 CHAPTER V THE CITY GAMES THE NEXT EVENING THE ARMORER AT WALTER'S REQUEST CONTINUED HIS NARRATIVE. Even after the tournament we began to fight again with Scotland. For some years we had had peace with that country, and under the Regency a marriage was made between David, King of Scotland, son of Robert the Bruce, and the Princess Joan, sister to our King, and a four years truce was agreed to. But why should we always be fighting with Scotland? Walter asked. That is more than I can tell you, Walter. We were peaceful enough with them until the days of Edward I. But he set up some claim to the throne of Scotland, the rights of which neither I, nor anyone else, so far as I know, has ever been able to make out. Fact was, he was strong, and thought that he could conquer Scotland. The quarrels between her nobles, most of them were allied by blood with our own, and held possessions in both kingdoms, gave Edward an excuse to interfere. Scotland was conquered easily enough, but it was a hard task to hold it. Sir William Wallace kept the country in a turmoil for many years, being joined by all the common people. He inflicted one heavy defeat upon us at Stirling, but receiving no support from the nobles he was defeated at Thalcutt, and some years afterwards was captured and executed here. His head you may see any day over London Bridge. As he fought for only his country, and had ever refused allegiance to our king, it seems to me that his fate was a cruel one. Then when all appeared quiet, Robert Bruce raised Scotland again, and was crowned king. There was war for many years, but at last, at Bannockburn, he inflicted such a defeat upon us as we have never had before. After that there were skirmishes and excursions, but Edward II was a weak prince, and it seemed that the marriage of David and the Princess Joan would bring about a permanent peace between the two countries. But it was not to be so. Many of the English nobles held claims by marriage of grants upon lands in Scotland. They had, of course, been driven from these when the English were turned out by Bruce. By the terms of a marriage treaty in 1328, it was agreed that they should be reinstated. It was a foolish clause, because it was playing that the king of Scotland could not take these lands again in the Scotch nobles who had possession of them, many of them being well nigh as powerful as himself. At this time, Edward Balliol, son of the great rival of Robert Bruce, was in England. He still claimed the throne of Scotland as his right. Round him gathered a number of English nobles who claimed lands in Scotland. The king offered no hindrance to the gathering of his force, for I doubt not that he was glad to see dissension in Scotland, which might give him some such pretext for interference as that which Edward I had seized to possess himself of that country. At first Balliol was successful and was crowned at Scone, but he was presently defeated and driven out of Scotland. The Scots now made an eruption across the frontier as a retaliation for Edwards having permitted Balliol to gather a force here for his war against Bruce. King Edward was on the point of starting for Ireland, and he had once hastened north. He defeated the Scots at Halladon Hill, captured Barrett, and placed Balliol upon the throne. Bruce fled to France, where he was supported and encouraged by the French king. The ill feeling between Edward and Philip of Valois had gone on increasing ever since the former had been compelled to take the oath of allegiance to the latter. But outwardly the guise of friendship was kept up, and negotiations went on between the two courts for a marriage between the little Prince of Wales and Joanna, daughter of the French king. The aid which Philip gave to Bruce increased the bad feeling, and Edward retaliated for Philip's patronage of Bruce by receiving with the greatest honour and courtesy Robert of Atois, a great feudatory of France, who had been banished by King Philip. For a time, although both countries were preparing for war, peace was not broken. As Edward's hands were fallen Scotland, where Balliol, having bestowed immense possessions upon the English nobles who had assisted him, the country again rose in favour of Bruce. During the three years that followed, King Edward was obliged several times to go to Scotland to support Balliol, who held the crown as his feudal vassal. He was always successful in the field, but directly his army recrossed the frontier, the scotch rose again. In 1330 a new crusader's preached, and in October of that year King Philip solemnly received a cross and collected immense army, nominally for the recovery of Jerusalem. Whether his intentions were honest or not, I cannot say. But certainly King Edward considered that Philip's real aim in creating so great an army was to attack England. Whether this was so or not would need a wiser head than mine, Walter, to tell. Certainly Philip of Valois invited Edward to cooperate with him in the crusade. The King, in reply, stated his belief that the preparations were intended for war in Europe rather than in Asia, but that if the King of France would agree to conclude a firm league of amity between the two countries, to restore the castles and towns of Aquitaine, whose surrender had been frequently promised but never carried out, and would bind himself by oath to give no assistance, direct or indirect, to Scotland. He would join him in his war for the delivery of the Holy Land. I must say that King Edward's demands were reasonable, for it was clear that he could not march away from England with his whole force, and leave Balliol unsupported against the assaults of his scotch enemies, aided by France. Philip was willing to cede to the first two conditions, but in regard to the third positively declined treaty until David Bruce should be restored to the throne of his father. Now had the French king openly supported Bruce from the first, none could have said that his conduct in befriending a dethroned monarch was odd but noble and generous. But he had all along answered Edward's complaints of the aid afforded by Frenchmen to the Bruce, by denials that he himself supported him. And this declaration in his favor now certainly seemed to show that he had at last determined openly to throw off a veil, that his great army was really collected against England. Robert of Atois craftily seized a moment when the king's indignation against Philip was at the highest. At a great banquet held by King Edward, at which all his warlike nobles were present. Robert entered, preceded by two noble maidens carrying a heron, which, as you know, Walter, is considered the most cowardly of birds. Then in loud tones he called upon the knight's present, each to swear on the bird to perform some deed of chivalrous daring. First he presented it to King Edward himself, giving him to understand that he regarded him but as little braver than the heron for resigning without a blow the fair heritage of France. The moment was well chosen, for Edward was smarting under the answer he had just received from Philip. He at once rose and took an oath to enter France in arms, to wait there a month in order to give Philip time to offer him battle, and to accept the combat, even should the French outnumber him ten to one. Every night present followed the example of the king, and so the war with France, which had been for years a mere question of time, was at last suddenly decided upon. You yourself, Walter, can remember the preparations which were made throughout England. Men were enrolled and arms prepared. Re-armors were busy night and day, and every man felt that his own honor, as well as that of the country, was concerned in winning for King Edward the heritage of which he had been unlawfully robbed by the king of France. On the 17th of March, 1337, at the Parliament at Westminster, the king created the little prince, the seven years of age Duke of Cornwall, and the prince immediately, in exercise of his new dignity, bestowed upon twenty of the most distinguished aspirants the honour of knighthood. Immense supplies were voted by the Parliament's held at Nottingham, Westminster and North Hampton. Half the wall shorn in the summer following was granted to the king, with a variety of other taxes, customs, and duties. The revenues of all the foreign priories in England, a hundred and tenant number, were appropriated to the crowd. Provisions of bacon, wheat, and oats were granted, and the king pawned his own jewels, and even the crown itself, to hire soldiers, and purchased him allies on the cottomies. So great did the scarcity of money become in the country that all goods fell to less than half their value. Thus a vast army was raised, and with this king Edward prepared to try his strength with France. Philip, on his part, was making great preparations. While Edward had purchased the assistance of many of the German noble, Philip raised large armaments in the maritime states of Italy. Spain also contributed a number of naval adventurers, and squadrons were fitted out by his vassals on the sea coasts of Normandy, Brittany, and Piccadilly. King Edward had crossed over into Belgium, and after vast delays and consequence of the slowness of the German allies, at last prepared to enter France at the end of September 1339. Such my lad is the story, as far as I know, of the beginning of that war with France which is now raging, and whose events you know as well as I do, seeing that they are all of late occurrence. So far, although the English have had the best of it, and have sorely mauled the French both in the north and south, we have not gained any such advantages as would lead to a belief that there is any likelihood of an early termination. All the King Edward will succeed for a long time in winning back his inheritance of the throne of France. There is no doubt that the war weighs heavily upon the people at large, the taxes are doubled, and the drain of men is heavy. We armors, of course, have a busy time of it, and all trades which have to do with the furnishing of an army flourish succeeding. Moreover, men of metal and valor have an opportunity of showing what they are composed of, and England rings with the tales of martial deeds. There are some, Walter, who think that peace is the greatest of blessings, and in some ways, lad, they no doubt are right, but there are many compensations in war. It brings out the noble qualities. It raises men to think that valor and fortitude, and endurance, and honor are qualities which are something above the mere huckstrain desire for getting money, and for a noble ease and comfort. Some day it may be that the world will change, and that war may become a thing of the past, but to my mind, boy, I doubt whether men will be any happier or better for it. The priests, no doubt, would tell you otherwise, but then you see I am an armorer, and so perhaps I am hardly a fair judge, on the matter, seeing that without wars my craft would come to an end. Walter remained in thought for some time. It seems to me, Master Jeffrey, that while wars may suit strong and courageous men, women would rejoice were such things to be at an end. Women suffer most from wars, no doubt, Jeffrey said, and yet do you mark that they are more stirred by deeds of valor and chivalry than are we men, that they are ever ready to bestow their love upon those who have won honor and glory in war, even although the next battle may leave them widows? This has always been somewhat of a marvel to me, but I suppose that it is human nature, and that admiration for deeds of valor and bravery is ingrained in the heart of men, and will continue until such times come that the desire for wealth, which is ever on the increase, has so seized all men that they will look with distaste upon everything which can interfere with the making of money, and will regard the man who amasses gold by trading as a higher type than he who does valiant deeds in battle. Surely that can never be, Walter said indignantly. There is no saying, the armorer answered. At any rate, Walter, it will matter little to you or to me, for many generations must pass before such a state of things can come about. Two days later, Walter, who had been across into the city, returned in a state of excitement. What do you think, Geoffrey? The king, with the Prince of Wales and all his court, are coming to the games next month. They say that the king himself will adjudge the prizes, and there is to be a grand assault at arms between ten of the apprentices with a captain and an equal number of sons of nobles and knights. That will be rare, Geoffrey Ward exclaimed, but there will be some broken limbs, and maybe worse. These assaulted arms seldom end without two or three