in the village. + +"This reminds me," the prince said, "of the day before Cressy. They +outnumber us by more than three to one." + +"There were greater odds still," Walter replied, "at Poitiers, and I +doubt not that we shall make as good an example of them." + +"They are more doughty adversaries," the prince replied. "There are nigh +twenty thousand English in their ranks--all veterans in war--and they +are led by Du Guesclin, who is a host in himself." + +"Their very numbers will be a hindrance to them," Walter replied +cheerfully; "and never did I see a better army than that which you have +under you. I would we were fighting for a better man, for Don Pedro is +to my mind treacherous as well as cruel. He promises fairly, but I doubt +if when he has gained his end he will keep his promises. He speaks +fairly and smoothly, but his deeds are at variance with his words." + +"It may be, my lord," the prince replied, "that I am somewhat of your +opinion, and that I regret I so quickly committed myself to his cruse. +However, he was my father's ally, and having fulfilled all his +engagements had a right to demand our assistance. I am a bad hand, +Walter, at saying no to those who beseech me." + +"It is so, Sir Prince," Walter said bluntly. "Would that your heart had +been a less generous one, for your nobleness of disposition is ever +involving you in debts which hamper you sorely, and cause more trouble +to you than all your enemies!" + +"That is true enough," the Black Prince said with a sigh. "Since I was a +boy I have ever been harassed with creditors; and though all Aquitaine +is mine, I verily believe that there is not a man in my father's +dominions who is so harassed and straitened for money as I." + +"And yet," Walter said, smiling, "no sooner do you get it than you give +it away." + +"Ah!" the prince laughed, "I cannot deny it. It is so much pleasanter to +give than to pay that I can never find heart to balk myself. I am ever +surrounded by suitors. Some have lost estates in my cause, others have +rendered brilliant services in the field, some have burdened themselves +with debts to put their retainers in arms--all have pleas to urge, and +for the life of me I cannot say them nay. I trust, though," he added +more seriously, "that Don Pedro will fulfill his promises to pay my +army. I have bound myself to my soldiers for their wages, besides +advancing large sums to Pedro, and if he keeps not his engagements I +shall indeed be in a sore strait." + +"There is one thing," Walter said; "if he fail to keep his promises, we +will not fail to oblige him to do so. If we win a kingdom for him, we +can snatch it from him again." + +"We have not won it yet," the prince said. + +"We will do so to-morrow," Walter rejoined confidently. "I hope the +fortunes of the day may bring me face to face with Du Guesclin. I am +thrice as strong as when I fought at Cressy, and I should like to try +my hand against this doughty champion." + +The next morning the two armies prepared for battle, the Black Prince +dividing his army as before. The divisions were commanded as in the +passage of the Pyrenees, and each numbered ten thousand men. + +Don Henry had also divided his force in three parts. In the first +division, commanded by Du Guesclin, were four thousand veteran French +knights and men-at-arms with eight thousand foot soldiers; the second +was led by the prince's brother, Don Tillo, with sixteen thousand horse; +while he himself commanded the third, in which were a multitude of +soldiers, making up the gross total of one hundred thousand men. + +As on the night preceding the battle of Poitiers, the English army had +lain down supperless. Soon after midnight the trumpets sounded, and the +troops soon moved forward. At sunrise the prince and his forces reached +the summit of a little hill, whence was visible the approaching host of +Spain. The first division, under the Duke of Lancaster and Lord Chandos, +immediately quickened its pace and charged the division of Du Guesclin, +which received it with great steadiness, and a desperate conflict +ensued. The Black Prince charged the division of Don Tillo, which gave +way at the first attack, and its commander, with two thousand horse, at +once fled. The remainder of the division resisted for some time, but was +unable to