 CHAPTER XIII THE WHITE FORD They made their way without interruption to the wall. This they found, as they expected, entirely deserted, although, no doubt, guards had been posted at the gates. The Fleming's, however, could have felt no fear of an attack by so small a force as the Five Hundred English whom they knew to be in the neighborhood. Walter and his companions soon knotted the ropes together and lowered themselves into the moat. A few strokes took them to the other side, and scrambling out, they made their way across the country to a spot where the English had been posted. They found the Earl of Salisbury, who commanded in a great state of uneasiness. No message had reached him during the day. He had heard the alarm bells of the city ring, and a scout who had gone forward returned with the news that the gates were closed and the drawl bridges raised, and that a strong body of men manned the walls. Your news is indeed bad, he said, when Walter related to him the events which had taken place in the town. This will altogether derange the king's plans. Now that his ally is killed, I fear his hopes of acquiring Flanders for England will fall to the ground. It is a thousand pities that he listened to Van Ardveld and allowed him to enter Ghent alone. Had his majesty landed as he wished and made a progress through the country, the prince receiving the homage of all the large towns, we could then very well have summoned Ghent as standing alone against all Flanders. The citizens then would, no doubt, have gladly opened their gates and received the prince, and if they had refused we would have made short work of them. However, as it has turned out, it is well that we did not enter the town with the Fleming, for against so large and turbulent a population, we should have had but little chance. And now, master Summers, we will march at once for Sleaze and bear the news to the king, and you shall tell me as we ride thither how you and your man at arms manage to escape with whole skins from such a tumult. The king was much grieved when he heard of the death of Ardveld and held a council with his chief leaders. At first, in his indignation and grief, he was disposed to march upon Ghent and to take vengeance for the murder of his ally, but after a time calmer councils prevailed. The Fleming's were still in rebellion against their count, who was the friend of France, where the English to attack Ghent, they would lose the general goodwill of the Fleming's and would drive them into the arms of France. While, if matters were left alone, the effect of the popular outburst, which had caused the death of Ardveld, would die away, and the motives of interest and the fear of France would again drive them into the arms of England. The expedition therefore returned to England, and there the king in a proclamation to his people avoided all illusion to the death of his ally, but simply stated that he had been waited upon by the councils of all the Flemish towns and that their faithful obedience to himself as legitimate king of France was established upon a firmer basis than ever. This course had the effect which he had anticipated from it. The people of Flanders perceived the danger and disadvantage which must accrue to their trade from any permanent disagreement with England. They were convinced by the events which soon afterwards happened in France that the king of England had more power than Philip of Valois, and could, if he chose, punish severely any breach of faith towards him. They therefore sent over commissioners to express their grief and submission. The death of Ardveld was represented as the act of a frantic mob, and severe fines were imposed upon the leaders of the party who slew him. And although the principal towns expressed their desire still to remain under the rule of the count of Flanders, they suggested that the ties which bound them to England should be strengthened by the marriage of Louis, eldest son of the count, to one of Edward's daughters. More than this, they offered to create a diversion for the English forces acting in Guillaume and Gascony by raising a strong force and expelling the French garrison still remaining in some parts of the country. This was done. Hugo of Hastings was appointed by the king, Captain General in Flanders, and with the force of English and Flemings did good service by expelling the French from Turmont and several other towns. The character of Jacob and Ardveld has had but scant justice done to it by most of the historians of the time. These, living in an age of chivalry, when noble blood and lofty deeds were held in extraordinary respect, had little sympathy with the brewer of Ghent and deemed it contrary to the fitness of things that the chivalry of France should have been defied and worsted by mere mechanics and artisans. But there can be no doubt that Ardveld was a very great man. He may have been personally ambitious, but he was a true patriot. He had great military talents, he completely remodeled and wonderfully improved the internal administration of the country and raised its commerce, manufacturers, and agriculture to a pitch which they had never before reached. After his death, his memory was esteemed and revered by the Flemings, who long submitted to the laws he had made and preserved his regulations with scrupulous exactitude. Edward now hastened to get together a great army. Every means were adopted to raise money and to gather stores, and every man between 16 and 60 south of the Trent was called upon to take up arms and commanded to assemble a portsmouth in the middle of Lent. A tremendous tempest, however, scattered the fleet collected to carry the expedition, and a great many of the ships were lost, and it was not until the middle of July, 1346, that it sailed from England. It consisted of about 500 ships and 10,000 sailors and carried 4,000-minute arms, 10,000 archers, 12,000 Welsh, and 6,000 Irish. This seems but a small army considering the efforts which had been made, but it was necessary to leave a considerable force behind for the defense of the Scottish frontier, and England had already armies in Guine and Brittany. Lionel, Edward's second son, was appointed regent during his father's absence. On board Edward's own ship were Godfrey of Harcourt and the Prince of Wales. Walter, as one of the personal squires of the Prince, was also on board. The Prince had been greatly interested in the details of Walter's escape from Van Artveld's house. The King himself expressed his approval of his conduct, and Walter was generally regarded as one of the most promising young aspirants to the court. His modesty and good temper rendered him a general favorite, and many, even of the higher nobles, noticed him by their friendly attentions, for it was felt that he stood so high in the goodwill of the Prince that he might someday become a person of great influence with him and one whose goodwill would be valuable. It was generally supposed, when the fleet started, that Guine was their destination, but they had not gone far when a signal was made to change the direction in which they were sailing and to make for Le Hogue in Normandy. Godfrey of Harcourt had great influence in that province, and his persuasions had much effect in determining the King to direct his course thither. There was the further advantage the King of France, who was well aware of the coming invasion, would have made his preparations to receive him in Guine. Furthermore, Normandy was the richest and most prosperous province in France. It had for a long time been untouched by war, and offered great abundance of spoil. It made itself particularly obnoxious to the English by having recently made an offer to the King of France to fit out an expedition and conquer England with its own resources. The voyage was short and favorable, and the expedition landed at Le Hogue on the small peninsula of Côte-Tain without opposition. Six days were spent at Le Hogue, disembarking the men, horses, and stores, and baking bread for the use of the army on the march. A detachment advanced and pillaged and burnt Berlure and Cherbourg and a number of small towns and castles. In accordance with custom, at the commencement of the campaign, a court was held at which the Prince of Wales was dubbed a knight by his father. A similar honor was bestowed upon a number of other young aspirants, among whom was Walter Summers, who had been highly recommended for that honor to the King by Sir Walter Manny. The force was now formed into three divisions, the one commanded by the King himself, the second by the Earl of Warwick, and the third by Godfrey of Harcourt. The Earl of Arundel acted as Lord High Constable, and the Earl of Huntington, who was in command of the fleet, followed the army along the sea coast. Vellon, Carleton, and St. Louis were captured without difficulty, and the English army advanced by rapid marches upon Cannes, plundering the country for six or seven leagues on each side of the line of march. An immense quantity of booty was obtained. As soon as the news of Edward's landing in Normandy reached Paris, Philip dispatched the Count Dues, Constable of France, with the Count of Tainc-au-Vee and 600-minute arms to oppose Edward of Cannes. The bishop of Bayeux had thrown himself into that city, which was already garrisoned by 300 Genoese. The town was not defensible, and the only chance of resistance was by opposing the passage of the River Horn, which flowed between the suburbs and the city. The bridge was barricaded, strong wooden towers were erected, and such was the confidence of the inhabitants and their leaders that Edward's promise of protection for the person and property of the citizens was rejected with scorn, and the whole male population joined the garrison in the defense of the bridge. Marching through the deserted suburbs, the English army attacked the bridge with such vehemence that although the enemy defended the barricades gallantly, they were speedily forced, and the English poured into the town. Before the first fury of the attack was over, near 5,000 persons were slain. The Count of Tainc-au-Vee, 140 knights, and as many squires were made prisoners. The plunder was so enormous as to be sufficient to cover the whole expenses of the expedition, and this with the booty which had been previously acquired was placed on board ship and dispatched to England, while the king marched forward with his army. At Lissue, he was met by two cardinals sent by the Pope to negotiate a truce, but Edward had learned the fallacy of truces made with King Philip and declined to enter into negotiations. Finding that Ren had been placed in a state of defense and could not be taken without a long siege, he left it behind him and marched along the valley of the Ur, gathering rich booty at every step. But while he was marching forward, a great army was gathering in his rear. The Count of Harcourt, brother of Godfrey, called all Normandy to arms. Every feudal lord and vassal answered to the summons, and before Edward reached the banks of the Seine, a formidable army had assembled. The whole of the vassals of France were gathering by the orders of the king at Saint-Denis. The English fleet had now left the coast, and Edward had only the choice of retreating through Normandy into Brittany or of attempting to force the passage of the Seine and to find his way through France to Flanders. He chose the latter alternative and marched along the left bank of the river towards Paris, seeking in vain to find a passage. The enemy followed him step by step on the opposite bank, and all the bridges were broken down and the fords destroyed. Edward marched on, burning the towns and ravaging the country until he reached Poissy. The bridge was as usual destroyed, but the piles on which it stood were still standing, and he determined to endeavor to cross here. He accordingly halted for five days, but dispatched troops in all directions, who burned and ravaged to the very gates of Paris. The villages of Saint-Germain, Saint-Cloud, Bourges-le-Rhin, and many others within sight of the walls were destroyed, and the capital itself phoned into a state of terror and consternation. Godfrey of Harcourt was the first to cross the river, and with the advanced guard of English fell upon a large body of the Burgers of Amiens, and after a severe fight defeated them, killing over 