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diff --git a/old/lynwd10.txt b/old/lynwd10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3f25856 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/lynwd10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6867 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Lances Of Lynwood, by Charlotte M. Yonge +#21 in our series by Charlotte M. Yonge + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before distributing this or any other +Project Gutenberg file. + +We encourage you to keep this file, exactly as it is, on your +own disk, thereby keeping an electronic path open for future +readers. Please do not remove this. + +This header should be the first thing seen when anyone starts to +view the etext. 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YONGE + + + +PREFACE + + +For an explanation of the allusions in the present Tale, scarcely +any Notes are necessary, save a reference to the bewitching Chronicle +of Froissart; and we cannot but hope that our sketch may serve as +an inducement to some young readers to make acquaintance with the +delectable old Canon for themselves, undeterred by the size of his +tomes. + +The story of Orthon is almost verbally copied from him, and bears +a curious resemblance to various German legends--such as that of +"Heinzelman," to be found in Keightley's "Fairy Mythology," and to +"Teague of the Lea," as related in Croker's "Irish Fairy Legends." + +The old French "Vie de Bertrand du Guesclin" has likewise been +drawn upon for materials, and would have supplied much more of +great interest, such as Enrique of Trastamare's arrival in the +disguise of a palmer, to consult with him during his captivity at +Bordeaux, and many most curious anecdotes of his early childhood +and youth. + +To Breton tradition, his excellent wife Epiphanie Raguenel owes +her title of Tiphaine la fee, meaning that she was endowed with +magic power, which enabled her to predict what would be lucky or +unlucky days for her husband. His disregard of them was thought +to have twice cost him the loss of a battle. + +We must apologize for having made Henry of Lancaster a year or two +older than is warranted by the date of his birth. + + + + + + +THE LANCES OF LYNWOOD + + + +CHAPTER I + + + +Seldom had the interior of this island presented a more peaceful +and prosperous aspect than in the reign of Edward III., when the +more turbulent spirits among his subjects had found occupation +in his foreign wars, and his wise government had established at +home a degree of plenty, tranquility, and security, such as had +probably never before been experienced in England. + +Castle and cottage, church and convent, alike showed the prosperity +and safety of the inhabitants, at once by the profuseness of +embellishment in those newly erected, and by the neglect of the +jealous precautions required in former days of confusion and +misrule. Thus it was with the village of Lynwood, where, among +the cottages and farm-houses occupying a fertile valley in +Somersetshire, arose the ancient Keep, built of gray stone, +and strongly fortified; but the defences were kept up rather +as appendages of the owner's rank, than as requisite for his +protection; though the moat was clear of weeds, and full of +water, the drawbridge was so well covered with hard-trodden +earth, overgrown at the edges with grass, that, in spite of +the massive chains connecting it with the gateway, it seemed +permanently fixed on the ground. The spikes of the portcullis +frowned above in threatening array, but a wreath of ivy was +twining up the groove by which it had once descended, and the +archway, which by day stood hospitably open, was at night only +guarded by two large oaken doors, yielding to a slight push. +Beneath the southern wall of the castle court were various +flower-beds, the pride and delight of the old seneschal, Ralph +Penrose, in his own estimation the most important personage of +Lynwood Keep, manager of the servants, adviser of the Lady, and +instructor of the young gentleman in the exercises of chivalry. + +One fine evening, old Ralph stood before the door, his bald forehead +and thin iron-gray locks unbonneted, and his dark ruddy-brown face +(marked at Halidon Hill with a deep scar) raised with an air of +deference, and yet of self-satisfaction, towards the Lady who stood +on the steps of the porch. She was small and fragile in figure; her +face, though very lovely, was pale and thin, and her smile had in it +something pensive and almost melancholy, as she listened to his +narration of his dealings with a refractory tenant, and at the same +time watched a noble-looking child of seven or eight years old, who, +mounted on an old war-horse, was led round the court by a youth, his +elder by some ten or eleven years. + +"See mother!" cried the child, "I am holding the reins myself. Uncle +Eustace lays not a finger on them!" + +"As I was saying, madam," continued Ralph, disregarding the +interruption, "I told him that I should not have thought of one +exempted from feudal service in the camp, by our noble Knight, +being deficient in his dues in his absence. I told him we should +see how he liked to be sent packing to Bordeaux with a sheaf of +arrows on his back, instead of the sheaf of wheat which ought to +be in our granary by this time. But you are too gentle with them, +my Lady, and they grow insolent in Sir Reginald's long absence." + +"All goes ill in his absence, said the Lady. "It is a weary while +since the wounded archer brought tidings of his speedy return." + +"Therefore," said the youth, turning round, "it must be the nearer +at hand. Come sweet sister Eleanor, cheer up, for he cannot but +come soon." + +"So many _soons_ have passed away, that my heart is well-nigh too +sick for hope," said Eleanor. "And when he comes it will be but a +bright dream to last for a moment. He cannot long be spared from +the Prince's side." + +"You must go with him, then, sister, and see how I begin my days of +chivalry--that is, if he will but believe me fit to bear shield and +lance." + +"Ah! Master Eustace, if you were but such as I have seen others +of your race," said Ralph, shaking his head. "There was Sir Henry +--at your age he had made the Scottish thieves look about them, I +promise you. And to go no further back than Sir Reginald himself-- +he stood by the Prince's side at Crecy ere he was yet fifteen!" + +"It is not my fault that I have not done as much, Ralph," said +Eustace. "It is not for want of the will, as you know full well." + +"No. Thanks to me, I trust you have the will and the teaching, at +least, to make a good Knight," said Ralph. "And yet, while I think +of the goodly height and broad shoulders of those that have gone +before you--" + +"But hark! hark!" cried Eustace, cutting short a comparison which did +not seem likely to be complimentary. "Dost not hear, Ralph? A horn!" + +"The Lynwood note! My husband's note! O thanks, thanks to the +Saints!" cried the Lady, clasping her hands, whilst Eustace, +vaulting into the saddle behind his little nephew, rode across the +drawbridge as fast as the stiffened joints of old Blanc Etoile +could be prevailed on to move. Gaining the summit of a rising +ground, both at once shouted, "Our own pennon! It is himself!" +as they beheld the dark blue crosslet on an argent field floating +above a troop of horsemen, whose armour glanced in the setting sun. + +"There are the Lances of Lynwood, Arthur," said Eustace, leaping +to the ground. "Keep your seat, and meet your father like a brave +Knight's son." + +He then settled the reins in the child's hand, and walked beside +him to meet the new-comers. They were about twenty in number, armed +alike with corselets marked with the blue cross, steel headpieces, +and long lances. In front rode two of higher rank. The first was +a man of noble mien and lofty stature, his short dark curled hair +and beard, and handsome though sunburnt countenance, displayed +beneath his small blue velvet cap, his helmet being carried behind +him by a man-at-arms, and his attire consisting of a close-fitting +dress of chamois leather, a white mantle embroidered with the blue +cross thrown over one shoulder, and his sword hanging by his side. +His companion, who carried at his saddle-bow a shield blazoned with +heraldic devices in scarlet and gold, was of still greater height, +and very slight; his large keen eyes, hair and moustache, black as +jet; and his complexion dark brown, with a well-formed aquiline nose, +and a perfect and very white set of teeth. + +The instant the first-mentioned horseman perceived Eustace and +Arthur, he sprang to the ground and hurried to meet them with +rapid affectionate greetings and inquiries. In another moment +Dame Eleanor appeared on the drawbridge, and, weeping with +joy, was clasped in her husband's arms. Behind her stood the +venerable chaplain, Father Cyril, and a step or two further off, +Ralph Penrose, both of whom in turn received the kindly greetings +of Sir Reginald Lynwood, as, with his wife hanging on his arm and +his boy holding his hand, he passed under the gateway of his +ancestral castle. Turning the next moment, he addressed his tall +companion: "Friend Gaston, I bid you welcome! Dame Eleanor, and +you, brother Eustace, I present to you my trusty Esquire, Master +Gaston d'Aubricour." + +Due courtesies passed between the Lady and the Squire, who, after +a few words with the Knight, remained to see the disposal of the +men, while Sir Reginald himself entered the hall with his wife, +son and brother. Eustace did not long remain there: he found that +Reginald and Eleanor had much to say to each other, and his curiosity +and interest were, besides, greatly excited by the novelty of the +scene presented by the castle court, so different from its usual +peaceful monotony. The men were unsaddling their horses, rubbing +them down, walking them about, or removing the stains of dust and +mud from their own armour, while others were exchanging greetings +with the villagers, who were gathering in joyous parties round such +of the newly arrived as were natives of the place. + +In the midst stood the strange Squire, superintending a horse-boy +who was rubbing down the Knight's tall war-horse, and at the +same time ordering, giving directions, answering inquiries, or +granting permission to the men to return home with their relations. +Ralph Penrose was near, his countenance, as Eustace could plainly +perceive, expressing little satisfaction at finding another authority +in the court of Lynwood Keep; the references to himself short, brief, +and rapid, and only made when ignorance of the locality compelled the +stranger to apply for information. The French accent and occasional +French phrases with which the Squire spoke, made him contract his +brow more and more, and at last, just as Eustace came up, he walked +slowly away, grumbling to himself, "Well, have it e'en your own way, +I am too old for your gay French fashions. It was not so in Humfrey +Harwood's time, when-- But the world has gone after the French now! +Sir Reginald has brought home as many Gascon thieves as kindly +Englishmen!" + +Eustace listened for a moment to his mutterings, but without answering +them, and coming within a few steps of the stranger, stood waiting to +offer him any courtesy in his power, though at the same time he felt +abashed by the consciousness of his inferiority in accomplishments +and experience. + +It was the Squire who was the first to speak. "So this is Sir +Reginald's old Keep! A fine old fortalice--would stand at least +a fortnight's siege. Ha! Is not yonder a weak point? I would +undertake to scale that tower, so the battering-rams made a +diversion on the other side." + +"I trust it will never be tried," said Eustace. + +"It would be as fair a feat of arms as ever you beheld! But I +crave your pardon," added he, displaying his white teeth with a +merry laugh; "the state of my own land has taught me to look on +every castle with eyes for attack and defence, and your brother +tells me I am not behind my countrymen in what you English call +gasconades." + +"You have seen many sieges and passages of arms?" asked Eustace, +looking up in his face with an expression at once puzzled and +respectful. + +"Since our castle of Albricorte was sacked and burnt by the Count +de Bearn, I have seen little else--three stricken fields--two towns +stormed--castles more than I can remember." + +"Alas!" said Eustace, "I have seen nothing but the muster of arms +at Taunton!" + +D'Aubricour laughed. "Look not downcast on it," said he; "you have +time before you and one year at Bordeaux is worth four elsewhere. +But I forget, you are the young clerk; and yet that scarcely accords +with that bright eye of yours, and the weapon at your side." + +"They spoke once of making me a clerk," said Eustace; "but I hope +to show my brother that I am fit for his own way of life. Sir +Squire, do but tell me, do you think I look unfit to sustain the +honour of my name?" + +"Mere strength is little," said the Squire, "else were that comely +giant John Ingram, the best warrior in the army. Nor does height +reckon for much; Du Guesclin himself is of the shortest. Nor do +you look like the boy over whose weakly timid nature I have heard +Sir Reginald lament," he proceeded, surveying him with a critical +eye. + +Eustace had, in fact, hardly reached the middle height, and was +very slender; his limbs were, however, well proportioned, his +step firm, and every movement full of activity and grace. His +face, shaded with bright chestnut hair, was of a delicate +complexion, the features finely moulded, and the usual cast of +expression slightly thoughtful; but there was frequently, and +especially at this moment, a bright kindling light in the dark +blue eyes, which changed the whole countenance from the grave +and refined look of the young scholar to the bold ardent glance +of the warrior. + +"A cavalier, every inch of you!" cried d'Aubricour, striking +Eustace on the shoulder as he concluded his inspection. "I'll +have the training of you, my _gentil damoiseau_, and see if I do +not make you as _preux a chevalier_ as the most burly giant of +them all. Here, know you this trick?" + +He caught up one of the lances which the men had laid aside; Eustace +followed his example, and acquitted himself to his satisfaction in +one or two chivalrous manoeuvres, till a summons to supper put an +end to the sport. + + + + + + +CHAPTER 2 + + + +The house of Lynwood had long been famed for loyalty, which had +often cost them dear, since their neighbours, the Lords of +Clarenham, never failed to take advantage of the ascendency of +the popular party, and make encroachments on their privileges and +possessions. + +Thus when Sir Hugo Lynwood, the old Crusader, was made prisoner +by Simon de Montfort's party at Lewes, he was treated with great +severity, in order to obtain from him a recognition of the feudal +superiority of the Clarenhams; and though the success of the royal +party at Evesham occasioned his liberation, his possessions were +greatly diminished. Nor had the turmoils of the reign of Edward +II. failed to leave their traces on the fortunes of the Lynwoods. +Sir Henry, father of the present Knight, was a staunch adherent of +the unfortunate monarch, and even joined the hapless Edmund, Earl +of Kent, in the rising in which that Prince was entrapped after the +murder of his brother. On this occasion, it was only Sir Henry's +hasty flight that preserved his life, and his lands were granted +to the Baron Simon de Clarenham by the young Edward III., then under +the dominion of his mother Isabel, and Roger Mortimer; but when at +length the King had freed himself from their trammels, the whole +county of Somerset rose to expel the intruders from Lynwood Keep, +and reinstate its true master. Nor did Simon de Clarenham make +much resistance, for well knowing that an appeal to the King +would occasion and instant revocation of the grant, he judged +it advisable to allow it to sleep for the present. + +Sir Henry Lynwood, therefore, lived and died unmolested. His +eldest son, Reginald, was early sent to the Royal Camp, where he +soon distinguished himself, and gained the favour and friendship +of the gallant Prince of Wales. The feud with the Clarenhams +seemed to be completely extinguished, when Reginald, chiefly by +the influence of the Prince, succeeded in obtaining the hand of +a lady of that family, the daughter of a brave Knight slain in +the wars in Brittany. + +Since this time, both the Baron de Clarenham and his son, Sir +Fulk, had been on good terms with the Knight of Lynwood, and the +connection had been drawn still closer by the Baron's second +marriage with the Lady Muriel de la Poer, a near relative of Sir +Reginald's mother. Many a time had Dame Eleanor Lynwood ridden +to Clarenham castle, under the escort of her young brother-in-law, +to whom such a change from the lonely old Keep afforded no small +delight. + +Eustace, the only one of Sir Henry's younger children who survived +the rough nursing or the over-nursing, whichever it might be, that +thinned in former days the families of nobles and gentleman, might +as well, in the opinion of almost all, have rested beneath a quaint +little image of his infant figure, in brass, in the vaults of the +little Norman chapel; for he was a puny, ailing child, apt to +scandalize his father and brother, and their warlike retainers, by +being scared at the dazzling helm and nodding crest, and preferring +the seat at this mother's feet, the fairy tale of the old nurse, +the song of the minstrel, or the book of the Priest, to horse and +hound, or even to the sight of the martial sports of the tilt-yard. + +The last five years had, however, wrought a great change in him; he +began to outgrow the delicacy of his constitution, and with it, to +shake off his timidity of disposition. A diligent perusal of the +romances of chivalry filled him with emulation, and he had applied +himself ardently to all knightly exercises, looking with great +eagerness to the time when he might appear in the Prince's court. +He had invested it with all the glory of the Round Table and of the +Paladins; and though he knew he must not look for Merlin or the +Siege Perilous, the men themselves were in his fancy Rolands and +Tristrems, and he scarcely dared to hope he could ever be fit to +make one of them, with all his diligent attention to old Ralph's +instructions. + +Some of Ralph's manoeuvres were indeed rather antiquated, and +afforded much amusement to Gaston d'Aubricour, who was never weary +of teasing the old seneschal with descriptions of the changes in +the fashion of weapons, tourneys, and machines, and especially +delighted in histories of the marvellous effects of gunpowder. +Ralph would shake his head, vow that it would soon put an end to +all true chivalry, and walk off to furbish his favourite cross-bow, +with many a murmured reflection on the folly of quitting good old +plans, and especially on that of his master, who must needs bring +home a gibing Gascon, when honest English Squires were not scarce. + +Very different was the state of the old Keep of Lynwood from the +quiet, almost deserted condition, in which it had been left so long, +now that the Knight had again taken his wonted place amongst the +gentry of the county. Entertainments were exchanged with his +neighbours, hunting and hawking matches, and all the sports of the +tilt-yard, followed each other in quick succession, and the summer +passed merrily away. Merrily, that is to say, with Sir Reginald, +whose stirring life in camp and court had left him but few and +short intervals for enjoying his home and the society of his wife; +with Eleanor, who, relieved from long anxiety, began to recover +the spirits and health which had nearly failed her; and with Eustace, +to whom the arrival of his brother and his followers brought a +continued course of novelty and delight; but less joyously with +the Knight's followers, who regretted more and more the gay court +of Bordeaux, and grew impatient at the prospect of spending a +tedious winter in a peaceful English castle. + +Their anticipation of weariness, and the contrary expectations of +Sir Reginald, were destined to be equally disappointed: for two +months had not passed since his return before a summons arrived, +or, more properly speaking, an invitation to the trusty and well- +beloved Sir Reginald Lynwood to join the forces which the Duke of +Lancaster was assembling at Southampton, the Prince of Wales having +promised to assist King Pedro of Castile in recovering the kingdom +from which he had been driven by his brother Enrique of Trastamare. + +Sir Reginald could not do otherwise than prepare with alacrity +to obey the call of his beloved Prince, though he marvelled that +Edward should draw his sword in the cause of such a monster of +cruelty, and he was more reluctant than ever before to leave his +home. He even promised his sorrowful Eleanor that this should +be the last time he would leave her. "I will but bestow Eustace +in some honourable household, where he may be trained in knightly +lore--that of Chandos, perchance, or some other of the leaders who +hold the good old strict rule; find good masters for my honest men- +at-arms; break one more lance with Du Guesclin; and take to rule +my vassals, till my fields, and be the honest old country Knight +my father was before me. Said I well, Dame Eleanor?" + +Eleanor smiled, but the next moment sighed and drooped her head, +while a tear fell on the blue silk with which she was embroidering +the crosslet on his pennon. Sir Reginald might have said somewhat +to cheer her, but at that instant little Arthur darted into the +hall with news that the armourer was come from Taunton, with two +mules, loaded with a store of goodly helmets, swords, and corselets, +which he was displaying in the court. + +The Knight immediately walked forth into the court, where all had +been activity and eagerness ever since the arrival of the summons, +the smith hammering ceaselessly in his forge, yet without fulfilling +half the order continually shouted in his ears; Gaston d'Aubricour +and Ralph Penrose directing from morning to night, in contradiction +of each other, the one always laughing, the other always grumbling; +the men-at-arms and retainers some obeying orders, others being +scolded, the steel clanging, hammers ringing without intermission. +Most of the party, such at least as could leave their employment +without a sharp reprimand from one or the other of the contending +authorities, the Seneschal and the Squire, were gathered round the +steps, where the armourer was displaying, with many an encomium, +his bundles of lances, his real Toledo blades, and his helmets +of the choicest fashion. Gaston d'Aubricour and Ralph were +disputing respecting a certain suit of armour, which the latter +disapproved, because it had no guards for the knees, while the +former contended that the only use for such protections was to +disable a man from walking, and nearly from standing when once +unhorsed. + +"In my day, Master d'Aubricour, it was not the custom for a brave +man-at-arms to look to being unhorsed; but times are changed." + +"Ay, that they are, Master Penrose, for in our day we do not give +ourselves over the moment we are down, and lie closed up in our +shells like great land tortoises turned on their backs, waiting +till some one is good enough to find his way through our shell +with the _misericorde_." + +"Peace, peace, Gaston," said the Knight. "If we acquit ourselves +as well as our fathers, we shall have little to be ashamed of. +What think you of this man's gear?" + +"That I could pick up a better suit for half the price at old +Battista, the Lombard's at Bordeaux; nevertheless, since young +Eustace would be the show of the camp if he appeared there +provided in Ralph's fashion, it may be as well to see whether +there be any reasonableness in this old knave." + +Before the question was decided, the trampling of horses was heard, +and there rode into the court an elderly man, whose dress and +bearing showed him to be of consideration, accompanied by a youth +of eighteen or nineteen, and attended by two servants. Sir +Reginald and his brother immediately stepped forward to receive +them. + +"Sir Philip Ashton," said the former, "how is it with you? This +is friendly in you to come and bid us farewell." + +"I grieve that it should be farewell, Sir Reginald," said the old +Knight, dismounting whilst Eustace held his stirrup; "our country +can ill spare such men as you. Thanks, my young friend Eustace. +See, Leonard, what good training will do for an Esquire; Eustace +has already caught that air and courteous demeanour that cannot be +learnt here among us poor Knights of Somerset." + +This was to his son, who, with a short abrupt reply to the good- +natured greeting of Sir Reginald, had scrambled down from his +saddle, and stood fixing his large gray eyes upon Gaston, whose +tall active figure and lively dark countenance seemed to afford +him an inexhaustible subject of study. The Squire was presented +by name to Sir Philip, received a polite compliment, and replying +with a bow, turned to the youth with the ready courtesy of one +willing to relieve the shyness of an awkward stranger. "We were +but now discussing the merit between damasked steel and chain mail, +what opinion do you bring to aid us?" A renewed stare, an +inarticulate muttering, and Master Leonard turned away and almost +hid his face in the mane of his horse, whilst his father attempted +to make up for his incivility by a whole torrent of opinions, to +which Gaston listened with the outward submission due from a Squire, +but with frequent glances, accompanied by a tendency to elevate +shoulder or eyebrow, which Eustace understood full well to convey +that the old gentleman knew nothing whatever on the subject. + +This concluded, Sir Philip went to pay his respects to the Lady of +Lynwood, and then, as the hour of noon had arrived, all partook of +the meal, which was served in the hall, the Squires waiting on the +Knights and the Lady before themselves sitting down to table. + +It was the influence of dinner that first unchained the silent +tongue of Leonard Ashton, when he found himself seated next to +his old acquaintance, Eustace Lynwood, out of hearing of those +whose presence inspired him with shyness, and the clatter of +knives and trenchers drowning his voice. + +"So your brother has let you bear sword after all. How like you +the trade? Better than poring over crabbed parchments, I trow. +But guess you why we are here to-day? My father says that I must +take service with some honourable Knight, and see somewhat of the +world. He spoke long of the Lord de Clarenham, because his favour +would be well in the county; but at last he has fixed on your +brother, because he may do somewhat for me with the Prince." + +"Then you are going with us to Bordeaux?" exclaimed Eustace, eagerly. + +"Ay, truly." + +"Nay, but that is a right joyful hearing!" said Eustace. "Old +friends should be brethren in arms." + +"But, Eustace," said young Ashton, lowering his voice to a +confidential whisper, "I like not that outlandish Squire, so +tall and black. Men say he is a Moor--a worshipper of Mahound." + +Eustace laughed heartily at this report, and assured his friend +that, though he had heard his brother often give his Squire in +jest his _nom de guerre_ of _Gaston le Maure_, yet d'Aubricour +was a gallant gentleman of Gascony. But still Leonard was not +satisfied. "Had ever man born in Christian land such flashing +black eyes and white teeth? And is not he horribly fierce and +strict?" + +"Never was man of kinder heart and blither temper." + +"Then you think that he will not be sharp with us? 'More straight +in your saddle!' 'lance lower!' 'head higher;' that is what has +been ringing in my ears from morning till night of late, sometimes +enforced by a sharp blow on the shoulders. Is it not so with you?" + +"Oh, old Penrose took all that trouble off their hands long ago. +Gaston is the gentlest of tutors compared with him." + +"I hope so!" sighed Leonard; "my very bones ache with the tutoring +I get from my father at home. And, Eustace, resolve me this--" + +"Hush, do not you see that Father Cyril is about to pronounce the +Grace--. There--now must I go and serve your father with the grace- +cup, but I will be with you anon." + +Leonard put his elbow on the table, mumbling to himself, "And +these of Eustace's be the courtly manners my father would have +me learn; they cost a great deal too much trouble!" + +The meal over, Eustace took Leonard into the court to visit the +horses and inspect the new armour. They were joined by Gaston, +who took upon himself to reply to the question which Leonard wished +to have resolved, namely, what they were to do in Castile, by +persuading him to believe that Enrique of Trastamare was a giant +twenty feet high, who rode a griffin of proportionate dimensions, +and led an army whose heads grew under their shoulders. + +In the meantime, Sir Philip Ashton was, with many polite speeches, +entering upon the business of his visit, which was to request Sir +Reginald to admit his son into his train as an Esquire. The Knight +of Lynwood, though not very desirous of this addition to his +followers, could not well refuse him, in consideration of the +alliance which had long subsisted between the two houses; but he +mentioned his own purpose of quitting the Prince's court as soon +as the present expedition should be concluded. + +"That," said Sir Philip, softly, "will scarce be likely. Such +Knights as Sir Reginald Lynwood are not so easily allowed to hide +themselves in obscurity. The Prince of Wales knows too well the +value of his right-hand counsellor." + +"Nay, Sir Philip," said Sir Reginald, laughing, "that is rather too +fine a term for a rough soldier, who never was called into counsel +at all, except for the arraying a battle. It would take far sharper +wits than mine, or, indeed, I suspect, than any that we have at +Bordeaux, to meet the wiles of Charles of France. No, unless the +Royal Banner be abroad in the field, you may look to see me here +before another year is out." + +"I shall hope it may be otherwise, for my boy's sake," said Sir +Philip. "But be that as it may, his fame will be secured by his +going forth for the first time with such a leader as yourself. The +example and friendship of your brother will also be of the utmost +service. Your chief Squire too--so perfect in all chivalrous +training, and a foreigner--who better could be found to train a +poor Somersetshire clown for the Prince's Gascon court?" + +"Why, for that matter," interrupted Sir Reginald, whose patience +would seldom serve his to the end of one of his neighbour's +harangues, "it may be honest to tell you that though Gaston is a +kindly-tempered fellow, and of right knightly bearing, his life +has been none of the most steady. I took up with him a couple +of years since, when poor old Humfrey Harwood was slain at Auray, +and I knew not where to turn for a Squire. Save for a few wild +freaks now and then, he has done right well, though I sometimes +marvelled at his choosing to endure my strict household. He +obeys my orders, and has made himself well liked by the men, +and I willingly trust Eustace with him, since the boy is of +a grave clerkly sort of turn, and under my own eye; but it is +for you to do as you will with your son." + +"Is he of honourable birth?" asked Sir Philip. + +"At least he bears coat armour," answered Reginald. "His shield +is _gules_, a wolf _passant_, _or_, and I have heard strange tales +of his father, Beranger d'Aubricour, the Black Wolf of the Pyrenees, +as he was called, one of the robber noblesse of the Navarrese +border; but I have little time for such matters, and they do not +dwell in my mind. If I find a man does his duty in my service, I +care not whence he comes, nor what his forefathers may have been. +I listen to no such idle tales; but I thought it best to warn you +that I answer not for all the comrades your son may find in my +troop." + +"Many thanks, noble Sir Reginald; under such care as yours he +cannot fail to prosper; I am secure of his welfare in your hands. +One word more, Sir Reginald, I pray you. You are all-powerful +with Prince Edward. My poor boy's advancement is in your hand. +One word in his favour to the Prince--a hint of the following I +could send his pennon--" + +"Sir Philip," said Reginald, "you overrate my influence, and +underrate the Prince's judgment, if you imagine aught save personal +merit would weigh with him. Your son shall have every opportunity +of deserving his notice, but whether it be favourable or not must +depend on himself. If you desire more, you must not seek it of me." + +Sir Philip protested that this was all he wished, and after +reiterating his thanks, took his leave, promising that Leonard +should be at Lynwood Keep on the next Monday, the day fixed +for Sir Reginald's departure. + + + + + + +CHAPTER III + + + +The morning of departure arrived. The men-at-arms were drawn up +in the court like so many statues of steel; Leonard Ashton sat on +horseback, his eyes fixed on the door; Gaston d'Aubricour, wrapped +in his gay mantle, stood caressing his Arab steed Brigliador, and +telling him they should soon exchange the chilly fogs of England +for the bright sun of Gascony; Ralph Penrose held his master's +horse, and a black powerful charger was prepared for Eustace, but +still the brothers tarried. + +"My Eleanor, this should not be!" said Reginald as his wife clung +to him weeping. "Keep a good heart. 'Tis not for long. Take +heed of your dealings with cousin Fulk. She knows not what I say. +Father Cyril, keep guard over her and my boy, in case I should meet +with any mishap." + +"I will, assuredly, my son," said the Chaplain, "but it is little +that a poor Priest like me can do. I would that grant to the +Clarenhams were repealed." + +"That were soon done," said Reginald, "but it is no time for a +loyal vassal to complain of grievances when his liege lord has +summoned him to the field. That were to make the King's need +be his law. No! no! Watch over her, good father, she is weak +and tender. Look up, sweet heart, give me one cheerful wish to +speed me on my journey. No? She has swooned. Eleanor! my wife--" + +"Begone, begone, my son," said Father Cyril, "it will be the better +for her." + +"It may be," said Reginald, "yet to leave her thus-- Here, nurse, +support her, tend her well. Give her my tenderest greetings. +Arthur, be duteous to her; talk to her of our return; farewell, +my boy, and blessings on you. Eustace, mount." + +Sir Reginald, sighing heavily, swung himself into the saddle; +Eustace waited a moment longer. "Good Father, this was to have +been in poor Eleanor's charge. It is the token, you know for +whom." + +"It shall reach her, my son." + +"You will send me a letter whenever you can?" + +"Truly, I will; and I would have you read and write, especially in +Latin, when you have the chance--good gifts should not be buried. +Bethink you, too, that you will not have the same excuse for sin +as the rude ignorant men you will meet." + +"Eustace!" hastily called Reginald, and with a hurried farewell +to all around, the young Squire sprang on horseback, and the troop +rode across the drawbridge. They halted on the mound beyond; Sir +Reginald shook his pennon, till the long white swallow tails +streamed on the wind, then placed it in the hands of Eustace, and +saying, "On, Lances of Lynwood! In the name of God, St. George, +and King Edward, do your devoir;" he spurred his horse forward, as +if only desirous to be out of sight of his own turrets, and forget +the parting, the pain of which still heaved his breast and dimmed +his eye. + +A few days brought the troop to Southampton, where John of Gaunt +was collecting his armament, and with it they embarked, crossed to +St. Malo, and thence proceeded to Bordeaux, but there found that +the Prince of Wales had already set forth, and was waiting for his +brother at Dax. + +Advancing immediately, at the end of three days they came in sight +of the forces encamped around that town. Glorious was the scene +before them, the green plain covered in every direction with white +tents, surmounted with the banners or pennons of their masters, +the broad red Cross of St. George waving proudly in the midst, +and beside it the royal Lions and Castles of the two Spanish +monarchies. To the south, the snowy peaks of the Pyrenees began +to gleam white like clouds against the sky, and the gray sea-line +to the west closed the horizon. Eustace drew his rein, and gazed +in silent admiration, and Gaston, riding by his side, pointed out +the several bearings and devices which, to the warrior of that day, +spoke as plainly (often more so) as written words. "See yonder, +the tent of my brave countryman, the Captal de Buch, close to that +of the Prince, as is ever his wont. No doubt he is willing to wipe +away the memory of his capture at Auray. There, to the left, _gules_ +and _argent_, per _pale_, is the pennon of the stout old Englishman, +Chandos. Ha! I see the old Free Companions are here with Sir Hugh +Calverly! Why, 'twas but the other day they were starting to set +this very Don Enrique on the throne as blithely as they now go to +drive him from his." + +While Gaston spoke, the sound of horses' feet approached rapidly +from another quarter, and a small party came in sight, the +foremost of whom checked his bridle, as, at Reginald's signal, +his Lances halted and drew respectfully aside. He was a man +about thirty-six years of age, and looking even younger, from the +remarkable fairness and delicacy of his complexion. The perfect +regularity of his noble features, together with the commanding, +yet gentle expression of his clear light blue eyes, would, even +without the white ostrich feather in his black velvet cap, have +enabled Eustace to recognize in him the flower of chivalry, Edward, +Prince of Wales. + +"Welcome, my trusty Reginald!" exclaimed he. "I knew that the Lances +of Lynwood would not be absent where knightly work is to be done. Is +my brother John arrived?" + +"Yes, my Lord," replied Reginald; "I parted from him but now as he +rode to the castle, while I came to seek where to bestow my knaves." + +"I know you of old for a prudent man," said the Prince, smiling; +"the Provost Marshal hath no acquaintance with that gallant little +band. Methinks I see there a fair face like enough to yours to +belong to another loyal Lynwood." + +"I could wish it were a little browner and more manly, my Lord," +said Reginald. "It is my brother Eustace, who has been suffered +(I take shame to myself for it) to tarry at home as my Lady's page, +till he looks as white as my Lady herself." + +"We will soon find a cure for that in the sun of Castile," said +Edward. "You are well provided with Squires. The men of Somerset +know where good training is to be found for their sons." + +"This, my Lord, is the son of Sir Philip Ashton, a loyal Knight of +our country." + +"He is welcome," said the Prince. "We have work for all. Let me +see you this evening at supper in my tent." + +"Well, Eustace, what sayest thou?" said Gaston, as the Prince rode on. + +"A Prince to dream of, a Prince for whom to give a thousand lives!" +said Eustace. + +"And that was the Prince of Wales!" said Leonard. "Why, he spoke +just like any other man." + +The two tents of the Lances of Lynwood having been erected, and all +arrangements made, the Knights and Squires set out for the Prince's +pavilion, the white curtains of which were conspicuous in the centre +of the camp. Within, it was completely lined with silk, embroidered +with the various devices of the Prince: the lions of England--the +lilies of France--the Bohemian ostrich-plume, with its humble motto, +the white rose, not yet an emblem of discord--the blue garter and +the red cross, all in gorgeous combination--a fitting background, +as it were, on which to display the chivalrous groups seen in relief +against it. + +At the upper end was placed a long table for the Prince and his +guests, and here Sir Reginald took his seat, with many a hearty +welcome from his friends and companions in arms, while Gaston +led his comrades to the lower end, where Squires and pages were +waiting for the provisions brought in by the servants, which they +were to carry to their Knights. Gaston was soon engaged in +conversation with his acquaintance, to some of whom he introduced +Eustace and Leonard, but the former found far more interesting +occupation in gazing on the company seated at the upper table. + +The Black Prince himself occupied the centre, his brother John at +his left hand, and at his right, a person whom both this post of +honour and the blazonry of his surcoat marked out as the dethroned +King of Castile. Pedro the Cruel had not, however, the