withstand the steady advance of the English, who without much +difficulty dispersed and scattered it from the field. The King of +Majorca now joined his division with that of the Black Prince, and the +two advanced against the great division led by Don Henry. + +The Spanish slingers opened upon the advancing force and for a time +annoyed them greatly, but when the English archers arrived within +bow-shot and opened fire they speedily dispersed the slingers, and the +men-at-arms on both sides advanced to the attack. The conflict was long +and desperate, and both sides fought with great gallantry and +determination. Don Pedro--who, although vicious and cruel, was +brave--fought in the ranks as a common soldier, frequently cutting his +way into the midst of the Spaniards, and shouting to Don Henry to cross +swords with him. Henry on his part fought with great valor, although, as +he had the burden of command upon him, he was less able to distinguish +himself by acts of personal prowess. Though fighting in the thickest of +the press, he never lost his grasp of the general purpose of the battle. +Three times, when his troops wavered before the assaults of the Black +Prince and his knights, he rallied them and renewed the fight. + +While this battle was raging, a not less obstinate fight was proceeding +between the divisions of Lancaster and Du Guesclin. For a long time +victory was doubtful, and indeed inclined toward the side of the French. +The ranks of both parties were broken, and all were fighting in a +confused mass, when, in the midst of the _melee_, a body of French and +Spaniards poured in upon the banner of Chandos. He was struck to the +ground, and a gigantic Castilian knight flung himself upon him and +strove to slay him as he held him down. Chandos had lost sword and +battle-ax, but drawing his dagger, he held with one hand his opponent's +sword-arm, and at last, after repeated strokes with his dagger, he found +an undefended part of his armor and pierced him with his dagger to the +hilt. The Spaniard relaxed his hold, and Chandos, throwing him off, +struggled to his feet and rejoined his friends, who had thought him +dead. They now fought with more enthusiasm than ever, and at last, +driving back the main body of the French knights, isolated a body of +some sixty strong, and forced them to surrender. Among these were Du +Guesclin himself, the Marshal d'Audenham, and the Bigue de Vilaines. + +As these were the leaders of the division, the main body lost spirit and +fought feebly, and were soon completely routed by Lancaster and Chandos. +These now turned their attention to the other part of the field, where +the battle was still raging, and charged down upon the flank of Don +Henry's army, which was already wavering. The Spaniards gave way at once +on every side, and ere long the whole were scattered in headlong rout, +hotly pursued by the English. The greater portion fled toward the town +of Najarra, where they had slept the previous night, and here vast +quantities were slaughtered by the English and Gascons. A number of +prisoners were taken and the palace and town sacked. The pursuit was +kept up the whole day, and it was not until evening that the leaders +began once more to assemble round the banner of the Prince of Wales. +Among the last who arrived was Don Pedro himself. Springing from his +charger he grasped the hand of the Prince of Wales, thanking him for his +victory, which he felt would restore him to his throne. + +"Give thanks and praise to God, and not to me," the prince replied, "for +from him, and not from me, you have received victory." + +About eight thousand men fell in the battle, the loss of the English, +French, and Spaniards being nearly equal; but many thousands of the +latter fell in the pursuit, and as many more were drowned in endeavoring +to cross the river Ebro. Don Henry escaped after fighting till the last, +and reaching the French territory in safety took refuge in the papal +court of Avignon. + +Upon the morning after the battle Don Pedro requested the Black Prince +to give him up all the Castilian prisoners, in order that he might put +them to death. The prince, however, was always opposed to cruelty, and +asked and obtained as a boon to himself that the lives of all the +Spanish prisoners, with the exception of