500. The king himself, with his whole force, passed on the 16th of August. Philip, with his army, quitted Saint-Denis when he heard that the English army had passed the Seine, and by parallel marches, endeavored to interpose between it and the borders of Flanders. As his force was every hour increasing, he dispatched messengers to Edward, offering him battle within a few days on condition that he would cease to ravage the country. But Edward declined the proposal, saying that Philip himself, by breaking down the bridges, had avoided a battle as long as he could, but that whenever he was ready to give battle, he would accept the challenge. During the whole march, the armies were within a few leagues of each other, and constant skirmishes took place between the bodies detached from the hosts. In some of these skirmishes, Walter took part, as he and the other newly made knights were burning to distinguish themselves. Every day the progress of the army became more difficult, as the country people everywhere rose against them, and several times attempted to make a stand but were defeated with great loss. The principal towns were found deserted, and even Pois, which offered great capabilities of defense, had been left unguarded. Upon the English entering, the burgers offered to pay a large ransom to save the town from plunder. The money was to be delivered as soon as the English force had withdrawn, and Walter Summers was ordered by the king to remain behind with a few minute arms to receive the ransom. No sooner had the army departed than the burgers, knowing that the French army was close behind, changed their minds, refused to pay the ransom, and fell upon the little body of men at arms. Although taken quite by surprise by the act of treachery, Walter instantly rallied his men, although several had been killed at the first onslaught. He, with Ralph, and two or three of the staunchest men covered the retreat of the rest through the streets, making desperate charges upon the body of armed burgers pressing upon them. Ralph fought as usual with a mace of prodigious weight, and the terror of his blows in no slight degree enabled the party to reach the gate in safety. But Walter had no idea of retreating further. He dispatched one of his followers to gallop at full speed to overtake the rear guard of the army, which was still but two miles distance, while with the rest he formed a line across the gate and resisted all attempts of the citizens to expel them. The approach to the gate was narrow, and the overwhelming number of the burgers were therefore of little avail. Walter had dismounted his force and all fought on foot, and although sorely pressed, they held their ground until the lords Cobham and Holland with their followers rode up. Then the tide of war was turned, the town was plundered and burnt, and great numbers of the inhabitants slain. Walter gained great credit for holding the gate, for had he been driven out, the town could have resisted, until the arrival of Louis, all assaults of the English. The river Saum now barred the passage of Edward. Most of the bridges had been destroyed, and those remaining were so strongly fortified that they could not be forced. The position of the English was now very critical. On one flank and in front were impassable rivers, the whole country was in arms against them, and on their rear and flank pressed a hostile army fourfold their strength. The country was swampy and thinly populated, and flour and provisions were only obtained with great difficulty. Edward, unfinding from the reports of his marshals who had been sent to examine the bridges, that no passage across the river could be found, turned and marched down the river towards the sea, halting for the night at Ouise-Mont. Here a great number of peasantry attempted a defense, but were easily defeated and a number of prisoners taken. Late in the evening, the Earl of Warwick, who had pushed forward as far as Abbey v and Saum Valerie, returned with the news that the passages at those places were strongly guarded as elsewhere, but he had learned from a peasant that a fort existed somewhere below Abbey v, although the man was himself ignorant of his position. Edward at once called the prisoners belonging to that part of the country before him, and promised to anyone who could tell him where the fort lay, his freedom, and that of 20 of his companions. A peasant named Goban Agaz stepped forward and offered to show the fort, where at low tide 12 men could cross a breast. It was, he said, called Le Blanche Tosh. Edward left Wiesemont at midnight and reached the fort at daylight. The river, however, was full and the army had to wait impatiently for low tide. When they arrived, there was no enemy to be seen on the opposite bank, but before the water fell sufficiently for a passage to be attempted, Sir Gademar de Fay with 12,000 men sent by King Philip, who was aware of the existence of the fort, arrived on the opposite side. The enterprise was a difficult one indeed, for the water, even at low tide, is deep. Gademar de Fay, however, threw away part of his advantage by advancing into the stream. The English archers lined the banks and poured showers of arrows into the ranks of the enemy, while the Genoese bowmen on their side were able to give comparatively little assistance to the French. King Edward shouted to his knights, let those who love me follow me, and spurred his horse into the water. Behind him followed his most valiant knights and Walter riding close to the Prince of Wales was one of the foremost. The French resisted valiantly and a desperate battle took place on the narrow ford, but the impetuosity of the English prevailed and step by step they drove the French back to the other side of the river. The whole army poured after their leaders and the French were soon entirely routed and fled, leaving 2,000 men at arms dead on the field. King Edward, having now freed himself from the difficulties which had encompassed him on the other side of the river, prepared to choose a ground to give battle to the whole French army. Louis had advanced slowly, feeling confident that the English would be unable to cross the river and that he should catch them hemmed in by it. His mortification and surprise on finding, when he approached Le Blanche Tosh, that 12,000 men had been insufficient to hold a ford by which but 12 could cross a breast and that his enemy had escaped from his grasp were great. The tide had now risen again and he was obliged to march on to Abbey v and cross the river there. King Edward now advanced into the forest of Cressy. Hugh de la Spencer with a considerable force was dispatched to Croix-Trois which he carried by assault after a severe conflict in which 4,000 of the French men at arms were slain. The capture of this city removed all danger of want from the army for large stores of wine and meal were found there and Sir Hugh at once sent off a supply to the tired army in the field. The possession of Croix-Trois and the mouth of the psalm would now have rendered it easy for the English monarch to have transported his troops to England and to have returned triumphant after the accomplishment of his extraordinary and most successful march through France. The army however was elated by the many great successes it had won. He was now in Pontu which was one of his own fiefs and he determined to make a stand in spite of the immense superiority of the enemy. Next morning then, Friday the 25th of August, 1346, he dispatched the Earl of Warwick with Godfrey of Harcourt and Lord Cobham to examine the ground and choose a site for a battle. The plan of the fight was drawn out by the king and his counselors and the king yielded to the black prince the chief place of danger and honor placing with him the Earl of Warwick Sir John Chandos and many of his best knights. The ground which had been chosen for the battle was an irregular slope between the forest of Croix-Trois and the river May near the little village of Conchie. The slope looked towards the south and east from which corridors the enemy was expected to arrive and some slight defenses were added to the natural advantages of the ground. On the night of the 25th all the principal leaders of the British host were entertained by King Edward. Next morning Mass was celebrated and the king, the prince and many knights and nobles received the sacrament after which the trumpet sounded and the army marched to take up its position. Its numbers are variously estimated but the best account puts it at about 30,000 men which considering that 32,000 had crossed the channel to La Hogue it is probably about the force which would have been present allowing that 2,000 had fallen in the various actions or had died from disease. The division of the black prince consisted of 800 men at arms, 4,000 archers and 6,000 Welsh foot. The archers as usual were placed in front supported by the light troops of Wales and the men at arms. On his left was the second division commanded by the earls of Arundel and Northampton. Its extreme left rested on Qonshi and the river and it was further protected by a deep ditch. This core was about 7,000 strong. The king himself took up his position on a knoll of rising ground surmounted by a windmill and 12,000 men under his personal command were placed here in reserve. In the rear of the prince's division an enclosure of stakes was formed. In this guarded by a small body of archers were ranged the wagons and baggage of the army together with all the horses the king having determined that the knights and men at arms on his side should fight on foot. When the army had taken up its position the king mounted on a small palfrey with a white staff in his hand rode from rank to rank exhorting his soldiers to do their duty gallantly. It was nearly noon before he had passed through all the lines and permission was then given to the soldiers to fall out from their ranks and to take refreshments while waiting for the coming of the enemy. This was accordingly done the men eating and drinking at their ease and lying down in their ranks on the soft grass with their steel caps and their bows or pikes beside them. In the meantime the French had on their side been preparing for the battle. Philip had crossed the Somme at Abbevy late on Thursday afternoon and remained there next day marshalling the large reinforcements which were hourly arriving. His force now considerably exceeded 100,000 men in the number with which he had marched from Amiens three days previously. Friday was the festival of Saint Louis and that evening Philip gave a splendid banquet to the whole of the nobles of his army. On the following morning the king accompanied by his brother the Count de Alesson, the old king of Bohemia and his son the king of Rome, the Duke of Lorraine, the Count of Blois, the Count of Flanders and a great number of other feudal princes heard mass at the Abbey and then marched with his great army towards Cressy. He moved but slowly in order to give time to all the forces scattered over the neighborhood to come up and four nights headed by one of the king of Bohemia's officers went forward to reconnoiter the English position. They approached within a very short distance of the English lines and gained a very exact knowledge of the position, the English taking no measures to interrupt the reconnaissance. They returned with the information they had gathered and the leader of the party, Le Moin de Bacelle, one of the most judicious officers of his time, strongly advised the king to halt his troops pointing out that it was evident the English were ready to give battle and as they were fresh and vigorous while the French were wearied in Hungary it would be better to encamp and give battle the next morning. Philip saw the wisdom of the advice and ordered his two marshals, the Lord of Saint-Venant, Charles de Montmorency to command a halt. They instantly spurred off one to the front and the other to the rear, commanding the leaders to halt their banners. Those in advance at once obeyed but those behind still pressed on, declaring that they would not halt until they were in the front line. All wanted to be first in order to obtain their share of the honor and glory of defeating the English. Those in front, seeing the others still coming on, again pressed forward and thus in spite of the efforts of the