forbidding +countenance which imagination would ascribe to him; his features +were of the fair and noble type of the old royal Gothic race of +Spain; he had a profusion of flaxen hair, and large blue eyes, +rather too prominent, and but for his receding forehead, and the +expression of his lips, he would have been a handsome man of +princely mien. Something, too, there was of fear, something of +a scowl; he seemed to shrink from the open and manly demeanour of +Edward, and to turn with greater ease to converse with John, who, +less lofty in character than his brother, better suited his nature. + +There, too, Eustace beheld the stalwart form and rugged features of +Sir John Chandos; the slender figure and dark sparkling southern +face of the Captal de Buch; the rough joyous boon-companion visage +of Sir Hugh Calverly, the free-booting warrior; the youthful form +of the young step-son of the Prince, Lord Thomas Holland; the rude +features of the Breton Knight, Sir Oliver de Clisson, soon to be +the bitterest foe of the standard beneath which he was now fighting. +Many were there whose renown had charmed the ears of the young Squire +of Lynwood Keep, and he looked on the scene with the eagerness with +which he would have watched some favourite romance suddenly done +into life and action. + +"Eustace! What, Eustace, in a trance?" said d'Aubricour. "Waken, +and carry this trencher of beef to your brother. Best that you +should do it," he added in a low voice, taking up a flask of wine, +"and save our comrade from at once making himself a laughing-stock." + +The discontented glance with which Leonard's eyes followed his +fellow Squires, did not pass unobserved by a person with whom +d'Aubricour had exchanged a few words, a squarely-made, dark- +visaged man, with a thick black beard, and a huge scar which had +obliterated one eye; his equipment was that of a Squire, but +instead of, like others of the same degree, attending on the +guests at the upper table, he sat carelessly sideways on the +bench, with one elbow on the board. + +"You gaze after that trencher as if you wished your turn was come," +said he, in a patois of English and French, which Leonard could +easily understand, although he had always turned a deaf ear to +Gaston's attempts to instruct him in the latter language. However, +a grunt was his only reply. + +"Or," pursued the Squire, "have you any fancy for carrying it +yourself? I, for my part, think we are well quit of the trouble." + +"Why, ay," said Leonard, "but I trow I have as much right to serve +at the Prince's table as dainty Master Eustace. My father had never +put me under Sir Reginald's charge, had he deemed I should be kept +here among the serving-men." + +"Sir Reginald? Which Sir Reginald has the honour of your service?" +asked the Squire, to whom Leonard's broad Somersetshire dialect +seemed to present few difficulties. + +"Sir Reginald Lynwood, he with the curled brown locks, next to that +stern-looking old fellow with the gray hair." + +"Ay, I know him of old. Him whom the Duke of Lancaster is pledging +--a proud, strict Englishman--as rigid a service as any in the camp." + +"I should think so!" said Leonard. "Up in the morn hours before +the sun, to mass like a choir of novices, to clean our own arms +and the Knight's, like so many horse-boys, and if there be but a +speck of rust, or a sword-belt half a finger's length awry--" + +"Ay, ay, I once had a fortnight's service with a Knight of that +stamp, but a fortnight was enough for me, I promise you. And +yet Gaston le Maure chooses to stay with him rather than lead a +merry life with Sir Perduccas d'Albret, with all to gain, and +nought to lose! A different life from the days he and I spent +together of old." + +"Gaston d'Aubricour is as sharp as the Knight himself," said Leonard, +"and gibes me without ceasing; but yet I could bear it all, were it +not for seeing Eustace, the clerk, preferred to me, as if I were not +heir to more acres than he can ever count crowns." + +"What may then be your name, fair youth, and your inheritance?" +demanded the one-eyed Squire, "for your coat of arms is new in +the camp." + +"My name is Leonard Ashton; my father--" but Leonard's speech was +cut short by a Squire who stumbled over his outstretched foot. Both +parties burst into angry exclamations, Leonard's new acquaintance +taking his part. Men looked up, and serious consequences might have +ensued, had not Gaston hastened to the spot. "Shame on you, young +malapert," said he to his hopeful pupil. "Cannot I leave you one +moment unwatched, but you must be brawling in the Prince's own +presence? Here, bear this bread to Sir Reginald instantly, and +leave me to make your peace. Master Clifford," added he, as Leonard +shuffled away, "'tis an uncouth slip whom Sir Reginald Lynwood has +undertaken to mould into form, and if he is visited as he deserves +for each piece of discourtesy, his life will not be long enough for +amendment, so I must e'en beg you to take my apology." + +"Most readily, Master d'Aubricour," replied Clifford; "there would +not have been the least offence had the youth only possessed a civil +tongue." + +"Is not he the son of one of your wealthy Englishmen?" asked the +one-eyed Squire, carelessly. + +"Ha! Why should you think so?" said Gaston, turning sharply; +"because he shows so much good nurture?" + +"Because his brains are grown fat with devouring his father's +beeves, fare on which you seem to thrive, le Maure," said the +one-eyed, "though you were not wont to like English beef and +English discipline better than Gascon wine and Gascon freedom. +I begin to think that the cub of the Black Wolf of the Pyrenees +is settling down into a tame English house-dog." + +"He has teeth and claws at your service," replied Gaston. + +"Ay?" said the Squire interrogatively; then, changing his tone, "But +tell me honestly, Gaston, repent you not of having taken service with +gallant Sir Perduccas?" + +"Why, you have left him yourself." + +"Yes, because we had sharp words on the spoil of a Navarrese +village. My present leader, Sir William Felton, is as free and +easy as d'Albret, or Aymerigot Marcel himself. And is not yon +ungainly varlet the hope of some rich English house?" + +"I must see their hopes meet with no downfall," said Gaston, walking +away, and muttering to himself. "A plague upon it! To train two +boys is more than I bargained for, and over and above to hinder this +wiseacre Ashton from ruining himself, or being ruined by _le Borgne +Basque_! What brought him here? I thought he was safe in Castile +with the Free Companions. I would let the oaf take his course, for +a wilful wrong-headed fool, but that it would scarce be doing good +service to Sir Reginald." + +The Knights had nearly finished their meal, and the Squires having +served them with wine, returned to their own table, now freshly +supplied with meat, which the yeomen in their turn carved for them. +Gaston kept Leonard under his own eye till the party broke up. + +On the way to the tent, he began to take him to task. "A proper +commencement! Did you take the Prince's pavilion for one of your +own island hostels, where men may freely brawl and use their fists +without fear of aught save the parish constable?" + +"What business had he to tread on my foot?" growled Leonard. + +"What business had your foot there? Was not your office, as I told +you, to stand ready to hand me whatever I might call for?" + +"I was speaking a few words to another gentleman." + +"The fewer words you speak to _le Borgne Basque_ the better, unless +you think it is Sir Reginald's pleasure that you should be instructed +in all the dicing and drinking in this camp, and unless you wish that +the crowns with which your father stored your pouch should jingle in +his pockets. It is well for you the Knight marked you not." + +"You held long enough parley with him yourself," said the refractory +pupil. + +"Look you, Master Leonard Ashton, I do not presume to offer myself +as an example to you save, perhaps, in the matter of sitting a steed, +or handing a wine-cup. I have no purse to lose, and I have wit to +keep it if I had, or at least," as a recollection crossed him, "if +I lost it, it should be to please myself, and not _le Borgne Basque_; +above all, my name and fame are made, and yours--" + +"What would you say of mine?" said Leonard, with sulky indignation. +"The heir of Ashton is not to be evened to a wandering landless +foreigner." + +"It is not in sight of these mountain peaks," said Gaston, +contemptuously, "that I am to be called a foreigner; and as to being +landless, if I chose to take my stand on the old tower of Albricorte, +and call myself Lord of the whole hill-side, I should like to see +who would gainsay me. For name, I suspect you will find that many +a man has trembled at the sound of Beranger d'Albricorte, to whom +Ashton would be but that of an English clown. Moreover, in this +camp I would have you to know that the question is, not who has the +broadest lands, but who has the strongest arm. And, sir Squire, if +you are not above listening to a piece of friendly counsel, to brag +of those acres of yours is the surest way to attract spoilers. I +had rather a dozen time trust Eustace in such company than you, not +only because he has more wit, but because he has less coin." + +"Who is this man? What is his name?" asked Eustace. + +"_Le Borgne Basque_, I know no other," said Gaston. "We reck little +of names here, especially when it may be convenient to have them +forgotten. He is a Free Companion, a _routier_, brave enough, +but more ready at the sack than the assault, and loving best to +plunder, waste, and plunder again, or else to fleece such sheep +as our friend here." + +"How could such a man gain entrance to the Prince's pavilion?" + +"Stout hearts and strong arms find entrance in most places," said +Gaston; "but, as you saw, he durst not appear at the upper table." + +The next morning the army began their march to the Pyrenees. They +halted for some days at the foot of the hills, whilst negotiations +were passing between the Black Prince and Charles the Bad, King of +Navarre, who might easily have prevented their entrance into the +Peninsula by refusing a passage through his mountain fastnesses. + +When the permission was granted, they advanced with considerable +danger and difficulty. The rugged paths were covered with snow +and ice, which made them doubly perilous for the horses, and but +for Gaston's familiarity with his native hills, Sir Reginald +declared that he could never have brought his little troop +across them in safety. + +At length they emerged through the celebrated Pass of Roncesvalles, +where Eustace in imagination listened to the echoes of the dying +blast of Roland. On the following evening he had the delight of +reading his history in the veritable pages of Archbishop Turpin, +which precious work he found in the possession of Brother Waleran, +a lay-friar, in the employment of Sir John Froissart the chronicler, +who had sent him with the army as a reporter of the events of the +campaign. This new acquaintance gave very little satisfaction to +Sir Reginald, who was almost ready to despair of Eustace's courage +and manhood when he found he had "gone back to his books," and +manifested, if not so much serious displeasure, yet even more +annoyance, on this occasion, than when, shortly after, he found +that Leonard Ashton spent every moment at his own disposal in the +company of _le Borgne Basque_. That worthy, meeting the young +gentleman, had easily persuaded him that Gaston's cautions only +proceeded from fears of stories that might with too much truth +be told against himself, and by skilful flatteries of the young +Englishman's self-importance, and sympathy with his impatience +of the strict rule of the Knight of Lynwood, succeeded in +establishing over him great influence. + +So fared it with the two young Squires, whilst the army began +to enter the dominions of the King of Castile. Here a want of +provisions was severely felt, for such was the hatred borne to +Pedro the Cruel, that every inhabitant of the country fled at his +approach, carrying off, or destroying, all that could be used as +food. It was the intention of Bertrand du Guesclin, the ally of +Enrique of Trastamare, to remain quietly in his camp of Navaretta, +and allow hunger to do its work with the invading force, but this +prudent plan was prevented by the folly of Don Tello, brother of +Enrique, who, accusing Bertrand of cowardice, so stung his fiery +spirit that he resolved on instant combat, though knowing how +little dependence could be placed on his Spanish allies. + +The challenge of the Prince of Wales was therefore accepted; and +never were tidings more welcome than these to the half-famished +army, encamped upon the banks of the Ebro, on the same ground on +which, in after years, English valour was once more to turn to +flight a usurping King of Spain. + + + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + + +The moon was at her height, and shone full into the half-opened +tent of Sir Reginald Lynwood. At the further end, quite in +darkness, the Knight, bare-headed, and rosary in hand, knelt +before the dark-robed figure of a confessor, while at a short +distance lay, on a couch of deer-skins, the sleeping Leonard +Ashton. Before the looped-up curtain that formed the door was +Gaston d'Aubricour, on one knee, close to a huge torch of pine- +wood fixed in the earth, examining by its flaring smoky light +into the state of his master's armour, proving every joint with +a small hammer. Near him, Eustace, with the help of John Ingram, +the stalwart yeoman, was fastening his charge, the pennon, to a +mighty lance of the toughest ash-wood, and often looking forth on +the white tents on which the moonbeams shed their pale, tranquil +light. There was much to impress a mind like his, in the scene +before him: the unearthly moonlight, the few glimmering stars, +the sky--whose southern clearness and brightness were, to his +unaccustomed eye, doubly wonderful--the constant though subdued +sounds in the camp, the murmur of the river, and, far away in +the dark expanse of night, the sparkling of a multitude of lights, +which marked the encampment of the enemy. There was a strange +calm awe upon his spirit. He spoke in a low voice, and Gaston's +careless light-hearted tones fell on his ear as something +uncongenial; but his eye glanced brightly, his step was free +and bold, as he felt that this was the day that must silence +every irritating doubt of his possessing a warrior-spirit. + +The first red streak of dawn was beginning to glow in the eastern +sky, when the note of a bugle rang out from the Prince's tent and +was responded to by hundreds of other horns. That instant the +quiet slumbering camp awoke, the space in front of every tent +was filled with busy men, arming themselves, or saddling their +horses. Gaston and Eustace, already fully equipped, assisted Sir +Reginald to arm; Leonard was roused, and began to fasten on his +armour; the men-at-arms came forth from their tent, and the horses +were saddled and bridled; "And now," called Sir Reginald, "bring +our last loaf, John Ingram. Keep none back. By this day's eve +we shall have abundance, or else no further need." + +The hard dry barley-bread was shared in scanty, but equal measure, +and scarcely had it been devoured, before a second bugle blast, +pealing through the camp, caused each mail-clad warrior to close +his visor, and spring into the open plain, where, according to +previous orders, they arrayed themselves in two divisions, the +first commanded by the Duke of Lancaster and Sir John Chandos, +the second by Prince Edward and Don Pedro. + +After a pause, employed in marshalling the different bands, the +host advanced at an even pace, the rising sun glancing on their +armour, and revealing the multitude of waving crests, and streamers +fluttering from the points of the lances, like the wings of +gorgeous insects. Presently a wall of glittering armour was seen +advancing to meet them, with the same brilliant display. It might +have seemed some mighty tournament that was there arrayed, as the +two armies stood confronting each other, rather than a stern battle +for the possession of a kingdom; and well might old Froissart +declare, "It was a pleasure to see such hosts." + +But it would be presumptuous to attempt to embellish a tale after +Froissart has once touched it. To him, then, I leave it to tell +how the rank of banneret was conferred on the gallant old Chandos, +how the Prince prayed aloud for a blessing on his arms, how he +gave the signal for the advance, and how the boaster, Tello, fled +in the first encounter. The Lances of Lynwood, in the division of +the Duke of Lancaster, well and gallantly did their part in the +hard struggle with the brave band of French, whose resistance was +not overcome till the Black Prince himself brought his reserved +troops to the aid of his brother. + +With the loss of only one man-at-arms, the Lances of Lynwood had +taken several prisoners. It was high noon, and the field was well- +nigh cleared of the enemy, when Sir Reginald drew his rein at the +top of a steep bank clothed with brushwood, sloping towards the +stream of the Zadorra, threw up his visor, wiped his heated brow, +and, patting his horse's neck, turned to his brother, saying, "You +have seen sharp work in this your first battle-day, Eustace." + +"It is a glorious day!" said Eustace. "See how they hurry to the +water." And he pointed over the low shrubs to a level space on +the bank of the river, where several fugitives, on foot and +horseback, were crowding together, and pressing hastily forward. + +"Ha!" cried Sir Reginald, "the golden circlet! Henry of Trastamare +himself!" and at the same instant he sprang to the ground. "You," +said he, "speed round the bushes, meet me at the ford they are +making for." This was directed to Gaston, and ere the last words +were spoken, both Sir Reginald and Eustace were already beginning +to hurry down the bank. Gaston rose to his full height in his +stirrups, and, looking over the wood, exclaimed, "The Eagle crest! +I must be there. On, Ashton--Ingram, this way--speed, speed, speed!" +and with these words threw himself from his horse, and dashed after +the two brothers, as they went crashing, in their heavy armour, +downwards through the boughs. In less than a minute they were on +the level ground, and Sir Reginald rushed forward to intercept Don +Enrique, who was almost close to the river. "Yield, yield, Sir +King!" he shouted; but at the same moment another Knight on foot +threw himself between, raising a huge battle-axe, and crying, "Away, +away, Sir; leave me to deal with him!" Enrique turned, entered the +river, and safely swam his horse to the other side, whilst his +champion was engaged in desperate conflict. + +The Knight of Lynwood caught the first blow on his shield, and +returned it, but without the slightest effect on his antagonist, +who, though short in stature, and clumsily made, seemed to +possess gigantic strength. A few moments more, and Reginald +had fallen at full length on the grass, while his enemy was +pressing on, to secure him as a prisoner, or to seize the pennon +which Eustace held. The two Squires stood with lifted swords +before their fallen master, but it cost only another of those +irresistible strokes to stretch Gaston beside Sir Reginald, and +Eustace was left alone to maintain the struggle. A few moments +more, and the Lances would come up--but how impossible to hold +out! The first blow cleft his shield in two, and though it did +not pierce his armour, the shock brought him to his knee, and +without the support of the staff of the pennon he would have +been on the ground. Still, however, he kept up his defence, +using sometimes his sword, and sometimes the staff, to parry the +strokes of his assailant; but the strife was too unequal, and +faint with violent exertion, as well as dizzied by a stroke which +the temper of his helmet had resisted, he felt that all would be +over with him in another second, when his sinking energies were +revived by the cry of "St. George," close at hand. His enemy +relaxing his attack, he sprang to his feet, and that instant found +himself enclosed, almost swept away, by a crowd of combatants +of inferior degree, as well as his own comrades as Free Lances, +all of whose weapons were turned upon his opponent. A sword +was lifted over the enemy's head from behind, and would the +next moment have descended, but that Eustace sprang up, dashed +it aside, cried "Shame!" and grasping the arm of the threatened +Knight, exclaimed, "Yield, yield! it is your only hope!" + +"Yield? and to thee?" said the Knight; "yet it is well meant. The +sword of Arthur himself would be of no avail. Tiphaine was right! +It is the fated day. Thou art of gentle birth? I yield me then, +rescue or no rescue, the rather that I see thou art a gallant youth. +Hark you, fellows, I am a prisoner, so get off with you. +Your name, bold youth?" + +"Eustace Lynwood, brother to this Knight," said Eustace, raising +his visor, and panting for breath. + +"You need but a few years to nerve your arm. But rest a while, you +are almost spent," said the prisoner, in a kind tone of patronage, +as he looked at the youthful face of his captor, which in a second +had varied from deep crimson to deadly paleness. + +"My brother! my brother!" was all Eustace's answer, as he threw +himself on the grass beside Gaston, who, though bleeding fast, +had raised his master's head, and freed him from his helmet; but +his eyes were still closed, and the wound ghastly, for such had +been the force of the blow, that the shoulder was well-nigh +severed from the collarbone. "Reginald! O brother, look up!" +cried Eustace. "O Gaston, does he live?" + +"I have crossed swords with him before," said the prisoner. "I +grieve for the mishap." Then, as the soldiers crowded round, he +waved them off with a gesture of command, which they instinctively +obeyed. "Back, clowns, give him air. And here--one of you--bring +some water from the river. There, he shows signs of life." + +As he spoke, the clattering of horses' feet was heard--all made +way, and there rode along the bank of the river a band of Spaniards, +headed by Pedro himself, his sword, from hilt to point, streaming +with blood, and his countenance ferocious as that of a tiger. "Where +is he?" was his cry; "where is the traitor Enrique? I will send him +to join the rest of the brood. Where has he hidden himself?" + +The prisoner, who had been assisting to life the wounded man out of +the path of the trampling horses, turned round, and replied, with +marked emphasis, "King Henry of Castile is, thanks to our Lady, safe +on the other side of the Zadorra, to recover his throne another day." + +"Du Guesclin himself! Ah, dog!" cried Pedro, his eyes glaring with +the malignity of a demon, and raising his bloody weapon to hew down +Bertrand du Guesclin, for no other was the prisoner, who stood with +folded arms, his dark eyes fixed in calm scorn on the King's face, +and his sword and axe lying at his feet. + +Eustace was instantly at his side, calling out, "My Lord King, he +is my prisoner!" + +"Thine!" said Pedro, with an incredulous look. "Leave him to my +vengeance, and thou shalt have gold--half my treasury--all thy +utmost wishes can reach--" + +"I give him up to none but my Lord the Prince of Wales," returned +the young Squire, undauntedly. + +"Fool and caitiff! out of my path! or learn what it is to oppose +the wrath of Kings!" cried Pedro. + +Eustace grasped his sword. "Sir King, you must win your way to +him through my body." + +At this moment one of the attendants whispered, "_El Principe, +Senor Rey_," and, in a few seconds more, the Black Prince, with +a few followers, rode towards the spot. + +Hastily dismounting, Pedro threw himself on his knees to thank him +for the victory; but Edward, leaping from his horse, raised him, +saying, "It is not to me, but to the Giver of victories, that you +should return thanks;" and Eustace almost shuddered to see him +embrace the blood-thirsty monster, who, still intent on his prey, +began the next moment, "Here, Senor Prince, is the chief enemy-- +here is the disturber of kingdoms--Du Guesclin himself--and there +stands a traitorous boy of your country, who resolutely refuses to +yield him to my just vengeance." + +As Pedro spoke, the Prince exchanged with Sir Bertrand the courteous +salutation of honourable enemies, and then said, in a quiet, grave +tone, "It is not our English custom to take vengeance on prisoners +of war." + +"My Lord," said Eustace, stepping forward, as the Prince looked +towards him, "I deliver the prisoner into your princely hands." + +"You have our best thanks, Sir Squire," said the Prince. "You are +the young Lynwood, if I remember right. Where is your brother?" + +"Alas! my Lord, here he lies, sorely hurt," said Eustace, only +anxious to be rid of prisoner and Prince, and to return to +Reginald, who by this time had, by the care of Gaston, been +recalled to consciousness. + +"Is it so? I grieve to hear it!" said Edward, with a face of deep +concern, advancing to the wounded Knight, bending over him, and +taking his hand, "How fares it with you, my brave Reginald?" + +"Poorly enough, my Lord," said the Knight, faintly; "I would I +could have taken King Henry--" + +"Lament not for that," said the Prince, "but receive my thanks for +the prize of scarcely less worth, which I owe to your arms." + +"What mean you, my Lord? Not Sir Bertrand du Guesclin; I got +nothing from him but my death-blow." + +"How is this then?" said Edward; "it was from your young brother +that I received him." + +"Speak, Eustace!" said Sir Reginald, eagerly, and half raising +himself; "Sir Bertrand your prisoner? Fairly and honourably? +Is it possible?" + +"Fairly and honourably, to that I testify," said Du Guesclin. "He +knelt before you, and defended your pennon longer than I ever thought +to see one of his years resist that curtal-axe of mine. The _routier_ +villains burst on us, and were closing upon me, when he turned back +the weapon that was over my head, and summoned me to yield, which I +did the more willingly that so gallant a youth should have such +honour as may be acquired by my capture." + +"He has it, noble Bertrand," said Edward. "Kneel down, young Squire. +Thy name is Eustace? In the name of God, St. Michael, and St. George, +I dub thee Knight. Be faithful, brave and fortunate, as on this day. Arise, Sir Eustace Lynwood." + +"Thanks, thanks, my gracious Prince," said Reginald, a light glancing +in his fading eyes. "I should die content to see my brother's spurs +so well earned." + +"Die! Say not so, my faithful Reginald. Speed, Denis, and send +hither our own leech! I trust you will live to see your son win +his spurs as gallantly!" + +"No, my good Lord, I am past the power of leech or surgeon; I feel +that this is my death-wound. I am glad it was in your cause. All +I desire is your protection for my wife--my boy--my brother--" + +"Your brother has earned it already," said Edward. "Your child +shall be as my own. But, oh! can nought be done? Hasten the +surgeon hither! Cheer thee, Reginald!--look up! O! would that +Du Guesclin were free, the battle unfought, so that thou wert but +safe, mine own dear brother-in-arms!" + +"Where is the Prince?" called a voice from behind. "My Lord, my +Lord, if you come not speedily, there will be foul slaughter made +among the prisoners by your Spanish butcher--King I would say." + +"I come, I come, Chandos," answered Edward. "Fare thee well, my +brave Reginald; and you, my new-made Knight, send tidings to my +tent how it is with him." + +He pressed Reginald's hand, and sighing deeply, mounted his horse, +and rode off with Sir John Chandos, leaving the wounded Knight to +the care of his own followers. + +The stream of blood was flowing fast, life was ebbing away, and +Sir Reginald's breath was failing, as Eustace, relieving Gaston +from his weight, laid his head on his breast, and laved his brow +with water from the river. "You have done gallantly, my brave +brother; I did wrong to doubt your spirit. Thanks be to God that +I can die in peace, sure that Arthur has in you a true and loving +guardian. You are young, Eustace, but my trust in you is firm. +You will train him in all Christian and godly ways--" + +"It shall be the most sacred charge of my life," said Eustace, +scarcely able to speak. + +"I know it," said Reginald, and making an effort to raise his +voice, he continued, "Bear witness, all of you, that I leave my +son in the wardship of the King, and of my brother, Sir Eustace +Lynwood. And," added he, earnestly, "beware of Fulk Clarenham. +Commend me to my sweet Eleanor; tell her she is the last, as the +first in my thoughts." Then, after a pause, "Is Gaston here?" + +"Yes, Sir Reginald," said Gaston, leaning over him, and pressing +the hand which he feebly raised. + +"Gaston, farewell, and thanks to you for your true and loving +service. Eustace will find wherewith to recompense you in some +sort, in my chest at Bordeaux, and my brave Lances likewise. And, +Gaston, go not back to the courses and comrades whence I took you. +On the word of a dying man, it will be better for you when you are +in this case. Leonard, strive to be a true and brave man, though +I may not fulfil your father's trust. Eustace--my eyes grow dim-- +is this you supporting my head--are these your tears? Weep not +for me, brother. Save for my poor Eleanor, I would not have it +otherwise. Mercy is sure! Hold up the blessed rood--the sign of +grace--you are half a clerk, repeat me some holy psalm or prayer." + +Eustace raised the cross hilt of his sword, and with a broken voice, +commenced the _Miserere_. Sir Reginald at first followed it with +his lips, but soon they ceased to move, his head sank back, his +hand fell powerless, and with one long gasping breath his faithful +and noble spirit departed. For several moments Eustace silently +continued to hold the lifeless form in his arms, then raising the +face, he imprinted an earnest kiss on the pale lips, laid the head +reverently on the ground, hung over it for a short space, and at +last, with an effort, passed his hand over his face, and turned +away. + +His first look was towards d'Aubricour, who sat resting his head +on his hand, his elbow supported on his knee, while with the other +hand he dashed away his tears. His countenance was deathly pale, +and drops of blood were fast falling from the deep gash in his side. +"O Gaston!" exclaimed Eustace, with a feeling of self-reproach at +having forgotten him, "I fear you are badly wounded!" + +"You would think little of it, had you seen more stricken fields, +young Knight," said Gaston, attempting to smile; "I am only spent +with loss of blood. Bring me a draught of water, and I can ride +back to the tent. But look to your prisoner, Sir Eustace." + +Eustace turned to see what had become of his illustrious captive, +and saw him at a little distance, speaking to a Knight on horseback. +"Sir Eustace," said Bertrand, stepping towards him, "here is Sir +William Beauchamp, sent by the Prince to inquire for your gallant +brother, and to summon me to his tent. I leave you the more +willingly that I think you have no mind for guests this evening. +Farewell. I hope to be better acquainted." + +Eustace had little heart to answer, but he took up Du Guesclin's +sword, as if to return it to him. "Keep it, Sir Knight," said +Bertrand, "you know how to wield it. I am in some sort your +godfather in chivalry, and I owe you a gift. Let me have yours, +that my side may not be without its wonted companion. Farewell." + +"And, Sir Eustace Lynwood," said Sir William Beauchamp, riding up, +"you will advance to Navaretta, where we take up our quarters in +the French camp. I grieve for the loss which has befallen us this +day; but I trust our chivalry has gained an equally worthy member." + +Eustace bowed and, whilst Messire Bertrand mounted a horse that had +been brought for his use, turned back to his own melancholy duties. +The body of Sir Reginald was raised from the ground, and placed on +the levelled lances of four of his men, and Eustace then assisted +Gaston to rise. He tottered, leant heavily against the young Knight, +and was obliged to submit to be lifted to the saddle; but neither +pain, grief, nor faintness could check his flow of talk. + +"Well, Eustace,--Sir Eustace, I would say,--you have seen somewhat +of the chances of war." + +"The mischances you mean, Gaston." + +"I tell you, many a man in this host would have given his whole +kindred for such luck as has befallen you. To cross swords with Du +Guesclin is honour enough. This cut will be a matter of boasting +to my dying day; but, to take him prisoner--" + +"Nay, that was no merit of mine. Had not the rest come up, my wars +had soon been over, and I had been spared this grief." + +"I know what most youths would have done in your place, and been +esteemed never the worse. Dropped the pennon at that first round +blow that brought you to your knee, and called for quarter. Poor +pennon, I deemed it gone, and would have come to your aid, but +before I could recover my feet, the fight was over, and I am glad +the glory is wholly yours. Knighted under a banner in a stricken +field! It is a chance which befalls not one man in five hundred, +and you in your first battle! But he heeds me not. He thinks only +of his brother! Look up, Sir Eustace, 'tis but the chance of war. +Better die under sword and shield, than like a bed-ridden old woman; +better die honoured and lamented, than worn out and forgotten. +Still he has not a word! Yea, and I could weep too for company, +for never lived better Knight, nor one whom Squire had better +cause to love!" + + + + + + +CHAPTER V + + + +A battle in the days of chivalry was far less destructive than +those of modern times. The loss in both armies at Navaretta did +not amount to six hundred; and on Pedro's side but four Knights +had fallen, of whom Sir Reginald Lynwood was the only Englishman. + +On the following day all the four were buried in solemn state, at +the church of the village of Navaretta, Sir Eustace following his +brother's bier, at the head of all the men-at-arms. + +On returning to his tent, Eustace found Gaston sitting on his couch, +directing Guy, and old Poitevin, who had the blue crossletted pennon +spread on the ground before him. Eustace expressed his wonder. +"What," exclaimed Gaston, "would I see my Knight Banneret, the +youngest Knight in the army, with paltry pennon! A banneret are +you, dubbed in the open field, entitled to take precedence of all +Knight Bachelors. Here, Leonard, bring that pennon to me, that I +may see if it can be cut square." + +"Poor Eleanor's pennon!" said Eustace, sadly. + +"Nay, what greater honour can it have than in becoming a banner? I +only grieve that this bloodstain, the noblest mark a banner can bear, +is upon the swallow-tail. But what do I see? You, a belted Knight, +in your plain Esquire's helmet, and the blood-stained surcoat! Ay, +and not even the gilded spurs!" he exclaimed indignantly. "Would +that I had seen you depart! But it was Leonard's fault. Why, man, +knew you not your duty?" + +"I am no Squire of Eustace Lynwood," said Ashton. + +"Every Squire is bound to serve the Knight in whose company he finds +himself," said d'Aubricour. "Know you not thus much of the laws of +chivalry? Come, bestir yourself, that he may be better provided in +future. You must present yourself to the Prince to-morrow, Sir +Eustace." + +"One of his Squires bade me to his presence," said the young Knight, +"but I must now write these heavy tidings to my poor sister, and I +am going to Father Waleran's tent to seek parchment and ink." + +"And how send you the letter?" + +"By the bearer of the Prince's letters to the King. Sir Richard +Ferrars knows him, and will give them into his charge. So farewell, +Gaston, keep quiet, and weary not yourself with my equipment." + +With these words he left the tent, and Gaston, shaking his head, +and throwing himself back on his deer-skins, exclaimed, "Tender +and true, brave and loving! I know not what to make of Eustace +Lynwood. His spirit is high as a Paladin's of old, of that I never +doubted, yet is his hand as deft at writing as a clerk's, and his +heart as soft as a woman's. How he sighed and wept the livelong +night, when he thought none could hear him! Well, Sir Reginald +was a noble Knight, and is worthily mourned, but where is the +youth who would not have been more uplifted at his own honours, +than downcast at his loss; and what new-made Knight ever neglected +his accoutrements to write sad tidings to his sister-in-law? But," +he continued, rising again, "Guy, bring me here the gilded spurs +you will find yonder. The best were, I know, buried with Sir +Reginald, and methought there was something amiss with one rowel +of the other. So it is. Speed to Maitre Ferry, the armourer, +and bid him come promptly." + +"And lie you still on your couch meanwhile, Master d'Aubricour," +said Guy, "or there will soon be another Squire missing among +the Lances of Lynwood." + +"I marvel at you, d'Aubricour," said Leonard, looking up from a +pasty, which he was devouring with double relish, to make up for +past privations, "I marvel that you should thus weary yourself, +with your fresh wound, and all for nought." + +"Call you our brave young banneret nought? Shame on thee! All +England should be proud of him, much more his friend and companion." + +"I wish Eustace Lynwood well with all my heart," said Leonard, "but +I see not why he is to be honoured above all others. Yourself, +Gaston, so much older, so perfect in all exercises, you who fought +with this Frenchman too, of whom they make so much, the Prince +might as well have knighted you, as Eustace, who would have been +down in another moment had not I made in to the rescue. Methinks +if I had been the Prince, I would have inquired upon whom knighthood +would sit the best." + +"And the choice would have been the same," said Gaston. "Not only +was Sir Eustace the captor of Messire Bertrand, whereas my luck +was quite otherwise; but what would knighthood have availed the +wandering landless foreigner, as you courteously term me, save to +fit me for the leadership of a band of _routiers_, and unfit me +for the office of an Esquire, which I do, as you say, understand +indifferently well." + +"Is it not the same with him?" cried Leonard. "He does not own a +palm's breadth of land, and for gold, all he will ever possess is +on those broken spurs of his brother's." + +"Listen to me, Leonard," said Gaston. "Rich or poor, Sir Eustace +is the only fit leader of the Lances till the little boy is of age, +but this he could not be without knightly rank. Even in this +campaign, when I might have taken the command, I being disabled +for the present, it must have devolved on him, who might not have +been so readily obeyed." + +"No, indeed," said Leonard. "Strange that the touch of the Prince's +sword should make so great a difference between him and me." + +"If it was the touch of the Prince's sword that did so," said Gaston. + +"What else?" sharply retorted Leonard. "Not height nor strength! +His hand and arm might belong to a girl, I could crush it in my +grasp." So saying, he extended a huge, hard, red palm. + +"Ay?" said Gaston; "I should like to see whether that great paw +would have won Du Guesclin's sword." + +"I tell you flatly," proceeded Ashton, "I might follow Sir Reginald, +since he was a man of substance, honoured in our country, and my +father meant to oblige and do him grace by placing me with him." + +"Grace!" repeated Gaston. + +"But," continued Ashton, angrily, "as to serving Eustace, the clerk, +no older than myself, half a head shorter, and a mere landless +upstart, that my father's son shall never do!" + +"Say you so?" said Gaston. "I recommend you not to do so quite so +loud, or perchance the landless upstart might hand your father's +son over to the Provost Marshal, for preaching disaffection to his +men. And, in good time, here comes the Master Armourer." + +The rest of the day was spent by Gaston in the arrangement of +the equipments, so important in his estimation, and scarcely +another word was spoken save on the choice of helm and shield, +and the adaptation of crests and blazonry. The next point for +consideration was the disposal of the prisoners taken by the +Lances of Lynwood in the early part of the battle. Two were +Squires, the other four, rough-looking men-at-arms who protested +that they could not pay one denier towards their ransom. Eustace +liberated them, and was greatly inclined to do the same by the +Squires; but Gaston assured him it would be doing wrong to the +Prince's cause to set the rogues free without taking some good +French crowns from them, and therefore, permitting him to name +what ransom he thought fit, he returned