being killed. However, you youngsters will not hit as hard as trained knights. And if the armor be good, no great damage should be done. Do you think that I should be one of the ten? Walter asked anxiously. Just as if you did not know you would, Geoffrey replied, laughing. Did you not win the prize for swordplay last year? And twelve months have added much to the strength of your arm, to say nothing of your skill with weapons. If you win this year again, and it will be strange if you do not, you are like enough to be chosen captain. You will have tough fighting, I can tell you, for all these young aspirants to knighthood will do their best to show themselves off before the king and queen. The fight is not to take place on horseback, I hope, for if so it will be settled as soon as it begins. No, it is to be on foot, and the king himself is to give orders as to the fighting. You had best get out that helmet and coat of mail of yours, Geoffrey said. I warrant me that there will be none of finer make, or of truer metal in the turning, seeing that I made them specially for you. They are light, and yet strong enough to withstand a blow from the strongest arm. I tried them hard, and will warrant them proof, but you had best see to the rivets and fastenings. They had a rough handling last year, and you have not worn them since. There are some other pieces that I must put in hand at once, seeing that in such a melee you must be covered from head to foot. For the next week nothing was talked of in London, but the approaching sports, and the workmen were already engaged in the erection of the lists and pavilions in the fields between the walls and Westminster. It was reported that the king would add valuable prizes to those given to the winners by the city, that there would be jousting on horseback by the sons of the court nobles, and that the young prince of Wales would himself ride. The king had once before taken part in the city sports, and with ten of the citizens had held his own against an equal number of knights. This was at the commencement of his reign, but the accident to the queen's stand had so angered him that he had not again been present at the sports, and his reappearance now was considered to be an act of approval of the efforts which the city had made to aid him in the war, and as an introduction of the young prince to the citizens. When the day arrived there was a general flocking out of the citizens to the lists. The scene was a picturesque one. The weather was bright and warm, the fields were green, and Westminster, as well as London, sent out large numbers to the scene. The citizens were all in their best, their garments were for the most part of somber colors, russet, Murray, brown, and gray. Some indeed of the younger and wealthier merchants adopted somewhat of the fashion of the court, wearing their shoes long and pointed, and their garments party-colored. The line of division was down the center of the body. One leg, arm, and half the body would be blue, the other half russet or brown. The ladies' dresses were similarly divided, mingling with the citizens as they strode to and fro upon the sword were the courtiers. These were the brightest colors, and their shoes were so long that the points were looped up to the knees with little gold chains to enable them to walk. The ladies wore headdresses of prodigious height, culminating in two points, and from these fell, sweeping to the ground, streamers of silk or lighter material. Cloths of gold and silver, rich furs, silks, and velvets, were worn both by men and women. None who saw the nobles of the court walking in garments so tight that they could scarce move. With their long, party-colored hose, their silk hoods buttoned under the chin, their hair braided down their back would have thought that these were the most warlike and courageous of knights. Men whose personal prowess and gallantry were the admiration of Europe. Their hair was generally cut clothes upon the forehead, and the beard was suffered to grow, but was kept trimmed a moderate length. Many of the ladies had the coat of arms of their family embroidered upon their dresses, giving them the appearance of heralds' tabards. Almost all wore gold or silver girdles with embroidered pouches and small daggers. Thus the appearance of the crowd who moved about among the fields near the lists was varied and brilliant indeed. Their demeanor was quiet, for a London merchant steamed a grave demeanor to belong to their calling, and the younger men and apprentices restrained their spirits in the presence of their superiors. For their special amusement, and in order, perhaps, to keep them from jostling too freely against the court gallants and ladies, the city authorities had appointed popular sports such as Pleased the Ruffer Classes, and bull-baiting, cock-fighting, wrestling for a ram, pitching the bar and handball were held in a field some distance away. Here a large portion of the artisans and apprentices amused themselves until the hour when the king and queen were to arrive at their pavilion, and the contests were to commence. Presently a sound of trumpets was heard, and the royal procession was seen moving up from Westminster. Then the minor sports were abandoned. The crowd gathered round the large, fenced-in space, and those who, by virtue of rank or position in the city, had places in the various stands, took their places there. There was a flourish of trumpets as the king and queen appeared in front of the pavilion, accompanied by the Prince of Wales and many of the nobles of the court, and a shout of welcome arose from the crowd. The shooting at a mark at once began. The preliminary trials had been shot off upon the preceding day, and the six chosen bowmen now took their places. Walter had not entered for the prizes at archery. He had, on previous years, shot well, but since he had fully determined to become a man at arms, he had given up archery. For which, indeed, his work at the forge and his exercises at arms when the fires were out, left him but little time. The contest was a close one, and when it was over the winner was led by the city marshal to the royal pavilion, where the queen bestowed upon him a silver arrow, and the king added a purse of money. Then there were several combats with quarterstaffed and broadsword between men, who had served among the contingents sent by the city to aid the king in his wars. Some good swordplay was shown, and many stout blows exchanged, two or three men were badly hurt, and the king and all present were mightily pleased with the stoutness with which they fought. The apprentices then came forward to compete for the prizes for swordplay. They wore light iron caps and shirts of thickly quilted leather, and fought with blunted swords. For the city fathers deemed wisely that with these weapons they could equally show their skill, and that with sharpened swords not only would severe wounds be given, but bad blood would be created between the apprentices of the various wards. Each ward sent its champion to the contest, and as these fought in pairs, loud was the shouting which rose from their comrades at each blow given or warded, and even the older citizens joined sometimes in the shouting, and took a warm interest in the champions of their respective wards. The iron caps had stout cheek pieces which defended the sides of the face and neck, for even a blunted sword can deliver a terrible blow if it fall upon the naked flesh. Took a long time to get through the combats. Pairs were drawn by lot, and fought until the king decided which was the superior. Some were speedily beaten, and at other times the contests were long and severe. It was generally thought by the apprentices that the final contest lay between Walter Fletcher of Aldgate and Ralph Smith of Ludgate. The former was allowed to be superior in the use of his weapon, but the latter was also skillful, was two years older and greatly superior in strength. He had not taken part in the contest in the preceding year, as he had been laid up with a hurt in his hand which he got in his employment as a smith, and the lads of Ludgate were confident that he would turn the tables upon the champion of the Eastern Ward. Both had defeated with ease the various opponents whom they had met, but a chance that they had not drawn together until the last round, when they remained alone to struggle for the first and second prizes. The interest in the struggle had increased with each round, and wagers were freely laid upon the result. According to custom, the two champions had laid aside their leather and shirts, and had donned male armor, for it was considered that the crowning contest between the two picked young swordsmen of the city would be a severe one, and greater protection to the limbs were needed. Before taking their places they were led up to the royal pavilion, where they were closely inspected by the king and his nobles. You are sure that this man is still an apprentice? The king asked the lord mayor, who was seated next to him. He has the appearance of a man at arms, and a stout one too. The other is a likely stripling, and is, as I have seen, marvellously dexterous with his sword, but he is but a boy while the other is a grown man. He is an apprentice, my liege, although his time will be up in a few days, while the other has yet three years to serve. But he works for an armorer, and is famed through the city, boy as he is, for his skill with weapons. After a few words to each, exhorting them to do their best in the sight of the queen and her ladies, the king dismissed them. I know the young one now, the prince of Wales said, clapping his hands as the apprentices turned away to take their places. My lord Talbot, I will wager a gold chain with you upon the smaller of the two. I will take your wager, the noble answered, but I am by no means sure that I shall win it, for I have watched your champion closely, and the downright blows which he struck would seem to show that he has the muscle and strength of a man, though still but a boy. The event justified the prince of Wales confidence. At the commencement of the struggle, Ralph Smith tried to beat down his opponent by sheer strength as he had done his prior opponents. But to his surprise he found that all his efforts could not break down his opponent's guard. Walter indeed did not appear to take advantage of his superior lightness and activity, but to prefer to prove that in strength as well as skill he was equal to his antagonist. In the latter respect there was no comparison, for as soon as the Smith began to relax his reign of blows, Walter took the offensive and with a sweeping blow given with all his strength broke down his opponent's guard and smote him with such force upon his steel cap that blunted as the sword was, he clove through the iron and stretched the Smith senseless on the ground. A loud shout broke from the assemblage. The marshal came up to Walter and removing his helmet led him to the royal pavilion, while Ralph was carried to a tent near where a leech attended his wound. End of Chapter 5 Recording by Brett Downey Chapter 6 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. Recording by Brett Downey with special guest Marissa Downey Recording by Brett Downey Saint George for England by G.A. Henty Chapter 6 The Melee You have won your prize stoutly and well, Sir Prentice. The King said, I should not have deemed it possible that one of your age could have smitten such a blow. And right glad should I be of a few hundred lands of your metal to follow me against the French. What is your calling? I am an armorer, my leech, Walter answered. And if you are as good at mending armor as you are at marring it, the King said you will be a rare craftsman one of these days. Tis a rare pity so promising a swordsman should be lost to our army. What's like to change your calling, boy, and take to that of arms? It is my hope to do so, Sir, Walter answered modestly. And his grace the Prince of Wales has already promised me that I shall someday ride behind him to the wars. Ah, Edward! The King ejaculated. How is this? Have you been already enlisting a troop for the wars? No, Sir, the young Prince replied. But one day, now some four years since, when I was riding with my Lord Talbot and others in the fields near the tower, I did see this lad lead his playfellows to the assault of an earthen castle held by others, and he fought so well and gallantly that assuredly no knight could have done better until he was at last stricken senseless. And when he recovered, I told him that should he choose to be a man at arms, I would enlist him in my following to the wars. The King laughed. I deemed not that the lads of the city indulged