king and his marshals, the French nobles with their followers pressed forward in confusion, until passing through a small wood they found themselves suddenly in the presence of the English army. End of Chapter 13 Recording by Brett Downey Chapter 14 of Saint George for England This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Saint George for England by G. A. Henty Chapter 14 Cressy The surprise of the French army at finding themselves in the presence of the English was so great that the first line recoiled in confusion. Those marching up from behind imagined that they had already been engaged and repulsed by the English, and the disorder spread through the whole army and was increased by the common people who had crowded to the field in immense numbers from the whole country round to see the battle and share in the plunder of the English camp. From King Edward's position on the rising ground he could see the confusion which prevailed in the French ranks, and small as were his forces he could probably have obtained an easy victory by ordering a sudden charge upon them. The English, however, being dismounted, but small results would have followed the scattering of the great host of the French. The English army therefore remained immovable, except that the soldiers rose from the ground and taking their places in the ranks awaited the onslaught of the enemy. King Philip himself now arrived on the field, and his hatred for the English led him at once to disregard the advice which had been given him and to order the battle to commence as soon as possible. The army was divided into four bodies of which Philip commanded one, the Count Delancourt, the Second, the King of Bohemia the Third, and the Count of Savoy the Fourth. Beside these were a band of 15,000 mercenaries, Genoese Crossbowmen, who were now ordered to pass between the ranks of cavalry and to clear the ground of the English archers, were drawn up in the usual form in which they fought, namely in very open order, line behind line, the men standing alternately, so that each had ample room to use his bow, and to fire over the heads of those in front. The formation was something like that of a Harrow, and indeed exactly resembled that in which the Roman archers fought, and was called by them a Count Kunx. The Genoese had marched four leagues beneath the hot sun loaded with their armour and heavy crossbows, and they remonstrated against the order, urging that they were in no condition to do good service without some repose. The Count Dalincorne, furious at their hesitation, ordered them up, but as they advanced, a terrible thunderstorm, with torrents of rain, broke over the armies, and wetting the cords of the crossbows, rendered many of them unserviceable. At length the Crossbowmen were arranged in front, while behind them were the vast body of French cavalry, and the order was given for the battle to begin. The Genoese advanced, with loud shouts, but the English archers paid no attention to the noise, but waited calmly for the attack. At this moment the sun now approaching the west, shone out brightly between the clouds behind the English, its rays streaming full in the faces of the French. The Genoese were now within distance, and began to discharge their quarrels at their impassive enemies. But as they opened fire, the English archers drew their bows from the cases, which had protected them from the rain, and stepping forward, poured their arrows among the Genoese. The Crossbowmen were smitten as with a storm, numbers were struck in the face and other unprotected parts, and they were instantly thrown into confusion, and casting away their crossbows, they recoiled in disorder, among the horsemen behind them. Philip, passionate and cruel as ever, instead of trying to rally the Genoese, ordered the cavalry behind them to fall upon them, and the men at arms had once plunged in among the disordered mass of the Crossbowmen, and a wild scene of carnage and confusion ensued. The English archers continued to pour their unhearing arrows into the midst. Count Delancourt, who was behind, separated his division into two bodies, and swept around on one side himself, while the Count of Flanders did the same on the other, to attack the Prince of Wales in more regular array. Taking a securities route, Delancourt appeared upon a rising ground on the flank of the archers of the Black Prince, and thus avoiding their arrows charged down with his cavalry upon the eight hundred men at arms gathered round the Black Prince, while the Count of Flanders attacked on the other flank. Nobly did the flower of English chivalry withstand the shock of the French, and the Prince himself, and the highest nobles, and simple men at arms fought side by side. None gave away a foot. In vain the French, with impetuous charges, strove to break through the mass of steel. The spearheads were cleft off, with sword and battle-axe, and again and again men and horses recoiled from the unbroken line. Each time the French retired, the English ranks were formed anew, and as attack followed attack, a pile of dead rose around them. The Count de Lancau and the Duke of Lorraine were among the first who fell, the young Count of Roix, finding that he could not ride through the wall of steel, dismounted with his knights, and fought his way on foot towards the banner of the Prince of Wales. For a time the struggle was desperate, and the young Prince, with his household knights, was for a time well nigh beaten back. Walter, fighting close beside the Prince, parried more than one blow intended for him, and the Prince himself slew the Count of Roix, whose followers all fell around him. The Count of Flanders was also slain, and confusion began to reign among the assailants, whose leaders had now all fallen. Philip himself strove to advance with his division into the fight, but the struggle between the Genoese and the Men of Towns was still continuing, and the very multitude of his troops in the narrow and difficult field, which the English had chosen for the battle, embarrassed his movements. Charles of Luxembourg, King of the Romans, and afterwards Emperor of Germany, son of the old King of Bohemia, with a large body of German and French cavalry, now assailed the English archers, and in spite of their flights of arrows came to close quarters, and cutting their way through them, joined in the assault upon the men at arms of the Black Prince. Nearly forty thousand men were now pressing around the little body, and the Earl's of Northampton and Arendelle moved forward with their divisions to his support, while the Earl of Warwick, who was with the Prince, dispatched Sir Thomas of Norwich to the King, who still remained with his pal for reserve, to ask for aid. Sir Thomas, demand of the King, Is my son killed, overthrown, or wounded beyond help? Not so sire, reply the night, but he is in a rude fight and much needs your aid. Go back, Sir Thomas, to those who sent you, and tell them from me that whatsoever happens they require no aid from me as long as my son is in life. Tell them also that I command them to let the boy win his spurs, for God willing, the day shall be his, and the honour shall rest with him, and those into whose charge I have given him. The Prince and those around him were filled with fresh ardour when they received this message. Each man redoubled his efforts to repel the forces that were incessantly poured down upon them by the French. On all sides, those pressed around them, striving desperately, but ever in vain, to break through the solid ranks of the English. The French men-at-arms suffered moreover, terribly from the attacks of the Welsh infantry. These men, clad in thick leather jerkins, nimble of foot, accustomed to a life of activity, were armed with shortened lances and knives, mingled fearlessly among the confused mass of French cavalry, creeping beneath the horses' bellies, standing up when they got a chance, and stabbing horses and men with their knives and pikes. Many were trampled upon or struck down, but numbering as they did, six thousand, they pervaded the whole mass of the enemy and did a terrible execution, adding in no small degree to the confusion caused by the shower of arrows from the archers within the circle of the men-at-arms. The instant a French knight fell struck from his horse with a battle-axe or arrow or by the fall of a wounded steed, the half-wild Welsh were upon him and slew him before he could regain his feet. The slaughter was immense. The Count of Harcourt, with his nephew, the Count of Jamolle, and his two gallant sons fell together, and at last, Charles of Luxembourg, seeing his banner down, his troops routed, his friends slain, and the day irreparably lost, and being himself severely wounded in three places, turned his horse and fled, casting off his rich emblazoned surcoat to avoid recognition. In the meantime, Prince Charles' father, the veteran king of Bohemia, once one of the most famous warriors of Europe, but now old and blind, sat on horseback at a little distance from the fight. The knights around him told him the events as they happened, and the old monarch soon saw that the day was lost. He asked them for tidings of his son Charles of Luxembourg, but they were forced to reply that the banner of the king of the Romans was no longer in sight. But that, doubtless, he was somewhere engaged in the melee. Lord's, said the old man, you were my vassals, my friends, and my companions, and on this day I command and beseech you to lead me forward, so far that I may deal one blow of my sword in the battle. His faithful friends obeyed him, a number of knights arranged themselves around him, unless they should lose him in the fight they tied their horses together by the bridles and charged down into the fray, advancing directly against the banner of the Prince of Wales. The blind monarch was carried into the midst of the thickest strife. There the little group of knights fought gallantly, and after the battle was over the bodies of the king and his friends were found lying together, their dead horses still linked by the bridles. During this terrible battle, which had been raging since three o'clock, Philip had made strenuous efforts to aid his troops, engaged in the front by continually sending fresh bodies to the assault. It was now growing dark, terror and confusion had already spread among the French, and many were flying in all directions, and the unremitting showers of English arrows still flew like hail among their ranks, as the king made his way forward, surrounded by his personal attendants to take part himself in the fight, his followers fell thick around him, and his horse was slain by an arrow. John of Henult, who had remained by his side during the whole day, mounted upon a fresh horse, and urged him to fly as the day was lost. Philip, however, persisted and made his way into the melee, where he fought for some time with extreme courage, until almost all around him was slain. The royal standard bearer killed and himself wounded in two places. John of Henult then seized his bridle, exclaiming, Come away, sire! At his full time, do not throw your life away foolishly. If you have lost this day, you will win another, and so almost forced the unwilling king from the field. Philip, accompanied by the lords of Montmorence, Bougiot, Aubeignet, and Mansalt, with John of Henult and sixty men at arms, rode to the castle of Brøy, and there halted for a few hours. At midnight he again set out, and in the morning arrived safely, at Amiens. The black prince held his station until night, without yielding a single step to all the efforts of the French. Gradually, however, the assailants became less and less numerous. The banners disappeared, and the shouts of the leaders, and the clang of the arms died away, and the silence which prevailed over the field at once announced that victory was complete, and the enemy in full flight. An immense number of torches were now lighted through the English lines, and the king quitting for the first time his station on the hill, came down to embrace his gallant son, Edward, and his host rejoiced in a spirit of humility over the victory. No songs of triumph, no feastings or merriment were permitted, but a solemn service of the church was held, and the king and his soldiers offered their thanks to God for the victory he had given them. The