to them their horses, +and dismissed them to collect the sum. + +Early the next morning, Gaston had the satisfaction of beholding +his young banneret arrayed in knightly guise, the golden spurs on +his heels, Du Guesclin's sword by his side, and his white mantle +flung over his shoulder. Leonard was summoned to accompany him, +but he growled out something so like an absolute refusal and utter +disclaimer of all duty to Sir Eustace, that Gaston began to reproach +him vehemently. + +"Never mind, Gaston," said Eustace, "you never mend matters with +him in that way, I shall do very well alone." + +"So you shall never go," said Gaston, rising; "I will go myself, +I have been longing to see you received by the Prince. Where is +my sword?" + +"Nay, Gaston," said Eustace, "that must not be. See how the hot +sunbeams lie across that hill between us and the Prince's tent. +You must not waste your strength if it is true that we are to +journey to Burgos to-day." + +"It shows how new your chivalry is, that you make so much of a +mere scratch," said Gaston, hastily commencing his preparations; +"Guy, go you and saddle Brigliador." + +"No, do not touch Brigliador," said Eustace. "You deny it in vain, +Gaston; your face betrays that you do not move without pain. I +learnt some leech-craft among my clerkly accomplishments, and you +had better take care that you do not have the benefit. Leonard, +since it is the only way to quiet him, I order you to mount." + +Leonard hung his head, and obeyed. They rode towards the village +of Najara, where Eustace found the Prince entering the church, to +hear morning mass. Giving his horse to John Ingram, he followed +among the other Knights who thronged the little building. + +The service at an end, he received more than one kind greeting +from his brother's friends, and one of them, Sir Richard Ferrars, +a fine old man, whose iron-gray locks contrasted with his ruddy +complexion, led him forward to present him to the Prince of Wales. + +"Welcome! our new-made Knight," said Edward. "Brave comrades, I +present to you the youngest brother of our order, trusting you +will not envy him for having borne off the fairest rose of our +chaplet of Navaretta." + +Bertrand du Guesclin, who stood among the throng of nobles around +the Prince, was the first to come forward and shake Eustace by the +hand, saying with a laugh, "Nay, my Lord, this is the first time the +ugliest Knight in France has been called by such a name. However, +young Sir, may you win and wear many another." + +"That scarcely may be a sincere wish, Messire Bertrand," said the +Duke of Lancaster, "unless you mean roses of love instead of roses +of war. And truly, with his face, and the fame he owes to you, +methinks he will not find our damsels at Bordeaux very hard of +heart. See, he blushes, as if we had guessed his very thought." + +"Truly, my Lord John," said old Sir John Chandos sternly, "a man +may well blush to hear a son of King Edward talk as if such +trifling were the reward of knighthood. His face and his fame +forsooth! as if he were not already in sufficient danger of being +cockered up, like some other striplings on whom it has pleased +his Highness to confer knighthood for as mere a chance as this." + +"You have coloured his cheek in good earnest," said the Captal de +Buch. "Consider, Chandos, this is no time to damp his spirit." + +"It were a spirit scarce worth fostering, if it is to be damped by +a little breath of the lips one way or the other," said Sir John, +moving off, and adding, when out of Eustace's hearing, "A likely +lad enough had he been under his brother's training, but they will +spoil him, and I will have no hand in it." + +Eustace had been accustomed to hold the warrior in such veneration, +that he felt considerably hurt and mortified at the want of welcome +which contrasted with the kindness of the rest; and he could hardly +recover his self-possession sufficiently to inquire the pleasure of +the Prince with regard to his brother's troop. + +"Take command yourself," said Edward. "You surely have some Esquire +or man-at-arms who can supply your own want of experience." + +"My brother's Squire, Gaston d'Aubricour, is well learned in chivalry, +my Lord," said Eustace, "and I will do my best, with his aid, to +fulfil my trust." + +"It is well," said Edward. "The Lances of Lynwood are too well +trained easily to forget their duty, and I fear not but that you +will do well. How old is your brother's young heir?" + +"Eight years, my Lord." + +"We will soon have him at Bordeaux," said Edward, "that he may grow +up with my boys in the same friendship as their fathers. And now," +added he, turning from Eustace to the assembled nobles around him, +"let us part, and prepare for our further journey. In an hour's +time the bugles shall summon you to depart for Burgos." + +The Prince walked away towards his tent with the Captal de Buch, +and Eustace looked round for his horse, which he saw at no great +distance with Ingram, but Leonard Ashton was nowhere in sight. +Eustace mounted, and rode towards his own tent, desiring the +yeoman to seek Ashton out, while he himself proceeded slowly, +musing, with feelings of considerable disappointment and vexation, +on the reception he had met from Sir John Chandos, the man in the +whole camp whose good opinion he would have most valued. "This +is folly," thought he, however, rousing himself after a minute or +two of such meditations. "What said the good old Baron but what +I know full well myself, that I am far from meriting my new honours? +On whom does it depend, but myself to win his praise? And by our +Lady's grace, I will make him confess at last, that, young as I +am, I can show that I deserve my spurs. What, ho! Ingram, where +is Master Ashton?" + +"Where you will little like to hear of him, Sir Knight," said the +yeoman, galloping up on his tall Flemish horse. "At the wine-shop, +yonder, in the village, with that ill-favoured, one-eyed Squire +that you wot of. I called him as you desired, and all that I got +for an answer was, that he would come at his own time, and not at +your bidding." + +"Said he so? the ungracious, headstrong fellow!" said Eustace, +looking back wistfully. "And what to do! To ride back myself +might be the means of getting the whole troop late in starting, +and disorderly--yet, to leave him!" Eustace looked at John +Ingram's comely and stolid face, and then almost smiled at +himself for seeking counsel from him. "Ride you on, John," said +he; "tell Master d'Aubricour of the order to depart--let all be +in readiness by the time I return." + +Then turning his horse quickly, Eustace rode back to the village. +All was haste and confusion there--horses were being led forth +and saddled, pages, grooms, and men-at-arms hurrying to and fro +--bugles sounding--everything in the bustle incident to immediate +departure. He could only make his way through the press slowly, +and with difficulty, which ill suited with his impatience and +perplexity. In front of the venta, a low white cottage, with a +wooden balcony overspread with vines, there was a still closer +press, and loud vehement voices, as of disputants, were heard, +while the various men-at-arms crowded in so closely to see the +fray, if such it were, as to be almost regardless of the horse, +which Eustace was pressing forward upon them. He looked over +their heads to see Leonard, but in vain. He thought of retreat, +but found himself completely entangled in the throng. At that +moment, a cry was heard, "The Provost Marshal!" The crowd +suddenly, he knew not how, seemed to melt away from around him, +in different directions, and he found himself left, on horseback, +in the midst of the little village green, amongst scattered groups +of disreputable-looking yeomen, archers, and grooms, who were +making what speed they could to depart, as from the other side +the Provost, the archers of the guard, and Sir John Chandos +entered upon the scene. + +"Ha! What is all this? Whom have we here?" exclaimed the old +Baron. "Sir Eustace Lynwood! By my life, a fair commencement +for your dainty young knighthood!" + +"On my word, my Lord Chandos," said Eustace, colouring deeply, "I +am no loiterer here; I came but to seek my Squire, Leonard Ashton, +and found myself entangled in the crowd." + +"Ay, ay! I understand," said Chandos, without listening to him; +"I see how it will be. Off to your troop instantly, Master Knight. +I suppose they are all seeking Squires in the wine-shops!" + +"You do me wrong, my Lord," said Eustace; "but you shall be obeyed." + +The bugles had already sounded before he reached his own quarters, +where he found that, thanks to Gaston, all was right. The tent +had been taken down and packed on the baggage mules, the men were +mounted, and drawn up in full array, with his banner floating above +their heads; and Gaston himself was only waiting his appearance to +mount a stout mule, which Martin, the horse-boy, was leading up and +down. + +"This is well. Thanks, good Gaston," said Eustace, with a sigh +of relief, as he took off his heavy helmet, which had become much +heated during his hasty ride in the hot sun. + +"No news of the truant?" asked Gaston. "Who but you would have +thought of going after him? Well did I know you would never +prosper without me at your elbow." + +Eustace smiled, but he was too much heated and vexed to give a +very cheerful assent. He had only time to load Ferragus with his +armour, and mount a small pony, before the signal for the march +was given, and all set forth. Early in the year as it was, the sun +already possessed great force, and the dry rocky soil of Castile +reflected his beams, so that, long before noon, it seemed to +Eustace almost as if their march lay through an oven. Nor were +his perplexities by any means at an end; the thirst, occasioned +by the heat, was excessive, and at every venta, in the villages +through which they passed, the men called loudly for liquor; but +the hot, fiery Spanish wine was, as Eustace had already been +cautioned by Father Waleran, only fit to increase the evil, by +inflaming their blood. It was the Holy Week, which was to him +a sufficient reason for refraining entirely, contenting himself +with a drink of water, when it could be procured, which, however, +was but rarely. He would willingly have persuaded his men to do +the same, but remonstrance was almost without effect, and his dry +lips refused to utter a prohibition, which would have been esteemed +at once cruel and unreasonable. In his persuasions to Gaston he +was, however, more in earnest, representing to him that he was +increasing the fever of his wound; but the Squire was perfectly +impracticable. At first, he answered in his usual gay, careless +manner, that the scratch was nothing, and that, be what it might, +he had as soon die of a wound as of thirst; but as the day wore on, +it seemed as if the whole nature of the man were becoming changed. +Sometimes he was boisterously loud in his merriment, sometimes +sullen and silent; and when Eustace, unwearied, reiterated his +arguments, he replied to him, not only with complete want of the +deference he was usually so scrupulous in paying to his dignity, +but with rude and scurril taunts and jests on his youth, his +clerkly education, and his inexperience. Eustace's patience would +scarcely have held out, but that he perceived that d'Aubricour +was by no means master of himself, and he saw in his flushed +brow, and blood-shot eye, reason to fear for the future effect of +the present excess. There was suppressed laughter among the men +at some of his sallies. Without being positively in disorder, the +troop did not display the well-arrayed aspect which had always +hitherto distinguished the Lances of Lynwood; and poor Eustace, +wearied and worn out, his right-hand man failing him, dispirited +by Chandos's reproach, and feeling all the cares of the world on +his shoulders, had serious thoughts of going to the Prince, and +resigning the command for which he was unfit. + +At last he beheld the Cathedral of Burgos rising in the midst of +the Moorish fortifications of the town, and, halting his men under +the shade of a few trees, he rode on in search of the marshals of +the camp, and as soon as the open space for his tents had been +assigned, he returned to see them raised. Gaston, who had of late +become more silent, was lifted from his mule, and assisted into the +tent, where he was laid on his couch, and soon after, Eustace was +relieved from his anxiety on Leonard Ashton's account, by his +appearance. He came stumbling in without one word of apology, +only declaring himself as weary as a dog, and, throwing himself +down on a deer-skin on his own side of the tent, was fast asleep +in another minute. + + + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + + +Leonard Ashton was awakened the next morning by the light of the +rising sun streaming in where the curtain of the tent had been +raised to admit the fresh dewy morning air. The sunbeams fell +on the hair and face of Eustace as he leant over Gaston, who lay +stretched on the couch, and faintly spoke: "I tell you it is more. +Such fever as this would not be caused by this trifling cut. There +is sickness abroad in the camp, and why should it not be my turn +as well as another man's. Take care of yourself, Sir Eustace." + +No sooner did Leonard understand the sense of these words, than +he sprang up, rushed out of the tent, and never rested till he +thought himself at a safe distance, when he shouted to Eustace +to come to him. + +"Has he got this fever on him?" exclaimed he, as Eustace approached. + +"He is very ill at ease," replied Eustace, "but to my mind it is +caused by yesterday's fatigue and heat, added to the wine which +he would drink." + +"It is the fever, I say," replied Ashton; "I am sure it is. Come +away, Eustace, or we shall all be infected." + +"I cannot leave him," said Eustace. + +"What? You do not mean to peril yourself by going near him?" +said Ashton. + +"I think not that there is peril in so doing, answered Eustace; "and +even if there were, I could not leave him in sickness, after all his +kindness to me and patience with my inexperience." + +"He is no brother nor cousin to us," said Leonard. "I see not why +we should endanger our lives for a stranger. I will not, for my own +part; and, as your old friend and comrade, I would entreat you not." + +These were kinder words than Eustace had heard from Ashton since +the beginning of his jealousy, and he answered, as he thought they +were meant, in a friendly tone, "Thanks, Leonard, but I cannot +look on Gaston d'Aubricour as a stranger; and had I fewer causes +for attachment to him, I could not leave my post." + +"Only you do not expect me to do the same," said Leonard; "my father +sent me here to gain honour and wealth, not to be poisoned with the +breath of a man in a fever." + +"Assuredly not," said Eustace. "I will arrange matters so that you +shall no longer sleep in our tent. But let me ask of you, Leonard, +what was the meaning of your conduct of yesterday?" + +"You may ask yourself," said Leonard, sullenly; "it is plain enough, +methinks." + +"Have a care, Leonard. Remember that my brother's authority is given +to me." + +"Much good may it do you," said Leonard; "but that is nothing to me. +I am no vassal of yours, to come at your call. I have my own friends, +and am not going to stay in this infected part of the camp with men +who keep a fever among them. Give me but my sword and mantle from +the tent, and I will trouble you no more." + +"Wait, Leonard, I will take all measures for your safety; but +remember that I am answerable to the Prince for my brother's +followers." + +"Answer for your own serfs," retorted Leonard, who had nearly +succeeded in working himself into a passion. "My father might +be willing to grace Sir Reginald by letting me follow him, but +by his death I am my own man, and not to move at your beck and +call, because the Prince laid his sword on your shoulder. Knave +Jasper," he called to one of the men-at-arms, "bring my sword +and cloak from the tent; I enter it no more." + +"I know not how far you may be bound to me," said Eustace, "and +must inquire from some elder Knight, but I fear that your breaking +from me may be attended with evil effects to your name and fame." + +Leonard had put on his dogged expression, and would not listen. He +had already set his mind on joining _le Borgne Basque_, and leaving +the service which his own envious service rendered galling; and the +panic excited in his mind by Gaston's illness determined him to depart +without loss of time, or listening to the representations which he +could not answer. He turned his back on Eustace, and busied himself +with the fastenings of his sword, which had by this time been brought +to him. Even yet Eustace was not rebuffed. "One more hint, Leonard. +From what I am told, there is more peril to thy health in revelry than +in the neighbourhood of poor Gaston. If you will quit one who wishes +you well, take heed to your ways." + +Still the discourteous Squire made no reply, and walked off in all +the dignity of ill-humour. The young Knight, who really had a warm +feeling of affection for him, stood looking after him with a sigh, +and then returned to his patient, whom he found in an uneasy sleep. +After a few moments' consideration, he summoned old Guy to take the +part of nurse, and walked to the tent of Sir Richard Ferrars, to ask +his counsel. + +The old Knight, who was standing at the door of his tent, examining +into some hurt which his steed had received the day before, kindly +and cordially greeted Eustace on his approach. "I am glad you are +not above taking advice," he said, "as many a youth might be after +such fresh honours." + +"I feel but too glad to find some one who will bestow advice on me," +said Eustace; and he proceeded to explain his difficulties with +regard to Leonard Ashton. + +"Let him go! and a good riddance," said Sir Richard; "half your cares +go with him." + +"Yet I am unwilling not to attempt to hinder my old comrade from +running to ruin." + +"You have quite enough on your own hands already," said the old +Knight; "he would do far more harm in your troop than out of it, +and try your patience every hour." + +"He is my old playfellow," said Eustace, still dissatisfied. + +"More shame for him," said Sir Richard; "waste not another thought on +so cross-grained a slip, who, as I have already feared, might prove a +stumbling-block to you, so young in command as you are. Let him get +sick of his chosen associates, and no better hap can befall him. And +for yourself, what shall you do with this sick Squire?" + +"What can I do, save to give the best attendance I may?" + +"Nay, I am not the man to gainsay it. 'Tis no more than you ought. +And yet--" He surveyed the young Knight's slender form and slightly +moulded limbs, his cheeks pale with watching and the oppressive heat +of the night, and the heavy appearance of the eyelids that shaded +his dark blue thoughtful eyes. "Is your health good, young man?" + +"As good as that of other men," said Eustace. + +"Men!" said Sir Richard; "boys, you mean! But be a man, since you +will, only take as good care of yourself as consists with duty. I +had rather have you safe than a dozen of these black-visaged Gascons." + +Eustace further waited to mention to Sir Richard his untoward encounter +with Sir John Chandos, and to beg him to explain it to the old Baron. + +"I will," said Sir Richard; "and don't take old Chandos's uncourtliness +too much to heart, young Eustace. He means you no ill. Do your duty, +and he will own it in time." + +Eustace thanked the old Knight, and with spirits somewhat cheered, +returned to his tent, there to devote himself to the service of +his sick Squire. The report that the fever was in his tent made +most persons willing to avoid him, and he met little interruption +in his cares. Of Leonard, all that he heard was from a man-at- +arms, who made his appearance in his tent to demand Master Ashton's +arms, horse, and other property, he having entered the service of +Sir William Felton; and Eustace was too much engaged with his own +cares to make further inquiry after him. + +For a day or two Gaston d'Aubricour's fever ran very high, and just +when its violence was beginning to diminish, a fresh access was +occasioned by the journey from Burgos to Valladolid, whither he was +carried in a litter, when the army, by Pedro's desire, marched thither +to await his promised subsidy. The unwholesome climate was of most +pernicious effect to the whole of the English army, and in especial +to the Black Prince, who there laid the foundation of the disorder +which destroyed his health. Week after week passed on, each adding +heat to the summer, and increasing the long roll of sick and dying in +the camp, while Gaston still lay, languid and feeble by day, and +fevered by night; there were other patients among the men-at-arms, +requiring scarcely less care; and the young Knight himself, though, +owing to his temperate habits, he had escaped the prevailing sickness, +was looking thin and careworn with the numerous troubles and anxieties +that were pressing on him. + +Still he had actually lost not one of his men, and after the first +week or two, began to have more confidence in himself, and to feel +his place as their commander more than he would have done had Gaston +been able to assist him. At last his trusty Squire began slowly to +recover, though nightly returns of fever still kept him very weak. + +"The Pyrenean breezes would make me another man," said he, one evening, +when Eustace had helped him to the front of the tent, where he might +enjoy the coolness which began to succeed the sultry heat of the day. + +"I hear," said Eustace, "that we are to return as soon as the Prince +can be moved. He is weary of waiting till this dog of a Spaniard +will perform his contract." + +"By my faith," said d'Aubricour, "I believe the butcherly rogue means +to cancel his debts by the death of all his creditors. I would give +my share of the pay, were it twenty times more, for one gust of the +mountain air of my own hills." + +"Which way lies your home, Gaston?" asked Eustace. "Near the pass by +which we crossed?" + +"No; more to the west. My home, call you it? You would marvel to +see what it is now. A shattered, fire-scathed keep; the wolf's den in +earnest, it may be. It is all that is left of the Castle d'Albricorte." + +How?" exclaimed Eustace. "What brought this desolation?" + +"Heard you never my story?" said Gaston. "Mayhap not. You are +fresh in the camp, and it is no recent news, nor do men question +much whence their comrades come. Well, Albricorte was always a +noted house for courage, and my father, Baron Beranger, not a whit +behind his ancestors. He called himself a liegeman of England, +because England was farthest off, and least likely to give him any +trouble, and made war with all his neighbours in his own fashion. +Rare was the prey that the old Black Wolf of the Pyrenees was wont +to bring up to his lair, and right merry were the feastings there. +Well I do remember how my father and brothers used to sound their +horns as a token that they did not come empty-handed, and then, +panting up the steep path, would come a rich merchant, whose ransom +filled our purses half a year after, or a Knight, whose glittering +armour made him a double prize, or--" + +"What! you were actually--" + +"Freebooters, after the fashion of our own Quatre fils Aymon," +answered Gaston, composedly. "Yes, Beranger d'Albricorte was the +terror of all around, and little was the chance that aught would +pursue him to his den. So there I grew up, as well beseemed the +cub of such a wolf, racing through the old halls at my will." + +"Your mother?" asked Eustace. + +"Ah! poor lady! I remember her not. She died when I was a babe, +and all I know of her was from an old hag, the only woman in the +Castle, to whom the charge of me was left. My mother was a noble +Navarrese damsel whom my father saw at a tourney, seized, and bore +away as she was returning from the festival. Poor lady! our grim +Castle must have been a sad exchange from her green valleys--and +the more, that they say she was soon to have wedded the Lord of +Montagudo, the victor of that tourney. The Montagudos had us in +bitter feud ever after, and my father always looked like a +thunderstorm if their name was spoken. They say she used to +wander on the old battlements like a ghost, ever growing thinner +and whiter, and scarce seemed to joy even in her babes, but would +only weep over them. That angered the Black Wolf, and there were +chidings which made matters little better, till at last the poor +lady pined away, and died while I was still an infant." + +"A sad tale," said Eustace. + +"Ay! I used to weep at it, when the old crone who nursed me would +tell it over as I sat by her side in the evening. See, here is +holy relic that my mother wore round her neck, and my nurse hung +round mine. It has never been parted from me. So I grew up to the +years of pagehood, which came early with me, and forth I went on my +first foray with the rest of them. But as we rode joyously home +with our prey before us, a band of full a hundred and fifty men-at- +arms set on us in the forest. Our brave thirty--down they went on +all side. I remember the tumult, the heavy mace uplifted, and my +father's shield thrust over me. I can well-nigh hear his voice +saying, 'Flinch not, Gaston, my brave wolf-cub!' But then came a +fall, man and horse together, and I went down stunned, and knew no +more till a voice over me said, 'That whelp is stirring--another +sword-thrust!' But another replied, 'He bears the features of +Alienor, I cannot slay him'" + +"It was your mother's lover?" + +"Montagudo? Even so; and I was about to beg for mercy, but, at my +first movement, the other fellow's sword struck me back senseless +once more, and when I recovered my wits, all was still, and the +moonlight showed me where I was. And a fair scene to waken to! +A score of dark shapes hung on the trees--our trusty men-at-arms +--and my own head was resting on my dead father's breast. Us they +had spared from hanging--our gentle blood did us that service; but +my father and my three brethren all were stone dead. The Count de +Bearn had sworn to put an end to the ravages of the Black Wolf, +and, joining with the Montagudos, had done the work, like traitor +villains as they were." + +"And yourself, Gaston?" + +"I was not so badly wounded but that I could soon rise to my feet +--but where should I go? I turned towards the Castle, but the +Bearnese had been there before me, and I saw flames bursting +from every window. I was weak and wounded, and sank down, +bleeding and bewailing, till my senses left me; and I should have +died, but for two Benedictines journeying for the service of their +Convent. The good brethren were in fear for their bags in going +through the Black Wolf's country, but they had pity on me; they +brought me to myself, and when they had heard my tale, they +turned aside to give Christian burial to my father and brothers. +They were holy men, those monks, and, for their sakes, I have +spared the cowl ever since. They tended me nearly as well as +you have done, and brought me to their Convent, where they would +fain have made a monk of me, but the wolf was too strong in me, +and, ere a month was passed, I had been so refractory a pupil, +that they were right glad to open the Convent gates. I walked +forth to seek my fortune, without a denier, with nothing but the +sword I had taken from my father's hand, and borne with me, much +against the good men's will. I meant to seek service with any +one who would avenge me on the Count de Bearn. One night I slept +on the hill-side, one day I fasted, the next I fell in with Sir +Perduccas d'Albret's troop. I had seen him in my father's company. +He heard my tale, saw me a strong, spirited lad, and knew a +d'Aubricour would be no discredit to his free lances. So he took +me as his page, and thence--but the tale would be long--I became +what you see me." + +"And you have never seen your own Castle again?" + +"But once. D'Albret laughed when I called on him to revenge me +on the Count de Bearn, and bade me bide my time till I met him in +battle. As to my heritage, there was no hope for that. Once, when +I had just broken with Sir Nele Loring, and left his troop, and +times were hard with me, I took my horse and rode to Albricorte, +but there was nought but the bare mountain, and the walls black +with fire. There was, indeed, a wretched shepherd and his wife, +who trembled and looked dismayed when they found that one of the +Albricortes still lived; but I could get nothing from them, unless +I had taken a sheep before me on the saddle; so I rode off again +to seek some fresh service, and, by good hap, lit on Sir Reginald +just as old Harwood was dead. All I have from my father is my +name, my shield, and an arm that I trust has disgraced neither." + +"No, indeed. Yours is a strange history, Gaston; such as we dream +not of in our peaceful land. Homeless, friendless, I know not how +you can be thus gay spirited?" + +"A light heart finds its way through the world the easiest," said +Gaston, smiling. "I have nothing to lose, and no sorrows to waste +time on. But are you not going forth this cool evening, Sir +Eustace? you spoke of seeking fresh tidings of the Prince." + +Eustace accordingly walked forth, attended by his yeoman, John Ingram; +but all he could learn was, that Edward had sent a remonstrance to the +King of Castile on the delay of the subsidy. + + + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + + +As Eustace was returning, his attention was caught by repeated groans, +which proceeded from a wretched little hovel almost level with the +earth. "Hark!" said he to Ingram, a tall stout man-at-arms from the +Lynwood estate. "Didst thou not hear a groaning?" + +"Some of the Castilians, Sir. To think that the brutes should be +content to live in holes not fit for swine!" + +"But methought it was an English tongue. Listen, John!" + +And in truth English ejaculations mingled with the moans: "To St. +Joseph of Glastonbury, a shrine of silver! Blessed Lady of Taunton, +a silver candlestick! Oh! St. Dunstan!" + +Eustace doubted no longer; and stooping down and entering the hut, +he beheld, as well as the darkness would allow him, Leonard Ashton +himself, stretched on some mouldy rushes, and so much altered, that +he could scarcely have been recognized as the sturdy, ruddy youth +who had quitted the Lances of Lynwood but five weeks before. + +"Eustace! Eustace!" he exclaimed, as the face of his late companion +appeared. "Can it be you? Have the saints sent you to my succour?" + +"It is I, myself, Leonard," replied Eustace; "and I hope to aid you. +How is it--" + +"Let me feel your hand, that I may be sure you are flesh and blood," +cried Ashton, raising himself and grasping Eustace's hand between his +own, which burnt like fire; then, lowering his voice to a whisper of +horror, "She is a witch!" + +"Who?" asked Eustace, making the sign of the cross. + +Leonard pointed to a kind of partition which crossed the hut, beyond +which Eustace could perceive an old hag-like woman, bending over a +cauldron which was placed on the fire. Having made this effort, he +sank back, hiding his face with his cloak, and trembling in every +limb. A thrill of dismay passed over the Knight, and the giant, +John Ingram, stood shaking like an aspen, pale as death, and crossing +himself perpetually. "Oh, take me from this place, Eustace," +repeated Leonard, "or I am a dead man, both body and soul!" + +"But how came you here, Leonard?" + +"I fell sick some three days since, and--and, fearing infection, Sir +William Felton bade me be carried from his lodgings; the robbers, +his men-at-arms, stripped me of all I possessed, and brought me to +this dog-hole, to the care of this old hag. Oh, Eustace, I have +heard her mutter prayers backwards; and last night--oh! last night! +at the dead hour, there came in a procession--of that I would take +my oath--seven black cats, each holding a torch with a blue flame, +and danced around me, till one laid his paw upon my breast, and +grew and grew, with its flaming eyes fixed on me, till it was as +big as an ox, and the weight was intolerable, the while her spells +were over me, and I could not open my lips to say so much as an Ave +Mary. At last, the cold dew broke out on my brow, and I should have +been dead in another instant, when I contrived to make the sign of +the Cross, whereat they all whirled wildly round, and I fell--oh! +I fell miles and miles downwards, till at last I found myself, at +morning's light, with the hateful old witch casting water in my +face. Oh, Eustace, take me away!" + +Such were the times, that Eustace Lynwood, with all his cool sense +and mental cultivation, believed implicitly poor Leonard's delirious +fancy--black cats and all; and the glances he cast at the poor old +Spaniard were scarcely less full of terror and abhorrence, as he +promised Leonard, whom he now regarded only in the light of his old +comrade, that he should, without loss of time, be conveyed to his +own tent. + +"But go not--leave me not," implored Leonard, clinging fast to him, +almost like a child to its nurse, with a hand which was now cold +as marble. + +"No; I will remain," said Eustace; "and you, Ingram, hasten to bring +four of the men with the litter in which Master d'Aubricour came from +Burgos. Hasten I tell you." + +"Ingram, with his eyes dilated with horror, appeared but too anxious +to quit this den, yet lingered. "I leave you not here, Sir Knight." + +"Thanks, thanks, John," replied the youth; "but remain I must, and +will. As a Christian man, I defy the foul fiend and all his +followers!" + +John departed. Never was Leonard so inclined to rejoice in his +friend's clerkly education, or in his knighthood, which was then +so much regarded as a holy thing, that the presence of one whose +entrance into the order was so recent was deemed a protection. +The old woman, a kind-hearted creature in the main, though, +certainly forbidding-looking in her poverty and ugliness, was +rejoiced to see her patient visited by a friend. She came towards +them, addressing Eustace with what he took for a spell, though, +had he understood Spanish he would have found it a fine flowing +compliment. Leonard shrank closer to him, pressed his hand +faster, and he, again crossing himself, gave utterance to a charm. +Spanish, especially old Castilian, had likeness enough to Latin +for the poor old woman to recognize its purport; she poured out +a voluble vindication, which the two young men believed to be an +attempt at further bewitching them. Eustace, finding his Latin +rather the worse for wear, had recourse to all the strange rhymes, +or exorcisms, English, French, or Latin, with which his memory +supplied him. Thanks to these, the sorceress was kept at bay, +and the spirits of his terrified companion were sustained till +the arrival of all the Lances of Lynwood, headed by Gaston +himself, upon his mule, in the utmost anxiety for his Knight, +looking as gaunt and spectral as the phantoms they dreaded. He +blessed the saints when Eustace came forth safe and sound, and +smiled and shook his head with an arch look when Leonard was +carried out; but his never-failing good-nature prevented him +from saying a word which might savour of reproach when he saw +to what a condition the poor youth was reduced. As four stout +men-at-arms took up the litter, the old woman, coming forth to +her threshold, uttered something which his knowledge of the +Romanesque tongues of Southern France enabled him to interpret +into a vindication of her character, and a request for a reward +for her care of the sick Englishman. + +"Throw her a gold piece, Sir Eustace, or she may cast at you an +evil eye. There, you old hag," he added in the Provencal patois, +"take that, and thank your stars that 'tis not with a fire that +your tender care, as you call it, is requited." + +The men-at-arms meditated ducking the witch after their own English +fashion, but it was growing late and dark, and the Knight gave strict +orders that they should keep together in their progress to their own +tents. Here Leonard was deposited on the couch which Gaston insisted +on giving up to him; but his change of residence appeared to be of +little advantage, for the camp was scarce quiet for the night, before +he shrieked out that the black cats were there. Neither Eustace nor +Gaston could see them, but that was only a proof that they were not +under the power of the enchantment, and John Ingram was quite sure +that he had not only seen the sparkle of their fiery eyes, but felt +the scratch of their talons, which struck him to the ground, with his +foot caught in the rope of the tent, while he was walking about with +his eyes shut. + +The scratch was actually on his face the next morning, and he set out +at the head of half the Lances of Lynwood to find the poor old woman, +and visit her with condign punishment; but she was not forthcoming, +and they were obliged to content themselves with burning her house, +assisted by a host of idlers. In the meantime, Sir Eustace had called +in the aid of the clergy: the chaplains of the camp came in procession, +sprinkled the patient's bed with holy water, and uttered an exorcism, +but without availing to prevent a third visit from the enemy. After +this, however, Leonard's fever began to abate, and he ceased to be +haunted. + +He had been very ill; and, thoroughly alarmed, he thought himself +dying, and bitterly did he repent of the headstrong insubordination +and jealously which had lead him to quit his best and only friend. +He had not, indeed, the refinement of feeling which would have made +Eustace's generosity his greatest reproach; he clung to him as his +support, and received his attentions almost as a right; but still he +was sensible that he had acted like a fool, and that such friendship +was not to be thrown away; and when he began to recover he showed +himself subdued, to a certain degree grateful, and decidedly less +sullen and more amenable to authority. + +In the meantime, the Prince of Wales found himself sufficiently +recovered to undertake to return to Aquitaine, and, weary of the +treacherous delays and flagrant crimes of his ally, he resolved +to quit this fatal land of Castile. + +There was a general cry of joy throughout the camp when orders were +given that the tents should be struck and the army begin its march +in the early coolness of the next morning; and, without further +adventure, the Black Prince led his weakened and reduced forces +over the Pyrenees back into France. Here they were again dispersed, +as the war was at an end; and the young Sir Eustace Lynwood received +high commendation from the Prince, and even from Chandos himself, +for being able to show his brother's band as complete in numbers +and discipline as on the day when it was given into his charge. + +"This," as Chandos said, "was a service which really showed him +worthy of his spurs, if he would but continue the good course." + +The peace with France, however, prevented the Prince from being +desirous of keeping up the Lances of Lynwood, and he therefore +offered to take their young leader into his own troop of Knights, +who were maintained at his own table, and formed a part of his +state; and so distinguished was this body, that no higher favour +could have been offered. Edward likewise paid to Sir Eustace a +considerable sum as the purchase of his illustrious captive, and +this, together with the ransoms of the two other prisoners, enabled +him to reward the faithful men-at-arms, some of whom took service +with other Knights, and others returned to England. Leonard Ashton +having no pleasant reminiscences of his first campaign, and having +been stripped of all his property by his chosen associates, was +desirous of returning to his father; and Eustace, after restoring +his equipments to something befitting an Esquire of property, and +liberally supplying him with the expenses of his journey, bade +him an affectionate farewell, and saw him depart, not without +satisfaction at no longer feeling himself accountable for his +conduct. + +"There he goes," said Gaston, "and I should like to hear the tales +he will amaze the good Somersetshire folk with. I trow he will +make them believe that he took Du Guesclin himself, and that the +Prince knighted you by mistake." + +"His tale of the witches will be something monstrous," said Eustace; +"but still, methinks he is much the better for his expedition: far +less crabbed in temper, and less clownish in manners." + +"Ay," said Gaston, "if he were never to be under any other guidance +than yours, I think the tough ash-bough might be moulded into +something less unshapely. You have a calmness and a temper such as +he cannot withstand, nor I understand. 