in such rough sports, but I wonder not, seeing that the contingent which my good city of London furnishes me is ever one of the best in my army. We shall see the lad at work again tomorrow, and we'll then talk more of it. Now let us bestow upon him the prize that he has so well earned. Walter bent on one knee, and the Queen handed to him a sword of the best Spanish deal, which was the prize given by the city to the victor. The King handed him a heavy purse of gold pieces, saying, This may aid in purchasing your freedom. Walter bowed deeply, and murmured some words of thanks, and was then led off by the Marshal. After this, many of the young nobles of the court jousted on horseback, ran at the ring, and performed other feats of nightly exercise to the great pleasure of the multitude. The Marshal, on leading Walter away, said to him, You will be captain of the city band tomorrow. I must therefore tell you what the King proposed. He is prepared a surprise for the citizens, and the present show will be different to anything ever before seen in London, but to show them somewhat of the sieges which are taking place on the borders of France and the Low Countries, in which Sir Walter Manny and many other gallant knights have so greatly distinguished themselves, and as an exercise for the young nobles, he is determined that there shall be a castle erected. It will be built of wood, with battlements and towers, for the moat outside. As soon as the lists are over, a large number of workmen will commence its erection. The pieces are all sawn and prepared. There will be machines, ladders, and other appliances. The ten champions on either side will fight as knights. You will have a hundred apprentices as men at arms, and the court party will have an equal number of young esquires. You, as winner of today's turning, will have the choice of defense or attack. I should advise you to take the defense, since it is easier and requires less knowledge of war, and many of the other party have accompanied their fathers and masters in the field and have seen real sieges carried out. Can you show me a plan of the castle? Walter said, if it not be contrary to the rules, in order that I may think over tonight the plan of fighting tomorrow. Here it is, the Marshal said. You see that the walls are two hundred feet long. They are twelve feet in height, with a tower at the end, and one over the gateway in the center, six feet high. There is a drawbridge defended by an artwork of Palisades, six feet high. The moat will be a dry one, seeing that we have no means of filling it with water. But it will be supposed to be full, it must be crossed on planks or bridges. Two small towers on wheels will be provided, which may be run up to the edge of the moat, and will be as high as the top of the towers. Surely they cannot make all this before morning, Walter said. They will do so, the Marshal replied. The castle has been put together in the King's courtyard, and all the pieces are numbered. Two hundred carpenters will labor all night at it, besides a party of laborers for the digging of the moat. It will be a rare show, and will delight both the citizens and the ladies of the court. For such a thing has never before been attempted. But the King grudges not the expense which it will cost him, seeing that the spectacles of this kind do much to arouse the warlike spirit of the people. Here is a list of the various implements which will be provided. Only it is understood that the magnals and arblasts will not be provided with missiles, seeing that many would assuredly be killed by them. They will be employed, however, to show the nature of the work, and parties of men at arms will be told off to serve them. Crossbows and arrows will be used, but the weapons will be blunted. You will see that there are ladders, planks for making bridges, long hooks for hauling men down from the wall, beams for battering down the gate, axes for cutting down the palisades, and all other weapons. The ten who will serve under you as knights have already been nominated, and the city will furnish them with full armor. For the others, the apprentices of each ward will choose sufficient representatives to make up the hundred. Who will fight as men at arms? These will wear steel caps and breast pieces with leather jerkins and visors to protect their faces, for even a blunted arrow or wooden quarrel might well kill if it struck true. On leaving the marshal, Walter joined Giles Fletcher and Geoffrey Ward, who warmly congratulated him upon his success. He informed them of the spectacle which the king had prepared for the amusement of the citizens on the morrow. In faith, Geoffrey said, the idea is a good one, and promises rare sport. But it will be rough, and we may expect many broken limbs, for it be no joke to be thrown down with a ladder from a wall even twelve feet high, and there will be the depth of the moat beside. That will only be two feet, Walter said, for so it is marked on the plan. And which do you mean to take, Walter? The attack or the defense? Me thinks the king has aired somewhat in making the forces equal, for assuredly the besiegers should outnumber the besieged by fully three to one to give them a fair chance of success. I shall take the assault, Walter answered. There is more to be done that way than in defense. When we get home, Geoffrey, we will look at the plans, and see what may be the best manner of assault. Upon examining the plan that evening, they found that the wall was continued at an angle at either end for a distance of some twenty feet back, so as to give a posturing gate behind each of the corner towers, through which a sortie might be made. Geoffrey and Walter talk the matter over, and together contrive the plan of operation for the following day. You will have one great advantage. Geoffrey said, The apprentices are all accustomed to the use of the bow, while the young nobles will know but little of that weapon. Therefore your shooting will be far straighter and truer, and even a blunt-headed arrow drawn from the shoulder will hit so smart a blow that those on the wall will have difficulty inwithstanding them. After the talk was ended, Walter again crossed London Bridge and made his way to Ludgate, where he found his late antagonist whose head had been plastered up, and was little the worse for the conflict. There is no ill will between us, I hope, Walter said, holding out his hand. None in the world, the young Smith said frankly, he was a good-tempered-looking young giant, with closely cropped hair, light blue eyes, and a pleasant but somewhat heavy face. My faith but what a blow was that you gave me. Why, one would think that your muscles were made of steel. I thought it could hit a good downright blow, seeing that I've been hammering at the anvil for the last seven years, but strike as I would, I could not beat down your guard, while mine went down, as if it had been a feather before yours. I knew directly that I had struck the first blow, and thought how firm was your defense, that it was all up with me, knowing that in point of skill I had no chance whatever with you. I'm glad to see that you bear no malice, Ralph, Walter said, and hope that we shall be great friends henceforth. That is, if you will take me as such, seeing that you are just out of your apprenticeship, while I am not yet half through mine. But I have come to talk to you about tomorrow. Have you heard that there is to be a mimic siege? I have heard about it, Ralph said. The city is talking of nothing else. The news was published at the end of the sports. It will be rare fun, surely. It will be pretty rough fun, Walter replied. And I should not be much surprised if some lives are lost. But this is always so in a tournament. And if knights and nobles are ready to be killed, we apprentices need not fear to hazard our lives. But now, as to tomorrow, I, as the winner today, am to be the leader of the party, and you, as second, will of course be captain under me. Now I want to explain to you exactly what I propose to do, and to arrange with you as to your share in the business. The young Smith listened attentively to Walter's explanation, and, when he had done, exclaimed admiringly, Why, Walter, you seem to be made for a general. How did it all come to you that? I should never have thought of such a scheme. I talked it over with my master, Walter said. And the idea is his as much as mine. I wonder if it will do. It is sure to do, the Smith said enthusiastically, The castle is as good as taken. The next day, all London poured out to the scene of the sports, and the greatest admiration and wonder were expressed at the castle, which had risen, as if by magic, in the night. It was built at one end of the list, which had been purposely placed in a hollow, so that a great number of people, besides those in the pavilions, could obtain a view from the surrounding slopes. The castle was substantially built of heavy timber, painted grey, and looked at a little distance as if it had been constructed of stone. A flag floated from the central tower, and the building looked so formidable that the general opinion was freely expressed that the task of the assailants, whoever they might be, for at present this was unknown, was quite impossible. At ten o'clock the king and his court arrived. After they had taken their places, the two bands, headed by their leaders, advanced from the lower end of the lists, and drew up in front of the royal pavilion. The leaders took their places in front. Behind them stood ten chosen followers, all of whom, as well as their chiefs, were encased in full armor. Behind, on one side, were one hundred apprentices, on the other, one hundred esquires, all attired as men at arms. The court party were led by Clarence Aylmer, son of the Earl of Pembroke. His companions were all young men of noble family, aspirants for the Order of Nighthood. They were, for the most part, somewhat older than the apprentices, but as the latter consisted chiefly of young men nearly out of their term, the difference was not great. Walter's armor was a suit which the armorer had constructed a year previously for a young knight who had died before the armor could be delivered. Walter had wondered more than once why Geoffrey did not endeavor to sell it elsewhere. Four, although not so decorated and inlaid as many of the suits of Milan armor, it was constructed of the finest steel, and the armorer had bestowed special care upon its manufacture, as the young knight's father had long been one of his best customers. Early that morning Geoffrey had brought it to his room, and had told him to wear it instead of that lent by the city. But I fear it will get injured. Walter had urged, I shall not spare myself, you know, Geoffrey, and the blows will be hard ones. The more the need for good armor, Walter, these city suits are made for show rather than use. You may be sure that young Pembroke and his band will fight their hardest, rather than suffer defeat at the hands of those whom they consider a band of city violets. Before issuing from the tent where he and his companions had put on their mail, Walter carefully fastened in the front of his helmet a tiny gold bracelet. Upon taking their places before the pavilion, the king ordered the two leaders to advance, and addressed them and the multitude in the following words. Brave leaders, and you, my people, I have contrived the pastime today that I may show you on a mimic scale the deeds which my brave soldiers are called upon to perform in France. It is more specially suited for the combatants of today, since one party have had but small opportunity of acquiring skill on horseback. Moreover, I wish to teach the lesson that fighting on foot is as honorable as fighting on horseback, for it has now been proved, and sometimes to our cost, in Scotland, that footmen can repulse even the bravest chivalry. Today each party will fight his best. Remember that, even in the heat of conflict, matters must not be carried to an extreme. Those cut off from their friends will be accounted prisoners, as will those who, being overpowered, throw down their arms. Any wounded on either side will not be accounted as prisoners, but may retire with honour from the field. You, he said, looking at Walter, as the conqueror of yesterday, have the choice of either attack or defence, but I should advise you to take the latter, seeing it is easier to defend a fortress than to assault it. Many of your opponents have already gained credit in real warfare, while you and your following are new to it. Therefore, in order to place the defence on fair terms with the assault, I have ordered that both sides shall be in equal numbers. If your leads will permit me, Walter