one whose conduct had been +marked with peculiar treachery, should be spared, and even induced Pedro +to pardon them altogether on their swearing fealty to him. Even Don +Sancho, Pedro's brother, who had fought at Najarra under Don Henry, was +received and embraced by Pedro at the request of the Prince of Wales. +The city of Burgos at once opened its gates, and the rest of the country +followed its example, and resumed its allegiance to Pedro, who remounted +his throne without further resistance. + +As Walter had fought by the side of the Black Prince his desire to cross +swords with Du Guesclin was not satisfied; but his valor during the day +won for him the warm approbation of the prince. Opposed to them were +many of the great companies, and these men, all experienced soldiers and +many of them Englishmen, had fought with great stubbornness. Walter had +singled out for attack a banner bearing the cognizance of a raven. The +leader of this band, who was known as the Knight of the Raven, had won +for himself a specially evil notoriety in France by the ferocity of his +conduct. Wherever his band went they had swept the country, and the most +atrocious tortures had been inflicted on all well-to-do persons who had +fallen into their hands, to extract from them the secret of buried +hoards or bonds, entailing upon them the loss of their last penny. + +The Knight of the Raven himself was said to be as brave as he was cruel, +and several nobles who had attempted to oppose his band had been +defeated and slain by him. He was known to be English, but his name was +a mystery; and the Black Prince and his knights had long wished to +encounter a man who was a disgrace alike to chivalry and the English +name. When, therefore, Walter saw his banner in the king's division he +urged his horse toward it, and, followed by Ralph and some thirty +men-at-arms, hewed his way through the crowd until he was close to the +banner. + +A knight in gray armor spurred forward to meet him, and a desperate +conflict took place. Never had Walter crossed swords with a stouter +adversary, and his opponent fought with as much vehemence and fury as if +the sight of Walter's banner, which Ralph carried behind him, had +aroused in him a frenzy of rage and hate. In guarding his head from one +of his opponent's sweeping blows Walter's sword shivered at the hilt; +but before the Gray Knight could repeat the blow Walter snatched his +heavy battle-ax from his saddle. The knight reined back his horse for an +instant and imitated his example, and with these heavy weapons the fight +was renewed. The Knight of the Raven had lost by the change, for +Walter's great strength stood him in good stead, and presently with a +tremendous blow he beat down his opponent's ax and cleft through his +helmet almost to the chin. + +The knight fell dead from his horse, and Walter, with his band, pressing +on, carried confusion into the ranks of his followers. When these had +been defeated Walter rode back with Ralph to the spot where the Knight +of the Raven had fallen. + +"Take off his helmet, Ralph. Let me see his face. Methinks I recognized +his voice, and he fought as if he knew and hated me." + +[Illustration: THE END OF A RECREANT KNIGHT.--Page 386.] + +Ralph removed the helmet. + +"It is as I thought," Walter said; "it is Sir James Carnegie, a recreant +and villain knight and foul enemy of mine, a disgrace to his name and +rank, but a brave man. So long as he lived I could never say that my +life was safe from his machinations. Thank God, there is an end of him +and his evil doings!" + +Walter was twice wounded in the fight, but upon neither occasion +seriously, and he was soon able to take part in the tournaments and +games which the Prince of Wales instituted partly to keep his men +employed, partly for the amusement of the citizens of Burgos, outside +whose walls his army lay encamped. + +The prince was now obliged to remind the king of his promise to pay his +troops; but nothing was further from the mind of the treacherous monarch +than to carry out the promises which he had made in exile. He dared not, +however, openly avow his intentions, but trusting to the chapter of +accidents, he told the prince that at Burgos he could not collect a +sufficient sum; but if the army would march into Leon and take up