'Tis not want of spirit, but +it is that you never seem to take or see what is meant for affront. +I should think it tameness in any other." + +"Well, poor fellow, I wish he may prosper," said Eustace. "But now, +Gaston, to our own affairs. Let us see what remains of the gold." + +"Ah! your bounty to our friend there has drawn deeply on our purse," +said Gaston. + +"It shall not be the worse for you, Gaston, for I had set aside these +thirty golden crowns for you before I broke upon my own store. It is +not such a recompense as Reginald or I myself would have wished after +such loving and faithful service; but gold may never recompense truth." + +"As for recompense," said Gaston, "I should be by a long score the +debtor if we came to that. If it had not been for Sir Reginald, I +should be by this time a reckless freebooter, without a hope in this +world or the next; if it had not been for you, these bones of mine +would long since have been picked by my cousins, the Spanish wolves. +But let the gold tarry in your keeping: it were better King Edward's +good crowns should not be, after all else that has been, in my hands." + +"But, Gaston, you will need fitting out for the service of Sir +William Beauchamp." + +"What! What mean you, Sir Eustace?" cried Gaston. "What have I +done that you should dismiss me from your followers?" + +"Nay, kind Gaston, it were shame that so finished a Squire should be +bound down by my poverty to be the sole follower of a banner which +will never again be displayed at the head of such a band as the +Lances of Lynwood." + +"No, Sir Eustace, I leave you not. Recall your brother's words, 'Go +not back to old ways and comrades,' quoth he; and if you cast me off, +what else is left for me? for having once served a banneret, no other +shall have my service. Where else should I find one who would care +a feather whether I am dead or alive? So there it ends--put up your +pieces, or rather, give me one wherewith to purvey a new bridle for +Brigliador, for the present is far from worthy of his name." + +Accordingly, the Gascon Squire still remained attached to Eustace's +service, while the trusty Englishman, John Ingram, performed the +more menial offices. Time sped away at the court of Bordeaux; the +gallant Du Guesclin was restored to liberty, after twice paying +away his ransom for the deliverance of his less renowned brethren +in captivity, and Enrique of Trastamare, returning to Castile, was +once more crowned by the inhabitants. His brother Pedro, attempting +to assassinate him, fell by his hand, and all the consequences of +the English expedition were undone--all, save the wasting disease +that preyed on England's heir, and the desolation at the orphaned +hearth of Lynwood Keep. + + + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + + +Two years had passed since the fight of Navaretta, when Sir Eustace +Lynwood received, by the hands of a Knight newly arrived from England, +a letter from Father Cyril, praying him to return home as soon as +possible, since his sister-in-law, Dame Eleanor, was very sick, and +desired to see him upon matters on which more could not be disclosed +by letter. + +Easily obtaining permission to leave Bordeaux, he travelled safely +through France, and crossing from Brittany, at length found himself +once more in Somersetshire. It was late, and fast growing dark, +when he rode through Bruton; but, eager to arrive, he pushed on, +though twilight had fast faded into night, and heavy clouds, laden +with brief but violent showers, were drifting across the face of +the moon. On they rode, in silence, save for Gaston's execrations +of the English climate, and the plashing of the horses' feet in the +miry tracks, along which, in many places, the water was rushing in +torrents. + +At length they were descending the long low hill, or rather +undulation, leading to the wooded vale of Lynwood, and the bright +lights of the Keep began to gleam like stars in the darkness--stars +indeed to the eager eyes of the young Knight, who gazed upon them +long and affectionately, as he felt himself once more at home. "I +wonder," said he, "to see the light strongest towards the east end +of the Castle! I knew not that the altar lights in the chapel could +be seen so far!" Then riding on more quickly, and approaching more +nearly, he soon lost sight of them behind the walls, and descending +the last little rising ground, the lofty mass of building rose huge +and black before him. + +He wound his bugle and rode towards the gate, but at the moment he +expected to cross the drawbridge, Ferragus suddenly backed, and he +perceived that it was raised. "This is some strange chance!" said +he, renewing the summons, but in vain, for the echoes of the +surrounding woods were the only reply. "Ralph must indeed be deaf!" +said he. + +"Let him be stone deaf," said Gaston; "he is not the sole inhabitant +of the Castle. Try them again, Sir Eustace." + +"Hark!--methought I heard the opening of the hall door!" said Eustace. +"No! What can have befallen them?" + +"My teeth are chattering with cold," said Gaston, "and the horses +will be ruined with standing still in the driving rain. Cannot we +betake ourselves to the village hostel, and in the morning reproach +them with their churlishness?" + +"I must be certified that there is nothing amiss," said Sir Eustace, +springing from his saddle; "I can cross the moat on one of the +supports of the bridge." + +"Have with you then, Sir Knight," said Gaston, also leaping to the +ground, while Eustace cautiously advanced along the narrow frame of +wood on which the drawbridge had rested, slippery with the wet, and +rendered still more perilous by the darkness. Gaston followed, +balancing himself with some difficulty, and at last they safely +reached the other side. Eustace tried the heavy gates, but found +them fastened on the inside with a ponderous wooden bar. "Most +strange!" muttered he; "yet come on, Gaston, I can find an entrance, +unless old Ralph be more on the alert than I expect." + +Creeping along between the walls and the moat, till they had reached +the opposite side of the Keep, Eustace stopped at a low doorway; a +slight click was heard, as of a latch yielding to his hand, the door +opened, and he led the way up a stone staircase in the thickness of +the wall, warning his follower now and then of a broken step. After +a long steep ascent, Gaston heard another door open, and though still +in total darkness, perceived that they had gained a wider space. +"The passage from the hall to the chapel," whispered the Knight, and +feeling by the wall, they crept along, until a buzz of voices reached +their ears, and light gleamed beneath a heavy dark curtain which +closed the passage. Pausing for an instant, they heard a voice +tremulous with fear and eagerness: "It was himself! tall plume, +bright armour! the very crosslet on his breast could be seen in the +moonlight! Oh! it was Sir Reginald himself, and the wild young +French Squire that fell with him in Spain!" + +There was a suppressed exclamation of horror, and a sound of +crowding together, and at that moment, Eustace, drawing aside the +curtain, advanced into the light, and was greeted by a frightful +shriek, which made him at first repent of having alarmed his sister, +but the next glance showed him that her place was empty, and a +thrill of dismay made him stand speechless and motionless, as he +perceived that the curtain he grasped was black, and the hall +completely hung with the same colour. + +The servants remained huddled in terror round the hearth, and the +pause was first broken by a fair-faced boy, who, breaking from the +trembling circle, came forward, and in a quivering tone said, "Sir, +are you my father's spirit?" + +Gaston's laugh came strangely on the scene, but Eustace, bending +down, and holding out his hand, said, "I am your uncle Eustace, +Arthur. Where is your mother?" + +Arthur, with a wild cry of joy, sprung to his neck, and hid his face +on his shoulder; and at the same moment old Ralph, with uplifted +hands, cried, "Blessing on the Saints that my young Lord is safe, +and that mine eyes have seen you once again." + +"But where, oh! where is my sister?" again demanded Eustace, as his +eye met that of Father Cyril, who, summoned by the screams of the +servants, had just entered the hall. + +"My son," replied the good Father, solemnly, "your sister is where +the wicked may trouble her no more. It is three days now since she +departed from this world of sorrow." + +"Oh, had she but lived to see this day," said Ralph Penrose, "her +cares would have been over!" + +"Her prayers are answered," said Father Cyril. "Come with me, my +son Eustace, if you would take a last look of her who loved and +trusted you so well." + +Eustace followed him to the chamber where the Lady Eleanor Lynwood +lay extended on her bed. Her features were pinched and sharpened, +and bore traces of her long, wasting sufferings, but they still +looked lovely, though awful in their perfect calmness. Eustace +knelt and recited the accustomed prayers, and then stood gazing on +the serene face, with a full heart, and gathering tears in his eyes, +for he had loved the gentle Eleanor with the trusting affection of +a younger brother. He thought of that joyous time, the first +brilliant day of his lonely childhood, when the gay bridal cavalcade +came sweeping down the hill, and he, half in pleasure, half in +shyness, was led forth by his mother to greet the fair young bride +of his brother. How had she brightened the dull old Keep, and given, +as it were, a new existence to himself, a dreamy, solitary boy--how +patiently and affectionately had she tended his mother, and how +pleasant were the long evenings when she had unwearily listened to +his beloved romances, and his visions of surpassing achievements of +his own! No wonder that he wept for her as a brother would weep for +an elder sister. + +Father Cyril, well pleased to perceive that the kindly tenderness of +his heart was still untouched by his intercourse with the world, let +him gaze on for some time in silence, then laying his hand on his arm +said, "She is in peace. Mourn not that her sorrows are at an end, +her tears wiped away, but prepare to fulfil her last wishes, those +prayers in answer to which, as I fully believe, the Saints have sent +you at + the very moment of greatest need." + +"Her last wishes?" said Eustace. "They shall be fulfilled to the +utmost as long as I have life or breath! Oh! had I but come in +time to hear them from herself, and give her my own pledge." + +"Grieve not that her trust was not brought down to aught of earth," +said Father Cyril. "She trusted in Heaven, and died in the sure +belief that her child would be guarded; and lo, his protector is +come, if, as I well believe, my son Eustace, you are not changed +from the boy who bade us farewell three years ago." + +"If I am changed, it is not in my love for home, and for all who +dwell there," said Eustace, "or rather, I love them better than +before. Little did I dream what a meeting awaited me!" Again +there was a long pause, which Eustace at length broke by saying, +"What is the need you spoke of? What danger do you fear?" + +"This is no scene for dwelling on the evil deeds of wicked men +otherwise than to pray for them," said the Priest; "but return +with me to the hall, and you shall hear." + +Eustace lingered a few moments longer, before, heaving a deep sigh +he returned to the hall, where he found Gaston and Ingram, just come +in from attending to the horses, and Ralph hurrying the servants in +setting out an ample meal for the travellers. + +"My good old friend," said Eustace, holding out his hand as he +entered, "I have not greeted you aright. You must throw the blame +on the tidings that took from me all other thought, Ralph; for never +was there face which I was more rejoiced to see. + +"It was the blame of our own reception of you, Sir Eustace," said +old Penrose. "I could tear my hair to think that you should have +met with no better welcome than barred gates and owlet shrieks; +but did you but know how wildly your bugle-blast rose upon our +ear, while we sat over the fire well-nigh distraught with sorrow, +you would not marvel that we deemed that the spirit of our good +Knight might be borne upon the moaning wind." + +"Yet," said Arthur, "I knew the note, and would have gone to the +turret window, but that Mistress Cicely held me fast; and when +they sent Jocelyn to look, the cowardly knave brought back the +tale which you broke short." + +"Boast not, Master Arthur," said Gaston; "you believed in our +ghostship as fully as any of them." + +"But met us manfully," said Eustace. "But why all these precautions? +Why the drawbridge raised? That could scarce be against a ghost." + +"Alas! Sir Eustace, there are bodily foes abroad!" said Ralph. "By +your leave, Master d'Aubricour," as Gaston was about to assist his +Knight in unfastening his armour, "none shall lay a hand near Sir +Eustace but myself on this first night of his return; thanks be to +St. Dunstan that he has come!" Eustace stood patiently for several +minutes while the old man fumbled with his armour, and presently +came the exclamation, "A plague on these new-fangled clasps which +a man cannot undo for his life! 'Twas this low corselet that was +the death of good Sir Reginald. I always said that no good would +come of these fashions!" + +In process of time, Eustace was disencumbered of his heavy armour; +but when he stood before him in his plain dress of chamois leather, +old Ralph shook his head, disappointed that he had not attained the +height or the breadth of the stalwart figures of his father and +brother, but was still slight and delicate looking. The golden +spurs and the sword of Du Guesclin, however, rejoiced the old man's +heart, and touching them almost reverentially, he placed the large +arm-chair at the head of the table, and began eagerly to invite him +to eat. + +Eustace was too sorrowful and too anxious to be inclined for food, +and long before his followers had finished their meal, he turned +from the table, and asked for an account of what had befallen in +his absence; for there was at that time no more idea of privacy in +conversation than such as was afforded by the comparative seclusion +of the party round the hearth, consisting of the Knight, his arm +around his little nephew, who was leaning fondly against him; of +Father Cyril, of Gaston, and old Ralph, in his wonted nook, his +elbow on his knee, and his chin on his hand, feasting his eyes with +the features of his beloved pupil. In answer to the query, "Who is +the enemy you fear?" there was but one answer, given in different +tones, "The Lord de Clarenham!" + +"Ha!" cried Eustace, "it was justly then that your father, Arthur, +bade me beware of him when he committed you to my charge on the +battle-field of Navaretta." + +"Did he so?" exclaimed Father Cyril. "Did he commit the boy to your +guardianship? Formally and before witnesses?" + +"I can testify to it, good Father," said Gaston. "Ay! and you, Ingram, +must have been within hearing--to say nothing of Du Guesclin." + +"And Leonard Ashton," said Ingram. + +"It is well," said Father Cyril; "he will be here to-morrow to be +confronted with Clarenham. It is the personal wardship that is of +chief importance, and dwelt most on my Lady's mind." + +"Clarenham lays claim then to the guardianship?" asked Eustace. + +Father Cyril proceeded with a narrative, the substance of which was +as follows:--Simon de Clarenham, as has been mentioned, had obtained +from King Edward, in the days of the power of Isabel and Mortimer, a +grant of the manor of Lynwood, but on the fall of the wicked Queen, +the rightful owner had been reinstated, without, however, any formal +revocation of the unjust grant. Knowing it would cost but a word of +Sir Reginald to obtain its recall, both Simon and Fulk de Clarenham +had done their best to make him forget its existence; but no sooner +did the news of his death reach England, than Fulk began to take an +ungenerous advantage of the weakness of his heir. He sent a summons +for the dues paid by vassals to their Lord on a new succession, and +on Eleanor's indignant refusal, followed it up by a further claim to +the wardship of the person of Arthur himself, both in right of his +alleged feudal superiority, and as the next of kin who was of full +age. Again was his demand refused, and shortly after Lady Lynwood's +alarms were brought to a height by an attempt on his part to waylay +her son and carry him off by force, whilst riding in the neighbourhood +of the Castle. The plot had failed, by the fidelity of the villagers +of Lynwood, but the shock to the lady had increased the progress of +the decay of her health, already undermined by grief. She never +again trusted her son beyond the Castle walls; she trembled whenever +he was out of her sight, and many an hour did she spend kneeling +before the altar in the chapel. On her brother-in-law, Sir Eustace, +her chief hope was fixed; on him she depended for bringing Arthur's +case before the King, and, above all, for protecting him from the +attacks of the enemy of his family, rendered so much more dangerous +by his relationship. She did not believe that actual violence to +Arthur's person was intended, but Fulk's house had of late become +such an abode of misrule, that his mother and sister had been +obliged to leave it for a Convent, and the tales of the lawlessness +which there prevailed were such that she would have dreaded nothing +more for her son than a residence there, even if Fulk had no interest +in oppressing him. + +That Eustace should return to take charge of his nephew before her +death was her chief earthly wish, and when she found herself rapidly +sinking, and the hope of its fulfilment lessening, she obtained a +promise from Father Cyril that he would conduct the boy to the Abbey +of Glastonbury, and there obtain from the Abbot protection for him +until his uncle should return, or the machinations of Fulk be +defeated by an appeal to the King. + +This was accordingly Father Cyril's intention. It was unavoidable +that Fulk, the near kinsman of the deceased, should be present at +the funeral, but Father Cyril had intended to keep Arthur within +the sanctuary of the chapel until he could depart under the care +of twelve monks of Glastonbury, who were coming in the stead of +the Abbot--he being, unfortunately, indisposed. Sir Philip Ashton +had likewise been invited, in the hope that his presence might prove +a check upon Clarenham. + + + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + + +With the first dawn of morning, the chapel bell began to toll, and +was replied to by the deeper sound of the bell of the parish church. +Soon the court began to be filled with the neighbouring villagers, +with beggars, palmers, mendicant friars of all orders, pressing to +the buttery-hatch, where they received the dole of bread, meat, and +ale, from the hands of the pantler, under the direction of the almoner +of Glastonbury, who requested their prayers for the soul of the noble +Sir Reginald Lynwood, and Dame Eleanor of Clarenham, his wife. The +peasantry of Lynwood, and the beggars, whose rounds brought them +regularly to the Keep of Lynwood, and who had often experienced the +bounty of the departed lady, replied with tears and blessings. There +were not wanting the usual though incongruous accompaniments of such +a scene--the jugglers and mountebanks, who were playing their tricks +in one corner. + +Within the hall, all was in sad, sober, and solemn array, contrasting +with the motley concourse in the court. Little Arthur, dressed in +black, stood by the side of his uncle, to receive the greetings of +his yeoman vassals, as they came in, one by one, with clownish +courtesy, but hearty respect and affection, and great satisfaction +at the unexpected appearance of the young Knight. + +Next came in long file, mounted on their sleek mules, the twelve +monks of Glastonbury, whom the Knight and his nephew reverently +received at the door, and conducted across the hall to the chapel, +where the parish Priest, Father Cyril, and some of the neighbouring +clergy had been chanting psalms since morning light. On the way Sir +Eustace held some conference with the chief, Brother Michael, who +had come prepared to assist in conveying Arthur, if possible, to +Glastonbury, but was very glad to find that the Knight was able to +take upon himself the charge of his nephew, without embroiling the +Abbey with so formidable an enemy as Lord de Clarenham. + +The next arrival was Sir Philip Ashton and his son, who could hardly +believe their eyes when Eustace met them. Leonard's manner was at +first cordial; but presently, apparently checked by some sudden +recollection, he drew back, and stood in sheepish embarrassment, +fumbling with his dagger, while Sir Philip was lavishing compliments +on Eustace, who was rejoiced when the sound of horses made it +necessary to go and meet Lord de Clarenham at the door. Arthur +looked up in Sir Fulk's face, with a look in which curiosity and +defiance were expressed; while Fulk, on his side, was ready to +grind his teeth with vexation at the unexpected sight of the only +man who could interfere with his projects. Then he glanced at his +own numerous and well-appointed retinue, compared them with the +small number of the Lynwood vassals, and with another look at his +adversary's youthful and gentle appearance, he became reassured, +and returned his salutations with haughty ceremony. + +The whole company moved in solemn procession towards the chapel, +where the mass and requiem were chanted, and the corpse of the Lady +Eleanor, inclosed in a stone coffin, was lowered to its resting- +place, in the vault of her husband's ancestors. + +It was past noon when the banquet was spread in the hall; a higher +table on the dais for the retainers and yeomanry, the latter of whom +were armed with dagger, short sword, or quarter-staff. + +Sir Philip Ashton and Brother Michael were chiefly at the expense of +the conversation, Eustace meanwhile doing the honours with grave +courtesy, taking care to keep his nephew by his side. There was +no one who did not feel as if on the eve of a storm; but all was +grave and decorous; and at length Brother Michael and the monks of +Glastonbury, rejoicing that they, at least, had escaped a turmoil, +took their leave, mounted their mules, and rode off, in all +correctness of civility toward the house of Lynwood, which, as +Eustace could not help feeling, they thus left to fight its own +battles. + +"It waxes late," said Lord de Clarenham, rising; "bring out the +horses, Miles; and you, my young kinsman, Arthur, you are to be my +guest from henceforth. Come, therefore, prepare for the journey." + +Arthur held fast by the hand of his uncle, who replied, "I thank you +in my nephew's name for your intended hospitality, but I purpose at +once to conduct him to Bordeaux, to be enrolled among the Prince's +pages." + +"Conduct him to Bordeaux, said the Knight?" answered Sir Fulk with +a sneer; "to Bordeaux forsooth! It is well for you, my fair young +cousin, that I have other claims to you, since, were you once out +of England, I can well guess who would return to claim the lands +of Lynwood." + +"What claim have you to his wardship, Sir Fulk?" asked Eustace, +coldly, disdaining to take notice of the latter part of this speech. + +"As his feudal superior, and his nearest relation of full age," +replied Clarenham. + +"There are many here who can prove that it is twenty-one years past, +since I was born on the feast of St. Eustace," replied the young +Knight. "The house of Lynwood owns no master beneath the King of +England, and the wardship of my nephew was committed to me by both +his parents. Here is a witness of the truth of my words. Holy +Father, the parchment!" + +Father Cyril spread a thick roll, with heavy seals, purporting to be +the last will and testament of Dame Eleanor Lynwood, bequeathing the +wardship and marriage of her son to her beloved brother, Sir Eustace +Lynwood, Knight Banneret, and, in his absence, to the Lord Abbot of +Glastonbury, and Cyril Langton, Clerk. + +"It is nought," said Clarenham, pushing it from him; "the Lady +of Lynwood had no right to make a will in this manner, since she +unlawfully detained her son from me, his sole guardian." + +"The force of the will may be decided by the King's justices," said +Eustace; "but my rights are not founded on it alone. My brother, +Sir Reginald, with his last words, committed his son to my charge." + +"What proof do you bring, Sir Eustace?" said Fulk. "I question not +your word, but something more is needed in points of law, and you +can scarcely expect the world to believe that Sir Reginald would +commit his only child to the guardianship of one so young, and the +next heir." + +"I am here to prove it, my Lord," said Gaston, eagerly. "'To your +care I commit him, Eustace,' said Sir Reginald, as he lay with his +head on his brother's breast; and methought he also added, 'Beware +of Clarenham.' Was it not so, friend Leonard?" + +Leonard's reply was not readily forthcoming. His father was +whispering in his ear, whilst he knit his brow, shuffled with his +feet, and shrugged his shoulder disrespectfully in his father's +face. + +"Speak, Master Ashton," said Clarenham, in a cold incredulous tone, +and bending on father and son glances which were well understood. +"To your testimony, respectable and uninterested, credit must be +added." + +"What mean you by that, Sir Fulk de Clarenham?" cried Gaston; "for +what do you take me and my word?" + +"Certain tales of you and your companions, Sir Squire," answered +Clarenham, "do not dispose me to take a Gascon's word for more than +it is worth." + +"This passes!" cried Gaston, striking his fist on the table; "you +venture it because you are not of my degree! Here, ye craven +Squires, will not one of you take up my glove, when I cast back +in his teeth your master's foul slander of an honourable Esquire?" + +"Touch it not, I command you," said Clarenham, "unless Master +d'Aubricour will maintain that he never heard of a certain one- +eyed Basque, and never rode on a free-booting foray with the robber +Knight, Perduccas d'Albret." + +"What of that?" fiercely cried Gaston. + +"Quite enough, Sir Squire," said Fulk, coolly. + +Gaston was about to break into a tempest of rage, when Eustace's +calm voice and gesture checked him. + +"Sir Fulk," said Eustace, "were you at Bordeaux, you would know that +no man's word can be esteemed more sacred, or his character more high, +than that of Gaston d'Aubricour." + +"But in the meantime," said Clarenham, "we must be content to take +that, as well as much besides, on your own assertion, Sir Eustace. +Once more, Master Leonard Ashton, let me hear your testimony, as to +the dying words of Sir Reginald Lynwood. I am content to abide by +them." + +"Come, Leonard," said his father, who had been whispering with him +all this time, "speak up; you may be grieved to disappoint a once- +friendly companion, but you could not help the defect of your ears." + +"Sir Philip, I pray you not to prompt your son," said Eustace. +"Stand forth, Leonard, on your honour. Did you or did you not +hear the words of my brother, as he lay on the bank of the Zadorra?" + +Leonard half rose, as if to come towards him, but his father held +him fast; he looked down, and muttered, "Ay, truly, I heard Sir +Reginald say somewhat." + +"Tell it out, then." + +"He thanked the Prince for knighting you--he prayed him to have +charge of his wife and child--he bade Gaston not to return to evil +courses," said Leonard, bringing out his sentences at intervals. + +"And afterwards," said Eustace sternly--"when the Prince was gone? +On your honour, Leonard." + +Leonard almost writhed himself beneath the eyes that Eustace kept +steadily fixed on him. "Somewhat--somewhat he might have said of +knightly training for his son--but--but what do I know?" he added, +as his father pressed hard on his foot; "it was all in your ear, +for as he lay on your breast, his voice grew so faint, that I could +hear little through my helmet." + +"Nay, Master Ashton," said John Ingram, pressing forward, "if I +remember right, you had thrown off your helmet, saying it was as +hot as a copper cauldron; and besides, our good Knight, when he +said those words touching Master Arthur, raised himself up +somewhat, and spoke out louder, as if that we might all hear and +bear witness." + +"No witness beyond your own train, Sir Eustace?" said Clarenham. + +"None," said Eustace, "excepting one whose word even you will scarcely +dare to dispute, Sir Bertrand du Guesclin." + +"I dispute no man's word, Sir Eustace," said Fulk; "I only say that +until the claim which you allege be proved in the King's Court, I am +the lawful guardian of the lands and person of the heir of Lynwood. +The Lord Chancellor Wykeham may weigh the credit to be attached to +the witness of this highly respectable Esquire, or this long-eared +man-at-arms, or may send beyond seas for the testimony of Du Guesclin: +in the meantime, I assume my office. Come here, boy." + +"I will not come to you, Lord Fulk," said Arthur; "or when I do, it +shall be sword in hand to ask for an account for the tears you have +made my sweet mother shed." + +"Bred up in the same folly!" said Fulk. "Once more, Sir Eustace, +will you yield him to me, or must I use force?" + +"I have vowed before his mother's corpse to shield him from you," +returned Eustace. + +"Think of the consequences, Sir Eustace," said Sir Philip Ashton, +coming up to him. "Remember the unrepealed grant to the Clarenhams. +The Lynwood manor may be at any moment resumed, to which, failing +your nephew, you are heir. You will ruin him and yourself." + +"It is his person, not his lands, that I am bound to guard," said +Eustace. "Let him do his worst; my nephew had better be a landless +man, than one such as Fulk would make him." + +"Think," continued Sir Philip, "of the disadvantages to your cause +of provoking a fray at such a time. Hold your hand, and yield the +boy, at least till the cause come before the Chancellor." + +"Never," said Eustace. "His parents have trusted him to me, and +I will fulfil my promise. The scandal of the fray be on him who +occasions it." + +"Recollect, my Lord," said Ashton, turning to Fulk, "that this may +be misrepresented. These young warriors are hot and fiery, and this +young Knight, they say, has succeeded to all his brother's favour +with the Prince." + +"I will not be bearded by a boy," returned Clarenham, thrusting him +aside. "Hark you, Sir Eustace. You have been raised to a height +which has turned your head, your eyes have been dazzled by the +gilding of your spurs, and you have fancied yourself a man; but in +your own county and your own family, airs are not to be borne. We +rate you at what you are worth, and are not to be imposed on by idle +tales which the boastful young men of the Prince's court frame of +each other. Give up these pretensions, depart in peace to your +fellows at Bordeaux, and we will forget your insolent interference." + +"Never, while I live," replied Eustace. "Vassals of Lynwood, guard +your young Lord." + +"Vassals of Lynwood," said Fulk, will you see your young Lord carried +off to perish in some unknown region, and yourselves left a prey to +an adventurer and freebooter?" + +"For that matter, my Lord," said an old farmer, "if all tales be true, +Master Arthur is like to learn less harm with Sir Eustace than in your +jolly household--I for one will stand by our good Lord's brother to +the last. What say you, comrades?" + +"Hurrah for the Lances of Lynwood!" shouted John Ingram, and the cry +was taken up by many a gruff honest voice, till the hall rang again, +and the opposing shout of "a Clarenham, a Clarenham!" was raised by +the retainers of the Baron. Eustace, at the same moment, raised his +nephew in his arms, and lifted him up into the embrasure of one of +the high windows. Sir Philip Ashton still hung upon Clarenham, +pleading in broken sentences which were lost in the uproar: "Hold! +Hold! my Lord. Nay, nay, think but"--(here he was thrust roughly +aside by Fulk)--"Sir Eustace, do but hear--it will be a matter for +the council--in the name of the King--for the love of Heaven--Leonard, +son Leonard! for Heaven's sake what have you to do with the matter? +Down with that sword, and follow me! Dost not hear, froward boy? +Our names will be called in question! Leonard, on your duty--Ha! +have a care! there!" + +These last words were broken short, as Gaston, rushing forwards to +his master's side, overthrew the table, which carried Sir Philip with +it in the fall, and he lay prostrate under the boards, a stumbling- +block to a stream of eager combatants, who one after another dashed +against him, fell, and either rose again, or remained kicking and +struggling with each other. + +After several minutes' confused fighting, the tumult cleared away, +as it were, leaving the principals on each side opposite to each +other, and as the fortune of the day rested on their conflict, all +became gradually fixed in attention, resting upon their weapons, in +readiness at any moment to renew their own portion of the combat. + +Fulk, tall and robust, had far more the appearance of strength than +his slenderly-made antagonist, but three years in the school of +chivalry had not been wasted by Eustace, and the sword of Du Guesclin +was in a hand well accustomed to its use. Old Ralph was uttering +under his breath ecstatic exclamations: "Ha! Well struck! A rare +foil--a perfect hit--Have a care--Ah! there comes my old blow--That +is right--Old Sir Henry's master-stroke-- There--one of your new +French backstrokes--but it told--Oh! have a care--The Saints guard-- +Ay--There--Follow it up! Hurrah for Lynwood!" as Fulk tottered, +slipped, sank on one knee, and receiving a severe blow on the head +with the back of the sword, measured his length on the ground. + +"Hurrah for Lynwood!" re-echoed through the hall, but Eustace cut +short the clamour at once, by saying, "Peace, my friends, and thanks! +Sir Fulk de Clarenham," he added, as his fallen foe moved, and began +to raise himself, "you have received a lesson, by which I hope you +will profit. Leave the house, whose mourning you have insulted, and +thank your relationship that I forbear to bring this outrage to the +notice of the King." + +While Eustace spoke, Fulk had, by the assistance of two of his +retainers, recovered his feet; but though unwounded, he was so +dizzied with the blow as to be passive in their hands, and to +allow himself to be led into the court, and placed on his horse. +Before riding out of the gates, he turned round, and clenching +his fist, glanced malignantly at Eustace, and muttered, "You shall +aby it." + +Another shout of "Down with the false Clarenham! Hurrah for the +Lances of Lynwood, and the brave young Knight!" was raised in the +court by the peasantry, among whom Fulk was so much hated, that not +even regard for their future welfare could prevent them from indulging +in this triumph. Probably, too, they expected the satisfaction of +drinking the health of the victor, for there were many disappointed +countenances when he spoke from the steps of the porch:--"Thanks for +your good-will, my friends. Fare ye well, depart in peace, and +remember your young Lord." Then turning to the parish Priest, he +added, in a low voice, "See that they leave the Castle as soon as +possible. The gates must be secured as soon as may be." + +He turned back into the hall, and at the door was met by little +Arthur, who caught hold of his hand, exclaiming, "So you have +won me, and shall keep me forever, Uncle Eustace; but come in, +for here is poor old Sir Philip, who was thrown down under the +table in the scuffle, bemoaning himself most lamentably." + +"Sir Philip hurt?" said Eustace, who, vexed as he was by Sir Philip's +behaviour, preserved a certain neighbourly hereditary respect for +him; "I trust not seriously," and he advanced towards the arm-chair, +where Sir Philip Ashton was sitting, attended by Father Cyril and a +man-at-arms, and groaning and complaining of his bruises, while at +the same time he ordered the horses to be brought out as speedily as +possible. + +"Surely," said Eustace, "you should not be in such haste, Sir Philip. +I grieve that you should have met with this mishap. But you had +better remain here, and try what rest will do for you." + +"Remain here!" said Sir Philip, almost shuddering. "Nay, nay, my +young Sir, I would not have you to remain here, nor any of us, for +longer space than the saddling of a horse. Alas! alas! my young +friend, I grieve for you. I loved your father well.--Look from the +window, Leonard. Are the horses led forth?" + +"But why this haste?" asked Sir Eustace. "You are heavily bruised-- +best let Father Cyril look to your hurts." + +"Thanks, Sir Eustace; but--Ah! my back!