said, bowing, I would faint take the assault. Me thinks that, with my following, I could do better thus than in defence. The King looked somewhat displeased. As you will, he said coldly, but I fear this will somewhat mar the effect of the spectacle, seeing that you will have no chance whatever against an equal force, more accustomed to war than your party, and occupying so superior a position. However, he went on, seeing that Walter had made no sign of changing his mind. As you have chosen it, so be it. And now it is for you to choose the Lady, who shall be the Queen of the Turney, and shall deliver the prizes to the victors. Look round you, there are many fair faces, and it is for you to choose among them. Smiles passed between many of the courtly dames and the ladies at the choice that was to be made among them, by the apprentice lad. And they thought that he would be solely puzzled at such a duty. Walter, however, did not hesitate an instant. He ran his eye over the crowd of ladies in the royal gallery, and soon saw the object of his search. Since I have your Majesty's permission, he said, I choose, as Queen of the Tournament, Mistress Edith Vernon. There was a movement of surprise and a general smile. Proud to all who thought that they had a chance of being chosen, the selection was a relief, as none could be jealous of the pretty child, who, at the King's order, made her way forward to the front and took her seat in a chair placed between the King and Queen. The girl colored brightly, but she had heard so much of the Turneys and Joust that she knew what was her duty. She had been sitting far back on the previous day, and the apprentice, when brought up before the King, was too far below for her to see his features. She now recognized him. Sir Knights. She said in a loud, clear, childish voice. You will both do your duty today, and show yourself worthy Cavaliers. Me thinks that, as Queen of the Tournament, I should be neutral between you. But as one of you carries my gauge in his helm, my good wishes must needs go with him. But bright eyes will be fixed on you both, and may well stir you to deeds of valor. So saying, she resumed her seat with a pretty air of dignity. Why, sweetheart, the King said, how is it that this apprentice lad knows your name, and how is it that he wears your gauge? For I know that the young Pembroke wears the glove of the Earl of Surrey's daughter. He saved my life, sir, mine and my mother's. The child said, And I told him he should be my true knight, and gave him my bracelet, which you see he wears in his helm. I recall somewhat of the story, the King said, and will question my Lady Vernon further anon. But see, the combatants are filing off to their places. With flags flying and trumpets blowing, young Pembroke led his forces into the castle. Each of his ten knights was followed by an Esquire bearing his banner, and each had ten-minute arms under his immediate order. Two of them, with twenty men, remained in the outwork beyond the drawbridge. The rest took their station on the walls and towers, where a platform had been erected, running along three feet below the battlements. The real-minute arms, with the machines of war now advanced, and for a time worked the machines, which made pretents at casting great stones and missiles at the walls. The salons then moved forward, and, unslinging their bows, opened a heavy fire of arrows at the defenders, who, in turn, replied with arrows and crossbows. The prentices shoot well, the King said. By our Lady it would be hot work for the defenders where the shafts but pointed. Even as it is, the knocks must be no child's play, for the arrows, although not pointed, are all tipped with iron, without which, indeed, straight shooting would be impossible. The returned fire from the walls was feeble, and the King said, laughing. So far your night, fair Mistress, has it all his own way. I did not reckon sufficiently upon the superiority of shooting of the London Lads, and, indeed, I know not that I ought not in fairness to order some of the defenders off the walls, seeing that in warfare their numbers would be rapidly thinned. See, the assailants are moving up to the two towers under the shelter of the fire of the archers. By this time, Aylmer, seeing that his followers could make no effectual reply to the arrow fire, had ordered all, say the leaders, in full armor, to lie down behind the parapet. The assailants now gathered thickly round each tower, as if they intended to attempt to cross the bridges, which could be let down from an opening in the tower, level with the top of the wall. While archers upon the summit shot fast and thick among the defenders who were gathering to oppose them. If the young pembroke is wise, the king said, he will make a strong sally now, and fall upon one or other of the parties. As he spoke, there was a sudden movement on the part of the assailants, who, leaving the foot of the towers, made a rush at the outwork in the center. The instant they arrived, they fell to work with axes upon the palisades. Many were struck down by the blows dealt them by the defenders, but others caught up the axes and in less than a minute, several of the palisades were cut down and the assailants poured in. The defenders fought gallantly, but they were overpowered by numbers. Some were struck down and others taken prisoner by main force, and the rest driven across the drawbridge, just as the gates were opened and pembroke at the head of the defenders swarmed out to their assistance. There was a desperate fight on the bridge, and it was well that the armor was stout and the arms that wielded the weapons had not yet attained their full strength. Several were knocked off the bridge into the moat, and these were, by the rules, obliged at once to retire and to take no further part in the contents. Walter and Ralph the Smith fought in front of their men, and hard as pembroke and his followers struggled, they could not drive them back afoot. The court party were galled by the heavy fire of arrows kept up by the apprentices along the side of the moat, and finding all his efforts to regain the earthwork useless, pembroke withdrew his forces into the castle, and in spite of the efforts of the besiegers, managed to close the gates in their faces. The assailants, however, succeeded in severing the chains of the drawbridge before it could be raised. From the tower above, the defenders now hurled over great stones, which had been specially placed there for the purpose of destroying the drawbridge should the earthwork be carried. The boards were soon splintered, and the drawbridge was pronounced by the Earl of Talbot, who was acting as judge, to be destroyed. The excitement of the spectators was worked up to a great pitch while the conflict was going on, and the citizens cheered lustily. At the success of the apprentices, that was gallantly done, the king sent to Queen Philippa, and the leader of the assailants is a lad of rare metal. Not a captain of my army, no, not Sir Walter many himself, could have done it more cleverly. You see, by placing his forces at the ends of the wall, he drew all the garrison thither to withstand the assaults from them, and thus by his sudden movement he was able to carry the outwork before they could recover from their surprise and come down to its aid. I'm curious to know what he will do next. What thinks thou, Edward? He asked his son, who was standing by his side. He will win the day, the young prince said, and in faith, although the others are my comrades, I should be glad to see it. He will make a gallant knight, sir, one of these days, and remember, he is engaged to follow my banner, so you must not steal him from me. See, my liege, they are taking planks and ladders to the outwork. They are doing wrongly, then, the king said, for even should they bridge the moat where the drawbridge is, they cannot scale the wall there, since the tower defends it, and the ladders are but long enough to reach the lower wall. No, their leader has changed his mind. They are taking the planks along the edge of the moat towards the tower on the left, and will aid the assault by its bridge by a passage of the moat there. It seemed indeed that this was the plan. While some of the assailants kept up the arrow-fire on the wall, others mounted the tower, and while a party prepared to throw a bridge of planks across the moat, the bridge from the tower was now lowered, but a shot of triumph rose from the defenders when it was seen that by some mistake of the carpenters this was too short, and when lowered did not reach within six feet of the wall. All the better, the king said, while the prince gave an angry exclamation. Accidents of this kind will happen, and give an opportunity to a leader to show his resources. Doubtless he will carry planks up to the tower, and so connect the bridge and the wall. This indeed was what the assailants tried to do, while a party threw planks across the moat, and rushing over placed ladders against the wall and strove to climb. They strove in vain, however. The ladders were thrown down as fast as they were placed, while the defenders, thickly clustered on the walls, drove back those who tried to cross from the tower. I do not see the leader of the assailants, the prince said. He has a white plume, but it may have been shorn off, the king said. Look, the young pembroke is making a sortie. From the sortie gate behind the tower the defenders now poured out, and running down to the edge of the moat fell upon the stormers. These, however, received them with great steadiness, and while some continued the attack the rest turned upon the garrison, and headed by Ralph the Smith drove them gradually back. They fight well, and steadily, the king said, one would have thought that they had reckoned on the sortie, so steadily did they receive it. As only a portion of the garrison had issued out they were unable to resist long the pressure of the apprentices, who drove them back step by step to the sally port, and pressing them hard endeavored to force their way in at their heels. End of Chapter 6 Recording by Brett Downey Chapter 7 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 7 The Young Esquire While the attention of the whole of the spectators and combatants was fixed upon the struggle at the right hand angle of the castle, a party of twenty prentices suddenly leapt to their feet from among the broken palisades of the outwork. Lying prone there, they had escaped the attention of the spectators as well as of the defenders. The reason why the assailants carried the planks and ladders to this spot was now apparent. Only a portion had been taken on to the assault of the right hand tower. Those who now rose to their feet lifted with them planks and ladders, and at a rapid pace ran towards the left angle of the castle, and reached that point before the attention of the few defenders who remained on the wall there was attracted to them. So absorbed were they in the struggle at the other angle. The moment that they saw the new assailants they raised a shout of alarm, but the din of the combat, the shouts of the leaders and the men were so loud that their cries were unheard. Two or three of them then hurried away at full speed to give the alarm, while the others strove to repel the assault. Their efforts were in vain. The planks were flung across the moat, the ladders placed in position, and led by Walter the assailants sprang up and gained a footing on the wall before the alarm was fairly given. A thundering cheer from the spectators greeted the success of the assailants. Springing along the wall they drove before them the few who strove to oppose them. Gain the central tower, and Walter, springing up to the top, pulled down the banner of the defenders and placed that of the city in its place. At this moment the defenders, awakened too late to the ruse which had been played upon them, came swarming back along the wall and strove to regain the central tower. In the confusion the assault by the flying tower of the assailants was neglected, and at this point also they gained footing on the wall. Young nobles of the court, furious at being outwitted, fought desperately to regain their lost laurels, but the king rose from his seat and held up his hand. The trumpeter standing below him sounded the arrest of arms, which was echoed by two others who accompanied Earl Talbot, who had taken his place on horseback close to the walls. At the sound, swords dropped, and the din abruptly ceased, but the combatants stood glaring at each other, their blood too heated to relinquish the fray readily. Already much damage had been done, despite of armor and mail many serious wounds had been inflicted, and