their +quarters near Valladolid, he himself would proceed to Seville, and would +as soon as possible collect the money which he had bound himself to +furnish. The plan was adopted. Edward marched his troops to Valladolid, +and Don Pedro went to Seville. + +Some time passed on without the arrival of the promised money, and the +prince was impatient to return to Aquitaine. Don Henry had gathered a +force in France, secretly assisted by the French king, and had made an +inroad into Aquitaine, where he obtained several successes, and was +joined by many of the disinterested nobles of that province. + +"You were right," the prince said to Walter one day; "this treacherous +king, who owes his kingdom to us, intends to break his plighted word. I +know not what to do; my men are clamorous for their pay, and I am unable +to satisfy them. Don Pedro still sends fair promises, and although I +believe in my heart that he has no intention of keeping them, yet I can +hardly march against him as an enemy, for, however far from the truth it +may be, his pretext that the treasury has been emptied by his brother, +and that in the disturbed state of the kingdom no money can be obtained, +may yet be urged as valid." + +Scarcely had the army encamped before Valladolid when a terrible +pestilence attacked the army. For a while all questions of pay were +forgotten, and consternation and dismay seized the troops. Neither rank +nor station was of avail, and the leaders suffered as severely as the +men. Every day immense numbers died, and so sudden were the attacks, and +so great the mortality, that the soldiers believed that Don Pedro had +poisoned the wells in order to rid himself of the necessity of +fulfilling his obligations. + +The Black Prince himself was prostrated and lay for some time between +life and death. A splendid constitution enabled him to pull through, but +he arose from his bed enfeebled and shattered, and although for some +years he lived on, he received his death-blow at Valladolid. His +personal strength never came to him again, and even his mind was dulled +and the brightness of his intellect dimmed from the effects of the +fever. When he recovered sufficiently to inquire into the state of his +forces, he was filled with sorrow and dismay. Four-fifths of the number +were either dead or so weakened as to be useless for service again. The +prince wrote urgently to Don Pedro for the money due; but the king knew +that the English were powerless now, and replied that he had not been +able to collect the money, but would forward it to Aquitaine, if the +prince would return there with his army. Edward knew that he lied, but +with only six thousand or seven thousand men, many of whom were +enfeebled by disease, he was not in a position to force the claim, or to +punish the base and ungrateful king. Again, therefore, he turned his +face north. + +Charles of Navarre had now allied himself with Don Henry, and refused to +allow the remnants of the army to pass through his dominions, although +he granted permission to the prince himself and his personal attendants +and friends. The southern route was barred by the King of Arragon, also +an ally of Don Henry; but with him the prince was more successful. He +had a personal interview with the monarch, and so influenced him that he +not only obtained permission for his troops to pass through his +dominions, but detached him from his alliance with Don Henry and +induced him to enter into a friendly treaty with Pedro. + +A greater act of magnanimity was never performed. In spite of the base +ingratitude with which he had been treated, and the breach of faith +which saddled him with enormous liabilities and debts, which weighed him +down and imbittered the rest of his life, Edward remained faithful to +the cause of his father's ally, and did his best to maintain him in the +position which English valor had won for him. He himself with a few +companions passed through Navarre, and arrived safely in Bordeaux, where +his wife awaited him, and where he was received with rejoicings and +festivities in honor of his glorious campaign in Spain. + +His health was now irreparably injured. Troubles came thick upon him in +Aquitaine, and he had no longer the energy to repress them. Risings took +place in all directions, and the King of France