--but I would not remain under +this roof for more than you could give me. I should but endanger +myself without benefiting you. Alas! alas! that I should have fallen +upon such a fray! I am sorry for you, my brave youth!" + +"I thank you, Sir Philip, but I know not what I have done to deserve +your concern." + +"Hot blood! wilful blood!" said Sir Philip, shaking his head. "Are +the horses come? Here! your hand, Leonard, help me to rise--Ah! ah! +not so fast--Oh! I shall never get over it! There--mind you, I did +all to prevent this unhappy business--I am clear of it! Fare you +well, Sir Eustace--take an old man's advice, give up the boy, and +leave the country before worse comes of it." + +"What is likely to come of it?" said Eustace; "Clarenham made an +uncalled-for, unjust, shameless attempt to seize the person of +my ward. I repelled him by force of arms, and I think he would +scarce like to call the attention of justice to his own share in +the matter." + +"Ah! well, you speak boldly, but before you have reached my years, +you will have learnt what it is to have for your foe the most mighty +man of the county--nay, of the court; for your foe, Lord de Clarenham, +is in close friendship with the Earl of Pembroke. Beware, my young +friend, beware!" + +When the hall was clear of guests, a council was held between the +Knight, the Priest, and the two Esquires. Its result was, that +Arthur's person, as the most important point, should be secured, +by his uncle carrying him at once to the Prince's protection at +Bordeaux; but it was only with difficulty that Eustace was +prevailed on to fly, as he said, from his accusers. The good +Father had to say, with a smile, that after all there was as much +need for patience and submission under the helm as under the cowl, +before Eustace at length consented. Cyril meanwhile was to lay the +case before the Chancellor, William of Wykeham, and Eustace gave him +letters to the Duke of Lancaster and to Sir Richard Ferrars, in the +hopes of their recommending his suit. + +Eustace then received from the hands of the Priest a bag of gold +coins, his portion as a younger son, part of which he gave to be +distributed in alms, part he still confided to Father Cyril's +keeping, and the rest he was to take away for present needs--and +they parted for the last night of his brief stay at Lynwood Keep. + + + + + + +CHAPTER X + + + +In the early morning, Sir Eustace and his few followers were in +their saddles, little Arthur riding between his uncle and Gaston. +The chief part of the day was spent on the journey. They dined, to +Arthur's glee, on provisions they had brought with them, seated on +a green bank near a stream, and at evening found themselves at the +door of a large hostel, its open porch covered by a vine. + +The host and his attendants ran out at first to meet them with +alacrity, but, on seeing them, appeared disappointed. And as the +Knight, dismounting, ordered supper and bed, the host replied that +he could indeed engage to find food, and to accommodate their +steeds, but that the whole of the inn had been secured on behalf +of two noble ladies and their train, who were each moment expected. + +"Be it so," said Eustace; "a truss of hay beside our horses, or a +settle by the fire, is all we need. Here is a taste already of a +warrior's life for you, Arthur." + +The boy was delighted, certain that to sleep beside his pony was far +more delightful, as well as more manly, than to rest in his bed, like +a lady at home. + +As this was arranged, a sound of horses' feet approached, and a +band of men-at-arms rode up to the door. Arthur started and +seized his uncle's hand as he recognized the Clarenham colours +and badge, uttering an exclamation of dismay. "Never fear, +Arthur," said Eustace, "they come from the way opposite to ours. +It is not pursuit. See, it is an escort--there are ladies among +them." + +"Four!" said Arthur. "Uncle, that tall dame in black must be the +Lady Muriel. And surely the white veil tied with rose-colour +belongs to kind Cousin Agnes." + +"True! These are no Clarenhams to guard against," said Eustace to +his Squire, who looked ready for action. "Lady Muriel, the step- +mother of the Baron and his sister, is my godmother, and, by birth, +a Lynwood." + +Then stepping forward, he assisted the elder lady to dismount; she +returned his courtesy by a slight inclination, as to a stranger, +but her companion, who had lightly sprung to the ground, no sooner +perceived him than she exclaimed, "Eustace!" then laying her hand +on Lady Muriel's arm, "Mother, it is Sir Eustace Lynwood." + +"Ha! my gallant godson!" said the Baroness, greeting him cordially. +"Well met, brave youth! No wonder in that knightly figure I did not +know my kinswoman's little page. How does my gentle niece, Eleanor?" + +"Alack! then you have not heard the tidings?" said Eustace. + +"We heard long since she was sick with grief," said Lady Muriel, much +alarmed. "What mean you? Is she worse? You weep--surely she still +lives!" + +"Ah! honoured dame, we come even now from laying her in her grave. +Here is her orphan boy." + +Young Agnes could not restrain a cry of grief and horror, and trying +to repress her weeping till it should be without so many witnesses, +Lady Muriel and her bower-woman led her to their apartments in the +inn. Eustace was greatly affected by her grief. She had often +accompanied her step-mother on visits to Lynwood Keep in the peaceful +days of their childhood; she had loved no sport better than to sit +listening to his romantic discourses of chivalry, and had found in +the shy, delicate, dreamy boy, something congenial to her own quiet +nature; and, in short, when Eustace indulged in a vision, Agnes was +ever the lady of it, the pale slight Agnes, with no beauty save her +large soft brown eyes, that seemed to follow and take in every fancy +or thought of his. Agnes was looked down on,--her father thought she +would do him little honour,--her brother cared not for her; save for +her step-mother she would have met with little fostering attention, +and when Eustace saw her set aside and disregarded, his heart had +bounded with the thought that when he should lay his trophies at her +feet, Agnes would be honoured for his sake. But Eustace's honours +had been barren, and he could only look back with a sad heart to the +fancies of his youth, when he had deemed Knight-errantry might win +the lady of his love. + +Eleanor had been one of the few who had known and loved the damsel +of Clarenham, and had encouraged her to lay aside her timidity. +Agnes wept for her as a sister, and still could hardly restrain +her sobs, when Eustace and his nephew were invited to the presence +of the ladies to narrate their melancholy tale. + +Many tears were shed, and caresses lavished upon the orphan. The +ladies asked his destination, and on hearing that he was to be +taken to the Prince's court at Bordeaux, Agnes said, "We, too, are +bound to the Prince's court. I am to journey thither with Fulk. +Were it not better for Arthur to travel with us? Most carefully +would we guard him. It would spare him many a hardship, for which +he is scarce old enough; and his company would be a solace, almost +a protection to me. My pretty playfellow, will you be my travelling +companion?" + +"I would go with you, Cousin Agnes, for you are kind and gentle, and +I love you well; but a brave Knight's son must learn to rough it; +and besides, I would not go with Sir Fulk, your brother, for he is +a false and cruel Knight, who persecuted my blessed mother to the +very death." + +"Can this be? O speak, Eustace!" said Agnes. "What means the boy? +Hath Fulk shown himself other than a loving kinsman?" + +The Baroness, who understood her step-son's character better than +did his young sister, and who was informed of the old enmity between +the two houses, felt considerable anxiety as to what they were now +to hear; when Eustace, beginning, "Ah, Lady, I grieve twice in the +day to sadden your heart; yet since so much has been said, it were +best to relate the whole truth," proceeded to tell what had passed +respecting the wardship of young Arthur. Agnes's eyes filled with +burning tears of indignation. "O dear Lady Mother!" cried she, "take +me back to our Convent! How can I meet my brother! How conceal my +anger and my shame!" + +"This is far worse than even I feared," said Lady Muriel. "I knew +Fulk to be unscrupulous and grasping, but I did not think him capable +of such foul oppression. For you, my sweet Agnes--would that I could +prevail on him to leave you in the safe arms of the cloister-- but, +alas! I have no right to detain you from a brother's guardianship." + +"I dreaded this journey much before," said Agnes; "but now, even my +trust in Fulk is gone; I shall see round me no one in whom to place +confidence. Alas! alas!" + +"Nay, fair Agnes," said Eustace, "he will surely be a kind brother +to thee--he cannot be otherwise." + +"How love and trust when there is no esteem? Oh, Mother, Mother! +this is loneliness indeed! In that strange, courtly throng, who +will protect and shelter me?" + +"There is an Arm--" began the Baroness. + +"Yes, noble Lady, there is one arm," eagerly exclaimed Eustace, "that +would only deem itself too much honoured if it could be raised in your +service." + +"I spoke of no arm of flesh," said Lady Muriel, reprovingly--and +Eustace hung his head abashed. "I spake of the Guardian who will +never be wanting to the orphan." + +There was a silence, first broken by Eustace. "One thing there is, +that I would fain ask of your goodness," said he: "many a false tale, +many a foul slander, will be spoken of me, and many may give heed to +them; but let that be as it will, they shall not render my heart +heavy while I can still believe that you give no ear to them." + +"Sir Eustace," said the Lady of Clarenham, "I have known you from +childhood, and it would go hard with me to believe aught dishonourable +of the pupil of Sir Reginald and of Eleanor." + +"Yes, Sir Eustace," added Agnes, "it would break my heart to distrust +you; for then I must needs believe that faith, truth, and honour had +left the world." + +"And now," said Lady Muriel, who thought the conversation had been +sufficiently tender to fulfil all the requirements of the connection +of families, and of their old companionship, "now, Agnes, we must +take leave of our kind kinsman, since, doubtless, he will desire to +renew his journey early to-morrow." + +Eustace took the hint, and bent his knee to kiss the hands which +were extended to him by the two ladies; then left the room, feeling, +among all the clouds which darkened his path, one clear bright ray +to warm and gladden his heart. Agnes trusted his truth, Agnes would +be at Bordeaux,--he might see her, and she would hear of his deeds. + +Agnes, while she wept over her kinswoman's death and her brother's +faults, rejoiced in having met her old playfellow, and found him as +noble a Knight as her fancy had often pictured him; and in the +meanwhile, the good old Lady Muriel sighed to herself, and shook +her head at the thought of the sorrows which an attachment would +surely cause to these two young creatures. + +It was early in the morning that Eustace summoned his nephew from +the couch which one of the Clarenham retainers had yielded him, and, +mounting their horses, they renewed their journey towards the coast. + +Without further adventure, the Lances of Lynwood, as Arthur still +chose to call their little party, safely arrived at Rennes, the +capital of Brittany, where Jean de Montford held his court. Here +they met the tidings that Charles V. had summoned the Prince of +Wales to appear at his court, to answer an appeal made against +him to the sovereign by the vassals of the Duchy of Aquitaine. +Edward's answer was, that he would appear indeed, but that it +should be in full armour, with ten thousand Knights and Squires +at his back; and the war had already been renewed. + +The intelligence added to Eustace's desire to be at Bordeaux, but +he could not venture through the enemy's country without exposing +himself to death or captivity; and even within the confines of +Brittany itself, Duke John, though bound by gratitude and affection +to the alliance of the King, who had won for him his ducal coronet, +was unable to control the enmity which his subjects bore to the +English, and assured the Knight that a safe-conduct from him would +only occasion his being robbed and murdered in secret, instead of +being taken a prisoner in fair fight and put to ransom. + +If Eustace had been alone with his staunch followers, he would have +trusted to their good swords and swift steeds; but to place Arthur +in such perils would be but to justify Fulk's accusations; and there +was no alternative but to accept the offer made to him by Jean de +Montford, for the sake of his Duchess, a daughter of Edward III., to +remain a guest at his court until the arrival of a sufficient party +of English Knights, who were sure to be attracted by the news of +the war. + +No less than two months was he obliged to wait, during which both +he and Gaston chafed grievously under their forced captivity; but +at length he learnt that a band of Free Companions had arrived at +Rennes, on their way to offer their service to the Prince of Wales; +accordingly he set forth, and after some interval found himself once +more in the domains of the house of Plantagenet. + +It was late in the evening when he rode through the gates of Bordeaux, +and sought the abode of the good old Gascon merchant, where he had +always lodged. He met with a ready welcome, and inquiring into the +most recent news of the town, learnt that the Prince was considered +to be slightly improved in health; but that no word was spoken of +the army taking the field, and the war was chiefly carried on by the +siege of Castles. He asked for Sir John Chandos, and was told that +high words had passed between him and the Prince respecting a hearth- +tax, and that since he had returned to his government, and seldom +or never appeared at the council board. It was the Earl of Pembroke +who was all-powerful there. And here the old Gascon wandered into +lamentable complaints of the aforesaid hearth-tax, from which Eustace +could scarcely recall him to answer whether the English Baron de +Clarenham had arrived at Bordeaux. He had come, and with as splendid +a train as ever was beheld, and was in high favour at court. + +This was no pleasing intelligence, but Eustace determined to go the +next day to present his nephew to the Prince immediately after the +noontide meal, when it was the wont of the Plantagenet Princes to +throw their halls open to their subjects. + +Accordingly, leading Arthur by the hand, and attended by Gaston, he +made his appearance in the hall just as the banquet was concluded, +but ere the Knights had dispersed. Many well-known faces were there, +but as he advanced up the space between the two long tables, he was +amazed at meeting scarce one friendly glance of recognition; some +looked unwilling to seem to know him, and returned his salutation +with distant coldness; others gazed at the window, or were intent on +their wine, and of these was Leonard Ashton, whom to his surprise he +saw seated among the Knights. + +Thus he passed on until he had nearly reached the dais where dined +the Prince and the personages of the most exalted rank. Here he +paused as his anxious gaze fell upon the Prince, and marked his +countenance and mien--alas! how changed! He sat in his richly- +carved chair, wrapped in a velvet mantle, which, even on that +bright day of a southern spring, he drew closer round him with a +shuddering chilliness. His elbow rested on the arm of his chair, +and his wasted cheek leant on his hand--the long thin fingers of +which showed white and transparent as a lady's; his eyes were bent +on the ground, and a look of suffering or of moody thought hung over +the whole of that face, once full of free and open cheerfulness. +Tears filled Eustace's eyes as he beheld that wreck of manhood and +thought of that bright day of hope and gladness when his brother +had presented him to the Prince. + +As he hesitated to advance, the Prince, raising his eyes, encountered +that earnest and sorrowful gaze, but only responding by a stern glance +of displeasure. Eustace, however, stepped forward, and bending one +knee, said, "My Lord, I come to report myself as returned to your +service, and at the same time to crave for my nephew the protection +you were graciously pleased to promise him." + +"It is well, Sir Eustace Lynwood," said Edward, coldly, and with a +movement of his head, as if to dismiss him from his presence; "and +you, boy, come hither," he added as Arthur, seeing his uncle rise +and retreat a few steps, was following his example. "I loved your +father well," he said, laying his hand on the boy's bright wavy hair, +"and you shall find in me a steady friend as long as you prove +yourself not unworthy of the name you bear." + +In spite of the awe with which Arthur felt his head pressed by +that royal hand, in spite of his reverence for the hero and the +Prince, he raised his eyes and looked upon the face of the Prince +with an earnest, pleading, almost upbraiding gaze, as if, child as +he was, he deprecated the favour, which so evidently marked the +slight shown to his uncle. But the Prince did not heed him, and +rising from his chair, said, "Thine arm, Clarenham. Let us to the +Princess, and present her new page. Follow me, boy." + +With a wistful look at his uncle, standing alone on the step of +the dais, Arthur reluctantly followed the Prince as, leaning on +Clarenham's arm, he left the hall, and, crossing a gallery, entered +a large apartment. At one end was a canopy embroidered with the +arms and badges of the heir of England, and beneath it were two +chairs of state, one of which was occupied by Joan Plantagenet, +Princess of Wales, once the Fair Maid of Kent, and though now long +past her youth, still showing traces of beauty befitting the lady +for whom her royal cousin had displayed such love and constancy. + +As her husband entered, she rose, and looking anxiously at him, while +she came forward to meet him, inquired whether he felt fatigued. "No, +my fair dame," replied the Prince, "I came but to present you your new +page; the young cousin, respecting whose safety my Lord de Clarenham +hath been so much in anxiety." + +"Then it is his uncle who hath brought him?" asked Joan. + +"Yes," replied Edward, "he himself brought him to the hall, and even +had the presumption to claim the protection for him that I pledged to +his father, when I deemed far otherwise of this young Eustace." + +"What account does he give of the length of time that he has spent +on the road?" asked the Princess. + +"Ay, there is the strangest part of the tale," said Fulk Clarenham, +with a sneer, "since he left the poor simple men at Lynwood +believing that he was coming at full speed to seek my Lord the +Prince's protection for the child, a convenient excuse for eluding +the inquiries of justice into his brawls at the funeral, as well +as for the rents which he carried off with him; but somewhat +inconsistent when it is not for five months that he makes his +appearance at Bordeaux, and then in the society of a band of +_routiers_." + +"It shall be inquired into," said the Prince. + +"Nay, nay, my Lord," said Fulk, "may I pray you of your royal goodness +to press the matter no further. He is still young, and it were a pity +to cast dishonour on a name which has hitherto been honourable. Since +my young cousin is safe, I would desire no more, save to guard him +from his future machinations. For his brother's sake, my Lord, I +would plead with you." + +"Little did I think such things of him," said the Prince, "when I +laid knighthood on his shoulder in the battle-field of Navaretta; +yet I remember even then old Chandos chid me for over-hastiness. +Poor old Chandos, he has a rough tongue, but a true heart!" + +"And, under favour, I would say," answered Clarenham, "that it +might have been those early-won honours that turned the head of +such a mere youth, so entirely without guidance, or rather, with +the guidance of that dissolute Squire, who, I grieve to observe, +still haunts his footsteps. Knighthood, with nought to maintain +it, is, in truth, a snare." + +"Well, I am weary of the subject," said the Prince, leaning back in +his chair. "The boy is safe, and, as you say, Fulk, that is all +that is of importance. Call hither the troubadour that was in the +hall at noon. I would have your opinion of his lay," he added, +turning to his wife. + +The indignation may be imagined with which Arthur listened to this +conversation, as he stood on the spot to which Edward had signed to +him to advance, when he presented him to the Princess. He longed +ardently to break in with an angry refutation of the slanders cast +on his uncle, but he was too well trained in the rules of chivalry, +to say nothing of the awful respect with which he regarded the +Prince, to attempt to utter a word, and he could only edge himself +as far away as was possible from Clarenham, and cast at him glances +of angry reproach. + +His uneasy movements were interpreted as signs of fatigue and +impatience of restraint by one of the ladies, who was sitting at no +great distance, a very beautiful and graceful maiden, the Lady Maude +Holland, daughter to the Princess of Wales, by her first marriage; +and she kindly held out her hand to him, saying, "Come hither, my +pretty page. You have not learnt to stand stiff and straight, like +one of the supporters of a coat-of-arms. Come hither, and let me +lead you to company better suited to your years." + +Arthur came willingly, as there was no more to hear about his uncle; +and besides, it was away from the hateful Clarenham. She led him +across the hall to a tall arched doorway, opening upon a wide and +beautiful garden, filled with the plants and shrubs of the south of +France, and sloping gently down to the broad expanse of the blue +waves of the Garonne. She looked round on all sides, and seeing no +one, made a few steps forward on the greensward, then called aloud, +"Thomas!" no answer, "Edward! Harry of Lancaster!" but still her +clear silvery voice was unheeded, until a servant came from some +other part of the building, and, bowing, awaited her orders. "Where +are Lord Edward and the rest?" she asked. + +"Gone forth," the servant believed, "to ride on the open space near +St. Ursula's Convent." + +"None left at home?" + +"None, noble Lady." + +"None," repeated Lady Maude, "save the little Lord Richard, whose +baby company your pageship would hardly esteem. You must try to +endure the quietness of the lady's chamber, unless you would wish +to be at once introduced to the grave master of the Damoiseaux." + +At this moment Arthur's eye fell upon a lady who had just emerged +from a long shady alley, up which she had been slowly walking, and +the bright look of recognition which lighted up his face, was so +different from the shy and constrained expression he had hitherto +worn, that Lady Maude remarked it, and following his gaze, said, +"Lady Agnes de Clarenham? Ah yes, she is of kin to you. Let us +go meet her." Then, as they approached, she said, "Here, Agnes, I +have brought you a young cousin of yours, whom the Prince has just +conducted into my mother's chamber, where he bore so rueful a +countenance that I grew pitiful enough to come forth on a bootless +errand after his fellow Damoiseaux, who, it seems, are all out riding. +So I shall even leave him to you, for there is a troubadour in the +hall, whose lay I greatly long to hear." + +Away tripped Lady Maude, well pleased to be free from the burthen her +good-nature had imposed on her. + +"Arthur," exclaimed Agnes, "what joy to see you! Is your uncle here?" + +"Yes," said Arthur, "but oh, Cousin Agnes! if you had been by to hear +the foul slanders which Sir Fulk has been telling the Prince--oh, +Agnes! you would disown him for your brother." + +"Arthur," said Agnes, with a voice almost of anguish, "how could he +--why did he tarry so long on the road?" + +"How could we come on when the Duke of Brittany himself said it was +certain death or captivity? We were forced to wait for an escort. +And now, Agnes, think of your brother saying that Uncle Eustace +carried off the rents of Lynwood, when every man in the Castle +could swear it was only the money Father Cyril had in keeping for +his inheritance." + +"Alas!" said Agnes. + +"And the Prince will believe it--the Prince looks coldly on him +already, and my uncle loves the Prince like his own life. Oh, he +will be ready to die with grief! Agnes! Agnes! what is to be +done? But you don't believe it!" he proceeded, seeing that she +was weeping bitterly. "You do not believe it--you promised you +never would! Oh say you do not believe it!" + +"I do not, Arthur; I never believed half they said of him; but oh, +that long delay was a sore trial to my confidence, and cruelly +confirmed their tales." + +"And think of Fulk, too, hindering the Prince from inquiring, because +he says he would spare my uncle for my father's sake, when the truth +is, he only fears that the blackness of his own designs should be +seen! And Gaston, too, he slandered. Oh, Agnes! Agnes! that there +should be such wickedness, and we able to do nought!" + +"Nought but weep and pray!" said Agnes. "And yet I can bear it +better now that you are here. Your presence refutes the worst +accusation, and removes a heavy weight from my mind." + +"You distrust him too! I cannot love you if you do." + +"Never, never! I only feared some evil had befallen you, and +grieved to see the use made of your absence. Your coming should +make my heart light again." + +"Shall I often see you, Cousin Agnes? for there is none else in this +wide Castle that I shall care for." + +"Oh yes, Arthur, there are full twenty pages little older than +yourself--Lord Thomas Holland, the Prince's stepson, brother to +the lady that led you to me; little Piers de Greilly, nephew to +the Captal de Buch; young Lord Henry of Lancaster; and the little +Prince Edward himself. You will have no lack of merry playmates." + +"Ah, but to whom can I talk of my blessed mother and of Uncle Eustace, +and of Lynwood Keep, and poor old Blanc Etoile, that I promised Ralph +I would bear in mind?" + +"Well, Arthur," said Agnes, cheerfully, "it is the pages' duty to wait +on the ladies in hall and bower, and the ladies' office to teach them +all courtly manners, and hear them read and say the Credo and Ave. +You shall be my own especial page and servant. Is it agreed?" + +"Oh yes," said the boy. "I wonder if the master of the Damoiseaux +is as strict as that lady said, and I wonder when I shall see Uncle +Eustace again." + + + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + + +If Arthur Lynwood felt desolate when he left his uncle's side, it +was not otherwise with Sir Eustace as he lost sight of the child, +who had so long been his charge, and who repaid his anxiety with +such confiding affection. The coveted fame, favour, and distinction +seemed likewise to have deserted him. The Prince's coldness hung +heavily on him, and as he cast his eyes along the ranks of familiar +faces, not one friendly look cheered him. His greetings were returned +with coldness, and a grave haughty courtesy was the sole welcome. +Chafed and mortified, he made a sign to Gaston, and they were soon +in the street once more. + +"Coward clown!" burst forth Gaston at once. "Would that I could +send all his grinning teeth down the false throat of him!" + +"Whose? What mean you?" + +"Whose but that sulky recreant, Ashton? He has done well to obtain +knighthood, or I would beat him within an inch of his life with my +halbert, and if he dared challenge me, slay him as I would a carrion +crown! He a Knight! Thanks to his acres and to Lord Pembroke!" + +"Patience, patience, Gaston--I have not yet heard of what he +accuses me." + +"No! he has learnt policy--he saith it not openly! He would deny +it, as did his Esquire when I taxed him with it! Would that you +could not tell a letter! Sir Eustace, of your favour let me burn +every one of your vile books." + +"My innocent friends! Nay, nay, Gaston--they are too knightly to +merit such measure. Then it is the old accusation of witchcraft, +I suppose. So I was in league with the Castilian witch and her +cats, was I?" + +"Ay; and her broom-stick or her cats wafted you to Lynwood, where +you suddenly stood in the midst of the mourners, borne into the +hall on a howling blast! How I got there, I am sorry to say, the +craven declared not, lest I should give him the lie at once!" + +"But surely, such a tale is too absurd and vulgar to deceive our +noble Prince." + +"Oh, there is another version for his ears. This is only for the +lower sort, who might not have thought the worse of you for +kidnapping your nephew, vowing his mother should remain unburied +till he was in your hands, and carrying off all his rents." + +"That is Clarenham's slander." + +"Yes." + +"And credited by the Prince? Oh! little did I think the hand which +laid knighthood on my shoulder should repent the boon that it gave!" +exclaimed Eustace, with a burst of sorrow rather than anger. + +"Do you not challenge the traitor at once?" + +"I trow not, unless he speaks the charge to my face. Father Cyril +declared that any outbreak on my part would damage our cause in the +eyes of the Chancellor; we must bide our time. Since Arthur is +safe, I will bear my own burden. I am guiltless in this matter, +and I trust that the blessing of Heaven on my deeds shall restore +a name, obscured, but not tarnished." + +The resolution to forbear was tested, for time passed on without +vindicating him. With such art had the toils of his enemies been +spread, that no opening was left him for demanding an explanation. +The calumnies could only be brought home to the lowest retainers of +Clarenham and Ashton, and the only result of the zealous refutation +by the followers of Sir Eustace was a brawl between John Ingram and +a yeoman of Clarenham's, ending in their spending a week in the +custody of the Provost Marshal. + +Had there been any tournament or like sport at Bordeaux, Eustace +could have asserted his place, and challenged the attention of +the court; but the state of the Prince's health prevented such +spectacles; nor had he any opportunity of acquiring honour by his +deeds in arms. No army took the field on either side, and the war +was chiefly carried on by expeditions for the siege or relief of +frontier castles; and here his unusual rank as Knight Banneret +stood in his way, since it was contrary to etiquette for him to put +himself under the command of a Knight Bachelor. He was condemned +therefore to a weary life of inaction, the more galling, because +his poverty made it necessary to seek maintenance as formerly at +the Prince's table, where he was daily reminded, by the altered +demeanour of his acquaintance, of the unjust suspicions beneath +which he laboured. He had hoped that a dismissal from his post +in the Prince's band would give him the much-desired opportunity +of claiming a hearing, but he was permitted to receive his pay and +allowance as usual, and seemed completely overlooked. It was +well that Gaston's gay temper could not easily be saddened by +their circumstances, and his high spirits and constant attachment +often cheered his Knight in their lonely evenings. Eustace had +more than once striven to persuade him to forsake his failing +fortunes; but to this the faithful Squire would never consent, +vowing that he was as deeply implicated in all their accusations +as Sir Eustace himself; and who would wish to engage a fellow- +servant of the black cats! There were two others whom Eustace +would fain believe still confided in his truth and honour, his +nephew Arthur, and Lady Agnes de Clarenham; but he never saw them, +and often his heart sank at the thought of the impression that the +universal belief might make on the minds of both. And to add to +his depression, a rumour prevailed throughout Bordeaux that the +Baron of Clarenham had promised his sister's hand to Sir Leonard +Ashton. + +Nearly a year had passed since Eustace had left England, and his +situation continued unchanged. Perhaps the Prince regarded him +with additional displeasure, since news had arrived that Sir +Richard Ferrars had made application to the Duke of Lancaster to +interest the King in the cause of the guardianship; for there was, +at this time, a strong jealousy, in the mind of the Prince, of the +mighty power and influence of John of Gaunt, which he already feared +might be used to the disadvantage of his young sons. + +The cause was, at length, decided, and a letter from good Father +Cyril conveyed to Eustace the intelligence that the Chancellor, +William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester, having given due weight +to Sir Reginald's dying words and Lady Lynwood's testament, had +pronounced Sir Eustace Lynwood the sole guardian of the person and +estate of his nephew, and authorized all the arrangements he had +made on his departure. + +Affairs altogether began to wear a brighter aspect. The first +indignation against Sir Eustace had subsided, and he was treated, +in general, with indifference rather than marked scorn. The +gallant old Chandos was again on better terms with the Prince, +and, coming to Bordeaux, made two or three expeditions, in which +Eustace volunteered to join, and gained some favourable, though +slight, notice from the old Knight. Fulk Clarenham, too, having +received from the Prince the government of Perigord, was seldom +at court, and no active enemy appeared to be at work against him. + +Agnes de Clarenham, always retiring and pensive, and seldom sought +out by those who admired gayer damsels, was sitting apart in the +embrasure of a window, whence, through an opening in the trees of +the garden, she could catch a distant glimpse of the blue waters +of the river where it joined the sea, which separated her from her +native land, and from her who had ever been as a mother to her. She +was so lost in thought, that she scarce heard a step approaching, +till the unwelcome sound of "Fair greeting to you, Lady Agnes" +caused her to look up and behold the still more unwelcome form of +Sir Leonard Ashton. To escape from him was the first idea, for his +clownish manners, always unpleasant to her, had become doubly so, +since he had presumed upon her brother's favour to offer to her +addresses from which she saw no escape; and with a brief reply of +"Thanks for your courtesy, Sir Knight," she was about to rise and +mingle with the rest of the party, when he proceeded, bluntly, +"Lady Agnes, will you do me a favour?" + +"I know of no favour in my power," said she. + +"Nay," he said, "it is easily done, and it is as much to your brother +as to myself. It is a letter which, methinks, Fulk would not have +read out of the family, of which I may call myself one," and he gave +a sort of smirk at Agnes;--"but he writes so crabbedly, that I, for +one, cannot read two lines,--and I would not willingly give it to a +clerk, who might be less secret. So methought, as 'twas the Baron's +affair, I would even bring it here, and profit by your Convent- +breeding, Lady Agnes." + +Agnes took the letter, and began to read:-- + + + "For the hand of the Right Noble and Worshipful Knight, Sir + Leonard Ashton, at the court of my Lord the Prince of Wales, + these:-- + + "Fair Sir, and brother-in-arms--I hereby do you to wit, that the + affair whereof we spoke goes well. Both my Lord of Pembroke, + and Sir John Chandos, readily undertook to move the Prince to + grant the Banneret you wot of the government of the Castle, and + as he hath never forgotten the love he once bore to his brother, + he will the more easily be persuaded. Of the garrison we are + sure, and all that is now needful is, that the one-eyed Squire, + whereof you spoke to me, should receive warning before he + arrives at the Castle. + + "Tell him to choose his time, and manage matters so that there + may be no putting to ransom. He will understand my meaning. + "Greeting you well, therefore, + "Fulk, Baron of Clarenham." + + +"What means this?" exclaimed Agnes, as a tissue of treachery opened +before her eyes. + +"Ay, that you may say," said Leonard, his slow brain only fixed upon +Fulk's involved sentences, and utterly unconscious of the horror +expressed in her tone. "How is a man to understand what he would +have me to do? Send to Le Borgne Basque at Chateau Norbelle? Is +that it? Read it to me once again, Lady, for the love of the Saints. +What am I to tell Le Borgne Basque? No putting to ransom, doth he +say? He might be secure enough for that matter--Eustace Lynwood is +little like to ransom himself." + +"But what mean you?" said Agnes, eagerly hoping that she had done +her brother injustice in her first horrible thought. "Sir Eustace +Lynwood, if you spake of him, is no prisoner, but is here at Bordeaux." + +"He shall not long be so," said Leonard. "Heard you not this very +noon that the Prince bestows on him the government of Chateau Norbelle +on the marches of Gascony? Well, that is the matter treated of in +this letter. Let me see, let me see, how was it to be? Yes, that +is it! It is Le Borgne Basque who is Seneschal. Ay, true, that I +know,--and 'twas he who was to admit Clisson's men." + +"Admit Clisson's men!" + +"Ay--'tis one of those Castles built by the old Paladin, Renaud de +Montauban, that Eustace used to talk about. I ween he did not +know of this trick that will be played on himself--and all of them +have, they say, certain secret passages leading through the vaults +into the Castle. Le Borgne Basque knows them all, for he has served +much in those parts, and Fulk placed him as Seneschal for the very +purpose." + +"For the purpose of admitting Clisson's men? Do I understand you +right, Sir Knight, or do my ears play me false?" + +"Yes, I speak right. Do you not see, Lady Agnes, it is the only way +to free your house of this stumbling-block--this beggarly upstart +Eustace--who, as long as he lives, will never acknowledge Fulk's +rights, and would bring up his nephew to the same pride." + +"And is it possible, Sir Leonard, that brother of mine, and belted +Knight, should devise so foul a scheme of treachery! Oh, unsay it +again! Let me believe it was my own folly that conjured up so +monstrous a thought!" + +"Ay, that is the way with women," said Leonard; "they never look at +the sense of the matter. Why, this Eustace, what terms should be +kept with him, who has dealings with the Evil One? and--" + +"I will neither hear a noble Knight maligned, nor suffer him to be +betrayed," interrupted Agnes. "I have listened to you too long, +Sir Leonard Ashton, and will stain my ears no longer. I thank you, +however, for having given me such warning as to enable me to traverse +them." + +"What will you do?" asked Leonard, with a look of impotent anger. + +"Appeal instantly to the Prince. Tell him the use that is made of +his Castles, and the falsehoods told him of his most true-hearted +Knight!" and Agnes, with glancing eyes, was already rising for the +purpose, forgetting, in her eager indignation, all that must follow, +when Leonard, muttering "What madness possessed me to tell her!" +stood full before her, saying, gloomily, "Do so, Lady, if you +choose to ruin your brother!" The timid girl stood appalled, as +the horrible consequences of such an accusation arose before her. + +That same day Eustace was summoned to the Prince's presence. + +"Sir Eustace Lynwood," said Edward, gravely, "I hear you have served +the King well beneath the banner of Sir John Chandos. Your friends +have wrought with me to give you occasion to prove yourself worthy +of your spurs, and I have determined to confer on you the government +of my Chateau of Norbelle, on the frontier of Gascony, trusting to +find you a true and faithful governor and Castellane." + +"I trust, my Lord, that you have never had occasion to deem less +honourably of me," said Eustace; and his clear open eye and brow +courted rather than shunned the keen look of scrutiny that the +Prince fixed upon him. His heart leapt at the hope that the time +for inquiry was come, but the Prince in another moment sank his +eyes again, with more, however, of the weary impatience of illness +than of actual displeasure, and merely replied, "Kneel down, then, +Sir Knight, and take the oaths of fidelity." + +Eustace obeyed, hardly able to suppress a sigh at the disappointment +of his hopes. + +"You will receive the necessary orders and supplies from Sir John +Chandos, and from the Treasurer," said Edward, in a tone that +intimated the conclusion of the conference; and Eustace quitted +his presence, scarce knowing whether to be rejoiced or dissatisfied. + +The former, Gaston certainly was. "I have often been heartily weary +of garrison duty," said he, "but never can I be more weary of aught, +than of being looked upon askance by half the men I meet. And we +may sometimes hear the lark sing too, as well as the mouse squeak, +Sir Eustace. I know every pass of my native county, and the herds +of Languedoc shall pay toll to us." + +Sir John Chandos, as Constable of Aquitaine, gave him the requisite +orders and information. The fortifications, he said, were in good +condition, and the garrison already numerous; but a sum of money +was allotted to him in order to increase their numbers as much as +he should deem advisable, since it was not improbable that he might +have to sustain a siege, as Oliver de Clisson was threatening that +part of the frontier. Four days were allowed for his preparations, +after which he was to depart for his government. + +Eustace was well pleased with all that he heard, and returned to +his lodging, where, in the evening twilight, he was deeply engaged +in consultation with Gaston, on the number of followers to be raised, +when a light step was heard hastily approaching, and Arthur, darting +into the room, flung himself on his neck, exclaiming, "Uncle! uncle! +go not to this Castle!" + +"Arthur, what brings you here? What means this? No foolish frolic, +no escape from punishment, I trust?" said Eustace, holding him at +some little distance, and fixing his eyes on him intently. + +"No, uncle, no! On the word of a true Knight's son," said the boy, +stammering, in his eagerness, "believe me, trust me, dear uncle-- +and go not to this fearful Castle. It is a trap--a snare laid to +be your death, by the foulest treachery!" + +"Silence, Arthur!" said the Knight, sternly. "Know you not what +treason you speak? Some trick has been played on your simplicity, +and yet you--child as you are--should as soon think shame of your +own father as of the Prince, the very soul of honour." + +"Oh, it is not the Prince: he knows nought of it; it is those double +traitors, the Baron of Clarenham and Sir Leonard Ashton, who have +worked upon him and deceived him." + +"Oh, ho!" said Gaston. "The story now begins to wear some semblance +of probability." + +Arthur turned, looking perplexed. "Master d'Aubricour," said he, +"I forgot that you were here. This is a secret which should have +been for my uncle's ears alone." + +"Is it so?" said Gaston; "then I will leave the room, if it please +you and the Knight--though methought I was scarce small enough to +be so easily overlooked; and having heard the half--" + +"You had best hear the whole," said Arthur. "Uncle Eustace, what +think you?" + +"I know not what to think, Arthur. You must be your own judge." + +Arthur's young brow wore a look of deep thought; at last he said, +"Do not go then, Gaston. If I have done wrong, I must bear the +blame, and, be it as it may, my uncle needs must tell you all that +I may tell him." + +"Let us hear, then," said Eustace. + +"Well, then," said Arthur, who had by this time collected himself, +"you must know that this Chateau Norbelle is one of those built +by that famous Paladin, the chief of freebooters, Sir Renaud de +Montauban, of whom you have told me so many tales. Now all of +these have secret passages in the vaults communicating with the +outer country." + +"The boy is right," said Gaston; "I have seen one of them in the +Castle of Montauban itself." + +"Then it seems," proceeded Arthur, "that this Castle hath hitherto +been in the keeping of a certain one-eyed Seneschal, a great friend +and comrade of Sir Leonard Ashton--" + +"Le Borgne Basque!" exclaimed both Knight and Squire, looking at +each other in amaze. + +"True, true," said Arthur. "Now you believe me. Well, the enemy +being in the neighbourhood, it was thought right to increase the +garrison, and place it under the command of a Knight, and these +cowardly traitors have wrought with my Lord of Pembroke and Sir +John Chandos to induce the Prince to give you this post--it being +their intention that this wicked Seneschal and his equally wicked +garrison should admit Sir Oliver de Clisson, the butcher of Bretagne +himself, through the secret passage. And, uncle," said the boy, +pressing Eustace's hand, while tears of indignation sprang to his +eyes, "the letter expressly said there was to be no putting to +ransom. Oh, Uncle Eustace, go not to this Castle!" + +"And how came you by this knowledge?" asked the Knight. + +"That I may never tell," said Arthur. + +"By no means which might not beseem the son of a brave man?" said +Eustace. + +"Mistrust me not so foully," said the boy. "I know it from a sure +hand, and there is not dishonour, save on the part of those villain +traitors. Oh, promise me, fair uncle, not to put yourself in their +hands!" + +"Arthur, I have taken the oaths to the Prince as Castellane. I +cannot go back from my duty, nor give up its defence for any cause +whatsoever." + +"Alas! alas!" + +"There would be only one way of avoiding it," said Eustace, "and you +must yourself say, Arthur, whether that is open to me. To go to the +Prince, and tell him openly what use is made of his Castles, and +impeach the villains of their treachery." + +"That cannot be," said Arthur, shaking his head sadly--"it is +contrary to the pledge I gave for you and for myself. But go not, +go not, uncle. Remember, uncle, if you will not take thought for +yourself, that you are all that is left me--all that stands between +me and that wicked Clarenham.