English army lay all night under arms, and a number of scattered parties of the French wandered about in the darkness, entered the lines and were slain, or taken prisoners. The dawn of the next morning was thick and foggy, and intelligence coming in that a large body of the enemy were advancing upon them. The earls of Northampton, Warwick and Norfolk, with five hundred men at arms and two thousand archers, went out to reconnoiter, and came in the misty twilight upon an immense force composed of the citizens of Beauvais, Rouen, and some other towns led by the grand prior of France, and the archbishop of Rouen who were approaching the field. By some extraordinary accident they had not met any of the fugitives flying from Cressy, and were ignorant that a battle had been fought. The English charged them at once. Their advance guard consisting of burgers were easily overthrown. The Second Division, which were composed of men at arms, fought bravely, but was unable to withstand the charge of the triumphant English, and was completely broken and defeated. The grand prior was killed and a vast number of his followers slain or captured. During the whole of the morning detached parties from Edward's army scoured the countryside dispersing and slaughtering bands of French who still remained together, and towards night the Earl of Northampton returned to the camp with the news that no enemy remained in the vicinity, that could offer a show of resistance to the English force. It is said that a far greater number of French were killed upon the second day than upon the first. This can be accounted for by the fact that on the first day but a small portion of the English army were engaged, and that upon the second the English were fresh and vigorous and their enemy exhausted and dispirited. The greater number of the French nobles and knights who fell died in their attempts to break through the Black Prince's array. Besides the King of Bohemia nine sovereign princes and eighty great nobles were killed. With twelve hundred knights, fifteen hundred men-at-arms and thirty thousand foot. While on the English side only three knights at a small number of men-at-arms and infantry were killed. The body of the King of Bohemia and those of the other great leaders were carried in solemn pomp to the Abbey of Montenay. Edward himself and his son accompanied them as mourners. On the Monday following Edward marched with his army against Calais and summoned the town to surrender. John of Vienne, who commanded the garrison, refused to comply with the demand. The fortifications of the town were extremely strong and the garrison numerous and Edward perceived that an assault would be very unlikely to succeed and would entail great loss while a repulse would have deemed the luster of the success which he had gained. He therefore determined to reduce it by farming and the troops were set to work to build huts. So permanently and strongly were these constructed that it seemed to the enemy that King Edward was determined to remain before Calais even should he have to stay there for ten years. Proclamations were issued in the England and Flanders inviting traders to establish stores and to bring articles of trade of all kinds and in a short time a complete town sprang up which was named by Edward Newtown the Bold. The English fleet held complete possession of the sea cutting off the besiege from all succor by ship and enabling abundant supplies for the army to be brought from England and Flanders. Strong parties were sent out in all directions the northern provinces of France were scoured and the army was amply provided with necessaries and even luxuries. After the first terrible shock caused by the crushing defeat of Cressy King Philip began at once to take measures for the relief of Calais and made immense efforts again to put a great army in the field. He endeavoured by all means in his power to gain fresh allies. The encounter Flanders who at the death of his father at Cressy was sixteen years of age was naturally even more hostile to the English than the late Prince had been. And he strove to win over his subjects to the French alliance while Philip made their magnificent offers if they would join him. The Flemings however remained staunch to the English alliance and held their Prince in duress until he at last consented to marry the daughter of Edward. A week before the dates fixed for the nuptials however he managed to escape from the vigilance of his guards when out hawking and fled to the court of France. In Scotland Philip was more successful and David Bruce instead of employing the time given him by the absence of Edward with his armies in driving out the English garrisons from the strong places they still held in Scotland raised an army of fifty thousand men and marched across the border into England plundering and ravaging. Queen Philippa however raising an army marched against him and the Scotch were completely defeated at Neville's Cross fifteen thousand being killed and their king himself taken prisoner. Walter's conduct at the Battle of Cressy gained him still further the favour of the Black Prince the valour with which he had fought was conspicuous even on a field where all fought gallantly. And the Prince felt that more than once he would have been smitten down had not Walter's sword interposed. Ralph too had fought with reckless bravery and many French knights and gentlemen had gone down before the tremendous blows of his heavy mace against which the stoutest armour availed nothing. After the battle the Prince offered to make him an esquire in spite of the absence of gentle blood in his veins but Ralph declined the honour. And it please you, Sir Prince, he said. But I shall feel more comfortable among the men at arms, my fellows. In the day of battle I trust that I should do no discredit to my squirehood. But at other times I should feel woefully out of my element and should find not for my hands to do. Therefore, if it so pleases your royal highness, I would far rather remain a simple man at arms. Ralph did not, however, refuse the heavy purse which the Prince gave him, although indeed he as well as all the soldiers were well supplied with money so great were the spoils which the army had gathered in its march before Cressy and which they now swept off in their raids among the northern provinces of France. One evening Walter was returning from a banquet at the pavilion of the Prince of Wales with Ralph as usual following at a little distance when from a corner of the street a man darted suddenly out and struck a dagger with all his force between his shoulders. Well was it for Walter that he had taken Jeffrey's advice and had never laid aside the shirt of mail night or day. Fine as was its temper, two or three links of the outer fold were broken, but the point did not penetrate the second fold, and the dagger snapped in the hand of the striker. The force of the sudden blow, however, hurled Walter to the ground, with a loud cry, Ralph rushed forward, the man instantly fled, Ralph pursued him, but short distance, and then hastened back to Walter. Are you hurt so Walter, he exclaimed? In no way, Ralph, thanks to my shirt of mail. Well indeed was it for me that I was wearing it, or I should assuredly have been a dead man. I had almost begun to forget that I was a threatened man, but I shall be on guard for the future. I wish I had followed the fellow, Ralph said. I would not have slain him could I have helped it, but would have left it for the hangman to extort from him the name of his employer. But in truth he struck so hard, and you fell so straight before the blow that I feared the mail had given way, and that you were sorely wounded, if not killed. You have oft told me that I was over-careful of you, but you see that I was not careful enough. However, you may be assured that if another attempt be made, those who attempt it shall not get off scot-free. Do you think of laying a complaint before the provost, against him, you suspect? It would be useless, Ralph. We may have suspicion of the man from whom the blow came, but have no manner of proof. It might have been done by any ruffian camp-follower who struck the blow only with the hope of carrying off my chain and purse. The camp swarms with such fellows, and we have no clues which could lead to his detection, unless, he added, stooping and picking a piece of steel which lay at his feet. This broken dagger may some day furnish us with one. Nope, we shall say not about it. Sir James Carnegie is not now in camp, having left a week since on business in England. We exchange no words when we meet, but I heard that he had been called away. Fortunately the young prince likes him not, and I therefore have seldom occasioned to meet him. I have no doubt that he credits me with the disfavour in which he is held by the prince. But I have never even mentioned his name before him, and the prince's misliking is but the feeling which a noble and generous heart has as though by instinct against one who is false and treacherous. At the same time we must grant that this traitor knight is a bold and fearless man at arms. He fought well at La Blanche Tash and Cressy, and he is much liked and trusted by my lord of Northampton, in whose following he mostly rides. It is a pity that one so brave should have so foul and treacherous a heart. Here we are at my hut, and you can sleep soundly tonight, Ralph. For there is little fear that the fellow who has failed tonight will repeat his attempt for some time. He thinks no doubt that he has killed me, for with a blow so strongly struck he would scarcely have felt the snapping of the weapon, and he is likely enough already on board one of the ships, which ply to and fro from England, on his way to acquaint his employer that I am removed from his path. The next morning Walter mentioned to the Black Prince the venture which had befallen him, and the narrow escape he had had of his life. The Prince was extremely exasperated, and gave orders that an inquisition should be made through the camp, and that all men found there not being able to give a good account of themselves, as having reasonable and lawful calling there, should be, forthwith, put on board ship and sent to England. He questioned Walter closely whether he deemed that the attack was for the purpose of plunder only, or whether he had any reason to believe that he are private enemies. There is a knight who is evilly disposed toward me, Your Highness Walter said, but seeing that I have no proof whatever that I had a hand in this affair, however strongly I may suspect it, I would feign with your leave of void mentioning his name. But think you that there is any knight in this camp capable of so foul an action, that he is capable of such an act, but in this matter my tongue is tied, as the wrong he attempted was not against myself. But against others, who have so far forgiven him, that they would feign the matter should drop. He owes me ill-will, seeing that I am aware of his conduct, and that it was my intervention which caused his schemes to fail. Should this attempt against me be repeated, it can scarce be the effect of chance, but would show premeditated design, and I would think then, both in defence of my own life, and because I think that such deeds should not go unpunished, not hesitate to name him to you, and if proof be wanting to defy him, to open combat. I regret so, Walter, that your scruples should hinder you from at once denouncing him, but seeing how grave a matter it is to charge a knight, with so foul a crime, I will not lay stress upon you. But be assured, that should any repetition of the attempt be made, I shall take the matter in hand, and will see that this chitiff knight receives his desserts. A short time afterwards, Walter accompanied the prince in an excursion, which he made with a portion of the army, sweeping the French provinces as far as the River Somme. Upon their way back they passed through the village of Près, hard by which stood a small castle. It was situated some forty miles from Calais, and standing upon rising ground, it commanded a very extensive view over the country. What say you, Sir Walter, the prince said, to the young knight who was riding near him? That castle would make a good advanced post, and a messenger riding in could bring news of any large movements of the