renewed the war. In +addition to his own troubles from the debts he had incurred and the +enemies who rose against him, he was further shaken by the death of his +mother Philippa, whom he tenderly loved. His friend Chandos, too, was +killed in a skirmish. Unhappily, while thus weakened in mind and body +the treachery of the bishop and people of Limoges, who, having bound +themselves by innumerable promises to him, surrendered their city to the +French, caused him to commit the one act of cruelty which sullied the +brightness of an otherwise unspotted career, for at the recapture of the +town he bade his soldiers give no quarter. + +This act, although common enough at the time, is so opposed to the +principles of mercy and humanity which throughout all the previous acts +of his life distinguished the conduct of the Black Prince that it cannot +be doubted that his brain was affected by the illness which was fast +hurrying him to the grave. Shortly afterward he returned to England and +busied himself in arranging the affairs of the kingdom, which his +father's failing health had permitted to fall into disorder. For the +remaining four years of life he lived in seclusion, and sank on the 8th +of June, 1376. + +Walter, Lord Somers, returned home after the conclusion of the campaign +in Spain, and rode no more to the wars. + +Giles Fletcher and his wife had died some years before, but the good +citizen Geoffrey the armorer, when he grew into years, abandoned his +calling and took up his abode at Westerham Castle to the time of his +death. + +In the wars which afterward occurred with France, Walter was represented +in the field by his sons, who well sustained the high reputation which +their father had borne as a good and valiant knight. He and his wife +lived to a green old age, reverenced and beloved by their tenants and +retainers, and died surrounded by their descendants to the fourth +generation. + + +THE END. + + + + +THE HENTY SERIES FOR BOYS + +Uniform Cloth Binding. Price $1.00. + + +"Wherever English is spoken one imagines that Mr. Henty's name is known. +One cannot enter a schoolroom or look at a boy's bookshelf without +seeing half a dozen of the famous volumes. Mr. Henty is no doubt the +most successful writer for boys, and the one to whose new volumes they +look forward every Christmas with most pleasure."--_Review of Reviews._ + +Bonnie Prince Charlie: A Tale of Fontenoy and Culloden. By G. A. HENTY. +With Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Price $1.00. + +With Clive in India; or, The Beginnings of an Empire. By G. A. HENTY. +With Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Price $1.00. + +The Dragon and the Raven; or, The Days of King Alfred. By G. A. HENTY. +With Illustrations by C.J. Staniland, R.I. Price $1.00. + +The Young Carthaginian: A Story of the Times of Hannibal. By G. A. HENTY. +With Illustrations by C.J. Staniland, R.I. Price $1.00. + +The Lion of the North: A Tale of Gustavus Adolphus and the Wars of +Religion. By G. A. HENTY. With Illustrations by John Schoenberg. + +With Lee in Virginia: A Story of the American Civil War. By G. A. HENTY. +With Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Price $1.00. + +By England's Aid; or, The Freeing of the Netherlands (1585-1604). By +G. A. HENTY. With Illustrations by Alfred Pearse. Price $1.00. + +By Pike and Dyke: A Tale of the Rise of the Dutch Republic. By G. A. +HENTY. With Illustrations by Maynard Brown. Price $1.00. + +Captain Bayley's Heir: A Tale of the Gold Fields of California. By G. A. +HENTY. With Illustrations by H.M. Paget. Price $1.00. + +Under Drake's Flag: A Tale of the Spanish Main. By G. A. HENTY. With +Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Price $1.00. + +In Freedom's Cause: A Story of Wallace and Bruce. By G. A. HENTY. With +Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Price $1.00. + +In the Reign of Terror: The Adventures of a Westminster Boy. By G. A. +HENTY. With Illustrations by John Schoenberg. Price $1.00. + +True to the Old Flag: A Tale of the American War of Independence. With +12 page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Price $1.00. + +With Wolfe in Canada; or, The Winning of a Continent. With 12 page +Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Price $1.00. + +By Right of