--Gaston, persuade him." + +"Gaston would never persuade me to disgrace my spurs for the sake +of danger," replied Eustace. "Have you no better learnt the laws +of chivalry in the Prince's household, Arthur? Besides, remember +old Ralph's proverb, 'Fore-warned is fore-armed.' Think you not +that Gaston, and honest Ingram, and I may not be a match for a +dozen cowardly traitors? Besides which, see here the gold allotted +me to raise more men, with which I will obtain some honest hearts +for my defence--and it will go hard with me if I cannot find Sir +Renaud's secret door." + +"Then, if you will go, uncle, take, take me with you--I could, at +least, watch the door; and I know how to hit a mark with a cross- +bow as well as Lord Harry of Lancaster himself." + +"Take you, Master Arthur? What! steal away the Prince's page that +I have been at such pains to bring hither, and carry him to a nest +of traitors! Why, it would be the very way to justify Clarenham's +own falsehoods." + +"And of the blackest are they!" said Arthur. "Think, uncle, of my +standing by to hear him breathing his poison to the Prince, and the +preventing him from searching to find out the truth, by pretending a +regard for my father's name, and your character. Oh that our noble +Prince should be deluded by such a recreant, and think scorn of such +a Knight as you!" + +"I trust yet to prove to him that it is a delusion," said Eustace. +"Many a Knight at twenty-two has yet to make his name and fame. +Mine, thanks to Du Guesclin and the Prince himself, is already made, +and though clouded for a time, with the grace of our Lady and of St. +Eustace, I will yet clear it; so, Arthur, be not downcast for me, +but think what Father Cyril hath taught concerning evil report and +good report. But tell me, how came you hither?" + +"She--that is, the person that warned me--let me down from the window +upon the head of the great gurgoyle, and from thence I scrambled down +by the vines on the wall, ran through the court without being seen by +the Squires and grooms, and found my way to the bridge, where happily +I met John Ingram, who brought me hither." + +"She?" repeated Gaston, with a sly look in his black eyes. + +"I have said too much," said Arthur, colouring deeply; "I pray you to +forget." + +"Forget!" proceeded the Squire, "that is sooner said than done. We +shall rack our brains to guess what lady can--" + +"Hush, Gaston," said Eustace, as his nephew looked at him imploringly, +"tempt not the boy. And you, Arthur, must return to the palace +immediately." + +"Oh, uncle!" said the boy, "may I not stay with you this one night? +It is eight weary months since I have ever seen you, save by peering +down through the tall balusters of the Princess's balcony, when the +Knights were going to dinner in the hall, and I hoped you would keep +me with you at least one night. See how late and dark it is--the +Castle gates will be closed by this time." + +"It does indeed rejoice my heart to have you beside me, fair nephew," +said Eustace, "and yet I know not how to favour such an escape as this, +even for such a cause." + +"I never broke out of bounds before," said Arthur, "and never will, +though Lord Harry and Lord Thomas Holland have more than once asked +me to join them." + +"Then," said the Knight, "since it is, as you say, too late to rouse +the palace, I will take you back in my hand to-morrow morn, see the +master of the Damoiseaux, and pray him to excuse you for coming to +see me ere my departure." + +"Yes, that will be all well," said Arthur; "I could, to be sure, +find the corner where Lord Harry has loosened the stones, and get +in by the pages' window, ere old Master Michael is awake in the +morn; but I think such doings are more like those of a fox than +of a brave boy, and though I should be well punished, I will walk +in at the door, and hold up my head boldly." + +"Shall you be punished then?" said Gaston. "Is your old master of +the Damoiseaux very severe?" + +"He has not been so hitherto with me," said Arthur: "he scolds me for +little, save what you too are displeased with, Master d'Aubricour, +because I cannot bring my mouth to speak your language in your own +fashion. It is Lord Harry that chiefly falls under his displeasure. +But punished now I shall assuredly be, unless Uncle Eustace can work +wonders." + +"I will see what may be done, Arthur," said Eustace. "And now, have +you supped?" + +The evening passed off very happily to the little page, who, quite +reassured by his uncle's consolations, only thought of the delight +of being with one who seemed to supply to him the place at once of +an elder brother and of a father. + +Early the next morning, Eustace walked with him to the palace. Just +before he reached it, he made this inquiry, "Arthur, do you often see +the Lady Agnes de Clarenham?" + +"Oh, yes, I am with her almost every afternoon. She hears me read, +she helps me with my French words, and teaches me courtly manners. +I am her own page and servant--but, here we are. This is the door +that leads to the room of Master Michael de Sancy, the master of +the Damoiseaux." + + + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + + +The next few days were spent in taking precautions against the +danger intimated by the mysterious message. Gaston gathered +together a few of the ancient Lances of Lynwood, who were glad to +enlist under the blue crosslet, and these, with some men-at-arms, +who had recently come to Bordeaux to seek employment, formed a body +with whom Eustace trusted to be able to keep the disaffected in +check. Through vineyards and over gently swelling hills did their +course lead them, till, on the evening of the second day's journey, +the view to the south was shut in by more lofty and bolder peaks, +rising gradually towards the Pyrenees, and on the summit of a rock +overhanging a small rapid stream appeared the tall and massive +towers of a Castle, surmounted by the broad red cross of St. George, +and which their guide pronounced to be the Chateau Norbelle. + +"A noble eyrie!" said Eustace, looking up and measuring it with his +eye. "Too noble to be sacrificed to the snaring of one poor Knight." + +"Shame that such a knightly building should serve for such a nest +of traitors!" said Gaston. "Saving treachery, a dozen boys could +keep it against a royal host, provided they had half the spirit of +your little nephew." + +"Let us summon the said traitors," said Eustace, blowing a blast on +his bugle. The gates were thrown wide open, the drawbridge lowered, +and beneath the portcullis stood the Seneschal, his bunch of keys at +his girdle. Both Eustace and Gaston cast searching glances upon him, +and his aspect made them for a moment doubt the truth of the warning. +A patch covered the lost eye, his moustache was shaved, his hair +appeared many shades lighter, as well as his beard, which had been +carefully trimmed, and altogether the obsequious Seneschal presented +a strong contrast to the dissolute reckless man-at-arms. The Knight +debated with himself, whether to let him perceive that he was +recognized; and deciding to watch his conduct, he asked by what +name to address him. + +"Thibault Sanchez," replied Le Borgne Basque, giving his real name, +which he might safely do, as it was not known to above two men in the +whole Duchy of Aquitaine. "Thibault Sanchez, so please you, noble +Sir, a poor Squire from the mountains, who hath seen some few battles +and combats in his day, but never one equal to the fight of Najara, +where your deeds of prowess--" + +"My deeds of prowess, Sir Seneschal, had better rest in silence until +our horses have been disposed of, and I have made the rounds of the +Castle before the light fails us." + +"So late, Sir Knight! and after a long and weary journey? Surely +you will drink a cup of wine, and take a night's rest first, relying +on me, who, though I be a plain man, trust I understand somewhat of +the duties of mine office." + +"I sleep not until I have learnt what is committed to my charge," +replied the Knight. "Lead the way, Master Sanchez." + +"Ah! there is what it is to have a Knight of fame," cried Le Borgne +Basque. "What vigilance! what earnestness! Ah, this will be, as I +told my comrades even now, the very school of chivalry, the pride of +the country." + +They had by this time crossed the narrow court, and passing beneath +a second portcullised door defended on either side by high battlement +walls, nearly double as thick as the steps themselves were wide. At +the head was an arched door, heavily studded with nails, and opening +into the Castle hall, a gloomy, vaulted room, its loop-hole windows, +in their mighty depth of wall, affording little light. A large wood +fire was burning in the hearth, and its flame cast a bright red light +on some suits of armour that were hung at one end of the hall, as +well as on some benches, and a long table in the midst, where were +placed some trenchers, drinking horns, and a flask or two of wine. + +"A drop of wine, noble Knight," said the Seneschal. "Take a cup to +recruit you after your journey, and wash the dust from your throat." + +A long ride in full armour beneath the sun of Gascony made this no +unacceptable proposal, but the probability that the wine might be +drugged had been contemplated by Eustace, who had not only resolved +to abstain himself, but had exacted the same promise from d'Aubricour, +sorely against his will. + +"We will spare your flasks till a time of need," said Eustace, only +accepting the basin of fair water presented to him to lave his hands. +"And now to the walls," he added, after he had filled a cup with water +from the pitcher and refreshed himself with it. Gaston followed his +example, not without a wistful look at the wine, and Sanchez was +obliged to lead the way up a long flight of spiral steps to two other +vaulted apartments, one over the other--the lower destined for the +sleeping chamber of the Knight and his Squire, the higher for such +of the men-at-arms as could not find accommodation in the hall, or +in the offices below. Above this they came out on the lead-covered +roof, surrounded with a high crenellated stone parapet, where two or +three warders were stationed. Still higher rose one small octagonal +watch-tower, on the summit of which was planted a spear bearing St. +George's pennon, and by its side Sir Eustace now placed his own. + +This done, Eustace could not help standing for a few moments to +look forth upon the glorious expanse of country beneath him--the +rich fields and fair vineyards spreading far away to the west and +north, with towns and villages here and there rising among them; +while far away to the east, among higher hills, lay the French +town of Carcassonne, a white mass, just discernible by the light +of the setting sun; and the south was bounded by the peaks of the +Pyrenees, amongst which lay all Eustace's brightest recollections +of novelty, adventure, and hopes of glory. + +Descending the stairs once more, after traversing the hall, they +found themselves in the kitchen, where a large supper was preparing. +Here, too, was the buttery, some other small chambers fit for +storehouses, and some stalls for horses, all protected by the great +bartizan at the foot of the stairs, which was capable of being +defended even after the outer court was won. By the time the new- +comers had made themselves acquainted with these localities, the +evening was fast closing in, and Sanchez pronounced that the Knight's +survey was concluded in good time for supper. + +"I have not yet seen the vaults," said Eustace. + +"The vaults, Sir Knight! what would you see there, save a few rusted +chains, and some whitened bones, that have been there ever since the +days of the Count de Montfort and the heretic Albigenses! They say +that their accursed spirits haunt the place." + +"I have heard," returned Sir Eustace, "that these Castles of Gascony +are said to have secret passages communicating with their vaults, +and I would willingly satisfy my own eyes that we are exposed to +no such peril here." + +"Nay, not a man in the Castle will enter those vaults after sunset, +Sir Knight. The Albigenses, Sir Eustace!" + +"I will take the risk alone," said Eustace. "Hand me a torch there!" + +Gaston took another, and Thibault Sanchez, seeing them so resolute, +chose to be of the party. The torches shed their red glare over +the stone arches on which the Castle rested, and there was a chill +damp air and earthy smell, which made both Knight and Squire shudder +and start. No sooner had they entered than Thibault, trembling +exclaimed, in a tone of horror, "There! there! O blessed Lady, +protect us!" + +"Where?" asked Eustace, scarce able to defend himself from an +impression of terror. + +"'Tis gone--yet methought I saw it again.--There! look yonder, Sir +Knight--something white fluttering behind that column!" + +Gaston crossed himself, and turned pale; but Eustace had settled +his nerves. "A truce with these vain follies, Master Seneschal," +said he, sternly. "Those who know Le Borgne Basque cannot believe +his fears, either of saints or demons, to be other than assumed." + +No ghost could have startled the Seneschal of the Chateau Norbelle +as much as this sobriquet. He fell back, and subsided into complete +silence, as he meditated whether it were best to confess the plot, +and throw himself upon Sir Eustace's mercy, or whether he could hope +that this was merely a chance recognition. He inclined to the latter +belief when he observed that the Knight was at fault respecting the +secret passage, searching in vain through every part of the vault, +and twice passing over the very spot. The third time, however, it so +chanced that his spur rung against something of metal, and he called +for Gaston to hold his torch lower. The light fell not only upon an +iron ring, but upon a guard which evidently covered a key-hole. + +Sanchez, after in vain professing great amazement, and perfect +ignorance of any such entrance, gave up his bunch of keys, protesting +that there was nothing there which could unlock the mysterious door: +but the Knight had another method. "Look you, Master Sanchez," said +he, "it may be, as you say, that this door hath not been unclosed for +hundreds of years, notwithstanding I see traces in the dust as if it +had been raised of late. I shall, however, sleep more securely if +convinced that it is an impossibility to lift it. Go, therefore, +Gaston, and call half a dozen of the men, to bring each of them the +heaviest stone they can find from that heap I saw prepared for a +mangonel in the court-yard." + +"Oh, excellent!" exclaimed Gaston, "and yet, Sir Eustace--" + +There he stopped, but it was evident that he was reluctant to leave +his master alone with this villain. Eustace replied by drawing his +good sword, and giving him a fearless smile, as he planted his foot +upon the trap-door; and fixing his gaze upon Le Borgne Basque, made +him feel that this was no moment for treachery. + +Gaston sped fast out of the dungeon, and, in brief space, made his +appearance at the head of the men-at-arms, some bearing torches, +others labouring under the weight of the huge stones, which, as he +rightly thought, they were far more inclined to heave at Sir Eustace's +head than to place in the spot he pointed out. They were, however, +compelled to obey, and, with unwilling hands, built up such a pile +upon the secret door, that it could not be lifted from beneath +without gigantic strength, and a noise which would re-echo through +the Castle. This done, Sir Eustace watched them all out of the +vault himself, closed the door, locked it, and announced to the +Seneschal his intention of relieving him for the future from the +care of the keys. Still watching him closely, he ascended to the +hall, and gave the signal for the supper, which shortly made its +appearance. + +Thibault Sanchez, who laid claim to some share of gentle blood, was +permitted to enjoy the place of honour together with Sir Eustace and +d'Aubricour--the rather that it gave them a better opportunity of +keeping their eye upon him. + +There was an evident attempt, on the part of the garrison, to engage +their new comrades in a carouse in honour of their arrival, but this +was brought to an abrupt conclusion by Sir Eustace, who, in a tone +which admitted no reply, ordered the wine flasks to the buttery, and +the men, some to their posts and others to their beds. Ingram walked +off, muttering his discontent; and great was the ill-will excited +amongst, not only the original garrison, but the new-comers from +Bordeaux, who, from their lairs of straw, lamented the day when +they took service with so severe and rigid a Knight, and compared +his discipline with that of his brother, Sir Reginald, who, strict +as he might be, never grudged a poor man-at-arms a little merriment. +"But as to this Knight, one might as well serve a Cistercian monk!" + +As to Le Borgne Basque, he betook himself to the buttery; and there, +in an undertone of great terror, began to mutter to his friend and +ally, Tristan de la Fleche, "It is all over with us! He is a wizard! +Sir Leonard Ashton was right--oaf as he was; I never believed him +before; but what, save enchantment, could have enabled him to +recognize me under this disguise, or how could he have gone straight +to yonder door?" + +"Think you not that he had some warning?" asked Tristan. + +"Impossible, save from Clarenham, or from Ashton himself; and, dolt +as he is, I trow he has sense enough to keep his own counsel. He +has not forgotten the day when he saw this dainty young sprig rise +up in his golden spurs before his eyes. I know how it is! It is +with him as it was with the Lord of Corasse!" + +"How was that, Thibault?" + +"Why, you must know that Raymond de Corasse had helped himself to +the tithes of a certain Church in Catalonia, whereby the Priest who +claimed them said to him, 'Know that I will send thee a champion +that thou wilt be more afraid of than thou hast hitherto been of +me.' Three months after, each night, in the Castle of Corasse, +began such turmoil as never was known; raps at every door, and +especially that of the Knight--as if all the goblins in fairy-land +had been let loose. The Knight lay silent all one night; but the +next, when the rioting was renewed as loud as ever, he leapt out +of his bed, and bawled out, 'Who is it at this hour thus knocks at +my chamber door?' He was answered, 'It is I.' 'And who sends thee +hither?' asked the Knight. 'The Clerk of Catalonia, whom thou hast +much wronged. I will never leave thee quiet until thou hast rendered +him a just account.' 'What art thou called,' said the Knight, 'who +art so good a messenger?' 'Orthon is my name.' But it fell out +otherwise from the Clerk's intentions, for Orthon had taken a liking +to the Knight, and promised to serve him rather than the Clerk-- +engaging never to disturb the Castle--for, indeed, he had no power +to do ill to any. Often did he come to the Knight's bed by night, +and pull the pillow from under his head--" + +"What was he like?" asked Tristan. + +"The Lord de Corasse could not tell; he only heard him--he never saw +aught; for Orthon only came by night, and, having wakened him, would +begin by saying, 'he was come from England, Hungary, or elsewhere,' +and telling all the news of the place." + +"And what think you was he?" + +"That was what our Lord, the Count de Foix, would fain have known, +when he had much marveled at the tidings that were brought him by +the Lord de Corasse, and had heard of the strange messenger who +brought them. He entreated the Knight to desire Orthon to show +himself in his own proper form--and then, having seen, to describe +him. + +"So at night, when Orthon came again, and plucked away the pillow, +the Knight asked him from whence he came? 'From Prague, in Bohemia,' +answered Orthon. 'How far is it?'--'Sixty days' journey.' 'Hast +thou returned thence in so short a time?'--'I travel as fast as the +wind, or faster.' 'What! hast thou got wings?'--'Oh, no.' 'How, +then, canst thou fly so fast?'--'That is no business of yours!' +'No,' said the Knight--'I should like exceedingly to see what form +thou hast.'--'That concerns you not,' replied Orthon; 'be satisfied +that you hear me.' 'I should love thee better had I seen thee,' +said the Knight,--whereupon Orthon promised that the first thing +he should see to-morrow, on quitting his bed, should be no other +than himself." + +"Ha! then, I wager that he saw one of the black cats that played +round young Ashton's bed." + +"Nay, the Knight's lady would not rise all day lest she should see +Orthon; but the Knight, leaping up in the morning, looked about, +but could see nothing unusual. At night, when Orthon came, he +reproached him for not having shown himself, as he had promised. +'I have,' replied Orthon. 'I say No,' said the Knight. 'What! +you saw nothing when you leapt out of bed?'--'Yes,' said the Lord +de Corasse, after having considered awhile, 'I saw two straws, +which were turning and playing together on the floor.' 'That was +myself,' said Orthon. + +"The Knight now desired importunately that Orthon would show himself +in his own true shape. Orthon told him that it might lead to his +being forced to quit his service--but he persisted, and Orthon +promised to show himself when first the Knight should leave his +chamber in the morning. Therefore, as soon as he was dressed, the +Knight went to a window overlooking the court, and there he beheld +nothing but a large lean sow, so poor, that she seemed nothing but +skin and bone, with long hanging ears, all spotted, and a thin +sharp-pointed snout. The Lord de Corasse called to his servants +to set the dogs on the ill-favoured creature, and kill it; but, as +the kennel was opened, the sow vanished away, and was never seen +afterwards. Then the Lord de Corasse returned pensive to his +chamber, fearing that the sow had indeed been Orthon!--and truly +Orthon never returned more to his bed-side. Within a year, the +Knight was dead!" + +"Is it true, think you, Sanchez?" + +"True! why, man, I have seen the Chateau de Corasse, seven leagues +from Orthes!" + +"And what think you was Orthon?" + +"It is not for me to say; but, you see, there are some who stand +fair in men's eyes, who have strange means of gaining intelligence! +It will be a merit to weigh down a score of rifled Priests, if we +can but circumvent a wizard such as this!" + +"But he has brought his books! I saw that broad-faced Englishman +carry up a whole pile of them," cried Tristan, turning pale. "With +his books he will be enough to conjure us all into apes!" + +"Now or never," said Sanchez, encouragingly. + +"When all is still, I will go round and waken our comrades, while +you creep forth by the hole beneath the bartizan, and warn Clisson +that the secret passage is nought, but that when he sees a light +in old Montfort's turret--" + +Tristan suddenly trod on his foot, as a sign of silence, as a step +descended the stairs, and Sir Eustace stood before them. + +"You appear to be agreeably employed, gentlemen," said he, glancing +at the stoup of wine which was before them; "but my orders are as +precise as Norman William's. No lights in this Castle, save my own, +after eight o'clock. To your beds, gentlemen, and a good night to +you!" He was still fully armed, so that it was unsafe to attack +him. And he saw them up the spiral stairs that led from the hall, +and watched them enter the narrow dens that served them as sleeping +rooms, where many a curse was uttered on the watchfulness of the +wizard Knight. At the turn of midnight, Le Borgne Basque crept +forth, in some hope that there might be an opportunity of fulfilling +his designs, and earning the reward promised him both by Clarenham +and the French. But he had not descended far before a red gleam of +torchlight was seen on the dark stairs, and, ere he could retreat, +the black head and dark eyes of Gaston appeared, glancing with +mischievous amusement, as he said, in his gay voice, "You are on +the alert, my old comrade. You have not forgotten your former +habits when in command here. But Sir Eustace intrusts the care +of changing the guard to none but me; so I will not trouble you +to disturb yourself another night." And the baffled miscreant +retreated. + +In this manner passed day after day, in a tacit yet perpetual war +between the Knight and the garrison. Not a step could be taken, +scarce a word spoken, without some instant reminder that either +Sir Eustace or Gaston was on the watch. On the borders of the +enemy's country, there was so much reason for vigilance, that the +garrison could not reasonably complain of the services required of +them; the perpetual watch, and numerous guards; the occupations +which Knight and Squire seemed never weary of devising for the +purpose of keeping them separate, and their instant prohibition +of any attempt at the riotous festivity which was their only +consolation for the want of active exercises. They grew heartily +weary, and fiercely impatient of restraint, and though the firm, +calm, steady strictness of the Knight was far preferable to the +rude familiarity and furious passions of many a Castellane, there +were many of the men-at-arms who, though not actually engaged in +the conspiracy, were impatient of what they called his haughtiness +and rigidity. These men were mercenaries from different parts of +France, accustomed to a lawless life, and caring little or nothing +whatever whether it were beneath the standard of King Charles or +King Edward that they acquired pay and plunder. The Englishmen +were, of course, devoted to their King and Prince, and though at +times unruly, were completely to be depended upon. Yet, while +owning Sir Eustace to be a brave, gallant, and kind-hearted Knight, +there were times when even they felt a shudder of dread and almost +of hatred pass over them, when tales were told of the supernatural +powers he was supposed to possess; when Leonard Ashton's adventure +with the cats was narrated, or the story of his sudden arrival at +Lynwood Keep on the night before the lady's funeral. His own +immediate attendants might repel the charge with honest indignation, +but many a stout warrior slunk off in terror to bed from the sight +of Sir Eustace, turning the pages of one of his heavy books by the +light of the hall fire, and saw in each poor bat that flitted about +within the damp depths of the vaulted chambers the familiar spirit +which brought him exact intelligence of all that passed at Bordeaux, +at Paris, or in London. Nay, if he only turned his eyes on the +ground, he was thought to be looking for the twisting straws. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + + +There was a village at some distance from the Chateau Norbelle, the +inhabitants of which were required to furnish it with provisions. +The Castellane, by paying just prices, and preventing his men from +treating the peasants in the cruel and exacting manner to which they +were accustomed, had gained their good-will. Prompt intelligence of +the proceedings of the French army was always brought to him, and he +was thus informed that a large treasure was on its way from Bayonne +to Carcasonne, being the subsidy promised by Enrique, King of +Castile, to his allies, Bertrand du Guesclin and Oliver de Clisson. + +It became the duty of the English to intercept these supplies, +and Eustace knew that he should incur censure should he allow the +occasion to pass. But how divide his garrison? Which of the men- +at-arms could be relied on? After consultation with d'Aubricour, +it was determined that he himself should remain with John Ingram +and a sufficient number of English to keep the traitors in check, +while Gaston went forth in command of the party, who were certain +to fight with a good will where spoil was the object. They would +be absent at least two nights, since the pass of the Pyrenees, where +they intended to lie in ambush, was at a considerable distance, nor +was the time of the arrival of the convoy absolutely certain. + +The expedition proved completely successful, and on the morning +of the third day the rising sun beheld Gaston d'Aubricour riding +triumphantly at the head of his little band, in the midst of which +was a long line of heavily-laden baggage mules. The towers of +Chateau Norbelle appeared in his view, when suddenly with a cry of +amazement he perceived that the pennon of St. George and the banner +of Lynwood were both absent from the Keep. He could scarcely believe +his eyes, but forcing his horse onward with furious impetuosity to +obtain a nearer view, he discovered that it was indeed true. + +"The miscreants!" he shouted. "Oh, my Knight, my Knight!" and +turning to the men who followed him, he exclaimed, "There is yet +hope! Will you see our trust betrayed, our noble Knight foully +murdered and delivered to his enemies, or will ye strike a bold +stroke in his defence? He who is not dead to honour, follow me!" + +There was a postern, of which Eustace had given Gaston the key, on +his departure, and thither the faithful Squire hastened, without +looking back to see whether he was followed by many or few--in fact, +rather ready to die with Sir Eustace than hoping to rescue him. The +ten Englishmen and some eight Frenchmen, infected by the desperation +of his manner, followed him closely as he rushed up the slope, dashed +through the moat, and in another moment, opening the door, burst into +the court. There stood a party of the garrison, upon whom he rushed +with a shout of "Death, death to the traitor!" Gaston's arm did the +work of three, as he hewed down the villains, who, surprised and +discomfited, made feeble resistance. Who they were, or how many, he +saw not, he cared not, but struck right and left, till the piteous +cries for mercy, in familiar tones, made some impression, and he +paused, as did his companions, while, in a tone of rage and anguish, +he demanded, "Where is Sir Eustace?" + +"Ah! Master d'Aubricour, 'twas not me, 'twas the traitor, Sanchez-- +'twas Tristan," was the answer. "Oh, mercy, for our blessed Lady's +sake!" + +"No mercy, dogs! till ye have shown me Sir Eustace in life and limb." + +"Alas! alas! Master d'Aubricour!" This cry arose from some of the +English; and Gaston, springing towards the bartizan, beheld the +senseless form of his beloved Knight lying stretched in a pool of +his own blood! Pouring out lamentations in the passionate terms of +the South, tearing his hair at having been beguiled into leaving the +Castle, and vowing the most desperate vengeance against Clarenham +and his accomplices, he lifted his master from the ground, and, as +he did so, he fancied he felt a slight movement of the chest, and a +faint moan fell upon his ear. + +What recked Gaston that the Castle was but half taken, that enemies +were around on every side? He saw only, heard only, thought only, +of Sir Eustace! What was life or death, prosperity or adversity, +save as shared with him! He lifted the Knight in his arms, and, +hurrying up the stone steps, placed him on his couch. + +"Bring water! bring wine!" he shouted as he crossed the hall. A +horse-boy followed with a pitcher of water, and Gaston, unfastening +the collar of his doublet, raised his head, held his face towards +the air, and deluged it with water, entreating him to look up and +speak. + +A few long painful gasps, and the eyes were half unclosed, while a +scarce audible voice said, "Gaston! is it thou? I deemed it was +over!" and then the eyes closed again. Gaston's heart was lightened +at having heard that voice once more, even had that word been his +last--and answering, "Ay, truly, Sir Knight, all is well so you +will but look up," he succeed in pouring a little water into his +mouth. + +He was interrupted by several of the men-at-arms, who came trooping +up to the door, looking anxiously at the wounded Knight, while the +foremost said, "Master Gaston, here is gear which must be looked +to. Thibault Sanchez and half a dozen more have drawn together in +Montfort's tower, and swear they will not come forth till we have +promised their lives." + +"Give them no such pledge!--Hang without mercy!" cried another voice +from behind. "Did not I myself hear the traitorous villains send +off Tristan de la Fleche to bear the news to Carcassonne? We shall +have the butcher of Bretagne at our throats before another hour is +over." + +"Cowardly traitor!" cried Gaston. "Wherefore didst thou not cut the +throat of the caitiff, and make in to the rescue of the Knight?" + +"Why, Master d'Aubricour, the deed was done ere I was well awake, and +when it was done, and could not be undone, and we were but four men +to a dozen, what could a poor groom do? But you had better look to +yourself; for it is true as the legends of the saints, that Tristan +is gone to Carcassonne, riding full speed on the Knight's own black +charger!" + +The news seemed to have greater effect in restoring Eustace than any +of Gaston's attentions. He again opened his eyes, and made an effort +to raise his head, as he said, almost instinctively, "Secure the +gates! Warders, to your posts!" + +The men stood amazed; and Eustace, rallying, looked around him, and +perceived the state of the case. "Said you they had sent to summon +the enemy?" said he. + +"Martin said so," replied Gaston, "and I fear it is but too true." + +"Not a moment to be lost!" said Eustace. "Give me some wine!" and +he spoke in a stronger voice, "How many of you are true to King +Edward and to the Prince? All who will not fight to the death in +their cause have free leave to quit this Castle; but, first, a +message must be sent to Bordeaux." + +"True, Sir Eustace, but on whom can we rely?" asked Gaston. + +"Alas! I fear my faithful Ingram must be slain," said the Knight, +"else this could never have been. Know you aught of him?" he added, +looking anxiously at the men. + +The answer was a call from one of the men: "Here, John, don't stand +there grunting like a hog; the Knight is asking for you, don't you +hear?" + +A slight scuffle was heard, and in a few seconds the broad figure +of Ingram shouldered through the midst of the men-at-arms. He came, +almost like a man in a dream, to the middle of the room, and there, +suddenly dropping upon his knees, he clasped his hands, exclaiming, +"I, John Ingram, hereby solemnly vow to our blessed Lady of Taunton, +and St. Joseph of Glastonbury, that never more will I drink sack, +or wine or any other sort or kind, spiced or unspiced, on holiday +or common day, by day or night. So help me, our blessed Lady and +St. Joseph." + +"Stand up, John, and let us know if you are in your senses," said +Gaston, angrily; "we have no time for fooleries. Let us know +whether you have been knave, traitor, or fool; for one or other +you must have been, to be standing here sound and safe." + +"You are right, Sir Squire," said Ingram, covering his face with his +hands. "I would I were ten feet underground ere I had seen this day;" +and he groaned aloud. + +"You have been deceived by their arts," said Eustace. "That I can +well believe; but that you should be a traitor, never, my trusty John!" + +"Blessings on you for the word, Sir Eustace!" cried the yeoman, while +tears fell down his rough cheeks. "Oh! all the wine in the world may +be burnt to the very dregs ere I again let a drop cross my lips! but +it was drugged, Sir Eustace, it was drugged--that will I aver to my +dying day." + +"I believe it," said Eustace; "but we must not wait to hear your +tale, John. You must take horse and ride with all speed to Bordeaux. +One of you go and prepare a horse--" + +"Take Brigliador!" said Gaston; "he is the swiftest. Poor fellow! +well that I spared him from our journey amid the mountain passes." + +"Then," proceeded Eustace, "bear the news of our case--that we have +been betrayed--that Clisson will be on us immediately--that we will +do all that man can do to hold out till succour can come, which I +pray the Prince to send us." + +"Take care to whom he addresses himself," said Gaston. "To some our +strait will be welcome news." + +"True," said Eustace. "Do thy best to see Sir John Chandos, or, if +he be not at the court, prefer thy suit to the Prince himself--to +any save the Earl of Pembroke. Or if thou couldst see little Arthur, +it might be best of all. Dost understand my orders, John?" + +"Ay, Sir," said Ingram, shaking his great head, while the tears still +flowed down his cheeks; "but to see you in this case!" + +"Think not of that, kind John," said Eustace; "death must come sooner +or later, and a sword-cut is the end for a Knight." + +"You will not, shall not die, Sir Eustace!" cried Gaston. "Your +wounds--" + +"I know not, Gaston; but the point is now, not of saving my life, +but the Castle. Speed, speed, Ingram! Tell the Prince, if this +Castle be taken, it opens the way to Bordeaux itself. Tell him how +many brave men it contains, and say to him that I pray him not to +deem that Eustace Lynwood hath disgraced his knighthood. Tell +Arthur, too, to bear me sometimes in mind, and never forget the +line he comes of. Fare thee well, good John!" + +"Let me but hear that I have your forgiveness, Sir Knight." + +"You have it, as freely as I hope for mercy. One thing more: should +you see Leonard Ashton, let him know that I bear him no ill-will, and +pray him not to leave the fair fame of his old comrade foully stained. +Farewell: here is my hand--do not take it as scorn that it is my left +--my right I cannot move--" + +The yeoman still stood in a sort of trance, gazing at him, as if +unable to tear himself away. + +"See him off, Gaston," said the Knight; "then have the walls +properly manned--all is in your hands." + +Gaston obeyed, hurrying him to the gate, and giving him more hope +of Sir Eustace's recovery than he felt; for he knew that nothing +but the prospect of saving him was likely to inspire the yeoman +with either speed or pertinacity enough to be of use. He fondly +patted Brigliador, who turned his neck in amaze at finding it was +not his master who mounted him, and having watched them for a +moment, he turned to look round the court, which was empty, save +for the bodies of those whom he had slain in his furious onset. +He next repaired to the hall, where he found the greater part of +the men loitering about and exchanging different reports of strange +events which had taken place:--"He can't be a wizard, for certain," +said one, "or he never would be in this case, unless his bargain +was up." + +"It were shame not to stand by him now in the face of the enemy," +said another. "How bold he spoke, weak and wounded as he was!" + +"He is of the old English stock," said a third,--"a brave, stout- +hearted young Knight." + +"Well spoken, old Simon Silverlocks," said Gaston, entering. "I doubt +where you would find another such within the wide realm of France." + +"He is brave enough, that no man doubts," answered Simon, "but +somewhat of the strictest, especially considering his years. Sir +Reginald was nothing to him." + +"Was it not time to be strict when there was such a nest of treachery +within the Castle?" said Gaston. "We knew that murderous miscreant +of a Basque, and had we not kept well on our guard against him, you, +Master Simon, would long since have been hanging as high from +Montfort's tower as I trust soon to see him." + +"But how knew you him, Master d'Aubricour? that is the question," +said old Simon with a very solemn face of awe. + +"How? why by means of somewhat sharper eyes than you seem to possess. +I have no time to bandy words--all