enemy. Walter assented. Then, Sir Walter, I name you Chateaulain. I shall be sorry to lose your good company, but the post is one of peril, and I know that you are ever longing to distinguish yourself. Take forty men at arms, and sixty archers. With that force you may make shift to resist any attack, until help reaches you from camp. You may be sure, that I shall not be slack in spurring to your rescue, should you be assailed. Walter received the proposal with delight. He was weary of the monotony of life in Newtown, and this post, in which vigilance and activity would be required, was just to his taste. So taking the force, named by the prince, with a store of provision, he drew off from the column, and entered the castle. End of Chapter 14 Chapter 15 of St. George for England This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Brett Downey St. George for England by G. A. Henty Chapter 15 The Siege of a Fortilless Walter's first step on assuming the command was to examine thoroughly into the capabilities of defense of the place, to see that the well was in good order, and the supply of water ample, and to send out a foraging party, which, driving in a number of beasts and some cartloads of forage, would supply his garrison for some time. The castle, he found, was less strong than it looked. The walls were lightly built, and were incapable ofwithstanding any heavy battering. The moat was dry, and the flanking towers badly placed, and affording little protection to the faces of the walls. However, the extent of the defenses was small, and Walter felt confident that with the force at his command, he could resist any sudden attack unless made an overwhelming force, so that all the faces of the wall could be assaulted at the same time. He had a large number of great stones brought in to pile against the gate, while others were brought into the central keep, similarly to defend the door should the outer wall be carried. He appointed Ralph as his lieutenant, and every day, leaving him in charge of the castle, rode through the country for many miles around, with twenty-minute arms to convince himself that no considerable force of the enemy were approaching. These reconnaisances were not without some danger and excitement. For several times, bodies of the country people, armed with scythes, axes, and staves, tried to intercept them on their return to the castle, and once or twice, Walter and his men had to fight their way through their opponents. Contrary to the custom of the times, Walter gave orders to his men not to slay any when resistance had ceased. They are but doing what we ourselves should do did French garrisons hold our castles at home, and I deemed them in no way to be blamed for the efforts which they make to slay us. In self-defense, of course, we must do our best, and must kill in order that we may not ourselves be slain, but when they are once routed, let them go to their homes. Poor people, the miseries which this war has brought upon them are great, and there is no wonder that they hate us. This leniency on Walter's part was not without good effect, when the country people found that the garrison of the castle of prey did not carry fire and sword through the villages around, that they took only sufficient for their needs, and behaved with courtesy to all, their animosity to a great extent subsided. No longer did the women and children of the little villages fly to the woods when they saw the gleam of Walter's approaching spears, but remained at their avocations and answered willingly enough the questions which he asked them as to whether they had heard ought of the movements of French troops. So far as possible, Walter refrained from seizing the cattle or stores of grain of the poorer classes, taking such as he needed from the lands of the wealthy proprietors, all of whom had left the country and were either with the French army or sheltering in Paris. Five of his best-mounted men Walter chose as messengers, and one rode each day to Newtown with the news which had been gathered, returning on the following day, and then resting his horse for three days before again setting out. Night and day centuries were placed on the walls, for although Walter heard nothing of anybody gathering in his immediate vicinity, a force might at any moment issue from Amiens and appear suddenly before the place. Such was indeed what really took place, and at daybreak one morning Walter was aroused by the news that the sentinels saw a large body of men rapidly approaching. The horse of the messenger next on duty stood, as usual, saddled and bridled in readiness, and without a moment's delay Walter ordered the man to mount and ride to the prince, and to give news that the castle was assailed, but by how large a force he could not as yet say. The instant the messenger had started through the gates, Walter ascended to the walls. He saw at once that the party was a strong one, for although still at some distance and but dimly seen in the gray morning light, he judged that it must contain at least a thousand-minute arms. At this moment, a call from the sentry on the other side of the castle was heard, and hastening thither, Walter saw that another body, nearly as numerous as the first, were approaching from the side of Calais, having made a detour so as to place themselves between the castle and the army, to which news would naturally be sent of their coming. Walter watched his messenger, who had now ridden half a mile towards the approaching body. Suddenly he saw him turn his horse and ride off at right angles to the road. He sees them, he said, and is going to try to ride round them. I fear that there is but little hope of his escaping, seeing that they are between him and Calais, and that assuredly some among them must be as well or better mounted than himself. As he spoke, a party of horsemen were seen to detach themselves from the flank of the French column and to gallop off at full speed to intercept the messenger. The latter diverged more and more from his course, but he was constantly headed off by his pursuers, and at last, seeing the impossibility of getting through them, he again turned his horse's head and galloped off towards the castle, which he reached a few hundred yards only in advance of his foes. I could not help it, Sir Walter, he said as he galloped in at the gate. I found that although Robin is fast, some of those horsemen had the turn of speed on me, and that it was impossible that I could get through. So do you mean that I should do more service by coming to strike a blow here than by having my throat cut out in the fields? I made the best of my way back. Quite right, Martin, Walter said. I should have been grieved had you thrown your life away needlessly. I saw from the first that your escape was cut off. And now, men, each to his place, but first pile up the stones against the gate, and then let each man take a good meal, for it is like enough to be long before we can get a chance of doing so again. Again ascending to the walls, Walter saw that the first body of medid arms he had perceived was followed at a distance by a strong force of footmen having with them some large wagons. I fear, he said to Ralph, that they have brought machines with them from Amien, and in that case they will not be long in affecting a breach. For doubtless they know that the walls are but weak. We shall have to fight stoutly, for it may be days before the news of our leaguer reaches the camp. However, I trust that the prince will, by tomorrow night, when he finds that two days have elapsed without the coming of my usual messenger, suspect that we are besieged and will sally forth to our assistance. And now let us to breakfast, for we shall need all our strength today, and you may be sure that French will lose no time in attacking, seeing that assistance may shortly arrive from Calais. There were but few preparations to be made. Each man had his post assigned to him on the walls in case of attack, and piles of stones had been collected in readiness to cast down upon the heads of those attempting an assault. Calderons were carried up to the wall and filled with water, and great fires were lighted under them. In half an hour the French infantry had reached the spot, but another two hours elapsed before any hostile movement was made, the leaders of the assailants giving their men that time to rest after their long march. Then a stirrer was visible among them, and they were seen to form in four columns, each about a thousand strong, which advanced simultaneously against opposite sides of the castle. As soon as their intentions were manifest, Walter divided his little force, and these, gathering in four groups upon the walls, prepared to resist the assault. To four of his most trusty minute arms he assigned the command of these parties, he himself and Ralf being thus left free to give their aid where it was most needed. These assailants were well provided with scaling ladders, and advanced with a number of crossbowmen in front, who speedily opened a hot fire on the walls. Walter ordered his archers to buy their time, and not to fire a shot till certain that every shaft would tell. They accordingly waited until the French arrived within 50 yards of the wall, when the arrows began to reign among them with deadly effect, scarce one but struck its mark, the face of an enemy. Even the closed visors of the knights and the chief-minute arms did not avail to protect their wearers. The shafts pierced between the bars or penetrated the slits left open for sight, and many fell slain by the first folly, but their numbers were far too great to allow the columns being checked by the fire of so small a number of archers. The front ranks, indeed, pressed forward more eagerly than before, being anxious to reach the foot of the wall where they would be in comparative shelter from the arrows. The archers disturbed themselves in no way at the reaching of the wall by the heads of the columns, but continued to shoot fast and true into the mass behind them, and as these were, for the most part, less completely armed than their leaders, numbers fell under the fire of the 60 English Bowmen. It was the turn of the men at arms now. Immediately the assailants poured into the dry moat and sought to raise their ladders. The men at arms hurled down the masses of stones piled in readiness, while some poured buckets of boiling water over them. In spite of the loss they were suffering, the French raised their ladders, and covering their heads with their shields, the leaders strove to gain the walls. As they did so, some of the archers took post in the flanking towers, and, as with uplifted arms, the assailants climbed the ladders. The archers smote them above the joints of their armor beneath the arm pits, while the men at arms with pike and battleaxe hewed down those who reached the top of the ladders. Walter and Ralph hastened from point to point, encouraging them in and joining in the defense where the pressure was hottest, and at last, after two hours of vain effort and suffering great loss, the assailants drew off and the garrison had breathing time. Well done, my men, Walter said cheeringly. They have had a lesson which they will remember, and if so be that they have brought with them no machines, we may hold out against them for any time. It was soon manifest, however, that along with the scaling ladders, the enemy had brought one of their war machines. Men were seen dragging massive beams of timber towards the walls, and one of the wagons was drawn forward and upset on its side at a distance of 60 yards from the wall. Not, however, without those who drew it suffering much from the arrows of the bowmen. Behind the shelter, thus formed, the French began to put together the machine, whose beams soon raised themselves high above the wagon. In the meantime, groups of men dragged great stones laid upon a sort of hand sledge to the machine, and late in the afternoon, it began to cast its missiles against the wall. Against these Walter could do little. He had no sacks, which, filled with earth, he might have lowered to cover the part of the walls assailed, and beyond annoying those working the machines by flights of arrows shot high in the air so as to descend point downwards among them, he could do nothing. The wall crumbled rapidly beneath the blows of the great stones, and