Conquest; or, With Cortez in Mexico. With 6 page +Illustrations by W.S. Stacey. Price $1.00. + +St. George for England: A Tale of Cressy and Poitiers. With 8 page +Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Price $1.00. + +The Bravest of the Brave: With Peterborough in Spain. With 8 page +Illustrations by H.M. Paget. Price $1.00. + +For Name and Fame; or, Through Afghan Passes. With 8 page Illustrations +by Gordon Browne. Price $1.00. + +The Cat of Bubastes: A Story of Ancient Egypt. With 5 page Illustrations +by J.R. Weguelin. Price $1.00. + +For the Temple: A Tale of the Fall of Jerusalem. With 10 page +Illustrations by S.J. Solomon. Price $1.00. + +The Lion of St. Mark: A Story of Venice in the Fourteenth Century. With +10 page Illustrations by Gordon Browne. Price $1.00. + +By Sheer Pluck: A Tale of the Ashanti War. With 8 page Illustrations by +Gordon Browne. Price $1.00. + +A Final Reckoning: A Tale of Bush Life in Australia. With 8 page +Illustrations by W.B. Wollen. Price $1.00. + +Facing Death: A Tale of the Coal Mines. With 8 page Illustrations by +Gordon Browne. Price $1.00. + +Maori and Settler: A Story of the New Zealand War. With 5 page +Illustrations by Alfred Pearse. Price $1.00. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 97 Reade Street, New York. + + +Fireside Series for Girls. + +Uniform Cloth Binding. Illustrated. + +A carefully selected series of books for girls, written by authors of +acknowledged reputation. The stories are deeply interesting in +themselves, and have a moral charm that emanates from the principal +characters; they teach without preaching, are of lively interest +throughout, and will win the hearts of all girl readers. + +[Illustration] + +Esther. By ROSA NOUCHETTE CAREY. Illustrated. Price $1.00. + +A World of Girls: The Story of a School. By L.T. MEADE. Illustrated. +Price $1.00. + +The Heir of Redclyffe. By CHARLOTTE M. YONGE. Illus. Price $1.00. + +The Story of a Short Life. By JULIANA HORATIA EWING. Illustrated. Price +$1.00. + +A Sweet Girl Graduate. By L.T. MEADE. Illustrated. Price $1.00. + +Our Bessie. By ROSA NOUCHETTE CAREY. Illustrated. Price $1.00. + +Six to Sixteen: A Story for Girls. By JULIANA HORATIA EWING. +Illustrated. Price $1.00. + +The Dove in the Eagle's Nest. By CHARLOTTE M. YONGE. Illustrated. Price +$1.00. + +Gianetta; A Girl's Story of Herself. By ROSA MULHOLLAND. Illustrated. +Price $1.00. + +Jan of the Windmill: A Story of the Plains. By JULIANA HORATIA EWING. +Illustrated. Price $1.00. + +Averil. By ROSA NOUCHETTE CAREY. Illustrated. Price $1.00. + +Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking-Glass. Two volumes in +one. By LEWIS CARROLL. Illustrated. Price $1.00. + +Merle's Crusade. By ROSA NOUCHETTE CAREY. Illustrated. Price $1.00. + +Girl Neighbors; or, The Old Fashion and the New. By SARAH TYTLER. +Illustrated. Price $1.00. + +Polly: A New Fashioned Girl. By L.T. MEADE. Illus. Price $1.00. + +Aunt Diana. By ROSA N. CAREY. Illustrated. Price $1.00. + +The Water Babies; A Fairy Tale for a Land-Baby. By CHARLES KINGSLEY. +Illustrated. Price $1.00. + +At the Back of the North Wind. By GEORGE MACDONALD. Illustrated. Price +$1.00. + +The Chaplet of Pearls, or, The White and Black Ribaumont. By CHARLOTTE +M. YONGE. Illustrated. Price $1.00. + +The Days of Bruce: A Story of Scottish History. By GRACE AGUILAR. +Illustrated. Price $1.00. + +The Palace Beautiful: A Story for Girls. By L.T. MEADE. Illustrated. +Price $1.00. + +Margery Merton's Girlhood. By ALICE CORKRAN. Illus. Price $1.00. + +Three Bright Girls: A Story of Chance and Mischance. By ANNIE E. +ARMSTRONG. Illustrated. Price $1.00. + +Pythia's Pupils: The Story of a School. By EVA HARTNER. Illustrated. +Price $1.00. + +The Lady of the Forest: A Story for Girls. By L.T. MEADE. Illustrated. +Price $1.00. + +Only a Girl: A Tale of Brittany. By C.A. JONES. Illus. Price $1.00. + +Honor Bright; or, The Four-Leaved Shamrock. By the author of Miss +Toosey's Mission. Illustrated. Price $1.00. + +Under False Colors: A Story from Two Girls' Lives. By SARAH DOUDNEY. +Illustrated. Price $1.00. + +_For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by +the publisher, A. L. BURT, 97 Reade Street, New York._ + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ST. 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