I come to ask is, will you do the +duty of honest men or not? If not, away with you, and I and the +Knight will abide here till it pleases Messire Oliver, the butcher, +to practice his trade on us. I remember, if some of the Lances of +Lynwood do not, a certain camp at Valladolid, when some of us might +have been ill off had he not stood by our beds of sickness; nor will +I easily desert that pennon which was so gallantly made a banner." + +These were remembrances to stir the hearts of the ancient Lances of +Lynwood, and there was a cry among them of, "We will never turn our +backs on it! Lynwood for ever!" + +"Right, mine old comrades. Our walls are strong; our hearts are +stronger; three days, and aid must come from Bordeaux. The traitors +are captives, and we know to whom to trust; for ye, of English birth, +and ye, my countrymen, who made in so boldly to the rescue, ye will +not fail at this pinch, and see a brave and noble Knight yielded to +a pack of cowardly murderers." + +"Never! never! We will stand by him to the last drop of our blood," +they replied; for the sight of the brave wounded Knight, as well as +the example of Gaston's earnestness and devotion, had had a powerful +effect, and they unanimously joined the Squire in a solemn pledge to +defend both Castle and Knight to the last extremity. + +"Then up with the good old banner!" said Gaston, "and let us give +Messire Oliver such a reception as he will be little prepared for." +He then gave some hasty directions, appointed old Silverlocks, a +skilled and tried warrior, to take the place of Seneschal for the +time, and to superintend the arrangements; and sending two men to +guard the entrance of Montfort's tower, where Sanchez and his +accomplices had shut themselves up, he returned to the Castellane's +chamber. + +Never was there an apartment more desolate. Chateau Norbelle was +built more to be defended than to be inhabited, and the rooms were +rather so much inclosed space than places intended for comfort. +The walls were of unhewn stone, and, as well as the roof, thickly +tapestried with cobwebs,--the narrow loophole which admitted light +was unglazed,--and there was nothing in the whole chamber that +could be called furniture, save the two rude pallets which served +the Knight and Squire for beds, and a chest which had been forced +open and rifled by the mutineers. They had carried off Eustace's +beloved books, to burn them in the court as instruments of sorcery, +and a few garments it had likewise contained lay scattered about +the room. Gaston hastened to the side of his beloved Knight, almost +dreading, from his silence and stillness, to find him expiring. But +he was only faint and exhausted, and when Gaston raised him, and +began to examine his wounds, he looked up, saying, "Thanks, thanks, +kind Gaston! but waste not your time here. The Castle! the Castle!" + +"What care I for the Castle compared to your life!" said Gaston. + +"For my honour and your own," said Eustace, fixing his eyes on his +Squire's face. "Gaston, I fear you," he added, stretching out his +hand and grasping that of d'Aubricour; "if you survive, you will +forget the duty you owe the King, for the purpose of avenging me +upon Clarenham. If ever you have loved me, Gaston, give me your +solemn promise that this shall not be." + +"It was the purpose for which I should have lived," said Gaston. + +"You resign it?" said Eustace, still retaining his hold of his hand. +"You touch not one of my wounds till you have given me your oath." + +"I swear it, then," said Gaston, "since you will ever have your own +way, and I do it the rather that Messire Oliver de Clisson will +probably save me the pain of keeping the pledge." + +"You have taken all measures for defence?" + +"Yes. The men-at-arms, such as are left, may be trusted, and have +all taken an oath to stand by us, which I do not think they will +readily break. The rest either made off with the baggage-mules, or +were slain when we broke in to your rescue, or are shut up with Le +Borgne Basque in Montfort's tower. I have sent the men to their +posts, put them under Silverlock's orders, and told him to come to +me for directions." + +Eustace at last resigned himself into the Squire's hands. A broken +arm, a ghastly-looking cut on the head, and a deep thrust with a +poniard in the breast, seemed the most serious of the injuries he had +received; but there were numerous lesser gashes and stabs which had +occasioned a great effusion of blood, and he had been considerably +bruised by his fall. + +Gaston could attempt nothing but applying some ointment, sold by a +Jew at Bordeaux as an infallible cure for all wounds and bruises; and, +having done all he could for the comfort of his patient, quitted him +to attend to the defence of the Castle. + +His first visit was to Montfort's tower, one of the four flanking the +main body of the Castle. + +"Well, Master Thibault Sanchez, or, if you like it better, Le Borgne +Basque," cried he, "thank you for saving us some trouble. You have +found yourself a convenient prison there, and I hope you are at your +ease." + +"We shall see how you are at your ease, Master Gaston le Maure," +retorted Sanchez from the depths of the tower, "when another Borgne +shall make his appearance, and string you up as a traitor to King +Charles, your liege lord." + +"Le Borgne Basque talking of traitors and such gear!" returned +Gaston; "but he will tell a different tale when the succours come +from the Prince." + +"Ha! ha!" laughed Thibault, "a little bird whispered in mine ear +that you may look long for succour from Bordeaux." + +This was, in a great measure, Gaston's own conviction; but he only +replied the more vehemently that it could not fail, since neither +Knights nor Castles were so lightly parted with, and that he trusted +soon to have the satisfaction of seeing the inhabitants of the tower +receive the reward of their treachery. + +Thus they parted--Thibault, perfectly well satisfied to remain +where he was, since he had little doubt that Oliver de Clisson's +speedy arrival would set him at liberty, and turn the tables upon +Gaston; and Gaston, glad that, since he could not at present have +the satisfaction of hanging him, he was in a place where he could +do no mischief, and whence he could not escape. + +Now the warder on the watch-tower blew a blast, and every eye was +turned towards the eastern part of the country, where, in the +direction of Carcassonne, was to be seen a thick cloud of dust, +from which, in due time, were visible the flashes of armour, and +the points of weapons. Gaston, having given his orders, and +quickened the activity of each man in his small garrison, hurried +down to bear the tidings to Sir Eustace, and to array himself in +his own brightest helmet and gayest surcoat. + +Ascending again to the battlements, he could see the enemy approaching, +could distinguish the banner of Clisson, and count the long array of +men-at-arms and crossbow-men as they pursued their way through the +bright green landscape, now half hidden by a rising ground, now slowly +winding from its summit. + +At last they came to the foot of the slope. Gaston had already +marked the start and pause, which showed when they first recognized +the English standard; and there was another stop, while they ranged +themselves in order, and, after a moment's interval, a man-at-arms +rode forward towards the postern door, looked earnestly at it, and +called "Sanchez!" + +"Shoot him dead!" said Gaston to an English crossbow-man who stood +beside him; "it is the villain Tristan, on poor Ferragus." + +The arblast twanged, and Tristan fell, while poor Ferragus, after +starting violently, trotted round to the well-known gate, and stood +there neighing. "Poor fellow!" said Gaston, "art calling Brigliador? +I would I knew he had sped well." + +The French, dismayed by the reception of their guide, held back; but +presently a pursuivant came forward from their ranks, and, after his +trumpet had been sounded, summoned, in the name of the good Knight, +Messire Oliver de Clisson, the garrison of Chateau Norbelle to +surrender it into his hands, as thereto commissioned by his grace, +Charles, King of France. + +The garrison replied by another trumpet, and Gaston, standing forth +upon the battlements, over the gateway, demanded to speak with Sir +Oliver de Clisson, and to have safe-conduct to and from the open +space at the foot of the slope. This being granted, the drawbridge +was lowered, and the portcullis raised. Ferragus entered, and went +straight to his own stall; and Gaston d'Aubricour came forth in +complete armour, and was conducted by the pursuivant to the leader +of the troop. Sir Oliver de Clisson, as he sat on horseback with +the visor of his helmet raised, had little or nothing of the +appearance of the courteous Knight of the period. His features +were not, perhaps, originally as harsh and ill-formed as those of +his compeer, Bertrand du Guesclin, but there was a want of the +frank open expression and courteous demeanour which so well suited +the high chivalrous temper of the great Constable of France. They +were dark and stern, and the loss of an eye, which had been put out +by an arrow, rendered him still more hard-favoured. He was, in fact, +a man soured by early injuries--his father had been treacherously +put to death by King John of France, when Duke of Normandy, and his +brother had been murdered by an Englishman--his native Brittany was +torn by dissensions and divisions--and his youth had been passed in +bloodshed and violence. He had now attained the deserved fame of +being the second Knight in France, honourable and loyal as regarded +his King, but harsh, rigid, cruel, of an unlovable temper, which +made him in after years a mark for plots and conspiracies; and the +vindictive temper of the Celtic race leading him to avenge the death +of his brother upon every Englishman who fell into his hands. + +"So, Sir Squire!" exclaimed he, in his harsh voice, "what excuse +do you come to make for slaying my messenger ere he had time to +deliver his charge?" + +"I own him as no messenger," returned Gaston. "He was a renegade +traitor from our own Castle, seeking his accomplice in villainy!" + +"Well, speak on," said Oliver, to whom the death of a man-at-arms +was a matter of slight importance. "Art thou come to deliver up +the Castle to its rightful lord?" + +"No, Messire Oliver," replied Gaston. "I come to bring the reply +of the Castellane, Sir Eustace Lynwood, that he will hold out the +Castle to the last extremity against all and each of your attacks." + +"Sir Eustace Lynwood? What means this, Master Squire? Yonder knave +declared he was dead!" + +"Hear me, Sir Oliver de Clisson," said Gaston. "Sir Eustace Lynwood +hath a pair of mortal foes at the Prince's court, who prevailed on a +part of the garrison to yield him into your hands. In my absence, +they in part succeeded. By the negligence of a drunken groom they +were enabled to fall upon him in his sleep, and, as they deemed, had +murdered him. I, returning with the rest of the garrison, was enabled +to rescue him, and deliver the Castle, where he now lies--alive, +indeed, but desperately wounded. Now, I call upon you, Sir Oliver, +to judge, whether it be the part of a true and honourable Knight to +become partner of such miscreants, and to take advantage of so foul +a web of treachery?" + +"This may be a fine tale for the ears of younger knights-errant, +Sir Squire," was the reply of Clisson. "For my part though I am +no lover of treason, I may not let the King's service be stayed by +scruples. For yourself, Sir Squire, I make you a fair offer. You +are, by your tongue and countenance, a Gascon--a liegeman born of +King Charles of France. To you, and to every other man of French +birth, I offer to enter his service, or to depart whither it may +please you, with arms and baggage, so you will place the Castle +in our hands--and leave us to work our will of the island dogs +it contains!" + +"Thanks, Sir Oliver, for such a boon as I would not vouchsafe to +stoop to pick up, were it thrown at my feet!" + +"Well and good, Sir Squire," said Clisson, rather pleased at the +bold reply. "We understand each other. Fare thee well." + +And Gaston walked back to the Castle, muttering to himself, "Had it +been but the will of the Saints to have sent Du Guesclin hither, +then would Sir Eustace have been as safe and free as in Lynwood +Keep itself! But what matters it? If he dies of his wounds, what +good would my life do me, save to avenge him--and from that he has +debarred me. So, grim Oliver, do thy worst!--Ha!" as he entered +the Castle--"down portcullis--up drawbridge! Archers, bend your +bows! Martin, stones for the mangonel!" + +Nor was the assault long delayed. Clisson's men only waited to +secure their horses and prepare their ladders, and the attack was +made on every side. + +It was well and manfully resisted. Bravely did the little garrison +struggle with the numbers that poured against them on every side, +and the day wore away in the desperate conflict. + +Sir Eustace heard the loud cries of "Montjoie St. Denis! Clisson!" +on the one side, and the "St. George for Merry England! A Lynwood!" +with which his own party replied; he heard the thundering of heavy +stones, the rush of combatants, the cries of victory or defeat. +Sometimes his whole being seemed in the fight; he clenched his +teeth, he shouted his war-cry, tried to raise himself and lift his +powerless arm; then returned again to the consciousness of his +condition, clasped either the rosary or the crucifix, and turned +his soul to fervent prayer; then, again, the strange wild cries +without confounded themselves into one maddening noise on his +feverish ear, or, in the confusion of his weakened faculties, he +would, as it were, believe himself to be his brother dying on the +field of Navaretta, and scarce be able to rouse himself to a feeling +of his own identity. + +So passed the day--and twilight was fast deepening into night, when +the cries, a short time since more furious than ever, and nearer +and more exulting on the part of the French, at length subsided, +and finally died away; the trampling steps of the men-at-arms could +be heard in the hall below, and Gaston himself came up with hasty +step, undid his helmet, and, wiping his brow, threw himself on the +ground with his back against the chest, saying, "Well, we have done +our devoir, at any rate! Poor Brigliador! I am glad he has a kind +master in Ingram!" + +"Have they won the court?" asked Eustace. "I thought I heard their +shouts within it." + +"Ay! Even so. How could we guard such an extent of wall with barely +five and twenty men? Old Silverlocks and Jaques de l'Eure are slain +Martin badly wounded, and we all forced back into the inner court, +after doing all it was in a man to do." + +"I heard your voice, bold and cheerful as ever, above the tumult," +said Eustace. "But the inner court is fit for a long defence--that +staircase parapet, where so few can attack at once." + +"Ay," said Gaston, "it was that and the darkness that stopped +them. There I can detain them long enough to give the chance of the +succours, so those knaves below do not fail in spirit--and they know +well enough what chance they have from yon grim-visaged Breton! But +as to those succours, I no more expect them than I do to see the +Prince at their head! A hundred to one that he never hears of our +need, or, if he should, that Pembroke and Clarenham do not delay the +troops till too late." + +"And there will be the loss of the most important castle, and the +most faithful and kindest heart!" said Eustace. "But go, Gaston-- +food and rest you must need after this long day's fight--and the +defences must be looked to, and the men cheered!" + +"Yes," said Gaston, slowly rising, and bending over the Knight; "but +is there nought I can do for you, Sir Eustace?" + +"Nought, save to replenish my cup of water. It is well for me that +the enemy have not cut us off from the Castle well." + +Gaston's supper did not occupy him long. He was soon again in +Eustace's room, talking over his plan of defence for the next day; +but with little, if any, hope that it would be other than his last +struggle. At last, wearied out with the exertions of that day and +the preceding, he listened to Eustace's persuasions, and, removing +the more cumbrous portions of his armour, threw himself on his bed, +and, in a moment, his regular breathings announced that he was +sound asleep. + +It was in the pale early light of dawn that he awoke, and, starting +up while still half asleep, exclaimed, "Sir Eustace, are you there? +I should have relieved guard long since!" Then, as he recalled his +situation, "I had forgot! How is it with you, Sir Eustace? Have +you slept?" + +"No," said Eustace. "I have not lost an hour of this last night +I shall ever see. It will soon be over now--the sun is already +reddening the sky; and so, Gaston, ends our long true-hearted +affection. Little did I think it would bring thee to thy death +in the prime of they strength and manhood!" and he looked +mournfully on the lofty stature and vigorous form of the Squire, +as he stood over him. + +"For that, Sir Eustace, there is little cause to grieve. I have been +a wanderer, friendless and homeless, throughout my life; and save for +yourself, and, perhaps, poor little Arthur's kind heart, where is one +who would cast a second thought on me, beyond, perhaps, saying, 'He +was a brave and faithful Squire!' But little, little did I think, +when I saw your spurs so nobly won, that this was to be the end of +it--that you were to die, defamed and reviled, in an obscure den, and +by the foul treachery of--" + +"Speak not of that, Gaston," said Eustace. "I have dwelt on it in +the long hours of the night, and I have schooled my mind to bear +it. Those with whom we shall soon be, know that if I have sinned +in many points, yet I am guiltless in that whereof they accuse me-- +and, for the rest, there are, at least, two who will think no shame +of Eustace Lynwood. And now, if there is yet time, Gaston, since +no Priest is at hand, I would pray thee to do me the last favour of +hearing the confession of my sins." + +And Gaston kneeling down, the Knight and Squire, according to the +custom of warriors in extremity, confessed to each other, with the +crucifix raised between them. Eustace then, with his weak and +failing voice, repeated several prayers and psalms appropriate to +the occasion, in which Gaston joined with hearty devotion. By this +time, a slight stir was heard within the Castle; and Gaston, rising +from his knees, went to the loophole, which commanded a view of the +court, where the French had taken up their quarters for the night +in some of the outbuildings--and the lion rampant of Clisson was +waving in triumph on the gateway tower. + +"All silent there," said he; "but I must go to rouse our knaves in +time to meet the first onset." And, as he clasped on his armour, +he continued, "All that is in the power of man will we do! Rest +assured, Sir Eustace, they reach you not save through my body; +and let your prayers be with me. One embrace, Sir Eustace, and +we meet no more--" + +"In this world." Eustace concluded the sentence, as Gaston hung +over him, and his tears dropped on his face. "Farewell, most +faithful and most true-hearted! Go, I command thee! Think not +on me--think on thy duty--and good angels will be around us both. +Farewell, farewell." + +Gaston, for the first time in his life, felt himself unable to speak. +He crossed the room with slow and lingering step; then, with a great +effort, dashed out at the door, closing his visor as he did so, and, +after a short interval, during which he seemed to have stopped on the +stairs, Eustace could hear his gay bold tones, calling, "Up! up! my +merry men, all! Let not the French dogs find the wolf asleep in his +den. They will find our inner bartizan a hard stone for their teeth-- +and it will be our own fault, if they crack it before the coming of +our brave comrades from Bordeaux!" + + + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + + +The open space beyond the walls of Bordeaux presented a bright and +lively scene. It was here that the pages of the Black Prince were +wont to exercise those sports and pastimes for which the court of +the palace scarce offered sufficient space, or which were too noisy +for the neighbourhood of the ladies, and of the invalid Prince. + +Of noble and often of princely birth were all who entered that +school of chivalry, and, for the most part, the fine open +countenances, noble bearing, and well-made figures of the boys, +testified their high descent, as completely as the armorial +bearings embroidered on the back and front of their short kirtles. +Many different provinces had sent their noblest to be there +trained in the service of the bravest Knights and Princes. There, +besides the brown-haired, fair-skinned English boy, was the quick +fiery Welsh child, who owned an especial allegiance to the Prince; +the broad blue-eyed Fleming, whose parents rejoiced in the fame of +the son of Philippa of Hainault; the pert, lively Gascon, and the +swarthy Navarrese mountaineer--all brought together in close and +ever-changing contrast of countenance, habits, and character. + +Of all the merry groups scattered through that wide green space, the +most interesting was one formed by three boys, who stood beneath a +tree, a little from the rest. The two eldest might be from ten to +eleven years old, the third two or three years younger, and his +delicate features, fair pale complexion, and slender limbs, made him +appear too weak and childish for such active sports as the rest were +engaged in, but that the lordly glance of his clear blue eye, his +firm tread, and the noble carriage of his shapely head, had in them +something of command, which attracted notice even before the exceeding +beauty of his perfectly moulded face, and long waving curls of golden +hair. + +So like him, that they might have passed for brothers, was one of the +elder boys, who stood near--there was the same high white brow, proud +lip, regular features, and bright eye; but the complexion, though +naturally fair, was tanned to a healthy brown where exposed to the +sun; the frame was far stronger and more robust; and the glance of +the eye had more in it of pride and impatience, than of calm command +so remarkable in the little one. The three boys were standing in +consultation over an arrow which they had just discovered, stuck +deep in the ground. + +"'Tis my arrow, that I shot over the mark on Monday," said the elder. + +"Nay, Harry," said the younger boy, "that cannot be; for remember +Thomas Holland said your arrow would frighten the good nuns of St. +Ursula in their garden." + +"It must be mine," persisted Harry--"for none of you all can shoot +as far." + +"Yes, English Arthur can," said the little boy. "He shot a whole +cloth-yard beyond you the day--" + +"Well, never mind, Edward," said Harry, sharply--"who cares for +arrows?--weapons for clowns, and not for Princes!" + +"Nay, not so, Lord Harry," interrupted the third boy: "I have heard +my uncle say, many a time, that England's archery is half her strength +--and how it was our archers at the battle of Crecy--" + +"I know all that--how the men of Genoa had wet bow-strings, and ours +dry ones," said Henry; "but they were peasants, after all!" + +"Ay; but a King of England should know how to praise and value his +good yeomen." + +Henry turned on his heel, and, saying, "Well, let the arrow be whose +it will, I care not for it," walked off. + +"Do you know why Harry of Lancaster goes, Arthur?" said Edward, +smiling. + +"No, my Lord," replied Arthur. + +"He cannot bear to hear aught of King of England," was the answer. +"If you love me, good Arthur, vex him not with speaking of it." + +"Father Cyril would say, he ought to learn content with the rank +where he was born," said Arthur. + +"Father Cyril, again!" said Prince Edward. "You cannot live a day +without speaking of him, and of your uncle." + +"I do not speak of them so much now," said Arthur, colouring, "It +is only you, Lord Edward, who never make game of me for doing so-- +though, I trow, I have taught Pierre de Greilly to let my uncle's +name alone." + +"Truly, you did so," said Edward, laughing, "and he has scarce yet +lost his black eye. But I love to hear your tales, Arthur, of that +quiet Castle, and the old Blanc Etoile, and your uncle, who taught +you to ride. Sit down here on the grass, and tell me more. But what +are you staring at so fixedly? At the poor jaded horse, that yonder +man-at-arms is urging on so painfully?" + +"'Tis--No, it is not--Yes, 'tis Brigliador, and John Ingram himself," +cried Arthur. "Oh, my uncle! my uncle!" And, in one moment, he +had bounded across the ditch, which fenced in their exercising +ground, and had rushed to meet Ingram. "Oh, John!" exclaimed he, +breathlessly, "have they done it? Oh, tell me of Uncle Eustace! +I he alive?" + +"Master Arthur!" exclaimed Ingram, stopping his wearied horse. + +"Oh, tell me, Ingram," reiterated Arthur, "is my uncle safe?" + +"He is alive, Master Arthur--that is, he was when I came away, but +as sore wounded as ever I saw a Knight. And the butcher of Brittany +is upon them by this time! And here I am sent to ask succours--and +I know no more whom to address myself, than the cock at the top of +Lynwood steeple!" + +"But what has chanced, John?--make haste, and tell me." + +And John, in his own awkward and confused style, narrated how he +had been entrapped by Sanchez, and the consequences of his excess. +"But," said he, "I have vowed to our Lady of Taunton, and St. +Joseph of Glastonbury, that never again--" + +Arthur had covered his face with his hands, and gave way to tears +of indignation and grief, as he felt his helplessness. But one +hand was kindly withdrawn, and a gentle voice said, "Weep not, +Arthur, but come with me, and my father will send relief to the +Castle, and save your uncle." + +"You here, Lord Edward?" exclaimed Arthur, who had not perceived +that the Prince had followed him. "Oh yes, thanks, thanks! None +but the Prince can save him. Oh, let me see him myself, and that +instantly!" + +"Then, let us come," said Edward, still holding Arthur's hand. + +Arthur set off at such a pace, as to press the little Prince into +a breathless trot by his side; but he, too, was all eagerness, and +scorned to complain. They proceeded without interruption to the +court of the palace. Edward, leading the way, hastened to his +mother's apartments. He threw open the door, looked in, and, +saying to Arthur, "He must be in the council chamber," cut short +an exclamation of Lady Maude Holland, by shutting the door, and +running down a long gallery to an ante-chamber, where were several +persons waiting for an audience, and two warders, with halberts +erect, standing on guard outside a closed door. + +"The Prince is in council, my Lord." + +Edward drew up his head, and, waving them aside with a gesture that +became the heir of England, said, "I take it upon myself." He then +opened the door, and, still holding Arthur fast by the hand, led him +into the chamber where the Prince of Wales sat in consultation. + +There was a pause of amazement as the two boys advanced to the high +carved chair on which the Prince was seated--and Edward exclaimed, +"Father, save Arthur's uncle!" + +"What means this, Edward?" demanded the Prince of Wales, somewhat +sternly. "Go to your mother, boy--we cannot hear you now, and--" + +"I cannot go, father," replied the child, "till you have promised +to save Arthur's uncle! He is wounded!--the traitors have wounded +him!--and the French will take the Castle, and he will be slain! +And Arthur loves him so much!" + +"Come here, Edward," said the Prince, remarking the flushed cheek +and tearful eye of his son. "and tell me what this means." + +Edward obeyed, but without loosing his hold of his young friend's +hand. "The man-at-arms is come, all heat and dust, on the poor +drooping, jaded steed--and he said, the Knight would be slain, and +the Castle taken, unless you would send him relief. It is Arthur's +uncle that he loves so well." + +"Arthur's uncle?" repeated the Prince--and, turning his eyes on the +suppliant figure, he said, "Arthur Lynwood! Speak, boy." + +"Oh, my Lord," said Arthur, commanding his voice with difficulty, +"I would only pray you to send succour to my uncle at Chateau +Norbelle, and save him from being murdered by Oliver de Clisson." + +It was a voice which boded little good to Arthur's suit that now +spoke. "If it be Sir Eustace Lynwood, at Chateau Norbelle, of +whom the young Prince speaks, he can scarce be in any strait, since +the garrison is more than sufficient." + +The little page started to his feet, and, regarding the speaker with +flashing eyes, exclaimed, "Hearken not to him, my Lord Prince! He is +the cause of all the treachery!--he is the ruin and destruction of my +uncle;--he has deceived you with his falsehoods! --and now he would +be his death!" + +"How now, my young cousin!" said Clarenham, in a most irritating tone +of indifference--"you forget in what presence you are." + +"I do not," replied Arthur, fiercely. "Before the Prince, Fulk +Clarenham, I declare you a false traitor!--and, if you dare deny +it, there lies my gloves!" + +Fulk only replied by a scornful laugh, and, addressing the Prince, +said, "May I pray of your Grace not to be over severe with my young +malapert relation." + +The Captal de Buch spoke: "You do not know what an adversary you +have provoked, Fulk! The other day, I met my nephew, little Pierre, +with an eye as black as the patch we used to wear in our young days +of knight-errantry. 'What wars have you been in, Master Pierre?' +I asked. It was English Arthur who had fought with him, for +mocking at his talking of nothing but his uncle. But you need not +colour, and look so abashed, little Englishman!--I bear no more +malice than I hope Pierre does--I only wish I had as bold a champion! +I remember thine uncle, if he is the youth to whom the Constable +surrendered at Navaretta, and of whom we made so much." + +"Too much then, and too little afterwards," said old Sir John Chandos. + +"You do not know all, Chandos," said the Prince. + +"You do not yourself know all, my Lord," said Arthur, turning eagerly. +"Lord de Clarenham has deceived you, and led you to imagine that my +uncle wished ill to me, and wanted to gain my lands; whereas it is +he himself who wants to have me in his hands to bend me to his will. +It is he who has placed traitors in Chateau Norbelle to slay my uncle +and deliver him to the enemy; they have already wounded him almost to +death"--here Arthur's lips quivered, and he could hardly restrain a +burst of tears--"and they have sent for Sir Oliver de Clisson, the +butcher. Gaston will hold out as long as they can, but if you will +not send succours, my Lord, he will--will be slain; and kind Gaston +too;" and Arthur, unable to control himself any longer, covered his +face with his hands, and gave way to a silent suppressed agony of +sobs and tears. + +"Cheer thee, my boy," said the Prince, kindly; "we will see to thine +uncle." Then, looking at his nobles, he continued, "It seems that +these varlets will allow us no more peace; and since there does in +truth appear to be a Knight and Castle in jeopardy, one of you had, +perhaps, better go with a small band, and clear up this mystery. If +it be as the boy saith, Lynwood hath had foul wrong." + +"I care not if I be the one to go, my Lord," said Chandos; "my men +are aver kept in readiness, and a night's gallop will do the lazy +knaves all the good in the world." + +Arthur, brushing off the tears, of which he was much ashamed, looked +at the old Knight in transport. + +"Thanks, Chandos," said the Prince; "I would commit the matter to +none so willingly as to you, though I scarce would have asked it, +considering you were not quite so prompt on a late occasion." + +"My Lord of Pembroke will allow, however, that I did come in time," +said Sir John. "It was his own presumption and foolhardiness that +got him into the scrape, and he was none the worse for the lesson +he received. But this young fellow seems to have met with this +mischance by no fault of his own; and I am willing to see him +righted; for he is a good lad as well as a brave, as far as I have +known him." + +"How came the tidings?" asked the Prince. "Did not one of you boys +say somewhat of a man-at-arms?" + +"Yes, my Lord," said Arthur; "John Ingram, my uncle's own yeoman, has +come upon Brigliador with all speed. I sent him to the guard-room, +where he now waits in case you would see him." + +"Ay," said old Chandos, "a man would have some assurance that he is +not going on a fool's errand. Let us have him here, my Lord." + +"Cause him to be summoned," said the Prince to Arthur. + +"And at the same time," said Chandos, "send for my Squire, Henry +Neville, to the ante-chamber. The men may get on their armour in +the meantime." + +In a few minutes John Ingram made his appearance, the dust not yet +wiped from his armour, his hair hanging is disordered masses over +his forehead, and his jaws not completely resting from the +mastication of a huge piece of pasty. His tale, though confused, +could not be for an instant doubted, as he told of the situation +in which he had left Chateau Norbelle and its Castellane, "The best +man could wish to live under. Well, he hath forgiven me, and given +me his hand upon it" + +"Forgiven thee--for what?" said the Prince. + +"Ah! my Lord, I may speak of treason, but I am one of the traitors +myself! Did not the good Knight leave me in charge to make my +rounds constantly in the Castle, while he slept after his long +watching? and lo, there comes that wily rascal, the Seneschal, +Sanchez, with his ''Tis a cold night, friend John; the Knight wakes +thee up early; come down to the buttery, and crack a cup of sack in +all friendliness!' Down then go I, oaf that I was, thinking that, +may be, our Knight was over strict and harsh, and pulled the reins +so tight, that a poor man-at-arms must needs get a little diversion +now and then--as the proverb says, "when the cat's away, the mice +may play.' But it was drugged, my Lord, else when would one cup +of spiced wine have so overcome me that I knew nought till I hear +Master d'Aubricour shouting treason in the courtyard like one +frantic? But the Knight has forgiven me, and I have sworn to our +blessed Lady of Taunton, and St. Joseph of Glastonbury, that not a +draught of wine, spiced or unspiced, shall again cross my lips." + +"A wholesome vow," said the Prince; "and her is a token to make +thee remember it,"--and he placed in the hand of the yeoman a +chain of some value. "Go to the guard-room, where you shall be +well entertained till such time as we need thee again, as we may, +if you have been, as you say, long in Sir Eustace Lynwood's service. +But what now? Hast more to say?" + +"I would say--so please you, my Lord--that I pray you but to let me +ride back to Chateau Norbelle with this honourable Knight, for I owe +all service to Sir Eustace, nor could I rest till I know how it fares +with him." + +"As you will, good fellow," said the Prince; "and you, Chandos, come +with me to my chamber--I would speak with you before you depart." + +"My Lord," said Arthur, "would you but grant me one boon--to go with +Sir John to Chateau Norbelle?" + +"You too? You would almost make me think you all drawn by witchcraft +to this Castle!" But Arthur's eagerness extorted a consent, and he +rode off amid Sir John Chandos's troop, boldly enough at first, but +by and by so sleepily, that, as night advanced, Sir John ordered him +to be placed in front of a trooper, and he soon lost all perception +of the rough rapid pace at which they travelled. It was broad day +when he was awakened by a halt, and the first thing he heard was, +"There is St. George's pennon still safe!" + +He sat upright, gazed eagerly forwards, and beheld a tall dark +tower rising by the bank of a stream at some distance. "Chateau +Norbelle?" he asked. + +"Oh, ho! my little page," said Chandos. "You are alive again, are +you? Ay, Chateau Norbelle it is--and we are in time it seems! But +let us have you on your own steed again. And let us see--if Oliver +be there himself, we shall have sharp work. Ay, keep you by the +side of the old master leech there--he will be sure to keep out of +peril. Now--close in--lances in rest--bows bent. Forward banner!" + +Arthur, by no means approving of the companionship assigned him, +contrived to wedge in his pony a little in the rear of Sir John's +two Squires, as the whole squadron rode down the slope of the hill, +and up the ascent on which the Castle stood. Loud cries and shrieks +from within began to strike their ears--the clash of arms--all the +tumult of attack and defence raging fearfully high and wild. + +"Ho, ho! friend Oliver!--we have you in a trap!" said old Chandos, +in high glee, as he drew up close without the walls. "Neville, +guard the gates!" + +He signed to about half his band to remain without, and cut off the +retreat of the enemy. The Jew doctor chose his post in their rear, +close to the Castle moat--but not so Arthur. Unnoticed and forgotten, +he still kept close behind the Squire, who rode alongside of Sir John +Chandos, as he crossed the drawbridge. The Castle gate was open, and +showed a wild confused mass of struggling men and flashing arms. It +was the last, most furious onset, when Clisson, enraged by the long +resistance of so weak a garrison, was concentrating his strength in +one effort, and, in the excitement of the assault, he had failed to +remark that his sentinels had transgressed his orders, and mingled +with the crowd, who were striving, by force of numbers, to overwhelm +the small troop of defenders of the bartizan. + +In rushed Chandos, shouting his war-cry!--In dashed his stout +warriors, and loud and fierce pealed forth "St. George! St George!" +drowning the now feebler note of "Montjoie, St. Denis!" and fearful +were the shrieks of horror and of pain that rose mingled with it. +Hemmed in, attacked in front and rear, their retreat cut off, the +French looked in vain for escape; some went down beneath the +tremendous charge of the English, some cried for mercy, and +surrendered as prisoners. Oliver de Clisson himself, seeing that +all was lost, swinging round his head his heavy battle-axe, opened +for himself a way, and, with a few followers, broke through the +men whom Chandos had left outside, and, cutting down a groom who +was holding it, captured one of his led horses, on which he rode +off at his leisure, confident in his own gigantic strength. + +So little resistance had been offered, that Arthur's bold advance +had involved him in little danger; he was borne onwards, and only +was conscious of a frightful tumult, where all seemed to be +striking and crushing together. At last, there was something of +a lull; the cries of mercy, and offers to surrender, alone were +heard. Arthur found his pony standing still, and himself pressed +hither and thither by the crowd, from which he knew not how to +escape. + +Above these various sounds he heard an opening door--there was +a press forward, which carried him with it. The heavy doors, +shivered here and there by Clisson's axe, had been thrown wide +open; but the crowd closed in--he saw no more. He threw himself +from his pony, struggled forwards, and at last, emerging between +the arms of two tall men, he beheld Sir John Chandos dismounting +from his war-horse, which was held by a grim, bloody, dusty figure +in broken armour, whose length of limb, and the crisp, black, +curled hair that showed through the shattered helmet, proved +that it could be no other than Gaston d'Aubricour. + +Arthur darted forwards, his heart upon his lips; but neither Knight +nor Squire had eye or ear for him; they were hastily exchanging +queries about--he knew not what--they were not of his uncle; and, +borne on by his impatience, he hurried past them up the narrow +stone stair. More than one corpse--a ghastly sight--lay on the +steps, but he hastened on; half a dozen men were standing on the +stones at the top, all, like Gaston, dusty and gory, and leaning +on their weapons, or on the wall, as if exhausted. They were +looking intently at the court, and gave no heed to the boy, as he +ran on into the hall. Two men lay there groaning before the fire. +Arthur stood and looked round, hesitating whether to ask them for +his uncle; but, perceiving the spiral stairs, quickly ascended. +Far and far up he wound, till he came to a low-browed arch; he +paused, and saw a large vaulted room, through the loop-hole window +of which shone a yellow stream of golden sunshine. There was a low +bed in one corner, and on it lay a motionless form. On tiptoe, and +with a throbbing heart, the boy approached; he saw the face--it was +ghastly pale. He stood transfixed--could it be?