some of the combatants had already been carried senseless from the field. Some of the assailants had been much shaken by being thrown backward from the ladders into the moat, one or two were hurt to death, but as few turnies took place without the loss of several lives this was considered but a small amount of damage for so stoutly fought a melee. And the knowledge that many were wounded and some perhaps dying in no way dampened the enthusiasm of the spectators, who cheered lustily for some minutes at the triumph which the city had obtained. In the galleries occupied by the ladies and nobles of the court there was a comparative silence, but brave deeds were appreciated in those days, and although the ladies would far rather have seen the victory incline the other way, yet they waved their handkerchiefs and clapped their hands in token of their admiration at the success of an assault which at the commencement appeared well nigh hopeless. Lord Talbot rode up to the front of the royal pavilion. I was about to stop the fight sire when you gave the signal, their blood was up and many would have been killed had the combat continued, but the castle was fairly won, the central tower was taken and the flag pulled down, a footing had been gained at another point of the wall and the assailants had forced their way through the sallyport, for the resistance was therefore hopeless and the castle must be adjudged as fairly and honorably captured. A renewed shout greeted the judge s decision. The king now ordered the rival host to be mustered before him as before the battle, and when this was done Earl Talbot conducted Walter up the broad steps in front of the king s pavilion. Jeffrey Ward, who had, after fasting on Walter s armor in the tent, before the sport began, taken his place among the guards at the foot of the royal pavilion, stepped forward and removed Walter s helmet at the foot of the steps. Young sir, the king said, you have borne yourself right gallantly today, and have shown that you possess the qualities which make a great captain. I do my nobles no wrong when I say that not one of them could have better planned and led the assault than you have done. Am I not right, sirs? And he looked round. A murmur of ascent rose from the knights and nobles, and the king continued, I thought you vain and presumptuous in undertaking the assault of a fort, held by an equal number, many of whom are well accustomed to war, while the lads who followed you were all untrained in strife, but you have proved that your confidence in yourself was not misplaced. The Earl of Talbot has adjudged you victor, and none can doubt what the end of the strife would have been. Take this chain from your king, who is glad to see that his citizens of London are able to hold their own even against those of our court, then whom we may say no braver exist in Europe. Kneel now to the queen of the tourney, who will bestow upon you the chaplet which you have so worthily earned. Walter bent his knee before Edith Vernon. She rose to her feet, and with an air of pretty dignity, placed a chaplet of laurel leaves wrought in gold and clasped with a valuable ruby on his head. I present to you, she said, the chaplet of victory, and am proud that my gate should have been worn by one who has borne himself so bravely and well. May a light success rest on all your undertakings, and may you prove a good and valiant knight. Well said, Mistress Edith, Queen Philippa said smiling. You may well be proud of your young champion. I too must have my gift. And drawing a ring set with brilliance from her finger, she placed it in Walter's hand. The lad now rose to his feet. The prince, my son, the king said, has promised that you shall ride with his men at arms when he is old enough to take the field. Should you choose to abandon your craft and do so earlier I doubt not that one of my nobles, the brave Sir Walter Manny, for example, will take you before that time. That will I readily enough, Sir Walter said, and glad to have so promising a youth beneath my banner. I would that you had been of gentle blood, the king said. That makes no difference, Sire, Sir Walter replied. I will place him among the young gentlemen, my pages and esquires. I am sure that they will receive him as one of themselves. Jeffrey Ward had hitherto stood at the foot of the steps leading to the royal pavilion, but doffing his cap he now ascended. Pardon my boldness, Sire, he said to the king. But I would faint tell you what the lad himself has hitherto been ignorant of. He is not, as he supposes. The son of Giles Fletcher, citizen and bowmaker, but is the lawfully born son of Sir Roland Summers, erst of Westerham and Hithe, who was killed in the troubles at the commencement of your Majesty's reign. His wife, Dame Alice, brought the child to Giles Fletcher, whose wife had been her nurse, and dying left him in her care. Giles and his wife, if called for, can vouch for the truth of this, and can give you proofs of his birth. Walter listened with astonishment to Jeffrey's speech. A thrill of pleasure rushed through his veins as he learned that he was of gentle blood, and might hope to aspire to a place among the knights of King Edward's court. He understood now the pains which Jeffrey had bestowed in seeing that he was perfected in warlike exercises, and why both he and Giles had encouraged rather than repressed his love for martial exercises, and his determination to abandon his craft and become a man at arms when he reached man's estate. Ah, is it so? the King exclaimed. I remember Sir Roland Summers, and also that he was slain by Sir Hugh Spencer, who, as I have heard on many hands, acted rather on a private quarrel than, as he alleged, in my interest. And there were many who avowed that the charges brought against Sir Roland were unfounded. However, this matter must be inquired into, and my high Justice Shear shall see Master Giles and his wife, hear their evidence, and examine the proofs which they may bring forward. As to the estates, they were granted to Sir Jasper Vernon and cannot be restored. Nevertheless, I doubt not that the youth will carve out for himself a fortune with his sword. You are his master, I suppose. I would vain pay you to cancel his apprenticeship. Sir Walter Manny has promised to enroll him among his esquires. I will cancel his indentures willingly, my liege. The armorer answered. And that without payment. The land has been to me as a son. And seeing his high spirit, and knowing the gentle blood running in his veins, I have done my best so to teach him and so to put him in the way of winning back his father's rank by his sword. He hath gone far towards it already, the King said, and me things may yet gain some share in his father's inheritance. And he glanced at little Miss Edith Vernon, and then smiled at the Queen. Well, we shall see. He went on. Under Sir Walter Manny, he will have brave chances of distinguishing himself. And when my son takes the field, he shall ride with him. But I am keeping the hosts waiting. Bring hither, he said to Earl Talbot. Clarence Aylmer. The young noble was led up to the King. You have done well, Clarence. Though you have been worsted, you fought bravely. But you were deceived by a ruse which might have taken in a more experienced captain. I trust that you will be friends with your adversary, who will be known to you henceforth as Walter Summers, son of Sir Roland of that name, and who will ride to the wars, whether you are also shortly bound, under the standard of Sir Walter Manny. The cloud which had hung over the face of the young noble cleared. It had indeed been a bitter mortification to him that he, the son of one of the proudest of English nobles, should have been worsted by a London apprentice, and it was a relief to him to find that his opponent was one of nightly blood. He turned frankly to Walter and held out his hand. I greet you as a comrade, sir, he said, and hope some day that in our rivalry in the field I may do better than I have done today. That is well spoken, the King said. Then he rose and in a loud voice addressed the combatants, saying that all had borne themselves well and bravely, and then he thanked them, not only for the rare pastime which they had made, but for the courage and boldness which had been displayed on both sides. So saying, he waved his hand as a token that the proceedings were ended and returned with the court to Westminster. While the crowd of spectators overflowed the lists, those who had friends in the apprentice array being anxious to know how they had fared. That evening there was a banquet given by the Lord Mayor. Walter was invited to be present with Giles and Geoffrey, and many complimentary things were said to him, and he was congratulated on the prospects which awaited him. After dinner, all the apprentices who had taken part in the sports filed through the hall and were each presented with a gold piece by the Lord Mayor, in the name of the corporation, for having so nobly sustained the renown of the city. After the entertainment was over, Walter returned with Geoffrey to the Bower's house, and there heard from his two friends and Bertha the details of his mother's life from the time that she had been a child, and the story of her arrival with him and her death. He had still difficulty in believing that it was all true that Giles and Bertha, whom he had so long regarded as father and mother, were only his kind guardians, and that he was the scion of two noble families. Very warmly and gratefully he thanked his three friends for the kindness which they had shown to him, and vowed that no change of condition should ever alter his feelings of affection towards them. It was not until the late hour of nine o'clock that he said goodbye to his foster parents, for he was next day to repair to the lodging of Sir Walter Manny, who was to sail again before the week was out for the Low Countries, from which he had only returned for a few days to have private converse with the king on the state of matters there. His friends would have delivered to him his mother's ring and other tokens which he had left, but thought it better to keep these with the other proofs of his birth until his claim was established to the satisfaction of the Lord Judiciaries. The next morning early, when Walter descended the stairs, he found Ralph Smith waiting for him. His face was strapped up with plaster, and he wore his arm in a sling, for his armor had been twice cut through as he led his party in through the Salliport. How goes it with you, Ralph? Walter said. Not much the worse, I hope, for your hard knocks. Not a wit, Ralph replied cheerfully. And I shall be all right again before the week is out. But the leech made as much fuss over me as if I had been a girl, just as though one was not accustomed to hard knocks and a smithy. Those I got yesterday were not half so hard as that which you gave me the day before. My head rings yet with the thought of it. But I have not come to talk about myself. Is the story true, which they tell of you, Master Walter, that you are not the son of Giles the bowyer, but of a great noble? Not of a great noble, Ralph, but of a gallant knight, which is just as good. My father was killed when I was three years old, and my mother brought me to Bertha, the wife of Giles the bowyer, who had been her nurse in childhood. I had forgotten all that had passed and deemed myself the son of the good citizen. But since I had heard the truth, my memory has awakened somewhat, and I have a dim recollection of a lordly castle and of my father and mother. And they say, Walter, that you are going with Sir Walter Manning, with a force which is just sailing to the assistance of Lady De Montford. That is so, Ralph, and the good knight has taken me among his esquires, young as I am. Although I might well have looked for nothing better than to commence, for two years at least, as a page, seeing that I am but eighteen now. Now I shall ride with him into the battles, and shall have as good a chance as others of gaining honor and winning my spurs. I have made up my mind that I will go with you, Master Walter, if you will take me. Each squire has a man at arms who serves him, and I will give you good and faithful service, if you will take me with you. I spoke to the smith, my master, last night when I heard the news, and as my apprenticeship is out next week, he is willing enough to give me the few days which remain. Once out of my apprenticeship I may count to be a man, and seeing that I am nineteen, and as I may say well grown of my years, me thinks, I am fit for service as a man at arms, and I would rather fight behind you than labor all my life in the smithy. I shall be glad indeed, Ralph, to