Walter saw that by the following morning a breach would be affected. When night fell, he called his men together and asked if any would volunteer to carry news through the enemy to the prince. The enterprise seemed well-nigh hopeless, for the French, as if foreseeing that such an attempt might be made, had encamped in a complete circle around the castle, as was manifest by the position of their fires. Several men stepped forward, and Walter chose three light and active men, archers, to attempt the enterprise. These tripped off their steel caps and breast pieces, so that they might move more quickly, and when the French fires burned low and all was quiet saved the creek of the machine and the dull heavy blows of the stones against the wall, the three men were lowered by ropes at different points, and started on their enterprise. A quarter of an hour later the garrison heard shouts and cries, and knew that a vigilant watch had been set by the French, and that one, if not all, of their friends had fallen into their hands. All night long the machine continued to play. An hour before daylight, when he deemed that the enemy's vigilance would be relaxed, Walter caused himself with Ralph, and twelve of his men at arms, to be lowered by ropes from the wall. Each rope had a loop at the bottom, in which one foot was placed, and knots were tied in order to give a better grasp for the hands. They were lowered at a short distance from the spot at which the machine was at work, all armed with axes, and made their way unperceived until within a few yards of the wagon. Then there was a cry of alarm, and in a moment they rushed forward among the enemy. The men working the machine were instantly cut down, and Walter and his party fell upon the machine, cutting the ropes and smashing the wheels and pulleys and hewing away at the timber itself. In a minute or two, however, they were attacked by the enemy. The officer in command, having bait a hundred men, lied down to sleep close behind the machine in case the garrison should attempt a sortie. Walter called upon Ralph and four of the men at arms to stand beside him while the others continued their work of destruction. The French came up in a tumultuous body, but standing so far apart that they could wield their axes, the English dealt such destruction among their first assailants that these for a time recoiled. As fresh numbers came up, encouraged by their leader, they renewed the attack, and in spite of the most tremendous efforts Walter and his party were driven back. By this time, however, so much damage had been done to the machine that it would be some hours before it could be repaired, even if spare ropes and other appliances had been brought with it from Amien. So that, reinforced by the working party, Walter was again able to hold his ground, and after repulsing a fresh onslaught of the enemy, he gave the word for his men to retire at full speed. The French were so surprised by the sudden disappearance of their foes that it was a moment or two before they started in pursuit, and Walter and his men gained some 30 yards before the pursuit really commenced. The night was a dark one, and they considerably increased this advantage before they reached the foot of the wall where the ropes were hanging. Has each of you found his rope, Walter asked? As soon as an affirmative answer was given, he placed his foot in the loop and shouted to the men above to draw up, and before the enraged enemy could reach the spot, the whole party were already some yards above their heads. The archers opened fire upon the French, doing in spite of the darkness considerable execution, for the men had snatched up their arms at the sudden alarm, and had joined the fray in such haste that many of them had not had time to put on their steel caps. There was noise and bustle in the enemy's camp, for the whole force were now under arms, and in their anger at the sudden blow which had been struck them, some bodies of men even moved forward towards the walls, as if they intended to renew the assault of the previous day, but the showers of arrows with which they were greeted cooled their ardor and they presently retired out of reach of bow shot. There was a respite now for the besiegers. No longer every few minutes did a heavy stone strike the walls. The morning's light enabled the defenders of the castle to see the extent to the damage which the battering machine had affected. None too soon had they put a stop to its work, for had it continued its operations, another hour or two would have affected a breach. Already large portions of the wall facing it had fallen, and other portions were so seriously damaged that a few more blows would have leveled them. At any rate, Walter said to Routh, we have gained a respite, but even now I fear that if the Black Prince comes not until tomorrow he will arrive too late. The French, apparently as well aware as the garrison of the necessity for haste, labored at the repair of the machine. Bodies of men started to cut down trees to supply the place of the beams which had been rendered useless. Scarcely had the assault ceased when horsemen were dispatched in various directions to seek for fresh ropes, and by dint of the greatest exertions the machine was placed in position to renew its attack shortly after noon. By two o'clock several large portions of the damaged wall had fallen, and the debris formed a slope by which an assaulting column could rush to the bridge. As soon as this was manifest the French force formed for the assault and rushed forward in solid column. Walter had made the best preparation possible for the defense. In the courtyard behind the breach his men had since morning been driving a circle of piles connected by planks fastened to them. These were some five feet high, and along the top and in the face next to the breach sharp pointed spikes and nails had been driven, rendering it difficult in the extreme for anyone to climb over. As the column of the assailants approached Walter placed his archers on the walls on either side of the breach while he himself with his men at arms took his station in the gap and faced the coming host. The breach was some 10 yards wide, but it was only for about half this width that the mound of broken stones rendered it possible for their enemies to assault. Consequently there was but a space of some 15 feet in width to be defended. Regardless of the flight of arrows the French headed by their knights and squires advanced to the assault and clamoring up the rough stones attacked the defenders. Walter with Ralph and three of his best-minute arms stood in the front line and received the first shock of the assault. The roughness and steepness of the mound prevented the French from attacking in regular order, and the very eagerness of the knights and squires who came first in contact with their enemies was a hindrance to them. When the columns were seen gathering for the assault Walter had scattered several barrels full of oil and tar which he found in the cellars over the mound in front of the breach rendering it greasy and slippery and causing the assailants to slip and stagger and many to fall as they pressed forward to the assault. Before the fight commenced he encouraged his soldiers by recalling to them how a mere handful of men at Cressy was stood for hours the desperate efforts of the whole of the French army to break through their line and all were prepared to fight to the death. The struggle was a desperate one served by their higher position and by the difficulties which the French encountered from the slipperiness of the ground and their own fierce ardor to attack. Walter and his little band for a long time resisted every effort. He with his sword and Ralph with his heavy mace did great execution and they were nobly seconded by their men at arms. As fast as one fell another took his place. The breach in front of them was combered with the dead and red with blood. Still the French poured upwards in a wave and the sheer weight of their numbers and the fatigue caused by the tremendous exertions the defenders were making began to tell. Step by step the English were driven back and Walter saw that the defense could not much longer be continued. He bade one of his men at arms at once order the archers to cease firing and leaving the walls to take refuge in the keep and then to open fire upon the French as they poured through the breach. When he found that this movement had been accomplished Walter bade the men at arms fall back gradually. A gap had been left in the wooden fence sufficient for one at a time to pass and through this the men at arms retired one by one to the keep until only Walter and five others were left. With these Walter flung himself suddenly upon the assailants and forced them a few feet down the slope. Then he gave the word and all sprang back and leaping down from the wall into the courtyard ran through the barrier. Walter and Ralph being the last to pass as the French with exulting shouts leapt down from the breach. There was another fierce fight at the barrier Walter left Ralph to defend this with a few men at arms while he saw that all was in readiness for closing the door rapidly in the keep. Then he ran back again. He was but just in time Ralph indeed could for a long time have held the narrow passage but the barriers themselves were yielding. The French were pouring in through the breach and as those behind could not see the nature of the obstacle which arrested the advance of their companions they continued to push forward and by their weight press those in front against the spikes in the barrier. Many perished miserably on these others whose armor protected them from this fate were crushed to death by the pressure but this was now so great that the timbers were yielding. Walter, seeing that in another moment they would be leveled gave the word sprang back with Ralph and his party and entered the keep just as with a crash the barrier fell and the French poured in a crowd into the courtyard. Bolting the door the defenders of the keep piled against it the stones which had been laid up in readiness. The door was on the first floor and was approached by a narrow flight of stone steps up which but two abreast could advance. In their first fury the French poured up these steps but from the loopholes which commanded it the English bowmen shot so hard that their arrows pierced the strongest armor. Smitten through visor and armor numbers of the bravest of the assailants fell dead. Those who gained the top of the steps were assailed by showers of boiling oil from an upper chamber which projected over the door and whose floor was pierced for this purpose while from the top of the keep showers of stones were poured down. After losing great numbers in this desperate effort at assault the French drew off for a while while their leaders held council as to the best measures to be taken for the capture of the keep. After a time Walter from the summit saw several bodies of men detach themselves from the crowd still without the castle and proceed into the country. Two hours later they were seen returning laden with trunks of trees. These were dragged through the breach and were in spite of the efforts of the archers and of the men at arms with their stones placed so as to form a sort of penthouse against one side of the keep. Numbers of the soldiers now poured up with sacks and all kinds of vessels which they had gathered from the surrounding villages filled with earth. This was thrown over the beams until it filled all the crevices between them and formed a covering a foot thick so that neither boiling oil nor water poured from above could penetrate to injure those working beneath its shelter. When all was ready a strong body armed with picks and crowbars entered the penthouse and began to labor to cut away the wall of the keep itself. The commander knows his business Walter said and the device is an excellent one. We can do nothing and it only depends upon the strength of the wall how long we can hold out. The masonry is by no means good and before nightfall unless aid comes there will be not for us but death or surrender. End of Chapter 15 Recording by Brett Towney Chapter 16 of St. George for England This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Richard Kilmer St. George for England by G. A. Henty