--yes, it must still +be, his own Uncle Eustace. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + + +It was still very early, and the narrow line of sky seen from the +turret window was gilded by the bright pale-green light of morning, +when Sir Eustace awoke. All around was perfectly still, and he +could have believed himself waking merely from a dream of tumult +and disturbance, but for his feelings of pain and weakness. At +some little distance lay, on a softly-dressed sheepskin, the +oriental figure of the Jewish mediciner, and, at the foot of his +own bed, the unexpected form of little Arthur reclined, half +sitting, half lying, with his head resting on his crossed arms, +and his long curls floating over them. All was a riddle to his +misty remembrance, clouded by weakness; and, in vague uncertain +recollections and conjectures, the time rolled away, till the +sounds of awakening and calls of the warders within the Castle +betokened that it was occupied by no small number of persons. +Still Arthur slept on, and Eustace abstained from the slightest +movement that could disturb him, till a step stole quietly to the +door, and Gaston's head was seen cautiously and anxiously looking +in. Eustace, raising his hand, beckoned him, and made a sign of +silence. + +"How is with you, Sir Eustace? It must needs be better. I see a +light in your eye once more." + +"I am another man since yesterday, Gaston; but be careful--see there." + +"Little fear of breaking such sleep as that," said Gaston. "'Tis +a noble-hearted little fellow, and if matters go better with us +henceforth, it will be his work." + +"What is become of Clisson?" + +"He was riding off headlong when Master Henry Neville last beheld +him, gaining thereby a sound rating from old Chandos." + +"Sir John Chandos here?" + +"Fast asleep in your own carved chair, with his feet on the oaken +settle." + +"Sir John Chandos!" again exclaimed Eustace. + +"Even so. All thanks to the brave young damoiseau who--" + +Here Gaston's ardour had the effect of awakening the doctor, who +immediately began to grumble at his patient's admitting visitors +without permission. By the time he had examined Eustace's wounds +and pronounced him to be progressing favourably, the whole Castle +was up and awake, and Arthur, against his will, was sent down to +attend on Sir John Chandos at breakfast, when scarce satisfied +that his uncle could speak to him. + +In process of time he came up to announce a visit from Chandos +himself, and close on his steps followed the stalwart old warrior. +Pausing at the door, he looked around him, struck with the aspect +of the dungeon-like apartment, still more rugged in the morning +light than in the evening gloom--the bare rough walls, an arrow +sticking between the stones immediately above the Knight's head, +the want of furniture, the Knight's own mantle and that of Gaston +both called into requisition to protect him from the damp chill +night air, their bright hues and rich embroidery contrasting with +the squalid appearance of all around, as, indeed, did the noble +though pale features of the wounded man himself, and the graceful +attire and shining hair of the fair young boy who stood over him. +But Sir John beheld all with no dissatisfaction. + +"Well, my brave young Sir," said he, advancing, "how is it with you +this morning? You look cheerily; I trust we shall soon have you on +horseback again." + +"Thanks to the blessed Saints and to you, Sir John," replied Eustace. +"I fear you fared ill last night for,"--and he looked round with a +smile--"you see, I occupy the state bed-chamber." + +"The better, Sir Eustace," said Chandos. "It does my heart good +to see such a chamber as this--none of the tapestry and hangings +which our young Knights nowadays fence themselves with, as if they +kept out the foe--this is what it is meant for--a stronghold, and +not a bower. I'll have my dainty young Master Neville up here, to +see how a good Knight should be lodged." + +"I fear he would scarce consider it as an example," said Eustace, +smiling, "since all our simplicity would not have availed to +protect us, but for your coming. We little dreamt to see this +morning's light." + +"True, but where should I look for a garrison to make such a defence +as you and your Squire have done? When I saw the spot, and looked +at the numbers, and heard how long you had held out, methought I +was returned once more to the good old days of Calais. And here +this youth of mine, not yet with his spurs, though I dare say full +five years older than you, must needs look sour upon it, because he +has to sleep on a settle for one night--and that, too, when he has +let Oliver de Clisson slip through his fingers, without so much as +a scratch taken or given on either side! It grieves my very soul +to think on it! But all has gone to rack and ruin since the Prince +has been unable to set the example." + +"Is the Prince better in health?" + +"Yes--so they say--but his looks tell another tale, and I never +expect to see him on horseback again," said the old warrior, with +a deep sigh. "But I have to do his bidding here, and have much to +ask of you, Sir Eustace; and I do it the more willingly, that I +rejoice to see a brave man righted." + +"Has the Prince, then, commanded an inquiry into my conduct?" +exclaimed Eustace, joyfully. "It is what I have ever most warmly +desired." + +"And know you whom you have to thank?" said Sire John. "That +youngster who stands at your feet--'twas he that, with little Prince +Edward, burst into the council, and let not another word be said +till he had told your need, given Fulk Clarenham the lie direct, +and challenged him to prove his words. Pray when is the defiance +to be fought out, Sir Page?" + +Arthur coloured crimson, and looked down; then raising his glowing +face, said firmly, "To-morrow, if need were, Sir--for God would +defend the right!" + +"Roundly spoken, Master Page! But let not your early years be all +talk, nothing worth." + +"The same warning that you gave to me, Sir John," said Eustace. + +"When you thought I looked coldly and churlishly on your new-won +honours," said Sir John. "I own I thought the Prince was bestowing +knighthood over lightly--and so do I say still, Sir Eustace. But +I saw, afterwards, that you were not so easily uplifted as I had +thought. I saw you as diligent in the study of all that was +knightly as if your spurs were yet to earn, and I knew the Prince +had a brave young servant in you." + +"If he would have trusted me!" said Eustace. + +"He hath been deceived by the flatterers who have gained his ear. +It should not have been thus had I been at court; but things have +been much against my counsel. It may be that I have been too plain +spoken--forgetting that he is not the boy who used to be committed +to my charge--it may be that he hath been over hasty--and yet, when +I look on his changed mien and wasted face, I can scarce blame him, +nor must you, Sir Eustace, though cruel injustice hath, I fear, +been done you." + +"I blame our glorious Prince!" exclaimed the young Knight. "I would +as soon blame the sun in heaven because the clouds hide his face from +me for a time!" + +"The clouds are likely to be dispersed with a vengeance," said +Chandos. "The confession of yonder mutinous traitors will clear you +from all that your accusers have said, by proving their villainy and +baseness!" + +"How? Sanchez and his fellows? Have they surrendered?" + +"Yes. They kept themselves shut up in Montfort's tower until they +lost all hope of relief from their friends without; then, being in +fear of starvation, they were forced to surrender, and came forth, +praying that their lives might be spared. I, as you may suppose, +would as lief have spared the life of a wolf, and the halters were +already round their necks, when your dark-visaged Squire prayed me +to attempt to gain a confession from them; and, sure enough, they +told a marvellous tale:--that Clarenham had placed them here to +deliver you up to the enemy, whom they were to admit by a secret +passage--and that they would have done it, long since, save that +you and your Squire not only discovered the passage, but showed +such vigilance, and so frustrated all their plans, that they firmly +believed that you held commerce with the foul fiend. Did you, in +truth, suspect their treachery?" + +"Yes," replied Eustace, looking at Arthur. "The recognition of Le +Borgne Basque in the Seneschal would have been sufficient to set us +on our guard." + +"But the passage?" asked Sir John, "what knowledge had you of that? +for they vow that you could never have discovered it but by art +magic." + +"We found it by long and diligent search." + +"And what led you to search, Sir Eustace? I you can clear up the +matter, it will be the better for you; for this accusation of +witchcraft will hang to you like a burr--the more, perhaps, as you +are somewhat of a scholar!" + +"It was I who warned him of it, Sir Knight," said Arthur, stepping +forward. + +"You, young Page!" exclaimed Sir John. "Are you jesting? Ha! then +you must have, page-like, been eaves-dropping!--I should scarce have +thought it of you." + +"Oh, uncle!" exclaimed Arthur, in great distress, "you do not +believe me capable of aught so unknightly? Do but say that you, +at least, trust my word, when I say that I learnt their plots by +no means unbecoming the son of Sir Reginald Lynwood." + +"I believe you fully, Arthur," replied his uncle; "the more, that +I should have been the last person to whom you would have brought +information gained in such a fashion." + +"And how was it gained?" asked Sir John. + +"That," said the boy, "is a secret I am bound never to disclose." + +"Strange, passing strange," repeated the old Knight, shaking his +head. "Clarenham and Ashton would scarce have taken any into their +councils who would warn you. And you will or can tell no more?" + +"No more," replied the boy. "I was bidden secretly to warn my uncle +of the entrance to the vaults, and of the treachery of this villain +garrison. I did so, and he who says aught dishonourable of him or +of me lies in his throat." + +"Can you read this riddle, Sir Eustace?" asked Chandos, looking +rather suspiciously at the very faint glow which mantled in the +white cheek of the wounded Knight. + +"I know nothing but what he has told you, Sir John," replied he. + +"Nor guess aught?" said Sir John; "but perhaps that is scarce a +fair query; and I will to the rest of my business, though it is +scarce needed--only I would have the Prince see the full extent +of the falsehoods with which he has been gulled." And he then +proceeded to inquire into the circumstances of Lady Eleanor's +funeral, the brawling, the violent abstraction of Arthur, and +of a considerable portion of his property, and the long delay, +which had given his enemies so much opportunity to blacken his +character. Eustace explained all fully to the satisfaction of +Chandos, and appealed to numerous witnesses. + +"That is well," said the old Knight. "We shall have it all clear +as daylight;--and the only wonder is, that the Prince could be so +long deceived by such monstrous falsehoods. Let me see--your right +to the wardship is established?" + +"Yes; it hath been so decided by the Bishop of Winchester." + +"And let me tell you, Sir Eustace, you did yourself little good by +getting the interest of the Duke of Lancaster. Methought it still +further prejudiced the Prince." + +"It was justice that I sought, not favour," said Eustace. + +"The knightly view," said Sir John; "and it was more the work of +your friends than yourself; but I never loved that young John of +Lancaster, and still less since he hath seemed willing to make a +party for himself. I trow he hath given the Prince a distrust of +all uncles. Ha! little varlet!" added he, as he met Arthur's eyes-- +"if you can keep one secret, keep another, or, still better, forget +what I have said. Understandest thou?" + +"I will answer for him," said Eustace. + +"And now," said Chandos, "I must be on my way back; for that +expedition to Bescancon must be looked to. But what is to be done +with the boy?" + +"Oh, I remain here," cried Arthur, eagerly. "The Prince consented. +Oh, I pray of you let me stay here." + +"In this dismal old Castle, Arthur," said Eustace, "apart from all +your playmates? It will not be like home, remember; for scarce +ever will you be able to go beyond the walls--and with me lying +here, and Gaston always occupied, you will find it weary work." + +"Not with you, Uncle Eustace! I shall sit by you, and tend you, and +read to you. It is so long since I have been with you! Oh, send me +not away! I care for no playmate--for nothing in the wide world, as +for you!" + +"Well, let him e'en stay," said Sir John; "it will be a better +training for him than among the gilded little varlets who are +cockered up among Princess Joan's ladies." + +The two Knights had next to arrange some matters respecting the +garrison; Sir John leaving a sufficient number of men to secure +the castle in case of a second attack. He was somewhat inclined +to leave Master Henry Neville to command them; but consideration +for Eustace and Gaston induced him to spare the young gentleman +a sojourn which he would have regarded as so far from enviable. +Nor was the leech more desirous of a lengthened stay with a +patient whom he suspected to be unable to requite him for the +discomfort which he might endure in his service. He therefore +pronounced Sir Eustace to stand in no further need of his +attentions; and recommending rest, and providing him with good +store of remedies, he saddled his mule to accompany Sir John +Chandos. + +The old Commander took his leave, with many kind wishes for Sir +Eustace's speedy recovery, and promises that he should ere long +hear from Bordeaux. In ten minutes more Arthur, standing at the +window, announced that the troop was riding off, with Clisson's +pennon borne among them in triumph, and Sanchez and his accomplices, +with their hands tied, and their feet fastened together beneath the +bodies of their horses. + + + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + + +Four or five weeks had passed away since Sir John Chandos had quitted +the Chateau Norbelle. + +The Knight had nearly recovered his full strength, but still wore +his broken arm in a scarf, when, one evening, as he was sitting on +the battlements, delighting the ears of Arthur and of Gaston with +an interminable romance of chivalry, three or four horseman, +bearing the colours and badges of the Black Prince, were descried +riding towards the Castle. Knight, Squire, and Page instantly +descended to the courtyard, which, in short space, was entered by +the messengers, the principal of whom, an elderly man-at-arms, +respectfully saluted the Knight, and delivered to him a parchment +scroll, tied with silk of scarlet and blue, supporting the heavy +seal of the Prince of Wales and Duke of Aquitaine, and addressed +to the hands of the honourable Knight Banneret Sir Eustace Lynwood, +Castellane of the Chateau Norbelle. This document bore the signature +of Edward himself, and contained his mandate to Eustace, to come +immediately to his court at Bordeaux, leaving the command of the +Chateau Norbelle to the bearer. + +The old man-at-arms was closely questioned all the evening respecting +the state of the court, but he could give little information. Sir +John Chandos was at Bordeaux, and had daily attended the council, to +which the Prince was devoting more attention than usual; a vessel had +also arrived bearing letters from England to the Prince; this was all +the information that could be obtained. + +The next morning Eustace, with Gaston, Arthur, and Ingram, all full +of expectation, and delighted at the change from the gloomy solitary +old Castle, were all posting on their way back to Bordeaux. They +slept at an hostel about twelve miles from the town, first, however, +by desire of the Prince's messengers, sending Ingram on to announce +their speedy arrival, and about ten in the morning rode into town. + +There was evidently some grand spectacle at hand, for the Bordelais, +gentle and simple, in holiday habits, were proceeding in the direction +of the palace; but the Knight and his attendants had no time to wait +for inquiries, and pressed on with the stream to the gates of the +courtyard, where they found warders placed, to keep back the dense +throng of people. At the mention of Sir Eustace's name they readily +and respectfully admitted him and his companions into the court. + +"Ha!" cried Gaston, "what means this? is there a tilt towards? This +reminds me of the good old days, ere the Prince fell ill. The lists, +the galleries, the ladies, the Prince's own chair of state, too! Oh, +Sir Eustace, I could tear my hair that you cannot yet use your sword +arm!" + +"Can it be a challenge on the part of Fulk?" said Eustace, "or a +reply to yours, Arthur? Yet that can hardly be. And see, there is +no barrier in the midst, only a huge block. What can be intended?" + +"I do not see Agnes among the ladies in the galleries," said Arthur, +looking up as eagerly, and more openly, than his uncle was doing. +"And oh, here comes the Princess,--yes, and Lord Edward and little +Lord Richard with her! And here is the Prince himself leaning on +the Earl of Cambridge! Uncle Eustace, Lord Edward is beckoning to +me! May I run to him?" + +"Come with me, since I must present myself," said Eustace, +dismounting, as one of the Prince's Squires held his horse. + +"And, oh! who is yonder dark-browed dwarfish Knight at the Prince's +right hand?" cried Arthur. + +Eustace could scarcely believe his eyes, as he looked where the +boy pointed. + +The royal party were now seated in full array on their raised +platform; the Prince upon his chair of state, with more brightness +in his eye and of vigour in his movements than when Eustace had +last seen him; and at his side sat his wife,--her features still +retaining the majestic beauty of Joan Plantagenet, the Fair Maid +of Kent--but worn and faded with anxiety. She watched her princely +Lord with an eye full of care, and could scarcely spare attention +for the lovely child who clung to her side, and whose brilliantly +fair complexion, wavy flaxen hair, high brow, and perfectly +formed though infantine features, already promised that remarkable +beauty which distinguished the countenance of Richard II. On the +other side of the Prince sat his sister-in-law, the Countess of +Cambridge, a Spanish Infanta; and her husband, Edmund, afterwards +Duke of York, was beside the Princess of Wales. But more wonderful +than all, among them stood the Constable of France. The two boys, +Prince Edward and his cousin Henry of Lancaster, were stationed +as pages on each side of the Princess, but as their play-fellow, +Arthur, advanced with his uncle, they both sprang down the steps +of the gallery to meet him, and each took a hand. Edward, however, +first bethinking himself of the respect which, Prince as he was, +he owed to a belted Knight, made his reverence to Sir Eustace, who, +at a sign from the Prince of Wales, mounted the steps and bent his +knee to the ground before him. + +"Nay, Sir Eustace,: said the Prince, bending forward, "it is rather +I who should kneel to you for pardon; I have used you ill, Eustace, +and, I fear me, transgressed the pledge which I gave to your brother +on the plain of Navaretta." + +"Oh, say not so, my gracious liege," said Eustace, as tears gathered +in his eyes,--"it was but that your noble ear was deceived by the +slanders of my foes!" + +"True, Sir Eustace--yet, once, Edward of England would not have heard +a slanderous tale against one of his well-proved Knights without +sifting it well. But I am not as once I was--sickness hath unnerved +me, and, I fear me, hath often led me to permit what may have dimmed +my fame. Who would have dared to tell me that I should suffer my +castles to be made into traps for my faithful Knights? And now, Sir +Eustace, that I am about to repair my injustice towards you, let me +feel, as a man whose account for this world must ere long be closed, +that I have your forgiveness." + +The Prince took the hand of the young Knight, who struggled hard +with his emotion. "And here is another friend," he added--"a firmer +friend, though foe, than you have found some others." + +"Well met, my chivalrous godson," said the Constable du Guesclin, +holding out his hand. "I rejoice that my neighbour, Oliver, did +not put an end to your _faits d'armes_." + +"I marvel--," Eustace hardly found words between wonder and +condolence. The Prince caught the import of his hesitating +sentences. + +"He thinks you a prisoner, Sir Bertrand," he said. "No, Sir Eustace, +Messire le Connetable is captive only in his good-will to you. I +wrote, to pray him to send me his witness to those last words of +your brother, since you had ever appealed to him, and he replied +by an offer, which does us too much honour, to become our guest." + +"I am no scribe, apart from my fairy Dame Tiphaine," said Du Guesclin, +abruptly. "It cost me less pains to ride hither,--besides that I +longed to renew my old English acquaintances, and see justice done +to you, fair godson." + +"Ha! Sir Bertrand, thou recreant!--so no other spell drew thee +hither? Thou hast no gallantry even for such an occasion as this!" +said a gay voice. + +"How should the ill-favoured Knight deal in gallantries?" said Du +Guesclin, turning. "Here is one far fitter for your Grace's eyes." + +"And you, discourteous Constable, were keeping him for you own behoof, +when all my maidens have been speaking for weeks of no name but the +Knight of the beleaguered Castle!" + +And Eustace had to kiss the fair hand of the Princess of Wales. + +In the meantime, the three boys were whispering together. "It is +all well, all gloriously well, is it not, Arthur, as I told you?" +said Edward. "I knew my father would settle all in his own noble +fashion." + +"What said the master of the Damoiseaux?" asked Arthur, as the +sight of that severe functionary revived certain half-forgotten +terrors. + +"Oh, he, the old crab-stock!" said Henry,--"he looked sour enough +at first; but Edward kept your counsel well, till you were safe at +a good distance from Bordeaux; and then, though he said somewhat +of complaining to my Lord the Prince, it was too late to mend it. +And when Sir John Chandos came back, and bade him be content, he +vowed you were enough to spoil a whole host of pages; but did not +we all wish some of our uncles would get themselves betrayed?" + +"But what means all this preparation?" asked Arthur--"these lists! +Oh, surely, there is not to be a tourney, which I have so longed to +see!" + +"No," said Edward, "that cannot be, my mother says, while my father +is so weakly and ill. But there are the trumpets! you will soon +see what will befall." + +And, with a loud blast of trumpets, the gorgeously arrayed heralds +rode into the court, followed by a guard of halberdiers, in the +midst of whom rode a Knight in bright armour, his visor closed, +but his shield and crest marking the Baron of Clarenham. + +When the trumpets had ceased, and the procession reached the centre +of the lists, they halted, and drew up in order,--the principal +herald, Aquitaine, immediately in front of the Prince. After +another short clear trumpet-blast, Aquitaine unrolled a parchment, +and, in a loud voice, proclaimed the confession of Fulk, Baron of +Clarenham, of his foul and unknightly conduct, in attempting to +betray the person of the good Knight and true, Eustace Lynwood, +Knight Banneret, with that of his Esquire, Gaston d'Aubricour, and +of certain other trusty and well-beloved subjects of his liege +Lord, King Edward of England, together with the fortalice, called +Chateau Norbelle, in the county of Gascogne, appertaining to my +Lord Edward, Prince of Wales and Duke of Aquitaine, into the hands +of the enemy--having for that purpose tampered with and seduced +Thibault Sanchez, Seneschal of the Castle, Tristan de la Fleche, +and certain others, who, having confessed their crime, have +received their deserts, by being hung on a gallows--upon which same +gallows it was decreed by the authority of the Prince, Duke and +Governor of Aquitaine, that the shield of Fulk de Clarenham should +be hung--he himself being degraded from the honours and privileges +of knighthood, of which he had proved himself unworthy--and his +lands forfeited to the King, to be disposed of at his pleasure. + +Clarenham was then compelled to dismount from his horse, and to, +first one foot, and then the other, upon the block, where a broad +red-faced cook, raising his cleaver, cut off the golden spurs. Sir +John Chandos, as Constable of Aquitaine, then came forward, and, +taking the shield from the arm of Clarenham, gave it, reversed, +into the hands of one of the heralds, who carried it away. The +belt, another token of knighthood, was next unbuckled, and Chandos, +taking the sword, broke it in three pieces across his knee, saying, +"Lie there, dishonoured steel!" and throwing it down by the spurs. +Lastly, the helmet, with the baronial bars across the visor, was +removed, and thrown to the ground, leaving visible the dark +countenance, where the paleness of shame and the flush of rage +alternated. + +"And now, away with the traitor, away with the recreant Knight! out +upon him!" cried in a loud voice Sir John Chandos, while the shout +was taken up by a deafening multitude of voices--in the midst of +which the degraded Knight and landless Baron made his way to the +gate, and, as he passed out, a redoubled storm of shouts and yells +arose from without. + +"Out upon the traitor!" cried Harry of Lancaster with the loudest. +"Away with him! But, Edward, and you too, Arthur, why shout you +not? Hate you not traitors and treason?" + +"I would not join my voice with the rabble," said Edward, "and it +makes me sad to see knighthood fallen. What say you, Arthur?" + +"Alas! he is my mother's kinsman," said Arthur, "and I loved his name +for her sake as for that of Agnes too. Where is Agnes?" + +"In the Convent of the Benedictine nuns," said Edward. "But in your +ear, Arthur, what say you to our plan that she shall be heiress of +her brother's lands, on condition of her wedding--guess whom?" + +"Not mine uncle! Oh, Lord Edward, is it really so? How rejoiced old +Ralph would be!" + +"Speak not of it, Arthur--it was my mother who told me, when Agnes +craved permission to go to the Convent, and I feared she would become +one of those black-veiled nuns, and I should never see her more." + +"Where is my uncle?" asked Arthur, gazing round. "I thought he was +standing by the Lady Princess's chair--" + +"He went to speak to Sir John Chandos but now," said Prince Henry, +"but I see him not. Mark! what a lull in the sounds without!" + +In fact, the various cries of execration which had assailed Fulk +Clarenham on his exit from the gates of the Castle, after sounding +more and more violent for some minutes, had suddenly died away +almost into stillness--and the cause was one little guessed at +within the court. The unhappy Fulk was moving onwards, almost as +in a dream, without aim or object, other than to seek a refuge +from the thousand eyes that marked his disgrace, and the tongues +that upbraided him with it; but, in leaving the court, he entered +upon a scene where danger, as well as disgrace, was to be +apprehended. The rabble of the town, ever pleased at the fall +of one whose station was higher than their own, mindful of unpaid +debts, and harsh and scornful demeanour, and, as natives, rejoiced +at the misfortune of a foreigner, all joined in one cry of--"Away +with the recreant Englishman!--down with him!--down with him!" +Every hand was armed with a stone, and brief would have been Fulk's +space for repentance, had not the cry in its savage tones struck +upon the ear of Eustace as he stood in the lists, receiving the +congratulations of Sir John Chandos and of other Knights, who, +with changed demeanour, came to greet the favoured hero. + +"They will murder him," exclaimed Eustace; and breaking from his new +friends, he made his way to the gate, and hurried into the town, just +as Fulk had fallen to the ground, struck by a heavy stone hurled by +the hand of no other than John Ingram. He rushed forward amid the +hail of stones, and, as he lifted Clarenham's head, called out, "How +is this! Brave men of Bordeaux, would you become murderers! Is this +like honourable men, to triumph over the fallen!" + +They held back in amazement for a second; then, as Eustace knelt +by him and tried to recall his consciousness, murmurs arose, "Why +interferes he with our affairs? He is English," and they all held +together. "Another of the purse-proud English, who pay no debts, +and ruin the poor Bordelais." "His blood we will have, if we +cannot have his money. Away, Master Knight, be not so busy about +the traitor, if you would not partake his fate." + +Eustace looked up as the stones were uplifted, and more than one Free +Companion had drawn his sword. "Hold," he exclaimed in a clear full- +toned voice that filled every ear. "Hold! I am Eustace Lynwood, the +Castellane of Chateau Norbelle!" + +There was an instant silence. Every one pressed forward to see him, +whose recent adventures had made him an object of much interest and +curiosity, and the attention of the crowd was entirely diverted +from the former unhappy subject of their pursuit. Whispers passed +of "Noble Knight! flower of chivalry! how generous and Christian- +like he bends over his enemy! Nay, if he revenge not himself, what +right have we? And see, his arm is still in a scarf from the +treachery of those villains! Well, I would yet give yon ruffian +his desert." + +By this time Eustace having observed Ingram among the crowd, summoned +him to his side, and at the same time courteously craving the aid of +one of the by-standers (who, of course, though collectively lions, +were individually lambs), succeeded in conveying Clarenham, whose +senses had so far returned that he was able to rise with their +assistance, to the door of a monastery chapel, the porch of which +opened upon the street. + +"Holy Fathers," said Eustace, "I crave the protection of the Church +for an unhappy, and, I trust, a penitent man, praying you will tend +him well to aid and relief alike of body and soul, until you hear +from me again." + +With these words he quitted the chapel before his late enemy had +sufficiently recovered his faculties to recognize his preserver. + +Leonard Ashton, for whom Eustace inquired, had, it appeared, saved +himself by making full confession, and had been sent home, in deep +disgrace, though spared public dishonour. + +It was some few days after these events that the presence of Lady +Agnes de Clarenham was requested in the parlour of her nunnery, +which was some miles distant from Bordeaux, by a person who, as +the porteress informed her, was the bearer of a message from the +Princess of Wales. She descended accordingly, but her surprise was +great on beholding, instead of one of the female attendants of her +mistress as she had expected, the slender figure of the young Knight +with whom she had last parted at the hostelry. + +Her first feeling was not one of kindness towards him. Agnes had +indeed grieved and felt indignant when she saw him oppressed and +in danger from her brother's treachery, but, in these days of +favour, she could not regard with complacency the cause of her +brother's ruin, and of the disgrace of her house. She started, +and would have retreated, but that he prevented, by saying, in a +tone which had in it more of sorrow than of any other feeling, +"Lady Agnes, I pray you to hear me--for you have much to forgive." + +"Forgive! Nay, Sir Eustace, it is you who have so much to forgive +my unhappy house! Oh, can you," she added, as the countenance and +manner recalling long past days made her forget her displeasure, +"can you tell me where the wretched one has shrouded his head from +the shame which even I cannot but confess he has merited?" + +"I heard of the Bar--of your brother this very morn," said Eustace, +"from one of the good brethren of the Convent where he has taken +shelter, the Convent of the Augustine friars of St. Mary; they +spoke of him as amended in health, and, though sorely dejected, +returning, they hoped, to a better spirit.' + +"Thanks, Sir Eustace, even so do I hope and pray it may be--since +repentance is the only good which can yet be his. But tell me, +Sir Eustace--for vague rumours only reach us in this lonely cell-- +was it true that the populace pursued the fallen one with clamours, +and might even have slain him, but for his rescue by a gallant +Knight, who braved their utmost fury?" + +"It was even so, Lady," said Eustace, with some embarrassment. + +"Oh! who was that noblest of Knights, that I may name him in my most +fervent prayers? who has that strongest claim on the gratitude of the +broken-hearted sister?" + +"Nay, Lady, it was but common duty, the mere mercy of a Christian +man, who could not see a fellow-creature die such a death, without +attempting to save him." + +"Oh, Sir Eustace! it is not like your former self to deny the +greatness of a noble deed! I will not be robbed of my gratitude! +Tell me the name of that most noble of men!" + +He half smiled, then looking down, and colouring deeply: "Do you +remember, Lady Agnes, the Knight whom you bound by a promise, that +in case of the triumph of his cause--" + +"Eustace, Eustace! Oh, I should have known that nothing was too +great and high for you, that you would not disparage the nobleness +of any other than yourself. Oh, how shall I ever render you my +thanks! After such cruel treachery as that from which you have, +and, I fear me, are still suffering! Alas! alas! that I should be +forced to use such harsh words of my own brother!" + +"I trust you may still be comforted, Lady," said Eustace. "From +what the good Fathers tell me, there is hope that Fulk may yet be +an altered man, and when the pilgrimage to the Holy Land, which he +has vowed, is concluded, may return in a holy temper." + +"Return; but whither should he return?" said Agnes, in a broken, +despondent tone,--"landless, homeless, desolate, outcast, what +shelter is open to him? For if the porteress's tale spoke truth, +his lands and manors are forfeited to the King." + +"They are so, in truth; but there is one way, Agnes, in which they +may still be restored to their true owner." + +"How so? What mean you, Sir Eustace?" + +"Agnes, I would not have broken upon your sorrow by speaking thus +abruptly, but that the Prince's, or rather the King's desire was +urgent, that the matter should be determined without loss of time. +To you, in all justice, does he will that the castles and manors +of Clarenham should descend, but on one condition." + +Agnes raised her eyes, and, while she slowly shook her head, looked +anxiously at him as he paused in considerable embarrassment. + +"On condition that you, Lady Agnes, should permit the King and Prince +to dispose of your fair hand in marriage." + +Agnes gave a slight cry, and leant against the grate of the parlour. +"Oh, that may never be, and--but how advantageth that poor Fulk?" + +"Because, Lady Agnes--because it is to me that they would grant +that hand which I have so long loved passionately and hopelessly. +Agnes, it was not willingly, but at the command of the Prince, +that I came hither with a suit which must seem to you most +strangely timed, from one who has been the most unwilling cause +of so much misery to you, whom, from earliest years, he has ever +loved more than his own life. I know, too, that you cannot endure +to rise on the ruin of your brother, nor could I bear to feel that +I was living on the lands of a kinsman and neighbour whose +overthrow I had wrought. But see you not, that jointly we can do +what we never could do separately, that, the condition fulfilled, +we could kneel before King Edward, and entreat for the pardon and +restoration of Fulk, which, to such prayers, he would surely grant?" + +Agnes' tears were gathering fast, and she spoke in a broken voice, +as she said, "Eustace, you are the most generous of Knights," and +then, ashamed of having said so much, covered her face with her +veil and turned away. Eustace stood watching her, with his soul +in his eyes; but before either had summoned courage to break the +silence, the porteress came hurrying in, "Good lack! good lack! +if ever my eyes saw the like--here is the Princess of Wales herself +at the gate, and all her train--where is sister Katherine? where is +the mother abbess? Alas, alas! that nought should be ready to +receive her! Oh, and I have mislaid the key of the great gate!" +While the good woman was bustling on in her career, Eustace had +time to say, "Yea, Agnes, the Princess is come, in case you hear +my suit favourably, to conduct you back to Bordeaux. Think of a +true and devoted heart, think of Fulk ere you decide!" As he +spoke, the whole train of black-veiled nuns came sweeping into +the parlour, whence Agnes hastily escaped to collect her thoughts +during the few instants before she could be summoned to attend +the Princess, while Eustace walked into the Convent court, which +was by this time filled by the gay party which accompanied the +Princess. + +Agnes quickly gained her cell, and sank down on her bed to make the +most of the minutes that might be her own. Never, probably, had lady +shorter time in which to decide, or did it seem more impossible to +come to a resolution; but Agnes had known Eustace all her life, had +never met one whom she thought his equal, found him raised a thousand- +fold in her estimation by the events of the day, and could not bear +to think of disappointing the hopes which had lighted up that bright +eye and animated that whole face. + +Then, too, why by her act completely ruin her brother? The thoughts +flashed through her mind in rapid succession, and she did not rise +with much reluctance when called to meet the Princess, though longing +for more time, which after all would but have enabled her to harass +herself more. + +"Well, my gentle Agnes," said the Princess, "what say you? Come you +back to the court, where my boys are wearing for their playfellow? +Hasten, then sweet maiden, for I promised little Edward to bring +you back, and I know not how to face his wrath if you come not." + +Agnes, still almost dreaming, offered no opposition, but allowed +her dress to be arranged, took leave of the abbess and her nuns, +and shortly found herself, she scarcely knew how, mounted on her +palfrey in the Princess's train, with Sir Eustace Lynwood at her +side. + +And old Ralph Penrose was one of the happiest of mankind, when he +beheld his pupil return the first Knight in the county--the honoured +of the Prince. + +For the next seven years the Clarenham vassals rejoiced in the gentle, +noble, and firm rule of their new Lord and Lady; yet it was remarked, +with some surprise, that the title of Baron of Clarenham was dropped, +and that Sir Eustace and Dame Agnes Lynwood, instead of living at +their principal Castle, took up their abode at a small manor which +had descended to the lady from her mother, while the Castle was +placed under the charge of Gaston d'Aubricour, beneath whose care +the fortifications assumed a more modern character, and the garrison +learnt the newest fashions of handling their weapons. + +At the end of that time Sir Eustace and his Lady travelled to the +court, where, alas! of all the royal party who had rejoiced at +their marriage, they found only the Young King Richard II. and +his mother, the Princess Joanna, once the Fair Maid of Kent, but +now sadly aged by time and sorrow, who received kindly, though +tearfully, those who reminded her of those last bright days of +her life at Bordeaux, and readily promised to forward their +request at the council, "where, alas!" she said, shaking her head, +"Lord Henry of Lancaster, now Earl of Bolingbroke, too often loved +to oppose her and her son." + +No one at the council could refuse, thought the amazement of all +was great, when the request was made known that King Richard would +be pleased to reinstate in his titles, lands, and manors, Fulk, +late Baron of Clarenham, in consideration of his good services to +Christendom, rendered on the coast of Africa under the banner of +the Knights of St. John, whose Grand Master attested his courage +and faithfulness. + +Soon Clarenham Castle opened its gates to receive its humbled, +repentant, and much-changed Lord, who was welcomed by all the +gentle blood in the county--at the head of whom rode Sir Eustace +with his Squire, and his nephew Arthur, now a gallant young man, +only waiting the summons, promised him by the Princess, to receive +knighthood at the same time as his royal master, Richard II. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Lances Of Lynwood, by Charlotte M. Yonge + |