have you with me if such be really your wish, and I do not think that Sir Walter Manny will say nay, for they have been beating up for recruits through the kingdom, and we proved yesterday that you have courage as well as strength. If you will consent, I should be glad indeed to have so brave a comrade with me. So we may consider that settled, and if you will come down to Westminster to Sir Walter Manny's lodging this afternoon, I will tell you what he says touching the matter. You will, of course, need arms and armor. I can provide that, Ralph replied, seeing that his worshipful of the Lord Mayor bestowed upon me yesterday five gold pieces as the second in command in the sports. I have already a steel cap and breast and back pieces, which I have made for myself in hours of leisure, and warrant will stand as hard a knock as the Frenchmen can give them. Going across into the city with Geoffrey, Walter purchased, with the contents of the purse which the king had given him, the garments suited for his new position. He was fortunate in obtaining some which fitted him exactly. These had been made for a youngest squire of the Earl of Salisbury, but the tailor, when he heard from Geoffrey for whom they were required, and the need for instant dispatch, parted with them to Walter, saying that he for whom they were made could well wait a few days, and that he would set his journeymen to work at once to make some of similar fit and fashion. Walter felt strange in his new attire, and by no means relish the tightness of the garments, which was strictly demanded by the fashion of the day. His long hose, one of which was of a deep maroon, the other of a bright yellow, came far up above the knee, then came a short pair of trunks of similar colors divided in the middle. The tight fitting doublet was short and circled at the waist by a buff belt mounted in silver, and was of the same colors as the hose and trunks. On his head was a cap, peaked in front. This was of maroon, with a short erect feather of yellow. The long pointed shoes matched the rest of the costume. There were three other suits similar in fashion, but different in color. Two like the first were of cloth, the third was of white and blue silk, to be worn on grand occasions. Walter, you look a very pretty figure, Walter, Geoffrey said, and will be able to hold your own among the young gallants of the court. If you lack somewhat of courtly manners, it will matter not at all, since you are leaving so soon for the war. The dress sets off your figure, which is fully two years in advance of your age, seeing that hard work has widened you out and thickened your muscles. I need not tell you, lad, not to be quarrelsome, for that was never your way. But just at first your companions may try some jests with you, as is always the manner of young men with newcomers. But take them in a good spirit, and be sure that, seeing the strength of arm and skill which you showed yesterday and the day before, none will care to push matters with you unduly. One of the journeymen accompanied Walter to Westminster to carry up from the boat the valise with his clothes and the armor which he had worn in the sports. Sir Walter received the lad with much kindness and introduced him to his future companions. They were five in number. The eldest was a man of some 30 years old, a Hainalter, who had accompanied Sir Walter Manny to England at the time when the latter first came over as a young choir in the suite of the Princess Philippa. He was devotedly attached to the knight, his master, and although he might several times have received the rank of knighthood for his bravery in the field, he preferred remaining in his position as a squire and faithful friend of his master. The other four were between the ages of 19 and 21 and all belonged to the families of the highest nobility of England. It being deemed a distinguished honour to be received as a squire by the most gallant knight at the court of England. Their duties were, as Walter soon learned, almost nominal. These being discharged almost exclusively by John Mervaux. Two of the youngest squires, Richard Conexby and Edward Clifford, had fought in the melee, having been among the ten leaders under Clarence Almer. They bore no malice for the defeat but received Walter with cordiality and kindness, as did the other young men. Walter, on his arrival, acquainted the knight with Ralph's wish to follow him and requested permission for him to do so. This was readily granted, Sir Walter Manny telling the lab that although the squires were supposed to wait entirely upon themselves to groom their horses and to keep their armor and arms bright and in good order, yet in point of fact young men of good families had the greater part of these duties performed for them by a retainer who rode in the ranks of their masters following as a man at arms. The other squires have each one of their father's retainers with them, and I'm glad that you should be in the same position. After you have taken your midday meal, you had best go across to the Earl of Talbot and inquire for the Lady Vernon, who is still staying with him. She told me at the King's Ball last night that she wished to have speech with you, and I promised to acquaint you with her desire. By the way, does no ought of writing? I have learned to sit on a horse, Sir Walter, the lad answered. My good friend Jeffrey, the armorer, advised that I should learn, and frequently hired from the horse dealer an animal for my use. I have often backed half broken horses which were brought up by graziers from Kent and Sussex for use in the wars. Many of them abode at the hostels of Southwark, and willingly enough granted me permission to ride their horses until they were sold. Thus I have had a good deal of practice, and that of a rough kind, and seeing that laterally the horses have, for the most part, found it difficult to fling me when sitting bareback to cross them. I think I could keep my seat in the high-peaked saddles on the most vicious, but I have had no practice at tilting or at the ring or other nightly exercises. That matters not at all, the knight said. All these nightly exercises which you speak of are good in times of peace, for they give proficiency and steadiness. But in time of war he who can sit firmly in his saddle and wield sword and battleaxe lustily and skillfully is equal to the best. But never fear when this expedition is over, and we have time for such things, I will see that you are instructed in them. One who has achieved so much martial skill as you have done at so early an age will have little difficulty in acquiring what may be termed the pastime of chivalry. Ralph arrived just as Walter was setting out. The latter presented him to the knight who spoke with praise of the gallantry which he had displayed on the previous day, and then handed him over to John Marvaux with instructions to enroll him as a man at arms among his followers, to inform him of his duties and to place him with those who attended upon the other Esquires. After seeing Ralph disposed of, Walter went across to the Earl of Talbot and was again conducted to the presence of Dame Vernon. You have changed since we met last, young sir? She said with a smile. Though it is but a month since. Then you were apprentice boy, now you are an Esquire of Sir Walter Manny, and on the highway to distinction. That you will win it, I am well assured, since one who risked his life to rescue a woman and child whose very names were unknown to him is sure to turn out a noble and valiant knight. I little thought, when my daughter called you her knight, that in so short a time you might become an aspirant to that honour. I hope that you do not look a scance at us, now that you know I am in possession of the lands of your parents. Such changes of land, you know, often occur. But now I know who you are. I would that the estates bestowed upon Sir Jasper had belonged to some other than you. However, I trust that you will hold no grudge against us, and that you may win as fair an estate by the strength of your arm and the king's favour. Assuredly I feel no grudge, madam, Walter replied, and since the lands were forfeited, and pleased that of all people they should have gone to one so kind and so fair as yourself. What? Learning to be a flatterer already? Dame Vernon laughed. You are coming on fast, and I predict great things from you. And now Edith lay aside that sample you are pretending to be so busy upon, and speak to this night of yours. Edith laid down her work and came forward. She was no longer the dignified little queen of the tournament, but a laughing, bright-faced girl. I don't see that you are changed. She said, except in your dress. You speak softly and naturally, just as you used to do, not a bit like those little cork-pops, Uncle Talbot's pages. I'm afraid you will not want to be my knight anymore. Now that you are going to get great honors at the war, for I heard Uncle Talbot tell my lady mother that he was sure that you'd gain great credit for yourself. I shall always be your knight, Walter said earnestly. I told you I should, and I never break my word. That is, he went on coloring. If Dame Vernon makes no objection, as she well might. If I did not object before, Walter, she said, smiling. Why should I do so now? It is different, my lady, before it was somewhat of a jest, a sort of childish play on the part of Mistress Edith. Though so far as I was concerned, it was no play, but sober earnest. It needs no permission from me, Dame Vernon replied. For you to wear my daughter's colors. Any knight may proclaim any lady he chooses the mistress of his heart, and a reigning beauty will often have a dozen young knights who wear her colors. However, I am well content that one who has done me such great service, and who has shown such high promise, should be the first to wear the gauge of my little daughter. And, if in after years your life fulfills the promise of your youth, and you remain true to her gauge, there is none among all the youths of the court whom I would so gladly see at her feet. Remember, she said, as Walter was about to speak, her hand will not be at my disposal, but at that of the king. His majesty is want to bestow the hands of his wards upon those who most distinguish themselves in the field. You have already attracted his royal attention and commendation. Under Sir Walter Manny, you will be sure of opportunities of distinguishing yourself, and the king may well be glad some day at once to reward your services, and to repair a cruel injustice by bestowing upon you the hand of the heiress of your father's lands. If I mistake not, such a thought has even now crossed his majesty's mind, unless I misinterpreted a glance which yesterday passed between him and our sweet queen. I need not tell you to speak of your hopes to none, but let them spur you to higher exertions and nobler efforts. Loving my little Edith as I do, I naturally consider the prize to be a high one. I have often been troubled by the thought that her hand may someday be given to one by years or temper unsuited for her, and it will be a pleasure to me henceforth to picture her future connected with one who is, I am sure, by heart and nature fitted for her. And now, farewell, young sir, may God protect you in the field, and may you carry in the battle which awaits you the gauge of my daughter as fairly and successfully as you did in the mimic fray of yesterday. Two days later, Walter started with Sir Walter Manning, with a large number of knights, squires, men at arms, and archers for the Orwell. Walter was mounted, as were the other squires and men at arms, and indeed many of the archers. Ralph Smith, in the attire of a man at arms, rode behind. Walter was in the highest spirits. A brilliant career was opened to him under the most favorable circumstances. He had already distinguished himself and had gained the attention of the highest personages in the realm. His immediate lord was one of the bravest, most chivalrous knights in Europe, and he had to sustain and encourage him the hopes that Lady Vernon had given him of regaining some day the patrimony of his father. It was a satisfaction to him that he was as well-born as those who surrounded him, and his purse was well-lined as any in the company. Although he had spent the largesse which had been bestowed upon him at the tournament in procuring clothes fitted for his rank, he was yet abundantly supplied with money for both Jeffrey Ward and Giles Fletcher, having no children of their own and being both well-to-do men, had insisted upon his accepting a sum which would enable him to make a good appearance with the best. A large number of squires followed the banner of Sir Walter