Chapter 16 A prisoner As long as it was light an anxious lookout was kept from the top of the keep towards Calais. There was nothing to be done. The besiegers who had entered the walls were ensconced in the various buildings in the courtyard or placed behind walls so as to be out of arrow shot from above and were in readiness to repel any sortie which might be made to interfere with the work going on under the penthouse. But no sortie was possible for to effect this it would be necessary to remove the stones from the door. And before this could be accomplished the besiegers would have rallied in overwhelming force nor could a sortie have affected anything beyond the slain of the men actually engaged in the work. The beams of the penthouse were too strong and too heavily weighted with earth to be removed and the attempt would only have entailed useless slaughter. The penthouse was about forty feet in length and the assailants were piercing three openings each of some six feet in width leaving two strong supporting pillars between them. Anxiously the garrison within listened to the sounds of work which became louder and louder as the walls crumbled before the stroke of pickaxe and crowbar. I shall hold out until the last moment Walter said the Ralph in the hopes of relief but before they burst in I shall sound a parley. To resist further would be a vain sacrifice of life. Presently the movement could be seen among the stones and then almost simultaneously two apertures appeared. The chamber into which the openings were made was a large one being used as the common room of the garrison here twenty archers and the remaining men at arms of whom nearly one half had fallen in the defense of the breach were gathered and the instant the orifices appeared the archers began to send their arrows through them. Then Walter ascended to another chamber and ordered the trumpeter to sound a parley. The sound was repeated by the assistance trumpeter. Who commands the force? Walter asked. I, Guy, Count of Evarue. I am Sir Walter Summers, the young knight continued. I wish to ask terms for the garrison. You must surrender unconditionally, the Count replied from the courtyard. In ten minutes we shall have completely pierced your walls and you will be at our mercy. You may pierce our walls, Walter replied, but it will cost you many lives before you force your way in. We will defend the hold from floor to floor and you know how desperate men can fight. It will cost you scores of lives before you win your way to the summit of this keep. But if I have your nightly word that the lives of all within these walls shall be spared, then will I open the door and lay down our arms. A consultation took place between the leaders below. There was truth in Walter's words that very many lives would be sacrificed before the resistance of so gallant a garrison could be overcome. Every minute was of importance, for it was possible that at any moment aid might arrive from Calais and that the table would be turned upon the besiegers. Therefore, after a short parley among themselves, the Count replied, You have fought as a gallant knight and gentleman, Sir Walter Summers, and have wrought grievous harm upon my leading. I should grieve that so brave a knight should lose his life in a useless resistance. Therefore I agree to your terms and swear upon my nightly honor that upon your surrendering yourselves, prisoners of war, the lives of all within these walls shall be spared. Walter at once gave the order. The stones were removed and the door thrown open. And leading his men, Walter descended the steps into the courtyard, which was now illuminated with torches. And handed his sword to the Count of Everu. You promised me Count, a tall knight standing by his side said, that if he were taken alive, the commander of this castle should be my prisoner. I did so, Sir Philip Obru. When you proposed this adventure to me, and offered to place your following at my command, I agreed to the request you made me. But mind, he said sternly, my nightly word has been given for his safety. See that he receives fair and gentle treatment at your hand. I would not that ought should befall so brave a knight. I seek him no harm, the knight said angrily. But I know that he is one of the knights of the Black Prince's own suite. And that his ransom will be freely paid. And as my coffers are low from the expenses of the war, I would feign replenish them at the expense of the English Prince. I said not that I doubt at you, Sir Philip, the count said calmly, but as the knight surrendered on my word, it was needful that I should warn you to treat him, as I myself should do, that he remain in my hands, and to give him fair treatment until duly rancined. I should be glad, Count Walter said. If you would suffer me to take with me as companion in my captivity, this man at arms. He is strongly attached to me, and we have gone through many perils together. It will lighten my captivity to have him by my side. Surely I will do so, Sir Walter, and wish that your boon had been a larger one. The rest I will take back with me to Amin, there to hold until exchanged for some of those who at various times have fallen into your king's hands. And now to work, men lose not a moment in stripping the castle of all that you choose to carry away, then apply fire to the storehouses, granaries, and the hold itself. I would not that it remain standing to serve as an outpost for the English. The horses were brought from the stables. Walter and Ralph took their horses by the bridle, and followed Sir Philip Holbo through the now open gates of the castle, to the spot where the horses of the besiegers were picketed. The knight and his own men at arms, who had at the beginning of the day numbered 150, but who are now scarcely two-thirds of that strength, at once mounted with their prisoners, and rode off from the castle. A few minutes later a glare of light burst out from behind them. The council orders had been obeyed, fire had been applied to the stores of forage, and soon the castle at prey was wrapped in flames. I like not our captor's manner, Ralph said to Walter as they rode along side by side. I agree with you, Ralph. I believe that the reason which he gave the count for his request was not a true one, though indeed, I can see no other motive which he could have for seeking to gain possession of me. Sir Philip, although a valiant knight, bears but an indifferent reputation. I have heard that he is a cruel master to his serfs, and that when away fighting in Germany, he behaved so cruelly to the peasantry that even the Germans who are not nice in their modes of warfare cried out against him. It is an evil fortune that has thrown us into his hands still, although grasping and avaricious, he can hardly demand for a simple knight any inordinate ransom. The French themselves would cry out, did he do so, seeing that so large a number of their own knights are in our hands, and that the king has ample powers of retaliation. However, we need not look on the dark side. It is not likely that our captivity will be a long one, for the Prince, who is the soul of generosity, will not haggle over terms, but will pay my ransom as soon as he hears in whose hands I have fallen. While there are scores of men-at-arms prisoner who can be exchanged for you. Doubtless, Sir Philip will send you over, as soon as he arrives at his castle, with one of his own followers to treat for my ransom. After riding, for some hours, the troop halted their weary horses in a wood, and, lighting fires, cooked their food, and then lay down until morning. Sir Philip exchanged but few words with his captive, as, having removed his helm, he sat by the fire. Walter had an opportunity of seeing his countenance. It did not belie his reputation. His face had a heavy and brutal expression, which was not decreased by the fashion of his hair, which was cut quite short, and stood up without parting, all over his bullet-shaped head. He had a heavy and bristling mustache, which was cut short in a line with his lips. It is well, Walter thought to himself, that it is my ransom rather than my life, which is dear to that evil-looking knight. For assuredly, he is not one to hesitate, did fortune throw a foe into his hands. At daybreak the march was resumed and was continued until they reached the castle of Sir Philip Holbrook, which stood on a narrow tongue of land formed by a sharp bend of the psalm. On entering the castle the knight gave an order to his followers, and the prisoners were, at once, led to a narrow cell beneath one of the towers. Walter looked round indignantly when he arrived there. This is a dungeon for a felon, he exclaimed, not the apartment for a knight who has been taken captive in a fair fight. Tell your master that he is bound to award me honorable treatment, and that, unless he removes me instantly from this dungeon to a proper apartment, and treats me with all due respect and courtesy, I will, when I regain liberty, proclaim him a dishonored knight. The men at arms made no reply, but locking the door behind them left the prisoners alone. What can this mean, Ralph? Walter exclaimed. We are in the lowest dungeon and below the level of the river. See how damp are the walls and the floor is thick with slimy mud. The river must run just below that loophole, and in times of flood probably enters here. Philip of Hobu, on dismounting, ascended to an upper chamber, where a man in the dress of a well-to-do citizen was sitting. Well, Sir Philip, he exclaimed, rising to his feet as the other entered. What news? The news is bad, the knight growled. This famous scheme of yours has cost me fifty of my best men. I would, I had had, nothing to do with it. But this Walter Summers, the other exclaimed. What of him? He has not escaped, surely. The force which marched from a means was large enough to have eaten him and his garrison. He has not escaped, the knight replied. Then he has killed, the other said, eagerly. No, nor has he killed. He has at present a prisoner in a dungeon below, together with a stout nave whom he begged might accompany him until ransomed. All is well, then, the other exclaimed. Never mind the loss of your men. The money which I have promised you for this business will hire you two hundred such naves. But why did not knock him on the head at once? It was not so easy to knock him on the head, Sir Philip growled. It cost us five hundred men to capture the outer walls and to have fought our way into the keep, held as it was, by men who would have contested every foot of the ground was not a job for which any of us had much stomach, seen what the first assault had cost us. So the count took them all to quarter, the rest he carried with him to Amin. But their leader, according to the promise which he made me, he handed over to me as my share of the day's booty, giving me every charge that he should receive good and nightly treatment. Which no doubt you will observe, the other said with an ugly laugh. It's a bad business, the knight exclaimed angrily. And were it not for our friendship in Spain, and the memory of sundry deeds which we did together, not without profit to our purses, I would rather that you were thrown over the battlements into the river, than I had taken a step in this business. However, none can say that Philip of Hobu ever deserted a friend who had proved true to him, not to mention that the sum which you promised me for my aid in this manner will, at present time, prove wondrously convenient. Yet I foresee that it will bring me into trouble with the count of Everu. There many days a demand will come for the fellow to be delivered on ransom. And what will you say, the other asked? I shall say what is the truth, the knight replied, though I may add something that is not wholly so. I shall say that he was drowned in the psalm. I shall add that it happened as he was trying to make his escape contrary to the parole he had given. But in truth, he will be drowned in the dungeon in which I have placed him, which has rid me of many a troublesome prisoner before now. The river is at ordinary times but two feet below the loophole, and when it is tied as swelled by rain, it often rises above the sill. And then there is an end of anyone within. They can doubt my word, but there are not many who would care to do so openly, none who would do so for the sake of an unknown English knight. And as for any complaints on the part of the Black Prince, King Philip has shown over and over again how little the complaints of Edward himself move him. It were almost better to knock him on the head at once, the other said thoughtfully. The fellow has as many lives as a cat. If he had as many as nine cats, the knight replied, it would not avail him, but I will have no violence. The water will do your work as well as a poignard, and I will not have it said, even among such ruffians as mine, that I slew a captured knight. The other will pass as an accident, and I care not what my men may think, as long as they can say nothing for a surity. The count may storm as much as he will. And may even lay a complaint against me before the king. But in times like the present, even a simple knight, who can lead two hundred good fighting men into the field, is not to be despised. And the king is likely to be easily satisfied with my replies to any question that may be raised. Indeed, it would seem contrary to reason that I should slay a captive against whom I have no cause of quarrel, and so forfeit the ransom which I should get for him. But suppose that a messenger should come, offering ransom before the river happens to rise. Then I shall anticipate matters, and shall say that what I know will happen has already taken place. Do not be uneasy, Sir James. You have my word in the matter. And now I have gone so far, I shall carry it through. From the moment when I ordered him into that dungeon his fate was sealed, and in truth, when I gave the order, I did so to put an end to the indecision in which my mind had been all night. Once in there he could not be allowed to come out alive. For his report of such treatment would do me more harm among those of my own station in France than any rumors touching his end could do. It is no uncommon affair for one to remove an enemy from one's path, but cruelty to a nightly prisoner would be regarded with horror. Would you like to have a look at him? The other hesitated. No, he replied. Against him personally I have no great grudge. He has thwarted my plans and stands now grievously in the way of my making fresh ones. But as he did so from no ill will towards myself, but as it were by hazard, I have no personal hatred towards him. Though I would feign remove him from my path. Besides, I tell you fairly, that even in that dungeon where you have thrown him, I shall not feel that he is safe until you send me word that he is dead. He has twice already got out of scrapes when other men would have been killed. Both at Vans and at Ghent, he escaped in a marvelous way. And but a few weeks since, by accident of his having a coat of mail under his doublet, he saved his life from as fair a blow as ever was struck. Therefore I would not that he knew ought of my having a hand in this matter. For if after having seen me he made his escape, I could never show my face in England again. I should advise you to bid three or four men always enter his cell together. For he and that man of arms who follows him like a shadow are capable of playing any desperate trick to escape. That matter is easily enough managed, Sir Phillips said grimly. By no one entering the dungeon at all. The river may be slow of rising, though in sooth the sky looks overcast now. And it is already at its usual winter level. And whether he dies from lack of water, or from a too abundant supply, matters but little to me. Only as I told you, I will give no orders for him to be killed. Dust remember that Jew we carried off from Seville, and kept without water until he agreed to pay us a ransom, which made us both rich for six months. That was a rare haul. And I would that rich Jews were plentiful in this country. Yes, those were good times, the other said. Although I own that I have not done badly since the war began, having taken account in three nights prisoners, and put in the ransom, and having reaped a goodly share of plunder from your French burgers, else indeed I could not have offered you so round a sum to settle this little matter for me. There are not many French knights who have earned accounts ransom in the present war. And now I will take horse. Here is one half of the sum I promised you, in gold nobles. I will send you the remainder on the day when I get news from you that the matter is finished. Have your money ready in a week's time, the knight replied, taking the bag of gold which the other had placed on the table. For by that time you will hear from me. I hope this will not be the last business which we may do together. There ought to be plenty of good chances in a war like this. Any time that you can send me word of an intended foray by a small party under a commander whose ransom would be a high one, I will share what I get with you. And similarly I will let you know of any rich prize who may be pounced upon on the same terms. Agreed the other said, we may do a good business together in that way. But you lie too far away if you move up as near as you can to Calais and let me know your whereabouts so that I could send or ride to you in a few hours. We might work together with no small profit. I will take the field as soon as this affair of yours is settled, the knight replied, and the messenger who brings you the news shall tell you where I may be found. And now, while your horse has been got ready, let us drink a stoop of wine together in memory of old times, though for myself these wines of ours are poor and insipid beside the fiery juice of Spain. While this conversation, upon which their fate so much depended, had been going on, Walter and Ralph had been discussing the situation, and had arrived at a tolerably correct conclusion. This conduct on the part of this brutal French knight, Ralph, is so strange that me thinks it cannot be the mere outcome of his passions or of a hate against me as an Englishman, but of some deeper motive. And we were right in thinking, that in bargaining for my person with the Count of Everrew, it was more than my ransom which he sought. Had that been his only object, he would never have thrown us into this noisome dungeon, for my report of such treatment would bring dishonor upon him in the eyes of every knight and noble in France as well as in England. It must be my life he aims at, although what grudge he can have against me it passes me to imagine. It may be that at Cersei or elsewhere some dear relative of his may have fallen by my sword, and yet were it so men nourish no grudge for the death of those killed in fair fight, but this boots not at present. It is enough for us that it is my life which he aims at, and I fear, Ralph, that yours must be included with mine, since he would never let a witness escape to carry the foul tale against him. This being so, the agreement on which I surrendered is broken, and I am free to make my escape if I can. And me thinks the sooner that be attempted, the better. So let us work to plan how we may best get out of this place. After our escape from that well at Veins, we need not despair about breaking out of this dungeon of Hobel. We might overpower the guards who bring our food, Ralph said. There is that chance, Walter rejoined, but I think it is a poor one. They may be sure that this dishonorable treatment would have rendered us desperate, and they will take every precaution and come well armed. It may be, too, that they will not come at all, but that they intend us to die of starvation or perchance to be drowned by the floods, which it is easy to see often make their way in here. No, our escape, if escape there be, must be made through that loophole above. Where the bar removed, me thinks it wide enough for us to squeeze through. Goutless such a hazard has not occurred to them, seeing that it is nigh twelve feet above the floor, and that a single man could by no possibility reach it. But with two of us there is no difficulty. Now, Ralph, do you stand against the wall? I will climb upon your shoulders, and standing there can reach the bar, and so haul myself up and look out. This was soon done, and Walter, seizing the bar, hauled himself up so that he could see through the loophole. It is as I thought, he said, the waters of the psalm are but a foot below the level of the window. The river is yellow and swollen, and a few hours heavy rain would bring it above the level of this sill. Stand steady, Ralph, I am coming down again. When he reached the ground, he said, take off your belt, Ralph, if we buckle that and mine together, passing it round the bar, it will make a loop upon which we can stand at the window, and see how best we can loosen the bar. Constantly wet as it is, it is likely that the mortar will have softened, in which case we shall have little difficulty in working it out. The plan was at once put into execution. The belts were fastened together, and Walter, standing on Ralph's shoulders, passed one end around the bar, and buckled it to the other, thus making a loop some three feet in length. Putting a foot in this, he was able to stand easily at the loophole. It is put in with mortar at the top, Ralph, and the mortar has wrought it with the wet. But at the bottom, lead was poured in when the bar was set, and this must be scooped out before it can be moved. Fortunately, the night gave no water to his men to remove our daggers when we were thrust in here, and these will speedily dig out the lead. But I must come down first, for the strap prevents my working at the foot of the bar. We must tear off a strip of our clothing, and make a shift to fasten the strap halfway up the bar, so as not to slip down with our weight. In order to accomplish this, Walter had to stand upon Ralph's head to gain additional height. He presently, after several attempts, succeeded in fixing the strap firmly against the bar halfway up, and then placing one knee in the loop, and putting an arm through the bar to steady himself, he set to work at the lead. The sharp point of the dagger quickly cut out that near the surface, but farther down the whole narrowed, and the task was much more difficult. Several times Ralph relieved him at the work, but at last it was accomplished, and the bar was found to move slightly when they shook it. There now remained only to loosen the cement above, and this was a comparatively easy task. It crumbled quickly before the points of their daggers, and the bar was soon free to move. Now Walter said, we have to find out whether the bar was first put in from below or from above. One hole or the other must be a good deal deeper than the iron, so that it was either shoved up or pushed down, until the other end could get under or over the other hole. I should think most likely that the hole is below, as if they held up the bar against the top when the lead was poured in, it would fill up the space. So we will first of all try to lift it. I must stand on your head again to enable me to be high enough to try this. My head is strong enough, I warned, Ralph replied. But I will fold up my jerkin and put it on. For in truth you hurt me somewhat when you were tying the strap to the bar. All Walter's efforts did not succeed in raising the bar in the slightest, and he therefore concluded that it had been inserted here and lifted while the space was filled with lead. It is best so, he said. We should have to cut away the stone either above or below, and can work much better below. Now I will put my knee in the strap again and set to work. The stone seems greatly softened by the wet, and will yield to our daggers readily enough. It is already getting dark, and as soon as we have finished we can start. As Walter had discovered the stone was rotten with the action of the weather, and although as they got deeper it became much harder. It yielded to the constant chipping with their daggers, and in two hours Ralph, who at the moment happened to be engaged, pronounced to Walter that his dagger had found its way under the bottom of the bar. The groove was soon made deep enough for the bar to be moved out, but another hour's work was necessary, somewhat further to enlarge the upper hole. So has to allow the bar to have sufficient play. Fortunately it was only inserted about an inch and a half in the stone, and the amount to be cut away to give it sufficient play was therefore not large. Then at last all was ready for their flight.