Manning. The records of the time show that the barons were generally accompanied in the field by almost as many squires as men at arms. The former were men of good company, sons of knights and nobles, aspirants for the honor of knighthood, and sons of the smaller gentry. Many were there from pure love of a life of excitement and adventure, others in fulfillment of the feudal tenure by which all land was then held, each noble and landowner being obliged to furnish so many knights, squires, men at arms, and archers in accordance with the size of his holding. The squires fought in the field in the front rank of the men at arms, save those who, like Walter, were attached to the person of their leader, and who in the field fought behind him or bore his orders to the companies under his banner. In the field all drew pay, and it may be interesting in the present day to know what were the rates for which our forefathers risked their lives. They were as follows, each horse archer received six deniers, each squire twelve deniers, or one soul, each knight two souls, each knight banner at four souls. Twenty souls went to the pound, and although the exact value of money in those days relative to that which it bears at the present time is downfall, it may be placed at twelve times the present value. Therefore, each horse archer received an equivalent to six shillings a day, each squire twelve shillings, each knight twenty-four shillings, and each knight banner at forty-eight shillings per day. Upon their arrival at the Orwell, where many troops from other parts had been gathered, the expedition at once embarked on board the numerous ships which had been collected. As that in which Sir Walter sailed also carried several of his knights, there was not room for all his youngest squires, and Walter and the three other juniors were towed off into another ship. She was a smaller vessel than most of those which composed the expedition, and only carried twelve-minute arms and as many archers, together with the four young squires, and a knight, Sir John Powis, who was in command of the whole. Your craft is but a small one, the knight said to the captain. She is small, but she is fast, the latter answered. She would sail round and round the best part of the fleet. I had her built according to my own fancy. Small though she be, I warrant you, she will be one of the first to arrive at Enbon. And the sooner the better, say I, since I am but paid by the trip, and would feign be back again at my regular work. It pays better carrying merchants' goods between London and Holland than taking his majesty's troops over to France. Your speed will not be of much avail, Sir John Powis said, seeing that the fleet will keep together. Yes, I know that is the order, the captain answered. But accidents happen sometimes, you know, and his eye twinkled. Vessels get separated from fleets. If they happen to be slow ones, so much the worse for those on board. If they happen to be fast ones, so much the better, seeing that those they carry will arrive long before their comrades, and may be enabled to gain credit and renown while the others are whistling for a wind in mid-ocean. However, we shall see. The next morning the fleet sailed from the Orwell. It contained 620 men-at-arms, among whom were many of the noblest and bravest of the country, and 6,000 picked archers in the pay of the king. The whole were commanded by Sir Walter. The scene was a very gay one. The banners of the nobles and knights floated from the lofty poops and the sun shone on bright armor and steel weapons. Walter, who had never seen the sea before, was delighted. The wind was fair and the vessels glided smoothly along over the sea. At evening the knight and his four young companions gathered in the little cabin. For it was in the first week in March and the night was cold. Will you please tell me, Sir John? Walter said to the knight. The merits of this quarrel in which we are going to fight. I know that we are going in aid of the Countess of Montford, but why she is in a source straight I know not. The matter is a mixed one, Walter, and requires a herald to tell you all the subtleties of it. John the Third, Duke of Brittany, was present with his legelord, Philip of Valois, in the last war with England. On the border of the Low Country. When the English retired from before Turney, Philip dismissed his nobles. The Duke of Burgundy was taken ill and died at Ken in Normandy on the 30th of April, 1341. Arthur the Second, his father, had been twice married. By his first wife, he had three sons, John, Guy, and Peter. John and Peter left no issue. Guy, who was also dead, left a daughter, Joan. By his second wife, Joland de Du, Duke Arthur had one son, John, Count of Montford. Thus it happened that when Duke John died, his half-brother, the Count of Montford, and Joan, the daughter of his second brother, Guy, were all that survived at the family. These were the rival claimants for the vacant Dukedom. In England, we have but one law of succession, which rules through the whole land. In France, it is different. There, the law of succession depends entirely upon the custom of the county, Dukedom, or lordship, which is further affected both by the form of grant by which the territory was conveyed to its first feudal possessors, and by the mode in which the province had been acquired by the kings of France. This is important, as upon these circumstances alone it depended, whether the son or the granddaughter of Arthur II should inherit the Dukedom. Joan claimed the duchy as the daughter of the elder brother, the Salic law of France, which barred females from the right of succession, and in virtue of which Philip of Valois succeeded to the throne instead of King Edward, certainly did not obtain in Brittany. Duke John regarded Joan as his heiress, and married her to Charles of Blois, nephew of the King of France, thus strengthening her in her position, and he also induced the provincial parliament of Brittany to acknowledge her husband as his successor in the Dukedom. Altogether it would seem that right is upon Joan's side, but on the other hand the Count of Monfort is the son of Jolande, a great heiress in Brittany. He is an active and energetic noble. The Bretons love not too close a connection with France, and assuredly prefer to be ruled by a duke whom they regard as one of themselves, rather than by Charles of Blois, nephew of the French king. Directly Duke John was dead, the Count of Monfort claimed the inheritance. Assuming the title of duke, he rode to Nantes, where the citizens did him homage, and then proceeded to Limoges with a large train of men at arms, and there took possession of the immense treasures which the late duke had accumulated in the course of a long and tranquil reign. With these sinews of war at his command, he turned to Nantes, where he had left his wife the Countess, who was a sister of the Count of Flanders. He immediately invited the nobility of Brittany to a grand banquet, but only one night of any renown presented himself at the feast, the rest all holding aloof. With the wealth of which he had possessed himself, he levied large forces and took the field. He first marched against Brest, where the garrison, commanded by Walter de Clisson, refused to acknowledge him. After three days hard fighting, the place was taken. Ren was next besieged and presently surrendered. Other towns fell into his hands, and so far as Brittany was concerned, all opposition, except in one or two fortresses, ceased. In the meanwhile, Charles of Blois sought assistance from his uncle, the King of France. The Count of Monfort, therefore, crossed to England and besought the aid of King Edward, and it homage to him as King of France. Edward, on his part, promised to assist him. The fact that Philip was sure to espouse the opposite side was in itself sufficient to decide him. Besides which, the dukes of Brittany have always been in a special way connected with England and bear the English title of Earl's of Richmond. Believing that his journey, which had been a secret one, was unknown to the King of France, de Monfort went boldly to Paris, where he had been summoned by the King to an assembly of peers, called to decide upon the succession. He found, however, that Philip had already obtained news of his journey to England. His manor convinced de Monfort that it was unsafe to remain in Paris, and he secretly made his escape. Fifteen days afterwards, the peers gave judgment in favor of Charles of Blois. The dukes of Normandy, Burgundy, and Bourbon, the Counts of Ellison, U, Guignet, and many other French nobles prepared to lead an army into the field to support Charles, and the King added a body of 3,000 Genovese mercenaries to his pay. Knowing the storm that was preparing to break upon him, de Monfort put every town and castle in a state of defense. He himself, confiding in the affection of the inhabitants of Nantes, remained in that city, while his wife prepared to ren. The Duke of Normandy advanced from Angere with an army of 5,000 men-at-arms and a numerous infantry, and after capturing the castle of Chanteau, marched on to Nantes and laid siege to the city. A sortie was made by the besieged led by Henry de Lyon, but being attacked by the whole of the French army, they were driven back into the town, and a great many of the citizens being killed. A warm altercation took place between Henry de Lyon and de Monfort, who attributed to him the evil result of the sortie. The result was that a large number of the citizens, whose friends had been captured by the French, conspired to deliver up the place to Charles of Blois, and Henry de Lyon also entered into private negotiations with the Duke of Normandy. de Monfort, finding that he could not rely upon the citizens, nor the soldiers, surrendered to the Duke on condition that his life was spared. He was sent to Paris, where he still remains a prisoner. Winter was coming on, and after putting Nantes in a fresh state of defense and leaving Charles of Blois there, the Duke of Normandy dismissed his forces, engaging them to reassemble in the spring. Had he pushed on at once, he would have experienced no resistance, so great was the panic which the surrender of Nantes and the capture of de Monfort had caused among the latter's partisans. In Wren, especially the deepest despondency was felt. The Countess, however, showed the greatest courage and firmness. Showing herself with her infant in her arms, she appealed to the citizens and by her courageous bearing inspired them with new hopes. Haring with stored heart at Wren, she traveled from garrison to garrison throughout the province and filled all with vigor and resolution. Feeling, however, the hopelessness of her struggle against all France, she dispatched Sir Almerec de Clisson, who had lately joined her party, to England to ask the aid which the King had promised. He arrived a month since and, as you see, our brave King has not been long in dispatching us to her aid. And now youngsters, to bed, for me thinks the sea is rougher than it was and that the wind is getting up. Aye, that is it, the captain, who heard the night's closing words exclaimed. We are in for a storm and a heavy one, or my name is not Timothy Martin. And though with plenty of sea room, the kitty makes not much adieu about a storm more or less. It's a very different thing in the middle of a fleet of rubberly crap, which may run one down at any time. I shall edge out of them as soon as I can, you may be sure. Before morning a serious gale was blowing and for the next three or four days Walter and his companions knew nothing of what was going on. Then the storm abated and they staggered out from their cabin. The sea was still high but the sun shone brightly overhead. In front of them the land was visible. They looked round but to their astonishment not a sail was in sight. Why, where is the fleet? Walter exclaimed in astonishment. Snugging the Thames, I reckon, the captain said. Soon after the storm came on one of the sailors pretended he saw the lights of recall on the Admiral's ship. But I was too busy to look that way. I had enough to do to look after the safety of the ship. Anyhow I saw no more of them. And what land is that ahead? Walter asked. That is Brittany, young sir, and before nightfall we shall be in the port of Henbon. As to the others it may be days and it may be weeks before they arrive. The lands were not sorry at the chance which had taken them to their destination before their companions and had given them a chance of distinguishing themselves. Late in the afternoon the ship dropped anchor off the castle of Henbon and Sir John Powis and his followers were conveyed in the ship's boats to shore. The Countess received them most graciously and was delighted at the news that so strong a force was on its way to her aid. In the absence of Sir Walter Manny, madam, I place myself and my men at your orders. Our horses will be landed the first thing in the morning and we will then ride with or so ever you may bid us. Thanks, Sir John, the Countess replied. In that case I would that you ride by Wren towards which the army of the Duke of Normandy is already advancing. The garrison there is commanded by Sir William of Cattadel a good and valiant knight. The horses were landed on the following morning and accompanied by the four young squires and the men at arms and followed by the 20 archers on foot Sir John Powis set out for Wren. They arrived there but just in time for the assailants were closing around the city. They were recede with the greatest cordiality by the governor who assigned departments to Sir John and the squires and launched the men at arms and archers near them. In a day or two the whole of the French army came up and the siege commenced. Sir John Powis at his own request was posted with his men for the defense of a portion of the wall which was especially open to the assaults of the enemy. These soon commenced in earnest and the Genoese and Spanish mercenaries endeavored to carry the place by assault. Sometimes one point would be attacked, at others points far distant. Covered by the fire of the French crossbowmen the Spaniards and Germans came on to the assault carrying ladders with which they strove to climb the walls but the defenders plied them so vigorously with quarrels from their crossbows and flights of arrows that they frequently desisted before reaching the walls. When they pushed on and strove to ascend their luck was no better. Great stones were hurled down and boiling oil poured upon them. The ladders were flung back and many crushed by the fall and in none of the assaults did they gain any footing in the town. Machines were used but these were not sufficiently powerful to batter down the walls and at the end of April the city was as far from being captured as it was on the day of the commencement of the siege. Walter bore his full share in the fighting but he had no opportunity of especially distinguishing himself although Sir John several times commended him for his coolness when the bolts of the crossbowmen and the stones from the machines were flying most thickly but although as yet uninjured by the enemy's attacks the prospect of the city holding out was not bright. The burgers who had at first fought valiantly were soon wearied of the strife and of the hardships and entailed upon them. The siege had continued but a short time when they began to murmur loudly. The force under the command of the governor was but a small one and it would have been impossible for him to resist the will of the whole population. For a time his exhortations and entreaties were attended with success and the burgers returned to their positions on the walls but each time the difficulty became greater and it was clear to Cattadel and Sir John Powis that ere long the citizens would surrender the place in spite of them. The English night was furious at the cowardliness of the citizens and proposed to the governor to summon twenty of the leading burgers and to hang them as a lesson to the others but the governor shook his head. I have but two hundred men on whom I can rely including your following Sir John. We could not keep down the inhabitants for an hour and were we to try to do so they would open the gates and let in the French. No, I fear that we must await the end. The following morning Sir John was awoke with the news that in the night Cattadel had been seized and thrown into prison by the burgers and that a deputation of the citizens had already gone out through the gate to treat with the Duke of Normandy for the surrender of the city. The English night was furious but with his little band he could do nothing especially as he found that a strong guard of burgers had been placed at the door of the apartments occupied by him and their squires and he was informed that he must consider himself a prisoner until the conclusion of the negotiations. Cowardly and faithless as the burgers of Wren show themselves to be they nevertheless stipulated with the Duke of Normandy as one of the conditions of the surrender the Cattadel Sir John Powis and the troops under them should be permitted to pass through the French lines and go with or so ever they would. These terms were accepted and midday the governor was released and he with his men at arms and the band of Englishmen filed out from the city gate and took their way unmolested through the lines of the French army to Enbonne. They had been for a month in ignorance of all that had passed outside the walls and had from day to day been eagerly looking for the arrival of Sir Walter Manny with his army to their relief. Once past the French lines they inquired of the peasantry and heard to their surprise that the English fleet had not yet arrived. We were in luck indeed Walter said to his companions that Captain Timothy Martin was in a hurry to get back to his tradeings with the Fleming's had he not been so we should all this time have been kicking our heels and fretting on board a ship on nearing Enbonne Sir William Cattadel with Sir John Powis and the squires rode forward and met the Countess. They were the first bearers of the news of the surrender of Wren and the Countess was filled with consternation at the intelligence. However after her first burst of indignation and regret had passed she put a brave face on it. They shall meet with another reception at Enbonne she said. This is but a small place and my garrison here and the soldiers you have brought will well nigh outnumber the burgers and we need have no fear of such faint heartedness as that which has given not and ran into the hands of my enemy. The English aid cannot tarry long until it come we can assuredly hold the place. All was now bustle in Enbonne Sir John Powis took charge of a part of the walls and visit himself with his men in placing the machines in position and preparing for defense. The Countess, attired in armor, rode through the streets haranguing the townspeople. She urged the men to fight till the last and made the women and girls cut short their dresses so that they could better climb the steps to the top of the walls and that one in all should carry up stones chalk and baskets of lime to be cast down upon the assailants. Animated by her words and gestures the townspeople set to work and all vied with each other from the oldest to the youngest in carrying up stores of missiles to the walls never did Enbonne present such a scene of life and bustle seemed like an anthill which a passerby has disturbed. Absorbed in their work none had time to think of the dangers which threatened them and a stranger would rather have thought from their cheerful and animated countenances that they were preparing for a great fett and for a siege by an army to which the two chief towns in britney had succumbed. Air long the french army was seen approaching the soldiers who had been laboring with the rest buckled on their armor. The citizens gathered on the walls to hurl down the piles of stones which had been collected and all prepared for the assault. Sir John Powis the Countess said I pray you to grant me one of your squires who may attend me while I ride about and may bear my messages for me he will not be idle nor will he escape his share of the dangers for believe me I do not intend to hide myself while you and your brave soldiers are fighting for me. Willingly lady sir John answered here is Walter Summers the son of a good knight and himself brave and prudent beyond his years he will I am sure gladly devote himself to your service. The French encouraged by their successes thought that it would be a comparatively easy task to capture so small a place as Enbonne and as soon as their camp was pitched they moved forward to the attack. Come with me master Summers the Countess said I will mount to one of the watchtowers where we may see all that passes. Walter followed her and marveled to see the lightness and agility with which the heroic Countess although clad in armor mounted the rickety ladders to the summit of the watchtower. The French bowman opened a heavy fire upon the walls which was answered by the shafts of the little party of English bowman these did much execution for the English archers shot far harder and straighter than those of France and it was only the best armor which could keep out their cloth yard shafts so smaller body however could not check the advance of so large a force and the French swarmed up to the very foot of the walls well done my men the Countess exclaimed clapping her hands as a shower of heavy rocks fell among the masses of the assailants who were striving to plant their ladders crushing many in their fall but you are not looking master Summers what is it that you see in yonder camp to draw your attention from such a fight I am thinking Countess that the French have left their camp altogether unguarded and that if a body of horse could make a circuit and fall upon it the camp with all its doors might be destroyed before they could get back to save it you are right young sir the Countess exclaimed and it shall be done forthwith so saying she descended the stairs rapidly and mounted her horse which stood at the foot of the tower then riding through the town she collected a party of about 300 men bidding all she met mount their horses and join her at the gate on the opposite side to that on which the assault was taking place such as had no horses she ordered to take them from those in her own stables Walter was mounted on one of the best of the Count's chargers immediately the force was collected the gate was opened and the Countess rode forth at their head making a considerable detour the party rode without being observed into the rear of the French camp here only a few servants and horseboys were found these were at once killed or driven out then all dismounting set fire to the tents and stores and ere the French were aware of what was going on the whole of their camp was in flames as soon as the congregation was perceived the French commanders drew off their men from the attack and all ran at full speed towards the camp we cannot regain the town the Countess said we will ride to all right at full speed and re-enter the castle when best we may Don Lewis of Spain who with a considerable following was fighting in the French ranks hearing from the flying camp followers that the Countess herself was at the head of the party which had destroyed the camp instantly mounted and with a large number of horsemen set off in hot pursuit a few of the Countess's party who were badly mounted were overtaken and slain but the rest arrived safely at all right when the gates were shut in the face of their pursuers the blow was a heavy one for the besiegers but they at once proceeded to build huts showing that they had no intention of relinquishing the siege spies were sent from Aure and these reported that the new camp was established on the site of the old one and that the French evidently intended to renew the attack upon the side which they had first commenced leaving the other side almost unwatched accordingly on the fifth day after leaving the town the Countess prepared to return except Walter none were informed of her intention as she feared that news might be taken to the French camp by friends of Charles of Blois but as soon as it was nightfall and the gates were shut the trumpet sounded to horse in a few minutes the troop assembled in the marketplace and the Countess accompanied by Walter placing herself at their head rode out from the town the strictest silence was observed on nearing the town all were directed to dismount to tear up the horse cloths and to muffle the feet of their horses then the journey was resumed and so careless was the watch kept by the French that they passed through the centuries unobserved and reached in safety the gate from which they had issued as they neared it they were challenged from the walls and a shout of joy was heard when Walter replied that the Countess herself was present the gates were opened and the party entered the news of their return rapidly ran through the town and the inhabitants hastily attiring themselves ran into the streets filled with joy much depression had been felt during her absence and few had entertained hopes that she would be able to re enter the town she had brought with her from all right two hundred men in addition to the party that had sallied out end of chapter eight recording by Brett Downey